EXTRA...

Cape Wind gets a "thumbs up" from the Feds

MMS publishes Cape Wind Energy Project
Draft Environmental Impact Statement 
Public Hearings here in March, statements begin Friday

WASHINGTON – The Interior Department’s Minerals Management Service (MMS) filed the draft environmental impact statement (DEIS) for the Cape Wind Energy Project with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Friday, January 11th.   The Boston Globe reported that the report was favorable on Cape Wind and it would have mostly “negligible” or “minor” impacts on wildlife, navigation and tourism, see story  here.  The Associated Press, Worcester Telegram and Providence Journal reported that it "would pose no major environmental problems."The initial readings indicates a far more comprehensive report than the DEIS by the United State Army Corps of Engineers three years ago, but basically as positive for the project.

The DEIS is available for review online. The MMS will begin accepting comments on the DEIS on Friday, January 18, 2008 when a Notice of Availability for the DEIS is published in the Federal Register. The DEIS was made available online earlier than usual to allow interested parties time to review the nearly 2,000 page document.  Written comments will be accepted beginning January 18, 2008 through March 20, 2008, and MMS will also hold public hearings on the document in March of 2008.

The DEIS considered all reasonable alternatives to the proposed action, including a no action alternative.  Seven alternatives are analyzed in detail in the draft EIS: the proposed action, no action, a smaller configuration, phased development, a condensed array at Horseshoe Shoal site in Nantucket Sound, or alternative sites at Monomoy Shoals and south of Tuckernuck Island.

The MMS Public Connect on-line commenting system may be used to search and review comments previously submitted electronically. To navigate to the comments, from this page click Quick Search; type in Cape Wind.“The draft environmental impact statement is a crucial step forward in completing our review of the Cape Wind Energy Project,” said MMS Director Randall Luthi. “Cape Wind is the first offshore wind energy project to come before MMS for review, and public input is a critical element of the review process.  I encourage the public to submit written comments on the draft or provide input at the upcoming hearings.  Every input will receive the same weight.”

Public hearings (see driving directions here) on the DEIS will be held at the following locations:

• Monday, March 10, 2008 at Mattacheese Middle School Auditorium in West Yarmouth, Massachusetts at 6:00 p.m.
  
• Tuesday, March 11, 2008 at Nantucket High School Auditorium in Nantucket, Massachusetts at 5:00 p.m.
  
• Wednesday, March 12, 2008 at Martha's Vineyard Regional High School Auditorium in Oak Bluffs, Massachusetts at 5:00 p.m.
  
• Thursday, March 13, 2008, at Campus Center Ballroom, University of Massachusetts in Boston, Massachusetts at 6:00 p.m.
  

Written statements can begin this Friday.
MMS will begin accepting written comments on the DEIS for 60 days beginning on Friday, January 18, 2008 when the Notice of Availability of the DEIS is published in the Federal Register.

Comments may be submitted using the online comment form under “projects open for comment,” however; the online commenting form will not be accessible until Friday, January 18, 2008.

Comments may also be submitted by mail to:
MMS Cape Wind Energy Project TRC Environmental Corporation, Wannalancit Mills 650 Suffolk Street Lowell, Massachusetts 01854.

To obtain a single printed or CD-ROM copy of the DEIS, you may contact:
The Minerals Management Service Environmental Assessment Branch (MS 4042) 381 Elden Street Herndon, Virginia, 20170

Under authority of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, as amended by the Energy Policy Act of 2005, MMS will regulate alternative energy projects and alternate use of facilities on the OCS. Examples include, but are not limited to, wind energy, wave energy, ocean current energy, solar energy, and hydrogen production. Alternate uses of existing facilities may include, but are not limited to, offshore aquaculture, research, education, recreation, and support for offshore operations and facilities.