FWS is currently coordinating with BOEM and the project proponent on the reasonable and prudent measures/conservation measures that will be included in the Biological Opinion (BO).  

FWS is drafting the Biological Opinion and is on track to meet the subsequent May 15, 2024 milestone, to conclude consultation.   

FWS is drafting the Biological Opinion and is on track to meet the subsequent May 15, 2024 milestone to conclude consultation.

FWS deemed the ESA package complete on Jan 10, 2024 and is on track to meet the subsequent May 15, 2024 milestone, to conclude consultation. FWS is drafting the Biological Opinion.

BOEM submitted the revised BA on December 15, 2023. BOEM is on track to meet the alternative completion date.

The alternative completion date was updated on November 16, 2023 to a January 19, 2024 completion date. BOEM is on track to meet the new alternative completion date.

BOEM is on track to meet the alternative completion date.

BOEM is on track to meet the alternate milestone. 

The ESA consultation with the Fish and Wildlife Service is anticipated to conclude within the same general timeframe as the NMFS consultations, all of which are in alignment with the new timeframe for NEPA conclusion as approved in an ED Determination dated July 21, 2023.

Additional information required of, and provided by, the Project Sponsor resulted in a delay of slightly more than one month in the development of the DEIS.  FWS anticipates a delay of about one month due to the delay in receipt of the ESA consultation request resulting from changes to the project activities. This delay has cascading delays on subsequent ESA milestones.  Though BOEM included the date changes for this action in an Executive Director determination request that covered multiple actions, the request was not submitted with enough time in advance of the 30-day lockout for this action for FPISC-OED to complete the necessary analysis and coordination before the lockout.   Because the Executive Director determination request did not meet the minimum 50-day advance notice to FPISC-OED for this action, this milestone has been updated through the nonconformance protocol.