DRAFT Generic Environmental Impact Statement Niagara County
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DRAFT Generic Environmental Impact Statement Project Name Niagara County Emergency Radio Communications System Prepared for Niagara County Legislature Prepared by: November 20, 2012 © ARCHITECTURE • ENGINEERING • COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY AVIATION | CIVIL | CONSTRUCTION SERVICES | DATA SYSTEMS | ENVIRONMENTAL FACILITIES ENGINEERING | GEOSPATIAL | NETWORKS | PUBLIC SAFETY | TRANSPORTATION DRAFT GENERIC ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT PREPARED FOR NIAGARA COUNTY, NEW YORK TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ........................................................................................................................................................ 1 1.1 PREFACE ...................................................................................................................................................................... 1 1.2 PROJECT DESCRIPTION ............................................................................................................................................ 1 1.3 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REVIEW .......................................................................................................................... 2 1.4 ALTERNATIVES ............................................................................................................................................................ 2 1.5 UNAVOIDABLE IMPACTS ............................................................................................................................................ 3 1.6 IRREVERSIBLE AND IRRETRIEVABLE COMMITMENT OF RESOURCES ................................................................ 3 1.7 CUMULATIVE IMPACTS AND GROWTH INDUCING IMPACTS .................................................................................. 3 1.8 IMPACT ON THE USE AND CONSERVATION OF ENERGY ....................................................................................... 3 2 INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................................................................................... 4 2.1 PROJECT DESCRIPTION .................................................................................................................................................... 4 2.2 PROJECT PURPOSE AND NEED ......................................................................................................................................... 4 2.3 STUDY AREA LOCATION ................................................................................................................................................... 5 2.4 PROJECT COMPONENTS ................................................................................................................................................... 7 2.4.1 Radio Console Equipment ........................................................................................................................................ 7 2.4.2 Microwave Network .................................................................................................................................................. 8 2.4.3 Tower Site Construction ........................................................................................................................................... 9 2.4.4 Operation ................................................................................................................................................................ 12 2.5 PROJECT SITE SELECTION CRITERIA ............................................................................................................................... 12 2.5.1 Tower color and height ........................................................................................................................................... 14 2.5.2 Use of self-supporting towers ................................................................................................................................. 14 2.5.3 Use of existing towers ............................................................................................................................................. 14 2.6 POTENTIALLY REQUIRED APPROVALS AND APPLICABLE REGULATORY PROGRAMS ............................................................. 14 2.6.1 Federal .................................................................................................................................................................... 14 2.6.2 New York State ....................................................................................................................................................... 19 2.6.3 Local Authorities ..................................................................................................................................................... 24 2.7 INVOLVED AND INTERESTED AGENCIES ............................................................................................................................ 27 2.8 STATE ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY REVIEW ACT COMPLIANCE TO DATE ............................................................................. 27 3 ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING, POTENTIAL IMPACTS AND MITIGATION MEASURES .................................................. 29 3.1 LAND USE AND ZONING .................................................................................................................................................. 29 3.1.1 Study Area Existing Conditions .............................................................................................................................. 29 3.1.2 Potential Impacts of the Project .............................................................................................................................. 29 3.1.3 Mitigation Measures ................................................................................................................................................ 30 3.2 GEOLOGY AND TOPOGRAPHY ......................................................................................................................................... 31 3.2.1 Study Area Existing Conditions .............................................................................................................................. 31 3.2.2 Potential Impacts of the Project .............................................................................................................................. 33 3.2.3 Mitigation Measures ................................................................................................................................................ 33 3.3 CRITICAL ENVIRONMENTAL AREAS .................................................................................................................................. 34 3.3.1 Study Area Existing Conditions .............................................................................................................................. 34 3.3.2 Potential Impacts of the Project .............................................................................................................................. 34 3.3.3 Mitigation Measures ................................................................................................................................................ 34 3.4 COASTAL RESOURCES ................................................................................................................................................... 34 3.4.1 Study Area Existing Conditions .............................................................................................................................. 34 November 2012| Pagei DRAFT GENERIC ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT PREPARED FOR NIAGARA COUNTY, NEW YORK 3.4.2 Potential Impacts of the Project .............................................................................................................................. 35 3.4.3 Mitigation Measures ................................................................................................................................................ 35 3.5 WATER RESOURCES ...................................................................................................................................................... 35 3.5.1 Study Area Existing Conditions .............................................................................................................................. 35 3.5.2 Potential Impacts of the Project .............................................................................................................................. 38 3.5.3 Mitigation Measures ................................................................................................................................................ 40 3.6 TERRESTRIAL AND AQUATIC ECOLOGY ............................................................................................................................ 41 3.6.1 Study Area Existing Conditions .............................................................................................................................. 41 3.6.2 Potential Impacts of the Project .............................................................................................................................. 42 3.6.3 Mitigation Measures ................................................................................................................................................ 43 3.7 AIR RESOURCES ...........................................................................................................................................................