Lake Erie Connector Project - Energy
Lake Erie Connector ProjectFinal Environmental AssessmentVolume 1 – Main DocumentU.S. Department of EnergyOffice of Electricity Delivery and Energy ReliabilityWashington DCOctober 2016
Cover Photo Creditshttp://www.itclakeerieconnector.com/
FINALLAKE ERIE CONNECTOR PROJECTENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENTVolume 1—Main DocumentDOE/EA-2019U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGYOFFICE OF ELECTRICITY DELIVERYAND ENERGY RELIABILITYCOOPERATING AGENCYU.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS
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Lake Erie Connector ProjectFinal Environmental AssessmentCOVER SHEETRESPONSIBLE FEDERAL AGENCYU.S. Department of Energy (DOE)Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy ReliabilityCOOPERATING AGENCIESU.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Pittsburgh DistrictTITLEITC Lake Erie Connector ProjectLOCATIONErie County, PennsylvaniaCONTACTSFor additional information on this Final EA contact:Mr. Brian MillsNational Environmental Policy Act Document ManagerOffice of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability, OE-20U.S. Department of EnergyWashington, DC 20585Telephone: (202) 586-8267Brian.Mills@hq.doe.govABSTRACT:ITC Lake Erie Connector, LLC (ITC Lake Erie) applied to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) fora Presidential permit to construct, operate and maintain an approximate 72-mile long, 1,000-megawatt(MW), /-320-kilovolt (kV), high-voltage direct current (HVDC) electric power transmission systemthat originates in Haldimand County, Ontario, Canada and terminates in Erie County, Pennsylvania,United States. The United States’ portion of the proposed ITC Lake Erie (LEC) Project isapproximately 42.8 miles in length. This Environmental Assessment (EA) addresses the potentialenvironmental impacts of the proposed transmission cable (Preferred Alternative) and the No ActionAlternative. The proposed transmission cable would include both aquatic (underwater) and terrestrial(primarily underground) segments in Pennsylvania. The underwater portions of the proposedtransmission cable would be buried in the bed of Lake Erie, and the terrestrial portions would be buried,principally in roadway right-of-way (ROW). The proposed LEC Project would cross the United StatesCanadian border in Lake Erie as a submerged cable (approximately 35 miles underwater in Lake Eriewithin the United States) and would emerge onshore on private property, west of Erie Bluffs State Park.The proposed LEC Project would then track approximately 7 miles underground to a proposed /- 320kV new direct current (DC) to 345-kV alternating current (AC) HVDC converter station (new ErieConverter Station) in Conneaut Township, Erie County, Pennsylvania. Approximately 2,153 feet of345-kV AC underground transmission cables would run between the new proposed Erie ConverterStation and the nearby Penelec Erie West Substation. The proposed LEC Project would terminate atthe existing Penelec Erie West Substation and interconnect with the transmission system operated byPJM Interconnection, LLC, (PJM), a Regional Transmission Operator (RTO).PUBLIC COMMENTS: Comments on the Draft EA were accepted from June 3, 2016 – July 5,2016, following Notice of Availability (NOA) in the Erie Times newspaper. The NOA was sent tointerested parties, including federal, state, and local officials; regulatory agency representatives;U.S. Department of EnergyOctober 2016i
Lake Erie Connector ProjectFinal Environmental Assessmentstakeholder organizations; and private individuals in the vicinity of the proposed transmission line.The Draft EA was available to the general public on the Project website atwww.lakeerieconnectorea.com. All comments were considered during preparation of the Final EA.Appendix I-Comment Response Document of this Final EA contains revisions and new informationbased in part on comments received on the Draft EIS. Vertical bars in the margins marking changedtext indicate the locations of these revisions and new information. Deletions are not indicated.The Final EA analyzes the potential environmental impacts of the DOE issuing a Presidential permitfor the proposed LEC Project, which is DOE’s proposed Federal action (Preferred Alternative). If theDOE determines that granting a Presidential permit is in the public interest, the information containedin this Final EA will help to inform the DOE’s decision regarding potential mitigation measures andother conditions of the permit. Copies of the Final EA are available for public review at local librariesas noted in Appendix A–EA Distribution List of the Final EA or a copy may be requested from Mr.Brian Mills.The Final EA also is available on the LEC Project EA website(http://lakeerieconnectorea.com).U.S. Department of EnergyOctober 2016ii
Lake Erie Connector ProjectFinal Environmental AssessmentTABLE OF CONTENTSCOVER SHEET. iABSTRACT . iTABLE OF CONTENTS . iiiLIST OF APPENDICES . vTABLE OF FIGURES . viTABLE OF TABLES . vi1 PURPOSE OF AND NEED FOR THE ACTION . 1-11.1 Background . 1-11.2 DOE’s Purpose of and Need for Agency Action . 1-21.3 DOE’s Proposed Action . 1-21.4 ITC Lake Erie’s Objectives . 1-21.5 Public Participation and Interagency Coordination . 1-31.6 Interagency Coordination. 1-31.7 Draft EA Public Review Period . 1-41.8 Organization of this Final EA . 1-52 PROPOSED ACTION AND ALTERNATIVES . 2-12.1 Proposed Action . 2-12.2 No Action Alternative . 2-12.3 Proposed Lake Erie Connector Project Overview . 2-12.4 Proposed Project Location, Design, and Construction Methods . 2-32.4.1 Description of Proposed Route Segments. 2-32.4.2 Aquatic Direct Current Transmission Cable . 2-42.4.3 Terrestrial Transmission Cable . 2-72.4.4 Proposed New Erie Converter Station Description . 2-102.4.5 Construction and Schedule . 2-152.5 Decommissioning . 2-212.6 Alternatives Considered but Eliminated from Further Detailed Analysis . 2-213 AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT . 3-13.1 Lake Erie Segment. 3-23.1.1 Land Use . 3-23.1.2 Transportation and Traffic . 3-23.1.3 Water Resources and Quality . 3-33.1.4 Aquatic Habitats and Species . 3-73.1.5 Protected and Sensitive Aquatic Species . 3-113.1.6 Terrestrial Habitats and Species . 3-123.1.7 Terrestrial Protected and Sensitive Species . 3-133.1.8 Terrestrial Wetlands . 3-153.1.9 Geology and Soils . 3-163.1.10 Cultural Resources . 3-173.1.11 Infrastructure . 3-193.1.12 Recreation . 3-203.1.13 Visual Resources . 3-213.1.14 Public Health and Safety . 3-223.1.15 Noise. 3-233.1.16 Hazardous Materials and Wastes . 3-243.1.17 Air Quality . 3-253.1.18 Socioeconomics. 3-303.1.19 Environmental Justice . 3-343.2 Overland Segment . 3-35U.S. Department of EnergyOctober 2016iii
Lake Erie Connector ProjectFinal Environmental Assessment3.2.1 Land Use .3-353.2.2 Transportation and Traffic .3-363.2.3 Water Resources and Quality .3-383.2.4 Aquatic Habitats and Species .3-413.2.5 Protected and Sensitive Aquatic Species .3-413.2.6 Terrestrial Habitats and Species .3-423.2.7 Terrestrial Protected and Sensitive Species .3-433.2.8 Terrestrial Wetlands.3-453.2.9 Geology and Soils.3-473.2.10 Cultural Resources .3-483.2.11 Infrastructure .3-503.2.12 Recreation .3-543.2.13 Visual Resources .3-553.2.14 Public Health and Safety .3-563.2.15 Noise .3-563.2.16 Hazardous Materials and Wastes .3-573.2.17 Air Quality .3-583.2.18 Socioeconomics .3-583.2.19 Environmental Justice .3-584 ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES OF THE NO ACTION ALTERNATIVE.4-15 ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES OF THE PROPOSED LAKE ERIE CONNECTORPROJECT .5-15.1 Lake Erie Segment .5-15.1.1 Land Use .5-15.1.2 Transportation and Traffic .5-15.1.3 Water Resources and Quality .5-25.1.4 Aquatic Habitats and Species .5-55.1.5 Aquatic Protected and Sensitive Species .5-125.1.6 Terrestrial Habitats and Species .5-145.1.7 Terrestrial Protected and Sensitive Species .5-155.1.8 Terrestrial Wetlands.5-165.1.9 Geology and Soils.5-165.1.10 Cultural Resources .5-175.1.11 Infrastructure .5-185.1.12 Recreation .5-215.1.13 Visual Resources .5-225.1.14 Public Health and Safety .5-225.1.15 Noise .5-245.1.16 Hazardous Materials and Wastes .5-255.1.17 Air Quality .5-255.1.18 Socioeconomics .5-265.1.19 Environmental Justice .5-275.2 Overland Segment.5-275.2.1 Land Use .5-275.2.2 Transportation and Traffic .5-285.2.3 Water Resources and Quality .5-295.2.4 Aquatic Habitats and Species .5-325.2.5 Aquatic Protected and Sensitive Species .5-345.2.6 Terrestrial Habitats and Species .5-345.2.7 Terrestrial Protected and Sensitive Species .5-365.2.8 Terrestrial Wetlands.5-39U.S. Department of EnergyOctober 2016iv
Lake Erie Connector Project67891011Final Environmental Assessment5.2.9 Geology and Soils . 5-435.2.10 Cultural Resources . 5-455.2.11 Infrastructure . 5-465.2.12 Recreation . 5-495.2.13 Visual Resources . 5-505.2.14 Public Health and Safety . 5-535.2.15 Noise. 5-545.2.16 Hazardous Materials and Wastes . 5-595.2.17 Air Quality . 5-595.2.18 Socioeconomics. 5-615.2.19 Environmental Justice . 5-61CUMULATIVE AND OTHER IMPACTS . 6-16.1 Cumulative Impacts Analysis . 6-16.1.1 Other Actions Considered for Potential Cumulative Impacts . 6-16.1.2 Cumulative Impacts . 6-2LIST OF PREPARERS . 7-1REFERENCES . 8-1ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS . 9-1GLOSSARY . 10-1INDEX . 11-1LIST OF APPENDICESAppendix AAppendix BAppendix CAppendix DAppendix EAppendix FAppendix GAppendix HAppendix IAppendix JEnvironmental Assessment Distribution ListDetailed Maps of the Lake Erie Connector Transmission SystemProject Route Alternatives Considered but Eliminated from Further AnalysisCWA Section 404 and Section 10 Permit ApplicationEndangered Species Act Section 7 DocumentationNational Historic Preservation Act Section 106 DocumentationContractor Disclosure StatementPennsylvania Coastal Resources Management ProgramComment Response DocumentBlasting Plan and other PA State Project DocumentsU.S. Department of EnergyOctober 2016v
Lake Erie Connector ProjectFinal Environmental AssessmentTABLE OF FIGURESFigure 2-1Figure 2-2Figure 2-3Figure 2-4Figure 2-5Figure 2-6Figure 2-7Figure 2-8Figure 2-9Figure 2-10Figure 2-11Figure 3-1Figure 3-2Figure 3-3Figure 3-4Figure 4-1Figure 5-1Figure 5-2Figure 5-3Figure 5-4Figure 5-5Figure 5-6Figure 5-7Proposed LEC Project Overview Map with Underwater and Underground TransmissionCable Routes .2-2Example Aquatic HVDC Transmission Cable Cross-Section .2-5Proposed LEC Project Route in Kilometer Post .2-6Typical Transmission Cable Cross Sections .2-8Typical Duct Bank Cross Section.2-9Preliminary Erie Converter Station Site Location and Layout .2-11Proposed Lake Erie Project Converter Site Representative Figure .2-12Proposed Lake Erie Project Converter Hall .2-13Proposed Lake Erie Project HDVC Converter Station AC and DC Yard . 2-14Photograph of a Typical Jet Plow.2-18Diagram of a Typical Jet Plow .2-18Regions of Lake Erie Segment .3-4Average Annual Unemployment Rate for the Region of Influence for the ProposedLEC Project .3-32Infrastructure Conflicts – Underground Cable Route .3-52Private Wells – Underground Cable Route .3-53Pennsylvania Electricity Generation by Fuel Type .4-2Proposed Underwater and Underground Cable Route, KM Posts, Surficial Geology andTrawl Sample Sites for Eastern Sand Darter.5-4Calculated Magnetic Field Profile for Cables Strapped Together, Laid Horizontally,Oriented at 20 North of East, and Buried at a Depth of 1.6 Feet .5-10Calculated Magnetic Field Profile for Cables Oriented North-South and Buried at aDepth of 3.28 Feet; the Cables Are Separated by 57.4 Feet .5-11Lake Erie Surface Currents .5-19Existing Conditions View of the Location of the Proposed New Erie Converter StationSite .5-52Site after Construction of the New Erie Converter Station and Installation of theVegetative Buffer .5-52Predicted Sound Levels (dBA) Without Emergency Generator .5-58TABLE OF TABLESTable 1-1Table 2-1Table 3-1Table 3-2Table 3-3Table 3-4Table 3-5Table 3-6Table 3-7Table 3-8Table 3-9Table 3-10Table 3-11Table 3-12Proposed LEC Project Presidential Permit Application Milestones .1-3Proposed LEC Project Route Summary.2-4Region of Influence for the Proposed Lake Erie Connector Project Resources .3-1Average Concentrations of Metals and PCBs in Surficial Sediments of Lake Erie .3-6Annual Commercial Harvest of Common Fish Species in Lake Erie . 3-10Known Cultural Resources in the APE for the Lake Erie Segment .3-19Magnetic Field Levels of Various Household Appliances .3-23Noise Levels from Common Sources .3-24National and Pennsylvania State Ambient Air Quality Standards .3-262011 Lake Segment Air Emissions Inventory.3-27Monthly Temperature Data for 1980 through 2010 and 2011 through 2015 . 3-28Monthly Snowfall and Precipitation Data for 1980 through 2010 and 2011 through2015 .3-29Population Estimates for the Region of Influence for the Proposed LEC Project . 3-30Estimated 2014 Employment Status for the Region of Influence for the Proposed LECProject .3-31U.S. Department of EnergyOctober 2016vi
Lake Erie Connector ProjectTable 3-13Table 3-14Table 3-15Table 3-16Table 3-17Table 3-18Table 3-19Table 3-20Table 3-21Table 3-22Table 3-23Table 3-24Table 3-25Table 5-1Table 5-2Table 5-3Table 5-4Table 5-5Table 5-6Final Environmental AssessmentEstimated 2014 Employment by Industry for the Region of Influence for the ProposedLEC Project . 3-33Estimated Housing Data for the Region of Influence for the LEC Project. 3-34Land Uses in Erie County Overland Segment . 3-35Proposed LEC Project Route . 3-37Laydown Areas for the Proposed LEC Project . 3-37Waterbodies Along the Proposed and Alternate Routes for the Lake Erie ConnectorProject. 3-39Fish Species in Waterbodies Crossed by the Overland Segment of the Proposed LECProject. 3-41Wetlands Identified Within the Survey Cooridor of the Overland Segment of theProposed LEC Project . 3-46Known Archaeological Sites in the Overland Segment Area of Potential Effect . 3-49Field-Identified Archaeological Resources in the Overland Segment . 3-50Inventoried Properties in the Overland Segment Area of Potential Effects . 3-50Shoreline Recreation Areas within 5 Miles of the Proposed LEC Project . 3-55Race, Poverty and Household Income Demographics in 2014 for the Region ofInfluence for the LEC Proejct . 3-60Proposed Effects on Waterbodies in the Overland Segment of the LEC Project . 5-32Potential Waterbody Effects Associated with the Proposed LEC Project . 5-33Summary of Effects of the Proposed ITC LEC Project on Terrestrial Wetlands in theOverland Segment . 5-40Details About Affected Wetlands within the Overland Segment of the Proposed LECProject. 5-42Noise Levels of Typical Construction Equipment . 5-55Noise Model Results for Residences near the Proposed New Erie Converter Station . 5-57U.S. Department of EnergyOctober 2016vii
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Lake Erie Connector Project11.1Final Environmental AssessmentPURPOSE OF AND NEED FOR THE ACTIONBACKGROUNDOn May 29, 2015, ITC Lake Erie Connector, LLC (ITC Lake Erie or Applicant) applied to the UnitedStates (U.S.) Department of Energy (DOE) for a Presidential permit in accordance with ExecutiveOrder (EO) 10485, as amended by EO 12038, and the regulations at 10 Code of Federal Regulations(CFR) §205.320 et seq. (2000), “Application for Presidential Permit Authorizing the Construction,Connection, Operation, and Maintenance of Facilities for Transmission of Electric Energy atInternational Boundaries.”The proposed Lake Erie Connector Project (LEC or Project) consists of an approximate 72-mile long,1,000-megawatt (MW), /-320-kilovolt (kV), high-voltage direct current (HVDC) electric powertransmission system that originates in Haldimand County, Ontario, Canada and terminates in ErieCounty, Pennsylvania, Unit
ITC Lake Erie Connector, LLC (ITC Lake Erie) applied to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) for a Presidential permit to construct, operate and maintain an approximate 72mile long, 1,000- -megawatt (MW), /-320-kilovolt (kV), high-voltage
2019 Lake Erie Lake Sturgeon Working Group Report This document is intended to provide an update regarding lake sturgeon activities within the Lake Erie basin. Please contact the agency leads listed for more information about a specific project. . but were detected on
Governor Bob Taft and ODOT Direc-tor Gordon Proctor designated the Lake Erie Coastal Trail as the state’s 21 scenic byway on April 22. They were joined by members of Lake Erie Coastal Ohio and representatives from communities across northern Ohio. “Lake Erie is one of Ohio’s most pre-cious and unique natural resources,” said
study, both three-lake plans (including a new control structure to regulate Lake Erie) and five-lake plans (two new structures, one for Erie and the other for Lakes Huron and Michigan) were formulated [IJC, 1993b]. The three-lake plans turned ou
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County, Ontario and Erie County, Pennsylvania, United States crossing Lake Erie. The Project has been proposed to connect the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) market in Ontario with the market in the US mid-Atlantic and Midwest. The Project represents 544 million in direct
Thomas Talarico, Nicole Inan . Pennsylvania Policy Forum, from Solicitor, Richard Perhacs, in which he stated "Empower Erie" and the "Western Pennsylvania Policy Forum" are private entities separate and distinct from the County of Erie." Mr. Davis's question to Council regarding this is that, if Empower Erie is separate from the County, why did Tim McNair current Chair of Empower Erie send a .
We have the ability to change our community's future. Erie County Community College Submitted to: The State Board of Education 333 Market Street Harrisburg, PA 17126-0333 Submitted by: The County of Erie 140 West Sixth Street, Room 116 Erie, PA 16501-1081 June 2017 A Proposal for the Establishment of a Public Community College in Erie County .
as advanced engineering mathematics and applied numerical methods. The greatest beneÞt to the reader will probably be derived through study of the programs relat-' 2003 by CRC Press LLC. ing mainly to physics and engineering applications. Furthermore, we believe that several of the MATLAB functions are useful as general utilities. Typical examples include routines for spline interpolation .
