Marine Planning & Navigation Safety in Offshore
Development Mr. Edward G. LeBlanc
Chief, Waterways Management Division
U.S. Coast Guard Sector Southeastern New England
Coast Guard Sector Southeastern New England
Coast Guard authority: Limited; no approval authority Private Aids-to-Navigation permits Misc authorities (LNG Facilities; Deepwater Ports, etc.)
Coast Guard responsibility: Serve as a Cooperating Agency under NEPA
Serve as the Federal
government’s
navigation safety
expert for the lead
Permitting agency
Coast Guard’s Primary Role:
Bay State Wind 80-100 turbines
Offshore MW Energy 80-100 turbines
Deepwater One 80-100 turbines
Coast Guard interests:
Balance navigation safety with stakeholder interests
Consider mitigations
Provide a frank assessment of potential impacts to navigation safety
Coast Guard constraints: Authority (a good constraint)
NEPA (a good constraint)
Cape Wind
BIWF
A Tale Of Two Projects
Block Island Wind Farm 5 towers ~ 1 sq mile
“Cape Wind” Wind Farm 130 towers ~ 24 sq miles
Practical value of marine planning: Stakeholder engagement in no-fault atmosphere Touchstone for discussion The process, not the product, is most valuable
Marine Planning & Navigation Safety in Offshore
Development Mr. Edward G. LeBlanc
Chief, Waterways Management Division
U.S. Coast Guard Sector Southeastern New England