Welcome to the Beacon Wind Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) Virtual Meeting Room. Your participation is an essential part of BOEM’s environmental review process.
The following documents are available for your review and comment:
- Notice of Intent to Prepare an EIS (BOEM-2023-0037)
- Beacon Wind Construction and Operations Plan and Appendices
In addition to the virtual meeting room, BOEM will be hosting public meetings where you can learn more, ask questions, and provide oral or written testimony.
During the public comment period, BOEM held two in-person and two virtual public meetings for the Beacon Wind EIS on the following dates and times (Eastern time):
Virtual meetings:
- Beacon Wind NOI EIS Public Scoping Meeting Recording – July 13, 2023
- Beacon Wind NOI EIS Public Scoping Meeting Recording – July 26, 2023
In-person meetings:
- University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth – July 18, 2023
- The Adria Hotel, Queens, NY – July 20, 2023
Tribal Virtual Meeting:
- August 1, 2023
This meeting was for federally recognized Tribes and closed to the public.
Detailed information about the proposed wind energy facility, including the COP, can be found on BOEM’s website at: https://www.boem.gov/renewable-energy/state-activities/beacon-wind
Written comments can be submitted in any of the following ways:
- Delivered by mail or delivery service, enclosed in an envelope labeled, “BEACON WIND COP EIS” and addressed to Program Manager, Office of Renewable Energy, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, 45600 Woodland Road, Sterling, Virginia 20166; or
- Through the regulations.gov web portal: Navigate to www.regulations.gov and search for Docket No. BOEM-2023-0037. Select the document in the search results on which you want to comment, click on the “Comment” button, and follow the online instructions for submitting your comment. A commenter’s checklist is available on the comment webpage. Enter your information and comment, then click “Submit.”
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. As such, we are planning to hold both virtual and in-person public meetings. The public meetings are an opportunity for public involvement and an opportunity to provide comments on the EIS.
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 public comment period for the Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Construction and Operations Plan (COP) submitted by Beacon Wind, LLC (Beacon Wind).
The NOI public comment period will help identify what BOEM may consider as part of its environmental review of Beacon Wind’s COP. Throughout the scoping process, multiple opportunities exist to help BOEM determine the important resources and issues, impact-producing factors, reasonable alternatives and potential mitigating measures that should be analyzed in the EIS.
Following the comment period, BOEM will review the comments to identify issues and potential alternatives for consideration in the Beacon Wind Draft EIS.
Who has BOEM conducted outreach with?
BOEM engages Tribes, our government partners, ocean users, and key stakeholders throughout our planning process to identify areas where environmental impacts and user conflicts can be avoided or reduced. BOEM is implementing a more regional approach to its planning and leasing by combining many of the state level intergovernmental task forces into regional task forces.
In addition, BOEM is exploring ways to enhance transparency and engagement throughout the planning process to ensure the best available science and Indigenous Traditional Ecological Knowledge are used, the public has opportunities to comment, and stakeholders understand wind energy area identification, review, and leasing decisions.
Following lease execution and years of site investigation by the lessee, BOEM prepares an EIS for the lessee’s construction and operations plan. This comprehensive environmental review also addresses cumulative impacts, including those from other approved and proposed offshore wind facilities in the same region.
Will my comments be anonymous?
BOEM does accept anonymous comments.
