Transcript Slide 1

Overview of Minerals
Management Service’s
Alternative Energy
Program
Ocean Law Conference
May 22, 2008
Seattle, WA
Walter D. Cruickshank
Deputy Director
Minerals Management Service
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Key Initiatives
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Programmatic EIS
Record of Decision
Rulemaking
Interim Policy for Limited Leasing
Environmental Studies
Mapping Initiative
Review of Cape Wind Proposal
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Energy Policy Act of 2005
• Section 388 amended Section 8 of OCSLA
• Authority to regulate a broad spectrum of
activities:
– Alternative energy (e.g., wind, ocean wave,
ocean current, hydrogen production)
– Alternate use of existing facilities (e.g.,
research and offshore support stations)
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Key Mandates
• Coordination with affected State & local
governments and Federal agencies
• Safety
• Protection of the environment
• Competitive issuance of leases
• Fair return for use of OCS lands
• Revenue sharing with affected States
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Programmatic EIS and ROD
• Published final EIS in November 2007
– www.ocsenergy.anl.gov
• Record of Decision issued January 2008
– Adopted 15 policies and 52 Best Management
Practices
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MMS Policies
• Consult with affected state and local
governments early in the planning process
• Implement adaptive management
strategies that will include monitoring of
activities
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Best Management Practices
Lessees will:
• Contact and consult with affected Federal, state, and
local agencies early in the planning process
• Evaluate avian use of the project area and design the
project to minimize or mitigate the potential for bird
strikes and habitat loss
• Minimize conflict with commercial fishing activity and
gear by advance notification of registered fisherman of
the location and timing of activities
• Seek public input in evaluating the visual design
elements of proposed wind facilities
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Major Elements of AEAU Rule
Coordination
– State/Federal Task Forces
Lease Issuance
– Competitive & Noncompetitive Leasing
– Commercial & Limited Leases
Lease Administration
– Bonding & Payments
Alternative Energy Plan Reviews
– Site Assessment
– Construction and Operations
Conduct of Approved Plan Activities
– Environmental and Safety Monitoring
– Inspections
Decommissioning
Revenue sharing
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Interim Policy for Limited Leasing
• MMS announced “interim policy” for limited leasing
before final regulations are in place
• IP applies to resource data collection and
technology testing activities
• Interim policy does not apply to wind turbine
installation
• 5-year authorizations, with no priority right for
subsequent commercial development
• Primary interest from industry: met towers for wind;
technology testing for current and wave energy
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Notice to Determine Competitive
Interest in Nominated Areas
• Notice issued April 2008
– 30 days to identify competitive interest
– 60 days to comment on proposed areas
• Areas selected
– Wind data collection in the Atlantic
– Ocean current data collection and technology testing
offshore Florida
– Wave data collection and technology testing offshore
Northern California
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Lease Form
• Issued form for limited leases April 21, 2008
– 30 day comment period for information collection
• Lease describes
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Lease rights, term, bonding, and rentals
Project plan, reporting requirements
Inspection, compliance and penalties
Removal
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Environmental Studies Efforts
• Worldwide Synthesis and Workshop: Environmental
Effects of Alternative Energy on the OCS (June 2007)
– Attended by subject matter experts, stakeholders, and
MMS Scientific Advisory Committee
– Identified data gaps and study needs
– Suggested priorities for future studies
• Workshop on Birds and Offshore Wind Development
in the Northeast/Mid-Atlantic (Feb 2008)
– MMS hosted a workshop to characterize existing
knowledge, highlight research needs, explore partnership
opportunities, and most importantly, to review monitoring
needs and mitigation approaches for bird impacts.
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FY 2008 Studies
• Compendium of Avian
Information and
Comprehensive GIS
Geodatabase
• OCS Alternative Energy and
Space-Use Conflict Mitigation
• Effects of EMF from
Transmission Lines on
Elasmobranchs and Other
Marine Species
• Evaluation of Visual Impacts
on Historic Properties
• Compilation of GIS Maps of
Benthic Habitats and Species
Distribution
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Interagency Mapping Initiative
• EPAct mandate
– Establish an interagency, comprehensive
digital mapping initiative
– Use to assist in decision making relative to
siting alternative energy activities
• Prototype marine cadastre under
development
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Cape Wind Proposal
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Questions?
Image Courtesy of GE
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