Tribal Governments, Ocean Users, Underserved Communities, Agencies, and Other Stakeholders Engagement and Reporting. In an effort to require early and regular engagement with Tribal governments, ocean users, underserved communities, agencies, and other stakeholders that may be potentially affected by activities on the OCS (collectively “Tribes and parties”), BOEM is proposing to require a semi-annual progress report and minimum engagement requirements. Within the progress report, Lessees would be required to identify Tribes and parties potentially affected by proposed activities and provide updates on engagement activities, impacts on or benefits to the Tribes and parties from proposed activities, and how, if at all, a project proposal has been informed or altered to address those impacts or benefits, as well as any planned engagement activities during the next reporting period. In acknowledgment of the existing and growing consultation burden placed on many Tribes and parties, the stipulation would also require, to the maximum extent practicable, that Lessees coordinate with one another on engagement activities. It is XXXX’s intention that this requirement to coordinate engagement apply not only to meetings proposed by Xxxxxxx, but also to reasonable requests to coordinate engagement made by Tribes and parties. For example, one possible lease stipulation to facilitate coordinated Tribal engagement could require Lessees to offer coordination meetings at regular intervals throughout the year (i.e., quarterly, biannually, annually, etc.). Coordinated engagement among Tribal Nations and Lessees that may be required would not excuse BOEM from meeting its responsibilities to federally recognized Tribes under Executive Order 13175. In addition, the proposed stipulation would require that the progress report incorporate separate lease requirements for the development of communication plans for fisheries, Tribes, and agencies, that would serve to guide engagement activities with those groups. Lastly, the progress report would be required to include an update on activities executed under any survey plan. XXXX seeks comment on this progress report and engagement concept generally. XXXX also seeks specific comments on how to improve the frequency, duration, and sustainability of collaborative engagement among these parties; and on the contents, timing, and review of progress reports.
