DOI: 10.82105/g2mw27
title: Empire Wind (EW 1 and EW 2) Project Construction Operations Plan (COP) Benthic and Geophysical Surveys, 2018 - 2021

description: Empire Offshore Wind LLC (Empire) conducted geophysical and benthic surveys to support the planning and development of offshore wind farms within BOEM renewable energy lease area OCS-A 0512 (Lease Area). These data were collected in accordance with BOEM regulations during 2018 and 2020-2021. This data package provides the geophysical data for Empire Wind 1 (EW 1) for the wind farm area and the benthic data collected for the EW 1 and Empire Wind 2 (EW 2) wind farm area and potential cable routes. Geophysical data provided are bathymetry and backscatter mosaics within the portion of the Lease Area that will be developed into the EW 1 offshore wind farm. Pre-COP geophysical surveys were designed to support engineering and construction design for EW 1. Multi-beam echo sounder (MBES) bathymetric data was collected during 2018 and 2020-2021 surveys within the Lease Area. Quality assurance steps were continually conducted throughout data collection and processing. INSPIRE Environmental (INSPIRE) prepared these data for sharing through the RWSC seafloor data repository. The Resample tool in ArcGIS Pro was used to adjust the resolution of the bathymetry from 0.5 meters and backscatter data from 0.25 -0.5 meters to 8 meter resolution following the protocol written for MACEC Regional Habitat Mapping for Bathymetry and Backscatter (https://www.masscec.com/sites/default/files/documents/RegionalHabitatMapping_REPORT_Final_w_Appendices.pdf, pg.49).Geophysical data are provided as zipped files with geotifs. Metadata are also embedded in these raster files.Benthic data were collected across multiple surveys using various collection techniques, including sediment profile and plan view imagery, sediment grabs, and video. All benthic surveys are summarized in Attachment T series of the COP. References and short methods from each of these are summarized below. A survey code is provided with each reference below corresponding the COP Attachment to the benthic data CSVs available for download here.Empire Wind Project (EW 1 and EW 2) Construction and Operations Plan Attachments T-1 through T-6 (Empire_Wind_Benthic): https://www.boem.gov/sites/default/files/documents/renewable-energy/Public_EOW_COP%20Appendix%20T_Benthic%20accessible.pdf(1) Site Assessment Plan (SAP) Benthic Survey Report; NY Empire Wind Geophysical Survey ST18507 (Attachment T-1, EW_18B1):During March and April 2018, Alpine Ocean Seismic Survey, Inc. (Alpine) was contracted by Statoil US Wind LLC (now known as Equinor US Wind LLC) to acquire high resolution geophysical (HRG), environmental and geotechnical survey data in sections of the Commercial Lease of Submerged Lands and Renewable Energy Development on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS-A 0512). The survey data was required to inform the Site Assessment Plan (SAP) for the deployment of Floating Light Detection and Ranging Buoys and metocean moorings for site resource characterization. The SAP Survey Campaign area was located 22 to 39 kilometers south of Long Island, New York and covered an area of approximately 1380km2.(2) COP Benthic Habitat Characterization Report: Lease Area; Equinor Wind OCS-A 0512 Geophysical & Benthic Survey (Attachment T-2, EW_18B2):Gardline Limited completed a geophysical and habitat characterization survey on behalf of Equinor US Wind LLC across the Commercial Lease of Submerged Lands and Renewable Energy Development on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS-A 0512). The survey was to support characterization of benthic resources for the Construction and Operations Plan. The survey area was located 14 miles (22km) to 24 miles (39km) south of Long Island, New York and covered an area of approximately 124 miles2 (321km2). Environmental surveys were conducted using the Gardline research vessel (RV) Ocean Researcher between 01-Jun-2018 and 02-Dec-2018.(3) COP Benthic Survey Report: Siting Corridors; Benthic Assessment Survey of Proposed Export Cable Routes in Support of the Equinor Wind OCS-A 0512 Offshore Wind Farm Project (Attachment T-3, Empire_19B1):INSPIRE Environmental conducted a combined Sediment Profile and Plan View Imaging (SPI/PV) survey at stations along potential Equinor Wind Export Cable Routes and at reference stations. The SPI/PV survey was conducted as part of a benthic assessment of Empire Wind's COP and provides an interpretive assessment of discrete sampling stations to characterize and delineate the benthic habitat.(4) COP Benthic Survey Report: EW 1 Submarine Export Cable Siting Corridor; Empire Wind 2020 Surveys Environmental Campaign – RV Shearwater (Attachment T-4, EW1_20B1):Alpine Ocean Seismic Survey, Inc. (Alpine) performed a high-resolution geophysical survey for Equinor US Wind LLC (Equinor) for the Empire Wind Offshore Wind Project Export Cable Route offshore New York. The project consisted of a geophysical and an environmental scope of work completed on Alpine’s survey vessel, RV Shearwater, and a bathymetric scope of work completed on Alpine’s survey vessel, MV William M.(5) COP Benthic Survey Report: EW 2 Landfall; Empire Wind 2021 Surveys Environmental Campaign – EW2 RV Shearwater (Attachment T-5, EW2_21B2):Alpine Ocean Seismic Survey, Inc. (Alpine) performed a high-resolution geophysical survey for Equinor US Wind LLC (Equinor) for the Empire Wind Offshore Wind Project Export Cable Route offshore New York. The project consisted of geophysical and environmental scopes of work completed on Alpine’s survey vessel, RV Shearwater, and geophysical scopes of work completed on Alpine’s survey vessel, MV William M. This report contains environmental data acquired in 2021 under Equinor project designation EQ21526.(6) COP Benthic Survey Report: EW 2 Submarine Export Cable Siting Corridor; Interim Habitat Characterization Report, Barrett Route (Attachment T-6, EW2_21B1):Gardline completed a geophysical and environmental habitat characterization survey on behalf of Equinor US Wind LLC along the proposed export cable corridors across the Commercial Lease of Submerged Lands and renewable Energy Development on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS-A 0512). Survey operations were undertaken onboard the Gardline M/V Ocean Endeavour between Oct-10-2020 and Apr-29-2021, with all environmental work conducted between Jan-01-2021 and Apr-18-2021.