Welcome to the New England Wind draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) Virtual Meeting Room. Your participation is an essential part of BOEM’s environmental review process.
BOEM has prepared a DEIS for the New England Wind Project. The following documents are available for your viewing:
- Notice of Availability of the DEIS
- New England Wind DEIS
- New England Wind Construction and Operations Plan (COP)
- Scoping Summary Report
- Cumulative Historic Resources Visual Effects Analysis
In addition to the virtual meeting room, BOEM will be hosting three virtual public meetings, where the public can learn more about DEIS, ask questions, and provide oral or written testimony. These public hearings will also serve as public hearings for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Section 10 and Section 404 permit review.
The public meetings will be held on the following dates and times. All times are Eastern:
Friday, January 27, 2023, 1pm
Wednesday, February 1, 2023, 5pm
Monday, February 6, 2023, 5pm
If you require a paper copy of the DEIS or public meeting materials, please contact us at boempublicaffairs@boem.gov or 202-531-0667.
Starting on December 23, 2022, BOEM will accept comments on the Draft EIS in any of the following ways:
- During any of the public hearings, you may provide oral testimony. BOEM will limit such testimony to five minutes per speaker. Any speaker who wishes to provide more information than five minutes allows is encouraged to do so as a written comment.
- You may submit written comments electronically via http://www.regulations.gov by searching for Docket No. BOEM-2022-0070 and clicking on “Comment”. Comments must be submitted by 11:59 PM on February 21, 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, “New England Wind Draft EIS” addressed to “Program Chief, Office of Renewable Energy Programs, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, 45600 Woodland Road, VAM-OREP, Sterling, Virginia 20166.” Comments must be postmarked no later than February 21, 2023.
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.
Why have meetings during this time?
To the greatest extent possible, we are working to maintain services to the American people and our stakeholders, consistent with evolving guidance provided by the CDC and state and local health authorities. As such, we are planning to hold both virtual and in person public hearings. The public hearings are an opportunity for public involvement and an opportunity to provide comments on the DEIS.
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 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 New England Wind Construction and Operations Plan for the proposed project within Lease Area OCS-A 0534.
How can stakeholders comment on this DEIS?
Your feedback is an essential part of this process. Starting on December 23, 2022, BOEM will accept comments on the DEIS in any of the following ways:
In written form by mail, enclosed in an envelope labeled “New England Wind COP 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 testimony during any of the public meetings listed in the Notice of Availability and Virtual Meeting Room.
Through the regulations.gov web portal by navigating to https://www.regulations.gov/ and search for Docket No. BOEM-2022-0070. Click on the “Comment” button below the document link. Enter your information and comment, then click “Submit Comment.”
