Environmental Impact Review - DEIS, FEIS, and Findings Statement

As part of the planning, design, and review process for the proposed Public Safety Communications System, Tompkins County prepared an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) in accordance with State Environmental Quality Review (SEQR) regulations. ENSR International, an environmental consulting firm with local offices in Syracuse, Albany, and Rochester, was contracted to study aspects of the system and transmission sites that could affect the surrounding environment and community character. ENSR staff evaluated the potential impacts of the system's infrastructure and technology on the environment.

A Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the project was released on October 18, 2005. Public comment on the DEIS was accepted at a hearing and via written comments submitted during a 30-day public comment period, which ended November 18, 2005. In addition to oral comments at the hearing, eleven written comments were submitted. In accordance with State Environmental Quality Review (SEQR) regulations, all of the comments were addressed and incorporated into the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS). Any necessary mitigations are described in the FEIS.

The last step in the environmental impact process is preparation of a Findings Statement that summarizes the FEIS and the mitigations. The Findings Statement, which summarizes the project, its environmental impacts, any needed mitigations; and states final decisions regarding the project, was adopted by the Tompkins County Legislature on December 20, 2005.
 
 
 

Previous Environmental Review Documents

State Environmental Quality Review - Positive Declaration  (44KB)
Notice of Lead Agency designation and release of Draft Scope  (149KB)
Draft Scope for the Environmental Impact Statement  (134KB)
Final Scope - Letter (20KB)
Final Scope - Document (32KB)
State Environmental Quality Review - Full Environmental Assessment Form  (2.26MB)