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

Report

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

Author:

Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM)

Publication Date:

October 1, 2016

Document Number:

BOEM 2016-070

Pages:

449

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

Language:

English

Document Access

Attachment:

Access File

Citation

Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) (2016). Commercial Wind Lease Issuance and Site Assessment Activities on the Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf Offshore New York Revised Environmental Assessment (Report No. BOEM 2016-070). 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 New York Revised Environmental Assessment},
institution = {Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM)},
year = {2016},
month = {oct},
number = {BOEM 2016-070},
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 New York 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 the issuance of a lease and approval of a site assessment plan (SAP) within the wind energy area (WEA) identified offshore New York would have a significant effect on the environment and whether an environmental impact statement (EIS) must therefore 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, including site characterization (i.e., surveys of the lease area and potential cable routes), and site assessment activities (i.e., construction and operation of a meteorological tower and/or buoys on the lease, if issued) within the WEA offshore New York. The WEA was identified by BOEM in March 2016 as potentially suitable for commercial wind development based on input from the BOEM-led New York Intergovernmental Task Force, comments on the Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Assessment (NOI) (79 FR 102), comments on the Commercial Leasing for Wind Power Development on the Outer Continental Shelf Offshore New York—Call for Information and Nominations (Call) (79 FR 30645), and input received during public outreach efforts. On June 6, 2016, BOEM published a Notice of Availability for the Environmental Assessment for Commercial Wind Lease Issuance and Site Assessment Activities on the Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf Offshore New York (81 FR 36344) (the “EA”) for a 30-day comment period. In response to stakeholder requests, BOEM extended the public comment period by an additional seven calendar days from the original comment deadline of July 6, 2016, to the extended deadline of July 13, 2016. All public comments received by BOEM can be viewed at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for docket ID BOEM-2016-0038. During the comment period, BOEM held five public meetings in New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts to provide an overview of the EA, solicit public comment, and discuss next steps in the environmental review and leasing processes. BOEM 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 - 2016/10//
PY - 2016
SP - 449
PB - Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM)
SN - BOEM 2016-070
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 the issuance of a lease and approval of a site assessment plan (SAP) within the wind energy area (WEA) identified offshore New York would have a significant effect on the environment and whether an environmental impact statement (EIS) must therefore 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, including site characterization (i.e., surveys of the lease area and potential cable routes), and site assessment activities (i.e., construction and operation of a meteorological tower and/or buoys on the lease, if issued) within the WEA offshore New York. The WEA was identified by BOEM in March 2016 as potentially suitable for commercial wind development based on input from the BOEM-led New York Intergovernmental Task Force, comments on the Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Assessment (NOI) (79 FR 102), comments on the Commercial Leasing for Wind Power Development on the Outer Continental Shelf Offshore New York—Call for Information and Nominations (Call) (79 FR 30645), and input received during public outreach efforts.

On June 6, 2016, BOEM published a Notice of Availability for the Environmental Assessment for Commercial Wind Lease Issuance and Site Assessment Activities on the Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf Offshore New York (81 FR 36344) (the “EA”) for a 30-day comment period. In response to stakeholder requests, BOEM extended the public comment period by an additional seven calendar days from the original comment deadline of July 6, 2016, to the extended deadline of July 13, 2016. All public comments received by BOEM can be viewed at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for docket ID BOEM-2016-0038. During the comment period, BOEM held five public meetings in New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts to provide an overview of the EA, solicit public comment, and discuss next steps in the environmental review and leasing processes. BOEM 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.