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…)
California State Water Board Announces Scoping Phase for New Vapor Intrusion Cleanup Requirement
On March 25, 2022, the California State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) issued a notice of public scoping meeting for a proposed amendment to its rules governing site cleanup. This amendment would establish “requirements for the investigation and assessment of vapor intrusion at cleanup sites statewide.”
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Propose to List Northern Long-Eared Bat as Endangered Species
On Tuesday, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) proposed to reclassify the northern long-eared bat (Myotis septentrionalis), a bat species found in 38 U.S. states or territories, as an endangered species pursuant to the Endangered Species Act (Act). The Service’s proposed reclassification is a direct response to a federal judge’s court order requiring the Service to revisit its previous listing decision and account for the impact of white nose syndrome (WNS), a disease-causing fungal infection that ultimately results in mortality. The heightened listing for the species is very likely to affect ongoing and future development over a large geographic region, given the species’ range outside of areas affected by WNS. (more…)
