The Humboldt Bay Harbor, Recreation & Conservation District board heard a detailed update June 11 on the proposed offshore wind heavy lift marine terminal, as commenters pressed staff and consultants about noise, vibration, pile driving and possible impacts to shellfish operations in Samoa and north Humboldt Bay.
According to meeting materials and a transcript summary, the project team said the terminal is now being considered in three phases: a short phase zero for access roads, utilities and onsite mitigation; a larger phase one covering most of the terminal footprint, wharf construction, dredging and foundational assembly areas; and a smaller phase two that would complete the southern wharf later if market demand requires it.
Consultants also presented baseline noise findings and said the environmental review will analyze construction, operations and underwater acoustic impacts under CEQA. Jason Volk, described in the summary as a noise specialist with ICF, said monitoring in Samoa found daytime ambient levels in the mid-50s dBA and nighttime levels roughly 46.1 to 53.7 dBA. He said pile driving is expected to be one of the loudest activities and that vibratory methods may reduce impacts where feasible.
Public commenters identified with Humboldt Waterkeeper, the Environmental Protection Information Center, Core Hub, shellfish operations and Samoa residents asked about monitor locations, pile-driving duration, turbine rotation, geology and hydroacoustics. The summary says district staff and consultants told the board the environmental impact report is still working through those issues and that more schedule detail is expected in August public-process documents.
The June 11 meeting also included a resolution honoring retiring bar pilot Captain John Powell, but the offshore wind discussion was one of the more detailed technical items on the agenda and remains unresolved.
