To: US Secretary of the Interior

OFFSHORE WIND LEASE SALES off CAPE COD NATIONAL SEASHORE and in the GULF of MAINE SCHEDULED TO START OCTOBER 29th, 2024 MUST BE HALTED NOW

The current Final Environmental Assessment (EA) for these wind leases did not adequately consider or fully study the potential impacts of this development on: 

• Marine mammals
• Critically endangered North Atlantic Right Whales 
• Essential fish habitat
• Invertebrates
• Finfish
• Commercial fisheries and recreational fishing
• Rare, threatened and endangered birds
• Flyway for migratory birds
• Cultural resources
• Land use and coastal infrastructure
• Navigation and vessel traffic
• Recreation and tourism
• Scenic and visual resources

The critically important ocean environment and the survival of the Cape Cod economy as an ocean recreation destination is gravely at stake!

On 9/16/24, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) announced it would site 10 GW of offshore wind turbines, or approximately 1,000 EXPERIMENTAL wind turbines (that are 1,171 feet high each or the height of an 84-story skyscraper), each more powerful than any on earth (16-18 MW each) and with floating technology never used at this scale 40 miles long all along the ocean beaches and nearshore uplands of Cape Cod National Seashore (CCNS) where most would be visible from shore day and/or at night. BOEM broadly calls this location the Gulf of Maine although it includes the waters directly off Cape Cod, Massachusetts.

We therefore petition you to:

* Stop the process from moving to the next steps of a lease sale and instead implement a hard reset of the clock to the 2019 planning stages.

* Prior to any lease sale, the required Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PIES) must be conducted with full review and comment period for the Gulf of Maine Wind Energy Area (WEA).

* A socio-economic impact study, along with biophysical impact, needs to be completed in advance of leasing any Gulf of Maine projects. 

All three action steps have been called for by the elected officials in Barnstable County.

Of particular concern and in need of further review and consideration is the following:

IMPACT TO MARINE MAMMALS

According to NOAA fisheries: “Sound has the potential to affect marine mammals by:

• Causing temporary or permanent hearing loss.
• Causing a stress response.
• Forcing animals to move from their preferred habitat.
• Disrupting feeding, breeding/spawning, nursing, and communication behaviors.

The impacts may be immediate and severe, or they may accumulate over time.” These wind leases (highlighted in green below) are in the middle of North Atlantic Right Whale Critical Habitat (highlighted in orange below):

VIOLATION OF FEDERAL STATUTES

The scope of the Gulf of Maine offshore wind proposal is a clear violation of Federal Statutes governing both the Foundation Document of the National Park Service and the Foundation Document of CCNS. The wind turbines proposed would industrialize the view shed of our iconic National Seashore and destroy the dark night sky.

Additionally, doing so could have a very material impact on the environment, the way of life and economy on Cape Cod. Furthermore, all national parks throughout the United States with scenic designations could be in jeopardy of industrialization.

Quoting the Secretary of the Interior, Deb Haaland, “At the Department of the Interior, we know that nature is essential to the health, well-being, and prosperity of every family and every community in America... our lands and waters define who we are and who we, as a nation, want to be. As [per] …Executive Order 14008…President Biden has issued a call to action that we work together to conserve, connect, and restore at least 30 percent of our lands and waters by 2030 for the sake of our economy, our health, and our well-being.” It makes good common sense to protect the land and ocean waters of and around our National Parks and National Seashores first. 

CCNS was signed into law by President John F. Kennedy on August 7, 1961 with S. 857 Public Law 87-126, Cape Cod National Seashore Act. The Foundation Document of CCNS states “the purposes of Cape Cod National Seashore are to preserve the nationally significant and special cultural and natural features, distinctive patterns of human activity, and ambience that characterize the Outer Cape, along with the associated scenic, cultural, historic, scientific, and recreational values, and to provide opportunities for current and future generations to experience, enjoy, and understand these features and values.” 

We look to you to do the right thing and STOP the lease sales from moving forward on the Offshore Wind Lease Sale in the Gulf of Maine.