BRIGANTINE – Mayor Vince Sera has called for a minimum 90-day extension of the public comment period for the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management’s draft Environmental Impact Statement for the proposed Atlantic Shores South Wind Project off the New Jersey Coast.
“With over 6,200 pages, it is simply unrealistic to expect the public to fully understand a document of this magnitude within such a limited timeframe,” Sera said in a release.
On May 15, the BOEM announced a 45-day comment period for the public to review the document and submit written or oral testimony. It agreed to hold two in-person public meetings and two virtual meetings, where the public can learn more about the review process, the DEIS schedule, potential impacts from the proposed project, and proposals to reduce potential impacts.
“In order to provide a meaningful response to the DEIS, the people of New Jersey must be given enough time to read and fully comprehend all the potential environmental and economic impacts that this offshore wind project will have on the state,” Sera said.
Forty-five days is not enough time for the public to review it and provide meaningful public input and fails to align with various provisions of the Council of Environmental Quality’s National Environmental Policy Act rules, he said. He encouraged residents to learn more and provide comments during these meetings.
In-person public meetings:
- Wednesday, June 21, 5 p.m., Holiday Inn Manahawkin/Long Beach Island, 151 Route 72 W., Manahawkin, NJ 08050
- Thursday, June 22, 5 p.m., Atlantic City Convention Center, 1 Convention Blvd. Atlantic City, NJ 08401
Virtual public meetings:
- Monday, June 26, 1 p.m.
- Wednesday, June 28, 5 p.m.
A virtual meeting room was published on BOEM’s website on May 19, and includes information about how to register for the in-person and virtual meetings. It will be available throughout the 45-day comment period.
