DOCSLIB.ORG

EA-1503: Final Environmental Assessment

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
EA-1503: Final Environmental Assessment CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ............................................................Immediately after CONTENTS Chapter 1. PURPOSE AND NEED............................................................................................... 8 1.1. Introduction......................................................................................................................... 8 1.2 Project Summary................................................................................................................. 9 1.3 Purpose and Need ............................................................................................................. 17 1.3.1 Applicant’s Purpose and Need.......................................................................................... 17 1.3.2 The Department of Energy’s Purpose and Need............................................................... 22 1.3.3 Purpose of Environmental Assessment............................................................................. 23 1.4 Detail of Proposed Project ................................................................................................ 24 1.4.1 Purchase and Use of Citizens’ Communications Transmission Assets............................ 24 1.4.2 Mosher’s Tap to Irasburg 115/48kV Double Circuit Build.............................................. 27 1.4.3 Highgate Expansion.......................................................................................................... 28 1.4.4 Improvements at Other Substations.................................................................................. 30 1.5 State Proceedings.............................................................................................................. 31 Chapter 2. PROPOSED ACTION AND ALTERNATIVES ....................................................... 33 2.1 Proposed Action...................................................................................................................... 33 2.1.1 Proposed Route................................................................................................................. 34 Irasburg to Mosher’s Tap............................................................................................ 34 Description of Preferred Alternative Route................................................................ 36 2.1.2 Line Design Specifications and Support Structure ........................................................... 38 Irasburg to Mosher’s Tap............................................................................................ 38 Highgate Line..............................................................................................................41 Substation Design ......................................................................................................44 Irasburg ...................................................................................................................... 44 St. Johnsbury............................................................................................................... 45 1 Highgate...................................................................................................................... 46 St. Albans.................................................................................................................... 49 2.2 Alternative Routes for the Double-Circuit Line from Mosher’s Tap to Irasburg............. 50 2.2.1 Alternative Route Options................................................................................................ 50 New Corridor Alternative:................................................................................................ 52 Partially New Corridor:.....................................................................................................54 2.3 Comparison of the Proposed Route (Preferred Alternative) and Alternative Routes....... 55 2.4 Alternative Line and Substation Designs.......................................................................... 56 2.4.1 Alternative Conductor and Pole Size................................................................................ 56 2.4.2 Undergrounding the Transmission Line ........................................................................... 61 2.4.3 Alternative Substation Designs......................................................................................... 62 2.4.4 Comparison of the Proposed Design and Alternative Designs......................................... 63 2.5 Alternatives to the Proposed Project................................................................................. 64 2.5.1 The No Action Alternative................................................................................................ 64 2.5.2 The Generation Alternative............................................................................................... 66 2.5.3 The Conservation, Fuel Conversion, Demand-Side Management Alternative................. 68 2.6 Construction Activities ..................................................................................................... 70 2.6.1 Transmission Lines ........................................................................................................... 70 a. Surveying Activities................................................................................................ 71 b. Right-of-way Clearing and Maintenance Practices ................................................ 71 c. Access-Road Construction...................................................................................... 72 d. Pole Installation...................................................................................................... 73 e. Framing and Stringing.............................................................................................74 2.6.2 Substations ........................................................................................................................ 75 Irasburg and St. Johnsbury.......................................................................................... 76 Highgate...................................................................................................................... 76 St. Albans.................................................................................................................... 77 2.6.3 Schedule............................................................................................................................ 77 Chapter 3 AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT .................................................................................. 79 3.1 Climate, Meteorology, and Air Quality ............................................................................ 79 3.1.1 Climate.............................................................................................................................. 79 2 3.1.2 Meteorology...................................................................................................................... 80 3.1.3 Air Quality ........................................................................................................................ 81 3.2 Land Features And Use..................................................................................................... 83 3.2.1 Topography, Seismicity, Bedrock Geology and Soils...................................................... 83 Topography................................................................................................................. 83 Seismicity.................................................................................................................... 84 Bedrock Geology and Soils........................................................................................ 85 3.2.2 Agriculture ........................................................................................................................ 88 3.2.3 Forest Resources ............................................................................................................... 90 3.2.4 Earth Extraction ................................................................................................................ 91 3.2.5 Recreation ......................................................................................................................... 92 3.2.6 Residential, Commercial and Industrial............................................................................ 94 3.2.7 Airports, Navigation, Training Areas, Public Facilities and Other Land Uses................. 97 3.3 Hydrology, Water Quality And Water Use....................................................................... 98 3.3.1 Surface Waters.................................................................................................................. 98 3.3.2 Flood Waters................................................................................................................... 101 3.3.3 Ground Water and Water Supply.................................................................................... 102 3.3.4 Wetlands ......................................................................................................................... 103 3.3.5 Water Quality.................................................................................................................. 105 3.4 Ecology ........................................................................................................................... 106 3.4.1 Vegetation/ Flora ...........................................................................................................
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Town of East Montpelier Us Route 2 Village Safety Enhancement Scoping
    TOWN OF EAST MONTPELIER U.S. ROUTE 2 VILLAGE SAFETY ENHANCEMENT SCOPING STUDY FINAL REPORT AUGUST 15, 2012 Prepared by: FINAL VILLAGE SAFETY ENHANCEMENT SCOPING STUDY TABLE OF CONTENTS Executive Summary ........................................................................................................ i Section 1 – Background, Purpose and Need and of the Project .................................. 1 Background ........................................................................................................... 1 Purpose ................................................................................................................. 2 Need .................................................................................................................. 2 Section 2 – Project Area and Existing Conditions ........................................................ 2 Section 3 – Considered Improvements ......................................................................... 4 No Build Option ..................................................................................................... 4 Alignment Alternatives ........................................................................................... 4 West Side Route Alternatives .................................................................... 5 Curbed Sidewalk .............................................................................. 6 Non Curbed Offset Sidewalk ............................................................ 6 Shared Use Path ............................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Royalton, Vermont Annual Report 2020 for the Year Ending June 30, 2020
    Royalton, Vermont Annual Report 2020 For the year ending June 30, 2020 Town of Royalton Annual Meeting July 1, 2019 to June 30, 2020 Australian Ballot vote to be held at the White River Valley School Royalton Campus in the Small Gym March 2, 2021 Polls open 8:00 AM until 7:00 PM Town of Royalton Pre-Town Meeting Virtual Meeting Via Zoom 6:30 pm Tuesday, February 23, 2021 To join via computer https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86897119904 Passcode: 199406 To Join via Phone: (646) 558 8656 Meeting ID: 86897119904 Passcode: 199406 1 Vermont charter: December 20, 1781 New York Patent: November 13, 1769 Area: 30,000 acres General Information Emergency Services – Fire, Ambulance and Police 911 Royalton Police Department 763- 7201 (fax) 763-7711 Police Chief 763-7776 Royalton Fire Department 763 – 8133 Vermont State Police 234 – 9933 Fish and Wildlife Warden 234 – 9933 Town Clerk Hours: Monday – Thursday 8:00 a.m-3:00 p.m. 763 – 7207 (fax) 763-8064 Treasurer’s Office Hours: Monday-Wednesday 8:00am -3:00pm 763-7441 Selectboard’s Office Hours: Monday – Friday 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. 763 – 7967 Royalton Town Garage 763 – 7667 Listers’ Office 763 – 2202 Pollution Abatement Facility (sewer treatment plant) (802)-587-2722 Bethel – Royalton Transfer Station 763 – 2232 Hours: Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday 7:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Saturday 7:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Royalton Memorial Library 763 - 7094 South Royalton School 763 – 7740 Orange – Windsor Supervisory Union 763 – 8840 Royalton Fire District 763 – 8974 Town of Royalton Notice of Regularly Scheduled Public Meetings Royalton Selectboard – meets on the second and fourth Tuesday of the month at 6:30 p.m.
    [Show full text]
  • Phase I Environmental Site Assessment Report
    PHASE I ENVIRONMENTAL SITE ASSESSMENT REPORT Dayco, Inc. 37 Harper Savage Lane West Hartford, Vermont December 26, 2012 Prepared for: Town of Hartford 171 Bridge Street White River Junction, VT 05001 Prepared by: P.O. Box 787 368 Avenue D, Suite 15 Williston, VT 05495 (802) 383-0486 (802) 383-0490 fax [email protected] KAS Project # 512120285 Phase I Environmental Site Assessment Report Dayco, Inc., 37 Harper Savage Lane, West Hartford, Vermont TABLE OF CONTENTS SECTION PAGE 1.0 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY __________________________________________________1 2.0 INTRODUCTION ________________________________________________________1 3.0 SITE DESCRIPTION _____________________________________________________4 4.0 USER SUPPLIED INFORMATION _________________________________________5 5.0 RECORDS REVIEW ______________________________________________________7 6.0 SITE RECONAISSANCE _________________________________________________11 7.0 INTERVIEWS __________________________________________________________15 8.0 FINDINGS _____________________________________________________________17 9.0 OPINION ______________________________________________________________17 10.0 CONCLUSIONS _______________________________________________________19 11.0 DEVIATIONS _________________________________________________________20 12.0 ADDITIONAL SERVICES ______________________________________________21 13.0 REFERENCES ________________________________________________________21 14.0 SIGNATURES OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROFESSIONALS __________________23 15.0 QUALIFICATIONS OF ENVIRONMENTAL
    [Show full text]
  • Enforcing Higher Standards for Flood Hazard Mitigation in Vermont
    University of Massachusetts Amherst ScholarWorks@UMass Amherst Masters Theses Dissertations and Theses December 2020 Enforcing Higher Standards for Flood Hazard Mitigation in Vermont Tamsin Flanders University of Massachusetts Amherst Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.umass.edu/masters_theses_2 Part of the Environmental Law Commons, Geomorphology Commons, Human Geography Commons, Land Use Law Commons, Public Administration Commons, Public Policy Commons, Sustainability Commons, Urban, Community and Regional Planning Commons, and the Water Resource Management Commons Recommended Citation Flanders, Tamsin, "Enforcing Higher Standards for Flood Hazard Mitigation in Vermont" (2020). Masters Theses. 962. https://doi.org/10.7275/19164095 https://scholarworks.umass.edu/masters_theses_2/962 This Open Access Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Dissertations and Theses at ScholarWorks@UMass Amherst. It has been accepted for inclusion in Masters Theses by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks@UMass Amherst. For more information, please contact [email protected]. ENFORCING HIGHER STANDARDS FOR FLOOD HAZARD MITIGATION IN VERMONT A Thesis Presented By TAMSIN FLANDERS Submitted to the Graduate School of the University of Massachusetts Amherst in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF REGIONAL PLANNING September 2020 Department of Landscape Architecture and Regional Planning © Copyright by Tamsin Flanders 2020 All Rights Reserved ENFORCING A HIGHER STANDARD OF
    [Show full text]
  • MAP SURVEY DATE RECORD DATE NAME DESCRIPTION PRIOR MAP # BOOK/PAGE 200B 1-Oct-73 2-Feb-73 West Hill Realty Conveyance from Edson Hackett to West Hill Realty Inc
    MAP SURVEY DATE RECORD DATE NAME DESCRIPTION PRIOR MAP # BOOK/PAGE 200B 1-Oct-73 2-Feb-73 West Hill Realty Conveyance from Edson Hackett to West Hill Realty Inc. 1973-01 27/246 200A 5-Jun-72 2-Jul-73 Lamb Lot owned by Merle D. and Marguerite A. Lamb, E. Calais 1973-02 199B 1-Jul-73 8-Sep-73 Suchomel Plan of Land of Frank Suchomel Jr 1973-03 27/293 199A 1-Jan-72 25-Sep-73 Walker Mirror Lake land of Freeman Walker Estate, Calais 1973-04 198B 1-Oct-72 25-Sep-73 Walker Race Track Piece Freeman Walker Estate, Calais 1973-05 198A 1-Oct-72 25-Sep-73 Walker Land in Lots 27' & 38" Freeman Walker Estate, Calais 1973-06 197B 1-Oct-72 14-Nov-73 Cate Part of Frank Cate Property 1973-07 197A 1-Jul-72 14-Nov-73 Cate Map Showing Part of Frank Cate Property 1973-08 196B 1-Nov-73 28-Nov-73 Richardson Propery of Helen Richardson, John Lynn, Eugene Grinnell 1973-09 196A 1-Aug-73 21-Mar-74 Reed Survey of land for conveyance from L. Brown to W. Reed 1974-1 27/390 195B 1-Apr-74 1-Jul-74 Northland of Vermont, Inc. Mooreland farm planning studies 1974-3 27/305-6 195A 1-Sep-72 23-Mar-74 Cate Part of Frank Cate Property 1974-2 28/15 194B 4-Jun-74 1-Aug-74 Tonks Northland Investment Corporation to P.&J. Tonks 1974-5 27/303-459-171 194A 2-Jun-74 22-Jul-74 Gray Land owned by Stephen A.
    [Show full text]
  • HED Settles Lawsuit Against Auditors
    HardwickTHE Gazette Wednesday, May 12, 2021 Volume 132 Number 18 HED Settles Lawsuit Against Auditors by Doug McClure time former employee Joyce Bel- levance [sic] including luxury livan said in an interview, “HED lavance embezzled $1.26m from vehicles, furniture, jewelry, IRAs, and our Board of Commissioners HARDWICK – In a press re- the utility. Bellavance embezzled and her Mackville Road home in could not be happier with this lease, Hardwick Electric Depart- $1.67m in total from HED, the re- Hardwick.” HED also successfully settlement, primarily because it ment (HED) announced that it lease said, which reports at the time sued for half of her municipal pen- makes our ratepayers 100% whole has settled its five-year lawsuit for described as the largest-known sion. The utility said that the law- for all the monies stolen by Joyce professional malpractice against government embezzlement in Ver- suit against KBS was “the last of Bellevance – but also because it St. Albans-based auditors Kittell mont history. these efforts” to recover the stolen brings final closure to what has Branagan & Sargent LTD (KBS) In its release, HED said that moneys. been a very long ten-year process. for $960,000. in the ten years since Bellavance’s General Manager Mike Sul- See LAWSUIT, 3 KBS was HED’s auditor from sentencing “HED recovered assets 2006 through 2010, during which worth over $700,000 from Bel- Hardwick Budget Tightens After Contract Cancellation by Doug McClure HARDWICK – The pandemic’s ripple effects and Greensboro can- celing its contract with the Hardwick Police Department (HPD) have created financial concerns for the town.
    [Show full text]
  • Toxics in Vermont a Town-By-Town Profile
    Toxics In Vermont A Town-by-Town Profile 141 Main Street, Suite 6 – Montpelier, VT 05602 Phone (802) 223-4099 – fax (802) 223-6855 [email protected] – toxicsaction.org 1 Toxics In Vermont A Town-by-Town Profile January 2011 Report Author Jessica Edgerly, Vermont State Director, Toxics Action Center Henna Shaikh, Toxics Action Center Mapping Lauren DeMars, University of Vermont Ryan Emerson, Toxics Action Center Report Advisor Meredith Small, Executive Director, Toxics Action Center 141 Main Street, Suite 6 Montpelier, VT 05602 phone (802) 223-4099 fax (802) 223-6855 [email protected] toxicsaction.org About Toxics Action Center Toxics Action Center organizes with residents working to prevent or clean up pollution in their communities. Since 1987, Toxics Action Center has helped more than 650 communities clean up hazardous waste sites, decrease industrial pollution, curb pesticide spraying, and oppose the siting of dangerous waste, energy and industrial facilities. When the government won’t take action and the company denies that there is a problem, Toxics Action Center is a resource for residents concerned with pollution in their neighborhood. We provide residents with information about environmental laws, strategies for organizing, a network of activists around the region, and access to legal and technical experts. Toxics Action Center is funded by donations from 2 concerned citizens and grants from private foundations. This financial support enables us to provide our services free of charge to communities facing pollution threats. 3 Table of Contents Acknowledgements and Preface…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………4 Introduction to Toxics in Vermont..……..……………………………………………………………………………….…………….........5 Summary Map of Vermont Toxic Sites………………………………………….…………………………………………………..………. 7 Recommendations………...…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….….. 8 Take Action with an Environmental Organization…………………………………………………………………………………… 11 Overviews and Maps: Air Pollution Point Sources………………………………………………………………………………………………..………….
    [Show full text]
  • Town of Sharon, Vermont 2015 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
    Town of Sharon, Vermont 2015 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Prepared by the Two Rivers-Ottauquechee Regional Commission and the Town of Sharon ________________ Date of Town Adoption: June 20, 2016 ________________ Date of Final Approval by FEMA: August 4, 2016 Page | 1 Table of Contents I. Introduction ....................................................................................................................................3 II. Purpose of the Plan ........................................................................................................................4 III. Community Profile ........................................................................................................................5 IV. The Planning Process .....................................................................................................................6 A. Plan Developers ............................................................................................................................... 6 B. Plan Development Process ............................................................................................................... 7 C. Status Update on Mitigation Actions Identified in 2009 ................................................................ 10 D. Town Capabilities for Implementing Mitigation Strategies ........................................................... 13 E. Plan Maintenance ........................................................................................................................... 17 V.
    [Show full text]
  • TOWN PLAN GREENSBORO, VERMONT Greensboro Planning
    Photo Credit, clockwise from top left: Karen Gowan Photography, Lauren Sopher, C.A. Armstrong, Lauren Sopher TOWN PLAN GREENSBORO, VERMONT Greensboro Planning Commission Adopted by Greensboro Select Board June 12, 2019 PROLOGUE The Greensboro Planning Commission prepared this Town Plan over a 36-month planning process. The Town Plan should be an important document for the community. "The local plan is not simply a rhetorical expression of a community’s desires. It is instead a document that describes public policies a local government actually intends to carry out. If it were otherwise, why bother to complete and adopt one?" Growing Smart Legislative Guidebook American Planning Association This planning process can be defined as: A process that helps a community prepare for changes, rather than reacting to change An opportunity to retain the values that make Greensboro a truly special place An approach to manage growth in a way that preserves Greensboro’s natural resources and rural character while supporting a vibrant economy that provides many benefits to the community The purpose of this Plan is to ensure that change is consistent with the Town’s vision and goals for the future, as they were articulated in the 2016 Community Survey results, and to provide a framework for defining the future of Greensboro through the next eight-year planning period. The Town Plan should be used in a variety of ways. For example: A document that the Planning Commission uses to update and revise, as appropriate, the Town’s Bylaws and zoning regulations
    [Show full text]
  • Page 1 of 6 TOWN of BROOKFIELD, VERMONT TRAFFIC ORDINANCE
    TOWN OF BROOKFIELD, VERMONT TRAFFIC ORDINANCE Pursuant to the provisions of Title 23, Vermont Statues Annotated, Section 1007 and 1008, and Title 24, Vermont Statues Annotated, Sections 1971 and 2291 (1) (4) and (5), and other such general enactments as may be material hereto, it is hereby ordained by the Board of Selectmen of the Town of Brookfield, Vermont that the following Traffic Ordinance is adopted for the Town of Brookfield, Vermont. ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS The definitions of Title 23, Vermont Statues Annotated, Section 4 are incorporated by reference. ARTICLE II SCOPE This ordinance establishes special traffic regulations on public highways within the Town of Brookfield, Vermont. ARTICLE III TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICES Section 1. It shall be unlawful for any person to disobey the direction of a traffic control device except in response to the direction of a law enforcement officer. Section 2. It shall be unlawful for any person to intentionally remove, injure, obstruct, deface, alter, or tamper with any traffic control device. Section 3. It shall be unlawful for any person to install any sign or device which may resemble or be mistaken for an official traffic control device, without prior approval of the Town of Brookfield, Board of Selectmen. ARTICLE IV SPEED REGULATIONS On the basis of engineering and traffic studies and other rules and regulations regarding speed limits, the following speed limits are hereby established: Bear Hill Road (TH 22) A maximum of 30 m.p.h. from the Braintree Town Line northerly to the intersection of Vermont State Route 65. Crossover Road (TH 6) A maximum of 35 m.p.h.
    [Show full text]
  • Draft Local Hazard Mitigation Plan 2021
    1 2 Town of Calais, VT 3 4 Draft Local Hazard Mitigation Plan 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 Adopted ___-Approved____ 30 31 Prepared by the Town of Calais 32 with assistance from the Central Vermont Regional Planning Commission 33 1 Draft Calais Local Hazard Mitigation Plan May 2021 1 GLOSSARY/ACRONYM LIST .............................................................................................................................. 4 2 1. INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................................. 6 3 2. PURPOSE ......................................................................................................................................................... 7 4 3. COMMUNITY PROFILE .................................................................................................................................. 8 5 3.1 GEOGRAPHY ................................................................................................................................................................................... 8 6 3.2 DEVELOPMENT PATTERNS ............................................................................................................................................................ 8 7 3.3 UTILITIES AND FACILITIES .............................................................................................................................................................. 9 8 3.4 PUBLIC SAFETY ...........................................................................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Maine East-West Highway: Economic Impact Analysis - Phase IV Technical Report, Case Study Research, 1999 Maine State Planning Office
    Maine State Library Digital Maine State Planning Office State Planning Office 11-1999 Maine East-West Highway: Economic Impact Analysis - Phase IV Technical Report, Case Study Research, 1999 Maine State Planning Office Maine Department of Transportation Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalmaine.com/spo_docs Recommended Citation Maine State Planning Office and Maine Department of Transportation, "Maine East-West Highway: Economic Impact Analysis - Phase IV Technical Report, Case Study Research, 1999" (1999). State Planning Office. 29. https://digitalmaine.com/spo_docs/29 This Text is brought to you for free and open access by the State Planning Office at Digital Maine. It has been accepted for inclusion in State Planning Office by an authorized administrator of Digital Maine. For more information, please contact [email protected]. ·-·--·- - PhAsE IV TEchNicAl REpORT CASE STudy RESEARch v.4 ST1\TE OF ~L\INE EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT STATE PLANNING OFFICE J , ' l v '.: \. I 38 STATE HOUSE STATION AUGUSTA, MAINE 7 ;~ f //IJ 04333-0038 ANGUS S. KING, JR. EVAN D. RICHERT, AICP "t]y' GOVERNOR DIRECTOR qf{ ;if/ November 3, 1999 To: Members, Appropriations Committee Members, Transportation Committee Members, DOT's East-West Highv,:ay Peer Review Group Governor's Office Interagency East-West Highway Working Group From: Laurie Lachance Re: Phase IV Technical Report of the East-West Highway Economic Impact Analysis ****************************************************************************** At long last, I am forwarding the fourth and final technical· report of the East-West Highway Economic Impact Analysis. This report contains the results of case studies of the economic development trends along the I-91 and I-89 corridors in New Hampshire and Vermont.
    [Show full text]