Empire Offshore Wind LLC Empire Wind 1 Project Article VII Application Exhibit 4 Environmental Impact June 2021 Empire Wind 1 Project Article VII Application Exhibit 4: Environmental Impact TABLE OF CONTENTS EXHIBIT 4: ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ..........................................................................................................4-1 4.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................4-1 4.1.1 Impact Assessment Methodology ....................................................................................4-4 4.1.2 Impact-Producing Factors - Construction ......................................................................4-6 4.1.3 Impact-Producing Factors – Operations ..................................................................... 4-17 4.1.4 Proposed Avoidance, Minimization and Mitigation Measures ................................. 4-20 4.2 Marine Physical and Chemical Conditions ................................................................................. 4-27 4.2.1 Marine Physical and Chemical Studies and Analysis .................................................. 4-27 4.2.2 Existing Marine Physical Characteristics ...................................................................... 4-28 4.2.3 Existing Marine Chemical Characteristics.................................................................... 4-35 4.2.4 Potential Marine Chemical and Physical Impacts and Proposed Mitigation.......... 4-41 4.3 Topography, Geology, Soils, and Groundwater ........................................................................ 4-47 4.3.1 Topography, Geology, Soils and Groundwater Studies and Analysis ..................... 4-47 4.3.2 Existing Topography, Geology, Soils, and Groundwater.......................................... 4-47 4.3.3 Potential Topography, Geology, Soils, and Groundwater Impacts and Proposed Mitigation .......................................................................................................................... 4-50 4.4 Wetlands and Waterbodies ............................................................................................................ 4-55 4.4.1 Wetland and Waterbody Studies and Analysis ............................................................ 4-56 4.4.2 Existing Wetlands and Waterbodies ............................................................................. 4-57 4.4.3 Potential Wetland and Waterbody Impacts and Proposed Mitigation .................... 4-61 4.5 Terrestrial Vegetation and Wildlife .............................................................................................. 4-65 4.5.1 Terrestrial Vegetation and Wildlife Studies and Analysis .......................................... 4-65 4.5.2 Existing Terrestrial Vegetation and Wildlife................................................................ 4-65 4.5.3 Potential Terrestrial Vegetation and Wildlife Impacts and Proposed Mitigation .. 4-66 4.6 Fisheries and Benthic Resources .................................................................................................. 4-69 4.6.1 Existing Fisheries and Benthic Studies and Analysis ................................................. 4-69 4.6.2 Existing Fisheries and Benthic Resources.................................................................... 4-71 4.6.3 Managed and Exploited Species .................................................................................... 4-82 4.6.4 Potential Impacts and Proposed Mitigation: Fisheries and Benthic Resources..... 4-86 4.7 Important Habitats and Protected Species ................................................................................. 4-95 4.7.1 Important Habitats and Protected Species Studies and Analysis ............................. 4-95 4.7.2 Existing Important Habitats and Protected Species................................................... 4-97 4.7.3 Potential Important Habitats and Protected Species Impacts and Proposed Mitigation ........................................................................................................................................... 4-111 4.8 Cultural and Historic Resources ................................................................................................. 4-120 4.8.1 Cultural and Historic Studies and Analysis ................................................................ 4-120 4.8.2 Existing Cultural and Historic Resources .................................................................. 4-126 4.8.3 Potential Cultural and Historic Resources Impacts and Proposed Mitigation..... 4-130 4.9 Visual and Aesthetic Resources .................................................................................................. 4-134 4.9.1 Visual and Aesthetic Resources Studies and Analysis .............................................. 4-134 4.9.2 Potential Visual and Aesthetic Resources Impacts and Proposed Mitigation...... 4-146 4.10 Land Use......................................................................................................................................... 4-149 4.10.1 Land Use Studies and Analysis .................................................................................... 4-149 4.10.2 Existing Land Use.......................................................................................................... 4-150 4.10.3 Potential Land Use Impacts and Proposed Mitigation ............................................ 4-155 4.11 Noise ............................................................................................................................................... 4-160 4.11.1 Noise Studies and Analysis ........................................................................................... 4-160 4.11.2 Existing Noise Conditions............................................................................................ 4-166 4.11.3 Potential Noise Impacts and Proposed Mitigation................................................... 4-170 4.12 Air Quality ...................................................................................................................................... 4-176 i Empire Wind 1 Project Article VII Application Exhibit 4: Environmental Impact 4.12.1 Federal Regulations........................................................................................................ 4-176 4.12.2 New York State Regulations ........................................................................................ 4-178 4.12.3 New York City Regulations.......................................................................................... 4-179 4.12.4 Air Quality Studies and Analysis.................................................................................. 4-180 4.12.5 Existing Air Quality Conditions .................................................................................. 4-180 4.12.6 Potential Air Quality Impacts and Proposed Mitigation ......................................... 4-181 4.13 Electromagnetic Fields ................................................................................................................. 4-183 4.13.1 Electric and Magnetic Field Studies and Analysis..................................................... 4-183 4.13.2 Existing Electric and Magnetic Field Conditions ..................................................... 4-184 4.13.3 Potential Electric and Magnetic Fields Impacts and Proposed Mitigation........... 4-184 4.14 Summary of Impacts .................................................................................................................... 4-188 4.15 Cumulative Impacts ...................................................................................................................... 4-189 4.15.1 Cumulative Impacts Data Sources .............................................................................. 4-189 4.15.2 Existing Facilities Proximal to the Project ................................................................. 4-189 4.15.3 Planned Projects Proximal to Empire Wind ............................................................. 4-191 4.16 References ...................................................................................................................................... 4-194 ii Empire Wind 1 Project Article VII Application Exhibit 4: Environmental Impact TABLES Table 4.1-1 Location of 16 NYCRR § 86.5 Requirements.............................................................................. 4-2 Table 4.1-2 Summary of the Article VII Project Area ..................................................................................... 4-6 Table 4.2-1 Maximum Flood and Ebb Current Velocity from the ESPreSSO Model ............................. 4-31 Table 4.2-2 Summary of Marine Waterbody Classes Potentially Crossed by the Submarine Cable Route ... ............................................................................................................................................................ 4-40 Table 4.4-1 FEMA-Mapped Zone AE and Zone X (Shaded) within the Project Area ........................... 4-59 Table 4.5-1 2016 NLCD Land Use for the Onshore Project Area.............................................................. 4-66 Table 4.6-1 Benthic Characterization Data ...................................................................................................... 4-74 Table 4.6-2 Fish Species Occurring in New York Harbor and Nearshore New York Bight .................