Page 8. MAINE COASTAL NEWS September 2012 Waterfront News Department of Interior Announces Leasing Offshore Maine


WASHINGTON – As part of the Obama Administration’s all-of-the-above energy strategy to expand domestic energy devel- opment, including renewable energy, the Department of the Interior announced today that the Bureau of Ocean Energy Manage- ment (BOEM) is taking important steps forward in the assessment of a proposed project to demonstrate fl oating offshore wind technology on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) offshore Maine. Statoil North America has requested a commercial wind lease to build a demon- stration project of full-scale fl oating wind turbine technology offshore Maine. The proposed project, located about 12 nautical miles off the coast, would have a 12-mega- watt production capacity through four wind turbine generators. The Statoil proposal also responds to a Request for Proposals (RFP) issued by the Maine Public Utilities Com- mission.


“This is the fi rst time that this innova-


tive fl oating technology is being considered for development in deeper waters offshore our coasts,” said Deputy Secretary of the Interior David J. Hayes. “Statoil’s interest in partnering with the Interior Department, the State of Maine and other key stakeholders reconfi rms that the Obama Administration’s all-of-the-above energy strategy is the right way to go. As we develop America’s prolific, home-grown renewable energy resources - both onshore and offshore – we are strengthening our nation’s economy and energy independence.”


“BOEM has been engaged in pro- ductive discussions with Statoil regarding this forward-looking project, and we are working closely with our Maine Renewable Energy Task Force,” said BOEM Director Tommy P. Beaudreau. “We will continue our close coordination as the U.S. federal government, the state of Maine and other


stakeholders proceed with the next steps in the review of this project, including moving forward with environmental review and determining whether there’s competitive interest from other developers.” The bureau is seeking public comment – through a Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) – on important environmental issues and rea- sonable alternatives related to the proposed leasing, site characterization and assessment activities, and construction and operation activities in the offshore area under consid- eration. BOEM intends to prepare an EIS that will consider the reasonably foreseeable environmental consequences associated with the Statoil Hywind Maine project and will request comments from the public for the purpose of identifying the important issues to be considered in the EIS. The area Statoil North America has re- quested for a commercial wind lease covers approximately 22 square miles. The area may be reduced based on the EIS analysis and other factors.


BOEM is also asking whether other developers are interested in constructing wind facilities in the same area off the coast of Maine, in order to determine whether to proceed with leasing on a competitive or non-competitive basis. Publication of a Request for Interest (RFI) in the Federal Register will open a 60-day public comment period to solicit submissions of indications of competitive interest and additional infor- mation on potential environmental conse- quences and other uses of the proposed lease area.


In August, 2011, Secretary of the Inte- rior Ken Salazar visited the Offshore Wind Laboratory at the University of Maine where he met with researchers and saw fi rsthand the fl oating offshore wind turbine platforms technology they are testing.


KUSTOM STEEL


Statoil North America submitted an unsolicited application for commercial wind energy lease on the OCS offshore Maine to BOEM in October 2011. BOEM determined Statoil North America to be legally quali- fi ed in November 2011 and technically and fi nancially qualifi ed in April 2012. A map of the area proposed and copy of the application is available at: http://www. boem.gov/Renewable-Energy-Program/ State-Activities/Maine.aspx.


Once published in the Federal Register, BOEM will accept public comments on the RFI for 60 days and on the NOI for 90 days, in one of the following ways:


Electronically: http://www.boem.gov/ engage/. Click on the “Open Comment Documents” link and follow the instructions to submit public comments and to view supporting and related materials. In written form, deliver to: Program


Manager, Offi ce of Renewable Energy (HM 1328); Bureau of Ocean Energy Manage- ment; 381 Elden Street; Herndon, Virginia 20170-4817.


For more information on BOEM’s Re-


newable Energy program, visit: http://www. boem.gov/Renewable-Energy-Program/ index.aspx.


ABYC Updates Standards and Technical Information


ANNAPOLIS, MD: The American Boat and Yacht Council (ABYC) announces the revised Standards and Technical Informa- tion Reports for Small Craft with Supple- ment 52 is now available.


ABYC was created in 1954 as a


non-profi t organization to develop safety standards for the design, construction, eq- uipage, repair and maintenance of boats. The mission of ABYC is to improve boating safety and reduce the number of injuries and fatalities. The fi rst standard was written in 1959 and there are more than 60 Standards today. ABYC reviews each standard at least every fi ve years. “With new technology and the in- creasing complexity of boat systems, it is extremely important to have current and relevant standards to protect the boating public,” said Brian Goodwin, ABYC Tech- nical Director.


Goodwin, alongside industry profes- sionals, is responsible for the continual testing and evaluation of boat safety com- ponents. ABYC standards are developed by members of Project Technical Committees comprised of experienced representatives of government, industry, and public sectors; standards are authorized for publication by a Technical Board. For 2012-2013, ABYC standard H-28


Infl atable Boats was corrected, standard A-32 AC Power Conversion Equipment and Systems was added, and standard TA- 27 Batteries and Battery Chargers was withdrawn. Fifteen standards were revised


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and include: A-22 Marine Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Systems, A-26 LPG and CNG Fueled Appliances, E-11 AC & DC Electrical Systems on Boats, H-1 Field of Vision from the Helm Position, H-5 Boat Load Capacity, H-8 Buoyancy in the Event of Swamping, H-24 Gasoline Fuel Systems, H-29 Canoes and Kayaks, H-37 Jet Boats - Light Weight, P-4 Marine Inboard Engines and Transmissions, P-21 Manual Hydraulic Steering Systems, P-23 Manual Steering and Propulsion Controls for Jet Boats, S-30 Outboard Engine and Related Equipment Weights, TH-22 Educational Information about Carbon Monoxide, TH-23 Design, Construction, and Testing of Boats in Con- sideration of Carbon Monoxide. Marine technicians, boat builders, sur- veyors and engineers are just a few groups who are ABYC members and who con- stantly refer to the standards. ABYC main- tains a database of certifi ed technicians for consumers to fi nd trusted and experienced resources.


“Access to current standards is vital to insuring a boat is properly repaired and upgraded,” said Goodwin. “An ABYC certifi ed tech will know how to utilize the standards to make sure the work is done safely.”


The Standards and Technical Infor- mation Reports for Small Craft is available for purchase on CD, and as a paper manual in limited quantities. ABYC members re- ceive a discount on their purchase. ABYC members also have unlimited access to the standards online through WebSTIR that is powered by Rulefi nder.net and found on the ABYC website, www.abycinc.org. To purchase the Standards and Tech- nical Information Reports for Small Craft, and for more information on how ABYC develops, reviews, and approves the Stan- dards, please call 410-990-4460.


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