In order to increase transparency and consistency for our government partners, offshore wind industry and other key stakeholders, BOEM has standardized its process for identifying reasonable alternatives for evaluation in its draft Environmental Impact Statements (EISs) for all offshore wind Construction and Operations Plans (COP) received from lessees.
BOEM finalized its document, “Process for Identifying Alternatives for Environmental Reviews of Offshore Wind Construction and Operations Plans pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA),” after incorporating feedback from the federal agencies who participate in BOEM's environmental reviews.
By standardizing its alternatives development process and finalizing this document, BOEM is:
- Emphasizing earlier engagement with its federal partners on alternatives prior to the issuance of a Notice of Intent to Prepare an EIS.
- Establishing a clear framework and criteria for alternatives to be analyzed in detail, as well as alternatives considered but not analyzed in detail.
- Applying the CEQ NEPA regulations and guidance; the Department of the Interior’s NEPA regulations; and decades of case law and agency NEPA practices across the federal government.
The document can be found on BOEM’s website here: https://www.boem.gov/renewable-energy/boem-cop-eis-alternatives
-- BOEM --
The Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) is responsible for America’s offshore energy and mineral resources. The bureau promotes energy independence, environmental protection and economic development through responsible, science-based management of energy and mineral resources on the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf.