On April 27, 2022, the US Bureau of Ocean Energy Management
(BOEM) issued two separate calls for information and nominations
(Calls) for possible leasing areas for offshore wind energy
development in the Central
Atlantic (Central Atlantic Call) and offshore Oregon (Oregon
Call). Publication of these Calls in the Federal
Register is scheduled for April 29, 2022, and will
initiate a 60-day public comment period, which will end at 11:59
p.m. ET on June 28, 2022.
Central Atlantic Call
The Central Atlantic Call seeks information on six distinct areas
in the Central Atlantic comprising almost 3.9 million acres, which
is depicted on the map below.
The closest point to the shore of any of the areas is
approximately 20 nautical miles off the Central Atlantic coast.
(Additional information on the Central Atlantic Call can be found
at BOEM's Central Atlantic
webpage.) Importantly, portions of two of the areas (areas D
and F) fall within the boundary for the upcoming offshore leasing
moratorium, as former President Trump's September 2020
memorandum provides: "I hereby withdraw from disposition by
leasing for 10 years, beginning on July 1, 2022, and ending on June
30, 2032: The portion of the area designated by the Bureau of Ocean
Energy Management as the Mid Atlantic Planning Area that lies south
of the northern administrative boundary of North Carolina,"
the administrative boundary depicted on the Atlantic NAD 83
Federal Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Administrative Boundaries
map. Therefore, BOEM can move forward with planning and
analysis for all of the Central Atlantic Call areas, but it will
not be able to issue new leases in portions of areas D and F until
the moratorium is lifted or ends.
Oregon Call
The Oregon Call requests information on two areas that together
comprise approximately 1.158 million acres, which are depicted on
the map below. Both areas—the Coos Bay Call Area and the
Brookings Call Area—begin about 12 nautical miles from shore
at their closest points, off the coast of central and southern
Oregon, respectively. For more information on the Call, including a
map of the areas and instructions for commenting, see
BOEM's Oregon webpage.
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