NEFMC - Habitat Committee Project Update April 26, 2018 1 April 2018
Permitting Status Federal Permitting State Permitting December 2017 Draft COP submitted ENF (MEPA) & EFSB Applications • Ongoing updates to COP until deemed sufficient • Available for review before finalizing • MEPA hearing and scoping for January/February 2018 Environmental Impact Report (DEIR). • MEPA Certificate released EFSB Hearing (April 24 th ) April 2018 EIS Scoping Hearings DEIR to be submitted April 30 th (April 16-19) 2 April 2018
Permitting Process Begun Complete (general overview) State Federal MEPA EFSB ACOE EPA BOEM USCG NMFS FAA ENF CZM / CRMC Scoping COP National Environmental Policy Act MEPA Cert. NEPA Endangered Species Act State Permits Scoping DEIR (including): National Historic Preservation Act Chapter 91 DEIR Cert. 401 WQC DEIS Migratory Bird Treaty Act Highway FEIR Railroad Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation Management Act FEIS Final MEPA Cert. Marine Mammal Protection Act Record of Cape Cod Commission & MV Commission Coastal Zone Management Act Decision Clean Air Act Facilities Design Report & Town Conservation Commissions Town Road Opening Fabrication Installation Report 3 April 2018
PROJECT OVERVIEW Generation Capacity: 800 MW Enough energy for over 400,000 homes and businesses Could be built in phases Turbine area : 14 miles from Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket 106 positions being permitted, all with scour protection Turbines : Between 8 - 10 MW Construction, staging and deployment base: New Bedford Support from other nearby ports Operations & Maintenance: Routine from Martha’s Vineyard Long-term from New Bedford or other nearby port Electrical interconnection: Barnstable Switch Substation Cable landfall in Barnstable or Yarmouth Up to 3 cables, in one corridor 4 April 2018
PROJECT LAYOUT Turbines • Fixed locations • Spare locations • Micro-siting expected • 106 total (including spares) Electric Service Platforms (ESP) • Per 400 MW: • 1 traditional ESP • Or two lightweight ESPs • 2 locations total • Lightweight ESPs will be co-located 5 April 2018
WIND TURBINE GENERATORS • 8 – 10MW WTG Rotor diameter 164-180m (538-591 feet) • Rotor size of 164-180 m (538-591 ft) Total height 191-212m (627-696 feet) • Hub height of 109-121 m (358-397 ft) Blade max chord of 5- 7.0m Hub height 109-121m (358 - 397 feet) Tip clearance 27-31m (89-102 feet) Interface level 19-23m (62-75 feet) MLLW Ocean Seafloor 6 April 2018
FOUNDATIONS • 100% Monopiles or 50% Monopiles & 50% Jacket • Scour protection at each location • Total footprint in wind farm area 0.4% • Noise mitigation during pile driving • Protected marine species (marine mammals & sea turtles) • Clear exclusion zone before initiation of pile driving 7 April 2018
FOUNDATIONS (continued) 8 April 2018
GRID CONNECTION Nearest suitable existing substations are in Barnstable Minimizes amount of cable installed No changes to existing transmission system will be required Connection location enhances grid reliability by providing power at edge of grid system ~ 37 miles Federal waters 9 April 2018
OFFSHORE CABLE CORRIDORS Two possible corridors: only one will be used Multiple options through Muskeget Channel Landfall location 2017 & 2018 offshore studies inform selection Routing Considerations include water depth, bathymetry, sensitive habitat areas, etc. Avoidance of mapped eelgrass beds Minimization of potential impacts to hard/complex bottom areas Installation via jet-plow, plow, or mechanical trenching Up to three cables in single 810m corridor Target burial depth = 5 to 8 feet (1.5 to 2.5 m) 6-foot-wide swath affected by trenching Where sand waves are present, dredging will be used to achieve target burial depth 10 April 2018
CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATIONS PLAN (COP) CONTENTS VOLUME I VOLUME II VOLUME III Project Description Survey Results Impact Assessment and Analysis • • Overview Site Geology and Environmental Conditions • Applicant Purpose & Need • Location • Shallow Hazards Assessment • Project Summary • Structures • Geological Results Relevant to Siting and • Project Evolution • • Activities (Installation) Design Benefits, Impacts, & Mitigation • • • Regulatory Framework Results of Biological Surveys Physical Resources • • Agency Contacts and Stakeholder Archaeological Resource Report • Biological Resources Coordination • Socioeconomic Resources Appendices Appendices (Summarized) Appendices (Summarized) • • Draft Oil Spill Response Plan Geological Survey Results • Hydrodynamic / Sediment Dispersion • Draft Safety Management System • Benthic Reports • Air Emissions • CVA Statement of Qualifications • Grab Sample and Grain Size Analysis • Avian & EFH • • • CVA Scope of Work Vibracore Analysis Benthic Monitoring Plan • Hierarchy of Standards • Fisheries Communication Plan • Archaeology and Visual Reports • Marine and Air Navigation Reports • Scour 11 April 2018
ACTIVE CONSULTATION WITH FISHERMEN Early and on-going engagement with fishing community • Most important : On-going participation in working groups and individual/small group meetings • Detailed and candid conversations • Logistically easier to arrange (more of them, less difficult to participate) • Construction studies : Agreement with SMAST for pre- and post-construction fishery studies • SMAST will consult with fishing industry, regulators and academia - on what should be studied • Data will be publicly available • Transparent plan : Active and continuously updated fisheries communication plan reviewed by regulators, fishermen and fishing organizations (and on website) • People facilitate communication : Fishery Liaison (FL) and Fishery Representatives (FR) • First Fisheries Representative in the nation for offshore wind (2010) • Full-time Fisheries Liaison (May 2018) • Always seeking to expand FR network • Taking communication into action - Continuous Improvement : • Changes to project design already made, and more under consideration • Ready to participate, e.g. central clearinghouses for fisheries information and gear loss/damage compensation 12 April 2018
ON-GOING FISHERIES CONSULTATIONS I: ACTIONS ALREADY TAKEN • • Align turbines (grid pattern) to Input regarding better notification • Input to Fisheries Communication Plan of survey work (also helps for (current version always available on facilitate transit construction communications and vineyardwind.com) • As opposed to random layout learning what works and what • Implement a way to test how the which produces more power doesn’t): communication is working • 1nm transit corridors NW/SE • Fliers • Plan for additional communication with • Add Loran lines to all project charts • Email lists (e.g. DMF, NMFS, recreational fishing (included in COP) • RIDEM) Communicate more through the • Include AIS on all turbines • Newspaper ads Management Councils (and various • Provide electronic chart of lease • Meetings subgroups) area for plotters • Notification to fishing • Look for multiple avenues to reach • Pre, during, and post construction organizations (to reach fishermen • membership) Ensure we reach both state and federally studies • Physical mailings permitted fisheries • Agreement with SMAST to decide • Electronic ads on frequently • Continue to address and refine how each what to study (using visited websites (e.g. of the goals will be implemented and expert/scientist input) and carry fisherynation.com) flexible to address feedback out study • • USCG Notice to Mariners Further development to add in details as • Collecting recommendations for • Special, continuously updated communications, permitting, and study (e.g. rock box and squid section of website construction plans evolve mops) • Make data public 13 April 2018
ON-GOING FISHERIES CONSULTATIONS II: ACTIONS UNDERWAY OR INVESTIGATION • Turbine lay-out: • Remove turbines along 20 fathom line ? • E/W and N/S corridors ? • Active review of adjacent layouts with USCG and other wind project developers • Construction planning: • Use agreed transit corridors for construction vessels so fixed gear can avoid conflict • Planning for coordination within port during construction • On-going notifications and communication avenues • Larger sized rocks for scour protection so as to increase lobster habitat • Differing requests from among fishing industry • Negative impacts due to technical limitations of installation of larger sized scour protection • Minimize silting caused by installation • Ongoing discussions of best installation techniques with cable installers and inclusion of many techniques in the COP • Addressing direct impacts • Ready to discuss options such as central clearinghouse for gear / loss damage and measuring fishing effort 14 April 2018
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