The NewsRoom
Release: #3624
Date: March 20, 2007

MMS Publishes OCS Alternative Energy and Alternate Use Program Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement

Public Hearings Scheduled for April and May 2007

WASHINGTON, DC --  The Interior Department’s Minerals Management Service (MMS) is accepting public comments on the draft programmatic environmental impact statement (EIS) for the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Alternative Energy and Alternate Use (AEAU) program. The Notice of Availability for the AEAU draft programmatic EIS is listed in the Federal Register reading room today. The draft EIS is available for review online at . Written comments will be accepted through May 21, 2007, and MMS will also hold public hearings on the document in April and May of 2007.

"The draft environmental impact statement is a crucial step in developing the Alternative Energy and Alternate Use Program, and public feedback and participation at this stage of the process is vitally important," said MMS Director Johnnie Burton. "The public has a unique opportunity to influence the creation of new and promising uses of our nation's considerable ocean resources, through submission of written comments on the draft EIS or live input at upcoming hearings."

MMS received authority for the OCS Alternative Energy and Alternate Use Program under Section 388 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005. Under this authority, MMS will regulate alternative energy projects and alternate use of facilities on the OCS. Examples of the general types of alternative energy project activities that MMS has the discretion to authorize include, but are not limited to, wind energy, wave energy, ocean current energy, solar energy, and hydrogen production. Alternate uses of existing facilities may include, but are not limited to, offshore aquaculture, research, education, recreation, and support for offshore operations and facilities.

The Draft Programmatic EIS focuses on potential alternative energy development that may be initiated in the next 5-7 years as well as potential alternate uses of offshore facilities in the same time frame. The programmatic EIS assesses generic impacts from development, operations and decommissioning of alternative energy or alternate use facilities and identifies key issues and mitigation measures that should be considered in subsequent site-specific reviews. MMS expects to file a Final EIS in August 2007 and publish a Record of Decision in September 2007. Target dates for the draft proposed rule are: publish Notice of Proposed Rulemaking at the end of June 2007 and publish the Final Rule in December 2007/January 2008.

Public hearings on the draft programmatic EIS will be held at the following locations:

April 16, 2007             Washington, DC – 10 a.m.
                                  Main Interior Building
                                  1849 C Street NW
                                  Washington, DC

April 24, 2007             West Long Branch, New Jersey – 7 p.m.
                                 
Monmouth University
                                  400 Cedar Avenue
                                  West Long Branch, NJ

April 25, 2007             Melville (Long Island), New York – 7 p.m.
                                 
Melville Marriott
                                  1350 Old Walt Whitman Road
                                  Melville, New York

April 26, 2007             Newton (Boston), Massachusetts – 7 p.m.
                                 
Marriott Boston Newton
                                  2345 Commonwealth Avenue
                                  Newton, MA 02466

May 1, 2007               Houston, Texas – 7 p.m.
                                 
Houston Airport Marriott
                                 18700 John F. Kennedy Blvd
                                  Houston, TX

May 1, 2007               San Francisco, California – 7 p.m.
                                 
The Presidio
                                  Prince Room, Golden Gate Club
                                  135 Fisher Loop
                                  San Francisco, CA

May 2, 2007               Portland, Oregon – 7 p.m.
                                 
Residence Inn & Courtyard North Harbour
                                  1250 N. Anchor Way
                                  Portland, OR

May 2, 2007               Miami, Florida – 7 p.m.
                                  Holiday Inn Miami International Airport
                                  1111 South Royal Poinciana Blvd
                                  Miami Springs, FL 

May 3, 2007               Charleston, South Carolina – 7 p.m.
                                 
Courtyard by Marriott Charleston
                                  35 Lockwood Drive
                                  Charleston, SC

The public may obtain an electronic copy of the draft programmatic EIS at: ocsenergy.anl.gov. A single printed or CD-ROM copy of the draft programmatic EIS can be requested by writing to the Minerals Management Service, Environmental Assessment Branch Office (MS 4042), 381 Elden Street, Herndon, Virginia, 20170.

MMS is also accepting written comments on the draft programmatic EIS for the next 60 days electronically, using the online comment form at ocsenergy.anl.gov,  or by mail to:

MMS OCS Alternative Energy and Alternate Use Programmatic EIS, Argonne National Laboratory, 9700 S. Cass Avenue, Argonne, IL 60439.

Comments must be received by May 21, 2007.

Relevant Web Site:
   MMS Main Website

Media Contact:
   Nicolette Nye   703/787-1011

MMS: Securing Ocean Energy & Economic Value for America
U.S. Department of the Interior


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