Offshore Energy

There has been recent, growing interest in developing the Mid-Atlantic regions energy resources. The region possesses substantial amounts of energy in the form of oil and gas, wind power, liquefied natural gas, hydropower, among others. Development of these energy resources falls under the purview of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). However, the Council periodically provides input on energy activities that may impact the marine environment and the Council’s managed resources and fisheries. This page provides information related to the Council's involvement in, and comments on, energy development activities. Visit the joint MAFMC/NEFMC Offshore Wind Page for the latest information on offshore wind development in the Northeast region.

Contact

Julia Beaty, jbeaty@mafmc.org, (302) 526-5250

Council Habitat Policies - Offshore Energy

The Council has developed a series of policies that articulate its positions on a range of issues that impact fish habitat. Listed below are policies pertaining to offshore energy development. Additional information and a comprehensive list of policies are available at http://www.mafmc.org/habitat/. 

• Offshore Wind Policy (updated December 2021)

  • Background

• Offshore Oil Policy

  • Background

• Liquefied Natural Gas Policy

  • Background

Council Comment Letters on Offshore Energy

• 2012 MAFMC Comment Letter on Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PElS) to Evaluate Geologic and Geophysical (G&G) Activities in the Mid- and South Atlantic OCS Planning Areas

• 2014 MAFMC Comment Letter on Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PElS) to Evaluate Geologic and Geophysical (G&G) Activities in the Mid- and South Atlantic OCS Planning Areas, 5/2/14

• 2016 MAFMC Comment Letter on Federal Consistency Determinations for the Spectrum Geo Inc. and GX Technology Corporation proposals to conduct two dimensional (2D) geophysical seismic surveys, 4/25/15

• 2016 MAFMC Comment Letter on the Environmental Assessment (EA) to consider the impacts of the Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Offshore New York Wind Energy Area (WEA), 6/28/16

• 2017 MAFMC Comment Letter to Secretary Zinke on Offshore Oil Development on the Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf, 4/25/17

• 2017 MAFMC Comment Letter on Seismic Marine Mammal Incidental Harassment Authorization Requests, 7/5/17

• 2017 MAFMC Comment Letter on Development of a New National Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Oil and Gas Leasing Program for 2019-2024, 8/7/17

• 2018 MAFMC Comment Letter on the development of a New National Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Oil and Gas Leasing Program for 2019-2024, 3/9/18

• 2018 MAFMC Comment Letter to Secretary Zinke on Wind Energy Development in the Northeast Region, 3/19/18

• 2018 MAFMC Comment Letter to Secretary Ross on Wind Energy Development in the Northeast Region, 3/19/18

• 2018 MAFMC Comment Letter on the proposed “Renewable Energy Path Forward on the Atlantic,” 4/17/18

• 2018 MAFMC and NEFMC response to New York Bight Call for Information, 6/4/18

• 2019 MAFMC and NEFMC comments on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Vineyard Wind project proposed offshore of Massachusetts, 1/22/19

• 2019 MAFMC comments on the New York/New Jersey energy transmission line, 7/15/19

• MAFMC comments to U.S. Coast Guard on Port Access Route Study for the Seacoast of New Jersey including offshore approaches to the Delaware Bay, 7/6/20

• MAFMC and NEFMC letter to BOEM on the Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for the Vineyard Wind I Project 7/27/20

• MAFMC and NEFMC letter to USCG on Northern New York Bight Port Access Route Study, 8/28/20

• MAFMC and NEFMC Letter to BOEM: South Fork DEIS 2/22/21

• MAFMC and NEFMC Letter to BOEM: Notice of Intent to Prepare and EIS for the Ocean Wind project 4/28/21

• MAFMC and NEFMC Letter to BOEM: New York Bight Wind Energy Areas and Environmental Assessment 4/28/21

• MAFMC and NEFMC Letter to BOEM: Notice of Intent to Prepare an EIS for the Ocean Wind project (6/1/21)

• Letter to SERO: For-Hire Socioeconomic Data Reporting Requirements (7/1/21)

• Letters to Offshore Wind Developers Regarding Site Assessment Surveys Using Sub-Bottom Profilers: Atlantic Shores | Skipjack Wind | Dominion Energy | Empire Wind | Kitty Hawk Wind | Ocean Wind | US Wind (7/15/21)

• MAFMC and NEFMC Letter to US Coast Guard: Draft Port Access Route Study (PARS) Report for the Approaches to Chesapeake Bay (7/16/21)

• MAFMC and NEFMC Letter to BOEM: Notice of Intent to Prepare and EIS for the Empire Offshore Wind project (7/26/21)

• MAFMC and NEFMC Letter to BOEM: Notice of Intent to Prepare an EIS for the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind project (8/2/21)

• MAFMC and NEFMC Letter to BOEM: Notice of Intent to Prepare an EIS for the Vineyard Wind South project (7/30/21)

• MAFMC and NEFMC Letter to BOEM: New York Bight Proposed Sale Notice (8/13/21)

• MAFMC and NEFMC Letter to BOEM: Notice of Intent to Prepare an EIS for the Kitty Hawk Wind project (8/30/21)

• MAFMC and NEFMC Letter to BOEM: Commercial and Research Wind Lease and Grant Issuance and Site Assessment Activities on the Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf of the New York Bight – Draft Environmental Assessment (9/20/21)

• MAFMC and NEFMC Letter to BOEM: Notice of Intent to Prepare an EIS for the Sunrise Wind project (10/4/21)

• MAFMC and NEFMC Letter to BOEM: Notice of Intent to prepare an EIS for the Atlantic Shores Wind Project (11/3/21)

• MAFMC and NEFMC Letter to BOEM: Notice of Intent to Prepare an EIS for the Mayflower Wind project (12/1/21)

• Letter to GARFO: Fisheries Mitigation (1/6/22)

• MAFMC and NEFMC Letter to BOEM: Fisheries Mitigation (1/7/22)

• MAFMC and NEFMC Letter to BOEM and NEFSC: Federal Survey Mitigation Implementation Strategy (5/6/22)

• MAFMC and NEFMC Letter to BOEM: Central Atlantic Call for Information and Nominations (6/28/22)

• MAFMC and NEFMC Letter to BOEM: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement for US Wind project off Maryland (7/8/22)

• MAFMC, NEFMC, and SAFMC Letter to BOEM: Draft Fisheries Mitigation Guidance (8/22/22)

• MAFMC and NEFMC Letter to BOEM: Programmatic EIS for New York Bight Wind Leases (8/23/22)

• MAFMC and NEFMC Letter to BOEM: Ocean Wind 1 Draft EIS (8/24/22)

• MAFMC and NEFMC Letter to BOEM: Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Revolution Wind Project off Rhode Island (10/17/22)

• MAFMC and NEFMC Letter to BOEM: Central Atlantic Draft Wind Energy Areas (12/16/22)

• MAFMC and NEFMC Letter to BOEM: Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Empire Wind Project off New York (1/17/23)

• MAFMC and NEFMC Letter to BOEM: Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind Project (2/14/23)

• MAFMC and NEFMC Letter to BOEM: Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Sunrise Wind Project offshore New York, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island (2/14/23)

• MAFMC and NEFMC Letter to BOEM: Draft Environmental Impact Statement for New England Wind Project off Massachusetts (2/21/23)

Related Pages

• Offshore Wind in the Northeast Region - joint MAFMC/NEFMC page

• Offshore Wind Notices to Fishermen and Public Comment Opportunities

• 2014 Offshore Wind Workshop

  • Final Report