BOEM Seeks Input on First Regional Analysis for Multiple Offshore Wind Lease Areas in the New York Bight

BOEM is extending the public scoping period for the NY Bight PEIS by 15 days. Comments must be received no later than August 30, 2022.

Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) will conduct a regional environmental review of six lease areas offshore New York and New Jersey, in an area known as the New York Bight. Leases for these six areas were awarded through BOEM’s February 2022 auction that brought in over $4.3 billion, a record amount for any U.S. offshore renewable or conventional energy lease sale.

Screenshot of Data Explorer map showing New York Bight offshore wind lease areas.

On July 15, 2022, BOEM published a Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare a Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) in the Federal Register which initiated a 30-day public comment “scoping” period that ends on August 15, 2022. Comments gathered during this time will help BOEM identify what it should consider as part of the PEIS. The PEIS will analyze potential impacts from wind energy development activities in the New York Bight region, as well as measures that can be taken to avoid, minimize, mitigate, and monitor such potential impacts.

During the public comment period, BOEM will hold three virtual public meetings:

• Thursday, July 28, 2022 – 5 p.m. ET
• Tuesday, August 2, 2022 – 5 p.m. ET
• Thursday, August 4, 2022 – 1 p.m. ET

Information on BOEM’s regional environmental review of the New York Bight, including a map of the six lease areas; how to register for the virtual meetings, and how to provide comments can be found on BOEM’s website: https://www.boem.gov/renewable-energy/state-activities/new-york-bight.