August 2003

Cortland County IDA Releases Draft Scoping Document for Tioughnioga River Trail as Part of SEQR Process

The following draft Scoping Document is to be used for the preparation of the Environmental Impact Statement:

Description of Proposed Action

Project Location:

Located in Cortland County primarily along the eastern/northern banks of the West Branch of the Tioughnioga River from Yaman Park in the City of Cortland to Durkee Park in the Village of Homer, New York.

Proposed Use & Development:

A multi-use recreational trail for walking, running, biking, rollerblading and cross country skiing is being proposed for the Tioughnioga River corridor from Homer to Cortland. The Phase I main trail will be approximately 4 miles long and will primarily be a 10' wide asphalt pavement with selected areas being surfaced with fine stone or suitable alternates. Due to potential wet conditions, other portions of the trail may be constructed as a boardwalk. Access, parking and possible boat docks to be provided at it's endpoints as well as at several nodal points along the trail route.

Even though this portion of the trail is considered Phase I, subsequent phases of this project are not a certainty in the foreseeable future. Any additional phases (extensions of the trail) will only be undertaken when sufficient grant funding can be secured. Due to the current economic climate of both New York State and the federal government, the reality of such funding will likely be years away, if at all. This issue was discussed with appropriate personnel at the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and they agreed that this Phase I portion of the overall "conceptual plan" should be subject to SEQR review as a stand alone project without concern for a segmented review. When and if future phases are proposed, each will be subject to an additional SEQR review which will consider all aspects of the proposed extension as well as impacts associated with the overall trail system.

Proposed Route:

Beginning in Yaman Park along the banks of the main branch of the Tioughnioga River, the trail will stay in the park along the I-81 ROW until passing beneath the highway utilizing the abandoned railroad bed. Once at the northern top of bank of the West Branch of the River, the trail will continue upstream towards Homer and follow the eastern/northern banks along the various commercial and residential properties located adjacent to the route. After traveling along Front Street, the trail will then parallel the active railroad until again reaching the eastern banks of the river at the northern boundary line of the City of Cortland. From here the trail follows the eastern banks along an area known as the Casey Fields and then continues northerly towards the Village of Homer passing en-route beneath the I-81 Exit 12 overpass. Once in Homer at Albany Street, the trail follows the eastern side of the river and continues past Pine, Wall and Water Streets until entering the wooded area just north of Water Street. The trail completes it route through this wooded area and then terminates in Durkee Park. The entire route is slightly more than 4 miles in length.

Potential Environmental Impacts and Mitigation Measures

This section will identify those aspects of the environmental setting that may be adversely impacted by the project. In the Final Scoping Document, only those issues and concerns that will cause potentially significant adverse impacts will be listed. Other issues that are deemed not environmentally significant or relevant will not be included and consequently will not be addressed in the Environmental Impact Statement.

Impact on Land:

Potential Impacts:

1. Construction on side slopes exceeding 15%.
2. Construction in areas where water table less than 3 feet.
3. Construction within 100 year floodplain.
4. Loss of topsoil and possible erosion of native soils

Mitigative Measures:

1. Reduced trail width and choice of surfacing material.
2. Selection of route to follow natural contours and minimize change.
3. Incorporation of upgradient drainage control.
4. Maximize vertical separation to groundwater.
5. Incorporate construction methods to reduce impacts.
6. Strict compliance with all regulatory requirements and standard practices including preparation of a Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP).
7. Wherever possible, stockpile and reuse existing topsoil for final restoration.
8. Establish permanent vegetative growth immediately following construction activities.

Impact on Water:

Potential Impacts:

1. Project will affect a protected water body.
2. Alteration of existing surface water flow patterns.
3. Discharge of sediment into adjacent water bodies.

Mitigative Measures:

1. Trail route to avoid crossing and entering actual river area.
2. Avoid crossing any protected tributary waterways, if present.
3. Improve selected areas by stabilizing existing riverbank to minimize future erosion.
4. Avoid alteration of existing drainage patterns by utilizing appropriate culverts and bridges.
5. Incorporate construction methods to reduce impacts.
6. Utilize both temporary and permanent erosion control measures.
7. Strict compliance with aforementioned SWPPP.

Impact on Plants and Animals:

Potential Impacts:

1. Project will substantially affect existing wildlife species in the area.
2. Project will substantially affect existing trees and vegetation.

Mitigative Measures:

1. Locate trail so as to avoid any identified threatened or endangered species.
2. Evaluate areas of known unique species and habitat of particular interest to fully understand conditions and mitigate as needed.
3. Minimize disturbance and removal of vegetation.
4. Improve and enhance habitat to attract and support a wider range of species.
5. Plant additional trees, vegetation, flowers, ground covers, etc. as deemed appropriate to enrich native vegetation.
6. Minimize duration of disturbance.

Impact on Aesthetic Resources:

Potential Impacts:

1. The project will affect scenic views along the route.

Mitigative Measures:

1. Minimize removal of existing vegetation to maintain natural screening and buffering.
2. Plant additional trees and vegetation to provide additional screening as needed.
3. Improve views and scenic opportunities.

Impact on Historic and Archeological Resources:

Potential Impacts:

1. Project will disturb existing historic and/or archeological sites.

Mitigative Measures:

1. Conduct a Phase 1 Cultural Resources survey to identify possible sites.
2. Select route to avoid disturbance of any identified sites.
3. Provide information to increase user awareness of nearby sites.

Impact on Open Space and Recreation:

Potential Impacts:

1. Project will affect the quantity and quality of recreational opportunities.

Mitigative Measures:

1. Project will enhance, improve and provide greater recreational opportunities.

Noise and Odor Impact:

Potential Impacts:

1. Project will produce noise exceeding ambient noise levels.

Mitigative Measures:

1. Construction work hours limited to specific times.
2. Locate trail, as much as possible, away from occupied structures.
3. Locate trail to take advantage of existing noise buffers and limit removal of existing vegetation.
4. Develop regulations to prohibit stationary activities (camping, etc.) And after-hours usage.
5. Promote trail uses that are mobile oriented so that any noise generated does not remain stationary.
6. Project follows I-81 corridor which is a significant existing noise generator.

Impact on Public Health:

Potential Impacts:

1. Project will disturb areas located within a site where waste materials have been disposed.
2. Project will put users at risk due to the trail passing through the former Contento salvage yard property.

Mitigative Measures:

1. Conduct a specific environmental investigation along the proposed route to accurately determine the site conditions.
2. Employ all safety, mitigative and precautionary measures as required by the NYSDEC to insure the safety of the users.
3. Erect a security fence the trail through the Contento property so as to prevent users from entering the remaining portions of the site.

Impact on Growth and Character of Community or Neighborhood:

Potential Impacts:

1. Project will affect the character of various neighborhoods along the route.
2. Project will affect user and neighborhood safety.

Mitigative Measures:

1. Locate trail, as much as possible, away from occupied structures
2. Locate and design trail with input of local neighborhoods.
3. Involve local neighborhoods in operation of trail to develop a sense of community pride and ownership.
4. Utilize and coordinate operation with local law enforcement agencies.
5. Develop volunteer patrols to monitor trail usage.

Existing and Required New Information

Information Needed:

For many of the identified potential impacts, the information required to adequately address each is not particularly unique or specific. Examples of this type of information includes technical and engineering data related to existing soils, bedrock, groundwater, drainage patterns, vegetation, floodplains, slopes and grades, etc. Also included in this category of information are the many required regulations and standards that will be utilized in the development of the final design of the trail.

In addition to the above, there are three items of a specific nature that will require particular attention. They are:

1. Determining the presence of any threatened or endangered wildlife species and locating any unique species and/or habitat of particular local interest.
2. Determining the presence of any historic and archeological resources.
3. Determining the environmental conditions along the trail route at the former Contento salvage yard.

Information Available:

For all of the standard items mentioned in the first paragraph above, this information is readily available from local sources and the various appropriate regulatory agencies. The required regulations and standards that are to be followed are also available and considered standard in the industry.

New Information and Sources:

For the three more specific items noted above, the source and method by which this information will be obtained is as follows.

Wildlife

1. Information available through the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Natural Heritage Program.
2. Information available through the local NYSDEC wildlife biologist.
3. Depending on the adequacy of the data obtained in Items 1 and 2, information obtained through the services of a wildlife consultant who would conduct field investigations.

Historic and Archeological

1. Procure the services of a cultural resources consultant to conduct a Phase 1A and 1B investigation.

Contento Site Environmental Review

1. Procure the services of an environmental laboratory to conduct a testing program to determine site conditions.
2. Consult with the NYSDEC as to appropriate required actions.

Reasonable Alternatives to be Considered

This section provides a discussion of the reasonable alternatives that are feasible considering the objectives of the project sponsor. The typical categories are as follows.

Alternative Sites:

There are no alternative sites for the Project that meet the basic criteria of providing a recreational trial linking the various communities along the West and Main branches of the Tioughnioga River corridor.

Alternative Technology:

The basic approach and elements incorporated into such a project are standard items of the construction industry. The Project itself is not technical in nature nor contains items associated with alternative technologies. With the continuing popularity and rapid growth in the development of similar trails nationwide, the Project will incorporate the latest proven technologies into the final design.

Alternative Scale:

For the funding secured, the initial length of trail being proposed and the logic of linking the two significant parks within the Homer-Cortland area, the scale and magnitude of the Project are correct and appropriate. No alternative scale is reasonably feasible.

Alternative Design:

The proposed design has been the result of a great deal of discussion and the examination of numerous alternative schemes. The Project now represents the best compromise of all the variables and objectives considered. The project sponsor, however, fully recognizes that design changes are likely to occur as a result of this overall SEQR process, the review and approval of the numerous involved regulatory agencies, the involvement of each of the affected municipalities and the input of the general public.

Alternative Timing:

With the funding secured and the preliminary conceptual work complete, the Project needs to move forward now. No alternative timing is reasonably feasible.

Alternative Use:

To satisfy and meet the objectives of the project sponsor, the creation of this trail along the river corridor is the only appropriate use for this land.

No Action Alternative:

The "No Action" alternative is not a reasonable choice in that the many benefits that will be realized by the Cortland County community would be lost. These benefits include increased recreational opportunities for all populations within the community, health benefits and overall enhancement to the quality of life in Cortland County.