e-Poster: Offshore Wind and Wildlife: Tools to Understand and Minimize Impacts and Application to U.S. Endangered Species Act
(Room Station 1)
23 Oct 19
1:00 PM
-
1:15 PM
Tracks:
Siting, Wildlife & Environmental Monitoring
Offshore wind will reduce environmental impacts of traditional energy sources; however, potential impacts of offshore wind on wildlife, particularly threatened and endangered wildlife and important habitats, continues to be a concern. As offshore wind continues to grow as an industry, more information becomes available to address potential wildlife impacts. Last year at the AWEA Offshore WINDPOWER conference, we held a panel that explored challenges and opportunities in wildlife compliance, with example studies including baseline monitoring for sea turtles, operational monitoring of impacts to birds, and general impacts and legal thresholds for noise. We also included a panel member from NOAA’s Permit Office to discuss the application of studies and risk assessment to Marine Mammal Protection Act permitting. We propose to build on last year’s discussion. This year’s panel will include examples of research and monitoring that provide new insights into wildlife impacts and tools for evaluating baseline information and mitigation and monitoring practices. The panel will also tie the science and tools to policy and decision-making, including inviting the NOAA Greater Atlantic Regional Office to participate to discuss application of statutes like the U.S. Endangered Species Act, which this office administers in the U.S. North Atlantic region. We will also include a developer on the panel to provide industry perspective and round out discussion of practicability.