Mitigation measures to avoid or reduce visual impacts from hydrokinetic energy development.
The following are examples of mitigation measures that could be applied to reduce visual impacts of a project depending upon site- and project-specific conditions. Impacts to visual resources are related to the project activity (e.g., sea and land disturbance); amount and types of equipment, machinery, and vehicles; standing structures; and project emissions (e.g., fugitive dust, air releases). Many impacts can be reduced or avoided when considered during the siting and design phase.
Develop a final set of mitigation measures for any project in consultation with the appropriate tribal and federal resource management agencies and with stakeholders. Conduct these consultations as part of the project development process and preferably prior to final project siting and design.
Siting and Design Mitigation Measures
Siting and design considerations that mitigate impacts include:
Involve the public in decision-making regarding visual site design elements for a proposed hydrokinetic energy project. Possible approaches include conducting public forums; offering tours; using computer simulation and visualization techniques in public presentations; and conducting surveys regarding public perception and attitudes about hydrokinetic energy projects.
Viewshed mapping and visual impact simulations should be used to create accurate depictions of the visibility and appearance of proposed hydrokinetic energy facility.
Where possible, the hydrokinetic energy facilities should be located in areas that are already industrialized and developed.
Design and construct conspicuous components of the project to harmonize with desirable or acceptable characteristics of the surrounding environment. Nonreflective paints and coatings should be used in order to reduce reflection and glare.
To the extent possible, site projects and their facilities away from prominent land features and outside of the viewsheds of publically accessible vantage points.
Bury electrical lines on the site, if feasible, and minimize surface disturbance.
Take advantage of both topography and vegetation as screening devices to restrict views of projects from visually sensitive areas.
General Mitigation Measures
General mitigation practices and principles that could apply to any or all phases of a hydrokinetic energy project include:
Using fugitive dust suppression techniques to minimize impacts of vehicular traffic and wind on roads and exposed soils.
Project Phase-Specific Mitigation Measures
Mitigation measures specific to a particular phase of a hydrokinetic energy project include:
Construction
Minimize disturbance and control erosion by avoiding steep slopes and by minimizing the amount of construction and ground clearing needed for roads, staging areas, and crane pads, or locate them outside the viewsheds of publically accessible vantage points and visually sensitive areas.
Employ dust suppression techniques to minimize impacts of vehicular and pedestrian traffic, construction, and wind on exposed surface soils.
Keep equipment and vehicles within the limits of the initially disturbed areas.
Use efficient lighting so that the minimum amount of lighting required for safety and security is provided and so that upward light scattering is minimized.
Restore disturbed surfaces as closely as possible to their original contour and revegetate them immediately after or to coincide with disturbance activities whenever possible.
Operation
Maintain the site during operation of the facility. Inoperative or damaged equipment and poor housekeeping, in general, creates a poor image of the activity in the eyes of the public.
Decommissioning/Site Reclamation
Develop and implement a decommissioning plan that includes the removal of all aboveground facilities and full reclamation of the site. The plan should consider whether undersea components should be removed or left in place.
Return access roads and the project site to as-near-natural contours as feasible. Revegetate all disturbed areas with plant species appropriate to the site.
