Integrated Monitoring Approach to Reduce Entanglement Hazards for Floating Offshore Wind Developments
Summary
SCH Number
2023070633
Public Agency
California Energy Commission
Document Title
Integrated Monitoring Approach to Reduce Entanglement Hazards for Floating Offshore Wind Developments
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
7/31/2023
Document Description
The purpose of this Agreement is to develop an environmental monitoring sensor package that will be able to detect debris entanglements with underwater mooring lines, transmit relevant information about the location of the entanglement to the surface, and deploy a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) to inspect, identify, and characterize entangled debris. This novel technology could play a critical role in monitoring and protection activities for marine species and help developers and wildlife protection agencies better understand and mitigate the impacts of floating offshore wind (FOSW) developments deployed at utility scale.
Contact Information
Name
Michelle Slocombe
Agency Name
California Energy Commission
Job Title
Sr. Environmental Scientist
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Address
Phone
Location
Cities
Arcata, Blue Lake, La Jolla, Sequim
Counties
Humboldt, San Diego
Regions
Citywide
Other Location Info
Multiple Project Sites
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Cal. Code Regs., tit. 14, § 15301 and Cal. Code Regs., tit. 14, § 15306
Reasons for Exemption
California Code of Regulations, title 14 section 15301 and California Code of Regulations, title 14 section 15306. California Code of Regulations, title 14 section 15301 provides that the operation, repair, maintenance, permitting, leasing, licensing, or minor alteration of existing public or private structures, facilities, mechanical equipment, or topographical features, involving negligible or no expansion of existing or former use is categorically exempt from CEQA. This project will involve research on environmental monitoring sensors to detect debris entanglements with
underwater mooring lines done at existing locations and facilities. There will be negligible to no expansion of the existing use of the facilities. For these reasons, the project will not have a significant effect on the environment and the project is categorically exempt under California Code of Regulations, title 14 section 15301.
Cal. Code Regs., tit. 14, sect. 15306 consists of basic data collection, research, experimental management, and resource evaluation activities which do not result in a serious or major disturbance to an environmental resource. This project involves research on environmental monitoring sensors to detect debris entanglements with underwater mooring lines done at existing locations and existing laboratory facilities. There will be negligible to no expansion of the existing use of the facilities. For these reasons, the proposed project will have no significant effect on the environment and is categorically exempt under section 15306.
This project does not involve impacts on any particularly sensitive environment; does not involve any cumulative impacts of successive projects of the same type in the same place that might be considered significant; does not involve unusual circumstances that might have a significant effect on the environment; will not result in damage to scenic resources within a highway officially designated as a state scenic highway; the project site is not included on any list compiled pursuant to Government Code section 65962.5; and the project will not cause a substantial adverse change in the significance of a historical resource. Therefore, none of the exceptions to categorical exemptions listed in CEQA Guidelines section 15300.2 apply to this project and this project will not have a significant effect on the environment.
County Clerks
Humboldt, San Diego
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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