OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY AND NORTHWEST NATIONAL MARINE RENEWABLE ENERGY CENTER WAVE ENERGY TEST PROJECT DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT June 2012 DOE/EA-1917 U.S. Department of Energy Golden Field Office 1617 Cole Boulevard Golden, CO 80401 Contents List of Tables .......................................................................................................................................... iv List of Figures .......................................................................................................................................... v List of Acronyms and Abbreviations ...................................................................................................... vi 1.0 Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 1-1 1.1 Background ...................................................................................................................... 1-1 1.2 National Environmental Policy Act .................................................................................. 1-1 1.3 Purpose and Need............................................................................................................ 1-2 1.4 Scoping and Public/Agency Involvement ......................................................................... 1-3 1.4.1 NNMREC Public Involvement ........................................................................................... 1-3 1.4.2 DOE Public Scoping .......................................................................................................... 1-3 1.4.3 DOE Public and Agency Involvement ............................................................................... 1-5 1.5 Organization of Environmental Assessment .................................................................... 1-6 2.0 Proposed Action and Alternatives .............................................................................................. 2-1 2.1 Overview .......................................................................................................................... 2-1 2.2 Proposed Action ............................................................................................................... 2-1 2.2.1 Project Site ....................................................................................................................... 2-2 2.2.2 Ocean Sentinel Instrumentation Buoy ............................................................................. 2-2 2.2.3 TRIAXYS™ Wave Measurement Buoy .............................................................................. 2-9 2.2.4 Testing Vessel .................................................................................................................. 2-9 2.2.5 Wave Energy Converter Devices .................................................................................... 2-10 2.2.6 WET-NZ Multi-Mode Marine Power Conversion ........................................................... 2-11 2.2.7 Anchors and Mooring Systems ...................................................................................... 2-12 2.2.8 Anchoring and Mooring Systems Used in Future Tests ................................................. 2-18 2.2.9 Testing Scenarios ........................................................................................................... 2-21 2.2.10 Installation ............................................................................................................... 2-22 2.2.11 Operations and Maintenance.................................................................................. 2-27 2.2.12 Removal and Decommissioning .............................................................................. 2-31 2.2.13 Permits and Approvals ............................................................................................ 2-32 2.2.14 Applicant-Committed Measures ............................................................................. 2-33 2.2.15 Research and Monitoring ........................................................................................ 2-36 2.2.16 Adaptive Management Framework ........................................................................ 2-36 2.3 No Action Alternative .................................................................................................... 2-37 2.4 Alternatives Considered but Eliminated ........................................................................ 2-37 3.0 Affected Environment and Environmental Consequences ........................................................... 3-1 3.1 Environmental Categories Evaluated and Dismissed from Further Analysis ................... 3-1 NNMREC and OSU Wave Energy Test Project June 2012 i Draft Environmental Assessment Contents 3.1.1 Air Quality ........................................................................................................................ 3-1 3.1.2 Energy .............................................................................................................................. 3-2 3.1.3 Floodplains ....................................................................................................................... 3-2 3.1.4 Geology and Soils ............................................................................................................. 3-2 3.1.5 Intentional Destructive Acts ............................................................................................ 3-3 3.1.6 Land Use ........................................................................................................................... 3-3 3.1.7 Noise Impacts on Sensitive Human Receptors ................................................................ 3-4 3.1.8 Transportation ................................................................................................................. 3-4 3.1.9 Wetlands .......................................................................................................................... 3-5 3.1.10 Wild and Scenic Rivers ..................................................................................................... 3-5 3.2 Biological Resources ........................................................................................................ 3-5 3.2.1 Affected Environment ...................................................................................................... 3-6 3.2.2 Environmental Consequences of the Proposed Project ................................................ 3-20 3.2.3 Environmental Consequences of the No Action Alternative ......................................... 3-30 3.3 Noise and Vibration ....................................................................................................... 3-30 3.3.1 Affected Environment .................................................................................................... 3-30 3.3.2 Environmental Consequences of the Proposed Project ................................................ 3-31 3.3.3 Environmental Consequences of the No Action Alternative ......................................... 3-35 3.4 Water Resources ............................................................................................................ 3-35 3.4.1 Affected Environment .................................................................................................... 3-35 3.4.2 Environmental Consequences of the Proposed Project ................................................ 3-40 3.4.3 Environmental Consequences of the No Action Alternative ......................................... 3-42 3.5 Marine Navigation ......................................................................................................... 3-42 3.5.1 Affected Environment .................................................................................................... 3-42 3.5.2 Environmental Consequences of the Proposed Project ................................................ 3-45 3.5.3 Environmental Consequences of the No Action Alternative ......................................... 3-46 3.6 Aesthetic Resources ....................................................................................................... 3-47 3.6.1 Affected Environment .................................................................................................... 3-47 3.6.2 Environmental Consequences of the Proposed Project ................................................ 3-49 3.6.3 Environmental Consequences of the No Action Alternative ......................................... 3-52 3.7 Recreation Resources .................................................................................................... 3-55 3.7.1 Affected Environment .................................................................................................... 3-55 3.7.2 Environmental Consequences of the Proposed Project ................................................ 3-55 3.7.3 Environmental Consequences of the No Action Alternative ......................................... 3-57 3.8 Cultural Resources ......................................................................................................... 3-57 3.8.1 Affected Environment .................................................................................................... 3-57 3.8.2 Environmental Consequences of the Proposed Project ................................................ 3-59 NNMREC and OSU Wave Energy Test Project June 2012 ii Draft Environmental Assessment