Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
t
rAnsportAtion
Short-term increases in the use of local roadways would occur during the construc-
tion period. Heavy equipment likely would remain at the site. Shipments of mate-
rials are unlikely to affect primary or secondary road networks significantly, but
this would depend on the location of the project site relative to material source.
Oversized loads could cause temporary transportation disruptions and could require
some modifications to roads or bridges (such as fortifying bridges to accommodate
the size or weight). Shipment weight might also affect the design of access roads for
grade determinations and turning clearance requirements.
V
isuAl
r
esourCes
Although many of us consider wind turbines to be visually acceptable and in some
cases even pleasing to look at, wind turbines disturb the visual area of other people
by creating negative changes in the natural environment. The test of whether a wind
turbine or wind farm is a visual pollutant is to ask this question: How many of us
would seriously like one or more wind turbines a few hundred feet or meters from
our homes? It is important to remember that wind turbines can be anywhere from a
few meters to a hundred meters high. Having a wind turbine tower over one's home
is the last thing many residents want. Having said this, the possible sources of visual
impacts during construction include the following:
•
Road development (e.g., new roads or expansion of existing roads) and park-
ing areas could introduce strong visual contrasts in the landscape, depend-
ing on the route relative to surface contours and the width, length, and
surface treatment of the roads.
•
Conspicuous and frequent small-vehicle traffic for worker access and fre-
quent large-equipment (e.g., trucks, graders, excavators, cranes) traffic for
road construction, site preparation, and turbine installation could produce
visible activity and dust in dry soils. Suspension and visibility of dust would
be influenced by vehicle speeds and road surface materials.
•
Site development could be intermittent, staged, or phased, giving the
appearance that work starts and stops. Depending on the length of time
required for development, the project site could appear to be under con-
struction for an extended period. This could give rise to perceptions of lost
benefit and productivity, like those alleged for the equipment. Timing and
duration concerns may result.
•
There would be a temporary presence of large cranes or other large
machines to assemble towers, nacelles, and rotors. This equipment would
also produce emissions while operational and could create visible exhaust
plumes. Support facilities and fencing associated with the construction
work would also be visible.
•
Ground disturbance and vegetation removal could result in visual impacts
that produce contrasts of color, form, texture, and line. Excavation for
turbine foundations and ancillary structures, trenching to bury electrical
