Michael Bromwich, director of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement (BOEMRE), reiterated the federal agency's commitment to offshore wind power during the Offshore Wind Power conference held in Boston on Feb. 1 and 2.
Coming on the heels of last week's announcement of an organizational shake-up, Bromwich laid out the agency's new framework as well as provided updates on measures already under way.
The reorganization, he said, will better streamline development of renewable energy, including offshore wind, and foster responsible development while eliminating conflicts.
‘The reorganization is much more than moving boxes around an organizational chart,’ he said, citing a renewed push for decisions based on what he calls ‘scientific integrity.’
For example, agency staffers will be empowered to report instances of scientific misconduct. ‘The idea is not to find blame but ensure success,’ he said.
And for the first time, the agency will appoint a chief environmental officer (CEO) with regulatory oversight, said Bromwich, who envisions the new CEO stepping in to resolve disputes when the leasing and environmental factions cannot agree.
‘For the first time, the CEO will have regulatory oversight for the environment, which will enable us to make decisions with greater confidence,’ he said.
Bromwich also provided attendees with a glimpse into the agency's priority list regarding offshore leases.
‘We've already issued requests for interest (RFIs) for Delaware, Maryland and Massachusetts,’ he said, adding that he anticipates similar RFIs for New Jersey, Virginia and Rhode Island in the near future. ‘We anticipate adding North Carolina later this year.’
Bromwich also provided welcome news related the Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar's ‘Smart from the Start’ initiative, which was announced last November and was meant to accelerate the current seven-year permitting process and help create responsible offshore wind development. Bromwich provided some details about the program. For example, Smart from the Start allows for faster review of the National Environmental Policy Act.
Bromwich told attendees that the agency would allow developers to begin the developmental process using environmental assessments (EAs), rather than environmental impact statement (EIS), which has been the standard.
However, Bromwich issued a caveat.
‘If, during the EA, there are findings which cause concern, then the developer would have to go back to the EIS,’ he said. ‘We think this is a fully defensible position.’
During the question-and-answer session, fellow panelist Jim Lanard, president of the Offshore Wind Development Coalition, said such a move could shave ‘one or two years from a project.’
BOEMRE will continue its outreach in the Mid-Atlantic states, Bromwich said, explaining that the agency has offices in nine of the 13 Atlantic Coast states and has had numerous meetings with an offshore wind task force meant to promote development. He says efforts are under way to develop a similar task force in Oregon later this year.
‘We will continue to identify ways to streamline this process, which we all agree is too long,’ Bromwich said. However, he cautions, ‘We will do so without cutting corners.’
