Maryland Offshore Wind Draft EIS Virtual Meeting Room

Virtual Meeting Room
How to Comment
Frequently Asked Questions
Resources

Welcome to the Maryland Offshore Wind draft Environmental Impact Statement (Draft EIS) Virtual Meeting Room. Your participation is an essential part of BOEM’s environmental review process.

On September 29, 2023, BOEM announced the availability for the Draft EIS for the proposed Maryland Offshore Wind Project. The following documents are available for viewing:

The Notice of Availability initiated a 45-day public comment period that ended on November 20, 2023. In addition to the virtual meeting room, BOEM hosted two in-person and two virtual public meetings, where the public could learn more about Draft EIS, ask questions, and provide oral or written comments.

Public Meetings Schedule

During the comment period, BOEM hosted two in-person and two virtual public meetings.

The public meetings were held on the following dates and times. All times are Eastern:

In-person public meetings:

Tuesday, October 24, 2023, at 5:00 p.m.
Ocean City Elementary School, 12828 Center Drive, Ocean City, MD 21842
Thursday, October 26, 2023, at 5:00 p.m.
Indian River High School, 29772 Armory Road, Dagsboro, DE 19939

Virtual public meetings:

Your feedback is an essential part of this process. Starting on October 6, 2023, BOEM will accept comments on scope of the draft EIS in any of the following ways:

Oral or written comments during any of the public meetings listed in the Notice of Availability.
You may submit written comments electronically via http://www.regulations.gov by searching for Docket No. BOEM-2023-0050 and clicking on “Comment”. Comments must be submitted by 11:59 PM ET on November 20, 2023. See this Regulations.gov How-To Guide for more instructions on how to submit and view comments and answers to frequently asked questions.
You may also submit written comments by mail. Enclose your comment in an envelope labeled, “Maryland Offshore Wind DEIS” addressed to Program Chief, Office of Renewable Energy Programs, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, 45600 Woodland Road, Sterling, VA 20166. Comments must be postmarked no later than November 20, 2023.
After the public comment period ends, you can find the comments on http://www.regulations.gov and search for Docket No. BOEM-2023-0050.

What is BOEM's mission?

BOEM is the bureau within the Department of the Interior that oversees the environmentally and economically responsible development of our energy and mineral resources on almost 2.5 billion acres of the nation’s Outer Continental Shelf, or OCS. All our activities are underlain by our robust environmental program, which ensures that we develop and use the best available science in our decision making.

We also consider public input to be a critical component of safe and responsible offshore resource management. We solicit public comments from a host of stakeholders and ocean users, including the fishing community, mariners, and coastal communities, in our environmental reviews and regulatory programs.

What is the process for finalizing BOEM’s decision on the proposed Project?

Following the comment period, BOEM will analyze all comments received during the Draft EIS public comment period and will prepare a final EIS.

After the final EIS is published, the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires BOEM to wait a minimum of 30 days before issuing a Record of Decision (ROD). The US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) may adopt the final EIS and issue a joint ROD with BOEM or issue a separate ROD. The USACE and NOAA are both Cooperating Agencies on the environmental review of the project.

For BOEM’s decision, the ROD will state whether BOEM intends to approve the Maryland Offshore Wind Construction and Operations Plan for the proposed project within Lease Area OCS-A 0490.

How can stakeholders comment on this Draft EIS?

Your feedback is an essential part of this process. We are planning to hold both virtual and in person public meetings. The public meetings are an opportunity for public involvement and an opportunity to provide comments on the draft EIS. Starting on October 6, 2023, BOEM will accept comments on the draft EIS in any of the following ways:

In written form by mail, enclosed in an envelope labeled “Maryland Offshore Wind DEIS” and addressed to Program Chief, Office of Renewable Energy Programs, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, 45600 Woodland Road, Sterling, VA 20166.
Oral or written comments during any of the public meetings listed in the Notice of Availability.
Through the regulations.gov web portal by navigating to https://www.regulations.gov/ and search for Docket No. BOEM-2023-0050. Click on the “Comment” button below the document link. Enter your information and comment, then click “Submit Comment.”