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1 TABLE OF CONTENTS SECTION PAGE 1.0 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Project Description Project Applicant Summary of Project Purpose and Need Summary of Proposed Alternative Summary of Environmental Effects Summary of Alternatives Analysis List of Required Permits and Approvals Proposed Alternative DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSED ACTION Introduction Purpose and Scope of Environmental Impact Statement Project Purpose, Public Need and Benefits Project Description and Location Project Lease/Easements Terms and Conditions Proposed Facility Layout and Design Wind Turbines Turbine Spacing Access Roads Underground Electrical Collection System Substation and Interconnection Facilities Operations and Maintenance Facility Construction Engineering, Surveying and Geotechnical Investigation Design and Construction Specifications Access Road Installation Foundation Construction Buried Cable Installation Wind Turbine Assembly and Erection Collection Station/Substation/Interconnection Facility Project Construction Management Field Site Management Team BOP Contractor s Construction Management Team Wind Turbine Supplier s Construction Management Team Operations and Maintenance Decommissioning Decommissioning Economics and Financial Surety Regulatory Approvals Public and Agency Involvement ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING IMPACT ANALYSIS AND MITIGATION MEASURES Physiography, Geology, and Soils Existing Conditions Physiography Bedrock Geology Surficial Geology Soils Unusual Landforms or Geologic Formations... 33

2 3.1.2 Potential Impacts Potential Short-Term Impacts Potential Long-Term Construction Proposed Mitigation Soil Erosion and Siltation Soils in Agricultural Areas Blasting of Shallow Bedrock Management of Oil and Hazardous Materials Water Resources Existing Conditions Surface Waters Wetlands Groundwater Potential Impacts Construction Operation Proposed Mitigation Ecological Resources Existing Conditions Vegetation Fish and Wildlife Threatened and Endangered Wildlife Species Potential Impacts Construction Operation Proposed Mitigation Vegetation Fish and Wildlife Threatened and Endangered Species Traffic and Transportation Existing Conditions Transportation Routes Outside the Project Area Transportation Routes Within the Project Area School Bus Routes Potential Impacts Transportation Routes Outside the Project Area Transportation Routes Within the Project Area School Bus Traffic Proposed Mitigation Land Use and Zoning Existing Conditions Regional Land Use Patterns Project Area Land Use and Zoning Agricultural Land Future Land Use Potential Impacts Construction Operation Proposed Mitigation Community Facilities and Services Existing Conditions Community Facilities and Services Potential Impacts...103

3 Community Facilities and Services Proposed Mitigation Cultural Resources Existing Conditions History of the Project Area Previously Recorded Cultural Resources Sensitivity Assessment and Recommendations Potential Impacts Proposed Mitigation Visual Resources Existing Conditions Landscape Similarity Zones Viewer/User Groups Visually Sensitive Resources Impacts Construction Operation Proposed Mitigation Climate and Air Quality Climatic Conditions Air Quality Potential Impacts Potential Short Term Impacts Potential Long Term Proposed Mitigation Noise Existing Conditions Background Sound Level Survey Site Description and Sound Level Measurement Background Measurement Results Potential Operational Impacts Turbine Noise Level Assessment Criteria Noise Modeling Modeling Results Potential Transformer Noise Impacts Potential Construction Impacts Proposed Mitigation Turbine Operation Transformer Operation Construction Socioeconomics Population Economy and Employment Municipal Budgets and Taxes Potential Impacts Population and Housing Employment and Income Municipal Revenues Proposed Mitigation Telecommunications Existing Conditions Microwave Analysis...147

4 Television Analysis AM Radio Analysis Cellular/PCS Telephone Analysis Land Mobile Radio Analysis National Telecommunications and Information Administration Notification Potential Impacts Construction Operation Proposed Mitigation Construction Operation Safety and Security Background Information Ice Shedding Tower Collapse/Blade Throw Stray Voltage Fire Lightning Strikes Potential Impacts Construction Operation Proposed Mitigation Construction Operation Lightning Strikes Extreme Weather Abnormalities Facility Blackout UNAVOIDABLE ADVERSE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS General Mitigation Measures Specific Mitigation Measures Environmental Compliance and Monitoring Program CUMULATIVE AND GROWTH INDUCING IMPACTS Growth Inducing Impacts Cumulative Impacts Transportation Visual Air Quality Noise Socioeconomics COMMITMENT OF RESOURCES EFFECTS ON THE USE AND CONSERVATION OF ENERGY ALTERNATIVES Geographic Scope Assessment of Alternate Wind Turbines No Action Alternative Project Site Analysis Alternative Project Scale and Magnitude Alternative Project Design...181

5 8.4.3 Alternative Technologies Cumulative Alternatives Joint Project Mutual Limited Project Size Joint Project Components PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT LIST OF PREPARERS REFERENCES ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS FIGURES Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3 Figure 4 Figure 5 Figure 6 Figure 7 Figure 8 Figure 9 Figure 10 Figure 11 Figure 12 Figure 13 Figure 14 Figure 15 Figure 16 Figure 17 Figure 18 Figure 19 Figure 20 Figure 21 Figure 22 Figure 23 Figure 24 Figure 25 Figure 26 Figure 27 Figure 28 Regional Project Location Project Area Participating Land Owners and Neighbors Proposed Project Layout Nacelle Diagram Wind Map Setback Map Construction Photos (2 Sheets) Topography Map Soils Map Representative Stream and Pond Photos Surface Waters Federal Mapped (NWI) Wetlands NYSDEC Mapped Wetlands Representative Wetland Photos Aquifer Map Vegetative Communities Transportation System (3 Sheets) School Bus Routes Zoning and Land Development Town of Ellenburg Zoning Map Agricultural Districts Community Services Map Historic Sites Visually Sensitive Resources Visual Simulations (4 Sheets) Public Safety Cumulative Layout Map Cumulative Simulations (2 Sheets) APPENDICES Appendix A Spread Footing Plan and Profile Site Laydown Construction Details Buried Interconnect Trench Turbine Dimensions Gamesa G90 Access Road Construction Crane Pad and Crane Assembly Details Individual Turbine Installation Schedule

6 Appendix A (continued) Appendix B Appendix C Appendix D Appendix E Appendix F Appendix G Appendix H Appendix I Appendix J Appendix K Appendix L Appendix M Appendix N Appendix O Wind Turbine Assembly Wind Turbine and Crane Hauling Turbine Assembly Work Area Crane Paths Substation Plan Road and Platform Characteristics for Assembly of G87/G90 Wind Turbine at Site Characteristics and General Operation of G8X 2.0 MW Wind-turbine FAA Lighting Plan New York State Department of Transportation Engineering Bulletin Procedures for Blasting Scope and Content Document Decommissioning Plan Community Relations and Complaint Resolution Plan Agricultural Protection Measures Wetlands Report Hydrogeologic Evaluation A Spring 2005 Radar, Visual, and Acoustic Survey of Bird and Bat Migration A Fall 2005 Radar, Visual, and Acoustic Survey of Bird and Bat Migration Avian Risk Assessment Comprehensive Species List Agency Correspondence Transportation Assessment Report Material and Equipment Delivery Route Assessment Local Law No. 4 of 2005 (Town of Ellenburg) Local Law No. 1 of 2005 (Town of Clinton) Phase IA Cultural Resources Survey Visual Impact Assessment Shadow-Flicker Modeling Noise Impact Assessment Impacts on Local Property Values Bureau of Economic Analysis Economic Multiplier Report Microwave Path Report TV Broadcast Off-Air Reception Measurement Report 100 Mile Television Station Search Report Cellular/PCS Telephone Operation Land Mobile Radio Correspondence from U.S. Department of Commerce National Telecommunications and Information Administration Draft Fire Prevention and Control Plan Rules of Engagement for Local Snowmobilers