Commercial Wind Lease Issuance and Site Assessment Activities on the Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf Offshore North Carolina Revised Environmental Assessment

Report

Title: Commercial Wind Lease Issuance and Site Assessment Activities on the Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf Offshore North Carolina Revised Environmental Assessment

Author:

Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM)

Publication Date:

September 1, 2015

Document Number:

BOEM 2015-038

Pages:

353

Affiliation

Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM)

Sponsoring Organization:

US Department of the Interior (DOI)

Technology:

Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind

Receptor:

Human Dimensions, Environmental Impact Assessment

Document Access

Attachment:

Access File

Citation

Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) (2015). Commercial Wind Lease Issuance and Site Assessment Activities on the Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf Offshore North Carolina Revised Environmental Assessment (Report No. BOEM 2015-038). Report by Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM). Report for US Department of the Interior (DOI).

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author = {Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM)},
title = {Commercial Wind Lease Issuance and Site Assessment Activities on the Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf Offshore North Carolina Revised Environmental Assessment},
institution = {Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM)},
year = {2015},
month = {sep},
number = {BOEM 2015-038},
keywords = {Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Human Dimensions, Environmental Impact Assessment},
}

Export Citation to BibTex

TY - RPRT
TI - Commercial Wind Lease Issuance and Site Assessment Activities on the Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf Offshore North Carolina Revised Environmental Assessment
AU - Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM)
AB - The United States Department of the Interior (USDOI), Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) prepared an environmental assessment (EA) to determine whether issuance of leases and approval of site assessment plans (SAPs) within areas identified offshore North Carolina would have a significant effect on the environment and whether an environmental impact statement (EIS) must be prepared. BOEM conducted its analysis to comply with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), 42 United States Code (U.S.C.) §§ 4321-4370f, the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) regulations at 40 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 1501.3(b) and 1508.9, USDOI regulations implementing NEPA at 43 CFR 46, and USDOI Manual (DM) Chapter 15 (516 DM 15).BOEM’s environmental analysis was limited to the effects of lease issuance: site characterization (i.e., surveys of the lease areas and potential cable routes), and site assessment activities (i.e., construction and operation of meteorological towers and/or buoys on the leases to be issued) within three Wind Energy Areas (WEAs) offshore North Carolina. These areas were identified by BOEM in August 2014 as potentially suitable for commercial wind development based on input from the BOEM-lead North Carolina Intergovernmental Task Force (Task Force), comments on the Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Assessment (77 FR 74218), comments on the Commercial Leasing for Wind Power on the OCS Offshore North Carolina - Call for Information and Nominations (77 FR 74204), and input received during public outreach efforts. On January 23, 2015, BOEM published a Notice of Availability for the Commercial Wind Lease Issuance and Site Assessment Activities on the Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf Offshore North Carolina Environmental Assessment (80 FR 3621) (the “EA”) for a 30-day comment period. BOEM hosted public meetings on February 9, 2015 in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, February 11, 2015 in Wilmington, North Carolina, and February 12, 2015 in Carolina Shores, North Carolina. During these meetings, members of the public in attendance provided written and verbal comments on the EA. BOEM has revised the EA to address comments received during the public comment period and public meetings, and incorporate the results of consultations. Section 5.1.3 of the revised EA includes a summary of public comments and revisions to the EA. This finding is accompanied by and cites the revised EA.
DA - 2015/09//
PY - 2015
SP - 353
PB - Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM)
SN - BOEM 2015-038
LA - English
KW - Wind Energy
KW - Fixed Offshore Wind
KW - Human Dimensions
KW - Environmental Impact Assessment
ER -

Export Citation to RIS

Abstract

The United States Department of the Interior (USDOI), Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) prepared an environmental assessment (EA) to determine whether issuance of leases and approval of site assessment plans (SAPs) within areas identified offshore North Carolina would have a significant effect on the environment and whether an environmental impact statement (EIS) must be prepared. BOEM conducted its analysis to comply with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), 42 United States Code (U.S.C.) §§ 4321-4370f, the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) regulations at 40 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 1501.3(b) and 1508.9, USDOI regulations implementing NEPA at 43 CFR 46, and USDOI Manual (DM) Chapter 15 (516 DM 15).

BOEM’s environmental analysis was limited to the effects of lease issuance: site characterization (i.e., surveys of the lease areas and potential cable routes), and site assessment activities (i.e., construction and operation of meteorological towers and/or buoys on the leases to be issued) within three Wind Energy Areas (WEAs) offshore North Carolina. These areas were identified by BOEM in August 2014 as potentially suitable for commercial wind development based on input from the BOEM-lead North Carolina Intergovernmental Task Force (Task Force), comments on the Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Assessment (77 FR 74218), comments on the Commercial Leasing for Wind Power on the OCS Offshore North Carolina - Call for Information and Nominations (77 FR 74204), and input received during public outreach efforts.

On January 23, 2015, BOEM published a Notice of Availability for the Commercial Wind Lease Issuance and Site Assessment Activities on the Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf Offshore North Carolina Environmental Assessment (80 FR 3621) (the “EA”) for a 30-day comment period. BOEM hosted public meetings on February 9, 2015 in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, February 11, 2015 in Wilmington, North Carolina, and February 12, 2015 in Carolina Shores, North Carolina. During these meetings, members of the public in attendance provided written and verbal comments on the EA. BOEM has revised the EA to address comments received during the public comment period and public meetings, and incorporate the results of consultations. Section 5.1.3 of the revised EA includes a summary of public comments and revisions to the EA. This finding is accompanied by and cites the revised EA.