Transcript Slide 1
Alternative Energy
on the Outer
Continental Shelf
Robert P. LaBelle
Deputy Associate Director
Offshore Energy and Minerals Management
Minerals Management Service
Marine Renewable Energy Center
Ocean Energy for New England Conference
October 6, 2008
Overview
Minerals Management Service
Regulatory Authority and Mandates
Program Development
Mission Statement
Activity Highlights
Major Rule Elements
Rule Instruments
Lease Process
Plans under the Rule
Interim Policy
Looking Ahead
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MMS Mission
To manage the ocean
energy and mineral
resources on the Outer
Continental Shelf and
Federal and Indian mineral
revenues to enhance
public and trust benefits,
promote responsible use,
and realize fair value.
Credit: GE
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Activity Highlights:
Cape Wind Project
Published Notice of Availability of Draft EIS
on January 18, 2008 (60-day comment period)
Held public hearings March 10-13, 2008
Closed comment period on April 21, 2008
Over 40,000 comments received
Next Steps:
Publish Final EIS
Issue Record of Decision
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Activity Highlights:
Environmental Studies Program
Comparative Study of Offshore Wind Turbine Generators
Standards
Determining Night Time Distribution of Long-Tailed Ducks
Using Radio Telemetry
Effects of Pile Driving Sounds on Auditory and Non-Auditory
Tissues of Fish
Compendium of Avian Information and Comprehensive GIS
Geodatabase
Energy Market and Infrastructure Information for Evaluating
Alternative Energy Projects for OCS Atlantic and Pacific Regions
Evaluation of Visual Impacts on Historic Properties
Meteorological and Wave Measurements for Improving
Meteorological and Air Quality Modeling
Potential for Interactions between Endangered and Candidate
Bird Species with Wind Facility Operations on the Atlantic OCS
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Activity Highlights:
Regional Coordination
Northeast Regional Ocean Council (NROC)
NROC Governors’ Action Plan for 2008-2009
identifies “Ocean Energy Planning and
Management” as a major regional ocean
management issue for the northeast U.S.
Committee on Ocean Energy Planning and
Management (COEPM) formed to address these
issues
Ongoing consultation with Federal, State, and
Local stakeholders
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Regulatory Authority:
EPAct 2005
Section 388 amended Section 8 of OCSLA
MMS was granted the authority to regulate a
broad spectrum of activities on the OCS:
Alternative energy (wind, ocean wave,
ocean current, solar, hydrogen production)
Alternate use of existing facilities
(research and offshore support stations,
recreation opportunities)
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Key Regulatory Mandates
Coordinate with affected State & local
governments and Federal agencies
Ensure safe operations
Protect the environment
Issue leases competitively
Ensure fair return for use of OCS lands
Share revenue with affected States
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MMS Alternative Energy Program
Development
The Rule/Regulations (proposed July 2008)
Record of Decision (Jan. 2008)
Adoption of 52 best
management practices
Programmatic EIS (Nov. 2007)
Interim Policy for Leasing (Nov. 2007)
Over 40 nominations received
Lease Form & Information Collection
Stakeholder meetings with State agencies
AE Study Program (Ongoing)
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The Rule:
Comments
280 comments estimated in total in response to
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
Most Common Topics: Aquaculture, State and
Local Consultation, Bonding, Confidentiality,
Alternate Use Liability Transference,
Jurisdiction, Revenue Sharing, and
Environmental Review Processes
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The Rule:
Preliminary Comment Estimates
Type
Number Received
State Government
38
NGOs
37
Oil and Gas Industry
3
Alternative Energy Industry
27
Local Government
7
Congress
4
Tribal Government
1
Federal Government
7
Research Organizations
1
Individuals
155
280
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The Rule:
Major Elements
Coordination
State/Federal Task Forces
Leasing
Process and Issuance (Subpart B)
Competitive & Noncompetitive Leasing
Commercial & Limited Leases
Plans
(throughout the rule)
(Subpart F)
Site Assessment & Construction & Operations
General Activities
Conduct
of Approved Plan Activities
(Subpart H)
Environmental & Safety Monitoring & Inspections
Payments
(Subpart E)
Bonding & Payments
Decommissioning
(Subpart I)
Alternate Use (Subpart J)
Credit: GE
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The Rule:
Plans
Site Assessment Plan (SAP) – describes assessment
and survey activities needed to characterize the site
(applies to commercial leases)
Construction & Operations Plan (COP) – describes
all activities and facilities to be installed and used to
gather, transport, transmit, generate, or distribute
energy from the lease (applies to commercial leases)
General Activities Plan (GAP) – describes all
activities and operations related to technology testing,
including any facility siting and project easement
(applies to limited leases, ROWs, and RUEs)
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Interim Policy
Interim policy currently in effect for limited
leasing before final regulations
Covers resource data collection and technology
testing activities
Will authorize 5-year term
Will not give priority right for subsequent
commercial development
Initially received over 40 site nominations
Currently considering 15 lease areas
Anticipate issuing a number of limited leases
over the next year
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Interim Policy:
Lease Areas Under Consideration
New Jersey
Delaware
Georgia
*All wind met towers*
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Interim Policy:
Lease Areas Under Consideration
Florida
California
*Ocean current and wave*
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On the Horizon
Completing the rulemaking
Continuing to collaborate with
stakeholders
Initiating environmental studies
under the MMS Studies Program
Issuing Interim Policy leases and
reviewing lease plans
Preparing environmental
compliance documents
Monitoring activities
Credit: GE
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More Information…
On the Web at:
www.mms.gov/offshore/alternativeenergy
Robert P. LaBelle
Deputy Associate Director
Offshore Energy and Minerals Management
703-787-1700
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