BOEM requests an extension of completion dates for its NEPA action based on the following: (1) several updates to the Project Sponsor’s Project Design Envelope and COP; (2) the addition of a connected action to the EIS; (3) the Project Sponsor’s need to provide additional acoustic modeling information, which then needed to be incorporated into the EIS that BOEM is preparing pursuant to NEPA, and (4) the Project Sponsor’s delay in providing sufficient information for use in developing suitable alternatives for USACE’s Section 10/404 action, which also needs to be included in the EIS.
Milestones:
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Monthly Status Report for November 2023:On track to meet the alternative completion date of Nov 21, 2023. Awaiting execution of Sec 106 MOA prior to issuance of ROD.
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Monthly Status Report for October 2023:On track to meet the alternative completion date of Nov 21, 2023
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Non-conformance Explanation:BOEM’s FEIS must incorporate measures resulting from Sec 7 consultations. The prior milestone date for publication of the FEIS was Sep 8. NMFS concluded ESA consultation on Sep 8 with issuance of the Biological Opinion, with reasonable and prudent measures (RPMs), terms and conditions, and conservation recommendations. BOEM needed an additional week to analyze and incorporate the NMFS recommendations into the FEIS. BOEM published the FEIS on Sep 15.
PROJECT WEBSITE: Equinor's Empire Wind
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
03/11/2024
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 the Army, US Army Corps of Engineers - Civil Works
Department of the Army, US Army Corps of Engineers - Regulatory
Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service
Environmental Protection Agency
Description:
Equinor Wind proposes to construct and operate the Empire Wind Energy Project located in Lease Area OCS-A 0512, which covers approximately 79,350 acres (ac; 32,112 hectares [ha]) and is located approximately 14 statute miles (mi) (12 nautical miles [nm], 22 kilometers [km]) south of Long Island, New York and 19.5 mi (16.9 nm, 31.4 km) east of Long Branch, New Jersey.
Original Target Date: 06/12/2023
Milestone: Issuance of Lead Agency Record of Decision (Agency Action)
Requested extensions greater than 30 days for this Action are shown below:
Issuance of Lead Agency Record of Decision (Agency Action) extended by 133
From: 06/12/2023
To: 10/23/2023