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Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 143 / Thursday, July 29, 2021 / Notices
Department of Defense DoD. However, after that initial assessment, BOEM, the State of California, various California elected officials, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrations Office of National Marine Sanctuaries ONMS and DoD continued discussions and stakeholder outreach to find a solution that accommodated offshore wind development on the central coast and DoDs mission requirements. More information and results of these meetings and outreach can be viewed at:
https www.boem.gov/renewableenergy/state-activities/publicinformation-meetings-and-outreachefforts.
In May 2021, the Department of the Interior, DoD, and the State of California agreed to advance areas for possible wind energy development offshore the northern and central coasts of California, enabling a path forward for the Humboldt Call Area and areas within and adjacent to the Morro Bay Call Area https www.doi.gov/
pressreleases/biden-harrisadministration-advances-offshore-windpacific. With this notice, BOEM is examining the Call Area Extensions adjacent to the Morro Bay Call Area but is not considering the Diablo Canyon Call Area.
After reviewing the information received in response to this Call, BOEM
may combine all or portions of the Call Area Extensions with all or portions of the Morro Bay Call Area into one or more Wind Energy Areas WEA that would be subject to environmental analysis and consideration for leasing. It is unnecessary for those who previously nominated areas within the 2018 Morro Bay Call Area to do so again.

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1.1 The Energy Policy Act of 2005
EPAct The EPAct amended the OCS Lands Act by adding subsection 8p,1 which authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to grant leases, easements, and rights-ofway ROWs on the OCS for activities not previously authorized by the OCS
Lands Act or other applicable law.
Under subsection 8p1C, the Secretary may issue leases for activities that produce or support production, transportation, or transmission of energy from sources other than oil or gas, including renewable energy sources.
The Secretary delegated this authority to issue leases, easements, and ROWs to the Director of BOEM.
1 Codified
at 43 U.S.C. 1337p.

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1.2 Offshore Wind Energy Planning Efforts in California BOEM appreciates the importance of coordinating its planning with relevant Federal agencies, Tribes, State agencies, and other OCS users. BOEM and the State of California, through the leadership of the California Energy Commission, have engaged in a collaborative, data-based offshore wind energy planning process in order to foster coordinated and informed decisions about Californias shared ocean resources and the many users who depend on them. This outreach has consisted of numerous public meetings, webinars, and briefings with coastal communities, fishing communities, federally and non-federally recognized Tribes, State and Federal agencies, academia, scientists, environmental non-governmental organizations, and the offshore renewable energy industry.
The summary report on this outreach can be viewed at: https
www.boem.gov/California-OutreachSummary-Report/. Additional information gathered by BOEM and the State of California during the offshore wind energy planning process, including maps and spatially represented data, is available online at:
https caoffshorewind.databasin.org/.
1.3 BOEM California Intergovernmental Renewable Energy Task Force At the request of Governor Brown, BOEM established an intergovernmental renewable energy task force with California in 2016 Task Force to facilitate coordination among relevant Federal agencies and affected Tribal, State, and local governments throughout the leasing process. The Task Force met three times: October 13, 2016;
September 17, 2018; and March 9, 2020.
Meeting materials are available on the BOEM website at: https
www.boem.gov/California/.
1.4 Actions Taken by the State of California in Support of Renewable Energy Development In 2002, the State of California established a renewables portfolio standard RPS, which establishes how much of Californias electricity should be powered by renewable energy resources. California expanded the RPS
in 2015 through passage of the Clean Energy and Pollution Reduction Act, and through passage of Senate Bill 100
SB 100, the 100 Percent Clean Energy Act of 2018. SB 100 increased the States RPS to 50 percent by 2025 and 60 percent by 2030, and provides that renewable energy resources and zero-

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carbon resources supply 100 percent of retail sales of electricity to California end-use customers and 100 percent of electricity procured to serve state agencies by December 31, 2045.
Californias RPS is one of the most ambitious renewable energy standards in the country. Additional information about Californias RPS is available at:
https www.cpuc.ca.gov/industriesand-topics/electrical-energy/electricpower-procurement/rps and https
www.energy.ca.gov/programs-andtopics/programs/renewables-portfoliostandard. The full text of SB 100 is available at: https
leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/
billNavClient.xhtml?bill_
id=201720180SB100.
2 BOEMs Environmental Review Process Prior to deciding whether and where leases may be issued, BOEM will prepare an environmental assessment EA and conduct appropriate consultations to consider the environmental consequences associated with issuing commercial wind energy leases. As any lease that BOEM intends to issue would not grant the right to construct any facilities within the leasehold, the EA will consider the environmental consequences associated with leasing, site assessment, and site characterization activities including geophysical, geotechnical, archaeological, and biological surveys.
If BOEM issues a lease and the lessee proposes the construction and operation of offshore wind energy facilities, BOEM
will identify, analyze, and consider the environmental effects of such construction and operation through a separate, project-specific process under the National Environmental Policy Act NEPA, which will include additional opportunities for public involvement.
At that time, BOEM also will conduct further coordination and consultation, including, but not limited to, those which may be required under the Coastal Zone Management Act, Endangered Species Act, the MagnusonStevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act NHPA, and Executive Order 13175
Consultation and Coordination With Tribal Governments.
3 BOEMs Planning and Leasing Process 3.1 Determination of Competitive Interest As stated in 43 U.S.C. 1337p3, the Secretary shall issue a lease, easement, or right-of-way . . . on a competitive
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