EE-004638-0001-03 B3906 Boundless Energy NE, LLC Proposed Leeds Path West AC Transmission Project New York Energy Highway Initiative Response to December 16, 2014 New York State Public Service Commission Order Case 13-T-0461 March 2, 2015 able of Contents T Section Page Part A Initial Application Materials ........................................................... 1 Response to December 16, 2014 New York State Public Service Commission Order ....................................................................... 1 1.0 Introduction .................................................................................. 1 2.0 Project Description ...................................................................... 4 3.0 Environmental Compatibility ....................................................... 5 3.1. Wetlands and Water Resources ............................................................................5 3.1.1 Regulatory Background ............................................................................5 3.1.2 Existing Environment ...............................................................................7 3.1.3 Environmental Impacts ..........................................................................10 3.2 Topography, Geology and Soils .........................................................................14 3.2.1 Existing Environment .............................................................................14 3.2.2 Environmental Impacts ..........................................................................17 3.3 Land Use ............................................................................................................19 3.3.1 Existing Environment .............................................................................19 3.3.1.1 Leeds to Athens to Pleasant Valley .........................................19 3.3.1.2 Leeds to Pleasant Valley ..........................................................20 3.3.1.3 CPV Valley Tap to Rock Tavern .............................................21 3.3.2 Applicable Regulations, Plans, and Policies ..........................................22 3.3.2.1 Coastal Zone Management ......................................................22 3.3.2.2 Local Land Use Plans and Zoning ...........................................23 Boundless Energy NE, LLC i Article VII Initial Application Materials Leeds Path West AC Transmission Project Table of Contents (cont.) Section Page 3.3.2.3 Management Plan .....................................................................23 3.3.2.4 Agricultural Districts ...............................................................23 3.3.2.5 Flood Zones .............................................................................26 3.3.2.6 Conservation Easements ..........................................................27 3.3.2.7 Environmental Impacts ............................................................27 3.4. Wildlife and Aquatic Resources .........................................................................28 3.4.1 Wildlife Resources .................................................................................28 3.4.1.1 Existing Environment ..............................................................28 3.4.1.2 Aquatic Resources ...................................................................32 3.5 Threatened and Endangered Species ..................................................................32 3.5.1 Existing Environment .............................................................................32 3.5.1.1 Environmental Impacts ............................................................39 3.5.2 Invasive Species .....................................................................................40 3.5.2.1 Existing Environment ..............................................................40 3.6 Vegetation ..........................................................................................................41 3.6.1 Existing Conditions ................................................................................41 3.6.1.1 Environmental Impacts ............................................................42 3.6.1.2 Threatened and Endangered Species .......................................42 3.6.1.3 Protected Lands ........................................................................44 3.6.1.4 Invasive Species .......................................................................45 3.7 Cultural Resources .............................................................................................48 3.7.1 Existing Environment .............................................................................48 3.7.2 Environmental Impacts ..........................................................................50 3.8 Noise ...................................................................................................................50 3.8.1 Existing Environment .............................................................................54 3.8.2 Environmental Impacts ..........................................................................55 3.9 Visual Resources ................................................................................................55 3.9.1 Existing Visual Resources ......................................................................55 3.9.2 Environmental Impacts ..........................................................................57 Boundless Energy NE, LLC ii Article VII Initial Application Materials Leeds Path West AC Transmission Project Table of Contents (cont.) Section Page 3.9.3 Comparison to Other Proposed Transmission Projects ..........................58 3.10 EMF/Health Effects ............................................................................................58 3.10.1 Existing Environment .............................................................................60 3.10.2 Environmental Impacts ..........................................................................60 3.11 Socioeconomics ..................................................................................................61 3.11.1 Existing Environment .............................................................................61 3.11.2 Environmental Impacts ..........................................................................62 3.12 Utilities, Infrastructure, and Communications ...................................................64 3.12.1 Utilities and Infrastructure .....................................................................64 3.12.2 Communications ....................................................................................65 3.13 Transportation ....................................................................................................70 4.0 References .................................................................................. 76 Exhibit 1 Municipal Zoning, Flood Zones, Coastal Zones, and Streams ...................................................................................... 1-1 Exhibit 2 Public Lands, Wetlands, Streams, and Energy Infrastructure ............................................................................. 2-1 Boundless Energy NE, LLC iii Article VII Initial Application Materials Leeds Path West AC Transmission Project ist of Tables L Table Page Table 3-1 Number of NYSDEC Wetlands Crossed, by Section ............................................11 Table 3-2 Number of USFWS NWI Wetlands Crossed, by Section ......................................12 Table 3-3 Number of NYSDEC Protected Streams Crossed, by Section ..............................12 Table 3-4 Number of National Hydrography Dataset Streams Crossed, by Section .............13 Table 3-5 Selected Characteristics of Soil Map Units within Project ROW ..........................15 Table 3-6 Land Uses Crossed by the Leeds to Athens to Pleasant Valley Section ................20 Table 3-7 Municipalities Crossed by the Leeds to Pleasant Valley Section ..........................20 Table 3-8 Land Uses Crossed by the Leeds to Pleasant Valley Section ................................21 Table 3-9 Municipalities Crossed by the CPV Valley Tap to Rock Tavern Section .............21 Table 3-10 Land Uses Crossed by the CPV Valley Tap to Rock Tavern Section ...................22 Table 3-11 Approved Local Water Revitalization Programs within the Project Area .............22 Table 3-12 Sections of ROW within the Coastal Zone ............................................................23 Table 3-13 Agricultural Districts Crossed by Sections of ROW .............................................23 Table 3-14 Length of ROW that Crosses Flood Zones, by Section and Type .........................26 Table 3-15 Conservation Easements Crossed ..........................................................................27 Table 3-16 Federally Listed Species, by County .....................................................................33 Table 3-17 Habitat Type by Route ...........................................................................................41 Table 3-18 State-listed Plant Species Potentially Occurring in the Proposed Project Corridor .................................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined. Boundless Energy NE, LLC v Article VII Initial Application Materials Leeds Path West AC Transmission Project List of Tables (cont.) Table Page Table 3-19 Significant Natural Communities .......................... Error! Bookmark not defined. Table 3-20 Significant