Abstract
This report supplements the Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind Construction and Operations Plan.
Atlantic Shores will implement a benthic monitoring plan to measure and assess the disturbance and recovery of marine benthic habitats and communities as a result of construction and operation of Atlantic Shores Offshore Project Area components. The Offshore Project Area includes the WTA and the ECCs. The WTA includes Project 1, Project 2, and the Overlap Area. Offshore Project Area components include the wind turbine generators (WTGs), offshore substations, offshore cable systems, and their associated parts in the WTA. This draft plan will be implemented in support of both Projects. Individual plans for Project 1 and Project 2 will be developed for BOEM review and acceptance prior to construction with each Project’s Facility Design Report and/or Fabrication and Installation Report. The monitoring program, focused on seafloor habitat and benthic communities, will be undertaken to measure potential impacts and the recovery of these resources compared to reference areas outside of the areas potentially impacted by construction and operation activities. This monitoring program was developed based on best practices available in scientific literature and employed analyses of preliminary benthic survey information to determine the appropriate sample size for sufficient statistical power (i.e., enough samples to detect significant changes if they were to occur).