US: BOEM releases draft environmental analysis of the proposed South Fork Wind Farm
07 Jan 2021
America-First Offshore Energy Strategy, the
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has announced that it will publish a draft environmental analysis of the proposed
South Fork Wind Farm and is requesting public comment. The draft environmental analysis, referred to as the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), analyzes the potential environmental impacts of the proposed action described in the South Fork Wind Construction and Operations Plan and reasonable alternatives to the proposed action. BOEM remains committed to a permitting process that reduces potential conflicts with other important uses of the ocean, such as fishing, while establishing a strong foundation for wind projects moving forward,
January 6, 2021, by Adrijana Buljan
The U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has published a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the South Fork offshore wind farm and will open a 45-day public comment period on 8 January.
After the public consultation period, BOEM will address all received comments and publish a Final EIS, which is expected to be done in August, with the environmental review and permitting process anticipated to be completed in January 2022.
The South Fork Draft EIS incorporates the expanded cumulative scenario and analysis of future offshore wind development from the Supplement to the Draft EIS for the Vineyard Wind 1 project. To remind, Vineyard Wind in the meantime temporarily withdrew its Construction and Operation Plan (COP) to tweak the plans after the inclusion of GE’s 13 MW Haliade-X wind turbines into the final project design.
Maryland s Highway Expansion Project Out to Bid
Vocal opposition hasn t slowed the Maryland Department of Transportation s progress of the I-495/I-270 Managed Lanes Project. January 3, 2021, 7am PST | James Brasuell | Maryland transportation officials are moving forward with plans for its Beltway widening project by issuing a request for proposals to four developers, reports Briana Adhikusuma.
The planned expansion of I-495 and I-270 would add managed lanes through a public -private partnership at a price between $9 billion to $11 billion. According to Adhikusuma, the project has been met with opposition in the last year from county officials, environmental activists, the U.S. Navy and county residents, in recent months. (Planetizen noted skepticism and opposition for the project in September and October this year.) The project s Draft Environmental Impact Statement, published in July 2020 and closed for public comment the following November, includes six alternatives
This content was republished with permission from WTOP’s news partners at Maryland Matters. Sign up for Maryland Matters’ free email subscription today.
While Maryland residents and elected officials scurried around in preparation for the holidays last week, the state Department of Transportation quietly took a major step in its $11 billion I-495/I-270 “managed lanes” highway project.
With no notice to the public, the agency issued its formal Request for Proposals (RFP) for the project late on Friday, Dec. 18. The four giant transportation consortiums that have formed to bid on the massive project were given three business days to return the “technical” portion of their responses. (Financial responses are due on Jan. 8.)
Maryland, Virginia consider bus service between Bethesda and Tysons
New transit idea part of draft report on possible congestion solutions
December 30, 2020 | 9:23 am
December 30, 2020
A traffic camera shows vehicles about to cross the American Legion Bridge into Virginia around 9:15 a.m. on Dec. 30, 2020.
Photo from Maryland Department of Transportation traffic camera
Maryland and Virginia are considering an express bus service to connect Bethesda in Montgomery County and the Tysons area in Fairfax County.
The planned potential service is part of a joint study by Maryland and Virginia transportation officials.
A draft summary report on the study which also includes possible service to Germantown, Gaithersburg, Silver Spring was released on Dec. 18.