Public hearing Dec. 21 on Galloo wind project
The public will soon get its chance to comment on the facilities for the Galloo Island Wind Farm.
The Hounsfield Planning Board will hold a hearing on the plans for a facility proposed by Upstate NY Power Corp. at 10 a.m. Dec. 21 at the Hounsfield Town Court Building, 411 W. Washington St., Sackets Harbor.
The Planning Board can't vote on the 84-turbine, 252-megawatt wind facility until the state Department of Environmental Conservation releases the final environmental impact statement and allows for a 10-day public comment period.
Because of the wait for DEC, the board won't approve the plan by the developer's goal of Dec. 31. Upstate NY Power wanted the environmental review process, site plan approval and payment-in-lieu-of-taxes agreement decision all completed by the end of 2009 to help it tap into a 30-percent rebate through the federal stimulus package.
The plan shows the designs and outlines a process for the three-year construction of the turbines, temporary and permanent housing, water and wastewater treatment facilities, a temporary and permanent off-loading slip, a substation, gravel mine and concrete batch plant and helipad.
It includes the $500 million project's visual and acoustic simulations, plans for water and wastewater management, transportation plan and emergency management plans.
The planned turbines are 3-megawatt Vestas turbines, ranging from 328 feet to 396 feet tall, with rotor diameters of 269 feet.
A noise study completed by Tech Environmental, Waltham, Mass., said noise from the wind farm should not be an issue for nearby Stony Island or the mainland.
The average noise level on Galloo Island would be 58.1 decibels. The prediction model found noise from the project would have a noise averaging 40.6 decibels, while the ambient noise level would average 50.7 decibels when the turbines are running.
During a two-week monitoring program, the researchers found ambient noise averaged 46.5 decibels at cut-in speeds. The highest mainland noise level predicted was 32.5 decibels, an average noise level from the project at the South Shore Road Extension on Point Peninsula.
Construction crews and staff will boat out primarily from Madison Barracks, Sackets Harbor. Alternative sites include the former Harbor View Marina, Henderson Harbor, and a dock on South Shore Road on Point Peninsula.
A permanent offloading facility would be built on the southeastern side of the island, south of Gill Harbor. The six-month construction would include removing rock to 14 feet below the mean high water mark. Nearly 1,000 deliveries by boats and barges during construction will bring material to the island.
The operations and maintenance, and housing buildings would be near Gill Harbor. The substation would be constructed near the northeast end of the island.
The site plan includes a reserved area for shore dinners on the north side of the island, a tradition for fishing parties in the area.
The board has held several work sessions on the site plan in the past few months.
The project needs additional permits, including wetlands, wastewater treatment and spill prevention, and control and countermeasures from DEC. The decommissioning plan, which could include a bond for the town to cover the entire cost of dismantling the facility, will continue to be ironed out by the developer, town and Jefferson County.
The board will accept written comments through 4 p.m. Jan. 4 addressed for Kathy Snyder, Town of Hounsfield Planning Board c/o Diane Nier, Clerk, Town of Hounsfield Municipal Office, 18774 County Route 66, Watertown, N.Y. 13601. The site plan is available for viewing at the town office, which is open noon to 6 p.m.
