In support of Executive Order 14008, Tracking the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad,” and the Biden-Harris Administration’s goals to address the climate crisis and promote responsible renewable energy production in Federal waters, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) on August 31, 2021, announced a Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed Construction and Operations Plan (COP) submitted by Sunrise Wind LLC (Sunrise Wind). The proposed COP if approved would allow Sunrise Wind to construct and operate an 880 to 1,300 megawatt (MW) wind energy facility offshore Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and New York. The publication of the NOI opens a 30-day public comment period. During this time, BOEM will hold three virtual public scoping meetings and accept comments to inform preparation of the EIS at the following dates and times (Eastern):
- Thursday, September 16, 2021; 5:30 pm
- Monday, September 20, 2021; 1:00 pm
- Wednesday, September 22, 2021; 5:30 pm
Registration for the virtual public scoping meetings may be completed here: https://www.boem.gov/sunrise-wind-scoping-virtual-meetings or by calling (703) 787–1073. The virtual meetings are open to the public and free to attend. Comments may be submitted electronically via regulations.gov by searching for Docket No. BOEM-2021-0052 and clicking “Comment Now!” Comments may also be submitted by mail with envelopes labeled “Sunrise Wind COP EIS” addressed to Program Manager, Office of Renewable Energy, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, 45600 Woodland Road, Sterling, Virginia 20166. Comments must be received or postmarked no later than September 30, 2021. BOEM does not consider anonymous comments. Please include your name and address as part of your submittal. All comments submitted will be made part of the public record and may be posted publicly without change.
For information on the public scoping or BOEM’s policies associated with this notice, please contact: Michelle Morin, Chief, Environment Branch for Renewable Energy, BOEM Office of Renewable Energy Programs, 45600 Woodland Road, Sterling, Virginia 20166, (703) 787–1722 or michelle.morin@boem.gov. For more information on the Sunrise Wind project, please visit www.boem.gov/sunrise-wind.
