Appendix B

Sample Framework for Siting New Offshore Renewable Energy Projects

The committee prepared a framework as an example of how to evaluate proposed sites for new renewable energy marine projects. This framework is designed to identify the current and future maritime and associated community interests and competing maritime uses that may be impacted by the project and proposed location; assess the level of usage for each interest; assess the burdens and benefits; use the information to prioritize interests, and then decide whether to retain, revise, or relocate the site for the marine project. The goal of this proposed framework is to consider and account for the various maritime and community interests, without excluding interests, and to find the least impact to those interests, based on the best available information at the time of the decision. This proposed framework is designed to be flexible and adaptable, to accommodate new information and new activities, while considering cumulative impacts as multiple projects are assessed. It focuses on maritime activities and topics addressed in this report.

SAMPLE USE OF THE FRAMEWORK

The proposed set of questions are guidelines designed to engage the various maritime users and interested community groups that would interact with the proposed location. This list does not include all possible maritime uses that are, or could be, operating in the proposed project location, but focuses on those addressed in this report. There may be additional maritime or community interests that should be included on this list in the future. A “yes” answer to any of the maritime interest questions does not mean that the project cannot use the proposed location. A “yes” answer means that the maritime interest should be engaged in the planning process. A “yes” answer also means that additional questions are needed to assess the level of usage, along with the risks, burdens, and benefits.

Questions about the future uses are included to help understand and incorporate how changing ocean conditions may impact the uses at a proposed location. The answers and discussion around these questions should be based not on speculation but instead on available documentation at the time of the evaluation. They may help to identify areas where scientific research or modeling is needed to better understand future shifts in fish stocks for example.

Tribal Interests:

Has a federal or state recognized Indian Tribe ever fished in the proposed location?

Does a federal or state recognized Indian Tribe currently fish in the proposed location?

Does a federally recognized Indian Tribe have a treaty right for usual and accustomed fishing rights in the proposed location?

Does a federal or state recognized Indian Tribe expect to fish in the proposed location in the future, due to shifting fish habitats?

Would the proposed location of a maritime project cause non-Treaty fisherman to impose on Indian Tribes treaty fishing rights?

Has a non-recognized Native American community ever fished in the proposed location?

Does a non-recognized Native American community currently fish in the proposed location?

Does a non-recognized Native American community expect to fish in the proposed location in the future, due to shifting fish habitats?

Does the proposed location include an area of cultural heritage or significant meaning to an Indian Tribe(s)?

Do culturally important aquatic species or organisms for a federal or state recognized Indian Tribe live in or pass through any part of the proposed location?

Does a federal or state recognized Indian Tribe expect culturally important aquatic species or organisms live in or pass through any part of the proposed location in the future due to shifting habitats?

Fishing Interests:

While considering fishing interest consider type of species targeted, gear type used, and value of the fishery.

Do commercial fishermen currently operate in the proposed location?

Do commercial fishermen expect to fish in the proposed location in the future, due to shifting fish habitats?

Do recreational fishermen currently operate in the proposed location?

Do recreational fishermen expect to fish in the proposed location in the future, due to shifting fish habitats?

Do fishermen from another country operate in the proposed location under an International Treaty?

Do fishermen from another country expect to fish in the proposed location in the future, due to shifting fish habitats?

Environmental/Ecological Interests:

Does the proposed location include any part of a national marine sanctuary?

Is a national marine sanctuary planned for the proposed location?

Does the proposed location include any other marine protected areas?

Is the proposed location the only known site for an aquatic species or organism?

Could the proposed location become the only known site in the future due to shifting habitats?

Does the proposed location include ecologically sensitive areas or critical habitats for fish? Could the proposed location become an ecologically sensitive area or critical habitat for fish due to shifting stocks?

Is any part of the proposed location used as critical habitat by aquatic species or birds? Could the proposed location become a critical habitat in the future, due to shifting habitats?

Are any part of the proposed location biologically important areas for threatened or endangered species or marine mammals?

Could the proposed location become biologically important areas for threatened or endangered species or marine mammals due to shifting habitats?

Is an aquaculture project in the proposed location?

Is an aquaculture project planned for the proposed location?

Shipping Interests:

Does an established commercial vessel maritime traffic route or International Maritime Organization–defined recommended route/fairway cross the proposed location?

Is a commercial vessel maritime traffic route or International Maritime Organization–defined recommended route/fairway planned for the proposed location?

Is the proposed location in the path of an approach to a port or harbor?

Is an approach to a port or harbor planned for the proposed location?

Is the proposed location in a traffic separation scheme or precautionary area?

Is a traffic separation scheme or precautionary area planned for the proposed location?

Do recreational vessels transit across the proposed location?

Do recreational vessels expect to transit across the proposed location in the future?

Do races, regattas, or parades ever cross the proposed location?

Are races, regattas, or parades planned for the proposed location?

Is an anchorage in the proposed location?

Is an anchorage planned for the proposed location?

Are any existing aids to navigation (federal or private) in the proposed location?

Are aids to navigation planned for the proposed location?

Historical Interests:

Are shipwrecks, cultural sites, or sites of historical importance in the proposed location?

Energy Interests:

Is an oil or gas platform within the proposed location?

Is an oil or gas platform planned for the proposed location?

Is an offshore wind project in the proposed location?

Is an offshore wind project planned for the proposed location?

Is a hydrokinetic project in the proposed location?

Is a hydrokinetic project planned for the proposed location?

Is another type of energy project in the proposed location?

Is another type of energy project planned for the proposed location?

Does a pipeline cross the proposed location?

Is a pipeline planned for the proposed location?

Does an electrical transmission line cross the proposed location?

Is an electrical transmission line planned for the proposed location?

Military Interests:

Is a military range, operations, or training area in the proposed location?

Is a military range, operations, or training area planned for the proposed location?

Are former military training or disposal areas, or areas with unexploded ordinance in the proposed location?

Aviation Interests:

Is the proposed location used for space launch or recovery?

Are there plans to use the location for space launch or recovery in the future?

Does a space launch path cross over the proposed location?

Is a space launch path planned for the proposed location?

Other Interests:

Does a subsea communications/fiber optic cable cross the proposed location?

Is a subsea communications/fiber optic cable planned for the proposed location?

Is a mining operation in the proposed location?

Is a mining operation planned for the proposed location?

Is a disposal area in the proposed location?

Is a disposal area planned for the proposed location?

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The questions above should help to identify the maritime and community interests that will have a stake in the discussions about the proposed location for the project. For each maritime activity, assess the level of usage of the proposed location. In other words, how much does the maritime interest use the proposed location, and how important is the proposed location in relation to other locations? The usage does not need to be quantified as an exact number but instead should be evaluated on a relative scale. A variety of participants in the marine activities above should help answer usage questions. For example, some fisheries participants stay in a more localized area where others fish in a broader area.

Usage Level and Importance Assessment (for an interest that moves):

How often does the maritime interest use the proposed location?

Never

Rarely (a few times a year)

Sometimes (or occasionally)

Moderately (about half of the time)

Very often

All the time (almost every day)

How many other locations are available for the maritime interest to use or to conduct the specified activity?

None

A few

Some

Quite a few

Many

How important is the proposed location to the maritime interest (relative to other locations)?

Not important at all

Slightly important

Fairly important

Important

Very important

Essential

It is also important to note if the proposed location is the only location in which a specific activity can occur.

Level of Importance and Interference Assessment (for an interest with fixed infrastructure):

How much does the maritime interest rely on the infrastructure in the proposed location?

Rarely (a few times a year)

Sometimes (or occasionally)

Moderately (about half of the time)

Very often

All the time (almost every day)

How much would the project interfere with the infrastructure in the proposed location?

Not at all

A little

Some

Quite a bit

A great deal

How costly would it be to move the maritime interest’s existing infrastructure?

Not at all

A little

Some

Quite a bit

Extremely

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Once the level of usage and importance is assessed, identify the risks and costs and benefits for each maritime interest. In other words, what risks would there be to the maritime interest if the project was conducted in the proposed location? What would be the costs to the maritime interest if the project was conducted in the proposed location? What would be the benefits for the maritime interest?

This step is not meant to compare maritime interests that are already operating in a particular location assuming that if there are multiple interests already operating in one location, then they have already found ways to lower their risks to an acceptable level.

This step is designed as an initial top-level screening, not an in-depth formal risk assessment. It can be completed relatively quickly as a project or activity is considering multiple sites for future operations.

Risks:

If the project is placed in the proposed location, would the maritime activity be at risk for:

• a loss of life?
• personnel injury?
• environmental pollution?
• injury or loss of life for aquatic species or birds?
• economic loss to community?

What is the likelihood of the risk occurring, and to what extent?

Burdens:

If the project is placed in the proposed location, what would be the burdens on the maritime activity? Who, or what groups and communities would the burden fall upon? Is there tourism near the proposed location that could be affected? Would the project impact the local community? Would the project impact a non-local community (i.e., a non-local port that would need to support the project)? Would the project impact ocean preservation? Would the project affect the local climate? How would the burdens be allocated?

Benefits:

If the project is placed in the proposed location, what would be the benefits to the maritime activity? Who or what groups and communities would benefit from the activity? Would the project create new jobs in the community? Would the project benefit clean energy goals or other societal impacts? Would there be economic benefits to local communities? How would the benefits be allocated?

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After assessing the risks, burdens, and benefits for each interest, assess the risks for the project itself. In other words, what risks does the proposed location pose to the project?

Project/Activity Assessment:

What is the typical current speed and direction on the surface of the proposed location?

What is the maximum expected current speed and direction on the surface of the proposed location?

What is the typical current speed and direction just above the seabed of the proposed location?

What is the maximum expected current speed and direction just above the seabed of the proposed location?

What is the typical tidal range in the proposed location?

What are the maximum expected high and low tides in the proposed location?

What is the typical wave height and period within the proposed location?

What is the maximum expected wave height and period within the proposed location?

What is the typical wind speed and direction at the surface of the water in the proposed location?

What is the maximum expected wind speed and direction at the surface of the water in the proposed location?

What is the typical wind speed and direction at the uppermost height of the project/activity?

What is the maximum expected wind speed and direction at the uppermost height of the project/activity?

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Once all of the maritime interests are identified and all of the questions above are answered, compare the proposed location for the project with the maritime interests. This comparison should look at all of the maritime interests at the same time, along with the information about level of usage, risks, costs, and benefits.

Ideally, the information would show that the project can be placed in the proposed location without serious impacts and risks to the maritime interests. However, if that is not the case, then the information can be used to identify which activities or interests should take precedence in the proposed location. Once the priorities are identified for the proposed location, then decisions can be made about retaining, revising, or relocating the site.