Abstract
This report will serve as an addendum to the Empire Wind Pre-Construction Benthic Monitoring Survey Report New York State Waters that was finalized in February 2024 (INSPIRE 2024). This addendum describes the sediment grab sampling for benthic community analysis that was completed by INSPIRE Environmental, Inc. (INSPIRE) in August/September 2023. The focus of this benthic survey was the EW 1 export cable route, which transits away from the Lease Area from its northeastern boundary and continues north-northwest towards Lower New York Bay (Figure 1-1). The EW 1 runs parallel to the Ambrose Channel as it enters Lower New York Bay, transits through the Verrazano Narrows on the eastern side and makes landfall in Brooklyn, NY. The survey design and sampling approach is described in detail within the Empire Wind 1 Benthic Sampling Plan New York State (INSPIRE 2023) that was developed from discussions with local and state agencies through the New York Article VII permitting process.
The objective of this survey was to characterize seafloor conditions, including the collection of geophysical, biological, and chemical parameters, prior to the installation of the EW 1 export cable. Specifically, the Empire Wind 1 Benthic Sampling Plan New York State Waters was designed to characterize and summarize baseline benthic conditions and sediment chemical levels observed prior to cable installation within New York state waters, and subsequently monitor post-installation benthic conditions and chemical levels to assess any effects resulting from installation activities and operation of the EW 1 export cable (INSPIRE 2023). The focus of this addendum are the results from the benthic community analysis of sediment grab samples.