Tuesday, September 30, 2008

DEC adds concerns on Galloo project

Environmental Conservation added several sections that will be required in the environmental impact statement for Galloo Island Wind Farm, under the final scoping document it has released.

As lead agency for the environmental review on the project, DEC held two public hearings on the required studies in June.

Upstate NY Power, backed by Babcock & Brown Ltd., is developing the 268.8-megawatt, 84-turbine wind farm. Set on Galloo Island, six miles from the mainland, the project requires temporary housing, food service and health care structures for up to 250 workers during construction.

"We had good turnout from the public at the scoping hearings," DEC project manager Stephen M. Tomasik said. "We did respond positively to several comments."

He specifically cited security and archaeological concerns that were added to the scope.

There are remains of historic activities or features that may be destroyed during construction, such as features from the cedar shingle industry. A mitigation measure was added under which photographic and written documentation of the feature would be completed before it is destroyed.

There were more than 40 other comments that resulted in changes in the scoping document for detailing studies and possible mitigation measures.

Those include adding information on aspects of the project, including:

■ Ice management around the dock or pier head.

■ The limitations of the land, soil and rock on the project's layout and construction.

■ The expected needs and impacts of dredging and boating on Lake Ontario.

■ The function and value of each wetland on the island to determine adequate mitigation.

■ Habitat mapping and evaluation on the entire island.

■ The potential for and effects of breaking up continuous habitat.

■ The effect of the slip channel on fishery use.

■ The effects on the local economy, including employment, tourism, boating and fishing.

■ An air quality impact statement, including the effects of construction and operation.

■ Control of invasive species, existing on and leaving the island.

DEC will not require information on effects from the transmission line, which will run underwater to Stony Point in Henderson and then south to Parish. The response to public comments said the transmission line falls under the authority of the Public Service Commission's Article VII proceedings.

DEC also is not requiring sound studies and property value studies, because the island is uninhabited and at least six miles from the mainland.

The scoping document is available on the DEC Web site and at the Hounsfield town clerk's office, 18774 Route 66; Hay Memorial Library, 105 Broad St., Sackets Harbor, and Henderson Free Library, 8939 Route 178.

It is now Upstate NY Power's responsibility to carry out the studies and submit the results in the draft environmental impact statement.

The draft statement then will be reviewed by those with necessary technical specialties. They will determine whether there are gaps, according to the criteria of the scoping document.

"Once we accept the draft, that does not necessarily mean that we approve of all the details in the draft," Mr. Tomasik said.

"The process is going smoothly," he said. "We've had good cooperation from the parties."

No comments: