Proposed Underwater Noise Limits for Offshore Wind Construction in the U.S.

Conference Paper

Title: Proposed Underwater Noise Limits for Offshore Wind Construction in the U.S.

Author:

Reeve, M.; Martin, M.; H.W. Wilson Company; Conrad, A.; Denes, S.; Staaterman, E.; Lewandowski, J.

Publication Date:

September 15, 2025

Event Name:

Effects of Sound in the Ocean on Marine Mammals (ESOMM) 2024

Event Session:

Regulation & mitigation

Event Location:

Scheveningen , The Hague, The Netherlands

Pages:

Publisher:

Aquatic Mammals

Affiliation

Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM)

Technology:

Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind

Stressor:

Noise

Receptor:

Marine Mammals

Language:

English

Document Access

Website:

External Link

Attachment:

Access File

Citation

APA
BibTex
RIS

Reeve, M.; Martin, M.; H.W. Wilson Company; Conrad, A.; Denes, S.; Staaterman, E.; Lewandowski, J. (2025). Proposed Underwater Noise Limits for Offshore Wind Construction in the U.S.. Paper presented at Effects of Sound in the Ocean on Marine Mammals (ESOMM) 2024, Scheveningen , The Hague, The Netherlands. https://doi.org/10.1578/AM.51.5.2025.57

@conference{Reeve-2025-2084966,
author = {Reeve, M and Martin, M and HW Wilson Company and Conrad, A and Denes, S and Staaterman, E and Lewandowski, J},
title = {Proposed Underwater Noise Limits for Offshore Wind Construction in the U.S.},
year = {2025},
month = {sep},
series = {Effects of Sound in the Ocean on Marine Mammals (ESOMM) 2024},
pages = {83},
address = {Scheveningen , The Hague, The Netherlands},
publisher = {Aquatic Mammals},
doi = {10.1578/AM.51.5.2025.57},
url = {https://www.aquaticmammalsjournal.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/51.5_AM_Programme.pdf},
keywords = {Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Noise, Marine Mammals},
}

Export Citation to BibTex

TY - CONF
TI - Proposed Underwater Noise Limits for Offshore Wind Construction in the U.S.
AU - Reeve, M
AU - Martin, M
AU - HW Wilson Company
AU - Conrad, A
AU - Denes, S
AU - Staaterman, E
AU - Lewandowski, J
T2 - Effects of Sound in the Ocean on Marine Mammals (ESOMM) 2024
C1 - Scheveningen , The Hague, The Netherlands
AB - The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management’s (BOEM) Center for Marine Acoustics (CMA) developed proposed noise mitigation measures to meet the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act’s (OCSLA’s) “undue harm” requirement, reduce and monitor impacts, and bolster compliance with the Endangered Species Act and Marine Mammal Protection Act. While these measures are aimed at reducing impacts to key species, such as the critically endangered North Atlantic right whale, their implementation will also ben- efit a host of other marine life. The CMA considers these proposed measures to be mature and ready for integration with project NEPA reviews and plan approvals. Currently, the proposed measures are focused on three areas: (1) Received Sound Level Limits for pile driving, (2) Sound Field Verification for pile driving, and (3) Long-Term Passive Acoustic Monitoring (pre, during, and post-construction). Additional measures are still being considered and may be added to address, among other concerns, vessel quieting and the application of relativistic risk frameworks during plan development.
DA - 2025/09//
PY - 2025
SP - 83
PB - Aquatic Mammals
UR - https://www.aquaticmammalsjournal.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/51.5_AM_Programme.pdf
DO - 10.1578/AM.51.5.2025.57
LA - English
KW - Wind Energy
KW - Fixed Offshore Wind
KW - Noise
KW - Marine Mammals
ER -

Export Citation to RIS

Abstract

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management’s (BOEM) Center for Marine Acoustics (CMA) developed proposed noise mitigation measures to meet the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act’s (OCSLA’s) “undue harm” requirement, reduce and monitor impacts, and bolster compliance with the Endangered Species Act and Marine Mammal Protection Act. While these measures are aimed at reducing impacts to key species, such as the critically endangered North Atlantic right whale, their implementation will also ben- efit a host of other marine life. The CMA considers these proposed measures to be mature and ready for integration with project NEPA reviews and plan approvals. Currently, the proposed measures are focused on three areas: (1) Received Sound Level Limits for pile driving, (2) Sound Field Verification for pile driving, and (3) Long-Term Passive Acoustic Monitoring (pre, during, and post-construction). Additional measures are still being considered and may be added to address, among other concerns, vessel quieting and the application of relativistic risk frameworks during plan development.