Town sends letter to DEC, Hounsfield asking for assurance turbines won't create racket

The Town of Lyme wants the state Department of Environmental Conservation to consider the possibility that noise from Galloo Island Wind Farm could annoy town residents on Point Peninsula.

"Whereas the Impact Statement declares the noise generated by this project poses no significant noise impact, the Town of Lyme respectfully submits this letter expressing its concern to the contrary," states an April 29 letter from the town to DEC and the town of Hounsfield.

Galloo Island is in Hounsfield. Babcock & Brown Ltd. is backing the wind farm, which plans to place 84 turbines on the island. Point Peninsula is 51/2 miles east of the island and Pillar Point, in the town of Brownville, is not much farther.

"Sound doesn't attenuate over water to the same level as it would over land, where there are trees and structures," said Lyme resident and Planning Board member Albert H. Bowers on Friday. "It reflects almost undiminished off the water."

A noise study was not included in the draft environmental impact statement, which was accepted by DEC on Feb. 27.

Mr. Bowers, who is a retired ship designer for Mobil Oil, said earlier in the month, "Noise should be investigated and proven not to be a problem, not just assumed that it won't be a problem."

He said the size and noise of wind turbines is similar to the propulsion generators he designed and installed on ships.

DEC said a noise study could still be included.

"Additional issues can be considered as they are raised," DEC spokeswoman Maureen Wren said Friday. DEC is the lead agency for the environmental review process of the wind project. "The comments will be considered with other comments from the public."

Town Councilman Warren A. Johnson and Mr. Bowers attended a public hearing on the studies to be included in the draft environmental impact statement June 17. At the hearing, they asked that Hounsfield consider a protective wind zoning ordinance similar to the town of Lyme and said there could be noise issues with the project.

They said they are most concerned that stable atmospheric conditions will allow noise to travel. Those conditions, which typically occur during evenings and nights, mean air is moving a few hundred feet off the ground, but is still at the earth's surface. During those times, turbines would operate but there would be no wind to mask the generated noise.

The Town Council agreed to have Mr. Johnson draft the letter at its April 9 meeting. He said at the meeting that there are many times when people on shore can hear quite well what fishermen or boaters are saying on boats or in icehouses.

The letter, signed by Supervisor Scott G. Aubertine, asks for noise studies before and after construction. If there would be a significant level of noise, it requests that the state policy of ambient noise plus 5 decibels be followed to set acceptable sound levels.

The public comment period on the draft statement is open until May 29, with two public hearings at 3 and 7 p.m. May 18 at Hounsfield's Public Safety Building, 411 W. Washington St., Sackets Harbor.