Stellwagen Bank Final EIS and Management Plan 



Page 74 



(Figxu-e 16). Each of the 16 piles would support 

 850,000 tons, and would rest in pockets cut into 

 bedrock (no additional anchoring would be 

 required). The platform itself would be 1000 feet 

 (304.8 meters) wide and 60 feet (18.3 meters) deep, 

 and constructed of steel and reinforced concrete. 

 The bottom of the platform would rest 60 feet (18.3 

 meters) above the mean high water level. 



The interior of the platform would consist of two 

 or more levels. The lower level (approximately 

 800,000 square feet) would be between 20 and 40 

 feet (6.1 to 12.2 meters) high, and contain support 

 systems for the facihty, including diesel electric 

 powerhouse; garbage disposal; fire pumps; storage 

 tanks for fuel, potable water, emergency water 

 (fire); food storage; maintenance shops and 

 warehouses. The upper level (approximately 

 800,000 square feet) would contain multiple stories, 

 including eight towers rising above the main 

 platform. Transportation to and from the facihty 

 would be aided by a heUcopter landing pad, and 

 three docking spaces for cruise hners. 



During the summer and autumn of 1988, the 

 COE received comments from the public and other 

 Federal and state agencies in response to the 

 proposed project. Significant concerns were raised 

 regarding the effects of the project on the marine 

 habitat and hving resources of the Stellwagen Bank 

 system. Also, the Massachusetts Coastal Zone 

 Management Office (MCZM) determined the 

 proposal was likely to affect the Massachusetts 

 coastal zone, and was thus subject to a Federal 

 consistency review and determination, pursuant to 

 § 307 of the Coastal Zone Management Act (15 

 CFR Part 930.53(b)). In addition to raising 

 questions concerning structural stabihty and 

 integrity, the Commonwealth asserted the proposal's 

 hkely effects would include: 



• Operation of necessary support facihties in one 

 or more ports or harbors; 



• Increased boat and barge traffic within State 

 waters, and in trips to and from Stellwagen Bank; 



• Interaction with commercial and recreational 

 fisheries on Stellwagen Bank; 



• Potential environmental harm to fishery 

 resources and the Bank's ecology, resulting from 

 construction activities; volume and composition of 

 discharges; fuel and other spills occurring during 

 transfer operations; accidental loss of debris and 

 htter; noise and Ught-induced changes in fish 

 behavior; 



• Potential environmental harm to threatened and 

 endangered species, especially the northern right 

 whale and sea turtles, resulting from noise and 

 vessel traffic; and 



• Interaction with whalewatch vessels. 



The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) 

 also stated that a NEPA environmental impact 

 statement (including consultation pursuant to § 7 of 

 the Endangered Species Act), would be necessary to 

 address these concerns. In 1990, the appUcant 

 proposed the relocation of the artificial platform to 

 a site further north (42°30'N x 70°06'W); and the 

 expansion of the project to include two identical 

 platforms, or "twin towers", each 1,000 feet wide and 

 connected by a gangway. The COE has indicated 

 numerous uncertainties still require resolution 

 before the proposal may move forward, including 

 the financial support for this project (T. Bruha, 

 COE, pers. comm., June 1990). Additional inquiries 

 to the COE have indicated there has been no 

 further progress on this proposal (T. Bruha, ACOE, 

 pers. comm., June, 1991). 



14. Research and Education 



Several research and educational institutions or 

 agencies conduct activities in the vicinity of 

 Stellwagen Bank. These activities are largely 

 focused on Uving resources of the Bank, and involve 

 both on-site and off-site programs. In addition to 

 living resources, scientific inquiry has also been 

 directed at physical processes of the overall Gulf of 

 Maine. The public's interest in understanding hving 

 and non-Uving resources of the Gulf of Maine has 

 more recently fostered the expansion of 

 educational/interpretive activities by several 

 organizations. 



Among agencies, institutions, or organizations 

 which have conducted research and educational 



