Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
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esourCes
Water Use
Water would be used for dust control when clearing vegetation and grading and for
road traffic; for making concrete for foundations of towers, substations, and other
buildings; and for consumptive use by the construction crew. Water could be trucked
in from offsite or obtained from local groundwater wells or nearby surface water
bodies, depending on availability.
Water Quality
Water quality could be affected by
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Activities that cause soil erosion
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Weathering of newly exposed soils that could cause leaching and oxidation,
thereby releasing chemicals into the water
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Discharge of waste or sanitary water
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Pesticide applications.
Flow Alteration
Surface and groundwater flow systems could be affected by withdrawals made for
water use, wastewater and stormwater discharges, and the diversions of surface water
flow for access road construction of stormwater control systems. Excavation activi-
ties and the extraction of geological materials could affect surface and groundwater
flow. The interaction between surface water and groundwater could also be affected
if the surface water and groundwater were hydrologically connected, potentially
resulting in unwanted dewatering or recharging of water resources.
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And
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se
Impacts on land use could occur during construction if there are conflicts with
existing land use plans and community goals; conflicts with existing recreational,
educational, religious, scientific, or other use areas: or conversion of the existing
commercial and use for the area (e.g., mineral extraction). During construction,
impacts on most land uses would be temporary, such as removal of livestock from
grazing areas during blasting or heavy equipment operations, or temporary effects
on the character of a recreation area due to construction noise, dust, and visual
intrusions. Long-term land use impacts would occur if existing land uses are not
compatible with wind energy development, such as remote recreational experiences;
however, those uses could potentially be resumed if the land is reclaimed to prede-
velopment conditions.
When wind farm construction spreads, local opposition to the mass towers
(some over 400 feet tall) impacts landowners' opinions, land values, and state
regulations; however, this local opposition is relative in the sense that opinions
are based on the receipt of or nonreceipt of monetary rewards for use of the land.
That is, opposition is based on whether the wind farms constructed on personal
