Welcome to the Vineyard Northeast Scoping Virtual Meeting Room. Your participation is an essential part of BOEM’s environmental review process.
On March 22, 2024, BOEM announced that on March 25, 2024, it would publish a Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed Vineyard Northeast Wind project. The following documents are available for viewing:
- Notice of Intent to prepare an EIS (Docket No. BOEM 2024-0009, available March 25, 2024)
- Construction and Operations Plan (COP) and Appendices
The Notice of Intent (NOI) initiates a 45-day public scoping period that ends on May 9, 2024. During the scoping period, BOEM will host four public scoping meetings (two virtual and two in-person) where the public can learn more about the Construction and Operations Plan (COP), ask questions, and provide oral comment.
Virtual meetings: (Meeting transcripts will be available soon)
- Monday, April 15, 2024, 1:00 p.m.
Meeting Recording
- Monday, April 22, 2024, 5:00 p.m.
Meeting Recording
During each virtual meeting, BOEM will provide an overview presentation, after which members of the public may make formal oral public statements. Attendees will also be able to ask clarifying questions to BOEM staff through the webinar’s questions and answers (Q&A) function. All comments and questions received during the public meetings will be part of the public record.
In-person meetings:
- Wednesday, April 17, 2024, 5:00 - 9:00 p.m.
Clarke Center Auditorium, Mitchell College, 682 Montauk Avenue, New London, CT 06320
- Thursday, April 18, 2024, 5:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Presentation
The in-person meetings followed an informal, open-house format. Attendees could visit stations to view project information posters staffed by BOEM subject matter experts. The BOEM team shared information and answer questioned in their areas of expertise. Attendees could also view a pre-recorded video presentation providing a project description, details regarding the National Environmental Policy Act (or NEPA) process, and BOEM’s approach to the analysis of the COP.
At the meetings, comments could be submitted by using a written form and/or providing recorded oral comments by meeting individually with a court reporter for up to five minutes each. The public had the opportunity to submit comments during the open comment period, which ended May 9, 2024, online at www.regulations.gov or by mail to BOEM. (See “How to Comment” tab.)
Detailed information about the proposed wind energy facility, including the Construction and Operations Plan (COP), can be found on BOEM’s website at: https://www.boem.gov/renewable-energy/state-activities/vineyard-northeast.
- Oral or written comments during any of the public meetings listed in the Notice of Intent.
- Delivered by mail or delivery service, enclosed in an envelope labeled “Vineyard Northeast COP EIS,” and addressed to Heather Schultz, Environmental Branch for Renewable Energy, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, 45600 Woodland Road, Sterling, VA 20166. Comments must be postmarked no later than May 9, 2024.
- Through the regulations.gov web portal by navigating to www.regulations.gov and search for Docket No. BOEM-2024-0009. Click on the “Comment” button below the document link. Enter your information and comment, then click “Submit Comment.”
After the public comment period ends, you can find the comments on www.regulations.gov and search for Docket No. BOEM-2024-0009.
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 inform the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). The comments received during the public scoping process to help identify important resources and issues, impact-producing factors, reasonable alternatives for consideration, and potential mitigating measures that should be analyzed in the Vineyard Northeast draft 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 EIS for the Construction and Operations Plan (COP) submitted by Vineyard Northeast.
The NOI public scoping period will help identify what BOEM may consider as part of its environmental review of Vineyard Northeast’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 scoping comment period, BOEM will review the comments to identify issues and potential alternatives for consideration in the Vineyard Northeast 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 COP. 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 discourages anonymous comments. Please include your name and address as part of your comment. You should be aware that your entire comment, including your name, address, and any other personally identifiable information included in your comment, may be made publicly available. All comments from individuals, businesses, and organizations will be available for public viewing on regulations.gov.
For BOEM to consider withholding your personally identifiable information (PII) from disclosure, you must identify any information contained in your comments that, if released, would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of your personal privacy. You must also briefly describe any possible harmful consequences of the disclosure of information, such as embarrassment, injury, or other harm. Even if BOEM withholds your information in the context of this notice, your submission is subject to Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). If your submission is requested under FOIA, your information will only be withheld if a determination is made that one of FOIA's exemptions to disclosure applies. Such a determination will be made in accordance with the Department's FOIA regulations and applicable law.
How can stakeholders comment on this Notice of Intent?
Your feedback is an essential part of this process. BOEM will hold both virtual and in-person public comment meetings. The meetings are an opportunity for public involvement and an opportunity for the public to inform the EIS.
BOEM will accept comments through May 9, 2024, in any of the following ways:
- Oral or written comments during any of the public meetings listed in the Notice of Intent.
- Delivered by mail or delivery service, enclosed in an envelope labeled “Vineyard Northeast COP EIS,” and addressed to Heather Schultz, Environmental Branch for Renewable Energy, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, 45600 Woodland Road, Sterling, VA 20166. Comments must be postmarked no later than May 9, 2024.
- Through the regulations.gov web portal by navigating to www.regulations.gov and search for Docket No. BOEM-2024-0009. Click on the “Comment” button below the document link. Enter your information and comment, then click “Submit Comment.”
