Welcome to the Oregon Offshore Wind Environmental Assessment (EA) Virtual Meeting Room. Your participation is an essential part of BOEM’s renewable energy program and environmental review process.
On February 14, 2024, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) will announce a Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare an Environmental Assessment (EA) under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), which will analyze potential impacts of possible wind energy-related leasing, site assessment, and site characterization on the U.S. Pacific Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) off the coast of Oregon.
The NOI initiates a 30-day comment period. As part of this scoping process, BOEM asks stakeholders, organizations, Federal agencies, and Tribal, State, and local governments to submit comments on the scope of the EA, including environmental issues and the identification of reasonable alternatives that should be considered in the EA. The environmental impacts of any proposed wind energy projects will be assessed after a lease is issued and before BOEM decides whether or not to approve any lessee’s project construction and operations plan. The public comment period for scoping ends on March 15, 2024. Information on how to provide scoping comments is available under the “Scoping” tab.
The following documents are available for your viewing.
- Notice of Intent to Prepare an EA
- BOEM Finalizes Wind Energy Areas in Oregon (Press Release 02/13/2024)
- Scoping for Oregon Environmental Assessment (Presentation slides 02/14/24)
More information is available on the Oregon Activities page.
BOEM is seeking public input regarding important environmental issues and the identification of reasonable alternatives that should be considered in the EA. The environmental impacts of any proposed wind energy projects will be assessed after a lease is issued and before BOEM decides whether or not to approve any lessee’s project construction and operations plan. Comments can be submitted on either regulations.gov (preferred) or in writing:
- You may submit written comments of any length electronically using Regulations.gov, docket No. BOEM-2023-0065. Comments must be submitted by 8:59 PT/11:59 PM ET on March 15, 2024.
- You may also submit written comments by mail. Enclose your comment in an envelope labeled, “Oregon EA Scoping” addressed to “Environmental Analysis Section Manager, Office of Environment, Pacific Regional Office, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, 760 Paseo Camarillo, Ste. 102, Camarillo, California 93010.” Comments must be postmarked no later than March 15, 2024.
Information about the Environmental Assessment process, what scoping is, and the type of comments BOEM is seeking is available in the Scoping for Oregon Environmental Assessment presentation slides
BOEM and the State, led by the Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development (DLCD), have engaged in offshore wind planning with a meaningful and effective data gathering and engagement process to inform the identification of Oregon Call Area(s) appropriate for offshore wind leasing. The Data Gathering and Engagement Plan for Offshore Wind Energy in Oregon outlines how BOEM and the State are conducting the planning process. The Data Gathering and Engagement Summary Report outlines the outcome of BOEM’s and DLCD’s engagement through 2021 with research organizations and potentially interested and affected parties in gathering data and information to inform potential offshore wind energy leasing decisions offshore Oregon.
The Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development (DLCD), in partnership with BOEM, developed the Oregon Offshore Wind Mapping Tool (OROWindMap) within the West Coast Ocean Data Portal to provide public access to the best available data throughout the planning process. This planning tool accesses relevant datasets and provides visualization capabilities to inform the planning process for offshore wind energy leasing in federal waters offshore Oregon. The OROWindMap Catalog documents the data records incorporated into OROWindMap. The inclusion of new data sets will help inform the public, the State, and BOEM during the planning process. More information on how to include data in OROWindMap.
More information on BOEM-Oregon offshore wind planning efforts can be found on the Oregon Offshore Renewable Energy factsheet and on the BOEM Oregon Intergovernmental Renewable Energy Task Force and BOEM and State of Oregon Participation in Standing Meetings webpages.
Related Announcements
- Web Story - BOEM Offers First Renewable Energy Research Lease in Federal Offshore Waters Along the U.S. West Coast (01/19/2021)
Call for Information and Nominations
Oregon Call for Information and Nominations
The Call Area is located offshore the State of Oregon and comprises areas identified as Coos Bay and Brookings. These two areas total about 1,159,298 acres (1,811 square miles) and are located offshore south-central and southern Oregon, respectively.
- Coos Bay Call Area: The boundary of the Coos Bay Call Area begins 13.8 miles offshore Charleston, Oregon, and extends to about 65 miles offshore. The eastern boundary water depth ranges from about 394 to 722 feet (120 to 220 meters). The area is about 67 miles in length from north to south and about 41 miles in width from east to west. The entire area is approximately 872,854 acres (1,364 square miles).
- Brookings Call Area: The boundary of the Brookings Call area begins 13.8 miles offshore Gold Beach and Brookings, Oregon, and extends to about 46 miles offshore. The eastern boundary water depth ranges from about 410 to 1,115 feet (125 to 340 meters). The area is about 46 miles in length from north to south and about 22 miles in width from east to west. The entire area is approximately 286,444 acres (448 square miles).
Maps of Oregon Call Areas
- Oregon Call Areas Map, (NOAA Chart), (Shapefile) and Waypoints (Excel, Shapefile)
In response to the Call, BOEM received nominations of areas of interest from 4 developers. Each of the parties listed below has been legally, technically and financially qualified.
- Map of all Nominations Received
- Avangrid Renewables LLC
- BlueFloat Energy Oregon LLC
- OW North America Ventures LLC
- US Mainstream Renewable Power Inc
Draft Wind Energy Areas
On Aug.15, 2023, BOEM announced a 60-day public comment period on two draft Wind Energy Areas (WEAs) located in the existing Call Areas offshore southern Oregon. The draft WEAs cover approximately 219,568 acres offshore southern Oregon with their closest points ranging from approximately 18 – 32 miles off the coast.
BOEM used a comprehensive process to identify the draft WEAs as potential offshore locations that appear most suitable for floating offshore wind energy leasing and potential development, taking into consideration possible effects to local coastal and marine resources and ocean users. In addition to coordinating with the State of Oregon, BOEM collaborated with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS) to use an ocean planning model that seeks to identify and minimize conflicts.
- Draft NCCOS Report: A Wind Energy Area Siting Analysis for the Oregon Call Areas (Aug. 2023)
- Request for comment on draft Wind Energy Areas
During the comment period, BOEM held an intergovernmental renewable energy task force meeting, an informational fishing webinar and in-person public meetings on the Oregon coast to discuss data used to inform the draft wind energy areas and next steps.
Virtual Oregon Intergovernmental Renewable Energy Task Force Meeting
Informational Fishing Webinar (fishing data focus):
- Agenda
- Thursday, September 21, 2023: 5:00 pm – 8:00 p.m.
In-person public open house meetings:
- VENUE CHANGE - Gold Beach, Oregon: Tuesday, September 26, 2023
Gold Beach Community Center
29841 Airport Way
4:00p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
- Coos Bay, Oregon: Wednesday, September 27, 2023
Coos Bay Public Library, Myrtlewood Room
525 Anderson Avenue
4:00p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
- Brookings, Oregon: Thursday, September 28, 2023
Southwest Oregon Community College - Curry Campus, Commons Room
96082 Lone Ranch Pkwy
4:00p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
BOEM accepted public comments at the in-person open house and virtual meetings. Comments received during the comment period informed designation of final WEAs for further analysis and review for possible offshore wind energy leasing. BOEM extended the comment period through 11:59 pm ET on October 31, 2023. To view comments on the draft WEAs please go to regulations.gov, docket number BOEM-2023-0033.
Draft Wind Energy Area Public Meeting Handouts
- BOEM Outreach Engagement fact sheet
- BOEM Visualization fact sheet
- NOAA NCCOS Fisheries Handout
- NOAA NCCOS Natural Resources Handout
- Selected BOEM Research Informing Oregon Renewable Energy
- Wind Energy Commercial Leasing Process
Maps
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 information in our decision making.
We also consider public input to be a crucial component of safe and responsible offshore resource development. 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 is BOEM developing an Environmental Assessment (EA)?
BOEM remains committed to a permitting process that minimizes user conflicts and establishes a strong foundation for wind projects moving forward. The EA will provide important information regarding site assessment, site characterization, and other ocean users in the Wind Energy Area, in order to assist the decision maker during the leasing process.
BOEM’s renewable energy process includes a phased approach to environmental review. One NEPA analysis is prepared at the lease sale stage, such as this Oregon EA. There is another NEPA analysis done at the Construction and Operations phase, and this evaluation of full project build out is normally through an Environmental Impact Statement.
What is scoping?
Scoping is the phase of environmental analysis under the National Environmental Policy Act where the agency seeks input from interested and affected tribal and governmental entities and the public to help BOEM identify the issues that should be included in the analysis.
What type of input or comments is BOEM seeking?
In this scoping period for this Oregon EA, BOEM is seeking input on site assessment and site characterization activities, which includes a variety of scientific surveys to gather data on the environment in the Coos Bay and Brookings Wind Energy Areas, as well as other uses of the OCS in the vicinity.
How is scoping incorporated into the EA?
Scoping comments assist BOEM in determining issues to be analyzed in the EA and in gathering information to support that analysis. An important aspect of input is proposing alternative ideas that achieve a similar purpose as the proposed action. BOEM considers the information provided and issues and alternatives raised from the comments received to ensure a complete analysis of the impacts of site assessment and site characterization on resources in the Wind Energy Area (WEA).
What is the EA intended to do?
The analysis in this EA covers the potential impacts of lease issuance and the routine activities associated with site assessment and site characterization on those leases. These activities may include 1) meteorological buoy deployment, operation, and decommissioning; and 2) site characterization activities (e.g., biological, geological, geophysical, geotechnical, and archaeological surveys) in the WEA.
