Bob Stern
LONG BEACH ISLAND, NJ, January 6, 2026 — Save Long Beach Island, Inc. (Save LBI), a grassroots organization dedicated to sound energy policies and preserving our shore and ocean environment, has long contended that the high levels of noise generated during the surveying, construction, and operation phases of an offshore wind project have a detrimental effect on sea mammals — an assertion backed by previous scientific measurements and calculations.
Because hearing acuity plays a central role in the ability of a whale or dolphin to navigate its surroundings — especially during migration — elevated noise can cause serious harm, including impaired or permanent hearing loss, and behavioral disturbances that can also lead indirectly to harm and death.
For years, NOAA has ignored research presented by Save LBI and maintained there is no evidence that marine mammals are directly harmed by wind energy activities. This inaction prompted Save LBI to take two steps in November: (1) petition the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) and NOAA to overhaul the flawed methodology being used for calculating “Takes” — instances of fatality, serious harm, or behavioral disturbance to whales and other marine mammals — and (2) submit formal comments in response to the Regional Standards for Offshore Wind Project-Level Monitoring draft proposal released by NOAA’s Northeast Fisheries Science Center.
The Save LBI petition, which NOAA agreed to consider in late December, cites major scientific and mathematical errors in NOAA approved “Take estimation” methods and presents calculations that show significant harm and disturbance to whales and other mammals in the vicinity of offshore wind projects. The petition is available on SaveLBI.org.
Save LBI has also asked NOAA in a formal 11-page technical critique of its proposed monitoring standards to define and require a specific monitoring program that will either verify the assumptions and calculations in its Take estimation methods or, if not, revise those methods. Existing regulations require the agency to verify Take estimates, particularly under Endangered Species Act (ESA) regulations (50 CFR §402.14(i)(5), to do new take estimates based on measurements and animal observation and compare to those used for Biologic Opinion approvals, and if the new results exceed the prior, to re-initiate ESA consultation immediately. Toward that end, Save LBI has asked that any monitoring plan provide the data to verify (or not):
● The 10-decibel (dB) noise source reduction assumed from placing bubble curtains or similar systems around the pile driving operation, by measuring the noise level near the pile driver with the bubble curtains on and off
● The pile driving noise level versus distance numbers in the noise exposure modeling reports supporting project approval that were asked for in the BOEM “Recommendation Document for Offshore Wind Pile Driving Sound Exposure Modeling and Sound Field Measurement”
● The 30 dB and higher noise loss factors in the pile driving noise exposure modeling reports versus the 20 dB and lower factors that Save LBI has contended are valid and that show up in the recent sound field measurement study for the Vineyard Wind 1 project; since the elevated noise range and area increase exponentially with a lower dB noise loss factor, this discrepancy alone would result in a many-fold increase in the number of animal Takes
● That no permanent hearing loss will occur from the accumulated noise energy received by a whale passing by a pile driving activity or an operating wind complex, based on the noise versus distance measurements and observing the time it takes for a while to pass by; straightforward calculations by Save LBI show that such hearing loss will occur within 5 miles of pile driving and 2.25 miles of the perimeter of an operating wind complex, but the noise exposure modeling reports supporting project approval do not show that
● That the North Atlantic right whale’s migration will not be impaired or blocked by measuring the noise levels both within and outside the operating wind complex to find the distance where the noise level drops below the 120 dB whale disturbance level, and compare that distance to the width of any overlapping migration corridor
● That very little animal disturbance occurs at levels below 160 dB for pile driving and 120 dB for turbine operation as NOAA has contended by observing animal behavior at the distances corresponding to those noise levels
● That the elevated noise range from vessel surveying is small, as the approvals assumed versus the several miles that Save LBI calculated, by measuring the noise levels from the vessel for various sparker device energy inputs as was required in leases, but apparently never done, or if done, not publicly reported.
Save LBI President Bob Stern points out that “the decibel (dB) scale that measures noise level is logarithmic and that an incorrect 10 dB lower number underestimates the noise actually being received by the animal by 90%, so for the whale’s sake we humans need to get these dB numbers right”.
“The NOAA monitoring proposal also seeks to establish developer-defined plans in place of true standards, making it unlikely that any questionable assumptions that supported project approval will be culled out,” he added.
“It is heartening that NOAA leadership will consider our petition regarding our concerns with the underestimates of animal Takes,” Stern concluded. “We ask them to put forward a monitoring program in conjunction with that review that will either verify or disprove the concerns we have raised. If our concerns are verified, then NOAA should define and require the use of new mathematically and scientifically defensible methods for calculating marine mammal Takes.”
About Save LBI
Save LBI is a not-for-profit, non-partisan organization that has been active in ongoing litigation and other efforts to protect the coastal and marine environment from the senseless industrialization of our oceans. The organization is led by Beach Haven, N.J. resident Bob Stern, a Ph.D. scientist with experience in environmental planning and environmental law. He is a former manager of the U.S. Department of Energy office responsible for overseeing environmental reviews related to energy projects and of the Bureau of Air Quality Planning within the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP). For more information on Save LBI and its efforts, please SaveLBI.org
My take on the excellent monitoring comments:
https://www.cfact.org/2025/12/09/monitoring-offshore-wind-impacts-needs-to-be-done-right/
They want to give whales etc the General Noriega treatment. For those who don’t remember old pineapple face…
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-40090809
“These Whale Huggers must be gettin’ paid by Big Fossil!”
Like cfact they probably don’t care about whales.
An intriguing claim. But is there any merit to it?
CFACT is taking legal action to protect endangered Right Whales and other marine life from the Biden Administration’s rush to approve massive clusters of wind farms along Virginia’s shore.
Given that there is a net zero chance of pro bono work being involved in 99.9% of legal cases, the evidence suggests they are putting their money where their mouth is.
Strange how their work aligns with the benefits for their donors. And they never speak out against other activities that are dangerous for whales.
One may just start to think it’s not about whales. But what do I know.
they never speak out against other activities that are dangerous for whales.
Can you give me an example and a source? I have noticed that some of your wilder claims lack that back-up.
You ask me to prove non-existence?
“But what do I know.”
Finally you make a truthful and accurate post.
Can you give me an example and a source?
Er, no.
You have to believe, right?
Like most socialists, he doesn’t do data.
Can you name those other activities and their estimated impact? We could then forward your question to them.
Like just about everything else you believe, this claim is also a lie.
PS: I also noticed that once again, you provide no evidence, just more of what you have been told to believe.
If you are hinting at oil rigs, why not just out and out say that?
Oil drilling happens way below the ocean floor. (apart from a short period at the start.)
They have basically zero audible effect in the water.
Agreed, but oil rigs is the only possible thing he could have meant.
Oil rigs are few and far between. Unlike wind turbines.
I AM CFACT’s leader in protecting whales with 41 articles as of a year ago: https://www.cfact.org/2024/12/30/my-41-wind-threatens-whales-articles-track-federal-deception/
Here is a quiz that might help you understand my focus:
Which if the three major whale killing activities is worse than useless?
Shipping
Fishing
Offshore wind.
Do you have any actual evidence that I do not care about whales or are you just the mindless A-hole you seem to be?
CFACT care FAR MORE about all parts of the environment than anyone pushing the environmental and habitat destruction of wind and grid solar.
I looked through it, and it proves my point.It’s all about offshore wind. Why no articles about oil and gas exploration?
So I’ll say it again: this doesn’t come across as concern for whales so much as opposition to offshore wind. And offshore wind threatens companies like Exxon. Maybe that’s a coincidence. But when funding comes from Koch and similar companies, and the messaging lines up so neatly with their interests, the burden of proof is still on your side.
The Science Is Clear: Offshore Wind Isn’t What’s Killing Whales
You know what’s useless: Your quiz and name-calling.
First, oil and gas development is nothing like offshore wind. Second we need oil and gas.
The Dominion wind project alone received authorization to acoustically harass almost 60,000 marine mammals and that just during construction. The Feds refuse to estimate the death rate of harassment which includes deadness.
Oil and gas are not even close to this massive scale and they are essential.
Deafness although also deadness.
You don’t have to keep proving my point. But thank you very much.
You mean your point that “consensus” is part of science?
It really is pathetic how you keep pretending that you are actually keeping up, much less winning.
Funding for the greenie scams is magnitudes more that for normality.
There is HUGE difference between oil drilling with is pretty quiet…
…. and the pile-driving, then intermittent wind turbine infrasound, that totally disrupts whale communications.
The article you quoted states the following to support the authors’ claim that wind turbines are not harming marine mammals:
“But the current scientific consensus doesn’t back up those assertions….”
Please explain to us how consensus is part of the scientific method.
Perhaps you do not believe that the scientific method is the correct way to approach a scientific hypothesis.
The huge differences between wind farms and oil rigs have been pointed out to you. As usual, you just plow past the facts and keep spewing the propaganda.
What an article. So deafened whales can’t hear ships, and the ship’s kill them. So it is not the wind turbine’s fault. 😉
Not a challenge, just tapping into your expertise.
What is your assessment of oil drilling platforms?
It is actually the people pushing wind turbines and grid solar that couldn’t give a hoot about the environment… or animals, or birds or sea life..
Wind and solar are the most environmentally destructive forms of energy from manufacture to end of life and disposal.
But so long as they pretend that they are “saving the planet” the renewables shills just don’t care.
Ivanpah vaporized birds which were attracted to the flying insects which the light attracted. Wind turbine on land kill bird, including protected raptors. Large solar panel installations destroy square miles of habitat.
Off Topic… The [London] Borough next door.
Drivers of petrol and diesel cars have been warned they will face significantly higher parking costs from next month after a Labour-run council approved sweeping fee increases of up to 49 per cent.
What people don’t want:
The changes, due to take effect from February 19, were signed off by Lambeth Council using delegated powers, meaning no full public consultation was required.
Under the new rules, diesel car owners will be hit hardest, with existing surcharges for these vehicles also rising alongside the base rate increases.
Motorists will learn of the changes through legal notices, press advertisements and updates on parking apps just weeks before implementation. – GB News
Username will be over the moon. Democracy overridden again. But… There are elections in May this year.
Until they can flood TV and internet with Humane Society animal abuse style ads they will have little traction. Got to pull at peoples’ heart strings to get solid support to oppose offshore wind projects. And “media” is going to fight them tooth&nail every step. Greentards have thoroughly infiltrated all levels of “media” and only their message is allowed.
Mission creep alert
NOAA = “National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration”
“NOAA’s mission to better understand our natural world and help protect its precious resources extends beyond national borders to monitor global weather and climate, and work with partners around the world.”
world.. global … world
USA gets one mention on the page I guess.
Note: “beyond national borders.”
Question to NOAA:
Given the USA is not the world’s police force, what authority do we have to protect that which is outside our jurisdiction?
I wish individuals and organizations who work to prevent wind and solar good luck. I do this because wind and solar don’t work, we need to stop wasting our time, money and resources on stuff that doesn’t work. It is that simple.
I have had solar panels on my roof for more than ten years, thus I have data 10 yrs of data. The efficiency of electricity production (actual kWh produced divided by the nameplate) is shockingly small.
Just read Best American Short Stories 2025 which includes one futuristic dystopia where a no-tech society uses solar power… illustrates massive gap of understanding amongst liberal/urban writers of excellent skill. Does author understand that within 10 years of the start of a no-tech era the last solar energy will be entering mythical territory. No amount of maintenance and care for no-longer-producible semiconductors will reverse the decay process inherent to their design.
Did a Google search to verify and it tries to hide behind tech words. Efficiency of diode junctions gets lower and lower with time.
“The term “forward decay” in a solar cell context generally refers to the open-circuit voltage decay (OCVD) under a forward bias, a measurement technique used to assess the lifespan of charge carriers and identify recombination mechanisms within the device. It is not a standard type of solar panel degradation like potential-induced degradation (PID) or light-induced degradation (LID), but rather an experimental method.”