Seashore Superintendent Announces 30-Day Review Period for Environmental Assessment - Electrical Facility Replacement

Date: May 8, 2008
Contact: Ben Pearson, Chief of Maintenance, 508 349 3785

Cape Cod National Seashore Superintendent George E. Price, Jr. has announced that the 30-day public comment period for the Electrical Supply for Herring Cove Beach Facilities Environmental Assessment begins today and closes on June 7, 2008.

Superintendent Price said that the “Staff at the national seashore have consulted with engineers and the public to examine options for an electrical upgrade for the Herring Cove Beach facilities in Provincetown. We have been concerned about the present deteriorating underground electric supply line and sought to look at new renewable energy options to help provide the public amenities.” An Environmental Assessment (EA) under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) has been prepared in accordance with the NEPA and the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) to evaluate the impacts of the project on the human environment, including natural and cultural resources, and provide an opportunity for the public to review and comment on the project.

The purpose of the project is to remedy the ongoing deterioration of the electrical supply to Herring Cove in a manner that maximizes use of renewable and non-greenhouse gas producing technologies. The present underground electrical supply line was installed over 30 years ago and has deteriorated to the point that electric service is frequently interrupted from failures in the line.

In the environmental assessment, three alternatives for providing electric power to the beach facilities are examined. Under the NPS Preferred Alternative, a combined small-scale land-based 7.5 kW wind turbine and 2.64 kW solar photovoltaic system would be installed. Under Alternative Two, a 10 kW solar photovoltaic system only would be installed to meet electric power needs for the beach facilities. Under the No Action Alternative, the existing electrical supply line would not be replaced to supply electrical needs of Herring Cove Beach facilities; therefore the continued electrical service would be dependent on the capability of the line to provide power. Underground electric line replacement was considered but rejected as an alternative.

Copies for review are available at local libraries, the two park visitor centers, and can be accessed online at: http://parkplanning.nps.gov/ or the park’s website via this link. Comments can be sent to the Superintendent, Cape Cod National Seashore, 99 Marconi Site Road, Wellfleet, Massachusetts, 02667. Telephone: [phone], Fax: [phone] or email at [e-mail].

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