Minerals Management Service January 18, 2008 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Minerals Management Service (MMS) is announcing the availability of a draft environmental impact statement (EIS) for the Cape Wind Energy Project. Cape Wind Associates, LLC (CWA) has requested a lease, easement or right-of-way pursuant to section 8(p) of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA) (43 U.S.C 1337) as amended, and proposes to construct and operate a wind energy facility on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) in Nantucket Sound, Massachusetts. The purpose of the proposed project is to provide a renewable energy facility that utilizes the unique wind resources offshore of New England, using a technology that is currently available, technically feasible, and economically viable. The project ostensibly is designed to interconnect with and deliver electricity to the New England Power Pool (NEPOOL) grid, making a substantial contribution to enhancing the region's electrical reliability and achieving renewable energy requirements under the Massachusetts and regional renewable portfolio standards (RPS). The draft EIS is intended to inform the public of the proposed action and alternatives, including the ``no action'' alternative; address public comment received during the scoping period; analyze the direct, indirect, and cumulative environmental effects of the proposed action and each of the reasonable alternatives; and provide information to support decision-making. The MMS invites comment on the draft EIS.