Departure Requests

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management may approve departures from operating requirements/procedures in its regulations when such departures are necessary to properly develop a lease; conserve natural resources, or protect life, property, or the marine, coastal, or human environment.

§ 585.103 When may BOEM prescribe or approve departures from these regulations?

  1. BOEM may prescribe or approve departures from these regulations when departures are necessary to:
    1. Facilitate the appropriate activities on a lease or grant under this part;
    2. Conserve natural resources;
    3. Protect life (including human and wildlife), property, or the marine, coastal, or human environment; or
    4. Protect sites, structures, or objects of historical or archaeological significance.
  2. Any departure approved under this section and its rationale must:
    1. Be consistent with subsection 8(p) of the OCS Lands Act;
    2. Protect the environment and the public health and safety to the same degree as if there was no approved departure from the regulations;
    3. Not impair the rights of third parties; and
    4. Be documented in writing.
Lease Project State Lessee Departure Approval Letter Date Issued Topic Area Regulation Request
OCS-A 0520 Beacon Wind MA Equinor Wind US LLC *Departure not required 12/31/2022 Fabrication 30 C.F.R. § 585.700(b)

Commence fabrication of facility components prior to the non-objection of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) to your Facility Design Report (FDR) and Fabrication and installation Report (FIR).

OCS-A 0517 South Fork Wind Farm NY/RI/MA South Fork Wind, LLC (Ørsted/Evers ource) *Departure not required 12/31/2022 Fabrication 30 C.F.R. § 585.700(b) Commence fabrication of facility components prior to the non-objection of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) to your Facility Design Report (FDR) and Fabrication and installation Report (FIR).
aOCS-0483 Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind  VA Virginia Electric and Power Company (Dominion Energy, Inc.) *Departure not required 12/31/2022 Fabrication 30 C.F.R. § 585.700(b) Commence fabrication of facility components prior to the non-objection of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) to your Facility Design Report (FDR) and Fabrication and installation Report (FIR).
OCS-A 0483 Sunrise Wind RI/MA Sunrise Wind LLC (Ørsted, Eversource Energy) *Departure not required 12/31/2022 Fabrication 30 C.F.R. § 585.700(b) Commence fabrication of facility components prior to the non-objection of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) to your Facility Design Report (FDR) and Fabrication and installation Report (FIR).
OCS-A 0486 Revolution Wind RI/MA
 
Revolution Wind, LLC (Ørsted/Evers ource) *Departure not required 12/31/2022 Fabrication 30 C.F.R. § 585.700(b) Commence fabrication of facility components prior to the non-objection of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) to your Facility Design Report (FDR) and Fabrication and installation Report (FIR).
OCS-A 0498 Ocean Wind NJ Ocean Wind LLC (Ørsted) *Departure not required 12/31/2022 Fabrication 30 C.F.R. § 585.700(b) Commence fabrication of facility components prior to the non-objection of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) to your Facility Design Report (FDR) and Fabrication and installation Report (FIR).

OCS-A 0521

Mayflower MA Mayflower Wind Energy LLC Approval Letter 10/04/2021 In situ testing,
boring, and sampling
30 C.F.R. § 585.626(a)(4)(ii) Mayflower requested to submit the required geotechnical information at each foundation location with the Facility Design Report (FDR)
OCS-A-0501 Vineyard Wind I MA Vineyard Wind LLC Approval Letter 6/15/2021 Financial Assurance 30 C.F.R. § 585.516(a)(4), Depart from the requirement to provide financial assurance for decommissioning costs before the installation of facilities on their lease.

OCS-A-0501 

Vineyard Wind I 

MA 

Vineyard Wind LLC 

Approval Letter

6/28/2021 

Facility Design Report/Fabrication and Installation Report 

30 CFR 700 (b) 

Allow for fabrication of approved facilities to begin before  BOEM provides notification that it has received and has no objections to the submitted Facility Design Report (FDR) and Fabrication and Installation Report (FIR). 

OCS-A-0487 

Sunrise Wind 

RIMA 

Sunrise Wind LLC (Ørsted, Eversource Energy) 

Approval Letter

4/26/2021 

Geotech  

30 CFR 585.626(a)(4)(ii) and (iii) 

Depart from the requirement to submit in situ testing, boring, and sampling at each foundation location; as well as a minimum of one deep boring (with soil sampling and testing) at each edge of the project area and within the project area as part of its COP for the proposed project. 

OCS-A-0501 (South) Phase 2  

Park City Wind 

MA 

Vineyard Wind LLC 

Approval Letter

4/28/2021 

Construction and Operations Plan 

30 CFR 585.626(b)(20) 

Depart from the requirement to include a nomination for a Certified Verification Agent (CVA)  in the Construction and Operations Plan (COP).  For Phase 2 Only. 

OCS-A-0486 

Revolution Wind 

RI 

DWW Rev I, LLC 

Approval Letter

1/27/2021 

Geotech 

585.626(a)(4)(ii) and (iii) 

Depart from the requirement to submit in situ testing, boring, and sampling at each foundation location; as well as a minimum of one deep boring (with soil sampling and testing) at each edge of the project area and within the project area as part of its COP for the proposed project. 

OCS-A-0478
(Relinquished
May 2018)

Cape Wind MA Cape Wind Associates (CWA) Cape Wind Associates 7/9/2014 Facility Design Report/Fabrication and Installation Report 30 CFR 701(a)(2) Allow submission of a location plat using a scale of 1 inch =4000 feet instead of the required 1 inch=100 feet in the FDR.
OCS-A-0489 TBD MD US Wind (Renexia) OCS-A 0489 Financial Assurance 5/4/2018 Financial Assurance 30 CFR 585.533(b)(2) Depart from the requirement for BOEM to hold a surety or collateral financial assurance for lease OCS-A 0489 until, at minimum, 7 years after the lease's termination.
OCS-A-0489 TBD MD US Wind (Renexia) OCS-A-0490 11/6/2014 Payments 30 CFR 585.503(a)(1) Allow a 10-day extension of the set deadline to make the first year's rent payment for both leases
OCS-A-0490 TBD MD US Wind (Renexia) OCS-A-0490 11/6/2014 Payments 30 CFR 585.503(a)(1) Allow a 10-day extension of the set deadline to make the first year's rent payment for both leases
OCS-A-0521 Mayflower Wind MA Mayflower Wind Energy LLC OCS-A-0521 11/25/2020 Facility Design, Fabrication, and Installation 30 C.F.R. § 700(b) Depart from the requirement that prohibits fabrication and installation of facilities before project plan approval.

OCS-A-0512
 

Empire Wind NY Equinor Wind US LLC OCS-A-0512 11/03/2020 Facility Design Report/Fabrication and Installation Report 30 CFR § 585.626(a)(4)(ii) Depart from the requirement to provide detailed in situ geotechnical data at each proposed foundation location at the time of Construction and Operations Plan (COP) submittal.

OCS-0512

Empire Wind

NY

Equinor

OCS-A-0512

5/7/2020

Facility Design, Fabrication, and Installation

30 C.F.R. §§ 585.700(b), 585.702(c), and 585.708

BOEM issued departures from 30 C.F.R. §§ 585.700(b), 585.702(c), and 585.708 to allow the offsite fabrication of certain project components for lease OCS-A 512 prior to BOEM’s decision regarding the Construction and Operations Plan (COP) and approval of the certified verification agent. Issuance of the departures does not allow fabrication or installation activities on the Outer Continental Shelf, nor limits BOEM’s right to object to the fabrication of said structures if a COP is approved and the corresponding Facility Design Report and Fabrication and Installation Report are submitted.  The departures apply to Equinor Wind’s fabrication of (i) inter-array cables, (ii) secondary steel and internal and external work platforms for transition pieces for wind turbine generator (WTG) foundations, and (iii) davit cranes for WTG foundations.

OCS-A 0500

Bay State Wind

MA

Bay State Wind (Orsted, Eversource Energy)

OCS-A 0500 Departure Request Notice

5/10/18

Decommissioning

30 C.F.R. § 585.902(d) and § 585.908(a)

BOEM issued a departure from the requirement 30 C.F.R. § 585.902(d) and § 585.908(a) to submit its decommissioning notice at least 60 days in advance of commencing decommissioning activities and only after the decommissioning application is approved.

OCS-A 0500

Bay State Wind

MA

Bay State Wind (Orsted, Eversource Energy)

OCS-A 0500 Approval Letter

5/10/18

Decommissioning

30 C.F.R. § 585.902(d) and § 585.908(a)

BOEM issued a departure from the requirement 30 C.F.R. § 585.902(d) and § 585.908(a) to submit its decommissioning notice at least 60 days in advance of commencing decommissioning activities and only after the decommissioning application is approved.

OCS-A-0500 Bay State Wind MA Bay State Wind (Orsted, Eversource Energy) OCS-A 0500 (Geotech) 4/9/2019 Geotech 30 CFR 585.626(a)(4)(ii) and (iii), Depart from the requirement(s) to the submit: (1) the results of adequate in situ testing, boring, and sampling at each foundation location; and, (2) the results of a minimum of one deep boring (with soil sampling and testing) at each edge of the project area and within the project area as needed with the Construction and Operations Plan (COP).
OCS-A-0500 Bay State Wind MA Bay State Wind (Orsted, Eversource Energy) OCS-A 0500 (COP) 8/12/2019 Construction and Operations Plan 30 CFR 585.626(a)(4)(ii) and (iii), Depart from the requirement(s) to submit: (1) the results of adequate in situ testing, boring, and sampling at each foundation location; and, (2) the results of a minimum of one deep boring (with soil sampling and testing) at each edge of the project area and within the project area as needed with the Construction and Operations Plan (COP). Additionally, the Lessee is requesting that it conduct and submit the results of the full the investigation surveys conducted and reported after COP approval, but prior to construction, as part of the required Facility Design Report (FDR).
OCS-A-0501 Vineyard Wind MA Vineyard Wind LLC OCS-A 0501 Approval Letter 11/25/2020 Decommissioning 30 C.F.R. § 585.908(a), Depart from the requirement to 1) submit and receive approval of a decommissioning application before the submittal of a decommissioning notice; and 2) submit a decommissioning notice at least 60 days before commencing decommissioning activities.
OCS-A-0501 Vineyard Wind MA Vineyard Wind (Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, Avangrid Renewables) OCS-A 0501 1/9/2018 Construction and Operations Plan 30 CFR 585.626(a)(4)(ii); (a)(2); (a)(5); and (a)(6) "Depart from the requirement(s) to submit: (1) (Geotechnical survey results) “requiring that a COP, when submitted, contain the results of ‘in situ testing, boring, and sampling at each foundation location...’” Submit incomplete archaeological information with the COP (2) (Geological survey relevant to facility design and siting) “to the extent that this section requires, with COP submission, geophysical surveys results of inter-array and export cable routes.” (3) (Archaeological resources) “to the extent that this section requires with COP submission, for archeological purposes, geophysical surveys at each turbine location and along inter-array and export cable routes.” • Although Vineyard Wind did not request it, BOEM prescribes a departure from § 585.627(a)(6) to effectuate Vineyard Wind’s request to submit incomplete archaeological survey information with the COP."
OCS-A-0506 Sea2Shore RI The Narragansett Electric Company (d/b/a National Grid) OCS-A 0506 3/7/2016 Facility Design Report/Fabrication and Installation Report 30 CFR 585.701(a)(2) Allow submission of a location plat using a scale of 1 inch =40 feet (vertically) and 1 inch= 400 feet (horizontally) instead of the required 1 inch=100 feet in the FDR.
  Atlantic Wind Connection Virginia
to New Jersey/New York City
Atlantic Grid Holdings LLC AGH GAP 12/13/2013 Right of Way/Right of Use and Easement Grant 30 CFR 585.306(b) Allow additional time to submit a GAP

Lease Project State Lessee Departure Approval Letter Date Issued Topic Area Regulation Request

OCS-P 00180
OCS-P 00181
OCS-P 00182
OCS-P 00183
OCS-P 00187
OCS-P 00188
OCS-P 00189
OCS-P 00190
OCS-P 00191
OCS-P 00192
OCS-P 00193
OCS-P 00194
OCS-P 00195
OCS-P 00326
OCS-P 00329
OCS-P 00461

Santa Ynez Unit California Exxon Mobil Corporation Santa Ynez Unit, SYU (Fields Hondo, Pescado and Sacate) 02/10/2016 Reservoir Management (Subpart K – Oil & Gas production Requirements) 30 CFR 550.1153 (a) Depart from the Bottomhole Pressure Survey Report submissions due to the shut-in of the Santa Ynez Unit, SYU (Fields: Hondo, Pescado and Sacate)

OCS-P 00180
OCS-P 00181
OCS-P 00182
OCS-P 00183
OCS-P 00187
OCS-P 00188
OCS-P 00189
OCS-P 00190
OCS-P 00191
OCS-P 00192
OCS-P 00193
OCS-P 00194
OCS-P 00195
OCS-P 00326
OCS-P 00329
OCS-P 00461

Santa Ynez Unit California Exxon Mobil Corporation Santa Ynez Unit, SYU (Fields Hondo, Pescado and Sacate) 02/10/2016 Reservoir Management (Subpart K – Oil & Gas production Requirements) 30 CFR 550.1155 Depart from the Sensitive Reservoir Information Reports submission due to the shut-in of the Santa Ynez Unit, SYU (Fields: Hondo, Pescado and Sacate)