the waters of the Outer Continental Shelf administered 
by the Department of the Interior to test or monitor 
weather (including wind, tidal, current, and solar energy) 
using towers, buoys, or other temporary ocean infrastruc-
ture, that— 
(1) causes— 
(A) less than 1 acre of surface or seafloor 
disruption at the location of each meteorological 
tower or other device; and 
(B) not more than 5 acres of surface or 
seafloor disruption within the proposed area af-
fected by for the project (including hazards to 
navigation); 
(2) is decommissioned not more than 5 years 
after the date of commencement of the project, in-
cluding— 
(A) removal of towers, buoys, or other tem-
porary ocean infrastructure from the project 
site; and 
(B) restoration of the project site to ap-
proximately the original condition of the site; 
and 
(3) provides meteorological information ob-
tained by the project to the Secretary of the Inte-
rior. 
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(b) OFFSHORE METEOROLOGICAL PROJECT PERMIT-
TING.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of the Inte-
rior shall by regulation require that any applicant 
seeking to conduct an offshore meteorological site 
testing and monitoring project on the outer Conti-
nental Shelf (as that term is defined in the Outer 
Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1331 et 
seq.)) must obtain a permit and right of way for the 
project in accordance with this subsection. 
(2) PERMIT AND RIGHT OF WAY TIMELINE AND 
CONDITIONS.— 
(A) DEADLINE FOR APPROVAL.—The Sec-
retary shall decide whether to issue a permit 
and right of way for an offshore meteorological 
site testing and monitoring project within 30 
days after receiving an application. 
(B) PUBLIC
COMMENT
AND
CONSULTA-
TION.—During the period referred to in sub-
paragraph (A), the Secretary shall— 
(i) provide an opportunity for submis-
sion of comments by the public; and 
(ii) consult with the Secretary of De-
fense, the Commandant of the Coast 
Guard, and the heads of other Federal, 
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State, and local agencies that would be af-
fected by issuance of the permit and right 
of way. 
(C) DENIAL OF PERMIT; OPPORTUNITY TO 
REMEDY DEFICIENCIES.—If the application is 
denied, the Secretary shall provide the appli-
cant— 
(i) in writing, clear and comprehensive 
reasons why the application was not ap-
proved and detailed information concerning 
any deficiencies in the application; and 
(ii) an opportunity to remedy such de-
ficiencies. 
(c) NEPA EXCLUSION.—Section 102(2)(C) of the 
National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 
4332(2)(C)) shall not apply with respect to an offshore 
meteorological site testing and monitoring project. 
(d) PROTECTION OF INFORMATION.—The informa-
tion provided to the Secretary of the Interior pursuant to 
subsection (a)(3) shall be treated by the Secretary as pro-
prietary information and protected against disclosure. 
Æ 
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