Improvement for Marine Environmental Impact Assessment on the Development of Offshore Wind Power

We diagnosed on status and problems of environmental assessment regarding development of offshore wind power, and also on reasonable core assessment items. Most of the coastal wind power are located on the western coastline of Korea and Jeju Island. In the selections of the site for the offshore wind farms, a previous investigations should be conducted with regard to distances from the land, stabilities from external forces (tide, wave, etc.) and topographical changes, and characteristics of the surroundings (distributions of protected area, fishing ground, artificial seagrasses, and shipping traffic). It is needed to assess dispersion of suspended solids, changes of the sea bottom, and impacts on fisheries resources and fishing activities under construction of offshore wind power. Furthermore, the responses of marine organisms to noise and vibration, impacts by electromagnetic fields, impacts on sea birds, hindrances to sea lane routes, and damaged scenery and marine protection areas are thoroughly assessed during operation processes. The consultation criteria in case of development of offshore wind farm is adjusted by focusing marine environmental impact assessment.

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