California Agencies Proceed With Revisions to Vapor Intrusion Guidance
California agencies issued a public notice that they will hold a workgroup to answer questions and engage with stakeholders on the agencies’ latest vapor intrusion guidance. The workgroup comes following years of confusion among stakeholders regarding the agencies’ application of draft guidance for addressing vapor intrusion, including during site cleanup and redevelopment.
U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Ocean Energy Management Proposes Update for Offshore Renewable Energy Regulations
On January 10, 2023, the Department of the Interior (DOI) Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) signed a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NOPR) regarding an update to the regulations governing the development of offshore wind energy on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) in an effort to modernize the existing regulations and facilitate development to meet the U.S. climate and renewable energy objectives. The existing regulations for leasing and managing OCS renewable energy activities were promulgated by the Minerals Management Service (BOEM’s predecessor) on April 29, 2009 (as authorized by the Energy Policy Act of 2005 and the OCS Lands Act).
U.S. Department of the Interior Announces First Offshore Wind Lease Sale in the Pacific
On October 18, 2022, the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) announced that the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) will auction offshore wind energy leases along the outer continental shelf off the coast of central and northern California (the Announcement). The sale will be the first-ever offshore wind lease sale on the West Coast and the first U.S. sale to support potential commercial-scale floating offshore wind energy development. According to the Announcement, the five lease areas, totaling approximately 373,268 acres, have the potential to produce over 4.5 GW of offshore wind energy and power more than 1.5 million homes. (more…)
