OCS EIS/EA BOEM 2014-1000 Virginia Offshore Wind Technology Advancement Project on the Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf Offshore Virginia Environmental Assessment U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Ocean Energy Management Office of Renewable Energy Programs OCS EIS/EA BOEM 2014-1000 Virginia Offshore Wind Technology Advancement Project on the Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf Offshore Virginia Environmental Assessment Author Bureau of Ocean Energy Management Office of Renewable Energy Programs Published by U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Ocean Energy Management Office of Renewable Energy Programs December 2014 TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF TABLES v LIST OF FIGURES vi ACRONYMS, ABBREVIATIONS, AND SYMBOLS vii 1 INTRODUCTION 1 1.1 Background 1 1.2 Objective of the Environmental Assessment 2 1.2.1 Scope of Analysis 2 1.2.2 Impact Levels for Biological and Physical Resources 2 1.2.3 Impact Levels for Socioeconomic Issues 3 1.2.4 Information Considered 3 1.3 Purpose and Need 4 1.4 DOE’s Purpose and Need 4 1.5 BOEM Authority and Regulatory Process 4 1.6 Description of Proposed Action 5 2 ALTERNATIVES INCLUDING THE PROPOSED ACTION 7 2.1 Alternative A – Proposed Action (Preferred Alternative) 8 2.1.1 Construction 9 2.1.2 Operation and Maintenance 9 2.1.3 Decommissioning 9 2.2 Alternative B – Alternate Turbine Location (adjacent to the Virginia WEA) 10 2.3 Alternative C – Alternate Turbine Location (within the Virginia WEA) 11 2.4 Alternative D – Alternate Export Cable Landfall (Croatan Beach) 12 2.5 Alternative E – No Action 14 2.6 Past, Present and Future Activities on the Atlantic OCS and Adjacent State Waters and Coastal Areas (hereafter referred to as cumulative activities) 14 2.6.1 Introduction 14 2.6.2 Site Assessment Activities and Other Fixed Structures 14 2.6.3 Wind Energy Development 15 2.6.4 Geological and Geophysical Activities 16 2.6.5 Transmission 19 2.6.6 Marine Minerals Use 19 2.6.7 Dredged Material Disposal 21 2.6.8 Liquefied Natural Gas Terminal 21 2.6.9 Military Range Complexes and Civilian Space Program Use 22 2.6.10 Shipping and Marine Transportation 22 2.6.11 Climate Change 23 3 ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIOECONOMIC CONSEQUENCES 25 3.1 Physical Properties 25 3.1.1 Air Quality 25 3.1.1.1 Description of the Affected Environment 25 3.1.1.2 Impact Analysis of Alternative A (Preferred Alternative) 26 3.1.1.3 Alternative B – Alternate Turbine Location (adjacent to the Virginia WEA) 31 3.1.1.4 Alternative C – Alternate Turbine Location (within the Virginia WEA) 32 3.1.1.5 Alternative D – Alternate Export Cable Landfall (Croatan Beach) 32 3.1.1.6 Alternative E – No Action 33 3.1.1.7 Cumulative Impacts Analysis 33 3.1.2 Water Quality 34 3.1.2.1 Description of the Affected Environment 34 i 3.1.2.2 Impact Analysis of Alternative A (Preferred Alternative) 36 3.1.2.3 Alternative B – Alternate Turbine Location (adjacent to the Virginia WEA) 38 3.1.2.4 Alternative C – Alternate Turbine Location (within the Virginia WEA) 38 3.1.2.5 Alternative D – Alternate Export Cable Landfall (Croatan Beach) 39 3.1.2.6 Alternative E – No Action 39 3.1.2.7 Cumulative Impacts Analysis 40 3.2 Biological Resources 41 3.2.1 Bats 41 3.2.1.1 Description of the Affected Environment 41 3.2.1.2 Impact Analysis of Alternative A (Preferred Alternative) 43 3.2.1.3 Alternative B – Alternate Turbine Location (adjacent to the Virginia WEA) 43 3.2.1.4 Alternative C – Alternate Turbine Location (within the Virginia WEA) 43 3.2.1.5 Alternative D – Alternate Export Cable Landfall (Croatan Beach) 43 3.2.1.6 Alternative E – No Action 43 3.2.1.7 Cumulative Impacts Analysis 43 3.2.2 Benthic Resources 44 3.2.2.1 Description of the Affected Environment 44 3.2.2.2 Impact Analysis of Alternative A (Preferred Alternative) 48 3.2.2.3 Alternative B – Alternate Turbine Location (adjacent to the Virginia WEA) 51 3.2.2.4 Alternative C – Alternate Turbine Location (within the Virginia WEA) 52 3.2.2.5 Alternative D – Alternate Export Cable Landfall (Croatan Beach) 52 3.2.2.6 Alternative E – No Action 52 3.2.2.7 Cumulative Impacts Analysis 53 3.2.3 Birds 54 3.2.3.1 Description of the Affected Environment 54 3.2.3.2 Impact Analysis of Alternative A (Preferred Alternative) 63 3.2.3.3 Alternative B – Alternate Turbine Location (adjacent to the Virginia WEA) 69 3.2.3.4 Alternative C – Alternate Turbine Location (within the Virginia WEA) 69 3.2.3.5 Alternative D – Alternate Export Cable Landfall (Croatan Beach) 69 3.2.3.6 Alternative E – No Action 70 3.2.3.7 Cumulative Impacts Analysis 70 3.2.4 Coastal Habitats 70 3.2.4.1 Description of the Affected Environment 70 3.2.4.2 Impact Analysis of Alternative A (Preferred Alternative) 71 3.2.4.3 Alternative B – Alternate Turbine Location (adjacent to the Virginia WEA) 73 3.2.4.4 Alternative C – Alternate Turbine Location (within the Virginia WEA) 73 3.2.4.5 Alternative D – Alternate Export Cable Landfall (Croatan Beach) 73 3.2.4.6 Alternative E – No Action 74 3.2.4.7 Cumulative Impacts Analysis 74 3.2.5 Fish and Essential Fish Habitat 74 3.2.5.1 Description of the Affected Environment 74 3.2.5.2 Impact Analysis of Alternative A (Preferred Alternative) 81 3.2.5.3 Alternative B – Alternate Turbine Location (adjacent to the Virginia WEA) 86 3.2.5.4 Alternative C – Alternate Turbine Location (within the Virginia WEA) 87 3.2.5.5 Alternative D – Alternate Export Cable Landfall (Croatan Beach) 87 3.2.5.6 Alternative E – No Action 87 3.2.5.7 Cumulative Impacts Analysis 88 3.2.6 Marine Mammals and Sea Turtles 89 3.2.6.1 Description of the Affected Environment 89 3.2.6.2 Impact Analysis of Alternative A (Preferred Alternative) 104 3.2.6.3 Alternative B – Alternate Turbine Location (adjacent to the Virginia WEA) 118 ii 3.2.6.4 Alternative C – Alternative Turbine Location (within the Virginia WEA) 118 3.2.6.5 Alternative D – Alternate Export Cable Landfall (Croatan Beach) 118 3.2.6.6 Alternative E – No Action 119 3.2.6.7 Cumulative Impacts Analysis 119 3.2.7 Terrestrial Wildlife 122 3.2.7.1 Description of the Affected Environment 122 3.2.7.2 Impact Analysis of Alternative A (Preferred Alternative) 122 3.2.7.3 Alternative B – Alternate Turbine Location (adjacent to the Virginia WEA) 122 3.2.7.4 Alternative C – Alternate Turbine Location (within the Virginia WEA) 122 3.2.7.5 Alternative D – Alternate Export Cable Landfall (Croatan Beach) 123 3.2.7.6 Alternative E – No Action 123 3.2.7.7 Cumulative Impacts Analysis 123 3.3 Socioeconomic Considerations 123 3.3.1 Archaeological Resources 123 3.3.1.1 Description of the Affected Environment 123 3.3.1.2 Impact Analysis of Alternative A (Preferred Alternative) 125 3.3.1.3 Alternative B – Alternate Turbine Location (adjacent to the Virginia WEA) 127 3.3.1.4 Alternative C – Alternate Turbine Location (within the Virginia WEA) 127 3.3.1.5 Alternative D – Alternate Export Cable Landfall (Croatan Beach) 128 3.3.1.6 Alternative E – No Action 128 3.3.1.7 Cumulative Impacts Analysis 128 3.3.2 Recreational Resources 129 3.3.2.1 Description of the Affected Environment 129 3.3.2.2 Impact Analysis of Alternative A (Preferred Alternative) 131 3.3.2.3 Alternative B – Alternate Turbine Location (adjacent to the Virginia WEA) 132 3.3.2.4 Alternative C – Alternate Turbine Location (within the Virginia WEA) 132 3.3.2.5 Alternative D – Alternate Export Cable Landfall (Croatan Beach) 133 3.3.2.6 Alternative E – No Action 133 3.3.2.7 Cumulative Impacts Analysis 133 3.3.3 Demographics and Employment 134 3.3.3.1 Description of the Affected Environment 134 3.3.3.2 Impact Analysis of Alternative A (Preferred Alternative) 136 3.3.3.3 Alternative B – Alternate Turbine Location (adjacent to the Virginia WEA 137 3.3.3.4 Alternative C – Alternate Turbine Location (within Virginia WEA) 137 3.3.3.5 Alternative D – Alternate Export Cable Landfall (Croatan Beach) 137 3.3.3.6 Alternative E – No Action 137 3.3.3.7 Cumulative Impacts Analysis 137 3.3.4 Environmental Justice 138 3.3.4.1 Description of the Affected Environment 138 3.3.4.2 Impact Analysis of Alternative A (Preferred Alternative) 139 3.3.4.3 Alternative B – Alternate Turbine Location (adjacent to the Virginia WEA) 140 3.3.4.4 Alternative C – Alternate Turbine Location (within the Virginia WEA) 140 3.3.4.5 Alternative D – Alternate Export Cable Landfall (Croatan Beach) 141 3.3.4.6 Alternative E – No Action 141 3.3.4.7 Cumulative Impacts Analysis 141 3.3.5 Land Use and Coastal Infrastructure 142 3.3.5.1 Description of the Affected Environment 142 3.3.5.2 Impact Analysis of Alternative A (Preferred Alternative) 142 3.3.5.3 Alternative B – Alternate Turbine Location (adjacent to the Virginia WEA) 142 3.3.5.4 Alternative C – Alternate Turbine Location (within the Virginia WEA) 143 3.3.5.5 Alternative D – Alternate Export Cable Landfall (Croatan Beach) 143 iii 3.3.5.6 Alternative E – No Action 143 3.3.5.7 Cumulative Impacts Analysis 143 3.3.6 Commercial and Recreational Fishing Activities 143 3.3.6.1 Description of the Affected Environment 143 3.3.6.2 Impact Analysis of Alternative A (Preferred Alternative) 147 3.3.6.3 Alternative B – Alternate Turbine Location (adjacent to the Virginia WEA) 149 3.3.6.4 Alternative C – Alternate Turbine Location (within the Virginia WEA) 149 3.3.6.5 Alternative D – Alternate Export Cable Landfall (Croatan Beach) 150 3.3.6.6 Alternative E – No Action 150 3.3.6.7 Cumulative Impacts Analysis 150 3.3.7 Other Uses of the OCS 152 3.3.7.1 Description of the Affected Environment 152 3.3.7.2 Impact Analysis of Alternative A (Preferred Alternative) 154 3.3.7.3 Alternative B – Alternate Turbine Location (adjacent to the Virginia WEA) 158 3.3.7.4 Alternative