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ARTICLE · 27 NOVEMBER 2024

BOEM Announces Comment Period On California Offshore Wind Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement

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Despite the uncertainty surrounding the immediate future of the U.S. offshore wind industry after the re-election of Donald Trump, industry participants including the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management ("BOEM") are cautiously moving forward with development activities.

United StatesEnvironment
Nathan Barbara
Nathan Barbara
Joshua Sturtevant
Joshua Sturtevant
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Despite the uncertainty surrounding the immediate future of the U.S. offshore wind industry after the re-election of Donald Trump, industry participants including the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management ("BOEM") are cautiously moving forward with development activities.

On November 14, 2024, BOEM published the "California Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement" (the "PEIS") with respect to the five lease areas off the coast of California previously auctioned by BOEM in December, 2022. The PEIS process analyzes the potential impact that offshore wind projects will have on the environment, industries and local communities and discusses measures to avoid, mitigate and monitor such impacts. It is anticipated that BOEM will condition its approval of any Construction and Operation Plans ("COP") submitted by leaseholders on how any such potential negative impacts are addressed and mitigated by applicants.

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