ESS Group, Inc. was the lead environmental consultant chosen by the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) and Connecticut Light and Power (CL&P) to manage marine surveys, environmental impact evaluations, regulatory permitting, and environmental monitoring for three 11-mile, 300 MW Alternating Current (AC) submarine cables that replaced a series of electric transmission cables connecting Connecticut and Long Island, New York.

ESS conducted extensive geophysical and geotechnical surveys of seabed conditions within Long Island Sound to evaluate several potential submarine cable routes. As part of this effort ESS oversaw a multi-disciplinary technical team in which specifically conducted remote sensing surveys of marine seabed conditions, geotechnical borings, and sediment thermal profiles to assist in developing appropriate installation methodologies.

ESS also led comprehensive environmental impact evaluations associated with selected cable routes and landfall locations. These evaluations included impact assessments of shellfish and finfish resources, water quality, prevailing tides and currents, and navigational and marine hazards. ESS also prepared federal, state, and local regulatory permit applications and managed the overall regulatory permitting process including the Connecticut Siting Council and New York State Department of Public Service reviews for the project.

During construction activities, ESS acted as the lead Environmental monitor for the project both in Connecticut and New York State. ESS also developed the monitoring plan and managed the implementation of TSS monitoring during cable removal and embedment in New York and Connecticut waters.