BOEM Seeks Comments on Draft Fisheries Mitigation Guidance, Announces Public Hearings

On June 23, 2022, the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) published a draft fisheries mitigation guidance. Renewable energy lessees are required by the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to submit information on potential impacts of their projects on commercial fishing. They must also provide mitigation measures for avoiding, minimizing, reducing, eliminating, and monitoring environmental impacts. The purpose of BOEM’s draft guidance is to outline a recommended approach for developing mitigation measures, including but not limited to safety measures, compensation, monitoring, and the duration of the mitigation period. BOEM is soliciting comments and feedback from the public on the draft.

BOEM will host four virtual public meetings to offer additional information on the draft document and gather input from the public.

The meetings will take place on July 11, 15, 18, and 21, 2022.

Advocacy will hold a virtual small business roundtable to discuss the draft document at a date to be determined. Interested parties may contact Prianka Sharma by email at prianka.sharma@sba.gov to be added to the roundtable invitation list.

Written comments are due by August 22, 2022.

• Read the draft guidance document.
• Register for the public meetings.
• Request to be added to Advocacy’s roundtable invitation list.
• Submit written comments on the draft guidance.  
• Advocacy contact: Send an email to Prianka Sharma at prianka.sharma@sba.gov or call (202) 205-6938.