Mid-Atlantic Navigation Services Stakeholder Presentation

NOAA Hydrographic Services Review Panel

Half Moone Cruise & Celebration Center

Norfolk, VA

26 October 2011

Virginia Offshore Wind Energy Development – Conflicts, Challenges, and Solutions

Virginia Offshore Wind Energy Development – Conflicts, Challenges, and Solutions

George Hagerman

VCERC Director of Offshore Wind Research Virginia Tech Advanced Research Institute900 North Glebe RoadArlington, VA 22203

Email: hagerman@vt.eduPhone: 757-422-2704

Virginia Timeline – 2009Virginia Timeline – 2009

13 Jul 2009:13 Jul 2009: Virginia government delegation and Navy representatives meet with MMS to discuss initiation of offshore wind leasing

Aug-Sep 2009:Aug-Sep 2009: MMS receives two unsolicited lease applications from Seawind Renewable Energy Corporation and Apex Wind Energy, Inc.

15 Sep 2009:15 Sep 2009: Governor asks MMS to create Virginia Intergovernmental Task Force

09 Dec 2009:09 Dec 2009: First Task Force meeting; DOD agrees to assess 70 lease blocks in VACAPES Operating Area

Virginia Timeline – 2010Virginia Timeline – 2010

27 Apr 2010:27 Apr 2010: Second Virginia Task Force Meeting, at which DOD indicates only 18 out of 70 assessed lease blocks (26%) could be conditionally developed (i.e., with site-specific stipulations)

Jul 2010:Jul 2010: DOD sends revised assessment to BOEMRE, based on evaluation of additional blocks, increasing number of blocks that could be conditionally developed from 18 to 61 (50% of total blocks assessed)

Nov-Dec 2010:Nov-Dec 2010: Coast Guard identifies several maritime safety concerns and vessel routing issues in four DOD conditionally approved lease blocks

Apr 2010: DOD assessment released at 2nd Task Force meeting

CATEGORY 2: CONDITIONALSurface / Helicopter transit - Possible spacing stipulations

CATEGORY 3: WIND ENERGY EXCLUSIONMine Warfare Countermeasures Training- Helicopter towing mine sleds over mine ranges

CATEGORY 3: WIND ENERGY EXCLUSIONAerial/Surface Target Live Fire Ops- Surface-to-air / Surface-to-surface target training

Original assessment of 70 blocks yielded 18 blocks designated as Category 2 CONDITIONAL APPROVAL (developable w/ site-specific stipulations)

Jul 2010: DOD sends revised assessment to BOEMRE

‘56

‘07

‘56

‘07

‘07

‘56

6807 ‘08 ‘09 ‘10

6857 ‘58 ‘59 ‘60

6907 ‘58 ‘59 ‘60

5 more CAT 2 blocks to the north not shown

Additional assessment of 52 more blocks (for a total of 122 assessed) increased total from 18 to 61 designated as Category 2 CONDITIONAL APPROVAL (developable w/ site-specific stipulations)

CATEGORY 2:Surface Ship, Helicopter Transit- Possible tower spacing stipulations- Possible tower height restrictions- Possible radar tracking interference with FACSFAC radar

‘12 ‘13 ‘14 ‘15 ‘16

‘62 ‘63 ’64 ‘65 ’66

‘12 ‘13 ‘14 ‘15 ‘16

‘62 ‘63 ’64 ‘65 ’66

CATEGORY 2:Air Intercept Control Training Helicopter Transit- Possible radar tracking interference- Possible tower spacing limitations- Possible tower height restrictions

Nov 2010: USCG identifies vessel routing issues

‘56

‘07

‘56

‘07

‘07

‘56

6807 ‘08 ‘09 ‘10

6857 ‘58 ‘59 ‘60

6907 ‘58 ‘59 ‘60

5 more CAT 2 blocks to the north not shown

‘12 ‘13 ‘14 ‘15 ‘16

‘62 ‘63 ’64 ‘65 ’66

‘12 ‘13 ‘14 ‘15 ‘16

‘62 ‘63 ’64 ‘65 ’66

Vessel routing issues identified in these blocks

Virginia Timeline – First Half of 2011Virginia Timeline – First Half of 2011

13 Jan 2011:13 Jan 2011: DMME submits DRAFT unsolicited research lease application, as allowed by Part 285, Section 238 of the BOEMRE rule

07 Feb 2011:07 Feb 2011: Secretary of the Interior announces Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare a regional environmental assessment for Mid-Atlantic Wind Energy Areas

Mar-Apr 2011:Mar-Apr 2011: VA and MD Pilots Association and VA and MD Pilots Association and Virginia Maritime Association alert Task Force to conflicts in vessel routing proposals reflected in NOI

10 June 2011:10 June 2011: Virginia Port Authority hosts meeting of BOEMRE, military, and maritime stakeholders to discuss vessel routing proposal alternatives

Routing issues shown in Multipurpose Marine Cadastre

Research aliquots identified in Feb 2011

BOEMRE Notice of Intent to prepare regional EA for Mid-Atlantic WEAs

Jun 2011: Original research aliquots withdrawn from draft EA

Jul 2011: Maritime stakeholders indicate that research aliquots can be sited on existing shoals east of SW-NE deep-water route

R

R

R

Aug-Sep 2011: USCG evaluating setbacks needed to preserve safe eastern opening of SW-NE deep-water route

R

R

R

Coastwise Barge Routes and Possible VirginiaWEA to be Issued in Call for Information and Nominations

Aug-Sep 2011: BOEM evaluating coastwisebarge routes, particularly during inclement weather

R

R

R

Barge heavyweather route

Barge heavyweather route

Commercial shipping avoidance of Dam Neck Danger Zone sends traffic through proposed Virginia Wind Energy Area

Federal regulations allow commercial vessel transits:

but AIS tracks show that most vessels avoid Danger Zone.

§ 334.390 Atlantic Ocean south of entrance to Chesapeake Bay; firing range.

The regulations. (1) Vessels shall proceed through thearea with caution and shall remain therein no longer than necessary for purposes of transit.

Extension of Southern Approach TSS could improve training conditions and enable maritime & offshore wind planning

R

R

R

Barge heavyweather route

Barge heavyweather route

Alternatives for Extending Southern Approach TSS

Deep-draft vessel counts

appear to cross more shoals

TSS linear extension

or 2° clockwise

would carry vessels

through least shoals

Virginia Timeline – Second Half of 2011Virginia Timeline – Second Half of 2011

Jul-Aug 2011:Jul-Aug 2011: Virginia working closely with maritime and military stakeholders to help broker a routing solution for the Dam Neck Danger Zone, to be pursued through the Atlantic Coast Port Access Route Study

11 Aug 2011:11 Aug 2011: BOEMRE closing date for comments on draft Regional Environmental Assessment

17 Aug 2011:17 Aug 2011: Third Virginia Task Force meeting at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, VA, to finalize text of Call for Information and Nominations (“Call”)

Nov or Dec 2011:Nov or Dec 2011: Publication of Virginia Call in Federal Register. Nominations from potential developers and public comments will be due 45 days after publication

Nautical Chart View (Mariner’s View) of Possible VirginiaWEA to be Issued in Call for Information and Nominations

Nautical Chart View (Mariner’s View) of Possible VirginiaWEA to be Issued in Call for Information and Nominations

Thank You!

Any questions?

Email: hagerman@vt.edu

VCERC Offshore Wind Studies Final Report:www.vcerc.org/report.htm