Improving BOEM Marine Spatial Planning: From Open Ocean to Lease Sales

Tuesday, October 18, 2022

2:30 PM – 3:30 PM ET

Location: Hall A

Moderator(s)

Laura Smith Morton, J.D.

Partner
Perkins Coie LLP
Washington, District of Columbia, United States

Speaker(s)

Deerin Babb-Brott

Principal Assistant Director for Oceans and Environment
White House Office of Science and Technology Policy
Megan Carr, PhD, CPG (she/her/hers)

Chief, Office of Strategic Resources
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management
Ruth Perry

Business Environment Advisor
Shell Renewables and Energy Solutions, Texas, United States
Shannon Stewart

Senior Director
Invenergy
Amy Trice

Director, Ocean Planning
Ocean Conservancy, District of Columbia, United States

This panel will dive into marine planning and programmatic environmental reviews, consultations, and permitting with a focus on potential benefits and pitfalls for agencies and ocean stakeholders. We will discuss BOEM’s development of a programmatic environmental impact statement for the New York Bight and whether that approach could or should be expanded as BOEM pursues wind development in the Pacific, Gulf of Mexico, Central Atlantic, and Gulf of Maine. Is programmatic review tiered to environmental review of individual projects necessary to increase the effectiveness of reviews and ensure that projects meet projected timelines? What role could the White House Ocean Policy Committee and Regional Ocean Partnerships play in deconflicting competing ocean uses?