Triggered missed date from extending NOAA Issues any EFH conservation recommendations within 30 days of its current target date which was 10/30/2019 and extended to 06/07/2021
Description:
Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) designated under MSA exists throughout the area affected by the proposed wind farm and associated transmission lines. The proposed action may adversely affect these resources, therefore EFH consultation is required under the MSA. Based on anticipated impacts to EFH, an expanded consultation would be required.
Milestones:
-
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
:
Official Notice of Availability of a Draft EIS published in the Federal Register (FR) beginning both the public comment period and concurrent CAA Section 309 Review (Agency Action)
- Completed Date: 01/08/2021
This reflects the anticipated date of receipt of initial EFH application. EFH consultation request expected concurrent with lead agency’s issuance of DEIS.
Anticipated 90 days from the lead agency’s issuance of DEIS. EFH consultation initiation is contingent upon NMFS receiving sufficient information to initiate EFH consultation, including a complete EFH Assessment.
Issuance of a response to the EFH consultation request is contingent upon NMFS receiving sufficient information, including an EFH Assessment, to initiate EFH consultation. Issuance of response anticipated 60 days following receiving sufficient information to initiate EFH consultation.
Issuance of a response to the EFH consultation request is contingent upon NMFS receiving sufficient information, including an EFH Assessment, to initiate EFH consultation. Issuance of response anticipated 60 days following receiving sufficient information to initiate EFH consultation.
PROJECT WEBSITE: South Fork Wind Farm - Deepwater 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
01/18/2022
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW AND PERMITTING PROCESSES
COMPLETED
SECTOR
Renewable Energy Production
CATEGORY
Project Category
FAST-41 Covered Projects
Major Infrastructure 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 - Regulatory
Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service
Environmental Protection Agency
Description:
The purpose of the South Fork Wind Farm (the Project) is to generate electricity from an offshore wind farm and transmit it to the existing East Hampton Substation, part of the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) electric transmission and distribution system in East Hampton, New York. The Project addresses the need identified by LIPA for new sources of power generation that can cost-effectively and reliably supply the South Fork of Suffolk County, Long Island, as an alternative to constructing new transmission facilities. The Project will also help LIPA achieve its renewable energy goals. The Project will enable Deepwater South Fork to fulfill its contractual commitments to LIPA pursuant to a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) executed in 2017 resulting from LIPA's technology-neutral competitive bidding process.
The South Fork Wind Farm is located in federal waters on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS), specifially in Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) Renewable Energy Lease Area OCS-A 0501, approximately 19 miles southeast of Block Island, Rhode Island, and approximately 35 miles east of Montauk Point, New York; The South Fork Export Cable is located on the OCS, in New York State Territorial Waters, and in the Town of East Hampton, New York.
Issuance of a response to the EFH consultation request is contingent upon NMFS receiving sufficient information, including an EFH Assessment, to initiate EFH consultation. Issuance of response anticipated 60 days following receiving sufficient information to initiate EFH consultation.