Federal Opportunities to Participate in Offshore Wind

This guide is a reference for community members interested in the federal offshore wind energy leasing and permitting process. A common barrier to participation is not understanding when and how to engage, the status of projects in the offshore wind energy pipeline, and confusion over commonly used acronyms. This guide is a resource to demystify the development process, help communities learn the language, provide past development examples, and reduce barriers to submitting public comment on federal agency actions. This information is standard for all federal offshore wind energy actions, so communities outside of New York State can also reference this guide.

For a brief overview of the process, check out the accompanying, print-friendly  one-pager .

Estimated read time: 20 minutes

When reading this guide, look for sections labeled:

“This step in action” to see historical examples of the process step being explained. These sections are not exhaustive and folks that are interested in more information are encouraged to explore BOEM’s renewable energy website under “ State Activities ” and past dockets in the Federal Register.

“Public Input Opportunity (Written Comment)” for insight on when written public views can be formally captured in the process.

“Public Input Opportunity (Oral Comment)” for insight on when the public can provide oral testimony to BOEM.

“Public Opportunity (Public Meetings)” for insight on when the public can have facetime with BOEM and developers to discuss the current siting stage, but may not be given the opportunity to provide formal oral testimony.

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) within the United States Department of the Interior is authorized to issue offshore wind energy leases as a result of the Energy Policy Act of 2005. ^1,2  State jurisdiction of the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) varies –most states’ jurisdictions extend three nautical miles from the coast with the exception of Texas and the Gulf coast of Florida. ³  Beyond state jurisdiction, federal jurisdiction extends roughly 200 nautical miles. ³  Within that federal region of the OCS (3-200 nautical miles), BOEM is authorized to lease areas for renewable energy activities, including offshore wind energy. ⁴ 

An Intergovernmental Task Force is comprised of local, state, tribal, and federal government agencies, though members of the public can attend and observe meetings. ⁵  At the end of task force meetings, there is an opportunity for public input and questions from those who are not official task force members. One may also become a guest representative on the task force, if invited by members; for example, fisheries management councils and local Sea Grant leadership have been invited task force members. ^6,7  The purpose of the task force is to educate members about offshore wind energy (including its leasing and permitting process), exchange data and information, discuss issues of concern, and assist government decision-making within BOEM’s regulatory framework. ⁵  Task forces are created for each potential new offshore wind area and meetings are coordinated by BOEM.

Public Opportunity (Public Meetings): Task Force Meetings are open to the public for interested community members to attend and observe. Members of the public may or may not be given time to provide oral comment.

As mentioned, the process of issuing a lease begins when a state or developer expresses interest in offshore wind energy development. BOEM may issue a Request for Interest (RFI) to determine if there is interest among multiple developers for offshore wind energy development in the region. This RFI step is optional for BOEM and is typically done when issuance of an offshore wind energy lease is new for the region. If BOEM determines that there is competitive interest from multiple developers, BOEM proceeds with the competitive leasing process as described in the rest of this guide. If there is no competitive interest, BOEM publishes a “Determination of No Competitive Interest” notice and may offer a developer or researcher a noncompetitive lease ⁸ , which is not further described in this guide. More information about the noncompetitive process can be found  here .

This step in action: There have been RFIs published for offshore wind energy in both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. To gauge interest as a result of state activities and energy needs, RFIs were published in 2010 for offshore Delaware ⁹ , offshore Maryland ¹⁰ , and offshore Massachusetts ¹¹ ; and in 2021 for the Gulf of Mexico. ¹²  As a result of unsolicited lease requests from developers, BOEM issued RFIs in 2012 for offshore Maine ¹³ ; in 2013 for offshore New York ¹⁴  and offshore Oregon ¹⁵ ; and in 2016 for offshore California. ¹⁶ 

In addition to unsolicited lease applications from developers, BOEM occasionally receives unsolicited lease applications from researchers. After receiving a research lease application, BOEM publishes a Request for Competitive Interest (RFCI) to determine if other parties are interested in developing the identified area. With an RFI, BOEM is determining general offshore wind energy interest within a region; with an RFCI, BOEM is determining interest in a specific parcel proposed by researchers.

This step in action: The Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind Project, which installed the first offshore wind energy turbines in United States federal waters in 2020, is the result of a research lease application in 2013. ¹⁷  For the Virginia research lease, BOEM determined that there was no competitive interest and, after approval of a Research Activities Plan (RAP) and completion of an environmental assessment, the area was approved as a research lease. ^18,19  In Gulf of Maine federal waters, the state of Maine submitted a research lease application in 2021 for a floating wind array. ²⁰  In 2022, BOEM released an RFCI.

When developers respond to an RFI, they indicate areas of interest, descriptions of their renewable energy objectives, available energy and resource data, and documentation that they are qualified to hold a lease. ²¹  Responding to an RFI is not a bid by developers. Instead, it informs BOEM’s decision on whether to pursue commercial leasing for offshore wind energy in the area. The RFI is not only an opportunity for developers to comment; members of the public have 45 days to provide information about site conditions, resources, and multiple uses in close proximity to, or within, the RFI Area. ¹² 

Public Input Opportunity (Written Comment): The public comment period is 45 days for an RFI and 30-45 days for an RFCI. The comment period opens when the request is announced. To get notifications of the availability of requests in the Federal Register, subscribe to  BOEM’s listserv .

The Call for Information and Nominations (Call) is an opportunity to share information about known conditions within the Call Area, an initial area identified by BOEM to investigate for offshore wind energy purposes. Unlike the RFI, the Call is a required step in the energy leasing process and usually encompasses a smaller area within the region.

Information requested includes resources, existing uses in close proximity to or within the Call Area, and environmental considerations. BOEM seeks specific information from interested and affected parties at this time, including: geological conditions, known archaeological and cultural resource sites, areas of historical significance that may fall under the National Historic Preservation Act, potential conflicting uses in the area such as fishing, protected species and critical habitats, data concerning renewable energy resources and environmental conditions, potential visual impacts, information about the local energy grid, and relevant socioeconomic, cultural, biological, or environmental information. ²² 

Public Opportunity (Public Meetings): Prior to publishing the Call in the Federal Register, BOEM may host meetings within the region to review their draft Call Area and better define the Call Area.

Public Input Opportunity (Written Comment): The public commenting period is 45 days. The commenting period opens when the Call is announced. To get notifications of the availability of Calls in the Federal Register, subscribe to BOEM’s listserv.

Wind Energy Areas (WEAs) are areas that BOEM has identified as appearing most suitable for offshore wind energy. WEAs are determined using information collected from the Task Force, input from State and Federal agencies, public comments about the larger proposed Call Area, and feedback gathered during public meetings. The process of determining the WEAs is called Area Identification (Area ID). BOEM will occasionally publish preliminary WEAs to solicit additional feedback, which was done in the Gulf of Mexico. ²³  Publishing the final WEA does not initiate a commenting period. The WEAs may be winnowed down, or reduced in size, again as a result of environmental reviews and future comments. The ultimate leases are typically smaller than the WEAs and Call Areas – in the NY Bight, the call area was reduced by 72% for the leases and near Massachusetts, the call area was reduced by about 10%. ^24-27 

Public Opportunity (Public Meetings): BOEM holds public meetings as part of the process to identify WEAs.

The Environmental Assessment (EA) is led by BOEM to determine the environmental impacts of leasing the area and subsequent site assessment activities in the WEAs or Call Area.

This Step in Action: BOEM conducted an EA for the winnowed down WEAs in the Atlantic region, but conducted an EA for the entire Call Area in the Gulf of Mexico. BOEM analyzed the entire Call Area to give themselves more flexibility for further WEA identification.

EAs are required by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Briefly, NEPA is a procedural law that requires federal agencies to assess the potential environmental impacts of their proposed actions before final decisions are made. NEPA directs agencies to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) when proposed activities will have significant environmental impact. If an agency is unsure as to whether the proposed activities will have a significant environmental impact, the agency conducts an EA. NEPA assessments oftentimes act as an umbrella for reviews required by other federal laws such as the  Endangered Species Act ,  Marine Mammal Protection Act , and the  National Historic Preservation Act . Through NEPA’s environmental assessment framework, BOEM and other federal agencies can ensure that activities will comply with all relevant laws. ²⁸ 

Site assessment activities considered in the EA include biological, archeological, geological, and geophysical surveys, core sampling, and installation of meteorological buoys and monitoring equipment. ²⁹  The EA covers only site assessment and site characterization activities – it does not include any project-specific activities such as layouts, cable routes, or visual impacts. BOEM seeks public comments at this time to identify considerations that should be included in the EA. Potential comment topics include: known impacts of the survey acoustics on fish and mammals; impacts of surveys on commercial fisheries as a result of ecosystem disruption, fishing grounds overlap, and potential gear loss; known conflicts with the Coast Guard and Department of Defense; known conflicts with NOAA Fisheries; and information about survey techniques, especially new methods. ³⁰ 

Public Input Opportunity (Written Comment): The public commenting period is 30 days and opens when BOEM announces the NOI. To get notifications of its availability in the Federal Register, subscribe to BOEM’s listserv.

The EA contains BOEM’s impact determinations about whether site assessments and characterizations have negligible, minor, moderate, or major impacts on resources. The resources considered include: air quality; benthic resources; commercial and recreational fishing; cultural, historical, and archaeological resources; finfish, invertebrates, and essential fish habitat; marine mammals; military use and navigation/vessel traffic; recreation and tourism; and sea turtles. ³¹  It will also provide alternative and no-action scenarios, and their impacts. A no-action scenario acts as a baseline and considers the state of the environment if the action is not approved. As part of the EA, Standard Operating Conditions (SOCs) – or protective measures to reduce impacts – are also analyzed. SOCs may include mitigation procedures like avoidance, survey shutdowns, or visual monitoring during activities. BOEM may require developers to abide by SOCs if the EA finds they reduce the impacts of site assessments and surveys.

Public Input Opportunity (Written Comment): The public commenting period is 30 days and opens when BOEM announces the NOA. To get notifications of its availability in the Federal Register, subscribe to BOEM’s listserv.

According to the NEPA review process, if a proposed activity is found to not have a significant impact in the EA, BOEM can publish a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI). If the EA finds a significant impact, an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is conducted. To date, no EA for offshore wind energy site assessment and characterization activities has found significant impacts when SOCs are implemented. ^32-41 

The Proposed Sale Notice (PSN) provides information about the proposed lease areas, lease stipulations, and auction information, and is the final opportunity for public comment prior to the lease auction. The PSN is not necessarily published after the draft EA is released.

This step in action: For the NY Bight, the PSN was published on June 14, 2021, but the draft EA was published August 10, 2021 – 3 days before the end of the 60 day PSN commenting period. ^42,43  For the leases offshore Massachusetts, the draft EA was published November 2, 2012. ⁴⁴  A revised EA was published June 4, 2014 and the PSN was published June 14, 2014. ^45,46 

All comments are accepted, but BOEM also provides topics they would like information and feedback on. These topics may include: which lease areas should be prioritized for inclusion or exclusion from the lease sale, lease area size, transit corridors, benefits to underserved communities, workforce training and development, creating a domestic supply chain, Tribal partnership, ocean user engagement, community engagement, auction process and limits for developers, coordinated engagement ideas, turbine layout guidelines, rent, environmental protection. ⁴² 

Public Input Opportunity (Written Comment): The public commenting period is 60 days and opens when BOEM announces the PSN. To get notifications of its availability in the Federal Register, subscribe to BOEM’s listserv.

The Final Sale Notice (FSN) will include information for eligible bidders about the lease auction process and descriptions of the final lease areas. Changes in the lease areas and lease stipulations that were made between the Proposed Sale Notice and the Final Sale Notice will be highlighted. As part of the Final Sale Notice, BOEM outlines how they have taken comments and input into consideration.

This step in action: BOEM’s FSN Response to Comments for the 2022 NY Bight lease areas can be found  here . In the NY Bight FSN, as a result of stakeholder comments and data, BOEM removed portions of leases that were adjacent to the Mid-Atlantic Scallop Access Area and portions of leases that had multiple conflicts due to fishing activity and seafloor features. ⁴⁷  New stipulations regarded reporting requirements, transmission planning, bird and bat protection, project labor agreements, supply chain, turbine layout, Endangered Species Act, and potential future restrictions. ⁴⁷ 

During the lease auction, eligible developers can bid for specific leases. The public can watch this process live on BOEM’s website, where they will periodically post the number of active bidders and the most recent bids. Auctions may take several days. At the conclusion of the auction, BOEM announces the provisional winners. After the lease auction, there are only two more opportunities to formally comment through BOEM and the Federal Register. Most of the formal, agency-level input is collected before the auction.

When BOEM gets the signed lease copies and has verified that the provisional winner(s) meets all requirements, BOEM will execute the lease.

The Site Assessment Plan (SAP) is submitted to BOEM by the developer within 12 months of being issued the lease. ⁴⁸  Within the SAP, developers outline activities proposed to assess the area, as well as any environmental and socioeconomic effects of the assessments. Survey data that informs the SAP is included, but survey data that informs the Construction and Operations Plan (COP, outlined in step 15) is not. There are specific project information details and surveys that are required in the SAP, such as a map drawn to scale, deployment activities, geophysical surveys, etc. ⁴⁸  Part of the SAP includes proposed measures for avoiding, minimizing, reducing, eliminating, and mitigating environmental impacts of the site assessment activity on fisheries, benthic habitat, and protected species. Developers are required to consult and list people they have talked to about proposed activities, including other ocean users and fishing organizations. Community members can engage with developers before their SAP is published. The developers may host public roundtables with community member groups, including environmental organizations and ocean users. Because this is not a federally organized meeting, it is not highlighted as other opportunities are in this guide.

For the SAP review, BOEM is looking for completeness (“whether plans contain all of the categories of information required by BOEM’s renewable energy regulations”) and sufficiency (“whether the information provided in a submittal is of sufficient quality and quantity to conduct technical and environmental reviews”). BOEM is also looking for activities that are “complex or significant” which may include deploying new technology or taking up a large footprint of the lease area. Activities deemed complex or significant require additional authorization through a Certified Verification Agent nomination. Additionally, the SAP has to be compliant with NEPA and all other relevant environmental and historic preservation laws. BOEM reviews the final completed and sufficient SAP within 90 days. ⁴⁸ 

Interested and affected community members can continue to participate in the offshore wind energy development process by engaging directly with developers or with individual states. During the site assessment process, developers will be consulting with federal, tribal, and state agencies, local municipalities, the fishing community, local organizations, academic institutions, scientific organizations, and NGOs. Power Purchase Agreements are signed with states during the site assessment period, so there are opportunities for stakeholder engagement at the state level. Offshore surveying activity also occurs during this time. Developers are required to publish a fisheries communication plan, appoint a fisheries liaison, and notify relevant parties of offshore activity. If public notices of planned activities are not clear or made available to other ocean users, impacted community members can reach out to the developer’s Fisheries Liaison and fishing industry associations.

The Construction and Operations Plan (COP) describes the survey results from the SAP and all plans for construction activities and facilities associated with the lease – from onshore support facilities and transmission to turbines and offshore substations. The COP details the plans for the entire process of construction, operations, maintenance, decommissioning, and site clearance. ⁴⁹  The COP should conform to BOEM’s Best Management Policies and Practices, though the policies and practices are not binding unless also included as a lease stipulation. BOEM reviews the COP and determines if it is approved, rejected, or approved with modifications. The developer will likely submit several COPs; for example, a COP for South Fork Wind Farm was submitted four times between 2018 and 2021 before being accepted in May 2021.

Prior to preparing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), which assesses the potential environmental impacts of the proposed COP, BOEM seeks public input on the COP through their Notice of Intent (NOI). As mentioned above, EIS are prepared when there will be a significant impact on the environment due to the proposed activities. Compared to an EA, the EIS is a more extensive evaluation, examination, and assessment of the environmental impacts of a proposed project.

Interested and impacted community members can review the COP and provide comments, additional information, alternatives, and suggestions during this commenting period. Within the NOI, BOEM will publish specific requests for information as well, including potential biological, physical, ecological, socioeconomic impacts of the COP. Comments can include impacts the COP will have on commercial fisheries, environmental justice, coastal infrastructure, vessel traffic, recreation, and visual resources as well. ⁵⁰  These comments inform BOEM’s draft EIS, which will identify alternatives to, information about, and analyses on the COP.

Public Input Opportunity (Written Comment): The public commenting period is 30 days and opens when BOEM announces the NOI. To get notifications of its availability in the Federal Register, subscribe to BOEM’s listserv.

Public Input Opportunity (Oral Comment): Public meetings are organized by BOEM during which the agency will share information and people can submit oral testimonies.

The Draft EIS (DEIS) contains an analysis of potential impacts from the developer’s COP. It reviews current baseline data and assesses impacts that could result from the developer’s proposed actions. Also included in the DEIS are potential alternative actions and their impacts. BOEM relies on cooperating agencies when preparing the DEIS and consults with other federal agencies, such as EPA, NOAA, US Coast Guard, state departments, and local municipalities. ⁵¹  This step is the last formal opportunity to comment through BOEM; community members can comment on, critique, and provide feedback on both the COP and the DEIS.

This step in action: For the South Fork Wind Farm DEIS, 22 alternative actions were identified and 3 were analyzed in depth for the DEIS.

Public Input Opportunity (Written Comment): The public commenting period is 45 days and opens when BOEM announces the publication of the Draft EIS. To get notifications of its availability in the Federal Register, subscribe to BOEM’s listserv.

Public Input Opportunity (Oral Comment): Public meetings are organized by BOEM during which the agency will present about the DEIS and people can submit oral testimonies.

After considering public comments on the DEIS, BOEM publishes the final EIS and Record of Decision (ROD). The ROD will recommend that COP should or should not be approved. The ROD may also include information like mitigation requirements that will be conditional for COP approval. Publishing the final EIS and ROD concludes the NEPA process. ⁵² 

Unlike an EIS that is project-specific, a Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) is a broader NEPA review of a larger program or policy. Deciding whether or not to do a PEIS is under the discretion of federal agency, in this case BOEM. ⁵⁴  A PEIS is not part of the typical leasing process and therefore was not included as a step in this guide. BOEM, formerly Minerals Management Service (MMS), did a single PEIS to establish a program for all offshore wind, wave, and ocean current energy capture technologies on the outer continental shelf in 2007. ⁵⁵ 

This step in action: In 2022, BOEM announced that a PEIS will be prepared for the NY Bight. ⁵⁶  The purpose of the PEIS in the NY Bight is to: 1) analyze the impacts of a typical NY Bight project, 2) investigate a program for avoidance, minimization, mitigation, and monitoring, 3) conduct a regional cumulative analysis for the 6 new NY Bight lease areas, 4) identify minor and negligible impacts so more focus can be spent on moderate and major impacts for the individual projects’ future EIS analyses, and 5) create a NEPA review that can be referenced by the individual projects’ future EIS analyses at the COP stage. ⁵⁶  Even after a PEIS is conducted, EIS's are still needed for individual projects.

Subscribe to  BOEM’s email listserv  to stay up to date on commenting opportunities. BOEM also posts updates on their  facebook ,  Twitter , and  LinkedIn  pages, though these announcements are interspersed with social media posts and are easier to miss.

To determine where a specific project falls in the federal leasing and permitting process, you can locate the offshore wind project on the Federal Infrastructure Project Map, found at  http://www.permits.performance.gov/ . Additionally, you can search for the project on  BOEM’s website . If you know the project name, use the search tool in the top right corner and select the result that is categorized as either a “basic page” or a “landing page.” If you do not know the project name, head to  BOEM’s State Activities page . Each state’s activity refers to proximity to the lease area, not energy procurement. Select the state that is closest to the area you are interested in. Once you navigate to the project’s page, explore the tabs and “What’s New” section to determine what step the project is on.

All comments for BOEM’s actions are collected in the Federal Register. Each action has its own docket that you can navigate to on either  www.regulations.gov  or  www.federalregister.gov . The easiest way is to search by Docket ID on regulations.gov if you have that information available. If you do not have the ID, the Federal Register is a bit easier to search. The page housing all of BOEM’s documents is here:  https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/ocean-energy-management-bureau . Scroll down to “Recently Published Documents” and select “View ### more results.” Now you can search for the document you are looking for and it will already be filtered for BOEM. For example, searching “NY Bight” results in all the published documents so far - from the Call for Information and Nominations, to the lease sale notice, to documents about the Programmatic EIS.

When you select a document, there will be a banner on the top indicating that you can submit a formal comment if the commenting period is open. Select the green button to type your comment or upload a file.

Things to remember:

• Comments are public and will be posted online in association with the document.
• You must include your first and last name in order for the comment to be accepted. If you are commenting on behalf of your organization, you must include the organization’s name and type (ex: company, organization, state, etc.). If posting your name, address, and personally identifiable information could result in harmful consequences to you, describe your concerns for BOEM’s consideration. BOEM does not guarantee that all information will be withheld.
• BOEM does not consider anonymous comments. ⁵³ 

Yes – during open commenting periods, you can mail your comment to BOEM. It must be postmarked by the comment closing period. The address and closing date are included in the docket.

When there is an open commenting period for an action, BOEM will list exactly what information they are looking for within the body of the document. Generally, comments that include facts, link to data or research that support the comment, and provide specifics are considered most helpful by BOEM. Sometimes, BOEM publishes a supplementary fact sheet highlighting what comments they would find helpful. Here are links to past guides:  NY Bight PEIS ,  South Fork DEIS .

All links last accessed December 2022.

1. Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration. (2005, August 7). Public Law 109 - 58 - Energy Policy Act of 2005. [Government]. U.S. Government Printing Office.  https://www.boem.gov/sites/default/files/renewable-energy-program/Regulatory-Information/hr6_textconfrept.pdf .

2. Salazar divides MMS's three conflicting missions. U.S. Department of the Interior. (2021, September 29). https://www.doi.gov/news/pressreleases/Salazar-Divides-MMSs-Three-Conflicting-Missions.

3. Outer Continental Shelf. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (n.d).  https://www.boem.gov/oil-gas-energy/leasing/outer-continental-shelf .

4. Regulatory Framework and Guidelines. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (n.d).  https://www.boem.gov/renewable-energy/regulatory-framework-and-guidelines .

5. Gulf of Maine Intergovernmental Renewable Energy Task Force Charter. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (2020, April 3).  https://www.boem.gov/sites/default/files/documents/renewable-energy/state-activities/Gulf%20of%20Maine%20Task%20Force%20Charter.pdf .

6. Strengthening the Intergovernmental Renewable Energy Task Forces. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (2018, February).  https://www.boem.gov/sites/default/files/renewable-energy-program/Strengthening-the-Task-Forces-Final-4.2-%281%29.pdf .

7. Gulf of Maine Intergovernmental Renewable Energy Task Force Meeting Summary. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (2022, May 19).  https://www.boem.gov/sites/default/files/documents/renewable-energy/state-activities/GoME-Task-Force-Meeting-Summary.pdf .

8. 30 CFR § 585.231 - How will BOEM process my unsolicited request for a noncompetitive lease? (n.d.). Cornell Legal Information Institute.  https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/30/585.231# .

9. Commercial Leasing for Wind Power on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Offshore Delaware-Request for Interest (RFI). 75 FR 21653 (2010, April 26).  https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2010-9610 .

10. Commercial Leasing for Wind Power on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Offshore Maryland-Request for Interest (RFI). 75 FR 68824 (2010, November 9).  https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2010-28269 .

11. Commercial Leasing for Wind Power on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Offshore Massachusetts-Request for Interest (RFI). 75 FR 82055 (2010, December 29).  https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2010-32853 .

12. Request for Interest in Commercial Leasing for Wind Power Development on the Gulf of Mexico Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). 86 FR 31339 (2021, June 11).  https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2021-12267 .

13. Potential Commercial Leasing for Wind Power on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Offshore Maine; Request for Interest. 77 FR 47877 (2012, August 10).  https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2012-19593 .

14. Potential Commercial Leasing for Wind Power on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Offshore New York, Request for Interest. 78 FR 760 (2013, January 4).  https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2012-31654 .

15. Potential Commercial Leasing for Wind Power on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Offshore Oregon, Request for Interest. 78 FR 59968 (2013, September 30).  https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2013-23699 .

16. Potential Commercial Leasing for Wind Power on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Offshore California-Request for Interest. 81 FR 55228 (2016, August 18).  https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2016-19349 .

17. Research Lease on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Offshore Virginia, Request for Competitive Interest. 78 FR 45965 (2013, July 30).  https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2013-18283 .

18. Notice of Determination of No Competitive Interest, Offshore Virginia. 78 FR 73882 (2013, December 9).  https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2013-29242 .

19. Environmental Assessment for Virginia Offshore Wind Technology Advancement Project on the Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf Offshore Virginia. 79 FR 71446 (2014, December 2) https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2014-28164.

20. Application for an Outer Continental Shelf Renewable Energy Research Lease. State of Maine (2021, October).  https://www.boem.gov/sites/default/files/documents/renewable-energy/state-activities/Maine-Research-Leas-Application.pdf .

21. 30 CFR § 585.213 - What must I submit in response to a Request for Interest or a Call for Information and Nominations? (n.d.). Cornell Legal Information Institute.  https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/30/585.213 .

22. Call for Information and Nominations-Commercial Leasing for Wind Power Development on the Outer Continental Shelf in the Gulf of Mexico. 86 FR 60283 (2021, November 1).  https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2021-23800 .

23. Celata, M. (2022, August 20). Request for Concurrence on Preliminary Wind Energy Areas for the Gulf of Mexico Area Identification Process Pursuant to 30 C.F.R. § 585.211(b) [Memorandum] Gulf of Mexico Regional Office.  https://www.boem.gov/sites/default/files/documents/Draft%20Area%20ID%20Memo%20GOM%20508.pdf .

24. Moore, K. (2022, January 12). BOEM to offer six New York Bight wind leases in Feb. 23 auction. National Fisherman  https://www.nationalfisherman.com/mid-atlantic/boem-to-offer-six-new-york-bight-wind-leases-in-feb-23-auction .

25. Commercial Leasing for Wind Power on the Outer Continental Shelf Offshore Maryland-Call for Information and Nominations. 77 FR 5552 (2012, February 3).  https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2012-2497 .

26. BOEM Identifies Wind Energy Area Offshore Massachusetts For Potential Commercial Leasing. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (2012, May 30).  https://www.boem.gov/newsroom/press-releases/boem-identifies-wind-energy-area-offshore-massachusetts-potential .

27. NYSERDA (2021, March 30). Siting and Leasing Offshore Wind Energy Areas (Learning from the Experts) [video]. YouTube.  https://youtube.com/watch?v=2oEh8m2TDFk&feature=shares .

28. Congressional Research Service. (2011, January 10). The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA): Background and Implementation.  https://www.everycrsreport.com/reports/RL33152.html .

29. BOEM Advances Offshore Wind in Major U.S. East Coast Energy Market - Agency Announces New York Bight Wind Energy Areas and Initiates Environmental Review. Seeks Public Comment. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management. (2021, March 29).  https://www.boem.gov/boem-advances-offshore-wind-major-us-east-coast-energy-market .

30. New York Bight Notice of Preparation of an Environmental Assessment. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (2021, March 30).  https://www.regulations.gov/document/BOEM-2021-0021-0002 .

31. Commercial and Research Wind Lease and Grant Issuance and Site Assessment Activities on the Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf of the New York Bight Draft Environmental Assessment. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (2021, August 10).  https://www.regulations.gov/document/BOEM-2021-0054-0001 .

32. Pacific Wind Lease Sale 1 (PACW-1) for Commercial Leasing for Wind Power on the Outer Continental Shelf in California-Final Sale Notice. 87 FR 64093 (2022, October 21). https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2022-22871.

33. Commercial Wind Lease Issuance and Site Assessment Activities on the Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf Offshore North Carolina – Revised Environmental Assessment. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management. (2015, September).  https://www.boem.gov/sites/default/files/renewable-energy-program/State-Activities/NC/NC-EA-Camera-FONSI.pdf .

34. Atlantic Wind Lease Sale 8 (ATLW-8) for Commercial Leasing for Wind Power on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) in the New York (NY) Bight-Final Sale Notice (FSN). 87 FR 2446 (2022, January 14). https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2022-00504.

35. Atlantic Wind Lease Sale 7 (ATLW-7) for Commercial Leasing for Wind Power on the Outer Continental Shelf Offshore Kitty Hawk, North Carolina-Final Sale Notice; MMAA104000. 82 FR 5600 (2017, January 18).  https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2017-01059 .

36. Atlantic Wind Lease Sale 6 (ATLW-6) for Commercial Leasing for Wind Power on the Outer Continental Shelf Offshore New York-Final Sale Notice MMAA104000. 81 FR 75429 (2016, October 31). https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2016-26240.

37. Atlantic Wind Lease Sale 5 (ATLW5) for Commercial Leasing for Wind Power on the Outer Continental Shelf Offshore New Jersey-Final Sale Notice. 80 FR 57862 (2015, September 25). https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2015-24392.

38. Atlantic Wind Lease Sale 4 (ATLW4) Commercial Leasing for Wind Power on the Outer Continental Shelf Offshore Massachusetts-Final Sale Notice; MMAA104000. 79 FR 70545 (2014, November 26). https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2014-27965.

39. Atlantic Wind Lease Sale 3 (ATLW3) Commercial Leasing for Wind Power on the Outer Continental Shelf Offshore Maryland-Final Sale Notice MMAA104000. 79 FR 38060 (2014, July 3). https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2014-15759.

40. Atlantic Wind Lease Sale 1 (ATLW1) Commercial Leasing for Wind Power on the Outer Continental Shelf Offshore Virginia-Final Sale Notice. 78 FR 44150 (2013, July 23). https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2013-17663.

41. Atlantic Wind Lease Sale 2 (ATLW2) Commercial Leasing for Wind Power on the Outer Continental Shelf Offshore Rhode Island and Massachusetts-Final Sale Notice. 78 FR 33897 (2013, June 5). https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2013-13197.

42. Atlantic Wind Lease Sale 8 (ATLW-8) for Commercial Leasing for Wind Power on the Outer Continental Shelf in the New York Bight-Proposed Sale Notice. 86 FR 31524 (2021, June 14). https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2021-12442.

43. BOEM Provides New York Bight Offshore Wind Environmental Assessment Update. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (2021, August 10).  https://www.boem.gov/newsroom/notes-stakeholders/boem-provides-new-york-bight-offshore-wind-environmental-assessment .

44. Environmental Assessment for Potential Commercial Wind Lease Issuance and Site Assessment Activities on the Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Offshore Massachusetts. 77 FR 66185 (2012, November 2).  https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2012-26905 .

45. Notice of the Availability of a Revised Environmental Assessment (EA) and a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI). 79 FR 34781 (2014, June 18). https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2014-14004.

46. Atlantic Wind Lease Sale 4 (ATLW4) Commercial Leasing for Wind Power on the Outer Continental Shelf Offshore Massachusetts-Proposed Sale Notice. 79 FR 34771 (2014, June 18). https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2014-14116.

47. Atlantic Wind Lease Sale 8 (ATLW-8) for Commercial Leasing for Wind Power on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) in the New York (NY) Bight-Final Sale Notice (FSN). 87 FR 2446 (2022, January 14). https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2022-00504.

48. Guidelines for Information Requirements for a Renewable Energy Site Assessment Plan (SAP). Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (2019, June).  https://www.boem.gov/sites/default/files/renewable-energy-program/BOEM-Renewable-SAP-Guidelines.pdf .

49. Information Guidelines for a Renewable Energy Construction and Operations Plan (COP). Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (2020, May 27).  https://www.boem.gov/sites/default/files/documents/about-boem/COP%20Guidelines.pdf .

50. Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind Projects Offshore New Jersey. 86 FR 54231 (2021, September 30). https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2021-21300.

51. Notice of Public Meetings and of Availability of a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Deepwater South Fork LLC's Proposed Wind Energy Facility Offshore Rhode Island. 86 FR 1520 (2021, January 8). https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2021-00100.

52. Notice of Availability of a Joint Record of Decision (ROD) for the South Fork Wind, LLC Proposed Wind Energy Facility Offshore Rhode Island. 86 FR 67969 (2021, November 30). https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2021-26040.

53. Regulations.gov How-To Guide. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (n.d.).  https://www.boem.gov/sites/default/files/documents/renewable-energy/state-activities/BOEM-NY-Bight-Regulations-gov-How-To-Guide.pdf .

54. Final Guidance for Effective Use of Programmatic NEPA Reviews. 79 FR 76986 (2014, December 21). https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2014-30034.

55. Alternative Energy and Alternate Use Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement. 72 FR 62672 (2007, November 6). https://www.federalregister.gov/d/E7-21792.

56. Notice of Intent To Prepare a Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement for Future Wind Energy Development in the New York Bight. 87 FR 42495 (2022, July 15). https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2022-15159.