Permits In Place for Oregon Deployment

On August 2nd, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) issued its Final Biological Opinion (BiOp) for the wave energy pilot project at the Northwest National Marine Renewable Energy Center’s ocean test site, marking the conclusion of Endangered Species Act and Essential Fish Habitat consultation. With the conclusion of consultation, the US Army Corps of Engineers issued the Nationwide Permit for project deployment and operations, and and the Oregon Department of State Lands (DSL) issued the Temporary Use Authorization for this summer’s wave energy test.

In addition to permits from the Corps and DSL, the Oregon Department of Land, Conservation and Development issued the Coastal Zone Management Act Consistency Certification for the project, marking the completion of the permitting process. These authorizations, as well as the environmental consultations that were completed at the beginning of August, are required to deploy the Azura, Ocean Sentinel, TriAXIS buoy and all associated mooring equipment at NNMREC’s ocean test site.

We’d like to give special thanks to the Corp of Engineers, National Marine Fisheries Service, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Oregon Department of State Lands, Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development, and Oregon Department Fish and Wildlife for their efforts in working with NNMREC and NWEI to successfully complete the permitting process.