Columbia Crossing Wave Energy Project, Puget Sound, Washington

Columbia Power Technologies (Columbia Power) is a WEC developer deploying a seventh-scale device in Puget Sound, Washington, to support the development of a full-scale wave energy device. In coordination with the U.S. Department of Energy and Columbia Power, E & E prepared a Categorical Exclusion document in accordance with NEPA and obtained a Nationwide Permit #5 from the USACE. We also completed a state hydraulic permit application for submission to the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife; a Washington State Environmental Policy Act checklist; and an application for authorization to use state lands, for submission to the Washington State Department of Natural Resources. In addition, we prepared a biological checklist and provided coordination with NMFS to ensure compliance with the Section 7 of the ESA. As part of this consultation, we developed an acoustic monitoring plan to assess potential impacts to ESA-listed marine mammals.