Maryland Offshore Wind Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)

This Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) assesses the potential biological, socioeconomic, physical, and cultural impacts that could result from the construction and installation, operations and maintenance, and conceptual decommissioning of the Maryland Offshore Wind Project (Project) proposed by US Wind Inc. (US Wind), in its Construction and Operations Plan (COP). The proposed Project described in the COP and this Final EIS would have a capacity of up to 2,200 megawatts (MW) and would be sited offshore Maryland, within Commercial Lease OCS-A 0490 (Lease Area). The Project is designed to serve demand for renewable energy in the Delmarva Peninsula, including Maryland.

This Final EIS was prepared in accordance with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (42 United States Code 4321 et seq.) and implementing regulations (40 Code of Federal Regulations [CFR] Parts 1500–1508). This Final EIS will inform the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management in deciding whether to approve, approve with modifications, or disapprove the COP (30 CFR 585.628). The reorganization of the Renewable Energy rules (30 CFR Parts 285, 585, and 586) enacted on January 31, 2023, reassigned existing regulations governing safety and environmental oversight and enforcement of OCS renewable energy activities from BOEM to Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE).

Errata 

Appendices:

• Appendix A: Required Environmental Permits and Consultations
• Appendix B: Supplemental Information
• Appendix C: Project Design Envelope and Maximum Case Scenario
• Appendix D: Planned Activities Scenario
• Appendix E: Analysis of Incomplete and Unavailable Information
  • Appendix E: Analysis of Incomplete and Unavailable Information with Errata Incorporated
• Appendix F: Impact-Producing Factor Tables and Assessment of Water Quality; Bats; Birds; Sea Turtles; Wetlands and Other Waters of the United States; Demographics, Employment, and Economics; and Land Use and Coastal Infrastructure
• Appendix G: Mitigation and Monitoring
  • Appendix G: Mitigation and Monitoring with Errata Included
• Appendix H: Cumulative Seascape, Landscape, and Visual Impact Assessment (SLVIA)
  • Appendix H: Cumulative Seascape, Landscape, and Visual Impact Assessment (SLVIA) with Errata Incorporated
    • Appendix H Attachment - Viewsheds
    • Appendix H Attachments - Simulations
      • Simulations 1
      • Simulations 2
    • Appendix H Attachment - Cumulative Visual Simulations
    • Appendix H Attachment - Field of View Analysis (Alternatives)
• Appendix I: Cumulative Historic Resource Visual Assessment (HRVEA)
  • Appendix I: Cumulative Historic Resource Visual Assessment (HRVEA) with Errata Incorporated
    • Appendix I Attachment
• Appendix J: Finding of Adverse Effect under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act
  • Appendix J-1: Memorandum of Attachment
  • Appendix J-1 Attachment
• Appendix K: References
• Appendix L: Glossary
• Appendix M: List of Preparers and Reviewers
• Appendix N: Distribution List
• Appendix O: Response to Comments on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement