News and Events
OCS Alternative Energy Programmatic EIS news, events, and announcements.
January 10, 2008
Record of Decision Available
December 19, 2007
Final Programmatic EIS Comments Available
Comments on final programmatic EIS from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the Commonwealth of Virginia are now available for downloading or browsing online.
November 5, 2007
Final Programmatic EIS Available
The United States Department of the Interior, Minerals Management Service (MMS), has prepared a final programmatic EIS in support of the establishment of a program for authorizing alternative energy and alternate use (AEAU) activities on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS), as authorized by Section 388 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct), and codified in subsection 8(p) of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA). The final programmatic EIS examines the potential environmental effects of the program on the OCS and identifies policies and best management practices that may be adopted for the program. The Final Programmatic EIS is now available for downloading or browsing online.
June 14, 2007
Public Comments on Draft EIS Available
Public comments on the OCS Alternative Energy and Alternate Use Draft Programmatic EIS are now available for browsing or downloading.
May 16, 2007
Public Meeting Transcripts Available
Transcripts from OCS Alternative Energy Programmatic EIS Draft EIS public hearings conducted in April and May 2007 are now avilable under Documents. More information aboute the hearings is available under Public Hearings
September 7, 2006
Public Scoping Comment Summary Report and References Available
A report entitled Summary of Public Scoping Comments Received During the Scoping Period for the Outer Continental Shelf Renewable Energy and Alternate Use Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement is now available for downloading or browsing under Documents. The report summarizes comments that were received during the scoping period for consideration in preparing the PEIS.
August 4, 2006
Public Scoping Comments Available Online
Public scoping comments received during the OCS Alternative Energy Programmatic EIS scoping comment period are now available for downloading and browsing.
July 2, 2006
June Public Scoping Meeting Transcripts Available
Scoping meeting transcripts for scoping meetings held in June have been posted, and are now available under Documents.
June 23, 2006
Public Scoping Meeting Transcripts
Public scoping meetings for the OCS Alternative Energy Programmatic EIS were held on the dates and times indicated under Public Scoping Meetings. Meeting attendees submitted comments orally and/or in writing at these public meetings. Scoping meeting transcripts for scoping meetings held in May and presentations made by the MMS and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory at the public scoping meetings are available under Documents. Transcripts for June scoping meetings will be posted when they are available.
May 19, 2006
Scoping Presentation, Technology Papers, Project Maps Available
An introductory presentation shown at scoping meetings for the OCS Alternative Energy Programmatic EIS, technology white papers providing information on the prospective alternative technologies examined in the Programmatic EIS, and project maps showing MMS OCS regional planning areas are now available under Documents.
May 5, 2006
Scoping Meeting Agenda
Below is the planned agenda for the OCS Alternative Energy and Alternate Use Programmatic EIS scoping meetings, to be held May-June 2006:- "In the Lobby": Posters, maps, handouts; MMS and Argonne National Laboratory staff available for informal discussion
- Introductions, Purpose of Meeting, Program Overview, Process, Schedule—MMS
- Offshore Renewable Energy Technologies—National Renewable Energy Laboratory
- Alternate Use of Existing Offshore Facilities—MMS
- Public Input: Scoping Comments led by Argonne National Laboratory facilitator; MMS panel
May 5, 2006
Notice of Intent Published in Federal Register
Notice of Intent (NOI) to Prepare a Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and Scoping Meetings (60 KB)
published in Federal Register
May 4, 2006
OCS Alternative Energy Programmatic EIS Public Scoping Meetings Scheduled
As part of the scoping phase of the Programmatic EIS process, The U.S. Department of Interior, Minerals Management Service (MMS), will hold public scoping meetings to obtain scoping comments for the Programmatic EIS in ten cities in the United States in May and June 2006, on the dates and times specified below.
The MMS will hold scoping meetings in the following cities on the following dates and times.
Washington, D.C. areaThursday, May 18, 2006, 5:30 p.m.
Crowne Plaza Hotel
2200 Centreville Road
Herndon, VA 20170
Austin, Texas
May 23, 2006, 5:30 p.m.
Hilton Austin Airport
9515 New Airport Drive
Austin, TX 78179
Trenton, New Jersey
May 23, 2006, 5:30 p.m.
Marriott Trenton at Lafayette Yard
1 West Lafayette Street
Trenton, New Jersey 08608
New York (Long Island)
May 24, 2006, 5:30 p.m.
Melville Marriott
1350 Old Walt Whitman Road
Melville, New York 11747
Boston, Massachusetts
May 25, 2006, 5:30 p.m.
Holiday Inn Boston-Dedham Hotel and Conference Center
55 Ariadne Road
Dedham, MA 02026
Long Beach, California
May 25, 2006, 5:30 p.m.
Courtyard Long Beach Downtown
500 East First Street
Long Beach, CA 90802
Atlanta, Georgia
June 6, 2006, 5:30 p.m.
Atlanta Marriott Century Center
2000 Century Boulevard NE
Atlanta, GA 30345
Portland, Oregon
June 6, 2006, 5:30 p.m.
Holiday Inn Portland-Downtown
1441 NE 2nd Avenue
Portland, OR 97232
Orlando, Florida
June 8, 2006, 5:30 p.m.
Embassy Suites Hotel Orlando-International Drive
8978 International Drive
Orlando, FL 32819
San Francisco, California
June 8, 2006, 5:30 p.m.
The Presidio Officer’s Club
50 Moraga Avenue
San Francisco, CA
May 4, 2006
OCS Alternative Energy and Alternate Use Programmatic EIS Public Information Center Web Site Launched
The OCS Alternative Energy and Alternate Use Programmatic EIS Information Center Web site was launched today, May 4, 2006. This Web site is the online center for public information and involvement in the OCS Alternative Energy and Alternate Use Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (OCS Alternative Energy Programmatic EIS).
The United States Department of the Interior Minerals Management Service (MMS) will prepare a Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) for the country’s Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Alternative Energy and Alternate Use Program.
MMS received authority for the OCS Renewable Energy and Alternate Use Program under Section 388 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005. Under this authority, MMS will regulate renewable energy projects and alternate use of existing oil and gas platforms on the OCS. Renewable energy includes wind, wave, solar, current and generation of hydrogen. Alternate uses of existing facilities may include, but are not limited to aquaculture, research, education, recreation, telecommunication facilities, and support for offshore operations and facilities.