Draft Environmental Impact Statement For The Dutch Hill Wind Power Project TOWN OF COHOCTON STEUBEN COUNTY, NEW YORK Project Sponsor: Canandaigua Power Partners II, LLC 100 Wells Avenue, Suite 201 Newton, Massachusetts 02459 Contact: Chris Swartley Phone: (617) 964-3340 Lead Agency: Town of Cohocton Planning Board P.O. Box 327 Cohocton, New York 14826-0327 Contact: Ms. Sandra Riley, Town Clerk Phone: (585) 384-5330 Prepared By: ESS Group, Inc. 401 Wampanoag Trail, Suite 400 East Providence, Rhode Island 02915 Contact: Steve Wood Phone: (401) 330-1206 Date Submitted to Lead Agency: November 2006 Date Accepted by Lead Agency: December 20, 2006 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.0 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY................................................................................................................ 2 2.0 DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSED ACTION ......................................................................................... 6 2.1 Introduction......................................................................................................................... 6 2.2 Project Description ............................................................................................................... 8 2.2.1 Wind Turbines .............................................................................................................9 2.2.2 Electrical System........................................................................................................ 10 2.2.3 Collector System........................................................................................................ 10 2.2.4 Collection Station....................................................................................................... 10 2.2.5 115 kV Transmission Line ........................................................................................... 11 2.2.6 Substation................................................................................................................. 11 2.2.7 Access Roads ............................................................................................................ 11 2.2.8 Meteorological Towers................................................................................................ 11 2.2.9 Staging Area ............................................................................................................. 11 2.2.10 Operations Center and Maintenance Building.............................................................. 12 2.3 Project Purpose, Need and Benefit ....................................................................................... 12 2.4 Project Construction ........................................................................................................... 13 2.4.1 Pre-construction Activities........................................................................................... 14 2.4.2 Staging Areas ............................................................................................................ 14 2.4.3 Site Preparation......................................................................................................... 15 2.4.4 Access Road Installation............................................................................................. 15 2.4.5 Foundation Construction............................................................................................. 16 2.4.6 Buried Cable Installation............................................................................................. 17 2.4.7 Wind Turbine Assembly and Erection........................................................................... 18 2.4.8 34.5 kV Transmission Line .......................................................................................... 19 2.4.9 Collection Station and Substation ................................................................................ 19 2.5 Operations and Maintenance ............................................................................................... 20 2.6 Decommissioning ............................................................................................................... 21 2.7 Project Cost and Funding ....................................................................................................22 2.8 Permits and Approvals Required .......................................................................................... 22 2.9 Public and Agency Involvement ........................................................................................... 23 2.9.1 SEQRA Process .......................................................................................................... 23 2.9.2 Agency and Public Review .......................................................................................... 24 3.0 ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING, POTENTIAL IMPACTS, AND PROPOSED MITIGATION ........................ 26 3.1 Geology, Soils, and Topography........................................................................................... 26 3.1.1 Existing Conditions..................................................................................................... 26 3.1.1.1 Topography ...................................................................................................... 26 3.1.1.2 Bedrock Geology ............................................................................................... 26 3.1.1.3 Surficial Geology ............................................................................................... 27 3.1.1.4 Soils................................................................................................................. 27 3.1.2 Potential Impacts....................................................................................................... 30 3.1.2.1 Construction ..................................................................................................... 30 3.1.2.2 Operation ......................................................................................................... 31 3.1.3 Proposed Mitigation ................................................................................................... 31 3.2 Water Resources ................................................................................................................ 33 3.2.1 Existing Conditions..................................................................................................... 33 3.2.1.1 Surface Waters and Hydrology ........................................................................... 33 3.2.1.2 Wetlands.......................................................................................................... 34 3.2.1.2.1 Existing Information ................................................................................. 34 3.2.1.2.2 Field Review and Wetland Community Types .............................................. 35 3.2.1.3 Groundwater .................................................................................................... 40 Copyright © ESS Group, Inc., 2006 j:\u158-000 cohocton wind ii- dutch hill wind\dutch hill deis\dutch hill deis 12-14-06_revision 1.doc TABLE OF CONTENTS (CONTINUED) 3.2.2 Potential Impacts....................................................................................................... 41 3.2.2.1 Construction ..................................................................................................... 41 3.2.2.1.1 Surface Waters and Wetlands.................................................................... 41 3.2.2.1.2 Groundwater............................................................................................ 42 3.2.2.2 Operation ......................................................................................................... 44 3.2.2.2.1 Surface Waters and Wetlands.................................................................... 44 3.2.2.2.2 Groundwater............................................................................................ 44 3.2.3 Proposed Mitigation ................................................................................................... 45 3.3 Biological Resources ........................................................................................................... 47 3.3.1 Existing Conditions..................................................................................................... 47 3.3.1.1 Vegetation........................................................................................................ 47 3.3.1.1.1 Ecological Communities............................................................................. 47 3.3.1.1.2 Significant Natural Communities/Rare Plant Species..................................... 49 3.3.1.2 Fish and Wildlife................................................................................................ 49 3.3.1.2.1 Birds ....................................................................................................... 50 3.3.1.2.2 Mammals................................................................................................. 55 3.3.1.2.3 Reptiles and Amphibians ........................................................................... 56 3.3.1.2.4 Fish......................................................................................................... 56 3.3.1.2.5 Wildlife Habitat......................................................................................... 56 3.3.1.2.6 Threatened and Endangered Species.......................................................... 57 3.3.2