The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has found proposed new offshore wind acreage off New York will have no significant environmental impact.
The federal seabed agency said the sites in the NY Bight off New York and New Jersey totalling 800,000 acres were examined for various impacts.
“Based on the analysis in the EA, BOEM has issued a finding of no significant impact (FONSI),” said the agency.
“The completion of this Environmental Assessment is an important step forward in advancing the Biden-Harris administration’s goal of increasing renewable energy development on federal lands and waters,” added BOEM Director Amanda Lefton (pictured).
“BOEM is focused on ensuring that any development in the New York Bight is done responsibly and in a way that avoids or minimises impacts to the ocean and other ocean users in the region.”
The study considered potential environmental consequences of site characterisation activities (i.e., biological, archeological, geological, and geophysical surveys and core samples) and site assessment activities (i.e., installation of meteorological buoys).
The probe also considered project easements associated with each potential lease and related right-of-way grants for subsea cable corridors in the New York Bight.
Should a lease sale advance and before approving the construction of any offshore wind energy facility in the New York Bight wind energy areas, BOEM will develop an Environmental Impact Statement to analyse the specific environmental consequences, in consultation with Tribes and appropriate federal, state, and local agencies, and with participation by stakeholders and the public, it added.