RANGEfire! | In defense of wildlife and marine habitats, Oregon tribes sue feds to stop offshore wind projects

Oregon Tribe files federal lawsuit against offshore wind energy projects

Michaela Bourgeois

KOIN

The Confederated Tribes of the Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians filed a lawsuit on Friday against the federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management to stop development of two proposed offshore Oregon wind energy projects.

The lawsuit, filed in the United States District Court Eugene Division, challenges BOEM’s environmental review of the projects near Coos Bay and Brookings and aims to stop further development.

The federal challenge comes after officials announced in late August that approximately 195,000 acres will go up for auction, giving bidders a chance to build floating wind turbines.

The Tribe argues that the auction includes areas within their ancestral territory with critical fish and marine habitat, viewsheds of cultural and historic significance to the Tribe and areas important for Tribal and commercial fishing.

“The Tribe has consistently urged that BOEM delay moving forward with wind energy development until a better understanding is made of the impacts to fish, wildlife, the marine environment, and cultural resources important to the Tribe,” said Tribal Council Chair Brad Kneaper. “No one, including BOEM has an understanding on how wind development will impact the fragile marine environment. BOEM developed an environmental assessment document that narrowly focused on the impacts of the lease sale and completely turned a blind eye to the inevitable impacts that construction and operation of these private energy facilities will have on Coastal resources, the Tribe, and other residents.”

Chair Kneaper explained that the intent behind the lawsuit is to stop the lease sale and “force” BOEM to conduct a comprehensive Environmental Impact Statement that details the impact that wind energy will have on coastal resources.

“Coastal Tribes have repeatedly met with BOEM urging BOEM to take its time to develop wind energy in a way that does not adversely impact Tribes and the resources which they depend upon. BOEM has repeatedly disregarded these requests telling the Tribes that wind energy development is being driven by the White House,” Kneaper said. “The timeframe for wind development appears to be driven by politics, rather than what is best for Coastal residents and the environmental [sic].”

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