Offshore WINDPOWER Conference & Exhibition 2018

Sessions Speakers Buzz

e-Poster: Navigating the Environmental Permitting Sea Change (Room Station 1)

17 Oct 18
8:00 AM - 8:10 AM

Tracks: Posters, Siting, Wildlife & Environmental Monitoring

Offshore wind projects are now subject to an alphabet soup of new National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) streamlining directives including EO 13807, DOI SO 3355, the OFD MOU and FAST-41. In streamlining environmental review and permitting, the goal of the current administration is to encourage construction of projects by requiring more concise NEPA documents prepared under more aggressive timeframes. However, this needs to be balanced with meeting the requirements of NEPA and other environmental requirements while creating a solid administrative record to withstand legal challenges. Some of these new directives are overlapping while others continue to evolve creating uncertainty within the industry regarding the best path forward. This presentation will provide attendees with an overview of key elements of recent guidance, their pros and cons for developers, and strategies for compliance.