South Fork Wind Farm Virtual Meetings

Welcome to the South Fork Wind Farm Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) Virtual Meeting Room. Your participation is an essential part of BOEM’s renewable energy program and the South Fork Wind Farm environmental review process. 

BOEM has prepared a DEIS for the South Fork Wind Farm and South Fork Export Cable Project.  The following documents are available for your viewing.

• Notice of Availability of the South Fork DEIS
• South Fork DEIS
• South Fork Construction and Operations Plan and Appendices
• Scoping Summary Report
• Cumulative Historic Resources Visual Effects Analysis, Panorama Simulations and Appendix B
• Biological Assessment submitted to National Marine Fisheries Service
• Biological Assessment submitted to US Fish and Wildlife Service

Public Meeting Presentation

In addition to the virtual meeting room, we will be hosting three virtual meetings where you can learn more about the DEIS, ask questions, and provide oral testimony. These virtual public meetings will also serve as public hearings for the Army Corps of Engineers Section 10 and Section 404 permit review. The Army Corps of Engineers Public Notice NAN-2020-01079-EME, dated January 6, 2021, describing work proposed for Department of the Army authorization, may be found at https://www.nan.usace.army.mil/Missions/Regulatory/Regulatory-Public-Notices/

We look forward to hearing from you.
 

Information Stations

We want to hear from you. In addition to the virtual meeting room, we will be hosting three virtual meeting sessions where you can learn more about the DEIS, ask questions, and provide oral testimony. Meetings will be held on:

Please find additional instructions for participating in the virtual meetings below:

For those participating through the webinar:

Prior to attending a virtual meeting session, we recommend registering using the links provide above. Webinar information will be sent to the email address provided. 

During each meeting, everyone will be muted until the public testimony portion of the meeting, but you will be able to interact with BOEM staff through the chat and Q&A features on the webinar.

For those participating through the phone line only:

If you plan to participate in the meeting by phone only, we ask that you submit your questions to BOEM in advance by emailing boempublicaffairs@boem.gov or calling 703-787-1662.

Meeting format:

Each meeting will begin with a presentation by BOEM which will be recorded and posted here. After the presentation, you will have the opportunity to provide comments/statements and ask questions. We will answer questions after public testimony. All comments and questions received during the meeting will be part of the public record.

If you require a paper copy of the DEIS or public meeting materials, please contact us at 703-787-1662.

Your feedback is an essential part of this process. Starting on January 8th, BOEM will accept comments on the Draft EIS in any of the following ways:

• During any of the virtual public meetings, you may provide oral testimony. BOEM will limit such testimony to five minutes per speaker. Any speaker who wishes to provide more information than the five minutes allowed is encouraged to do so as a written comment.
• You may submit written comments electronically using Regulations.gov. Comments must be submitted by 11:59 PM on February 22, 2021.
• You may also submit written comments by mail. Enclose your comment in an envelope labeled, “South Fork Draft EIS” addressed to “Program Manager, Office of Renewable Energy, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, 45600 Woodland Road, VAM-OREP, Sterling, Virginia 20166.” Comments must be postmarked no later than February 22, 2021.

What is BOEM's mission?

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 science in our decision making.

We also consider public input to be a critical component of safe and responsible offshore resource management. 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 have 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 our stakeholders 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 DEIS.

What is the process for finalizing BOEM’s decision on the proposed Project?

Following the comment period, BOEM will analyze all comments received during the Draft EIS public comment period and will prepare a Final EIS. 

After the Final EIS is published, the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires BOEM to wait a minimum of 30 days before issuing a joint Record of Decision (ROD). Under One Federal Decision, the ROD documents the decision​s of BOEM, the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).  The USACE and NOAA are both Cooperating Agencies on the ​environmental review of the project.

For BOEM’s decision, the ROD will state whether BOEM intends to approve the South Fork Construction and Operations Plan for construction and operation of the proposed ​project within Lease Area OCS-A 0517.

How can stakeholders comment on this DEIS?

Your feedback is an essential part of this process. Starting on January 8th, BOEM will accept comments on the DEIS in any of the following ways:

• During any of the virtual public meetings, you may provide oral testimony. BOEM will limit such testimony to five minutes per speaker. Any speaker who wishes to provide more information than five minutes allow should do so as a written comment.
• You may submit written comments electronically via http://www.regulations.gov by searching for Docket No. BOEM-2020-0066 and clicking the “Comment Now!” Comments must be submitted by 11:59 PM on February 22, 2021.
• You may also submit written comments by mail. Enclose your comment in an envelope labeled, “South Fork Draft EIS” addressed to “Program Manager, Office of Renewable Energy, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, 45600 Woodland Road, VAM-OREP, Sterling, Virginia 20166.” Comments must be postmarked no later than February 22, 2021.