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www.sname.org/sname/mt July 2013 turbine technology, is challenging. We established an approach that combines innovative data collection methods and technology with an adaptive manage- ment approach. In consultation with resource agencies and technical advisors, we developed environmental monitoring plans to assess marine life interaction with the power system. Table 1 outlines these plans. We also developed an adaptive management plan as required by the FERC pilot project license. is plan is an integral part of our implementation of the proj- ect and provides a strategy for evaluating monitoring data. It also enables us to make informed, science- based decisions to modify monitoring as necessary to maintain levels of effort that are proportional to the environmental risk. The plan, therefore, was designed to be modi ed within the project timeline and acknowledges that elements such as key environ- mental uncertainties, applied studies, and institutional structure may evolve over time. e plan has worked well for the agencies, stakeholders, and our organiza- tion as the project evolved from a concept to the rst pilot installation and operation. Environmental monitoring and best practices In addition to implementing environmental monitoring plans as required by the FERC license, ORPC conducted monitoring and mitigation for pile driving to install the bottom support frame. This effort demonstrated the effective use of monitoring, mitigation, and adaptive management as a vehicle to modify the license, and the development of best management practices to minimize risk to the marine environment. We obtained an incidental harassment authoriza- tion (IHA) from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration ? National Marine Fisheries Service, O ce of Protected Resources, in March 2012. e IHA process was required due to the potential for the asso- ciated noise levels generated during pile driving. In addition, the FERC license for the project established a restricted period for pile driving between April 10 and November 7 of any year. The contractor used several pile driving hammer techniques during the installation. e primary means was a vibratory hammer, which produced continuous noise levels. e secondary means was a diesel impact hammer, which produced a more acute, instantaneous noise source. Environmental monitoring was conducted by leading scientists and experts during pile driving activities and included the following: ? in-air acoustic monitoring on a nearby island and at the on-shore station TABLE . ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING PLANS STUDY PLAN METHODOLOGIES Acoustic Monitoring Plan Measure noise using drifting noise measurement equipment (underwater listening devices on spar buoy) Benthic (sea ? oor) and biofouling monitoring plan Dive surveys before and after deployment (both benthic and biofouling) Fisheries and marine life interaction monitoring plans Use vessel mounted and underwater sonar devices to determine number and depth of ? sh. Hydraulic (water movement) monitoring plan Study velocities and harmonics using acoustic doppler current pro? lers. Study sediment thickness using side-scan sonar scour and diver inspection. Marine mammal monitoring plan Visual observations Bird monitoring plan Visual observations from shore and boat LEADING EDGE TRAILING EDGE Airfoil of the type used in ORPCÂs ADCF turbine, with a blunt and rounded leading edge and a chord length of 14 in. LEADIN G EDGETRAILIN G EDGE