[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 6 (Monday, January 10, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1413-1416]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-434]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Minerals Management Service
Outer Continental Shelf (OCS), Request for Information and
Interest in a Commercial Sand and Gravel Lease Sale Offshore Northern
New Jersey
AGENCY: Minerals Management Service (MMS), Interior.
ACTION: Request for Information and Interest (RFII).
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SUMMARY: In 1996, the MMS received a request from a private company for
a competitive sand and gravel commercial lease sale offshore northern
New Jersey. A RFII was published in the Federal Register on May 21,
1996 (Vol. 61, No. 99). The MMS deferred further action, that is,
preparing an environmental impact statement (EIS) after the company
advised that they were pursuing other sources of sand and gravel. In
1998, and again in 1999, the company requested that MMS end the
deferral of the competitive lease sale process and prepare an EIS.
Because a significant amount of time has passed, MMS has decided to
issue another RFII and to focus the area being considered to a much
smaller one than that identified in the 1996 request. This smaller,
more focused area reflects comments received on the earlier RFII
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and is depicted on the accompanying page-size map.
This RFII is published pursuant to the Outer Continental Shelf
Lands Act (OCSLA) as amended (43 U.S.C. 1331-1356 (1988)), and
accompanying regulations (30 CFR part 281).
Purpose of the RFII
The purpose of the RFII is to gather comments, information and
indications of interest from interested parties about a possible
commercial sand and gravel lease sale offshore northern New Jersey.
This does not mean that a preliminary decision to lease in this area
has been made. The MMS would like comments addressing the area
identified, including information on: Commercial, navigational,
recreational, and multiple-use considerations; Environmental concerns,
including information on biological and physical resources;
Archaeological resources; and Social and economic issues.
This RFII is one of the early steps in a public-participation
process that includes a thorough environmental analysis and compliance
with the State's coastal zone management program. If a decision is made
to prepare an EIS, the MMS will provide for several additional
opportunities for public comment.
Description of the Area
The RFII area is located off the northern coast of New Jersey
beginning 3 nautical miles (nm) from shore and extending southward 12
nm from slightly north of Long Branch to slightly south of Belmar. The
landward boundary is the 3 nm line separating the Federal OCS and State
submerged land jurisdictions. The seaward edge of the area is narrowest
on the north (10 nm from shore) and widens slightly on the south (12 nm
from shore). The area contains 10 whole OCS blocks and 4 partial
blocks. Generally OCS blocks are 9 square miles. A large scale map of
the RFII area showing boundaries of the RFII area with numbered blocks
is available from MMS at the following address: Minerals Management
Service, Division of International Activities and Marine Minerals, 381
Elden Street, Mail Stop 4030, Herndon, VA 22070, Phone: (703) 787-1300,
FAX: (703) 787-1284.
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Relation to Coastal Management Plans
The MMS specifically requests comments on potential conflicts with
approved local coastal management plans (CMP) that may result from
future commercial sand and gravel mining within the RFII area. We
request that you identify specific CMP policies; the types of conflicts
you foresee; and possible steps that MMS could take to avoid or
mitigate these conflicts. Your comments may address the entire area
under consideration or portions of the area. We request that you list
block numbers or clearly outline the subject area on the large-scale
RFII map.
Areas of Specific Industry Interest
We request that industry respondents indicate specific blocks or
areas within the RFII area that are of particular interest for
consideration in a possible OCS sand and gravel lease sale. Industry
respondents are asked to outline their area(s) of interest on the
large-scale RFII map and to submit a list of block numbers nominated
(including both whole and partial blocks). Although identities of those
indicating interest in specific areas within this RFII become a matter
of public record, the blocks that the individual company(s) identifies
are considered proprietary information.
Industry respondents should rank areas of specific interest
according to priority: 1 (high), 2 (medium), and 3 (low). Areas
identified that do not indicate priorities will be considered priority
3. The name and telephone number of a person in the respondent's
organization to contact for additional information or clarification
should be included in the response.
Commenting Procedures
The MMS must receive your comments, information and/or indications
of interest (in envelopes labeled RFII Information (or Indication of
Interest)) no later than 90 days following publication of this document
in the Federal Register. Please submit the RFII map with comments and/
or indications of interest to: Minerals Management Service, Division of
International Activities and Marine Minerals, 381 Elden Street, Mail
Stop 4030, Herndon, VA 22070.
The MMS will hold information meetings on February 28, 2000, from 7
p.m. to 10 p.m., at the Bradley Beach Borough Hall, Bradley Beach, New
Jersey, and on February 29, 2000, at the Holiday Inn, 1000 Roosevelt
Avenue, Carteret, New Jersey, from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Additional Information
1. The MMS would like to clarify that any possible sand and gravel
commercial lease sale within the RFII area will not include any
requirements for the end use of the sand and gravel.
2. The MMS will restrict dredging to relatively shallow and uniform
depths to preserve ocean bottom topography and promote rapid
recolonization of biota in dredged areas. The MMS will prohibit the
mining of deep pits for use in the disposal of any material.
3. The MMS has completed an Environmental Report assessing possible
consequences associated with using OCS sand for beach nourishment along
the U.S. east coast from Northern New Jersey to the Virginia/North
Carolina border. A self-contained and separate appendix within the
Environmental Report assesses potential environmental impacts of
offshore mining for construction aggregate material. The appendix may
provide useful information as parties prepare responses to this RFII.
The Environmental Report, and the appendix are available through the
MMS's internet web-site at www.mms.gov/intermar/marineac.htm.
Use of Responses to the RFII
The MMS will use information in response to this RFII in several
ways. First, MMS will use comments on possible environmental impacts
and multiple use conflicts to help in our analysis and handling of
concerns in and near the RFII area. Based on this information we will
make a preliminary determination on the potential advantages and
disadvantages of OCS sand and gravel exploration and development within
the RFII area and whether to prepare an EIS. Second, MMS will use the
responses to identify specific areas within the RFII area that are of
interest for potential commercial sand and gravel leasing and
development. Third, comments will be used to identify potential
conflicts among offshore activities and State or local coastal zone
management plans. Finally, comments may be used to develop requirements
to ensure safe and environmentally sound activities.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Carol A. Hartgen, International
Activities and Marine Minerals, (703) 787-1300.
Dated: January 4, 2000.
WC Rosenbusch,
Director, Minerals Management Service.
[FR Doc. 00-434 Filed 1-7-00; 8:45 am]
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