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News and Updates
• PEOPLE & PLACES
Barcelona Harbor was an official weight station for the 26th Annual Southtowns Walleye Tournament which took place on June 12, 2010.
• HEADLINES
Special Meeting on Wind Project DEIS Scheduled
The Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the proposed Ripley-Westfield Wind Farm Project has been received by the Westfield Town Board. The Westfield Town Board will hold a special meeting on Wednesday, February 24th at 4:30 pm in Eason Hall to determine whether the document is complete and adequate for public review and comment. If the Board determines that the DEIS is adequate for public review, they will establish a public comment period and set a date for a public hearing.
The proposed Ripley-Westfield Wind Farm Project involves the construction and operation of up to 82 wind turbine generators, 47 of which are proposed to be located in the Town of Westfield with the remaining turbines to be located in Ripley. The Town of Ripley is co-lead agency on the project with Westfield.
Project Sponsor Ripley-Westfield Wind, LLC has been working on the DEIS since October 2008, when a Final Scoping Document was prepared based on input received from the public and involved agencies. For more information on the special meeting, contact the Town of Westfield at 326-6211.
Town of Westfield officials elected in November prepare to begin the new term. The oath of office was administered by Town Justice, Jerry LaPorte, preceding the annual re-organizational meeting held January 6th, 2010. Shown left to right: Tim Smith, Ray Schuster, David Babcock, David Spann and Martha Bills, Town Supervisor.
Fishway Project Update
The Chautauqua Creek Fishway Project is slated for construction this summer. The Fishway project will provide access for native fish species including steelhead trout, to high quality spawning areas within the upper reaches of Chautauqua Creek in a five-mile stretch between two small dams. The project, part of the Great Lakes Fishery and Ecosystem Restoration Program, involves the partial removal of the lower dam and a rock ramp fishway at the upper dam. The improvements will continue to provide a barrier preventing the migration of sea lamprey to the upper areas of Chautauqua Creek.
The US Army Corps of Engineers and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation are working on finalizing the funding arrangement.
The project will have a positive ecological impact and an economic impact as well, as high quality fishing opportunities are expanded in the region.
Concord Grape Belt Heritage Area Management Plan Coming Together
Westfield was well-represented at a recent public meeting of about fifty residents, local officials, grape growers, winemakers, planners and historians who gathered to help shape the Concord Grape Belt Heritage Area Management Plan. The Town of Westfield is lead agency for the development of the Management Plan, which will be developed through a comprehensive planning process, required of all Heritage Areas in New York State.
The Concord Grape Belt Heritage Area (CGBHA) is the 19th Heritage Area in the state and was created by the State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation in 2006 after the successful passage of legislation sponsored by State Senator Cathy Young and Assemblyman Bill Parment. It is the first Heritage Area to be recognized for its agricultural heritage. A $75,000 Division of Coastal Resources grant is helping to fund the development of the Management Plan.
In addition to the Town and Village of Westfield, the CGBHA includes the Towns of Hanover, Sheridan, Dunkirk, Pomfret, Portland and Ripley as well as the Villages of Silver Creek, Forestville, Fredonia and Brocton and the City of Dunkirk.
The New York State Heritage Area System has four major goals for the unique areas: to enhance economic revitalization, to provide recreation and leisure activities, to educate and interpret the heritage and to preserve the resources of the area.
We are all familiar with the natural beauty, rolling vineyards and scenic lakefront views the area offers. But the economic impact of grape production in the area is equally impressive. Consider that New York State is the third largest grape-producing state and the CGBHA produces 68% of those grapes on over 19,000 acres with a total economic impact of $141 million.
Couple our ideal grape growing soils and climate with the fact that there are 16 million people living within a 150 miles of the area, and the importance of drafting a dynamic and comprehensive management plan becomes clear.
Upcoming public meetings will be posted on the Town of Westfield website. If you would like to become involved in the Management Plan development process, contact Andrew Dufresne at and4833@windstream.net or visit the Grape Belt’s web site at www.concordgrapebelt.org.
Photo by: Don McCord
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• UPDATES
Ripley - Westfield Wind Project
The proposed Pattern Energy Commercial Wind Power Project involves the construction and operation of up to 82 wind turbine generators, 47 of which are proposed to be located in the Town of Westfield with the remaining turbines to be located in Ripley. The Town of Ripley is co-lead agency on the project with Westfield. The installed capacity for the project is estimated to be 125 megawatts.
The State Environmental Quality Review (SEQR) process had been on hold as the project sponsor worked to prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS).
The Town is now in receipt of the DEIS and is currently reviewing the document. The Town will be making a determination soon on whether or not the document has adequately addressed all the environmental issues identified during the scoping process. Once the Town has determined that the issues have been properly addressed, it will accept the DEIS as adequate for public review. The DEIS will then be made available to the public for review and sent out to involved agencies.
UPDATE 3/5/2010:
The DEIS document is available for review at the Town office and at the Patterson Library. It is also on line at the website below.
Public comments on the document will be accepted until 5:00 pm on May 17, 2010. A joint public hearing on the proposed project will be held:
In Westfield, at Eason Hall on April 13, 2010 at 1:00 pm.
In Ripley, at Meeder’s Restaurant on May 4, 2010 at 7:00 pm.
Wind Project Timeline (pdf file)
Project documents are available at http://www.ripleywestfieldwind.ene.com
Check for updates.
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