Abstract
This guidance provides lighting and marking recommendations for wind energy facilities, which include meteorological towers, wind turbine generators and electrical service platforms, on Federal renewable energy leases on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). This guidance also outlines the types of information that the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) would find helpful as it reviews a lessee’s Site Assessment Plan (SAP), Construction and Operations Plan (COP), or General Activities Plan (GAP). This information will assist BOEM in determining whether the lighting and marking of OCS wind energy facilities comply with BOEM’s statutory authorities and regulations (see below), and particularly whether the lighting and marking:
- are safe;
- do not unreasonably interfere with other uses of the OCS;
- do not cause undue harm or damage to natural resources; life (including human and wildlife); property; the marine, coastal, or human environment; or sites, structures, or objects of historical or archaeologicalsignificance;
- use best available and safest technology; and
- use best management practices.
BOEM will review lighting and marking information, in consultation with other Federal agencies, as part of its plan review and approval process. Under 30 CFR 585.701, BOEM may request more detailed lighting and marking specifications in a lessee’s Facility Design Report following plan approval. BOEM recommendations are offered to assist lessees in demonstrating that their plans adequately address the concerns enumerated above. These recommendations are guidance and do not prescribe additional regulatory requirements.