Advancing Offshore Wind Production Act

Bill: 112-hr-2173
Sponsor: Rep. Wittman, Robert J. [R-VA-1]
Introduced: 2011-06-14 in the House
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Administrative remedies
Alternative and renewable resources
Atmospheric science and weather
Department of the Interior
Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Environmental regulatory procedures
Licensing and registrations
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries

Summary:
action_date: 2011-06-14
text: 
Advancing Offshore Wind Production Act - Exempts any project determined by the Secretary of the Interior to be an offshore meteorological site testing and monitoring project from environmental impact statement requirements under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA).
 
Defines an "offshore meteorological site testing and monitoring project" as a project that is administered by the Department of the Interior and carried out on or in the waters of the Outer Continental Shelf to test or monitor weather (including wind, tidal, current, and solar energy) using towers, buoys, or other temporary ocean infrastructure and that: (1) causes less than one acre of surface or seafloor disruption at the location of each meteorological tower or other device and no more than five acres of surface or seafloor disruption within the proposed area affected by the project (including hazards to navigation); (2) is decommissioned within five years of its commencement; and (3) provides meteorological information to the Secretary of the Interior.
 
Directs the Secretary to: (1) require that any applicant seeking to conduct an offshore meteorological site testing and monitoring project on the outer Continental Shelf obtain a permit; (2) determine whether to issue such a permit within 30 days after receiving an application; (3) provide an opportunity for submission of comments by the public; (4) consult with the Secretary of Defense (DOD), the Commandant of the Coast Guard, and the heads of other federal, state, and local agencies that would be affected by issuance of the permit; and (5) provide an applicant the opportunity to remedy deficiencies in a permit application that was denied.
 

action_date: 2011-10-14
text: 
Advancing Offshore Wind Production Act - Exempts any project determined by the Secretary of the Interior to be an offshore meteorological site testing and monitoring project from environmental impact statement requirements under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA).
 
Defines an "offshore meteorological site testing and monitoring project" as a project that is administered by the Department of the Interior and carried out on or in the waters of the Outer Continental Shelf to test or monitor weather (including wind, tidal, current, and solar energy) using towers, buoys, or other temporary ocean infrastructure and that: (1) causes less than one acre of surface or seafloor disruption at the location of each meteorological tower or other device and no more than five acres of surface or seafloor disruption within the proposed area affected by the project (including hazards to navigation), (2) is decommissioned within five years of its commencement, and (3) provides meteorological information to the Secretary of the Interior.
 
Directs the Secretary to: (1) require that any applicant seeking to conduct an offshore meteorological site testing and monitoring project on the outer Continental Shelf obtain a permit and right of way for the project; (2) decide whether to issue such a permit and right of way within 30 days after receiving an application; (3) provide an opportunity for submission of comments by the public; (4) consult with the Secretary of Defense (DOD), the Commandant of the Coast Guard, and the heads of other federal, state, and local agencies that would be affected by issuance of the permit and right of way; and (5) provide an applicant the opportunity to remedy deficiencies in a permit application that was denied.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-10-14
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 168.
action_date: 2011-10-14
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 112-252.
action_date: 2011-10-14
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 112-252.
action_date: 2011-07-13
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 24 - 18.
action_date: 2011-07-13
text: Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources Discharged.
action_date: 2011-07-13
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2011-06-23
text: Subcommittee Hearings Held.
action_date: 2011-06-16
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources.
action_date: 2011-06-14
text: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
action_date: 2011-06-14
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2011-06-14
text: Introduced in House