Mr. John S. Harris, Esq.
Harris
Beach PLLC
677
Broadway, Suite 1101
Albany, NY 12207
Re: Case 12-F-041O -Application of Cape Vincent Wind
Power, LLC for a Certificate of Environmental Compatibility and Public Need to
Construct an Approximately 200-285 Megawatt Wind Electric Generating Facility
in the Town of Cape Vincent, New York.
Dear Mr.
Harris:
This letter
is to inform you that the Staff of the New York State Department of Public
Service (DPS.) has reviewed the proposed Public Involvement Program plan for the
Cape Vincent Wind Farm received from Cape Vincent Wind Power, LLC (Applicant)
on September 17,2012, and finds it to be inadequate. The plan does not
adequately address many measures appropriate to a robust Public Involvement
Program and relies primarily on outreach efforts relative to two separate
previously proposed wind projects, the Cape Vincent Wind Farm and the St.
Lawrence Wind Farm. Those projects were proposed by two different applicants
under the formerly applicable local laws of the Town of Cape Vincent, and
reviewed to some degree of completion under the State Environmental Quality
Review Act ("SEQRA"), rather than the currently proposed project to
be reviewed in the substantially different Public Service Law Article 1 0
process. The proposal concentrates to a large extent on those past outreach
efforts, in the past 2 to 7 years, rather than demonstrating how the applicant
will elicit input from stakeholders for development of the revised,
consolidated project.
2
In an effort to guide and assist you in preparing an
adequate Public Involvement Program plan, DPS. has prepared some specific
recommendations, including recommendations that we believe address the relevant
requirements in the new regulations. In addition, a list of federal, state and
local agencies is provided for outreach consideration when developing the
Public Involvement Program plan. DPS. believes that the application process will
be best streamlined if the Applicant develops a Public Involvement Program plan
that includes outreach to affected agencies and other stakeholders early in the
process to effectively obtain preliminary input that will guide development
of the scope of studies for the application. Finally, an example of a public
involvement program plan for outreach to a local municipality is attached
In addition
to the recommendations listed in Attachment I, Staff provides the following
recommendations specific to the filed Public Involvement Program
("PIP") plan:
1.
The
proposed outreach meetings to the Town of Cape Vincent and Town of Lyme should
include opportunities to solicit input regarding those municipalities'
interests rather than be limited to the narrow issues identified in the PIP.
2.
Many
of the studies cited as component parts of the project information program were
general in nature (e.g., U.S. DOE Property Valuation study) or are somewhat
dated (e.g., EIS documents for prior Cape Vincent and St. Lawrence wind
projects from 2006-08) the applicant should show how it intends to elicit input
to develop scope and analysis of sitespecific and current information that is
responsive to current stakeholder interests and concerns.
3.
The
project area includes a part of the Town of Cape Vincent that was recently
identified by NYS DEC as a potential Environmental Justice area, based on US
Census Bureau from year 2000. 2010 Census data should be reviewed as data
becomes available. The PIP should address plans for focused outreach activities
to reach any communities of concern that are identified in further analysis of
population information, as appropriate.
4.
The
PIP should identify a proposed Study Area, and identify any additional
stakeholders or stakeholder groups that are within that broader area.
Representatives and residents of adjacent municipalities (Le., Town of Clayton;
Wolfe Island, Ontario) should be considered as potential stakeholders based on
regional scale impacts of the proposed large-scale wind energy project, and
potential cumulative impacts with existing or proposed wind energy facilities
in those jurisdictions.
5.
The
list of stakeholders should acknowledge the Department of State, including the
Coastal Resources Management staff, since the project involves designated
Coastal Zone resources including the Chaumont River area proposed to be crossed
by the route of the 115 kV transmission line to the Chaumont substation in the
Town of Lyme.
-2
1.
A
tentative schedule indicating approximate dates for public meetings, and filing
schedule for Preliminary Scoping Statement and Article 10 Application should be
published at proposed project website, newsletters, and workshops or Open House
and other public meetings, as noted in Attachment 1.
Pursuant
to 16 NYCRR 1000.4 (e), Cape Vincent Wind Power, LLC shall within 30 days
consider the measures recommended by DPS and, in a final written Public
Involvement Program plan filed with the Secretary, shall as to each specific
measure either revise the Public Involvement Program plan to incorporate the
DPS recommendation, or provide a written explanation as to why it decided not
to incorporate the recommendations.
In
addition, we would appreciate it ifyou could provide DPS with some basic
project information including (a) a map showing the project area including the
turbine array limits, and the location of electric lines, substations,
switchyard and interconnection points; and (b) a description of the changes
resulting in the consolidated project including the number and size of turbines,
their location, and the project boundary.
If
you have any questions or need further information, please contact me at (518)
473-9463 or by e-mail at debra.labelle@dps.ny.gov.
Sincerely
Debra LaBelle ,
Chief, Consumer Outreach & Education
Steven
D. Wilson, Esq. Michael Rigo, Esq. Richard Chandler
Encl.
SPECIFIC
RECOMMENDATIONS OF DPS AS TO WHAT ACTIONS ARE NECESSARY TO MAKE THE PLAN
ADEOUATE
Article
10 of the Public Service Law, enacted in Chapter 388 of the Laws of 2011,
empowers the State of New York Board on Electric Generation Siting and the
Environment (Siting Board) to issue Certificates of Environmental Compatibility
and Public Need (Certificate) authorizing the construction of major electric
generating facilities. On July 17,2012, the Siting Board adopted new
regulations to implement Article 10 of the Public Service Law. To ensure that
the Siting Board is aware of the concerns of stakeholders throughout the
process, the Article 10 regulations require applicants to actively seek public
participation throughout the planning, pre-application, certification,
compliance, and implementation process.
As
part of the Article 10 process, applicants must conduct a Public Involvement
Program that
includes:
(1) consultation with the
affected agencies and other stakeholders;
(2) pre-application activities to
encourage stakeholders to participate at the earliest opportunity;
(3) activities designed to educate
the public as to the specific proposal and the Article 10 review process,
including the availability of funding for municipal and local parties;
(4) the establishment of a
website to disseminate information to the public;
(5) notifications; and
(6) activities designed to
encourage participation by stakeholders in the certification and compliance
process.
A
fundamental first step in designing a Public Involvement Program is the
identification of affected agencies and other stakeholders specific to the
proposed project. Attachment 2 to this letter is a generic list of typically
affected agencies that may be useful when developing a Public Involvement
Program plan. The list does not identify other stakeholders. Applicants should
identify the actual affected agencies and other stakeholders specific to the
proposed project.
The Article 10 applicant will have
distinct reasons to conduct outreach for each of the affected .
agencies/stakeholders, with varying goals. This will necessitate different
outreach messages
and/or
methodologies for different stakeholders. Attachment 3 to this letter is a
generic sample
plan
for an applicant's outreach to a host municipality that may be useful when
developing a
Public
Involvement Program plan. Applicants should create similar plans for
consultations of
the
actual affected agencies and other stakeholders specific to the proposed
project.
Broader
outreach activities should also be included in the Public Involvement Program
plan for outreach to the general public and to encourage participation in the
certification and compliance process. -
IDENTIFICATION OF SPECIFIC STAKEHOLDERS
No.
Recommendation:
1. The Public Involvement Program
plan (Plan) should identify:
(a) the proposed project
location;
(b) the location of
interconnections, including the identification of municipalities affected;
(c) the location of reasonable
alternative sites, where applicable; and
(d) a preliminary Study Area.
2. The Plan should provide the
methodology for identifying:
(a) the actual affected agencies;
(b) the actual other stakeholders
that may be
affected
by the construction of the facility including:
(i) host landowners; and .
(ii) adjacent landowners; and
(iii) other affected individuals,
groups and organizations; and
(c) whether environmental justice
communities will be affected by the proposal.
3. The Plan should provide a
preliminary specific (non-generic) identification of:
(a) the actual affected agencies;
(b) the actual other stakeholders
that may be affected by the construction of the facility including:
(i) host landowners; and
(ii) adjacent landowners; and
(iii) other affected individuals,
groups and organizations; and
(c) environmental justice communities
that will be affected by the proposal.
LANGUAGE ACCESS
No.
Recommendation:
4. 1 The Plan should identify language(s)
other than English spoken:
(a) according to United States
Census data by 5,000 or more persons residing in any 5 digit zip code postal
zone in which any portion of such zone is located within the preliminary Study
Area for the proposed facility, giving the source of data used; and
(b) by a significant population
of persons residing in close proximity to the proposed facility, alternative
locations and interconnections not captured above.
5.
If languages other than
English
are identified above, the Plan should identify:
I The applicant's September 17, 2012
complies with this recommendation. The fmal plan should include this
information and the Applicant Response Tracking Table should note both the
recommendation and compliance.
-2
(a) how documents will be
translated into languages other than English; and
(b) what provision will be made
for communicating with those members ofthe public at public meetings.
IDENTIFICATION OF GOALS &
METHODS FOR SPECIFIC CONSULTATIONS
No.
Recommendation:
6. For each affected agency and other
stakeholder, the Plan should identify the desired goal ofeach consultation, and
a plan to achieve such goal, including:
(a) the identification
of particular aspects of the environmental setting that may be affected;
(b) the disclosure of potentially
significant adverse environmental and health impacts resulting from the
construction and operation of the proposed facility;
(c) a request for feedback from
each affected agency and other stakeholder asking them to identify additional
material effects and impacts; and
(d) other agency and
stakeholder-specific goals identified by the Applicant.
7. For each specific consultation
identified above, the Plan should:
(a) identity the methods of
outreach to be used;
(b) contain an outreach schedule
with approximate dates, times and locations;
(c) identity who will be doing
the outreach along with their contact information; and
(d) provide a methodology to
measure the success of the outreach.
8.
If an environmental justice community will be affected by the proposal, the
Plan should provide specific measures to address environmental justice outreach
issues.
TRACKING OF PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT PROGRAM ACTIVITIES
No.
Recommendation:
9. The Plan should include a
provision that the Applicant will prepare a monthly spreadsheet-style tracking
report identitying public involvement program activities conducted by the
Applicant, summaries of feedback received in such activities, and summaries
describing any actions taken by the Applicant in response to such feedback. The
report should be fashioned in a manner that it is easy to track the Applicant's
progress towards achieving its public involvement goals. The reports should be
posted on the Applicant's website and filed with the Secretary for posting in
the case file.
-
WEBSITE
No.
Recommendation:
10. The Plan should include:
(a) a description of:
(i) an established project website including website
address; or
(ii) a schedule for developing a website to
disseminate information to the public;
(b) a schedule or outline indicating regular updates
to the website;
(c) a statement of the lead time that will be
provided for the posting ofnotices of future outreach events; and
(d) an identification of the content that will be
provided on the website.
11.2 The
Plan should provide that the website will:
(a) be written in plain language;
(b) be easily navigated;
(c) contain contact information for the Applicant
(e-mail, telephone number and mailing address);
(d) provide links to:
(i) the DPS Article 10 Public Information
Coordinator;
(ii) the Siting Board home page; and
(iii) case-specific documents;
(e) include information on the Article 10 process;
(f) explain the Intervenor Funding process
(including stating the specific dollar amounts of funding that will be
available for each phase of the project);
(g) contain project-specific information;
(h) contain a map ofthe proposed facility and
alternate facility locations and interconnections; and
(i) provide a schedule that lists:
(i) dates/times/locations for in-person outreach
events; and
(ii) key milestone dates, such as date when the
application will be filed.
2 The applicant's September 17,2012 filing
contains plans for a website that complies with these recommendations. The fmal
plan should include this information and the Applicant Response Tracking Table
should note both the recommendation and compliance.
-4
PUBLIC
CONSULTATIONS AND OUTREACH
No.
Recommendation:
12.
The Plan should:
(a) identify general outreach activities
specifically scheduled to take place prior to submittal of the application,
including mailings, open houses, meetings, seminars/webinars, etc., to inform,
engage, and solicit input from the local community, general public, and other
stakeholders;
(b) identify how information relative to events open
to the public will be disseminated;
(c) include material to educate the public as to the
specific proposal, including project technology, location of facilities,
proposed study area, outline of the scope of studies to be provided in the
application, etc.;
(d) include educational material relative to the
Article 10 review process and why the Applicant is conducting a Public
Involvement Program;
(e) include material to educate the public on how it
may become involved in each step of the Article 10 review process;
(t) provide an explanation as to how
outreach activities will solicit input regarding public interests that don't
fall into the categories outlined in the PIP; and
(g) include educational material on Intervenor
Funding (including stating the specific dollar amounts of funding that will be
available for each phase of the project).
13.
Since previous outreach has been done relative to two separate proposals that
have been consolidated into this proposal, the Plan should include material to
educate the public on what has changed, for both approval process changes and
project changes, including:
(a) an explanation of why the Applicant has decided
to submit an Article 10 application instead of seeking local siting approvals;
(b) a description of the differences between the
Article 10 process and the local siting process;
(c) a description of how the applicant will address
Public Comments received regarding the previous proposals and the outreach
relative to those proposals;
(d) if the number of turbines will be different than
previously identified:
(i) an explanation why the Applicant has decided to
change the number of turbines; and
(ii) a description of the changes in impacts that
can be expected by changing the number of turbines;
(e) if the height of turbines will be greater than
previously identified:
(i) an explanation why the Applicant has decided to
increase the height of turbines; and
(ii) a description of the changes in impacts that
can be expected by increasing the height of turbines; and
(t) if the setbacks of the turbines
will be less than previously promised:
(i) an explanation why the Applicant has decided to
decrease the setbacks of turbines; and
(ii) a description of the changes in impacts that
can be expected by decreasing the setbacks of turbines.
-5
NOTIFICATIONS
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. No
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Recommendation:
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14.
|
The Plan should
provide information regarding notifications to identify: (a) when notices
will be issued (provide a schedule) and what information they will contain;
(b) who will receive notifications; (c) the manner in which notifications
will be made (for example, whether notifications will be in the same manner
as the town would notice a regular town meeting); (d) draft form letters
and/or notices; (e) specific publications and media outlets that will be used
to provide general public information and notifications and why they were
selected, which should include the official newspapers ofthe affected
municipalities; . (t) which languages will be used for notices and why they were selected;
and (g) whether E-maillistserves will also be used to send notices.
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ACTIVITIES TO ENCOURAGE
PARTICIPATION
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No.
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Recommendation:
|
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15.
|
The Plan should
identify: (a) activities designed to encourage participation by stakeholders
in the certification; (b) activities designed to encourage participation by
stakeholders in the compliance process; (c) the goals ofthese activities; (d)
methodologies for measuring the success ofsuch activities; (e) a schedule
ofsuch activities indicating when and where they will be conducted; and (t)
how
information relative to events open to the public will be disseminated
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REQUIRED
AGENCYIMUNICIPAL PRE-APPLICATION CONSULTATIONS
No. Recommendation:
16. The Article 10 Regulations require a
number of specific consultations with affected agencies and municipalities. The
Plan should include a schedule of the required consultations with approximate
dates, times and locations and identifying who will be doing the outreach along
with their contact information. If a consultation is not applicable to the
proposed facility, the schedule should so indicate.
17. The schedule of required
consultations should include, if applicable:
(a) consultation
with DPS, NYISO and the local transmission owners to identify applicable
requirements to be used to demonstrate the degree of compliance with all
relevant applicable reliability criteria of the Northeast Power Coordinating
Council Inc., New York State Reliability Council, and the local interconnecting
transmission utility, including any criteria regarding black start and fuel
switching capabilities [16 NYCRR 1001.5(n)];
(b) consultation
with DPS and DEC to develop an acceptable input data set, including modeling
for the Applicant's proposed facility and inputs for the emissions analysis, to
be used in the simulation analyses [16 NYCRR 1001.8];
(c) consultation
with DOH and DEC to determine a set of non-criteria (i.e. toxic) pollutants to
be emitted from the proposed facility [16 NYCRR 1001.17(c)(9)];
(d) consultation
with DOH and DEC to' determine appropriate pollutants for an estimation of the
maximum potential air concentrations (short and long term) [16 NYCRR 100 1.17(
d)(1)];
(e) consultation
with DOH and DEC to determine appropriate pollutants for a comparison of the
maximum predicted air concentrations to ambient air quality standards and
guidelines and ambient background concentrations for non-criteria pollutants for
both short-term and long-term exposures [16 NYCRR 100 1.17(d)(2)];
(f) consultation
with DOH and DEC to determine if cumulative
source impact analyses for any appropriate pollutant in accordance with air
permitting requirements and 6 NYCRR Part 487 are warranted [16 NYCRR
1001.17(d)(3)];
(g) consultation
with OPRHP to determine if a Phase IB cultural resources study is required [16
NYCRR 1001.20(a)(3)];
(h) consultation
with OPRHP to determine if a Phase II study based on intensive archaeological
field investigations shall be conducted to assess the boundaries, integrity and
significance of cultural resources identified in Phase I studies [16 NYCRR
1001.20(a)(4)];
(i) consultation
with OPRHP and DPS to determine the need for and scope of work for any required
Phase II cultural resources study [16 NYCRR 1001.20(a)(4)];
G)
consultation
with local historic preservation groups to identify sites or structures listed
or eligible for listing on the State or National Register of Historic Places
within the viewshed of the facility and within the study area [16 NYCRR
1001.20(b)];
-7
(k) consultation with DEC, DPS, OPRHP, and APA where
appropriate to establish representative viewpoints for the photographic
simulations of the facility and interconnections [16 NYCRR 1001.24(b)(4)];
(1) consultation with the affected
school districts to inform the Applicant's estimate of incremental school
district operating and infrastructure costs due to the construction and
operation of the facility [16 NYCRR 1001.27(t)];
(m)consultation with the affected municipalities,
public authorities, and utilities to inform the Applicant's estimate of incremental
municipal, public authority, or utility operating and infrastructure costs that
will be incurred for police, fire, emergency, water, sewer, solid waste
disposal, highway maintenance and other municipal, public authority, or utility
services during the construction and operation phases of the facility [16 NYCRR
1001.27(g)];
(n) consultation with the affected local emergency
response organizations to inform the Applicant's analysis of whether all
contingency plans to be implemented in response to the occurrence of a fire
emergency or a hazardous substance incident can be fulfilled by existing local
emergency response capacity, and in that regard identifying any specific
equipment or training deficiencies in local emergency response capacity [16
NYCRR 1001.27(k)];
(0) consultation with the
municipalities or other local agencies whose requirements are the subject of the
local laws exhibit to determine whether the Applicant has correctly identified
all such requirements and to determine whether any potential request by the
Applicant that the Board elect to not apply any such local requirement could be
obviated by design changes to the proposed facility, or otherwise [16 NYCRR
1001.31]; and
(P) consultation with the state agencies and
authorities whose requirements are the subject of the State Laws and
Regulations exhibit to determine whether the Applicant has correctly identified
all such requirements [16 NYCRR 1001.32].
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REQUIRED AIRPORT HELIPORT
PRE-APPLICATION CONSULTATIONS
No. Recommendations
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18.
|
The
Article 10 Regulations require a number of specific consultations related to
air transportation impacts. According to the Federal Aviation Administration
database, there are a number of public airports and heliports near the
location of the proposed facility. The Public Involvement Plan should include
a schedule of the required consultations with approximate dates, times and
locations and identifying who will be doing the outreach along with their
contact information. If a consultation is not applicable to the proposed
facility, the schedule should so indicate.
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19.
|
The
Plan should also: (a) identify the necessity of consultations with the
operators of airports or heliports [16 NYCRR 1000.4(f) &
1001.25(e)&(f)]; (b) provide the methodology used to identify the
operators; (c) . include outreach to inform such operators of the proposed
facility and its location prior to the submission of the preliminary scoping
statement [16 NYCRR 1000.4(f)]; (d) include an informal Department of Defense
review of the proposed construction or alteration, in accordance with 32 Code
of Federal Regulations, Section 211.7; or a formal Department of Defense
review of the proposed construction or alteration in accordance with 32 Code
of Federal Regulations, Section 211.6 [16NYCRR I 001.25(f)(1 )]; and (e)
include consultations with operators of airports and heliports that are
non-military facilities, including providing a detailed map and description
of such construction or alteration to such operators, and a request for
review of and comment on such construction or alteration by such operators [16
NYCRR 1001.25(f)(2)].
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APPLICANT RESPONSE
TRACKING TABLE
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No.Recommendation:
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20.
|
The
Plan should include a table listing by rows each separate DPS staff
recommendation set forth in this attachment in one column, and in a second
column a statement for each row that either: (a) the Applicant has revised
the Public Involvement Program plan to incorporate the DPS recommendation
(giving the section or page number of the Plan where the revision appears);
or (b) providing a written explanation as to why the Applicant decided not to
incorporate the recommendations.
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ATTACHMENT 2
GENERIC LIST OF
AGENCY STAKEHOLDERS FOR PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT PLANS AND OUTREACH
MUNICIPALITIES
WITHIN PROJECT STUDY AREA
County,
Town, City, Village officials -chief executive officer(s), planning offices,
etc.
PUBLIC
AIRPORT and HELIPORTS -owners/operators within required distances
NEW YORK STATE
AGENCIES
NYS
Dept. of Agriculture and Markets -agricultural lands, agricultural districts,
impact avoidance and mitigation measures
NYS
Dept of Environmental Conservation -environmental justice rules, air emissions,
natural resources, ecologic resources, bird and bat studies, storm water
planning, open space conservation planning, etc.
NYS
Dept of State coastal resources, coastal zones and inland waterways, local
waterfront revitalization plans, south shore estuary reserve office
NYS Office of Parks. Recreation and Historic
Preservation State Historic Preservation Officer, state historic sites, state
parks, recreation resources, open space conservation planning, etc.
NYS Division of Homeland Security and
Emergency Services-emergency preparedness plans, critical infrastructure
impacts, etc.
NYS
Dept. of Public Service -Public Information Officer, Office of Gas, Electric
& Water, Office of Energy Efficiency & Environment, Office of Consumer Policy,
as appropriate
NYS
Department of Transportation –NYS highway work and occupancy permit
requirements, oversize deliveries
NYS Dept. of Health -public health issues
Empire
State Development Corporation -economic development, Empire Zones
State Legislature --members of the State
Senate and State Assembly representing locations within project study area (depending
on timing of the filing of the preliminary Scoping Statement, the
identification may need to consider both the current districts and the newly
revised districts that take effect in January, 2013).
REGIONAL or
LOCATIONAL AGENCIES
Adirondack
Park Agency for projects within or adjoining Adirondack Park "blue
line"
Central Pine Barrens Joint Planning and Policy
Commission for projects in Pine Barrens Preserve areas
Heritage Areas: e.g., Mohawk Valley Heritage
Corridor Commission
Hudson River
Valley Greenway for projects in Greenway community locations
NYS Office of General Services -for NYS-owned
underwater lands
South Shore Reserve Office -for the Long Island
South Shore Estuary Reserve area
Thruway Commission/Canal Corporation for projects
within transportation corridors
Tug Hill Commission for projects within or adjoining
Tug Hill Communities –
FEDERAL AGENCIES
Dept.
of Defense Clearinghouse for Energy Development hazards to military aviation,
RADAR ILORAN and
communications
Federal Aviation
Administration hazards to aviation, airport
US Army Corps of
Engineers wetlands and navigable waterways
US Fish & Wildlife Service
federally listed endangered species, migratory birds
NOAA
-National Marine Fisheries Service -fisheries resources, federally listed
endangered
ATTACHMENT 3
EXAMPLE PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT PROGRAM PLAN COMPONENT
FOR OUTREACH TO HOST TOWN
In
developing a Public Involvement Program plan component for outreach to the host
municipality
(Town), an applicant should consider its objectives for the outreach to the
Town and what type of information it should convey and gather in advancing the
application process. An applicant should also be mindful of the objectives an 4
information a Town would want to gain from outreach from an applicant about the
project and anticipate them to the best of its ability.
Initial Outreach to Host Town
a. Describe the goals of consultation:
•
Meet
town representatives;
•
Disseminate
Information;
•
Request
Information that will help advance the PIP process and preparation of the
Application; and,
•
Schedule
follow up meeting(s) and consultation (s).
•
b.
Describe the measure of success for the consultation:
•
Consultation would be deemed successful if the information described below in
"Disseminate Information" was provided to Town representatives,
information was gathered to help advance the PIP process and preparation of the
application, and follow up meetings or consultations were either scheduled or
will be scheduled (provide more detail).
Disseminate
Information
• Project o Describe the project
and location.
• Describe Article 10 of the
Public Service Law.
•
o
Explain the phases of the Article 10 process.
•
o
Explain why the project is going through the Article 10 process.
•
o
Explain the Public Involvement Plan and why the applicant is conducting the
outreach.
•
o
Explain how the Town can participate in each step of the Article 10 process.
•
o
Describe the available Intervenor Funding why it is available, how much will be
available, when the funds will be available, who is eligible for funding, what
the process is for obtaining funding.
•
Describe
additional consultations and outreach the applicant is conducting, including
plans for outreach with Town residents.
•
Advise
of outreach or activities to encourage participation of the Town and its
residents and provide a schedule of any planned activities. Describe the goal
of the outreach.
•
Provide
information to the Town regarding where residents can get additional
information on the project and Article 10 and provide the website information.
•
If
any language other than English is spoken, advise the Town of where information
about the project, Article 10 process, and outreach opportunities is available
in the other language(s) and describe any specialized outreach opportunities
for this group.
•
Environmental
Justice advise of any communities identified and specific outreach targeting
those Environmental Justice communities.
•
Next
Steps -describe the next steps in the process, when the Preliminary Scoping
will commence and how the Town can Participate.
Request Information
•
Elicit
specific local interests for consideration in project development, location and
design, as well as suggestions for approach to local public involvement
activities.
•
•
Request contact information for discussion of:
•
o
Payment
in lieu of taxes agreement
•
o
Highway
work agreements
•
o
Local
Laws
•
•
Follow up activity: consult with representative of the municipality and other
local agencies whose requirements are the subject of the local laws exhibit to
determine whether the applicant has correctly identified all such requirements
and to determine whether the applicant has correctly identified all such
requirements and to determine whether any potential request by the applicant
that the Board elect to not apply any such local requirements could be obviated
by design changes to the proposed facility, or otherwise.
•
o
Emergency Response Organizations
•
•
Follow up activity: consult with affected local emergency response
organizations to inform the applicant's analysis of whether all contingency
plans to be implemented in response to the occurrence of a fire emergency or a
hazardous substance incident can be fulfilled by existing local emergency
response capacity, and identify any specific equipment or training deficiencies
in local emergency response capacity.
•
o
Environmental Impact Review
•
•
Follow up activity:
•
Disclose
potentially significant adverse environmental and health impact resulting from
the construction and operation of the proposed facility including an
identification of particular aspects of the environmental setting that may
affect the Town.
•
Request
the Town to advise of any additional material environmental impacts or effects
ofthe project on the Town based on the description provided.
•
o
Chief Executive or Chief Financial Officer
•
•
Follow up activity: Inform the Town of the applicant's estimated incremental
municipal operating and infrastructure costs incurred for police, fire,
emergency, water, sewer, solid waste disposal, highway maintenance and other
municipal services during the construction and operation phases of the
facility.
•
Request
contact information for interest groups or community leaders.
•
Inquire
which news sources are used by the Town for official notices and whether any
specific rules apply for notice for town meetings.
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