SOUTH JERSEY — The U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) recently released the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the proposed Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind South Project (Atlantic Shores South). The DEIS contains an analysis of the project’s potential environmental impacts, including possible effects on natural, historical, and cultural resources, associated mitigation measures, and alternatives to proposed actions.

For this reason, when DEIS was announced, a 45-day public review and comment period began. Public comments can be found on the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) website.   Click Here For Link:  NJDEP| Offshore Wind | Home

According to BOEM’s notice of availability, the public is encouraged to submit comments, which should include your name and address, available for public review online and during regular business hours, in any of the following ways:

• Orally or in written form throughout any of the public hearings.
• In written form by mail or any other delivery service, enclosed in an envelope labeled “Atlantic Shores South DEIS” and addressed to Chief, Office of Renewable Energy Programs, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, 45600 Woodland Road, Sterling, VA 20166.

BOEM will address public comments submitted by 11:59 p.m. (eastern time) on July 3, 2023, during the review period at their public hearings. According to BOEM’s notice of availability, its public hearings will be held (eastern time) on the following dates:

• Holiday Inn Manahawkin/Long Beach Island, 151 Route 72 West, Manahawkin, NJ 08050; Wednesday, June 21, 2023; 5:00 p.m.
• Atlantic City Convention Center, 1 Convention Blvd., Atlantic City, NJ 08401; Thursday, June 22, 2023; 5:00 p.m.
• Virtual, Monday, June 26, 2023, 1:00 p.m.
• Virtual, Wednesday, June 28, 2023, 5:00 p.m.

Virtual public hearings require registration; however, in-person meetings do not. During these hearings, the public can expect to hear about a final environmental impact statement (EIS) schedule, potential impacts from the proposed project, and proposals to reduce potential negative consequences.

BOEM will publish an EIS informing BOEM’s decision on whether to approve, approve with modifications, or disapprove the construction and operations plan for the Atlantic Shores South Wind Project. However, nine Federal agencies and State governmental entities are cooperating agencies in the preparation of the DEIS, one being the DEP, who will review the DEIS before the EIS is created by July 3.

“The DEP will thoroughly evaluate and provide comment to ensure all necessary steps are taken to avoid potential adverse impacts to New Jersey’s natural, historic and cultural resources,” said Environmental Protection Commissioner Shawn LaTourette.

To learn more about how to make your comment anonymous, scroll to the “Information on Submitting Comments” paragraph on the BOEM notice of availability statement, which also contains specifics about where Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind Projects seeks to locate their wind turbine generators offshore substations, permanent meteorological tower, temporary meteorological and oceanographic buoys, inter-array and inter-link cables, onshore substations, facilities, transmissions cables, and more.