Second Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS2) Arkwright Summit Wind Farm Chautauqua County, New York Prepared for: Arkwright Summit Wind Farm LLC 808 Travis Street, Suite 700 Houston, Texas 77002 Contact: Jeffrey Nemeth P: 309.531.0440 Prepared by: Environmental Design & Research, Landscape Architecture, Engineering & Environmental Services, D.P.C. 217 Montgomery Street, Suite 1000 Syracuse, New York 13202 Contact: Patrick Heaton P: 315.471.0688 October 2015 SECOND SUPPLEMENTAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT (SEIS2) FOR THE Arkwright Summit Wind Project Chautauqua County, New York Prepared For: Arkwright Summit Wind Farm LLC 808 Travis Street, Suite 700 Houston, Texas 77002 Contact: Jeffrey Nemeth Phone: (309) 531-0440 Prepared By: Environmental Design & Research, Landscape Architecture, Engineering & Environmental Services, D.P.C. 217 Montgomery Street, Suite 1000 Syracuse, New York 13202 Contact: Patrick Heaton Phone: (315) 471-0688 Date of Submittal: October 2, 2015 Date of Acceptance: October 12, 2015 Public Comment Period: October 12 – November 11, 2015 TABLE OF CONTENTS ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS ........................................................................................................................... xi FIRMS/ORGANIZATIONS INVOLVED IN THE PREPARATION OF THE DEIS ......................................................... xii Executive Summary ....................................................................................................................................................... ii 1.0 DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSED ACTION ........................................................................................................ 1 1.1 PROJECT DESCRIPTION ............................................................................................................................ 1 1.1.1 Summary of Project Changes in the SEIS2 Relative to the SEIS and DEIS ............................................. 3 1.2 PROJECT LOCATION .................................................................................................................................. 6 1.2.1 Project Participation .................................................................................................................................. 6 1.3 PROJECT FACILITY OWNER/DEVELOPER/OPERATOR .......................................................................... 6 1.4 PROJECT PURPOSE, NEED AND BENEFIT .............................................................................................. 7 1.4.1 Project Purpose ......................................................................................................................................... 7 1.4.2 Public Need and Benefits to Be Derived From Project .............................................................................. 8 1.5 PROJECT FACILITY LAYOUT AND COMPONENTS ................................................................................ 14 1.5.1 Facility Layout Criteria .............................................................................................................................. 14 1.5.2 Roads and Civil Construction Work ........................................................................................................... 14 1.5.3 Turbine Tower Foundations....................................................................................................................... 14 1.5.4 Wind Turbine Generators and Central Control System ............................................................................... 14 1.5.5 Electrical Collection System Infrastructure ................................................................................................. 16 1.5.6 Generator Lead ........................................................................................................................................ 16 1.5.7 Interconnect Substation ............................................................................................................................ 16 1.5.8 Meteorological Monitoring Station Towers ................................................................................................. 16 1.5.9 Operations and Maintenance Facility ........................................................................................................ 17 1.6 PROJECT CONSTRUCTION ...................................................................................................................... 17 1.7 OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE ......................................................................................................... 19 1.8 DECOMMISSIONING ................................................................................................................................. 20 1.9 PROJECT COST AND FUNDING ............................................................................................................... 21 1.10 PERMITS AND APPROVALS REQUIRED ................................................................................................. 22 1.11 PUBLIC AND AGENCY INVOLVEMENT .................................................................................................... 22 1.12 SEQRA PROCESS ..................................................................................................................................... 22 1.12.1 Agency and Public Review ................................................................................................................... 24 2.0 ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING, IMPACT ANALYSIS, AND MITIGATION MEASURES ................................... 25 2.1 GEOGRAPHY, TOPOGRAPHY, AND SOILS ............................................................................................. 25 Second Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS2) ii Arkwright Summit Wind 2.1.1 Geology and Topography ........................................................................................................................ 25 2.1.1.1 Existing Conditions ......................................................................................................................... 25 2.1.1.2 Anticipated Impacts......................................................................................................................... 27 2.1.1.3 Proposed Mitigation ........................................................................................................................ 28 2.1.2 Soils ........................................................................................................................................................ 31 2.1.2.1 Existing Conditions ......................................................................................................................... 31 2.1.2.2 Anticipated Impacts to Soils ............................................................................................................ 31 2.1.2.3 Proposed Mitigation ........................................................................................................................ 37 2.2 WATER RESOURCES ................................................................................................................................ 38 2.2.1 Existing Conditions .................................................................................................................................. 38 2.2.1.1 Surface Waters ............................................................................................................................... 38 2.2.1.2 Wetlands ......................................................................................................................................... 40 2.2.1.3 Groundwater ................................................................................................................................... 49 2.2.2 Anticipated Impacts ................................................................................................................................. 49 2.2.2.1 Construction .................................................................................................................................... 49 2.2.2.2 Operation ........................................................................................................................................ 57 2.2.3 Proposed Mitigation ................................................................................................................................ 58 2.3 BIOLOGICAL, TERRESTRIAL, AND AQUATIC ECOLOGY ....................................................................... 59 2.3.1 Existing Conditions .................................................................................................................................. 59 2.3.1.1 Vegetation and Ecological Communities ........................................................................................ 59 2.3.1.2 Significant Ecological Communities and Rare Plant Species. ........................................................ 59 2.3.1.3 Wildlife and Terrestrial Habitat ........................................................................................................ 60 2.3.1.4 Threatened and Endangered Species ............................................................................................ 66 2.3.1.5 Other Sensitive Wildlife Resources ................................................................................................. 71 2.3.2 Anticipated Impacts ................................................................................................................................