On July 3, 2012, BOEM published an environmental assessment (EA) that considered lease issuance, associated site characterization activities (i.e., geophysical, geotechnical, archaeological, and biological surveys), and subsequent approval of site assessment activities (i.e., installation and operation of meteorological towers and buoys).
Based on the public comments in response to the EA, the conclusion of required consultations, and public outreach and information meetings, BOEM decided to revise the EA published in 2012. Concurrent with the Final Sale Notice, BOEM published a Notice of Availability for the revised EA and Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI). The Commercial Wind Lease Issuance and Site Assessment Activities on the Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Offshore Rhode Island and Massachusetts Revised Environmental Assessment (EA) can be found at http://www.boem.gov/Renewable-Energy-Program/Smart-from-the-Start/Index.aspx.
“Finding of No Significant Impact” means a document issued by a Federal agency briefly presenting the reasons why an action for which the agency has prepared an environmental assessment will not have a significant effect on the human environment and, therefore, will not require preparation of an environmental impact statement. The EA and public comments have informed the preparation of the Sale Notice.