Preparing an EIS for Port Pier Wind Terminal Development 

Long Beach, California

The proposed 400-acre pier wind terminal development project would include construction and development of a pier wind terminal and transportation corridor for staging and integration. It would also include floating foundation assembly for floating OSW turbine systems. To identify and evaluate potential environmental impacts of this project, Anchor QEA is supporting the preparation of a joint Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Port of Long Beach and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE).

Anchor QEA is also ensuring a smooth process by providing permitting and agency coordination support through development of technical studies such as water quality, oceanography, and sea level rise.

Streamlining Environmental Compliance for Floating Wind

Santa Barbara County, California 

This proposed floating offshore wind demonstration project in Santa Barbara County includes commercial scale floating OSW turbines, inter-array cables, a subsea export cable, overhead transmission lines, and a new substation. To ensure environmental compliance and a streamlined review of the proposed project, Anchor QEA is supporting environmental analysis.

The Anchor QEA team is leading technical studies for oceanography, coastal processes, sea level rise, and climate change and will support the planning and environmental compliance reviews under California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to ensure sustainable development of clean energy.

Evaluating Environmental Impacts for 20 East Coast Ports 

Eastern Seaboard

Anchor QEA is evaluating more than 20 East Coast ports for the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) to identify modifications required for ports to support offshore wind (OSW) activities, as well as ranking them for use in future environmental reviews. This will update BOEM’s 2016 study, The Identification of Port Modifications and their Environmental and Socioeconomic Consequences.

The updated study will identify port capacities on the East Coast, necessary modifications to accommodate OSW development, and examine environmental and socioeconomic impacts from port expansion. This study will also be used as the basis moving forward for evaluation of OSW facilities.

Determining Feasibility of Novel Wave Energy Technology

Grays Harbor, Washington

Anchor QEA is assisting Applied Ocean Energy with feasibility evaluation of novel wave energy technology off the coast of. This includes assisting with grant management, developing a permitting constraints analysis for pilot and commercial scales, and coordinating with federal agencies with jurisdiction, including U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), the U.S. Coast Guard, and Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM).

Through this, Anchor QEA developed a thorough understanding of considerations relevant to ocean resources management in Washington, including relationship development with key regulators and permitting considerations relevant to novel technologies.

Developing a Terminal Logistics Facility for Foss Offshore Wind

New Bedford, Massachusetts

To support wind energy projects offshore in the Northeast United States, Anchor QEA is developing a base of operations and terminal logistics facility for Foss Offshore Wind. Existing infrastructure was evaluated to determine schedule, environmental risk, and effectiveness associated with various terminal layouts and factors such as permitting and construction. To plan, permit, design, and manage construction of this multipurpose waterfront facility, Anchor QEA provided overall program management for the selected terminal layout.

Evaluating Floating Offshore Wind Potential for 22 West Coast Ports

West Coast

Anchor QEA conducted a comprehensive evaluation of 22 West Coast ports for potential redevelopment to support floating offshore wind (FOW) development. Combined preliminary and comprehensive screening criteria were developed, and the approach for ranking and applying the criteria was based on client needs. Candidate terminals were identified in each port based on navigational access, available space, and other infrastructure considerations based on equipment specifications, loads, dimensions, and handling and storage requirements.

Assessing Facility Potential for 35 West Coast Ports

California, Oregon, Washington

To evaluate port facilities on the West Coast for their potential to be developed into offshore wind (OSW) facilities, Anchor QEA conducted a logistics study for 35 ports. Locations were identified, evaluated, and ranked based on suitability for OSW and potential to perform future staging and integration, pre-assembly, vessel shelter, and operation and maintenance activities.

Designing and Permitting an Offshore Wind Facility at the Port of Salem

Salem, Massachusetts

For redevelopment of an East Coast port facility into a marshalling facility for offshore wind development, Anchor QEA supported a team in designing and permitting the project. To move the project forward, Anchor QEA provided pre-design investigation, dredge design for berth and a navigation channel, and development of design alternatives for this navigation, as well as a marine terminal and permitting support.

Beneficial use of 20 to 40 million cubic yards of sediment material obtained from dredging the channel will develop nearshore and offshore placement areas. These restoration areas will support critical avian and aquatic habitat, while providing erosion protection to nearby shorelines.

Planning and Costing a Subsea Cable for the Port of Seattle

Seattle, Washington

Anchor QEA team performed a siting study for a 20-mega-volt-amp cold-ironing submarine cable and evaluated two potential cable routes of 5,800 and 6,500 feet in length for in-water depths up to 240 feet. Cable routes were selected to avoid nearshore slopes and potential impacts to a newly established habitat corridor. In addition, routing was based on protecting the cable from vessel traffic/floating debris in shallow water and safe location of the cable connection to the pier. Finally, Anchor QEA developed permitting requirements and an engineer’s cost estimate for construction.

Living shoreline, beach, and marsh platform beneficial use options were explored. Ultimately, thin-layer placement of dredged material was selected for the Muddy Neck Marsh Complex, making it the first large-scale thin-layer placement marsh restoration in the State.