BOEMRE and Coast Guard Sign Agreement
Outlining Roles for Offshore Renewable Energy Installations
WASHINGTON – The Bureau of
Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement (BOEMRE) and the
U.S. Coast Guard (Coast Guard) today signed a Memorandum of
Agreement (MOA) to identify and clarify their respective roles and
responsibilities with respect to offshore renewable energy
installations (OREIs) on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS).
The MOA reaffirms the commitment of
the two agencies to responsible oversight of renewable energy
development. It will aid BOEMRE and the Coast Guard in carrying out
their missions and responsibilities by enhancing communication and
cooperation between the two agencies.
“BOEMRE has enjoyed an outstanding
relationship with the Coast Guard in overseeing and regulating
offshore oil and gas activities and facilities,” said BOEMRE
Director Michael R. Bromwich. “This MOA extends that cooperation
and collaboration to the oversight of the developing offshore
renewable energy industry and will greatly enhance the efficiency of
our environmental review and leasing processes.”
“The Coast Guard looks forward to
continuing its collaborative relationship with BOEMRE in the
development of offshore energy projects,” said Coast Guard Vice
Admiral Brian M. Salerno, deputy commandant for operations. “As
proposals for offshore energy projects are received, the Coast Guard
will serve as a cooperating agency to BOEMRE and provide subject
matter expertise on issues that may affect navigational safety,
security and the marine environment.”
The Energy Policy Act of 2005
authorizes BOEMRE to grant leases, easements, and rights-of-way for
OREIs in consultation with the Coast Guard and other federal
agencies. As the lead federal agency, BOEMRE is responsible for
conducting relevant analyses under the National Environmental Policy
Act (NEPA) for leasing areas on the OCS for renewable energy
development and will develop the appropriate NEPA documentation for
specific project proposals. Under the MOA, BOEMRE will invite the
Coast Guard to serve as a cooperating agency under NEPA in the
review of all leases, grants, and associated plans related to OREIs
and will use the Coast Guard’s expertise on maritime safety,
security, mobility and national defense to inform its analysis. The
two agencies will use this MOA to guide their respective agency
activities through all phases of the OCS renewable energy program
from initial planning and leasing to plan approval and management of
operations to lease termination and decommissioning.
BOEMRE will also invite the Coast
Guard to participate in all BOEMRE intergovernmental Renewable
Energy Task Forces and to provide their expertise at each step of
the leasing process.
More information on implementation
actions for each agency under the MOA can be found at:
http://www.boemre.gov/pdfs/MOA_USCG_BOEMRE_July_27_2011.pdf.
Contact: BOEMRE
Public Affairs