CRI and CFACT Call on Secretary Burgum to Revoke Incidental Take Permits
2/13/2025
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Newark, Del.) – The Caesar Rodney Institute (CRI)’s Center for Energy & Environmental Policy, alongside the Committee for a Constructive Tomorrow (CFACT) and a coalition of policy experts and environmental advocates, is urging U.S. Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum to immediately revoke letters of authorization permitting the incidental take of endangered and threatened marine species by offshore wind projects.
In a formal letter sent to Secretary Burgum, the coalition expressed concerns over the National Marine Fisheries Service’s approvals, which they argue fail to meet legal requirements under the Endangered Species Act and the Marine Mammal Protection Act.
“By our count, these letters of authorization allow the incidental take of 548 North Atlantic right whales, a species with a dwindling population of approximately 338 individuals,” said David T. Stevenson, director of CRI’s Center for Energy & Environment. “This poses an unacceptable risk to marine life and demands immediate corrective action.”
“Federal agencies must be held accountable to the laws that protect our environment," said David Wojick, senior advisor and analyst at CFACT. "Permitting processes have overlooked key concerns, including the impact of acoustic harassment and the violation of Marine Mammal Protection Act standards. Immediate action is required.”
The letter follows President Donald Trump’s recent executive order pausing offshore wind leasing, highlighting the need for thorough review of processes. While new leasing has been temporarily halted, 11 projects have already received approvals and four are currently under construction. The signatories urge the Department of the Interior and the National Marine Fisheries Service to suspend all construction activities until a full review is completed.
OFFSHORE WIND PROJECTS CITED IN THE LETTER
Under construction:
- Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind
- Vineyard Wind 1
- Revolution Wind
- Sunrise Wind
Approved but not yet under construction:
- South Coast Wind
- New England Wind
- Empire Wind 1 & 2
- Atlantic Shores South
- Marwin Wind
- Momentum Wind
The letter also highlights critical deficiencies in offshore wind permitting, citing failures in environmental impact assessments, a lack of cumulative impact analysis, and the omission of less harmful construction methods such as suction caissons.
The coalition calls on Secretary Burgum to work with the National Marine Fisheries Service to revoke these permits and suspend all related construction until a comprehensive review is completed, a position jointly supported by David T. Stevenson and David Wojick.
Click here to read the full letter.
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ABOUT CRI
The Caesar Rodney Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, nonpartisan Delaware-based public policy think tank committed to protecting individual liberties. It produces fact-based analyses to help Delawareans make more informed decisions. The institute envisions a Delaware where all residents are empowered to make informed choices that best enable them to pursue their aspirations and achieve their goals. Visit www.CaesarRodney.org.
ABOUT CFACT
The Committee for a Constructive Tomorrow (CFACT) goal is to enhance the fruitfulness of the earth and all of its inhabitants. Visit https://www.cfact.org/about/
MEDIA CONTACTS
Vil Vongphrachanh David Wojick
Caesar Rodney Institute CFACT
Email: Vil@CaesarRodney.org Email: dwojick@craigellachie.us
Caesar Rodney Institute CFACT
Email: Vil@CaesarRodney.org Email: dwojick@craigellachie.us
