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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPart 3 Environmental Assessment Form-project 2Agency Use Only [IfApplicablel Project: (Del River Solar Project 2 Date: I 1 0/2212024 Full Environmental Assessment Form Part 3 - Evaluation of the Magnitude and Importance of Project Impacts and Determination of Significance Part 3 provides the reasons in support of the determination of significance. The lead agency must complete Part 3 for every question in Part 2 where the impact has been identified as potentially moderate to large or where there is a need to explain why a particular element of the proposed action will not, or may, result in a significant adverse environmental impact. Based on the analysis in Part 3, the lead agency must decide whether to require an environmental impact statement to further assess the proposed action or whether available information is sufficient for the lead agency to conclude that the proposed action will not have a significant adverse environmental impact. By completing the certification on the next page, the lead agency can complete its determination of significance. Reasons Supporting This Determination: To complete this section: • Identify the impact based on the Part 2 responses and describe its magnitude. Magnitude considers factors such as severity, size or extent of an impact. • Assess the importance of the impact. Importance relates to the geographic scope, duration, probability of the impact occurring, number of people affected by the impact and any additional environmental consequences if the impact were to occur. • The assessment should take into consideration any design element or project changes. • Repeat this process for each Part 2 question where the impact has been identified as potentially moderate to large or where there is a need to explain why a particular element of the proposed action will not, or may, result in a significant adverse environmental impact. • Provide the reason(s) why the impact may, or will not, result in a significant adverse environmental impact • For Conditional Negative Declarations identify the specific condition(s) imposed that will modify the proposed action so that no significant adverse environmental impacts will result. • Attach additional sheets, as needed. The proposed action includes the development of an approximately 4.0-megawatt of alternating current (MW AC) ground -mounted solar facility on a 58.73 i-acre site located on the south side of South Main Street (hereinafter "subject property"). The owners would lease 16.17t acres of the subject property to the applicant (i.e., NY Groton II [South Main Street], LLC). The area of disturbance for the proposed action would be approximately 21.38 acres which would include a portion of the northern adjacent parcel (Tax Map No. 26-1-25.22) to be used for the construction of the proposed gravel access road from South Main Street. The proposed action would situate the solar facility near the southeastern portion of the subject property. The proposed development would include solar modules with a maximum height of 15 feet, the installation of an eight (8)-foot-high deer fence around the proposed solar facility, one (1) concrete equipment pad to house electrical equipment (i.e., one [1] inverter and one [1] transformer), electric utility lines to connect the solar panels to the existing distribution power line along the northeast side of the subject property as well as the planting of a vegetative screen consisting of approximately 21 Leyland Cypress trees along the east portion of the site. All solar power generated by the proposed action would be sold as Community Distributed Generation. This program allows subscribed participants to share the benefits of clean energy production. According to the applicant, a mix of residential and commercial customers, specifically New York State Electric and Gas (NYSEG), would be able to receive a share of the solar power generated by the proposed action as well as a discount off their electricity bills. Section 8 d- A moderate to large impact was determined as the project is wholly located within The Tompkins County Agriculture District and would irreversibly convert 11.82 acres of agricultural land, including 5.99 acres of woodland to non-agricultural uses. The developer agrees to follow the NYSDAM guidelines follow all DEC guidelines, use of a pollinator mix for planting that no bare earth will remain as a condition to the Special Permit Application. Section 18 f- A moderate to large impact was determined that would be inconsistent with the existing character of the natural landscape currently agriculture, woodland, brush vegetation and some residential housing impacting 30+ neighbors. The developer agrees to provide visual screening to the affected neighbors, include an escrow account to be used in the event the plantings are unsuccessful, review and modification of the landscaping plan prior to and after construction as conditions to the Special Permit Application. Determination of Significance - Type 1 and Unlisted Actions SEQR Status: ❑ Type I © Unlisted Identify portions of EAF completed for this Project: © Part I © Part 2 © Part 3 FEAF 2019 Upon review of the information recorded on this EAF, as noted, plus this additional support information and considering both the magnitude and importance of each identified potential impact, it is the conclusion of the Groton Town Board , as lead agency that: © A. This project will result in no significant adverse impacts on the environment, and, therefore, an environmental impact statement need not be prepared. Accordingly, this negative declaration is issued. ❑ B. Although this project could have a significant adverse impact on the environment, that impact will be avoided or substantially mitigated because of the following conditions which will be required by the lead agency: There will, therefore, be no significant adverse impacts from the project as conditioned, and, therefore, this conditioned negative declaration is issued. A conditioned negative declaration may be used only for UNLISTED actions (see 6 NYCRR 617.7(d)). ❑ C. This Project may result in one or more significant adverse impacts on the environment, and an environmental impact statement must be prepared to further assess the impact(s) and possible mitigation and to explore alternatives to avoid or reduce those impacts. Accordingly, this positive declaration is issued. Name of Action: Project 1 Delaware River Solar Name of Lead Agency: Groton Town Board Name of Responsible Officer in Lead Agency: Donald Scheffler Title of Responsible Officer: Town Supervisor. Signature of Responsible Officer in Lead Agency:` Signature of Preparer (if different from Responsible Offic r) i���W►�v ., For Further Information: Contact Person: Robin Cargian Address: 101 Conger Blvd. PO Box 36 Groton NY 13073 Telephone Number: 607-898-5035 E-mail: townclerk@grotontown.com For Type 1 Actions and Conditioned Negative Declarations, a copy of this Notice is sent to: Date: Date: I A> / Chief Executive Officer of the political subdivision in which the action will be principally located (e.g., Town / City / Village of) Other involved agencies (if any) Applicant (if any) Environmental Notice Bulletin: httn://www.dec.nv.2ov/enb/enb.html PRINT FULL FORM I Page 2 of 2