Tag Archives: Draft Environmental Impact Statement

The Whale Killing Study the Feds are Afraid to Do

The Feds have admitted that offshore wind development can cause the death of whales and other marine mammals, but they refuse actually to assess that threat for any wind facilities. So I here outline what such a study should look like. This sort of study is what they are afraid to do because it would give numbers to the deaths that are likely to occur, species by species. First off, here is the Feds’ own description of some of the known deadly threats. In this case, the offshore wind activity is driving the monster piles that support the turbine towers, but there are others. >click to read< 10:02

Commenter: BOEM report downplays wind farm’s impact on fishing, tourism

The federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management is downplaying potential adverse effects of offshore wind projects by setting faulty baselines in its Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) on Ocean Wind 1. That’s the argument by Barbara McCall, a Florida resident who owns property in Ocean City. McCall sent in a 3,500-word response, with footnotes, to BOEM, which is part of the Department of the Interior, during the comment period. She said the politicians and companies behind the projects, including Danish company Ørsted and PSEG, which are teaming up to build Ocean Wind 1, “should not be afraid of being truthful and transparent.” McCall said she has heard the “ambiguous statement” that the majority of people in New Jersey support offshore wind projects, but she doesn’t believe most people know what all the projects entail. >click to read< 09:32

Petition: More Time Needed to Review 1st NJ Offshore Wind Facility

Only 45 days were provided to the public to review a massive 1400+ page Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) on “Ocean Wind 1,” Ørsted & PSE&G’s industrial-scale wind energy project just 13 miles off Atlantic City, NJ. That is not enough time for responsible review of the first-ever offshore wind energy project off New Jersey’s coast. The federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) issued the bare minimum requirement for public review of the lengthy & highly technical document. It is clear to any reasonable person, the 45-day timeframe is unjust and unrealistic. The public, who is the rightful owner of these underwater public lands, needs more time to review and comment. >Please click to read, and sign the petition< 14:30

On This Day: Feb 25th, 2005, Environmental non-profit group endorses ill fated Cape Wind

On this day in 2005, the environmental non-profit Coalition for Buzzards Bay announced “its satisfaction with the current review” for the Cape Wind to build a wind farm in Nantucket Sound, according to a statement released by the coalition. The coalition said its qualified support for the Nantucket Sound wind farm was based on a “thorough review of the Army Corp of Engineers’ Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS).” This led coalition members to conclude that the project would bring about “significant environmental benefits” for Buzzards Bay and the region while “any environmental impacts are likely to be minor, temporary, and/or outweighed by the significant environmental benefits of developing such a renewable energy facility.” >click to read< 07:14

Army Corps of Engineers’ Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Pebble Project is inadequate and underestimates potential impacts

Congress yesterday completed a spending deal that includes a stern warning to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers regarding its rushed and flawed permitting process for the proposed Pebble Mine in Bristol Bay, Alaska. The warning, included in a report to the appropriations bill that covers the Department of Interior’s spending,,, >click to read< 15:39

Bristol Bay fishermen renew call for input on Pebble Mine as commercial fishing season opens

Commercial fishing season is underway in Bristol Bay; but instead of focusing all their attention on their catches, fishermen are focused on the future the Pebble Mine could have on their livelihood. The public comment period on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement closes July 1. “Our industry in Bristol Bay is in the fight of our lives against relentless attempts by the Pebble Limited Partnership, fueled by a ‘dig baby dig’ attitude from the US Army Corps of Engineers, to develop the world’s largest and most dangerous open pit mine at the headwaters of our fishery,” >click to read<. a lot of info, and some links to comment. 16:55

New Bedford Fishermen dislike options for NEFMC’s Draft Omnibus Habitat Amendment 2 management plan

NEFMC SidebarNEW BEDFORD — Fishermen spoke up against additional habitat protection options presented by the New England Fishery Management Council to update its fishery management plans during a hearing at the Fairfield Inn & Suites on Tuesday to solicit comments on its Draft Omnibus Habitat Amendment 2, including its . Read the rest here 08:39

National Marine Fisheries Service whale protection rules will snare lobstermen

Earlier this month, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) published a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for proposed amendments to the federal Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan. The draft runs to substantially more than 500 pages, plus exhibits and appendices. continued@fenceviewer