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Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 23 / Friday, February 5, 2021 / Notices
Mitigation and monitoring effectiveness.
Monitoring would be conducted before, during, and after impact pile driving, vibratory pile driving and during HRG surveys. In addition, observers will record all incidents of marine mammal occurrence at any distance from the piling location or active HRG acoustic source, and monitors will document any behavioral reactions in concert with distance from an acoustic source. Observations made outside the clearance zones will not result in delay of project activities.
A pile segment or HRG survey trackline may be completed without cessation, unless the marine mammal approaches or enters the clearance zone, at which point pile driving or survey activities would be halted when practicable, as described above.
The following additional measures apply to visual monitoring:
1 Monitoring will be conducted by qualified, trained PSOs, who will be placed on the installation monopile and cofferdam installation, secondary observation monopile installation only, or HRG survey vessels, which represents the best vantage point to monitor for marine mammals and implement shutdown procedures when applicable;
2 PSOs may not exceed 4
consecutive watch hours; must have a minimum 2 hour break between watches; and may not exceed a combined watch schedule of more than 12 hours in a 24-hour period;
3 PSOs will have no other construction-related tasks while conducting monitoring;
4 PSOs should have the following minimum qualifications:
Visual acuity in both eyes correction is permissible sufficient for discernment of moving targets at the waters surface with ability to estimate target size and distance; use of binoculars may be necessary to correctly identify the target;
Ability to conduct field observations and collect data according to assigned protocols;
Sufficient training, orientation, or experience with the construction operation to provide for personal safety during observations;
Writing skills sufficient to document observations including, but not limited to: The number and species of marine mammals observed; dates and times when in-water construction activities were conducted; dates and times when in-water construction activities were suspended to avoid potential incidental injury of marine mammals from construction noise
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within a defined shutdown zone; and marine mammal behavior; and Ability to communicate orally, by radio or in person, with project personnel to provide real-time information on marine mammals observed in the area as necessary.
Observer teams employed by South Fork Wind in satisfaction of the mitigation and monitoring requirements described herein must meet the following additional requirements:
Independent observers i.e., not construction personnel are required;
At least one observer must have prior experience working as an observer;
Other observers may substitute education degree in biological science or related field or training for experience;
One observer will be designated as lead observer or monitoring coordinator.
The lead observer must have prior experience working as an observer; and NMFS will require submission and approval of observer curriculum vitae.
Visual Marine Mammal Observations Monopile Installation South Fork Wind will collect sighting data and behavioral responses to pile driving for marine mammal species observed in the region of activity during the period of activity. All observers will be trained in marine mammal identification and behaviors and are required to have no other constructionrelated tasks while conducting monitoring. PSOs would monitor all clearance zones at all times. PSOs would also monitor Level B harassment zones and would document any marine mammals observed within these zones, to the extent practicable noting that some distances to these zones are too large to fully observe. South Fork Wind would conduct monitoring before, during, and after pile driving, with observers located at the best practicable vantage points on the pile driving vessel.
South Fork Wind would implement the following procedures for pile driving:
A minimum of two PSOs on the impact pile driving vessel will maintain watch at all times when pile driving is underway.
A minimum of two PSOs on a secondary PSO vessel located at the outer edge of the 2,200 m clearance zone will maintain watch at all times when pile driving is underway.
PSOs would be located at the best vantage points on the impact pile driving and secondary vessels to ensure that they are able to observe the entire clearance zones and as much of the Level B harassment zone as possible.

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During all observation periods, PSOs will use binoculars and the naked eye to search continuously for marine mammals.
PSOs will be provided reticle binoculars, NVDs, and a thermal/IR
camera system.
If the clearance zones are obscured by fog or poor lighting conditions, pile driving will not be initiated until clearance zones are fully visible. Should such conditions arise while impact driving is underway, the activity would be halted when practicable, as described above.
The clearance zones will be monitored for the presence of marine mammals for 60 mins before, throughout the installation of the pile, and for 30 mins after all pile driving activity.
When monitoring is required during vessel transit as described above, the PSOs will be stationed on vessels at the best vantage points to ensure maintenance of standoff distances between marine mammals and vessels as described above. South Fork Wind would implement the following measures during vessel transit when there is an observation of a marine mammal:
PSOs or dedicated observers will record the vessels position and speed, water depth, sea state, and visibility at the beginning and end of each observation period, and whenever there is a change in any of those variables that materially affects sighting conditions.
Individuals implementing the monitoring protocol will assess its effectiveness using an adaptive approach. PSOs will use their best professional judgment throughout implementation and seek improvements to these methods when deemed appropriate. Any modifications to the protocol will be coordinated between NMFS and South Fork Wind.
Cofferdam Installation and Removal The visual monitoring requirements for installation of the cofferdam would be consistent with those described for monopile installation, differing as follows:
A minimum of two PSOs on the vibratory pile driving platform or construction vessel will maintain watch at all times when vibratory pile driving is underway.
During daytime i.e., 30 minutes prior to sunrise through 30 minutes following sunset observations, one PSO
will monitor the exclusion zone using naked eye/reticle binoculars; a second PSO will also periodically scan outside the exclusion zone, using mounted big eye binoculars.

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