HomeMy WebLinkAboutAppendix_G_-_Agriculutre_Protection_Guidelines.pdfNew York Department of Agriculture and Markets
Guidelines for Agricultural Mitigation
for Windpower Projects
Updated January 4, 2008
The following guidelines shall apply to construction areas for wind power construction
projects impacting agricultural land. The project sponsor shall coordinate with the New
York State Department of Agriculture and Markets (Ag. and Markets) to develop an
appropriate schedule for inspections to assure that the goals of these guidelines are
being met. The project sponsor shall hire an Environmental Monitor to oversee the
construction and restoration in agricultural fields.
Siting Goals
Minimize impacts to normal farming operations by locating structures along field edges
and in nonagricultural areas where possible.
Avoid dividing larger fields into smaller fields, which are more difficult to farm, by locating
access roads along the edge of agricultural fields (hedgerows and field boundaries) and
in nonagricultural areas where possible.
Locate access roads, which cross agricultural fields, along ridge tops and following field
contours, where possible, to eliminate the need for cut and fill and reduce the risk of
creating drainage problems.
The permanent width of access roads in agricultural fields should be no more than 16
feet to minimize the loss of agricultural land.
All existing drainage and erosion control structures such as diversions, ditches, and tile
lines shall be avoided or appropriate measures taken to maintain the design and
effectiveness of the existing structures. Any structures disturbed during construction
shall be repaired to as close to original condition as possible, as soon as possible,
unless such structures are to be eliminated based on a new design.
Construction Requirements
The surface of access roads constructed through agricultural fields shall be level with the
adjacent field surface.
Culverts and waterbars shall be installed to maintain natural drainage patterns.
All topsoil must be stripped from agricultural areas used for vehicle and equipment traffic
and parking. All vehicle and equipment traffic and parking shall be limited to the access
road and/or designated work areas such as tower sites and laydown areas. No vehicles
or equipment will be allowed outside the work area without prior approval from the
landowner and, when applicable, the Environmental Monitor.
Topsoil from work areas (tower sites, parking areas, “open-cut” electric cable trenches,
along access roads) shall be stockpiled separate from other excavated material (rock
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and/or subsoil). At least 50 feet of temporary workspace is needed along "open-cut"
electric cable trenches for proper topsoil segregation. All topsoil will be stockpiled
immediately adjacent to the area where stripped/removed and shall be used for
restoration on that particular site. Topsoil stockpile areas shall be clearly designated in
the field and on the on-site “working set” of construction drawings.
Electric interconnect cables and transmission lines installed above ground can create
long term interference with agricultural land use. As a result, interconnect cables shall
be buried in agricultural fields wherever practicable. Interconnect cables and
transmission lines installed above ground should be located outside field boundaries
wherever possible. When above ground cables and transmission lines must cross
farmland, the project sponsor shall minimize agricultural impacts by using taller
structures that provide longer spanning distances and shall locate poles on field edges
to the greatest extent practicable. The line location and pole placements shall be
reviewed with the Department and the Environmental Monitor prior to final design.
In cropland, hayland and improved pasture a minimum depth of forty-eight inches of
cover will be required for all buried electric cables. In unimproved grazing areas and land
permanently devoted to pasture, a minimum depth of thirty-six inches of cover will be
required. In areas where the depth of soil over bedrock ranges from zero to forty-eight
inches, the electric cables shall be buried entirely below the top of the bedrock or at the
depth specified for the particular land use whichever is less. At no time will the depth of
cover be less than twenty-four inches below the soil surface.
All excess subsoil and rock shall be removed from the site. On site disposal of such
material may be allowed if approved by the landowner and the Environmental Monitor,
with appropriate consideration given to any possible agricultural or environmental
impacts.*
In pasture areas, work areas will be fenced to prevent livestock access, consistent with
landowner agreements.
All pieces of wire, bolts, and other unused metal objects will be picked up and properly
disposed of as soon as practical after the unloading and packing of turbine components
so that these objects will not be mixed with any topsoil.*
Excess concrete will not be buried or left on the surface in active agricultural areas.
Concrete trucks will be washed outside of active agricultural areas.*
(*Any permits necessary for disposal under local, State and/or federal laws and
regulations must be obtained by the contractor, with the cooperation of the landowner
when required.)
Restoration Requirements
Following construction, all disturbed agricultural areas will be decompacted to a depth of
18 inches with a deep ripper or heavy-duty chisel plow. In areas where the topsoil was
stripped, soil decompaction shall be conducted prior to topsoil replacement. Following
decompaction, all rocks 4 inches and larger in size will be removed from the surface of
the subsoil prior to replacement of the topsoil. The topsoil will be replaced to original
depth and the original contours will be reestablished where possible. All rocks 4 inches
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and larger shall be removed from the surface of the topsoil. Subsoil decompaction and
topsoil replacement should be avoided after October 1, unless approved on a site-
specific basis by the landowner in consultation with Ag. and Markets. All parties
involved should be cognizant that areas restored after October 1st may not obtain
sufficient growth to prevent erosion over the winter months. If areas are to be restored
after October 1st, necessary provision should be made to restore any eroded areas in
the springtime, to establish proper growth.
All access roads will be regraded to allow for farm equipment crossing and to restore
original surface drainage patterns, or other drainage pattern incorporated into the
design.
All restored agricultural areas shall be seeded with the seed mix specified by the
landowner, in order to maintain consistency with the surrounding areas.
All surface or subsurface drainage structures damaged during construction shall be
repaired to as close to preconstruction conditions as possible, unless said structures are
to be removed as part of the project design.
Following restoration, all construction debris will be removed from the site.
Two Year Monitoring and Remediation
The Project Sponsor will provide a monitoring and remediation period of no less than two
years immediately following the completion of initial restoration. The two year period
allows for the effects of climatic cycles such as frost action, precipitation and growing
seasons to occur, from which various monitoring determinations can be made. The
monitoring and remediation phase will be used to identify any remaining agricultural
impacts associated with construction that are in need of mitigation and to implement the
follow-up restoration.
General conditions to be monitored include topsoil thickness, relative content of rock and
large stones, trench settling, crop production, drainage and repair of severed fences, etc.
Impacts will be identified by the Environmental Monitor through on site monitoring of all
agricultural areas impacted by construction and through contact with respective farmland
operators and the Department of Agriculture and Markets.
Topsoil deficiency and trench settling shall be mitigated with imported topsoil that is
consistent with the quality of topsoil on the affected site. Excessive amounts of rock and
oversized stone material will be determined by a visual inspection of disturbed areas as
compared to portions of the same field located outside the construction area. All excess
rocks and large stones will be removed and disposed of by the Project Sponsor.
When the subsequent crop productivity within affected areas is less than that of the
adjacent unaffected agricultural land, the Project Sponsor as well as other appropriate
parties, will help to determine the appropriate rehabilitation measures to be
implemented. Because conditions which require remediation may not be noticeable at
or shortly after the completion of construction, the signing of a release form prior to the
end of the remediation period will not obviate the Project Sponsor’s responsibility to fully
redress all project impacts.
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Subsoil compaction shall be tested using an appropriate soil penetrometer or other soil
compaction measuring device. Compaction tests will be made for each soil type
identified on the affected agricultural fields. The subsoil compaction test results within
the affected area will be compared with those of the adjacent unaffected portion of the
farm field/soil unit. Where representative subsoil density of the affected area exceeds
the representative subsoil density of the unaffected areas, additional shattering of the
soil profile will be performed using the appropriate equipment. Deep shattering will be
applied during periods of relatively low soil moisture to ensure the desired mitigation and
to prevent additional subsoil compaction. Oversized stone/rock material which is uplifted
to the surface as a result of the deep shattering will be removed.
Revised 1-04-08
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