On October 5, 2022, BOEM announced the availability of the Morro Bay Wind Energy Area Final Environmental Assessment (EA) and Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI). Background on the development of the EA and associated public meetings can be found on the EA tab.
The following documents are available for public viewing:
- NEW – Morro Bay Wind Energy Area Final Environmental Assessment, Appendices, and Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI)
- Section 106 Consultation: Finding of No Historic Properties Affected
Related Press Releases
FINAL EA (October 2022)
Morro Bay Wind Energy Area Final Environmental Assessment, Appendices, & Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI): Commercial Wind Lease and Grant Issuance and Site Assessment Activities on the Pacific Outer Continental Shelf Morro Bay Energy Area, California.
DRAFT EA (April 2022)
Public Comment Period has Closed: Morro Bay Wind Energy Area Draft Environmental Assessment and Appendices: Commercial Wind Lease and Grant Issuance and Site Assessment Activities on the Pacific Outer Continental Shelf Morro Bay Wind Energy Area. Comments are available at regulations.gov under Docket No. BOEM-2021-0044.
In addition to this virtual meeting room, BOEM hosted two virtual meeting sessions to share information about BOEM’s environmental analysis and to solicit public input on the Morro Bay Wind Energy Area (WEA) Draft Environmental Assessment (EA). Each meeting was recorded and is posted below. All comments and questions received during the meeting are part of the public record.
Recorded Public Meetings:
April 14, 2022, 5:00 – 8:00 PM:
- Meeting Presentation
- Meeting Recording
- Meeting Summary
April 19, 2022, 9:00 – Noon:
- Meeting Presentation
- Meeting Recording
- Meeting Summary
Virtual Public Scoping Meetings:
During the comment period, BOEM held two virtual public scoping meetings to share information about BOEM’s environmental review process and to solicit public input on what should be considered in the Morro Bay WEA EA.
December 1st, 2021 - BOEM Morro Bay EA Scoping Meeting:
Meeting Recording
Meeting Summary
Meeting Presentation
January 5th, 2022 - BOEM Morro Bay EA Scoping Meeting:
Meeting Recording
Meeting Summary
Meeting Presentation
Meeting Background and Resources:
- Morro Bay Area ID Memo
- Morro Bay WEA Map
- Morro Bay WEA NOAA Nautical Chart Map
- Morro Bay WEA Shapefiles
- BOEM's California Renewable Energy
Public Comment
- Summary
- Public Comments Received: All comments are available at regulations.gov under Docket No. BOEM-2021-0044.
Biological Assessment & Concurrence
- Biological Assessment of Endangered and Threatened Species and Essential Fish Habitat Assessment for Central and Northern California (July 2022)
- NOAA Letter of Concurrence for the Morro Bay and Humboldt Wind Energy Areas (September 2022)
2018 Call for Information and Nominations
On October 19, 2018, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) published a Call for Information and Nominations (Call) to obtain nominations from companies interested in commercial wind energy leases within the proposed areas off central and northern California. In addition to nominations, BOEM sought public input on the potential for wind energy development in the Call Areas. This includes site conditions, resources, and multiple uses in close proximity to, or within, the Call Areas that would be relevant to BOEM’s review of any nominations submitted, as well as BOEM’s subsequent decision whether to offer all or part of the Call Areas for commercial wind leasing.
On May 25, 2021, the Departments of the Interior and Defense and the state of California announced their agreement to advance areas for wind energy development offshore the northern and central coasts of California, enabling a path forward for the Humboldt Call Area and areas within and adjacent to the Morro Bay Call Area.
- Public Comments Received
- Federal Register Notice (October 19, 2018)
- Docket Number: 2018-0045
- Nominations of Interest
2018 Call Maps
- Humboldt Call Area
- Humboldt Call Area, NOAA Chart
- Morro Bay and Diablo Canyon Call Areas
- Morro Bay and Diablo Canyon Call Areas, NOAA Chart
GIS/Shape Files for Mapping
On August 18, 2016, BOEM published a Request for Interest in California Offshore Wind in response to an unsolicited lease request.
Simulations of Potential Visual Impacts
California Visual Simulations - In response to stakeholder interest regarding visual impacts from potential future renewable energy development within the California Wind Energy Areas, BOEM undertook a project to develop daytime and nighttime photomontages to simulate what turbines might look like if these lease areas were fully developed.
2021 Call for Information and Nominations
On May 25, 2021, the Departments of the Interior and Defense and the state of California announced their agreement to advance areas for wind energy development offshore the northern and central coasts of California, enabling a path forward for the Humboldt Call Area and areas within and adjacent to the Morro Bay Call Area.
On July 29, 2021, BOEM published the Morro Bay East and West Extensions – Call for Information and Nominations in the Federal Register, which initiated a 45-day public comment period. BOEM accepted industry nominations and public comments until September 13, 2021.
The Morro Bay Call Area East Extension and the Morro Bay Call Area West Extension offshore the central California coast consist of approximately 90,025 acres (141 square statute miles).
- Public Comments Received
- Federal Register Notice: Call for Information and Nominations for Morro Bay Extension Areas
- Nominations of Interest
Wind Energy Area and Environmental Review
The boundary of the Morro Bay Wind Energy Area (WEA) was initially analyzed in BOEM’s Call for Information and Nominations (Call) published on October 19, 2018.
The WEA is located approximately 20 miles offshore the central California coastline and contains approximately 240,898 acres (376 square miles).
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) prepared an Environmental Assessment (EA) on the WEA to consider the environmental consequences associated with issuing commercial wind leases, and associated site characterization activities (i.e., biological, archeological, geological, and geophysical surveys and core samples) and site assessment activities (i.e., installation of meteorological buoys) off northern California.
On October 5, 2022, BOEM announced the availability of the Morro Bay Wind Energy Area Final Environmental Assessment (EA) and a Finding of No Significant Impact.
BOEM is the bureau within the Department of the Interior that oversees the environmentally and economically responsible development of our energy and mineral resources on almost 2.5 billion acres of the nation’s Outer Continental Shelf, or OCS. All our activities are underlain by our robust environmental program, which ensures that we develop and use the best available information in our decision making.
We also consider public input to be a crucial component of safe and responsible offshore resource development. We solicit public comments from a host of stakeholders and ocean users, including the fishing community, mariners, and coastal communities, in our environmental reviews and regulatory programs.
Why is BOEM developing an Environmental Assessment (EA)?
BOEM remains committed to a permitting process that minimizes user conflicts and establishes a strong foundation for wind projects moving forward. The EA will provide important information regarding site assessment, site characterization, and other ocean users in the Wind Energy Area, in order to assist the decision maker during the leasing process.
BOEM’s renewable energy process includes a phased approach to environmental review. One NEPA analysis is prepared at the lease sale stage, such as this Humboldt EA. There is another NEPA analysis done at the Construction and Operations phase, and this evaluation of full project build out is normally through an Environmental Impact Statement.
Why have virtual meetings during this time?
To the greatest extent possible, we are working to maintain services to the American people and our stakeholders, consistent with evolving guidance provided by the CDC and state and local health authorities. As such, we are moving forward with our public meetings in a virtual environment in order to provide information to the public in the safest and most efficient way possible. The public meetings, while virtual, are an opportunity for public involvement and an opportunity to provide comments on the DEA.
What is scoping?
Scoping is the phase of environmental analysis under the National Environmental Policy Act where the agency seeks input from interested and affected tribal and governmental entities and the public to help BOEM identify the issues that should be included in the analysis.
What type of input or comments is BOEM seeking?
In this scoping period for this Humboldt EA, BOEM is seeking input on site assessment and site characterization activities, which includes a variety of scientific surveys to gather data on the environment in the Humboldt Wind Energy Area, as well as other uses of the OCS in the vicinity.
How is scoping incorporated into EA?
Scoping comments assist BOEM in determining issues to be analyzed in the EA and in gathering information to support that analysis. An important aspect of input is proposing alternative ideas that achieve a similar purpose as the proposed action. BOEM considers the information provided and issues alternatives raised from the comments received to ensure a complete analysis of the impacts of site assessment and site characterization on resources in the Wind Energy Area (WEA).
What is the EA intended to do?
The analysis in this EA covers the potential impacts of lease issuance and the routine activities associated with site assessment and site characterization on those leases. These activities may include 1) meteorological buoy deployment, operation, and decommissioning; and 2) site characterization activities (e.g., biological, geological, geophysical, geotechnical, and archaeological surveys) in the WEA.
