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
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Minerals Management Service
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Regulatory Authority and Mandates
Program Development
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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
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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
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Over 40,000 comments received
Next Steps:
 Publish Final EIS
 Issue Record of Decision
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Activity Highlights:
Environmental Studies Program
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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
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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.
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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
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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)
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Alternate use of existing facilities
(research and offshore support stations,
recreation opportunities)
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Key Regulatory Mandates
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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
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The Rule/Regulations (proposed July 2008)
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Record of Decision (Jan. 2008)
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Adoption of 52 best
management practices
Programmatic EIS (Nov. 2007)
 Interim Policy for Leasing (Nov. 2007)
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Over 40 nominations received
Lease Form & Information Collection
Stakeholder meetings with State agencies
AE Study Program (Ongoing)
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The Rule:
Comments
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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
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State/Federal Task Forces
 Leasing
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Process and Issuance (Subpart B)
Competitive & Noncompetitive Leasing
Commercial & Limited Leases
 Plans
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(throughout the rule)
(Subpart F)
Site Assessment & Construction & Operations
General Activities
 Conduct
of Approved Plan Activities
(Subpart H)
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Environmental & Safety Monitoring & Inspections
 Payments
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(Subpart E)
Bonding & Payments
 Decommissioning
(Subpart I)
 Alternate Use (Subpart J)
Credit: GE
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The Rule:
Plans
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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
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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
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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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