U.S. Department of the Interior Appendix G MM S Minerals Management Service Biological Assessment Appendix G Biological Assessment Cape Wind Energy Project January 2009 Final EIS Cape Wind Energy Project Nantucket Sound Biological Assessment Minerals Management Service for Consultation with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and NOAA Fisheries May 2008 U.S. Department of the Interior Appendix G MM S Minerals Management Service Biological Assessment TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.0 BACKGROUND ............................................................................................................1-1 1.1 Project History.............................................................................................................1-1 1.2 Federal Consultation Action History ...........................................................................1-3 2.0 DESCRIPTION OF THE ACTION AND ACTION AREA......................................2-1 2.1 Wind Turbines .............................................................................................................2-3 2.2 Inner Array Cables.......................................................................................................2-4 2.3 Electrical Service Platform ..........................................................................................2-4 2.4 Staging Areas...............................................................................................................2-5 2.5 Project Activities and Operations ................................................................................2-6 2.5.1 Installation..............................................................................................................2-6 2.5.2 Operation................................................................................................................2-6 2.5.2.1 Service ............................................................................................................2-7 2.5.2.2 Maintenance....................................................................................................2-8 2.5.2.3 ESP Service ...................................................................................................2-8 2.5.2.4 Submarine Cable Repair.................................................................................2-8 2.5.3 Decommissioning Methodology............................................................................2-9 3.0 SPECIES AND CRITICAL HABITAT DESCRIPTION..........................................3-1 3.1 Whales..........................................................................................................................3-2 3.1.1 Humpback Whale...................................................................................................3-2 3.1.1.1 Species Description........................................................................................3-2 3.1.1.2 Life History.....................................................................................................3-2 3.1.1.3 Population Dynamics......................................................................................3-3 3.1.1.4 Status and Distribution ...................................................................................3-3 3.1.2 Fin Whale...............................................................................................................3-5 3.1.2.1 Species Description........................................................................................3-5 3.1.2.2 Life History.....................................................................................................3-6 3.1.2.3 Population Dynamics......................................................................................3-7 3.1.2.4 Status and Distribution ...................................................................................3-7 3.1.3 North Atlantic Right Whale...................................................................................3-9 3.1.3.1 Species Description........................................................................................3-9 3.1.3.2 Life History...................................................................................................3-10 3.1.3.3 Population Dynamics....................................................................................3-10 3.1.3.4 Status and Distribution .................................................................................3-11 3.2 Sea Turtles.................................................................................................................3-13 3.2.1 Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtle....................................................................................3-13 3.2.1.1 Species Description......................................................................................3-13 3.2.1.2 Life History...................................................................................................3-13 3.2.1.3 Population Dynamics....................................................................................3-14 3.2.1.4 Status and Distribution .................................................................................3-15 3.2.2 Leatherback Sea Turtle ........................................................................................3-17 3.2.2.1 Species Description......................................................................................3-17 3.2.2.2 Life History...................................................................................................3-17 Cape Wind Energy Project i May 2008 U.S. Department of the Interior Appendix G MM S Minerals Management Service Biological Assessment 3.2.2.3 Population Dynamics....................................................................................3-18 3.2.2.4 Status and Distribution .................................................................................3-18 3.2.3 Loggerhead Sea Turtle.........................................................................................3-19 3.2.3.1 Species Description......................................................................................3-19 3.2.3.2 Life History...................................................................................................3-20 3.2.3.3 Population Dynamics....................................................................................3-21 3.2.3.4 Status and Distribution .................................................................................3-22 3.2.4 Green Sea Turtle ..................................................................................................3-22 3.2.4.1 Species Description......................................................................................3-22 3.2.4.2 Life History...................................................................................................3-23 3.2.4.3 Population Dynamics....................................................................................3-24 3.2.4.4 Status and Distribution .................................................................................3-25 3.3 Avian Species.............................................................................................................3-26 3.3.1 Piping Plover........................................................................................................3-26 3.3.1.1 Species Description......................................................................................3-26 3.3.1.2 Life History...................................................................................................3-27 3.3.1.2.1 Breeding Season.......................................................................................3-27 3.3.1.2.2 Migration..................................................................................................3-30 3.3.1.2.3 Survivorship.............................................................................................3-31 3.3.1.3 Population Dynamics....................................................................................3-32 3.3.1.4 Status and Distribution .................................................................................3-33 3.3.2 Roseate Tern........................................................................................................3-35 3.3.2.1 Species Description......................................................................................3-35 3.3.2.2 Life History...................................................................................................3-35 3.3.2.2.1 Foraging ...................................................................................................3-35 3.3.2.2.2 Pre-breeding Period.................................................................................3-35 3.3.2.2.3 Nesting Period..........................................................................................3-36 3.3.2.2.4 Survivorship.............................................................................................3-39 3.3.2.3 Population Dynamics....................................................................................3-40 3.3.2.4 Status and Distribution .................................................................................3-41 4.0 ENVIRONMENTAL BASELINE................................................................................4-1 4.1 Status of the Species within the Action Area...............................................................4-1 4.1.1 Whales....................................................................................................................4-1