Welcome to the Revolution Wind 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 Revolution Wind Offshore Wind Farm Project. The following documents are available for your viewing:
- Notice of Availability of the DEIS
- Revolution Wind DEIS
- Revolution Wind Construction and Operations Plan (COP)
- Scoping Summary Report
- Cumulative Historic Resources Visual Effects Analysis
In addition to the virtual meeting room, BOEM will be hosting virtual 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. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Public Notice NAE-2020-00707, dated September 2, 2022, describing work proposed for Department of the Army authorization, can be found at: https://www.nae.usace.army.mil/Missions/Regulatory/PublicNotices/.
Meeting Presentation:
In addition to the virtual meeting room, BOEM will be hosting public hearings where you can learn more about the DEIS and provide oral or written testimony.
We hosted virtual and in-person public hearings where you could learn more about the DEIS, ask questions, and provide comments. Meetings were held on:
- Virtual Public Hearing - Thursday, September 29, 2022, 1:00 pm ET
- In-Person Public Hearing - Tuesday, October 4, 2022, 5:00 pm ET
- Aquinnah Old Town Hall, 67 State Rd, Aquinnah, MA 02535
- Revolution Wind DEIS Oct 4 Public Meeting Transcript
- In-Person Public Hearing - Wednesday, October 5, 2022, 5:00 pm ET
- Swift Community Center, 121 Peirce Street, East Greenwich, RI 02818
- Revolution Wind DEIS Oct 5 Public Meeting Transcript
- In-Person Public Hearing - Thursday, October 6, 2022, 5:00 pm ET
- Keith Middle School, 225 Hathaway Boulevard, New Bedford, MA 02740
- Revolution Wind DEIS Oct 6 Public Meeting Transcript
- Virtual Public Hearing - Tuesday, October 11, 2022, 5:00 pm ET
IMPORTANT NOTE ON IN-PERSON MEETINGS: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention COVID-19 Community Levels were monitored for Dukes County (Aquinnah, MA), Bristol County (New Bedford, MA), and Washington County (North Kingstown, RI). If the COVID-19 Community Levels reach ‘MEDIUM’ or ‘HIGH’, BOEM may elect to cancel in-person meetings and replace one or more meetings with a virtual meeting. Please check back here at least 24 hours prior to the desired in-person meeting to confirm it remains scheduled. Participants for the in-person meetings are strongly encouraged to pre-register using the links above to receive any updates or changes to the meeting status.
For those participating through the virtual webinar:
Prior to attending a virtual public hearing, registration is required using the links 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 202-531-0667.
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 boempublicaffairs@boem.gov or 202-531-0667
Starting on September 2, 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-2022-0045 and clicking on “Comment”. Comments must be submitted by 11:59 PM on October 17, 2022. 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, “Revolution Wind Draft EIS” addressed to “Program Manager, 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 October 17, 2022.
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 Revolution Wind Construction and Operations Plan for the proposed project within Lease Area OCS-A 0486.
How can stakeholders comment on this DEIS?
Your feedback is an essential part of this process. Starting on September 2, 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 should do so as a written comment.
- You may submit written comments electronically via http://www.regulations.gov by searching for Docket No. BOEM-2022-0045 and clicking on “Comment”. Comments must be submitted by 11:59 PM on October 17, 2022. See the 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, “Revolution Wind Draft EIS” addressed to “Program Manager, 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 October 17, 2022.
