The project sponsor’s delayed submission of information needed for a complete Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) Incidental Take Authorization (ITA) application has resulted in delays to the schedule for NMFS’s issuance of the proposed ITA as well as delays to the development of complete Endangered Species Act (ESA) and Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) consultation documents, the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS), the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) and all other subsequent dependent milestones. BOEM developed an updated permitting timetable reflecting the 90-day shift to the DEIS, FEIS, and Record of Decision (ROD) milestone dates. The NEPA Action is impacted by the milestone shifts for the ESA Action as a result of the shifts for the MMPA Action; the NEPA timeline is changing accordingly.
Cooperating under NEPA
Milestones:
PROJECT WEBSITE: Beacon 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
01/27/2026
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
Environmental Protection Agency
Department of the Army, US Army Corps of Engineers - Regulatory
Department of the Army, US Army Corps of Engineers - Civil Works
Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service
Description:
Beacon Wind proposes to construct and operate an offshore wind farm to be located approximately 20 statute miles (mi) (17 nautical miles [nm], 32 kilometers [km]) south of Nantucket, Massachusetts, and 60 mi (52 nm, 97 km) east of Montauk, New York. Offshore components of the Project will consist of up to 155 wind turbines and up to two offshore substation facilities for a total of up to 157 foundations.
Update:
The Executive Director granted a Bureau of Ocean Energy Management request to extend the NEPA, COP, Section 106, ESA-FWS, ESA-NMFS, EFH, MMPA, Section 10/404, Section 408, OCS air permit and NPDES permit completion dates on March 15, 2024. The Executive Director determination is posted here.
Original Target Date: 01/13/2025
Milestone: NOAA Issues any EFH Conservation Recommendations (Agency Action)
Requested extensions greater than 30 days for this Action are shown below:
NOAA Issues any EFH Conservation Recommendations (Agency Action) extended by 140
From: 01/13/2025
To: 06/02/2025