HomeMy WebLinkAboutNew England Wind Cultural Technical ReportsERM 1155 Perimeter Center West
Suite 1100
Atlanta, GA
30338
Telephone: +1 678 904 4399
Fax: +1 404 745 0103
www.erm.com
16 December 2022
Subject: New England Wind Offshore Wind Energy Project - Cultural Resources Technical
Reports and Section 106 Meeting 02 Doodle Poll
Dear Consulting Party,
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management is inviting you to review the cultural resources
technical reports prepared by Park City Wind LLC (Park City Wind or the applicant) for the New
England Wind Offshore Wind Energy Project (the Project). BOEM has determined that the Project
constitutes an undertaking subject to Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA)
as amended (54 U.S.C. § 306108) and its implementing regulations (36 CFR 800), and that the
Project activities proposed under the Construction and Operations Plan (COP) have the potential
to affect historic properties. BOEM is serving as lead Federal agency for this undertaking under
the NHPA and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). BOEM has assigned Environmental
Resources Management (ERM) as the third-party contractor to facilitate the NEPA and Section
106 process. All Federal oversight and decisions remain with BOEM.
BOEM received the proposed Project Construction and Operations Plan (COP) on June 2, 2020,
from Park City Wind, LLC (Park City Wind or the applicant). The COP, which was
comprehensively revised in December 2021 and April and May 2022, proposes the development
of an up to 2,600-megawatt offshore wind energy project within Renewable Energy Lease Area
OCS-A 0534, and potentially a portion of the area covered by Lease Area OCS-A 0501 offshore
Massachusetts (the southern wind development area or SWDA). The proposed Project would
consist of up to 130 wind turbine generators (WTGs) and up to 5 electrical service platforms
(ESPs) in 130 positions and would be developed in two phases. Phase 1, also known as the Park
City Wind Project, would deliver approximately 804 MW through the installation of 41 to 62 WTGs
and one to two ESPs immediately southwest of the Vineyard Wind 1 Project, which is currently
under construction. Phase 2, also known as the Commonwealth Wind Project, would deliver at
least 1,232 MW through the installation of an additional 64 to 88 WTGs and 2 or 3 ESPs,
immediately southwest of Phase 1. The WTGs would be connected to ESPs by inter-array cables,
and ESPs would be connected to each other by inter-link cables. The applicant would install up to
five offshore export cables (two for Phase 1 and three for Phase 2) in an offshore export cable
corridor (OECC) that would transmit the electricity generated by the WTGs to landing sites (one for
each phase) in the Town of Barnstable, Massachusetts, and then to onshore export cable routes
(OECR) (one for each phase) and one or more substation sites in the Town of Barnstable for
interconnection with the regional electrical grid. The WTGs, ESPs, inter-link, and inter-array cables
would be located in Federal waters approximately 19.9 miles south of Martha’s Vineyard and 23.7
miles from Nantucket at their closest points
If technical, logistical, or other unforeseen issues prevent all Phase 2 export cables from being
installed in the proposed OECC, the applicant would develop and use the Western Muskeget
ERM 16 December 2022
Page 2 of 5
Variant for one or more cables. If technical, logistical, grid interconnection, or other unforeseen
issues prevent all Phase 2 export cables from interconnecting at a substation site in the Town of
Barnstable, the applicant would develop and use the South Coast Variant (SCV) in place of or in
addition to the currently proposed Phase 2 OECC and OECR. The SCV OECC would extend from
the SWDA to a landing site and OECR in Bristol County, Massachusetts. Information on the New
England Wind project is available at www.BOEM.gov/New-England-Wind.
Consistent with the regulations implementing NEPA, BOEM initiated preparation of an
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and Section 106 consultation for review of the Project COP
submitted by Park City Wind. As part of the COP, Park City Wind has prepared cultural resources
technical reports identifying historic properties within the Preliminary Area of Potential Effects
(PAPE). These reports include the Terrestrial Archaeology Resources Report (TARA), Marine
Archaeological Resources Assessment for the New England Wind Offshore Wind Farm for Lease
area OCS-A 0534 (MARA), and New England Wind Historic Properties Visual Impact Assessment
(HRVEA). Furthermore, BOEM has prepared the Cumulative Historic Resources Visual Effects
Assessment for the New England Wind Project (Cumulative HRVEA) to analyze where visual
effects of other reasonably foreseeable development activities may be additive to the Project.
As a Consulting Party, BOEM invites you to review these documents. The reports can be
downloaded at:
Link: New England Wind - Cultural Resources Technical Reports Dec. 2022
Password: NewEnglandWind2022!
Please note that the technical reports contain sensitive information on the location and character
of significant cultural resources and are not to be further shared.
Please provide comments on the reports via email to:
erm.nanewenglandwindprojectsection106@erm.com. All comments on the reports must be
received by February 21, 2023.
In addition to distribution of the reports, this letter also provides notification of BOEM’s
determination of the Area of Potential Effects (APE) for the undertaking. BOEM’s determination of
the APE is documented in the Area of Potential Effects Technical Memo. Additionally, the Finding
of Adverse Effect for the New England Wind Project Construction and Operations Plan (FOE),
draft Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), and draft Historic Property Treatment Plans (HPTPs) are
also being provided.
Table 1. List of Reports Provided for Consulting Party Review
Reporta Description
Area of Potential Effects Delineation Technical
Memorandum (ERM 2022)
The purpose of this technical memorandum is to provide
justification for delineation of the area of potential effects
(APE) for the New England Wind Project (proposed
Project), as proposed by Park City Wind, LLC (applicant)
Marine Archaeological Assessment Report for the
New England Wind Offshore Wind Farm for OCS-A
0534 Construction and Operations Plan (COP Volume
II-D; Epsilon 2022)
The applicant’s cultural resources consultant conducted a
marine archaeological resources assessment of high-
resolution geophysical survey data collected by multiple
nonintrusive survey campaigns by third party marine
survey contractors within the SWDA
ERM 16 December 2022
Page 3 of 5
Reporta Description
Marine Archaeological Assessment Report for the
OECC (COP Volume II-D, Appendix A; Epsilon
2022)
The applicant’s cultural resources consultant conducted a
marine archaeological resources assessment for the
proposed OECC, as well as support for high-resolution
geophysical surveys and geotechnical activities for the
OECC.
Marine Archaeological Assessment Report in Support
of the South Coast Variant Offshore Export Cable
Corridor Construction and Operations Plan (COP
Volume II-D, Appendix E; Epsilon 2022).
The applicant’s cultural resources consultant conducted a
marine archaeological resources assessment of the
proposed South Coast Variant of the OECC, as well as to
provide archaeological support for high-resolution
geophysical marine surveys and subsequent geotechnical
activities for the OECC.
Terrestrial Archaeology Reports:
Phase 1 Report: Archaeological Reconnaissance
Survey, Vineyard Wind 501 South Phase 1 Onshore
Development Area, Potential Export Cable Routes and
Proposed Substation (June 1, 2020) (COP Appendix
III-G; Epsilon 2022)
Phase 1 Reconnaissance Report survey was conducted for
the potential export cable routes and proposed substation
project in the Town of Barnstable. The study area
consisted of the preliminary area of potential effects
(PAPE) and a 0.5-mile buffer.
Terrestrial Archaeology Report–Phase 1 Report:
Intensive Archaeological Survey New England Wind
Phase 1 (Park City Wind)/New England Wind 1
Connector Onshore Project Components (COP
Appendix III-G; Epsilon 2022)
Phase 1 Intensive Archaeological Survey was conducted
in the locations of four proposed onshore components in
the Town of Barnstable.
Technical Memorandum, Vineyard Wind 501 South
Phase 2 Onshore Export Cable Routing and Substation
Envelope, Cultural Resources Archaeological Due
Diligence Study, June 1, 2020; Revised March 26,
2021 (COP Appendix III-G; Epsilon 2022)
Due diligence study of the Phase 2 OECR and substation
envelope was conducted. Portions overlap with Phase 1
potential cable routes.
Archaeological Reconnaissance Survey New England
Wind Phase 2 (Commonwealth Wind)/New England
Wind 2 Connector (COP Appendix III-G; Epsilon
2022)
The Phase 1 Reconnaissance Report survey was
conducted for the Phase 2 connector and OECRs to
identify known pre-Contact, Contact, and post-Contact
cultural resources within 0.5-mile study area and the
PAPE. The proposed Project area for this survey consisted
of two alternate cable landfall sites at Dowses Beach and
Wianno Avenue and potential OECRs along existing
roadways and utility ROWs in Barnstable.
Technical Memorandum, New England Phase 2
Potential Onshore Substation Sites, Cultural Resources
Archaeological Due Diligence Study, April 20. 2022
(COP Appendix III-G; Epsilon 2022)
Due diligence study of the Phase 2 OECR and substation
envelope was conducted. Portions overlap with Phase 1
potential cable routes.
New England Wind Visual Impact Assessment (COP
Appendix III-H.a; Epsilon 2022)
The applicant’s consultants conducted a visual impact
assessment to identify potential visibility of the proposed
Project’s offshore facilities and determine the difference
in landscape quality with and without the proposed Project
in place.
New England Wind Historic Properties Visual Impact
Assessment (COP Appendix III-H.b; Epsilon 2022)
The Historic Properties Visual Impact Assessment
identified a variety of historic properties that the proposed
Project may affect. These include NHLs, properties listed
on the NRHP, TCPs, properties on the Massachusetts
State Register of Historic Places, and properties on the
Inventory of Historic and Archaeological Assets of the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Cumulative Historic Resources Visual Effects
Assessment for the New England Wind Project under
Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act
(BOEM 2022)
This Cumulative Historic Resources Visual Effects
Assessment considers the visual effects of the proposed
Project in combination with the visual effects of other
offshore wind projects in the RI/MA Lease Areas on
historic properties.
ERM 16 December 2022
Page 4 of 5
Reporta Description
New England Wind Offshore Wind Energy Project
March 3, 2022, Section 106 Meeting Summary (Sent
21 April 2022)
Meeting summary from the first Section 106 consultation
meeting, held March 3, 2022.
Finding of Adverse Effect for the New England Wind
Project Construction and Operations Plan (BOEM
2022)
BOEM’s finding under Section under Section 106 of the
National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) pursuant to
Code of Federal Regulations, Title 36, Section 800.5 (36
CFR § 800.5) for the New England Wind Project. BOEM
finds that the undertaking would adversely affect the
following historic properties:
• Gay Head Lighthouse;
• Nantucket Historic District National Historic
Landmark (Nantucket District NHL);
• Chappaquiddick Island traditional cultural
property (TCP);
• Moshup’s Bridge and Vineyard Sound TCP;
• Nantucket Sound TCP, including 19 ancient
submerged landform features that contribute to
the TCP;
• Edwin Vanderhoop Homestead (Aquinnah
Cultural Center);
• Gay Head–Aquinnah Shops Area; and
33 ancient submerged landform features on the Outer
Continental Shelf (OCS) outside of these TCPs.
Draft Memorandum of Agreement Regarding the New
England Wind Offshore Wind Energy Project (BOEM
2022)
Draft resolution of adverse effects on historic properties
per the Finding of Adverse Effect determination.
APE = area of potential effects; COP = Construction and Operations Plan
a Not all reports are publicly available due to sensitive information.
The Construction and Operations Plan is available at: www.boem.gov/renewable-energy/state-
activities/new-england-wind-ocs-0534-construction-and-operations-plan. The New England Wind
Visual Impact Assessment (VIA) can be accessed at:
www.boem.gov/sites/default/files/documents/renewable-energy/state-
activities/NE%20Wind%20COP%20App%20III-H.a%20VIA_June%202022_PUBLIC.pdf. The VIA
contains information relevant to the HRVEA, including visual simulations of the Project.
On December 23, 2022, BOEM will publish a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) under
the National Environmental Policy Act to inform BOEM’s decision of whether to approve, approve
with modifications, or disapprove the proposed Project. Notification of the issuance of the Notice of
Availability for the DEIS will be provided to Consulting Parties.
BOEM has held one Section 106 consultation meeting for the Project on March 3, 2022 and will
continue to consult on the determination of and resolution of adverse effects. The meeting
summary for Consulting Party Meeting #1 is also available at the link above.
BOEM plans to hold another consultation meeting in early 2023 to consult on the cultural
resources reports and APE delineation. We would like to request your input on scheduling
preferences for the meeting by asking that you check the boxes of the days and times you are
ERM 16 December 2022
Page 5 of 5
available in the Doodle Poll at this link https://doodle.com/meeting/participate/id/egZ0Gmrd. The
meeting is expected to be scheduled for a 4-hour time slot. Please provide your input by
January 6, 2023.
The purpose of Consultation Meeting #2 is to provide an overview of the identification and
preliminary assessment of historic properties and the Section 106 consultation schedule. After
January 6th, we will send out a place holder, followed by a formal invitation to the meeting based
on the results of the Doodle Poll.
If you have any questions, or need additional information regarding the NHPA Section 106 for this
Project, please feel free to contact me via email at
erm.nanewenglandwindprojectsection106@erm.com.
Sovereign tribal concerns more applicable to government-to-government consultation for
Federally-recognized Tribes under Executive Order 13175 may be submitted to: Elizabeth (Liz)
Oliver, Renewable Energy Tribal Liaison, at elizabeth.oliver@boem.gov.
Sincerely,
Danna Allen
Principal Consultant, Cultural Heritage
ERM