ARKWRIGHT - Significant changes to the proposed New Grange Wind Farm's transmission line location plans require a Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Study be prepared.
The Arkwright Town Board learned Monday about this supplemental report from Robert Adams, a consulting engineer with Conestoga-Rovers, the company reviewing the DEIS filed by Horizon Wind Energy for the town.
"Based on this review, New Grange has indicated additional information will be developed to augment studies as required, based on comments received from various involved NY State agencies.
"These agencies include Department of Environmental Conservation, Department of Public Service and Department of Agriculture and Markets," Adams said.
Horizon Energy project manager Tom Stebbins said the two main issues the supplemental DEIS will focus on are changes to the path the electric transmission lines will follow and the wetlands impact on the roadways needed to reach the turbine locations.
New Grange has provided preliminary responses to the questions and comments raised by individuals who attended a public hearing on the DEIS and written comments and questions filed on the document, Adams said.
But, he added, "There is more information needed and I believe the wetland impact could be greater than originally anticipated."
Arkwright Supervisor Fredric Norton agreed about the need for additional information.
"The public needs to know we are going to extreme means to protect the town," he said.
The town board then approved the preparation of a supplemental DEIS.
When this document is completed, it will be presented to the town board for acceptance. Once this acceptance takes place, there will be a 30-day period during which more public comment will be sought.
When asked if another public hearing would be conducted, Adams said this isn't necessary.
"The supplemental report will be available for public review and written comments will be accepted within the 30-day period," he said.
Stebbins said he hopes to have the supplemental DEIS report completed by October.
Norton said the decision on holding another public hearing on the supplemental DEIS has yet to be made.
"We received a number of very well-written comments on the DEIS and a second public hearing would come down to a matter of control because the comments must be limited to the supplemental DEIS, since the material contained in the original DEIS has already been covered and cannot be part of the supplemental discussion," he said.
No comments:
Post a Comment