18

Part  B  -  Technical  instructions

Table  1.3:  Grab  sampling  survey  of  infauna.

Baseline  study

Construction
phase

Operation  phase

Objectives

Description  of  infauna  in  the  project ­
  area  and  reference  area  and
determination  of  a  suitable  reference ­
  area.
Medium  and  small  scale  survey
of  status  quo,  to  be  used  as  a
basis  for  assessing  possible  impacts ­
  of  wind  turbines.

Medium  and  small  scale  survey  of
relevant  operation  phase  impacts
on  species  communities.

Scope

Once  a  year  in  autumn.  In  the  first  year  of  the  baseline  study,  description  of  seasonal
conditions  in  the  project  area  and  reference  area  requires  investigations  in  spring  and
in  autumn.
In  the  first  year  of  the  baseline  study,  the  homogeneity  of  assessment  areas  must  be
investigated  in  autumn.

A  rough  station  grid  (spacing  1  nmi)  shall  be  established  in  the  project  and  reference
areas.  The  distribution  of  stations  follows  the  habitat  structures  as  determined  by  the
SSS  (see  Table  1.1)  as  well  as  the  wind  turbine  sites  and,  in  the  event  of  similar  stations, ­
  is  assigned  randomly.
At  least  20  stations  must  be  established  in  small  areas  (<  20  nmi 2 ).  In  large  homogeneous ­
  areas,  station  spacing  >  1  nm  is  possible  in  agreement  with  the  BSH.
Identified  areas  suspected  to  be  protected  habitat  types  as  per  §  30  BNatSchG  shall
be  demarcated  by  additional  investigations  according  to  the  currently  valid  mapping
guidelines  of  the  BfN.  In  the  event  of  numerous  small  scale  areas,  the  representative
distribution  of  sampling  stations  is  possible  in  agreement  with  the  BSH.

Timing

At  least  two  consecutive  and
complete  years  prior  to  construction ­
  start.

In  the  first,  third  and  fifth  year  of
the  operation  phase.

Method

Sampling  strategy:
•  The  sampling  dates  are  to  observe  the  same  limited  time  frame  each  year.  The
sampling  interval  in  the  project  and  reference  areas  must  not  exceed  2  weeks.  The
installation-based  investigations  (see  table  1.5)  shall  be  carried  out  in  conjunction
with  the  station  grid.
•  The  seasons  are  defined  as  follows:  Spring:  01.03.-15.05./Autumn:  15.08.-15.11.
•  Equipment  standard:  Modified  Van  Veen  grab,  0.1  m z  sampling  surface,  60-80  kg,
sieve  covered  lid,  warp-rigged.  Grab  sampling  depth  may  vary  depending  on  sediment ­
  conditions.  Should  the  grab  sampler  weight  require  adaptation  to  the  sediment ­
  structure  (e.  g.  25^0  kg  for  muddy/silted  sand  and  70-100  kg  for  coarser  sediments, ­
  depending  on  the  grab  sampler's  starting  weight),  this  must  be  effected  in
such  a  manner  so  as  to  maintain  the  comparability  of  sampling  stations  with  similar
sediment  structure.
•  Three  parallel  samples  shall  be  taken  per  station.
•  Sieve  with  1,000  pm  mesh  size.  In  case  of  large  proportion  of  coarse  and  mediumgrained ­
  sand  or  gravel,  the  sample  should  first  be  decanted  through  the  sieve  and
rinsed  at  least  five  times.  This  is  followed  by  batch-wise  sieving.  Fixation  of  the
sample  in  4  %  buffered  formalin.
•  Documentation  of  the  sample  processing  method  has  to  be  provided  (according  to
ISO/DIS  16665).  The  condition  of  the  catching  device  must  be  documented.
•  Biomass  shall  be  determined  as  wet  weight  per  species
(according  to  ISO/DIS  16665,  Annex  C).
Moreover,  the  following  information  must  be  determined  and  documented:
•  Hydrographic  (T,  Sal,  0 2 )  and  meteorological  data.