Marine Planning & Navigation Safety in Offshore Development

Marine Planning & Navigation Safety in Offshore

Development Mr. Edward G. LeBlanc

Chief, Waterways Management Division

U.S. Coast Guard Sector Southeastern New England

Coast Guard Sector Southeastern New England

Coast Guard authority: Limited; no approval authority Private Aids-to-Navigation permits Misc authorities (LNG Facilities; Deepwater Ports, etc.)

Coast Guard responsibility: Serve as a Cooperating Agency under NEPA

Serve as the Federal

government’s

navigation safety

expert for the lead

Permitting agency

Coast Guard’s Primary Role:

Bay State Wind 80-100 turbines

Offshore MW Energy 80-100 turbines

Deepwater One 80-100 turbines

Coast Guard interests:

Balance navigation safety with stakeholder interests

Consider mitigations

Provide a frank assessment of potential impacts to navigation safety

Coast Guard constraints: Authority (a good constraint)

NEPA (a good constraint)

Cape Wind

BIWF

A Tale Of Two Projects

Block Island Wind Farm 5 towers ~ 1 sq mile

“Cape Wind” Wind Farm 130 towers ~ 24 sq miles

Practical value of marine planning: Stakeholder engagement in no-fault atmosphere Touchstone for discussion The process, not the product, is most valuable

Marine Planning & Navigation Safety in Offshore

Development Mr. Edward G. LeBlanc

Chief, Waterways Management Division

U.S. Coast Guard Sector Southeastern New England