Search Results for keywords:"environmental impact"

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) issued a notice correcting a previous publication about the California Offshore Wind Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement. The original document, published in the Federal Register on November 14, 2024, had mistakenly listed the wrong start date for the 90-day comment period. The notice clarifies that the comment period actually began on November 14, 2024. For further details, Lisa Gilbane at BOEM can be contacted.

Florida Gas Transmission Company, LLC (FGT) has requested permission from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to abandon a 6-inch-diameter pipeline in Lakeland, Florida. This is needed to ensure it doesn't interfere with road improvements planned by the Florida Department of Transportation. The company plans to start this project in January 2025 and finish by the end of February 2025. The public can get involved by protesting, intervening, or commenting on the project by January 31, 2025.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has issued an incidental harassment authorization to the Maine Department of Transportation for the Lubec Harbor construction project in Maine. This authorization, effective from April 10, 2025, to April 9, 2026, allows the incidental harassment of marine mammals, mainly through construction noises, while ensuring no serious harm comes to the animals. The authorization includes measures to minimize impacts on six marine mammal species, like shutting down construction if marine mammals are detected nearby and using bubble curtains to reduce the sound underwater. NMFS determined that these activities would have a negligible impact on the affected marine species.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is allowing certain fishing fleets to start catching Pacific cod again in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands. This decision was made because there are still about 2,200 metric tons of Pacific cod that need to be caught in 2025. The fishing had been closed earlier this year but is now open from April 9 to November 1, 2025, to make sure the yearly limit is fully used. People can send comments about this change until April 28, 2025.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is updating its rules for storing spent nuclear fuel by revising the compliance certificate for the Holtec International HI-STORM UMAX Canister Storage System. The changes include updating specifications for radiation protection, altering the dose rate limit values, and clarifying where dose rate measurements should be taken. This updated rule is expected to take effect on April 21, 2025, unless there are significant objections by March 6, 2025. The NRC has determined that these changes will not significantly impact public health, safety, or the environment.

Midwest Hydro, LLC submitted an application to renew their license for operating the 1.10-megawatt Rockton Hydroelectric Project on the Rock River in Illinois. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) staff plans to create an Environmental Assessment (EA) to evaluate the project's environmental impact. The public can review and comment on the EA, and these comments will be considered before the final licensing decision is made. For questions or assistance with the process, the public can contact the Commission's Office of Public Participation.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has received an application from Comstock Homes for a permit to incidentally take the federally threatened coastal California gnatcatcher during the development of a residential community in Moorpark, Ventura County, California. This permit would be issued under the Endangered Species Act and would allow the “take” (which means to harm or harass) of the gnatcatcher as long as it is incidental to lawful activities. The proposed Habitat Conservation Plan includes measures to avoid, minimize, and mitigate the impact on the gnatcatcher, and public comments are invited. The Service has determined that the impact of the project would be minor and may qualify for a “low-effect” permit, with comments open until February 7, 2025.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) received a notice of intent to file a license application from the Boise-Kuna, Nampa & Meridian, Wilder, and Big Bend Irrigation Districts for a new license regarding the Lucky Peak Hydroelectric Project on the Boise River in Idaho. The notice announces the start of a pre-filing process and invites comments on the project's Pre-Application Document (PAD) and Scoping Document 1 (SD1), with a deadline for comments set for May 12, 2025. Scoping meetings, open to the public and various stakeholders, will take place on April 15 and 16, 2025, at Hyatt Place Boise/Downtown. FERC's scoping process will be part of preparing an environmental document to assess the project's impact.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the availability of a Draft Programmatic Environmental Assessment (PEA) and Draft Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the potential restart of the Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP) Program, also known as the "Remain in Mexico" program. This program involves sending some undocumented individuals back to Mexico while their U.S. immigration cases are pending. DHS is requesting public comments on the draft documents, which assess the environmental effects of resuming the program, including strategies to minimize any negative impact. Comments are open until May 27, 2025, and can be submitted through specified online or email methods.

The Natural Gas Pipeline Company of America, LLC is seeking permission from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to abandon a compressor unit at its station in the Keota Storage Field in Iowa. This compressor has become outdated and is not needed for the site's operation. This change aims to save costs while maintaining efficiency. The public can participate by sending comments or protests, and the deadline for these submissions is May 16, 2025.