December 3, 2009
Stephen Tomasik
Project Manager
Energy Projects and Management
Division of Environmental Permits
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
625 Broadway - 4th Floor
Albany, New York 12233-1750
Galloo Island Cumulative Impact
Dear Mr. Tomasik
I have previously corresponded with you about my concerns with various issues surrounding the proposed Hounsfield Wind Farm Project (Galloo Island) through my interest as a member of the planning board in the Town of Lyme and as Co- Chair of the recently formed Coalition for the Preservation of the Golden Crescent, an organization that includes representation from the various towns included in the Golden Crescent.
There are a number of issues that have not been adequately explored and for these reasons, the public comment period must be extended:
· I recently attended a presentation in Oswego by the NYPA about its intention to ask developers to bid on installing offshore wind turbine facilities in areas of Lake Ontario immediately adjacent to Galloo Island. This changes everything. It will be essential to consider the cumulative impact of the proposed Galloo Island Project with the offshore WTG fields proposed by NYPA and also the nearby and essentially contiguous onshore developments currently proposed in the towns of Cape Vincent, Lyme, Clayton, Orleans, and Hammond.
· These projects, if they go forward, will have a profound and enormous effect on everyone who calls the eastern end of Lake Ontario home. This area has been referred to historically as the Golden Crescent because of the beauty and uniqueness of the area
· Because of New York’s home rule system, the enormity of the combined effects of these proposed projects has heretofore not been fully appreciated by the communities that will be impacted. The potential implications have only been recognized very late in the approval process. Only recently has there been any community reaction and only recently have the citizens of these communities begun to push back
· There are many, many unanswered questions about the effects of these multiple proposed projects. Some of our concerns are related to the potential destruction of the delicate ecosystem of Lake Ontario, Galloo Island, the nearby islands, the Lakeshore and the rivers and streams flowing into the Lake.
· There is concern about the destruction of the view-shed, the recreational use of the Lake, its islands and beaches, including the many State Parklands that will be adversely affected
· The area's fisheries will be negatively impacted.
· There will be a serious devaluation of lake front property and the seasonal based businesses such as cottages, campsites and marinas that are so significant to the local economy. This will also reduce the assessed values of the regions most valuable properties causing a painful realignment of tax revenue for the towns.
· Many of us have only recently learned that portions of Galloo Island are included in the DEC open space plans and that the DEC had attempted only a few years ago to acquire and preserve Galloo Island because of its habitat significance for a wide variety of living creatures. Other near by islands and Lakeshore areas are also included in the open space plan for similar ecological reasons.
As I and others in the area have learned more about this developing situation, we are appalled at the prospect of turning eastern Lake Ontario and Galloo Island, as well as many of our towns into an industrial complex for wind generation. Regardless of any so called mitigating actions, the combined effect of these proposed projects, on top of the already accomplished destruction on Wolfe Island, will seriously and negatively impact our local economy as well as the ecology and natural beauty of Eastern Lake Ontario and Galloo Island.
Proposals bringing cumulative change of this magnitude need to be considered very carefully in their entirety before any decisions are made to proceed with any of the individual projects. Please extend and appropriately augment your review. The residents of the area call upon the DEC to conduct a proper review of the cumulative effects of these proposed actions.
Sincerely,
Albert H. Bowers III
Co-Chair, The Coalition to Preserve the Golden Crescent
Albert H. Bowers III
Naval Architect & Maritime Consultant
PO Box 177
11891 Academy Street
Chaumont, NY 13622-0177
315-649-2191
315-408-8507 cellular
bertna@twcny.rr.com
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