President Donald Trump’s Environmental Protection Agency has told the state of Maryland that the state “identified the incorrect appeals process” in its June approval of US Wind’s up-to 2200MW Maryland Offshore Wind Project.
The authority to appeal the permit sits under federal law, the EPA argued in a 7 July letter to the Maryland Department of the Environment, and is not appealable under state law as the June permit reads.
The EPA then directed the state department to reissue the permit with new language underlining federal authority.
“Failure to rectify this error could result in invalidation of the permit on appeal and confusion among relevant stakeholders with respect to where to bring such an appeal,” the EPA wrote.
The Maryland Department of the Environment told reNEWS that it is currently reviewing the letter.
“MDE is committed to ensuring all our permit processes are transparent and in accordance with the law,” a spokesperson said.
US Wind Vice President of External Affairs Nancy Sopko said: “We’re confident that all of our project’s permits were validly issued.
“The state needs all the new sources of electricity we can build in order to keep prices affordable for homes and businesses.”