The U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) has issued a new policy which clarifies that it will act as the primary authority on workplace safety for renewable energy projects on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS).

The new policy is set to be published in the Federal Register on 18 October and defines DOI as the principal federal agency for the regulation and enforcement of safety and health requirements for OCS renewables projects.

“This policy statement is a major milestone in advancing the renewable energy program on the OCS,” said Scott Angelle, Director of the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement. “Further, it reinforces the Department’s commitment to set high standards for a safe environment for renewable energy workers offshore.”

DOI will continue to collaborate with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the U.S. Coast Guard to share safety and training information and promote safety on the OCS.

“Ensuring the development of U.S. renewable energy resources helps solidify the Nation’s energy independence,” said Bureau of Ocean Energy Management Acting Director Walter Cruickshank. “This vision can only be realized if safety and health requirements are priorities for future offshore wind development projects.”

According to the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement, DOI has to date leased approximately 1.7 million acres in the OCS for offshore wind development and currently has 15 active leases on the Atlantic, from Cape Cod to Cape Hatteras.