OCS Study BOEM 2018-031 Environmental Sensitivity and Associated Risk to Habitats and Species Offshore Central California and Hawaii from Offshore Floating Wind Technologies Volume 1: Final Report US Department of the Interior Bureau of Ocean Energy Management Pacific OCS Region This page intentionally left blank. OCS Study BOEM 2018-031 Environmental Sensitivity and Associated Risk to Habitats and Species Offshore Central California and Hawaii from Offshore Floating Wind Technologies Volume 1: Final Report July 2018 Authors: Alicia Morandi, Stephanie Berkman, Jill Rowe, Richard Balouskus, Danielle Reich – RPS Ocean Science Dagmar Schmidt Etkin – Environmental Research Consulting, Inc. Christopher Moelter – ICF Prepared under BOEM Contract M16PD00038 by ICF 630 K Street, Suite 400 Sacramento, CA 95814-3300 US Department of the Interior Bureau of Ocean Energy Management Pacific OCS Region This page intentionally left blank. DISCLAIMER Study concept, oversight, and funding were provided by the US Department of the Interior, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), Environmental Studies Program, Washington, DC, under Contract Number M16PD00038. This report has been technically reviewed by BOEM, and it has been approved for publication. The views and conclusions contained in this document are those of the authors and should not be interpreted as representing the opinions or policies of the US Government, nor does mention of trade names or commercial products constitute endorsement or recommendation for use. REPORT AVAILABILITY To download a PDF version of this document, go to the BOEM Data and Information Specifications webpage (https://www.boem.gov/ESP-Data-and-Information-Specifications/). CITATION Morandi, A., S. Berkman, J. Rowe, R. Balouskus, D.S. Etkin, C. Moelter, and D. Reich. 2018. Environmental Sensitivity and Associated Risk to Habitats and Species on the Pacific West Coast and Hawaii with Offshore Floating Wind Technologies; Volume 1: Final Report. US Department of the Interior, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Pacific OCS Region, Camarillo, CA. OCS Study BOEM 2018-031. 100 p. Contents Volume 1: Final Report List of Figures ............................................................................................................................... iii List of Tables ................................................................................................................................. iii List of Acronyms and Abbreviations .............................................................................................. v 1 Introduction ...................................................................................................................................... 7 1.1 Study Overview and Objectives .................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Spatial and Temporal Scope ......................................................................................................... 2 1.3 Key Assumptions .......................................................................................................................... 5 2 Impact-Causing Factors and Large-Scale Events ........................................................................... 5 2.1 Phases of Offshore Wind Development ........................................................................................ 5 2.1.1 Site Assessment .................................................................................................................... 6 2.1.2 Construction ........................................................................................................................... 6 2.1.3 Onshore Manufacturing and Transport .................................................................................. 6 2.1.4 Offshore Construction and Installation ................................................................................... 6 2.1.5 Operation and Maintenance ................................................................................................... 7 2.2 ICF Selection ................................................................................................................................. 8 2.2.1 ICF Stressors ......................................................................................................................... 8 2.2.2 Species-Receptor Selection ................................................................................................... 9 2.2.3 Species-Receptor Vulnerability and Recovery....................................................................... 9 2.3 General Effects of Impact-Causing Factors ................................................................................ 10 2.3.1 Accidental Spills ................................................................................................................... 10 2.3.2 Artificial Light ........................................................................................................................ 17 2.3.3 Collisions Above Surface ..................................................................................................... 19 2.3.4 Subsurface Collisions / Entanglement ................................................................................. 21 2.3.5 Habitat Disturbance / Displacement ..................................................................................... 22 2.3.6 Electromagnetic Fields ......................................................................................................... 25 2.3.7 Sound / Noise ....................................................................................................................... 26 2.3.8 Vessel Strikes ...................................................................................................................... 29 2.4 Large-Scale Events ..................................................................................................................... 31 2.4.1 Hurricane Damage to OFW Facilities .................................................................................. 32 2.4.2 Earthquake Damage to OFW Facilities ................................................................................ 33 2.4.3 Tsunami Damage to OFW Facilities .................................................................................... 33 i 2.4.4 Vessel Accidents .................................................................................................................. 34 2.4.5 LSE Summary ...................................................................................................................... 35 3 Background and Methods .............................................................................................................. 36 3.1 Study Areas ................................................................................................................................. 37 3.2 Concept Review .......................................................................................................................... 37 3.3 OFWESA Model Structure .......................................................................................................... 38 3.4 OFWESA Inputs and Implementation ......................................................................................... 40 3.5 Hypothetical Minimum and Maximum Values ............................................................................. 41 3.6 Impact Magnitude and Mitigation ................................................................................................ 41 4 Results and Analysis ...................................................................................................................... 44 4.1 Interpreting ICF Vulnerability Scores .......................................................................................... 44 4.2 Results of Regional Sensitivity Analysis ..................................................................................... 45 4.2.1 California .............................................................................................................................. 46 4.2.2 Hawaii North ......................................................................................................................... 61 4.2.3 Hawaii South ........................................................................................................................ 76 4.3 Mitigation Effects on Model Results ............................................................................................ 80 5 Species and ICF Knowledge Gaps ................................................................................................ 81 5.1 Overall Species Group Level of Uncertainty ............................................................................... 81 5.2 Species Level of Uncertainty for Individual Assessment Metrics ............................................... 82 5.2.1 Birds/Bats LoU ..................................................................................................................... 82 5.2.2 Fish and Invertebrates LoU .................................................................................................. 83 5.2.3 Marine Mammals and Turtles LoU ....................................................................................... 84 6 Summary of Conclusions ............................................................................................................... 85 6.1 ICF Characterization and Magnitude