# Presentation: 509705

## 
Birds and Offshore Wind Development in the Northeast/Mid-Atlantic

February 13, 2008

**Birds and Offshore Wind Development in the Northeast/Mid-Atlantic**
**February 13, 2008**

-   Bob LaBelle
** ****Deputy Associate Director, **
**MMS Offshore Energy & Minerals Management**

**Notes:**
For Intro:
 My name is Robert LaBelle and I am the Deputy Associate Director for Offshore Minerals Management, Minerals Management Service or MMS.
 The MMS is America’s premier ocean energy manager, with over 1.76 billion offshore acres of land under its jurisdiction. The MMS manages the lands called the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS), which are the submerged lands seaward beyond coastal States’ waters.  The MMS’s activities provide major economic and energy benefits to taxpayers, states, and the American Indian community.
 Most may be familiar with my Agency’s role in regulating energy companies that explore for and extract offshore oil and gas resources or that it collects and disburses billions of dollars in mineral revenues, annually.  However, most of you may not be aware of the fact that my Agency is now responsible for managing our Nation’s OCS alternative energy resources.

## MMS Regulatory Role

- U.S. Outer Continental Shelf
- Federal Submerged Lands (Marine)
- Generally 3 miles to 200 miles offshore
- Begins at 9 miles for submerged lands off Texas and the Florida Gulf Coasts
- MMS Primary Authority – Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act

## Alternative Energy Authority

- Section 388 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005
- Amended OCS Lands Act to include authority for authorizing alternative energy projects on the OCS (e.g., wind, wave, and ocean current)

## Supersede or modify existing Federal authority
Authorize any oil and gas activities in moratoria areas
Apply to areas designated as National Marine Sanctuaries, National Parks, National Wildlife Refuges, or any National Monuments

- Authorize any oil and gas activities in moratoria areas
- Apply to areas designated as National Marine Sanctuaries, National Parks, National Wildlife Refuges, or any National Monuments

**New Authority Does Not **

## Key Mandates of New Authority

- Competitive Issuance
- Safety
- Protection of the environment
- Coordination with affected State & local governments and Federal agencies
- Fair return for use of OCS lands
- Revenue Sharing with affected States

**Notes:**
Revenue sharing – Equitable distribution among States within 15 miles –Separate rulemaking

## Program Considerations

- Regulating a broad spectrum
- of activities:
- Alternative energy (e.g., wind, ocean wave, ocean current, and solar)
- Alternate use of existing facilities (e.g., research and offshore support stations, recreation opportunities)

## Program Considerations

- Regulating an emerging industry
- Pioneering and entrepreneurial
- Relatively under capitalized
- Deploying prototype technology with uncertain environmental implications
- Operating in OCS frontier areas
- Atlantic
- Northern California
- Washington/Oregon

## Key Section 388 Mandates

- Safety
- Protection of the environment
- Coordination with affected State & local governments and Federal agencies
- Fair return for use of OCS lands
- Equitable sharing of revenue with States

**Notes:**
Revenue sharing – Equitable distribution among States within 15 miles –Separate rulemaking