The Department of the Interior has announced that the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) will conduct an environmental review of two proposed wind energy development projects offshore New Jersey, USA.
Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind (Atlantic Shores) submitted a plan to construct and operate two commercial-scale offshore wind projects in federal waters approximately 8.7 miles from the New Jersey shoreline. The first of the two projects will have a capacity of 1,510MW. BOEM will publish a Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) in the Federal Register on Sept. 30, 2021. Publication of the NOI will open a 30-day public comment period. During this time, BOEM will hold three virtual public meetings and accept comments to inform the preparation of the EIS. These meetings and public comments will help BOEM determine the scope of the important resources and issues, impact-producing factors, reasonable alternatives, and potential mitigating measures that should be analysed in the EIS.