Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
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Site evaluation phase activities, such as monitoring and site characterization, are
temporary and are conducted at a smaller scale than those during the construction
and operation phases. Potential impacts from these activities are presented below, by
the type of affected resource. The impacts described are for typical site evaluation
activities, such as drilling to characterize the seabed or riverbed. Onshore site char-
acterization activities would be limited to a topographic survey to establish onshore
site design and placement for an operations and maintenance facility, substation, and
electric transmission lines. If road construction were necessary during this phase,
potential impacts would be similar in character to those for the construction phase,
but generally of smaller magnitude.
Air Quality
Impacts on air quality during site evaluation activities would be limited to barges
conducting surveys and vehicular traffic to proposed sites for all hydrokinetic energy
land-based facilities. These air pollutant emissions would be minor, of short dura-
tion, and intermittent.
Cultural Resources
Cultural material present within the project area could be impacted by any sea-
floor, riverbed, or ground disturbance. Such disturbance could result from drilling
and sampling activities and, for land-based activities, vehicular and pedestrian traf-
fic. These activities would be relatively limited in scope during this phase. Surveys
conducted during this phase to evaluate the presence and significance of cultural
resources in the area would assist developers in designing the project to avoid or
minimize impacts on these resources.
Ecological Resources
Impacts on ecological resources would be minimal during site evaluation because of
the limited nature of the activities. For offshore projects (e.g., wave barrage, tidal tur-
bine projects) and river projects, the potential effects of low-energy geological and
geophysical surveys on marine mammals, sea turtles, and fish could include behav-
ior responses such as avoidance and deflections in travel direction. A few individuals
could be injured or killed by collisions with the survey vessels. Those individuals
displaced because of avoidance behaviors during survey are likely to return within
relatively short periods following cessation of survey activities. Marine mammals,
sea turtles, and fish could be exposed to discharges or accidental fuel releases from
survey vessels and to accidentally released solid debris. Such spills would be small
and would not be expected to measurably affect marine or river wildlife. Land-based
activities could give rise to the introduction and spread of invasive vegetation as a
result of vehicular traffic. Soil borings would destroy vegetation and disturb wildlife.
Overall, site evaluations are not expected to cause significant impacts on terrestrial
or aquatic biota. Surveys conducted during this phase to evaluate the presence and
significance of ecological resources in the area would assist developers in properly
locating the facility and its components.
