Incidental Take Authorization: Dominion Energy Virginia Construction of the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind Commercial Project off of Virginia

NOAA Fisheries has received a request from the Virginia Electric and Power Company, doing business as Dominion Energy Virginia, for Incidental Take Regulations and an associated Letter of Authorization. The requested regulations would govern the authorization of take, by Level A harassment and Level B harassment, of small numbers of marine mammals over the course of 5 years (2024-2029) incidental to construction of the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind Commercial project offshore of Virginia within the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management Commercial Lease of Submerged Lands for Renewable Energy Development on the Outer Continental Shelf Lease Area OCS-A 0483 and associated Export Cable Routes. Project activities likely to result in incidental take include pile driving activities (impact and vibratory) and site assessment surveys using high-resolution geophysical equipment. NOAA Fisheries requests comments on its proposed rule. NOAA Fisheries will consider public comments prior to making any final decision on the promulgation of the requested ITR and issuance of the LOA. Agency responses to public comments will be summarized in the final notice of our decision. The proposed regulations, if promulgated, would be effective February 5, 2024, through February 4, 2029.