BOEM, on behalf of EPA, requests to modify the final NPDES permit completion date from March 27, 2025, to June 25, 2025. EPA needs additional time to evaluate the applicability of the January 20, 2025, Presidential Memorandum, Temporary Withdrawal of All Areas on the Outer Continental Shelf from Offshore Wind Leasing and Review of the Federal Government's Leasing and Permitting Practices for Wind Projects – The White House (the “Offshore Wind Presidential Memorandum”), to issuance of the final NPDES permit decision.
The Offshore Wind Presidential Memorandum provides that agencies shall not issue new permits for offshore wind projects “pending the completion of a comprehensive assessment and review of Federal wind leasing and permitting practices” led by the Secretary of the Interior in consultation with a number of agencies, including EPA. Given the need to assess applicability and implementation of the Presidential Memorandum, extending EPA’s final NPDES permit decision date is warranted.
Description:
The NPDES program is authorized by CWA: Section 402 (40 CFR Part 122). NPDES permits control discharges to waters of the U.S. The program ensures that discharges meet state water quality standards and other Clean Water Act requirements. A NPDES permit is required because the applicant proposes to withdraw cooling water from and discharge pollutants to the Atlantic Ocean from one or more offshore substations.
Milestones:
Ahead of this milestone, EPA recommends a pre-application meeting with the applicant prior to the milestone target date, to discuss expectations for the permit application, including information pertaining to the proposed cooling water intake structure (CWIS) in accordance with CWA Section 316(b), information required to evaluate the potential water quality impacts from the discharge of pollutants, including heat, in accordance with CWA Section 403(c) (Ocean Discharge Criteria), and monitoring/modeling information to support the permit application.
EPA will notify the applicant whether the application is complete or incomplete within 30 days from receiving the application. If incomplete, EPA will require the applicant to submit additional information necessary to make the application complete in accordance with 40 CFR 124.3(c).
Application must have all required elements, including those listed in 40 CFR 122.21.
The milestone will be checked (on the dashboard) when a complete application is submitted by the applicant.
Once the permit application addresses all applicable requirements, EPA will send notification to the applicant confirming that the permit application is complete. The Agency works towards a permit decision (issuance or denial) within one year. Prior to final decision, EPA offers a draft permit for public comment. The draft permit and all supporting information including the notice announcing the public comment period are made available on the EPA regional website. Relevant documents will also be uploaded to “Agency Postings” on the dashboard.
The target date for this milestone is generally scheduled for the later of a) 90 days after Lead Agency’s target date for Issuance of a NEPA Record of Decision (ROD) or combined Final EIS/ROD and b) 1-year after the EPA completeness determination finding the permit application to be complete. EPA may adjust the issuance of final decision/permit approval based on revisions to the NEPA timeline and Lead Agency’s issuance of the ROD.
The target date for this milestone is generally scheduled for the later of a) 90 days after Lead Agency’s target date for Issuance of a NEPA Record of Decision (ROD) or combined Final EIS/ROD and b) 1-year after the EPA completeness determination finding the permit application to be complete. EPA may adjust the issuance of final decision/permit approval based on revisions to the NEPA timeline and Lead Agency’s issuance of the ROD.
PROJECT WEBSITE: https://southcoastwind.com/
All dates below are specific to the schedule of the Environmental Review and Permitting processes for this project.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW AND PERMITTING STATUS
IN PROGRESS
ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE OF ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW AND PERMITTING
06/26/2025
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW AND PERMITTING PROCESSES
COMPLETED
SECTOR
Renewable Energy Production
CATEGORY
Project Category
FAST-41 Covered Projects
LEAD AGENCY
Department of the Interior, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management
View FAST-41 Postings by Agencies
Other Agencies with Actions or Authorizations:
Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Department of the Army, US Army Corps of Engineers - Regulatory
Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service
Environmental Protection Agency
Description:
Updated February 2023: Mayflower Wind Project name changed to SouthCoast Wind Project.
The purpose of the SouthCoast Wind Project is to provide clean, renewable wind energy to the Northeast United States, including to Massachusetts. SouthCoast Wind will support reliability in Massachusetts and in the New England region, while meeting the Commonwealth’s statutory need for renewable/clean energy. The SouthCoast Wind Project also supports the federal need of grid reliability, as set forth the Federal Power Act in Section 215. Out of the 6.7 million people living in Massachusetts, nearly 5.1 million people live along coastal areas of the state. Offshore wind projects like SouthCoast Wind can provide a localized energy source to coastal populations.
The Executive Director granted a Bureau of Ocean Energy Management request to extend the OCS Air Permit completion date on November 30, 2023. The Executive Director determination is posted here.
The Executive Director granted a Bureau of Ocean Energy Management request to extend the Clean Water Act Section 402 Permit, National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System's completion date on April 23, 2024. The Executive Director determination is posted here.
The target date for this milestone is generally scheduled for the later of a) 90 days after Lead Agency’s target date for Issuance of a NEPA Record of Decision (ROD) or combined Final EIS/ROD and b) 1-year after the EPA completeness determination finding the permit application to be complete. EPA may adjust the issuance of final decision/permit approval based on revisions to the NEPA timeline and Lead Agency’s issuance of the ROD.
The target date for this milestone is generally scheduled for the later of a) 90 days after Lead Agency’s target date for Issuance of a NEPA Record of Decision (ROD) or combined Final EIS/ROD and b) 1-year after the EPA completeness determination finding the permit application to be complete. EPA may adjust the issuance of final decision/permit approval based on revisions to the NEPA timeline and Lead Agency’s issuance of the ROD.
Original Target Date: 09/29/2024
Milestone: EPA authorizes discharge under Individual permit (Agency Action)
Requested extensions greater than 30 days for this Action are shown below:
EPA authorizes discharge under Individual permit (Agency Action) extended by 269
From: 03/27/2025
To: 06/25/2025