Karst is a landscape formed from the dissolution of soluble
rocks including limestone, dolomite and gypsum.
It is characterized by sinkholes, caves, and
Underground
drainage systems.
In
a letter submitted to the Public Service Commission in January concerning
additional impacts and recommended studies for BP's Cape Vincent wind complex,
The Town of Cape Vincent
stated
that conducting a
comprehensive assessment of the Karst Geology in the Town of Cape Vincent was
probably the most egregious lapse in oversight by the Lead Agency during the 2008 SEQRA
review of the BP and Acciona project proposals.
The Town's engineering consultant recommended
at the time that the applicants include an evaluation of
the bedrock geology, in particular the karst
geology. They stated, “This work is critical to maintain suitable
foundations for future turbines, as well as to protect and maintain any
regional geological and hydro geologic conditions of the karst
geology.” Regrettably, the karst assessment was never completed,
but it nevertheless should be a part of BP's list of issues that require study
during the application phase of Article 10.[2][4.]
Recently
the DEC submitted comments to BP and the Public Service Commission concerning
BP's Preliminary Scoping Statement.
One
of the issues addressed by the DEC was Karst Geology.
"The Article 10
Application should also include detailed local geotechnical investigation
on all proposed turbine locations to ensure that the stability of
the bedrock is compatible with the additional load of concrete base pads
and wind turbines. The emphasis of the study would be to identify
potential problem areas such as Karst formations, sinkholes, or other
solution-enlarged conditions before
construction begins." (p.35 [3.]
construction begins." (p.35 [3.]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
New
York's Construction codes require that
the wind turbine reaction forces be pre-determined in conjunction with the wind
pressure forces on the towers, and the turbine blades themselves to withstand
the overturning moments developed, that are being resisted by the soil or rock
material that is, part of the anchorage resisting system.
The overturning moment of an object is that moment of energy capable of upsetting the object enough to destabilize it so that it overturns, topples or collapses. The wind pressure forces exerted on wind turbines can generate a reaction force that will actually cause a turbine to unscrew itself from the ground.
This is why the anchorage systems and sub-surfaces are critical
factors in wind turbine design.
Sources:
[1.] Karst Geology http://www.esi.utexas.edu/outreach/caves/pdf/Whatiskarst.pdf
[2] TOCV ~ BP-Additional-Impacts-for-Cape-Vincent-Wind-Complex
[2] TOCV ~ BP-Additional-Impacts-for-Cape-Vincent-Wind-Complex
10 comments:
IF YOU ARE A SEASONAL RESIDENT OF THE GOLDEN CRESCENT AND THOUSAND ISLANDS YOU BETTER REALIZE THAT DARREL AUBERTINE THE NEW YORK STATE AGRICULTURE COMMISSIONER WANTS TO TAKE BACK CAPE VINCENT AND GIVE IT TO BRITISH PETROLEUM.
REGISTER TO VOTE IN THE GOLDEN CRESCENT AND THOUSAND ISLANDS.
Thanks for highlighting this part of the DEC report! There is so much to read from the DEC and the DPS that it is very helpful to focus on some of the things they said....makes me want to keep reading!
Right Darrel really wants to give the Cape to BP, right. You must be smoking some wacky weed again.
4:53
You know damn well he probably does. The Cape Democratic party and citizens for fair government are advised by Aubertine. Aubertine was one of the first to sign wind leases. Remember his letter supporting conflicts of interest? Do you think the voting public in Cape Vincent is stupid? In my opinion he is an embarrassment to the Thousand Islands and the rest of the State farming community.
Hey 9:27 PM, you being a farmer and all that, you are a horses ass. Come on in and let see you milk sixty head of cows. You wouldn't know up from down. Who cares what party you belong to, come on down to the farm and do an honest days work.
4:43 whether you do an "honest" days work on the farm or anywhere else has nothing to do with the issue addressed in this post- karst geology.
Understanding the myriad of issues that could impact a community facing industrial scale wind development is completely unrelated to the level of sophisticated intelligence required to comprehend the physiology of a cow.
There are many kinds of arrogance. Yours is on display when you assert that your daily routine of stroking 240 cow teats is somehow more "honest" than other endeavors.
Isn't ironic that many who oppose industrial wind development,feel it is important to preserve our bucolic agricultural character, while many voters for wind are farmers,who are looking for quick cash from sleazy industrial corporate giants as a way to supplement their "honest" days work.
If you are concerned about who does and doesn't do an honest days work, you should talk to Marion Trieste and Richard Chandler
Back to karst geology. My only understanding is what I have read in a few definition reports. But as a trained engineer I do have respect for what the geologists have learned. And, I do know that this is exactly the type of serious concern that was blown off by your former pb members Mingle, Rienbeck, Binsley and the wind lease conflicted Richard Edsall. I also recall that at one of the meetings I attended years ago in the Cape the Edsall bp guy was criticizing the DEC and as I recall basically saying they had no right to treat the pb like school children. I think it was something like that.
hey 9:31 and 7:56 are you guys jealous that you are not included in the big pay off by BP. Good luck selling your homes, just knock them down and turn your land in as farm land.
Which is exactly why we have lost all respect for the farm community, 10:19.
Jealous of bad wind ethics, Jealous of those who sold out friends, family and neighbors, jealous of those willing to take away basic human rights to feed their greed...I don't thing so, 10:19
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