Commercial Wind Lease and Grant Issuance and Site Assessment Activities on the Pacific Continental Shelf Morro Bay Wind Energy Area, California Draft Environmen
Summary
SCH Number
2022050249
Lead Agency
United States Department of the Interior
Document Title
Commercial Wind Lease and Grant Issuance and Site Assessment Activities on the Pacific Continental Shelf Morro Bay Wind Energy Area, California Draft Environmen
Document Type
EA - Environmental Assessment
Received
Document Description
The purpose of the Proposed Action is to issue up to 3 commercial renewable energy leases within the WEA and grant rights-of-way (ROWs) and rights-of-use and easements (RUEs) in the region of the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) of central California. BOEM’s issuance of these leases and granting of ROWs and RUEs is needed to (a) confer the exclusive right to submit Site Assessment Plans (SAPs) to BOEM for potential development such that the lessees and grantees develop plans for BOEM’s review and will commit to site characterization and site assessment activities necessary to determine the suitability of their leases, easements, and ROWs for commercial offshore wind production and/or transmission and (b) ensure that site characterization and assessment activities are conducted in a safe and environmentally responsible manner. The issuance of a lease by BOEM to the lessee conveys no right to proceed with development of a wind energy facility; the lessee acquires only the exclusive right to submit a plan to conduct this activity.
The Morro Bay WEA is approximately 240,898 total acres (ac), (376 square miles) and located approximately 20 miles from shore. Water depths across the WEA range from approximately 900 and 1,300 meters (m) (2,953–4,265)
Contact Information
Name
Lisa Gilbane
Agency Name
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Pacific OCS Region
Job Title
Chief, Environmental Assessment
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Email
Location
Cities
20 miles offshore, Cambria, Morro Bay
Counties
San Luis Obispo
Regions
Southern California
Total Acres
240,898
Other Location Info
Morro Bay and Cambria, 20 miles offshore
Notice of Completion
State Review Period Start
State Review Period End
State Reviewing Agencies
California Air Resources Board (ARB), California Coastal Commission (CCC), California Department of Conservation (DOC), California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Central Region 4 (CDFW), California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Marin Region 7 (CDFW), California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE), California Department of Parks and Recreation, California Department of State Parks, Division of Boating and Waterways, California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC), California Department of Transportation, District 5 (DOT), California Department of Water Resources (DWR), California Energy Commission, California Governor's Office of Emergency Services (OES), California Highway Patrol (CHP), California Native American Heritage Commission (NAHC), California Natural Resources Agency, California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), California Regional Water Quality Control Board, Central Coast Region 3 (RWQCB), California State Lands Commission (SLC), Office of Historic Preservation, State Water Resources Control Board, Division of Water Quality
Development Types
Other (Offshore Wind Energy Area)
Local Actions
Federal Lease
Project Issues
Air Quality, Biological Resources, Coastal Zone, Cumulative Effects, Geology/Soils, Hydrology/Water Quality, Noise
Public Review Period Start
Public Review Period End
Attachments
Draft Environmental Document [Draft IS, NOI_NOA_Public notices, OPR Summary Form, Appx,]
Notice of Completion [NOC] Transmittal form
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