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Today, NOAA Fisheries is issuing a new Biological Opinion on the Vineyard Wind 1 offshore wind energy project to the federal action agencies including Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM). Pursuant to the Endangered Species Act (ESA), the Biological Opinion considers the effects on threatened and endangered species of the construction, operation, and eventual decommissioning of the project off the coast of Massachusetts.
This Opinion replaces our October 2021 Biological Opinion and is the result of reinitiation of that consultation. Consultation was reinitiated in the spring of 2024 to consider the effects of the proposed issuance of a new Marine Mammal Protection Act Incidental Harassment Authorization which would authorize the incidental take of a small number of marine mammals due to exposure to pile driving noise during the installation of 15 remaining monopiles. NOAA Fisheries has concluded the proposed action is likely to adversely affect, but is not likely to jeopardize, the continued existence of any species of ESA listed whales, sea turtles, or fish. It will have no effect on any designated critical habitat. NOAA Fisheries does not anticipate serious injuries to or mortalities of any ESA listed whale including the North Atlantic right whale.
The Vineyard Wind project includes a number of measures designed to minimize, monitor, and report effects to ESA listed species. Additional measures are included through the Biological Opinion’s Incidental Take Statement. With the incorporation of the proposed mitigation measures, all effects to North Atlantic right whales will be limited to temporary behavioral disturbance.
The Biological Opinion will be available online upon publication in our library in approximately 10 days.
In response to the July 2024 blade failure and resulting release of debris, BOEM requested emergency section 7 consultation with NOAA Fisheries. The emergency consultation is ongoing. NOAA Fisheries has provided recommendations to minimize effects to ESA-listed species during the response action through that consultation process. Once the emergency response actions are complete, that consultation will be completed.
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