Welcome to the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind (CVOW) draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) Virtual Meeting Room. Your participation is an essential part of BOEM’s environmental review process.
BOEM has prepared a DEIS for the CVOW Project. The following documents are available for your review and comment:
- CVOW-C DEIS Notice of Availability (Docket No. BOEM-2022-0069)
- CVOW-C DEIS Executive Summary
- CVOW-C Summary Marine Archaeological Resource Assessment (MARA)
- CVOW-C Summary Historical Resources Visual Effects Assessment (HRVEA)
- CVOW-C Cumulative HRVEA
- CVOW-C Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS)
In addition to the virtual meeting room, BOEM will be hosting public hearings where you can learn more about the DEIS, ask questions, and provide oral or written testimony. These public hearings will also serve as public hearings for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Section 10 and Section 404 permit review.
During the comment period, BOEM held three virtual public meetings, where the public could learn more about the review process, EIS schedule, potential impacts from the proposed project, and proposals to reduce potential impacts. There was also an opportunity for participants to provide comments on the DEIS.
The public meetings were held on the Jan. 25th, 31st, and Feb. 2nd, 2023.
Starting on December 16, 2022, BOEM will accept comments on the Draft EIS in any of the following ways:
- During any of the public hearings, 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 allows is encouraged to do so as a written comment.
- You may submit written comments electronically via http://www.regulations.gov by searching for Docket No. BOEM-2022-0069 and clicking on “Comment”. Comments must be submitted by 11:59 PM February 14, 2023. See this Regulations.gov How-To Guide for more instructions on how to submit and view comments and answers to frequently asked questions.
- You may also submit written comments by mail. Enclose your comment in an envelope labeled, “CVOW Draft EIS” addressed to “Program Chief, Office of Renewable Energy Programs, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, 45600 Woodland Road, VAM-OREP, Sterling, Virginia 20166.” Comments must be postmarked no later than Feb, 2023.
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 planning to hold both virtual and in person public hearings. The public hearings 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 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 Record of Decision (ROD). The US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) may adopt the Final EIS and issue a joint ROD with BOEM or issue a separate ROD. 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 Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind Construction and Operations Plan for the proposed project within Lease Area OCS-A 0483.
How can stakeholders comment on this DEIS?
Your feedback is an essential part of this process. Starting on December 16, 2022, BOEM will accept comments on the DEIS in any of the following ways:
- During any of the public hearings, 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 allows is encouraged to do so as a written comment.
- You may submit written comments electronically via http://www.regulations.gov by searching for Docket No. BOEM-2022-0069 and clicking on “Comment”. Comments must be submitted by 11:59 PM February 14, 2023. See this Regulations.gov How-To Guide for more instructions on how to submit and view comments and answers to frequently asked questions.
- You may also submit written comments by mail. Enclose your comment in an envelope labeled, “CVOW Draft EIS” addressed to “Program Chief, Office of Renewable Energy Programs, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, 45600 Woodland Road, VAM-OREP, Sterling, Virginia 20166.” Comments must be postmarked no later than Feb, 2023.
