Renewable Energy and Alternate Uses of Existing Facilities on the Outer Continental Shelf

The MMS is publishing final regulations to establish a program to grant leases, easements, and rights-of-way (ROW) for renewable energy project activities on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS), as well as certain previously unauthorized activities that involve the alternate use of existing facilities located on the OCS; and to establish the methods for sharing revenues generated by this program with nearby coastal States. These regulations will also ensure the orderly, safe, and environmentally responsible development of renewable energy sources on the OCS. The MMS prepared a Final Environmental Assessment (EA) analyzing this rule. The EA incorporates by reference the Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement for Alternative Energy Development and Production and Alternate Use of Facilities on the Outer Continental Shelf, Final Environmental Impact Statement, October 2007. The EA was prepared to assess any impacts of this rule. The Final EA is available on the MMS Web site at: http://www.mms.gov/offshore/AlternativeEnergy/ RegulatoryInformation.htm.