July 8, 2024 Maryland CZMA Determination
Concurrence Letter
Information on Public Hearing held on June 27, 2024:
US Wind, Inc. submitted a Federal Consistency Certification to the Maryland Coastal Zone Management (CZM) Program on June 9, 2022, for the Operations and Maintenance facility portion of their Construction and Operations Plan for the Bureau of Ocean and Energy Management (BOEM) Maryland Offshore Wind Project Lease OCS-A 0490. The proposed activity is subject to review pursuant to Coastal Zone Management (CZM), 15 C.F.R. Part 930, Subpart E (Outer Continental Shelf Exploration, Development & Production Activities). US Wind, Inc. and the CZM Program entered into two stay agreements in accordance with 15 CFR 930.60(b) through February 9, 2024; the review is currently set to be completed by July 8, 2024.
As part of its offshore wind project US Wind, Inc., has proposed an Operations and Maintenance Facility in Ocean City, Maryland, near the West Ocean City Harbor. The Facility would consist of a quayside for crew transfer vessels and material on- and off-loading, as well as a warehouse, administrative building, and other supporting facilities and is under review for permits. Federal Consistency Determination indicates the extent to which a project is consistent with Maryland’s approved 2020 Enforceable Policies. For this project, Federal Consistency Determination applies to the onshore operations and maintenance facility proposed in West Ocean City Harbor.
The public participation process follows the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) regulation 15 CFR 930.61, which may include a public hearing. A public informational hearing for the Federal Consistency Determination for the referenced project was held on June 27, 2024 at the Roland E. Powell Convention Center, 4001 Coastal Highway, Ocean City, MD 21842. An informational poster session was held from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM and the public hearing began at 7:00 PM.
An audio recording of the public informational hearing is available at the following link: https://youtu.be/9jRc3MkT0C8?si=mr-ubqzOoXehMP6R
Public Comments:
The public comment period on the consistency of the Operations and Maintenance facility with Maryland’s Enforceable Policies closed on June 28, 2024 at 11:59 PM. For more information on this project or the Federal Consistency Determination process, please contact Laura Canton at (443) 223-3095 or by email at federalconsistency.review@maryland.gov.
Related Links:
