Page 4 - aruba-today-20230405

A4 U.S. NEWS
Wednesday 5 april 2023

NOAA: N.J. wind farm may ‘adversely affect,’ not kill whales

By WAYNE PARRY closely examined.
Associated Press U.S. Reps. Jeff Van Drew
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) — and Christopher Smith,
New Jersey’s first offshore both New Jersey Republi-
wind farm may “adversely cans, have introduced leg-
affect” whales and other islation in Congress to man-
marine mammals, but its date such a pause, and
construction, operation have promised additional
and eventual dismantling investigatory hearings into
will not seriously harm or kill the offshore wind industry.
them, a federal scientific Complicating matters is
agency said. a joint study released last
The National Oceanic and week by NOAA, BOEM and
Atmospheric Administra- the commercial fishing in-
tion issued a report Tuesday dustry that listed several
evaluating an analysis by known adverse impacts of
the U.S. Bureau of Ocean wind farms on marine life,
Energy Management of including noise, vibration,
the Ocean Wind I project electromagnetic fields and
to be built off the southern heat transfer that could
New Jersey coast. alter the marine environ-
NOAA’s final biological ment.
opinion examined BOEM’s Ocean Wind 1 is the first
research, and took into offshore wind project ap-
account “the best scien- proved by New Jersey of-
tific and commercial data ficials. It will consist of 98
available.” The sun sets behind a land-based wind farm in Atlantic City, N.J. on Feb. 10, 2022. turbines about 15 miles (25
Associated Press
NOAA determined the proj- kilometers) off the coast of
ect by Danish wind power habitat.” washed ashore on the East shore wind production and Atlantic City and Ocean
company Orsted “is likely The report comes as op- Coast since Dec. 1, ac- whale deaths. City.
to adversely affect, but is position to offshore wind cording to NOAA. Yet that has not convinced The project will generate
not likely to jeopardize, the projects on the U.S. East NOAA and other agen- some people, including more than 1,100 mega-
continued existence of any Coast is growing, fueled by cies have said many of some federal and state of- watts of electricity, enough
species” of endangered a thus-far unproven narra- the dead whales appear ficials who want a pause or to power about a half mil-
whales, sea turtles and oth- tive that ocean floor prep- to have been struck by permanent halt to offshore lion homes each year. Or-
er animals. Nor is it likely to aration work for offshore ships or entangled in fishing wind projects while the sted hopes to have it up
“destroy or adversely mod- wind farms is hurting or kill- gear, emphasizing there impact of wind farm site and running by the end of
ify any designated critical ing whales. Thirty-one have is no evidence linking off- preparation can be more 2024.q

Former top aide to Maryland governor dead after manhunt

By SARAH BRUMFIELD and shot when FBI agents con- said the FBI confirmed Roy how McGrath was wound- After McGrath failed to ap-
LEA SKENE fronted him in a manhunt McGrath’s death to him. ed and what led up to it, pear at Baltimore’s federal
Associated Press launched when he failed He added that it was not were not immediately re- courthouse on March 13,
BALTIMORE (AP) — A one- to show up for trial on cor- immediately clear if Mc- leased. The shooting was Murtha said he believed
time chief of staff for former ruption charges, his lawyer Grath’s wound was self- under investigation. McGrath, who had moved
Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan said. inflicted or came during an “The FBI takes all shoot- to Naples, Florida, was
died Monday after being Attorney Joseph Murtha exchange of gunfire with ing incidents involving our planning to fly to Maryland
agents. agents or task force mem- the night before. Instead
William Brennan, an attor- bers seriously,” said Bu- of beginning jury selection,
ney for McGrath’s wife, Lau- chwald, who declined to a judge issued an arrest
ra Bruner, also confirmed confirm that McGrath had warrant and dismissed pro-
the death and said she was died. McGrath, 53, was de- spective jurors.
“absolutely distraught.” Ac- clared a wanted fugitive af- McGrath was indicted in
cording to an earlier email ter his disappearance, and 2021 on accusations that
from FBI Supervisory Spe- the FBI said he was consid- he fraudulently secured a
cial Agent Shayne Buch- ered an international flight $233,648 severance pay-
wald in Maryland, McGrath risk. In a statement, Hogan ment, equal to one year of
was wounded during “an said he and his wife, Yumi, salary as the head of Mary-
agent-involved shooting” “are deeply saddened by land Environmental Service,
about 6:30 p.m. in a com- this tragic situation. We are by falsely telling the agen-
mercial area on the south- praying for Mr. McGrath’s cy’s board the governor
western outskirts of Knox- family and loved ones.” had approved it. He was
ville, Tennessee. Buchwald Murtha called the death “a also accused of fraud and
Roy McGrath, chief executive officer of the Maryland said McGrath was taken to tragic ending to the past embezzlement connected
Environmental Service, speaks during a news conference at the a hospital but did not elab- three weeks of uncertainty” to roughly $170,000 in ex-
State House in Annapolis, Md., on April 15, 2020. orate. and said his client always penses. McGrath pleaded
Associated Press Further details, including maintained his innocence. not guilty.q