Coastal Landscape/Seascape Character Classification and Assessment Methodology Development (AT-22-02) - Final report

Sep 3, 2026

Upload by James

Develops a standardized approach for inventorying and classifying the scenic and visual character of seascapes and landscapes, addressing inconsistencies in how renewable energy developers describe affected visual environments for BOEM. The methodology supports visual impact assessments within NEPA for offshore wind development in U.S. federal waters, enabling more accurate project-to-project consistency. It provides baseline information to improve monitoring of change, assess cumulative effects, and track trends as deployment expands along the Atlantic coastline.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryGeneral

FormatPDF

Pages3

Reading Time1 min

AccessFree to download

Problem

Inconsistent visual impact assessment descriptions

Need for cumulative effects and trend monitoring

Intervention

Standardized inventory and classification method

Alignment with NEPA gap for offshore wind

Outcome

Baseline for analysis, monitoring, and tracking trends

Context

Atlantic coastline near offshore renewable energy leases

| Title | Coastal Landscape/Seascape Character Classification and Assessment
Methodology Development (AT-22-02) | | --- | --- | | Administered by | Office of Renewable Energy Programs | | BOEM Contact(s) | John McCarty ([john. mccarty@boem.gov](john. mccarty@boem.gov)) | | Procurement Type(s) | Inter-agency agreement | | Conducting Organization(s) | Argonne National Laboratory | | Total BOEM Cost | $633,785 | | Performance Period | FY 2022–2024 | | Final Report Due | June 1, 2025 | | Date Revised | August 4, 2023 | | PICOC Summary | | | Problem | Standardized methods for inventorying and classifying baseline scenic/ visual resource character of seascapes and landscapes have not been established to properly describe the affected visual environment. As a result, the visual impact assessments (VIA) submitted to BOEM by renewable energy developers describe the affected visual environment in different ways for the same area of ground. Not having a uniform and repeatable method for describing the affected visual environment may lead to inaccuracies and inhibits BOEM from maintaining consistency between projects when assessing significance of visual impact in environmental impact statements (EIS) . This situation also inhibits BOEM’s ability to adequately assess cumulative effects and monitor and evaluate trends in the condition of the seascape/ landscape visual character as deployment of offshore wind development increases. | | Intervention
| Develop a standardized method to inventory and classify scenic/ visual quality and condition of seascape and landscape environments to serve as a baseline for visual impact assessment. The standardized method will fill the gap presently found in National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) assessments for offshore wind energy development in U.S. Federal waters. | | Comparison | This study is not inherently premised on an experimental research design, thus comparison is not wholly relevant. Comparisons may be supported by the study’s baseline characterizations of the maritime visual environment. | | Outcome | Baseline information of current quality and condition of seascape and landscape environments for use in NEPA analysis, monitoring change, and tracking trends. | | Context | Atlantic coastline in proximity to BOEM offshore renewable energy leases. |

FAQs

What problem does this study address?

Standardized methods do not exist to inventory and classify baseline scenic/visual character of seascapes and landscapes, leading to inconsistent visual environment descriptions in BOEM visual impact assessments.

What intervention is proposed?

A standardized method to inventory and classify scenic/visual quality and condition of seascape and landscape environments to serve as a consistent baseline for visual impact assessment under NEPA.

How will the results be used by BOEM?

The baseline information will support NEPA analysis, monitoring of change, and tracking trends, improving consistency and enabling better assessment of cumulative effects as offshore wind deployment increases.

Sep 3, 2026

Upload by James