Abstract
This report supplements the Sunrise Wind Construction and Operations Plan.
This protected species mitigation and monitoring plan (PSMMP) is in place for high-resolution geophysical (HRG) survey, construction, and operations and maintenance (O&M) activities planned for Sunrise Wind LLC’s Sunrise Wind Farm (SRWF) located in the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) Lease Area OCS-A-0487 and the associated Sunrise Wind Export Cable (SRWEC) herein referred to in this PSMMP as the Project Area. Sunrise Wind, LLC (Sunrise Wind) is a 50/50 joint venture between Ørsted North America Inc (Ørsted NA) and Eversource Investment LLC (Eversource).
The purpose of this PSMMP is to provide protocols and requirements for mitigation and monitoring activities to minimize potential impacts on marine mammals through both visual and passive acoustic means during Project-related construction and operational activities. The PSMMP also serves as Section 11 (Mitigation Measures to Protect Marine Mammals and their Habitat) of the Application for Rulemaking and letter of Authorization for the Sunrise Wind Project. The PSMMP provides consistency in the monitoring and mitigation methods employed across all Ørsted and Ørsted partnership wind projects in the Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) and all development and operational phases. A PSMMP will be developed for each project.