Competitive Power Ventures, Inc. - Energy Highway

4.0 CULTURAL RESOURCES.......................................................................................................4-1
4.1 INTRODUCTION....................................................................................................................4-1
4.2 APPLICABLE LAWS, REGULATIONS, AND POLICIES...................................................4-2
4.3 AREA OF POTENTIAL EFFECT...........................................................................................4-2
4.4 ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESOURCES – EXISTING CONDITIONS .....................................4-3
4.4.1 Methodology......................................................................................................................4-3
4.4.1.1 Literature and Records Search .................................................................................4-3
4.4.1.2 Field Investigation....................................................................................................4-3
4.4.2 Results ...............................................................................................................................4-4
4.5 ARCHITECTURAL RESOURCES – EXISTING CONDITIONS .........................................4-7
4.5.1 Methodology......................................................................................................................4-7
4.5.1.1 Literature and Records Search, and Consultation with Local Historian ..................4-7
4.5.1.2 Fieldwork .................................................................................................................4-8
4.5.2 Survey Findings and NRHP Evaluation ............................................................................4-8
4.6 CEMETERIES – EXISTING CONDITIONS........................................................................4-11
4.6.1 Methodology....................................................................................................................4-11
4.6.2 Results .............................................................................................................................4-11
4.7 POTENTIAL IMPACTS AND MITIGATION .....................................................................4-13
4.7.1 Energy Center ..................................................................................................................4-13
4.7.2 Compliance with Code of the Town of Wawayanda, New York, v30 Updated
through: 09-15-2007/Part II General Legislation/Chapter 66, Cemetery
Protection/§66-1 – 66-5 ...................................................................................................4-16
4.7.3 Off-Site Electrical Interconnection/Water and Wastewater Pipeline Impacts.................4-16
4.7.3.1 Construction...........................................................................................................4-16
4.7.3.2 Operation................................................................................................................4-17
4.7.4 Mitigation ........................................................................................................................4-17
4.7.5 Unanticipated Discovery Plan .........................................................................................4-17
4.8 CONCLUSION ......................................................................................................................4-18
4.9 REFERENCES.......................................................................................................................4-18
5.0 VISUAL RESOURCES AND AESTHETICS..........................................................................5-1
5.1 INTRODUCTION....................................................................................................................5-1
5.2 EXISTING CONDITIONS ......................................................................................................5-1
5.2.1 Character of the Project Site..............................................................................................5-1
5.2.2 Local Landscape and Land Use.........................................................................................5-1
5.2.3 Visual Resource Inventory ................................................................................................5-2
5.2.3.1 NYSDEC Visual Policy Resource Inventory...........................................................5-2
5.2.3.2 Additional Visual Resources....................................................................................5-6
5.2.3.3 Visually Sensitive Resources of Local Concern ......................................................5-7
5.3 VISUAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE PROJECT .............................................................5-8
5.4 VISUAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT.........................................................................................5-8
5.4.1 Methodology......................................................................................................................5-8
5.4.1.1 Viewshed Analysis Methodology ............................................................................5-8
5.4.1.2 Photosimulations Methodology ..............................................................................5-9
5.4.2 Results .............................................................................................................................5-10
5.4.2.1 Viewshed Analysis.................................................................................................5-10
5.4.2.2 Viewpoint Locations for Photosimulations............................................................5-11
5.4.2.3 Results of Daytime Photosimulations ....................................................................5-14
5.4.2.4 Potential Visual Impacts Along I-84......................................................................5-20
5.4.2.5 Visual Impacts Associated with Aboveground Electrical Transmission Line.......5-21
5.4.2.6 Results of Nighttime Photosimulations..................................................................5-21
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Table of Contents