What's in the OCS Alternative Energy Programmatic EIS

The OCS Alternative Energy and Alternate Use Programmatic EIS analyzes and documents the environmental and socioeconomic considerations associated with alternative approaches in support of the establishment of the Alternative Energy and Alternate Use Program.

Summary

The Energy Policy Act of 2005 amended Section 8 of the OCS Lands Act (OCSLA), 43 USC 1337, to give the Secretary of the Interior discretionary authority to issue a lease, easement, or right-of-way on the OCS for activities that are not otherwise authorized by the OCSLA, or other applicable law, if those activities: (1) produce or support production, transportation, or transmission of energy from sources other than oil and gas; or (2) use, for energy-related purposes or other authorized marine-related purposes, facilities currently or previously used for activities authorized under the OCSLA, except that any oil and gas energy-related uses shall not be authorized in areas in which oil and gas preleasing, leasing, and related activities are prohibited by a moratorium. This Final Programmatic EIS takes a first look at the potential environmental and socioeconomic impacts from and mitigation measures for the activities that could result from establishment of the MMS Alternative Energy and Alternate Use Program over the next 5 to 7 years. As development and production evolves, additional environmental assessments may be required that focus on specific regions, activities, or technologies.

What is the scope of the analysis in the Final Programmatic EIS?

This EIS is focused on alternative energy technologies and areas about which industry has expressed a potential interest and ability to develop or evaluate from 2007-2014. The types of alternative energy projects included in this EIS are offshore wind, wave, and ocean current energy capture technologies. Other energy sources such as solar power and the production of hydrogen are not expected to be economically viable on the OCS for research, demonstration, or commercial ventures within the next 5 to 7 years and, therefore, are not included in this analysis. For the purpose of analysis the applicable areas on the OCS that may support the development of wind and wave energy sources during the time frame of analysis were considered to be the entire continental U.S. OCS, whereas the only area that is considered likely for the development of ocean current energy capture technologies over the same time frame is the south east portion of the eastern continental U.S OCS through which the Florida Current flows. The OCS areas off the coasts of Alaska and Hawaii are not analyzed in this programmatic EIS for any of the technologies.

Alternate uses of existing oil and natural gas platforms may include, but would not be limited to alternative energy production, aquaculture, and research and monitoring. At this time, oil and gas structures are present only on the OCS in the Gulf of Mexico and southern California (none are in the Atlantic). Therefore, alternate use of existing structures is limited to facilities in the Gulf of Mexico and southern California over the next 5 to 7 years. The MMS will work closely with other agencies with relevant jurisdiction and/or expertise in addressing these alternate uses.

What alternatives are addressed in the Final Programmatic EIS?

Four alternatives are considered in the Final Programmatic EIS: 1) the proposed action (i.e., the establishment of the Alternative Energy and Alternate Use Program on the OCS through rulemaking); 2) a case-by-case alternative (i.e., the MMS would consider individual project proposals for alternative energy or alternate use on a case-by-case basis but would not issue formal regulations); 3) a no action alternative (i.e., the MMS would not approve leases, easements, or rights-of-way for any alternative energy facility on the Federal OCS or alternate use of existing offshore facilities); and 4) a preferred alternative (i.e., a combination of the proposed action and the case-by-case alternative).

What is assessed in the Final Programmatic EIS?

Potential impacts for energy development projects on the OCS are analyzed for the following five phases of development: technology testing, site characterization, construction, operation, and decommissioning. Potential mitigation measures are identified for each of the phases. The impact areas considered are: Ocean Surface and Sediments, Air Quality, Ocean Currents and Movements, Water Quality, Acoustic Environment, Electromagnetic Fields, Marine Mammals, Marine and Coastal Birds, Terrestrial Biota, Fish Resources and Essential Fish Habitat, Sea Turtles, Coastal Habitat, Seafloor Habitats, Areas of Special Concern, Military Use Areas, Transportation, Socioeconomic Resources, Archaeological Resources, Land Use and Existing Infrastructure, Visual Resources, Tourism and Recreation, Fisheries, and Nonroutine Conditions. Potential impacts and mitigation measures are characterized for the following types of alternate use of existing oil and gas platforms: Alternate Energy Production, Aquaculture, and Research and Development. Discussion of potential high level cumulative impacts is also provided.

What are the impacts estimated in the Final Programmatic EIS?

In general, impacts from all phases of development and production of alternative energy sources on the OCS (i.e., technology testing, site characterization, construction, operation, and decommissioning) are expected to be negligible to moderate if the proper siting and mitigation measures are followed. Human activity on the OCS related to these activities is relatively low, with only a few support vessels in operation at any one time during the highest activity period (construction). Impacts from spills of oil and other hazardous material from vessels or platforms on the OCS are expected to be negligible to minor with proper implementation of oil spill prevention and response plans as required by the MMS. However, impacts from a spill as a consequence of a vessel collision could be moderate to major. Vessel collisions with marine mammals are expected to result in minor impacts but could have major impacts in a few instances involving threatened or endangered species.

Rehabilitation and modification of oil and gas platforms for an alternate use during or after oil and gas production has ceased could result in both beneficial and adverse impacts. Impacts from any alternate use of these platforms could include fisheries enhancement and economic development. Removal of a platform structure from the OCS could result in the destruction of the ecological system that developed surrounding that platform's structure.

Because the precise locations of potential new alternative energy facilities or alternate use program facilities are not known at this time, the cumulative impacts from such facilities can not be precisely determined. However, depending on the location chosen and the proximity of new facilities to each other, the cumulative impacts could potentially be important. These impacts would be evaluated and considered during additional site-specific environmental reviews that would be done for new alternative energy and alternate use facilities.