[Federal Register: November 9, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 216)]
[Notices]
[Page 64919-64920]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr09no04-51]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers
Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact
Statement for the Cape Wind Energy Project, Nantucket Sound and
Yarmouth, MA, Application for Corps Section 10 Individual Permit
AGENCY: Department of the Army, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DoD.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
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SUMMARY: In keeping with the purposes of the National Environmental
Policy Act (NEPA), the New England District, Corps of Engineers (Corps)
has prepared a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) in response
to a permit application for the proposed construction of an offshore
wind-powered generating facility by Cape Wind Associates, LLC on
Horseshoe Shoal in Nantucket Sound, MA. The DEIS evaluated the
potential environmental impacts associated with the construction,
operation and decommissioning of the proposed offshore wind facility.
Potential impacts at four alternative locations were also considered
for comparison purposes. Public comment on the proposed and any or all
of the alternative sites is requested and encouraged.
DATES: The Corps will hold four public hearings to receive comments on
the DEIS. The public hearings will be held on:
1. December 6, 2004, 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., Oak Bluffs, MA.
2. December 7, 2004, 7 p.m. to 11 p.m., West Yarmouth, MA.
3. December 8, 2004, 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., Nantucket, MA.
4. December 16, 2004, 7 p.m. to 11 p.m., Cambridge, MA.
Comments on the DEIS must be received no later than January 10,
2005.
Additional information on how to submit comments is included in the
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section.
ADDRESSES: The hearing locations are:
1. Martha's Vineyard Regional High School, Vineyard Haven Road, Oak
Bluffs, MA.
2. Mattacheese Middle School, 400 Higgins Crowell Road, West
Yarmouth, MA.
3. Nantucket Community School, Mary P. Walker Auditorium, 10
Surfside Road, Nantucket, MA.
4. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Building 10 Alumni Center
(Maclaurin Buildings)--Room 10-250, 222 Memorial Drive, Cambridge, MA.
Additional information regarding locations where the DEIS and
appendices can be viewed is included in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
section.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karen Kirk Adams, 978-318-8335.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Cape Wind Associates, LLC (the applicant)
has requested a permit under Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act
of 1899 to install 130 wind turbine generators, an electric service
platform, and associated cable in an area of Nantucket Sound,
Massachusetts known as Horseshoe Shoal. The applicant's intended
purpose is to provide wind-generated energy that will be transmitted to
the regional power grid. The wind turbine generators would be spaced
one-third to one-half mile apart over a 24 square mile area, producing
up to 454 megawatts of wind generated energy to be transmitted from a
centrally located electric service platform via a submarine cable to a
landfall location in Yarmouth, MA. The proposed wind turbines would be
up to 420 feet high with the hub height approximately 260 feet above
the water surface. The northernmost turbines would be approximately 4
miles from Yarmouth, MA, the southeastern most turbines would be
approximately 11 miles from Nantucket, and the westernmost turbines
would be approximately 5.5 miles from Martha's Vineyard. The proposed
submarine cable system, consisting of two 115 kV solid dielectric cable
circuits, would be jet-plow embedded into the seabed to a depth on
approximately 6 feet below the present bottom. The overland cable
system would be installed underground within existing public right-of-
ways and roadways in the town of Yarmouth, MA to NSTAR's existing
electric system in Barnstable, MA. The approximate construction start
date for the proposed project is November 2005, with commercial
operation starting in November 2006.
The DEIS is intended to provide the information needed for the
Corps to perform a public interest review for the Section 10 permit
decision. Significant issues analyzed in the DEIS included geology and
sediment conditions; physical oceanographic conditions; benthic and
shellfish resources; finfish resources and commercial and recreational
fisheries; protected marine species; terrestrial ecology, wildlife, and
protected species; avian resources; coastal and freshwater wetland
resources; water quality; cultural and recreational resources; visual
resources; noise; transportation; electrical and magnetic fields,
telecommunications systems; air quality; and socioeconomic
[[Page 64920]]
resources. Several alternatives were evaluated for comparative
purposes, including the No Action Alternative under which the new
facility will not be built. In addition to the applicant's proposed
location, which is Nantucket Sound, the potential impacts and benefits
of locating a wind energy project at the Massachusetts Military
Reservation, a site south of Tuckernuck Island, and a combination site
comprised of two areas south of New Bedford with a reduced footprint in
Nantucket Sound were evaluated for comparison purposes. Public comment
on any or all of the alternatives is encouraged. The Notice of Intent
for preparation of the DEIS was published in the Federal Register (67
FR 4414, January 30, 2002).
Other Environmental Review and Consultation Requirements. To the
fullest extent possible, the DEIS integrated analyses and consultation
required by the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Pub. L. 93-
205; 16 U.S.C. 1531, eq seq.); the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
Conservation and Management Act, as amended (Pub. L. 94-265; 16 U.S.C.
1801, et seq.), the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as
amended (Pub. L. 89-855; 16 U.S.C. 470. et seq.), the Fish and Wildlife
Coordination Act of 1958, as amended (Pub. L. 85-624; 16 U.S.C. 661, et
seq.); the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972, as amended (Pub. L. 92-
583; 16 U.S.C. 1451, et seq.); the Clean Water Act of 1977, as amended
(Pub. L. 92-500; 33 U.S.C. 1251, et seq.); Section 10 of the Rivers and
Harbors Act of 1899, 33 U.S.C. 403 et seq.); the Outer Continental
Shelf Lands Act (Pub. L. 95-372; 43 U.S.C. 1333(e)), and applicable and
appropriate Executive Orders. Additionally, the DEIS was prepared as a
Draft Environmental Impact Report to satisfy the requirements of the
Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act (301 CMR 11.00 et seq.) and to
satisfy the requirements of the Cape Cod Commission as a Development of
Regional Impact.
Public Participation. Any person wishing to comment on the DEIS can
submit written comments to: Karen Kirk Adams, Project Manager,
Regulatory Division, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England
District, 696 Virginia Road, Concord, Massachusetts 01742-2751,
Reference File No. NAE-2004-338-1, or by e-mail to
wind.energy@usace.army.mil. Interested parties may view the DEIS online
at http://www.nae.usace.army.mil/projects/ma/ccwf/deis.htm. The DEIS is
also available to review at the following locations:
1. Sturgis Library, 3090 Main Street, (PO Box 606), Barnstable, MA.
2. South Yarmouth Library, 312 Old Main Street, Yarmouth, MA.
3. West Yarmouth Library, Route 28, West Yarmouth, MA.
4. Yarmouthport Library, 297 Main Street (6A), Yarmouthport, MA.
5. Whelden Memorial Library, 2401 Meeting House Way, (PO Box 147),
West Barnstable, MA.
6. Cotuit Library, 871 Main Street (PO Box 648), Cotuit, MA.
7. Hyannis Public Library, 401 Main Street, Hyannis, MA.
8. Centerville Public Library, 585 Main Street, Centerville, MA.
9. Marstons Mills Library, 2160 Main Street, Marstons Mills, MA.
10. Osterville Free Library, 43 Wianno Avenue, Osterville, MA.
11. Mashpee Library, 100 Nathan Ellis Highway (PO Box 657),
Mashpee, MA.
12. Falmouth Public Library, 123 Katherine Lee Bates Road,
Falmouth, MA.
13. East Falmouth Public Library, 310 East Falmouth Highway, East
Falmouth, MA.
14. North Falmouth Public Library, 6 Chester Street, North
Falmouth, MA.
15. West Falmouth Public Library, 575 West Falmouth Highway (PO Box
1209), West Falmouth, MA.
16. Dennis Memorial Library, 1020 Old Bass River Road, Dennis, MA.
17. Dennis Public Library, 673 Main Street (Route 28), Dennisport,
MA.
18. Woods Hole Library, 581 Woods Hole Road (PO Box 185), Woods
Hole, MA.
19. Brooks Free Library, 739 Main Street, Harwich, MA.
20. Eldredge Public Library, 64 Main Street, Chatham, MA.
21. Nantucket Atheneum, 1 India Street (PO Box 808), Nantucket, MA.
22. Edgartown Free Public Library, 58 North Water Street (PO Box
5249), Edgartown, MA.
23. Oak Bluffs Public Library, 80 Pennacook Avenue (PO Box 2039),
Oak Bluffs, MA.
24. Free Public Library, 1042A State Road (PO Box 190), West
Tisbury, MA.
25. Chilmark Public Library, 522 South Road, Chilmark, MA.
26. Aquinnah Public Library, 1 Church Street, Aquinnah, MA.
27, New Bedford Free Public Library, 613 Pleasant Street, New
Bedford, MA.
28. Jonathan Bourne Public Library, 19 Sandwich Road, Bourne, MA.
29. Vineyard Haven Public Library, RFD 139A Main Street, Vineyard
Haven, MA.
30. Sandwich Free Public Library, 142 Main Street, Sandwich, MA.
31. Boston Public Library, Central Library, 700 Boylston Street,
Boston, MA.
32. Cape Cod Community College, Wilkens Library, 2240 Iyanough
Road, West Barnstable, MA.
Thomas L. Koning,
COL, EN, Commander.
[FR Doc. 04-24907 Filed 11-8-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-24-M