Abstract
This report supplements the Revolution Wind Farm Construction and Operations Plan.
The purpose of this assessment is to evaluate the potential effects of all Project phases (construction, operation and decommissioning) within the Project’s offshore Lease Area (as of March 2020) on birds and bats. This assessment provides an overview of the species of birds and bats that have the potential to be affected by the proposed Project’s offshore structures and activities, with detailed consideration for federally listed or protected species. Potential direct and indirect impacts, including habitat modification, collision and displacement, have been evaluated for each phase of the Project.
The assessment of bats included migratory tree roosting bats and cave hibernating bats. The northern long-eared bat (Myotis septentrionalis) was individually assessed based on its conservation status. The assessment of birds included migratory shorebirds, wading birds, raptors, songbirds, coastal waterbirds, and marine birds. Marine birds were assessed by major taxonomic group, which included loons, sea ducks, petrels and allies, gannets and allies, gulls and allies, terns, and auks. Avian species that were individually assessed based on conservation status include the Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos), Roseate Tern (Sterna dougallii), Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus), Red Knot (Calidris canutus), and Black-capped Petrel (Pterodroma hasitata).
The assessments described herein rely on a weight-of-evidence approach that included an analysis of exposure of birds and bats to each specific Project-related impact producing factor, and behavioral vulnerability to each of those factors. Numerous references and data sets were drawn upon, including (but not limited to) the Rhode Island Ocean Special Area Management Plan (OSAMP) Surveys, NOAA Marine Bird Distribution Models, occurrence data, individual tracking data, relevant literature, and species accounts.
This assessment focuses solely on potential impacts associated with the Project’s offshore components, specifically the WTGs and OSSs. Construction and operation of the offshore and onshore export cable corridors are not expected to result in impacts to birds and bats (Epsilon Associates Inc. 2018); for this reason, this assessment solely focuses on potential impacts associated with the Project’s offshore wind farm area (i.e., the Lease Area). A separate study was performed to evaluate potential impacts associated with onshore components (COP Appendix K). Impacts associated with sedimentation/water quality impacts, spills/trash, etc. are not discussed in this technical report.