Vineyard Northeast’s delayed submission of a complete Terrestrial Archaeological Resources Assessment (TARA) has resulted in delays to the development of the draft EIS. A complete TARA is needed to analyze impacts to cultural resources in the draft EIS and to prepare the Finding of Effect (FOE) and draft National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) Section 106 Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for inclusion in the draft EIS. BOEM is required to include the FOE and the draft MOA with the draft EIS to fulfill NEPA substitution standards, as BOEM is using NEPA substitution to fulfill its NHPA Section 106 obligations in accordance with 36 CFR 800.8(c). Vineyard Northeast intends to submit an updated TARA to BOEM on April 15, 2025, resulting in an 119-day delay to publication of the draft EIS and subsequent EIS action milestones.
Milestones:
Prior to issuance of the Notice of Intent, BOEM will review the Construction and Operations Plan (COP) to determine whether the COP is sufficiently complete for the purposes of issuing an NOI in accordance with the NEPA regulations at 40 CFR 1501.9 and BOEM's regulations at 30 CFR part 585.
BOEM reviews the COP for consistency with its published guidance, BOEM Guidance on Information Needed for Issuance of a Notice of Intent (NOI) Under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) for a Construction and Operations Plan ("NOI Checklist").
This milestone marks the conclusion of scoping.
Public scoping meetings and details can be found here: https://www.boem.gov/renewable-energy/state-activities/vineyard-northeast
PROJECT WEBSITE: Vineyard Offshore
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
11/09/2026
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 Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service
Department of the Army, US Army Corps of Engineers - Regulatory
Environmental Protection Agency
Description:
Vineyard Northeast proposes to construct and operate the Project located in Lease Area OCS-A 0522, which covers approximately 132,370 acres (ac) and is located approximately 31 miles from Nantucket, Massachusetts and 39 miles from Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts.
Offshore components of the Project will consist of up to 160 wind turbine generators (WTG) and electrical service platform (ESP) positions within the Lease Area with one nautical mile spacing between positions. The WTGs and ESPs will be supported by monopiles or piled jacket foundations.
Between the Lease Area and shore, the offshore export cables will be installed within two offshore export cable corridors (OECC), the Massachusetts OECC and the Connecticut OECC.
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- The Massachusetts OECC will travel from the northernmost tip of the Lease Area to the Horseneck Beach Landfall site in Westport, Massachusetts.
- The Connecticut OECC will travel from the southernmost tip of the Lease Area to three potential landfall sites: Eastern Point Beach, Ocean Beach, and Niantic Beach; all near New London, Connecticut.
Onshore components of the Project will include export cable landfall areas, high-voltage direct current onshore cables, high-voltage alternating current interconnection cables, converter and booster stations, and onshore substation facilities in Massachusetts and Connecticut.
Original Target Date: 03/23/2026
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 140
From: 03/23/2026
To: 08/10/2026