Comments to the PSC Concerning BP's CVWF Survey

7/29/2019 Comments to the PSC Concerning BP's CVWF Survey

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1:Z- r - 6'1 1RECE IVED PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION EXEC-FlLES- ALBANY

2013 SEP 19 PM 3: 222570 Ponds Shore DriveCape Vincent, NY 13618September 16, 2013

Hon. Jeffrey CohenActing Secretary to the CommissionNew York State Public Service Commission3 Empire State PlazaAlbany, NY 12223

Re: Case No: 12-F-0410 / Cape Vincent Wind Farm

Dear Acting Secretary Cohen,Enclosed is a copy of the survey sent to our home by Trieste Associates ofSaratoga Springs, NY and my responses, because they express my opinionsconcerning the proposed wind farm, which I believe would destroy many ofthe views of great value to me in Cape Vincent. Thank you for your time.

Sincerely,

Virginia Brown


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VISUAL CHARACTERISTICS SURVEY

What scenic vistas or places do you feel are the most beautiful in the Town of Cape Vincent1. (including the Village of Cape Vincent)? Please describe the following below: I) locatIOn and overall view, 2) specific elements that define the character oftbe vIew, and 3) the most memorable elements of the landscape. I f additional space is needed, please use the attached sheet. For example, view oj/he St. Lawrence RiverJrom the Village ojCape Vincent public boatlallnch 011 NYRoute 12E. The visible water, islands, andpassing boats define the view and are the most memorable elements oj this landscape. -Looking out our front window on Ponds Shore Drive in the Town of Cape Vincent we see Lake Ontario betweenFox and Grenadier Islands, gorgeous sunsets, flocks of diving and surface ducks, swans, Canadian geese, songbirds, great blue herons, and islands free of man-made wind turbines with dangerous spinning blades andannoying blinking red lights. Driving along County Route 6 toward the Village of Cape Vincent we enjoyopen fields of wildflowers such as Queen Anne's Lace, Chicory, purple asters, and goldenrod; farms with growingcrops, and grasslands where deer, horses, and cows graze peacefully; and horizons free of skyscrapers or other talledifices such as 124497' wind turbines. In the winter the snowmobile and cross-country skiing trails found alongCounty Route 6 near Snug Harbor and Mud Bay and out in the surrounding fields are safe from pieces of ice beingflung of f wind turbine blades. Continuing toward the Village of Cape Vincent on County Route 6, the WolfeIsland wind turbines come into view, especially ugly at night with their many red lights blinking in unison.Over the Town of Cape Vincent's Stony Point Road and Wilson Road which are toward Lake Ontario from CountyRoute 6, ospreys, eagles, and flocks of birds are still able to fly unmolested by such dangers as wind turbineblades. Turning east of f County Route 6, and travelling down Deerlick Road toward NYS Route 12E there arespool-shaped bales of hay scattered over the field on the right that are pleasing to the eyes and heart. Turning eastof f NYS Route12E onto Favret Road I see woods along the horizon with trees that are beautiful in the fall especiallyand not obscured by any huge wind turbines. The interesting cloud formations on the horizons are not spoiled byhuge blades. Such true beauty created by God refreshes our souls. At the intersection of Favret Road, Mason Roadand Dezengremel Road there are fields that in the spring are host to huge flocks of white Snow Geese with black-tipped wings, who thril l their viewers when they take off into the sky as a flock. At the end of Dezengremel Road ,


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turning left onto Burnt Rock Road there are more beautiful open fields of wildflowers and trees where hikers enjoylooking for birds, owls, and animals, some rare or threatened. The most memorable element of each of these placeis the unspoiled beauty of God's creation. At the end of County Route 6, out at the Tibbett's Point Lighthouse arewonderful sunset views, now partially ruined by the wind turbine blades and blinking red lights.

2. What scenic vistas or places do you feel are most beautiful in the Town of Lyme (includingthe Village of Chaumont)? Please describe the following below: 1) location and overallview, 2) specific elements that define the character of the view, and 3) the most memorableelements of the landscape. If additional space is needed, please use the attached sheet. Forexample, view of the Chaumont Bayfrom the NY Route 12 bridge over the Chaumont River.The visible water, surrounding landforms, and passing boats define the view. The mostmemorable elements of this landscape is the reflection of the afternoon sun on the water andland..

Three Mile Bay's water and sky at sunrise unmarred by tall wind turbine silhouettes; the view described well in yourexample above from NY Route 12E Bridge; The Chaumont Barrens (pointed to by a sign on NY 12E jus t past the Niceand Easy gas station in the Village of Chaumont travelling from Watertown) has unique geology, rare flowers andinsects such as Luna moths along its nature trail. Also in the Town of Lyme near Ashland Road is the Ashland WildlifManagement Area. Next to NYS 12E, toward Lake Ontario in the more populated area ofThree Mile Bay is a 175year old church still in use.

3. What point(s) of NY Route 12E do you find most scenic in the Towns of Cape Vincent andLyme? Please describe the following below: 1) location and overall view , 2) specificelements that defme the character of the view, and 3) the most memorable elements of thelandscape. I f additional space is needed , please use the attached sheet.

Travelling toward the Village of Cape Vincent from the Town of Lyme, on either side of the scenic Seaway Trail,NYS 12E, are scenic farms and fields with cows and goats grazing, crops growing, and the blue waters of LakeOntario on a sunny day. In Cape Vincent on Broadway Street, travelling toward Clayton, are historic buildingsand beautiful tall trees on both sides of NY 12E, the old stone home on th e left, the United Methodist Church ofCape Vincent on the right, th e DEC building with aquariums, the well-kept sunken garden house, and the oldcoal docks area on the left by th e St. Lawrence River, graveyards on the right Side away from the river, then more


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well-kept dairy farms, Carleton Island in the St. Lawrence River and the river itself with ships and boa t traffic fromfar-away and near places. These are all memorable sights along the Seaway Trail, and we are thankful that thereare no wind turbines sticking up all over the place on the surrounding land the way they are on Wolfe Island.

Are there other points on local roadways or waterways that you consider scenic or memorable? Please describe the following below: I) location and overall view, 2) specific elements that defme the character of the view, and 3) the most memorable elements of the landscape. If additional space is needed, please use the attached sheet.

On Bedford Corners Road, near where Booth Drive enters on the Ontario Lake side of Bedford Corners Road is a small stream and wooded area where deer and birds come to share their beauty and songs. There are also historic buildings and graveyards that are interesting along County Route 4 as it comes east from NYS 12E. A beautiful barn and farm are on the right side of Route 4 jus t before it turns left toward the Hamlet of Rosiere. The Rosiere Church on the left as County Route 4 goes toward Clayton is also a lovely historic sight. Along County Route 4, the open fields, tall pine trees and woods on both sides travelling toward Clayton are also very scenic.

What historic, cultural, recreational or environmental resources have a uniquely attractive setting in the Towns of Cape Vincent and Lyme? If additional space is needed, please use the attached sheet.

~ - - - - - - -Tibbett's Point Lighthouse, DEC building, churches, Carleton Island, inland snowmobile trails, tennis courts,lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River, historic homes, and good schools are some in the Town of CapeVincent. The Chaumont Barrens, churches, good schools, historic homes, Three Mile Bay, the ChaumontRiver, and hiking trails are some in the Town of Lyme. All the places previously mentioned in responses toquestions 1-4 are also special to the area.

How would you describe the boundaries of the Golden Crescent? If additional space is needed, please use the attached sheet. As described by DIVE 1000Islands.com, "the northeastern region of Lake Ontario, an archipelago of islands
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- -----

stretching from Stony Point, NY to Prince Edward County, Ontario." It extends to the Thousand Islands

according to Wikipedia.

7. "''hat scenic vistas or places do you feel are the most beautiful within the Golden Crescent"Please describe the following below: 1) location and overall view, 2) specific elements thaIdefine the character of the view, and 3) the most memorable elements of the landscape. Ifadditional space is needed, please use the attached sheet.

To me the view of lake Ontario with its islands, water, and sky, especially at sunset in the Town of Cape Vincent

and the views surrounding the Seaway Trail, free of wind turbines are the most beautiful. The pristine, unspoiledbeauty is what is especially valuable to me, and why I hope wind turbines will not ruin the area.

S, Please identify the top three activities you undertake while in the Towns of Cape Vincent andLyme?- -L Driving-L WalkingRunningHikingBicyling

Fishing Hunting Bird watching Workine: outdoors-Other. Please describe below, if additional space is needed, use the attached sheet.'-Living is the activity done in both( eating, breathing, working indoors and outdoors)


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9. Please identify tbe top three categories that are of value to you.___Distant views

River views ~ - -./ Open meadows ~ __Woodlands ___Culrural fearures ___Villages v Working farmland - crops and pasrurelands

___Views along a roadway. Road name and type (e.g., main road [Route 12E] or localroad [Tibbetts Point Road])? ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ___

___Community gateways,/ St. Lawrence Seaway Trail (NYS Route 12E)

___Other. Please describe below. If additional space is needed, use attached sheet.

10. How does the Wolfe Island Wind Farm affect your recreational enjoyment of theSt. Lawrence River or Lake Ontario?Prior to the project going operational (choose one):o I was looking forward to seeing the rurbines.

o I did not give much thought tothe rurbines. iii' I tbought the rurbines would be problematic.

Now that the project is operational, during the daytime (choose one):o I choose to visit this section of river, in part, to view the rurbines.o I do not give the rurbines much thought.o I wish the rurbines were not visible, but I continue to visit this portion of the river.Iir" I seek out pl aces for waterfront recreation where rurbines are not visible. Please

describe location below. I f additional space is needed, please use the attached sheet.

Now that the project is operational , during the nighttime (choose one):o I do not notice the lights.o I notice the lights, but do not mind them. 13' I do not like the lights.

II. Information regarding survey respondent (choose one):~ __First-time tourist (including recreationalist) to the area. Visiting from where?~ __Repeat tourist (includingrecreationalist) to the area. Visiting from where?v- Year round resident of the Towns of Cape Vincent or Lyme. ~ __Seasonal resident of the Towns of Cape Vincent of Lyme.


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