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On September 13, 2024, NOAA Fisheries issued an incidental harassment authorization (IHA) related to the construction of the Vineyard Wind 1 Offshore Wind Project Phase 2. This IHA authorizes the take, by Level A harassment and Level B harassment, of marine mammals incidental to pile driving associated with the installation of 15 monopile foundations.
As required by the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), the IHA includes mandatory mitigation measures to be undertaken by the wind developer that ensure the “least practicable adverse impact” on marine mammals and their habitat, as well as monitoring and reporting measures to better understand those impacts.
NOAA Fisheries determined that underwater noise generated by the project’s activities over a one-year period may harass marine mammals. We determined that the number and manner of “take,” in the form of harassment, that is authorized in an IHA, would have a negligible impact on all affected marine mammal species and stocks. No mortality or serious injury of any marine mammal species is authorized or anticipated to occur incidental to the specified activity.
This regulatory action is part of NOAA’s ongoing work to ensure the nation’s deployment of offshore wind energy is done in a manner that avoids and minimizes impacts to protected resources and their habitats. It considered, though is separate from, response to the Vineyard Wind 1 blade failure incident.
Documents associated with this proposed action are available on our website.
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