Abstract
ESS Group, Inc. (ESS) conducted a benthic habitat assessment survey in the vicinity of the proposed submarine transmission cable associated with the Construction and Operations Plan (COP) for the Maryland Wind Energy Area leased by US Wind, Inc. (US Wind). Sampling was conducted in accordance with Guidelines for Providing Benthic Habitat Survey Information for Renewable Energy Development on the Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf Pursuant to 30 CFR Part 585 issued November 4, 2013 by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM).
The survey included the collection and analysis of benthic grab samples from areas offshore of MD and DE, along the Offshore Export Cable Route. These data were used to supplement existing studies and generate a taxonomic classification of benthic habitat in the Offshore Export Cable Route under the Coastal and Marine Ecological Classification Standard (CMECS) (FGDC 2012).