Recommendations for Evaluating the Use of Existing Baseline Observational Survey Data for Birds in Offshore Wind Site Characterization Processes for the U.S. Atlantic

Guidance

Title: Recommendations for Evaluating the Use of Existing Baseline Observational Survey Data for Birds in Offshore Wind Site Characterization Processes for the U.S. Atlantic

Author:

Avian Displacement Guidance Committee

Publication Date:

December 1, 2023

Pages:

Affiliation

New York State Environmental Technical Working Group (NYETWG)

Sponsoring Organization:

New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA)

Technology:

Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind

Receptor:

Birds

Document Access

Website:

External Link

Attachment:

Access File

Citation

Avian Displacement Guidance Committee (2023). Recommendations for Evaluating the Use of Existing Baseline Observational Survey Data for Birds in Offshore Wind Site Characterization Processes for the U.S. Atlantic. Report by New York State Environmental Technical Working Group (NYETWG). Report for New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA).

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Abstract

A Specialist Committee of the Environmental Technical Working Group (E-TWG) was formed in 2022 with expertise in marine birds, at-sea surveys and other research methods, and quantitative modeling and analysis of marine bird survey data. The Committee developed two guidance documents for studies of marine birds in relation to offshore wind (OSW) energy development, of which this document is one; both sets of guidance are available at www.nyetwg.com/avian-displacement-guidance. Existing avian survey guidelines from the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) are focused on site characterization surveys to inform permitting and planning processes prior to construction of OSW facilities, rather than detecting effects of OSW development following construction (BOEM 2020). Observational surveys to inform site characterization should have different timelines, and study designs, than surveys designed to understand changes to habitat use and distributions due to OSW development. We recommend that OSW energy developers take one of the following two approaches to survey marine birds prior to construction at their lease areas:

If existing data of sufficient quality are available for a lease area for site characterization purposes (see below recommendations to assess this), these existing data should be used to inform risk assessments for the Construction and Operations Plan (COP) and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), and separate pre- and post-construction surveys to detect effects should be conducted.

If existing data at the lease area are not sufficient for site characterization, the OSW developer should conduct site characterization surveys, as well as separate pre- and post-construction surveys to detect effects of the development on birds.

The Committee recognized the need for more detailed guidance on the sufficiency of existing avian observational survey data for site characterization purposes. These recommendations aim to inform an update or addendum to the existing BOEM avian survey guidelines (BOEM 2020). Existing data should generally be considered sufficient for site characterization purposes if they meet the following criteria:

Age of Data: Existing observational survey data that is more than 10 years old should not be solely relied on to characterize a lease area. If available, older data can supplement newer data to assess the characteristics of the site and, if possible, assess environmental changes that may already be occurring at the site prior to OSW development. When existing data <10 years in age exist, supplementary new data collection should still be considered at locations where there have been substantial recent shifts in biotic or abiotic patterns. This determination should be made based on the best available science and in consultation with federal agencies.
Spatial and Temporal Scale of Data: The spatial and temporal scale of existing survey data for a site should be considered sufficient for site characterization purposes if observational surveys were 1) conducted in all seasons (ideally monthly) for at least two years (BOEM 2020), with repeated surveys within each season and year, and surveys can be considered independent of each other, and 2) conducted in the entirety of the area of interest, with at least 10% ground spatial coverage of the lease and buffer area.
Quality of Data: If existing survey data is to be solely relied on for site characterization, those data should have been collected via dedicated, scientifically rigorous avian observational surveys.
Applicability to taxa of interest: If surveys are not an appropriate method for detecting and identifying taxa of specific interest, we recommend targeted supplemental data collection for site characterization purposes.
Data Transparency: For existing survey data to be solely relied on for site characterization, the existing data (with comprehensive metadata) must be available through a recognized, publicly accessible data repository prior to being used in site characterization efforts.
Use of Regional Distribution Models: Large-scale predictive models of marine bird distributions (such as those produced by the Marine-life Data and Analysis Team (MDAT) cannot be solely relied on to characterize a site, as they are not at the necessary scale and resolution for this purpose.