Big Thunder Wind Park

Transcription

1 Construction Plan Report DRAFT Prepared by: M.K. Ince and Associates Ltd. May 18, 2010

2 TABLE OF CONTENTS BIG THUNDER WIND PARK PROJECT OVERVIEW PROJECT SCHEDULE CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES SCOPE OF THE PROJECT CONSTRUCTION PHASE CONSTRUCTION SCHEDULE CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES Surveying and Siting Operations Land Clearing Road Construction / Modification Delivery of Equipment Foundation Construction Tower and Turbine Assembly and Installation Interconnection from Turbines to Substation Substation Construction Turbine Commissioning Site Rehabilitation CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT Resource Requirements MATERIAL USE AND DISPOSAL Materials brought on site Waste Disposal ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF PROJECT CONSTRUCTION STUDY AREA POTENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS AND MITIGATION MEASURES Stormwater Runoff Dust and Noise Emissions Destruction of Vegetation and Habitat Impacts on Water Bodies Fuel Spills Impacts on Archaeological Resources ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING MANAGEMENT STRUCTURES ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS MONITORING PLAN CONCLUSION QUALIFICATIONS AND LIMITATIONS List of Figures Figure 1-1 Big Thunder Wind Park Turbine Layout... 3 Figure 1-2 Big Thunder Wind Park Electrical Tapline Routes... 4 M.K. Ince and Associates Ltd. i

3 List of Tables Table 1-1 Coordinates for Wind Turbine Locations at the Big Thunder Wind Park... 1 Table 1-2 Project Schedule... 2 Table 2-1 Description of Construction, Operation, and Decommissioning Activities... 5 Table 2-2 Proposed Construction Schedule... 6 Table 2-3 Typical Construction Equipment Noise... 9 M.K. Ince and Associates Ltd. ii

4 1 PROJECT OVERVIEW The Big Thunder Wind Park Construction Plan Report is prepared with reference to Item 1 of the requirements outlined in Table 1 of the Ministry of Environment s Renewable Energy Approvals Regulation (O.Reg. 359/09). A detailed discussion of the construction activities planned for the Big Thunder Wind Park, their potential environmental effects, and mitigation measures are included in this report. The proposed Big Thunder Wind Park is to be situated southwest of the City of Thunder Bay, on the Nor Wester Mountains within the Municipality of Neebing, Ontario. The project will consist of 18 turbines rated at 1.5 MW each, producing up to 27 MW of electricity in total. The wind turbines will be erected for the purpose of capturing energy from the wind, a renewable resource, and converting it into clean, useable electricity. This electricity will be transported to end-users via interconnection facilities, including transformers and distribution lines. The undertaking will include the construction, operation, maintenance, and decommissioning of a wind park and its associated infrastructure, including access roads, two collector substations and low-voltage electrical taplines and poles. Transformers will be located at the base of each turbine to step-up the voltage to match the voltage of local distribution feeder (25 kv). The two substations will act as collector stations for the energy produced by the turbines; each substation will contain a metering system, disconnection switch, SCADA system, and a transfer trip communication. The 18 turbines are located on an area of elevated relief known as the Nor Westers, immediately west of Loch Lomond. The wind turbine locations are described in Table 1-1 and the wind park components are illustrated in Figure 1-1 and Figure 1-2 below. Table 1-1 Coordinates for Wind Turbine Locations at the Big Thunder Wind Park Turbine Number Latitude (Nad 83 UTM 16) Longitude (Nad 83 UTM 16) M.K. Ince and Associates Ltd. 1

5 Project Schedule Table 1-2 indicates the anticipated project schedule for development of the Big Thunder Wind Park. Table 1-2 Project Schedule Activity Date Start Wind Resource Assessment and Preliminary Engineering October 2008 Begin Federal and Provincial Environmental Screening February 2008 Transition to Renewable Energy Approval process September 2009 Submit Renewable Energy Approval Application July 2010 Start of Construction November 2010 Turbine commissioning July 2011 M.K. Ince and Associates Ltd. 2

6 Figure 1-1 Big Thunder Wind Park Turbine Layout M.K. Ince and Associates Ltd. 3

7 Figure 1-2 Big Thunder Wind Park Electrical Tapline Routes M.K. Ince and Associates Ltd. 4

8 2 CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES 2.1 Scope of the Project The scope of the Big Thunder Wind Park project includes the construction, operation, maintenance, and decommissioning of the turbines and associated infrastructure, including temporary construction staging areas, electrical taplines, access roads, transformers, and switching substations. Table 2-1 summarizes the key project activities. Table 2-1 Description of Construction, Operation, and Decommissioning Activities Phase Activity Construction Operation Decommissioning Surveying and siting Access road construction/modification Delivery of equipment Foundation construction Tower and turbine assembly and installation Interconnection from turbines to substations Substation construction Electrical tapline construction Turbine commissioning Site rehabilitation Turbine operation Wind Park maintenance Land clearing Road construction/modification Removal of turbines and ancillary equipment Removal of electrical taplines Site rehabilitation 2.2 Construction Phase The construction phase for the wind park is described in Section 2.4. Construction activities will be on a per turbine basis. Construction activities will be initiated and completed at each turbine location before beginning at the next. The project is currently scheduled to begin construction as early as the fourth quarter of Construction Schedule The high level construction schedule for the Big Thunder Wind Park is included in Table 2-2. The final construction schedule will depend on dates approvals are obtained, equipment availability and weather conditions. M.K. Ince and Associates Ltd. 5

9 Activity Table 2-2 Proposed Construction Schedule Date Surveying and site preparation November 2010 January 2010 Construction of access roads, clearing December 2010 January 2011 Foundation construction April 2011 May 2011 Turbine assembly June 2011 July 2011 Substation and electrical tapline construction Turbine commissioning July 2011 January 2011 May Construction Activities Surveying and Siting Operations A land survey of all turbine locations, interconnection routes and access roads will be completed prior to construction by a registered Ontario Land Surveyor. A geotechnical survey involving bore-hole samples and in situ testing will be undertaken prior to the design and construction of the tower foundations. A Stage I Archaeological Assessment of the project area was commissioned in May 2009 and completed in July 2009 by AMICK Consultants Ltd. Results of this assessment indicated that two archaeological sites relating directly to First Nations or Euro-Canadian habitation or activity had been formally documented in the Archaeological Sites Database, administered by the Ontario Ministry of Culture, within two kilometers of the study area. Both of these sites are outside the project area, east of Loch Lomond. The Ministry of Culture determined that a site visit to the subject property was not necessary for the Stage I study. The AMICK report on the Stage I Archaeological Assessment has been forwarded to the Ontario Ministry of Culture for comment and is included in Appendix F of the Environmental Screening Report submitted with the REA Application. A Stage II study was recommended by AMICK for the project, with the exclusion of areas of exposed bare rock, permanently wet areas, or steep slopes. A Stage II Archaeological Assessment was recommended on the basis of the proximity of the site to water and the seasonal resource exploitation and occupation pattern utilized by First Nations in the region. The Ministry of Culture has stated that the Stage II Archaeological Assessment may be performed after the REA Approval process but prior to project construction. The Ministry of Culture s correspondence on this topic is included in Appendix F of the Environmental Screening Report submitted with the REA Reports Land Clearing As the Big Thunder Wind Park is located in a forested area, clearing will be required at each turbine location, laydown areas, temporary staging areas, substation locations, and for the construction of access roads and electrical taplines. M.K. Ince and Associates Ltd. 6

10 A pad area adjacent to each turbine location will be cleared, graded and constructed using geotextile and aggregate material in order to support the weight of heavy machinery. This activity will take approximately two months for all eighteen turbines. Land clearing for the Big Thunder Wind Park will require the removal of trees, however no slash will be burned on site. Areas to be cleared for each wind park component are shown on the Site Plan included within the Design and Operations Report Road Construction / Modification Gravel surfaced roads will be constructed to allow access to each individual wind turbine site. These roads will be designed and constructed to support the heavy machinery and trucks that need to reach the turbine locations. The process of constructing roads will include the excavation of topsoil and the possible use of a geotextile and/or aggregate material depending on local geotechnical conditions. Roads will be kept to a minimum and have been located to minimize environmental impacts as much as possible. This activity will take approximately two months for all eighteen turbines Delivery of Equipment The wind turbines will be transported to the site in pieces (tower, blades, and nacelle), via truck, and will be assembled on site. The blades, the nacelle, and the tower sections will be delivered on oversized vehicles. Cranes, used to assemble the tower and turbine, will also be delivered by truck and assembled on site Foundation Construction Topsoil will be removed and stockpiled prior to excavation for construction of the turbine foundations. The amount of fill removed for the foundations will depend on the type of foundation to be installed. Where possible, this excess fill will be used on-site for grading operations. Foundations will be constructed of poured concrete and reinforcing steel. Wooden forms will be used in the construction process. A mounting ring for the turbine tower will be attached to the foundation. This activity will take approximately three months for eighteen turbines. Each foundations will be left to cure for a minimum of one month before tower erection, or alternatively, quick curing foundation methods may be employed at some sites. Foundation design, including the foundation type and dimensions, will depend on the results of the geotechnical survey of the turbine locations Tower and Turbine Assembly and Installation The turbines will be erected using a large crane supported on the pad area adjacent to each turbine site. The wind turbine (tower, blades, and nacelle) will be assembled using the crane. This activity will take approximately two months for eighteen turbines. Following construction the crane pad will be allowed to undergo natural re-vegetation. M.K. Ince and Associates Ltd. 7

11 The turbines will have a transformer installed adjacent to the turbine s tower base. The transformer will step up the voltage from 600 V to 25 kv to match the voltage of local distribution lines. The size of the transformer (typically 1 m x 2 m) will be relatively insignificant in relation to the base diameter of the tower (4 m). This activity will take approximately four weeks for eighteen turbines and is highly dependent on the scheduling of other construction activities Interconnection from Turbines to Substation The proposed wind park will be connected to the electrical distribution grid via overhead cables and two switching substations located on the wind park site. The wind turbines include 25 kv transformers at their base to step-up the voltage in the lines to match the voltage of the local distribution system. The substations in the wind park will simply be collector stations for the lines and an area used for metering, line communication, and controls Substation Construction The substation sites will be excavated to allow for the installation of gravel substrate and the construction of a concrete foundation. The substation equipment will be grounded to a grounding grid installed in the gravel. Substation equipment will be mounted on the concrete foundation and connected to the adjacent outgoing distribution line. The substations will be fenced and locked to prevent unauthorized access Turbine Commissioning Prior to start-up, a series of tests will be performed on the wind turbines to confirm system suitability and compatibility with the electricity grid. Interconnection to the grid will be undertaken as a final test. Physical adjustments may be carried out on the turbine at this point. This activity will be scheduled, but will ultimately depend on weather conditions. This activity will take approximately one month for eighteen turbines Site Rehabilitation Upon commissioning of the turbines, construction crews and equipment will be demobilized and the construction areas rehabilitated. The disturbed portions of the site will be remediated and revegetated. Topsoil stripped during construction will be re-applied. Natural regeneration will be encouraged to achieve re-vegetation, and seeding or planting will occur in some areas, particularly those prone to erosion. This activity will take approximately four weeks. 2.5 Construction Equipment Heavy construction equipment will be required during the construction of the Big Thunder Wind Park. Types of construction equipment and potential noise emissions for each type are provided in Table 2-3 below. M.K. Ince and Associates Ltd. 8

12 Table 2-3 Typical Construction Equipment Noise Equipment Type Typical Noise Levels at 50 Feet (dba) Air Compressor 81 Backhoe 85 Concrete Pump 82 Concrete Vibrator 76 Concrete Breaker 82 Dozer 80 Generator 78 Load 79 Paver 88 Water Pump 76 Trucks 88 Pile Drivers 101 (Source: Bolt, Beranek and Newman, 1971) Not all equipment listed in Table 2-3 will be used at the Big Thunder Wind Park. All equipment used will be operated during normal daytime business hours to minimize noise disturbance impacts. Equipment requirements, including type, size and weight, will be discussed with the construction contractor prior to construction of the Big Thunder Wind Park. Chemicals used on-site during the construction of the Big Thunder Wind Park will include fuel and concrete admixtures. All chemicals will be handled and stored appropriately as defined in the Environmental Effects Monitoring Plan (EEMP) and Design and Operations Report. The Big Thunder Wind Park EEMP and Design and Operations Report will also specify response measures to be followed in the event of a hazardous materials spill Resource Requirements Required components of the wind park include the wind turbine generators themselves, transformers, overhead electrical cabling and other interconnection equipment, concrete and other materials for turbine foundations, and aggregate for use in access roads and site preparation. As much as possible, all materials will be obtained locally from within the Thunder Bay District or Ontario. Investigation for local suppliers is ongoing, and where comparable these will be preferred for use. Energy usage during the construction and decommissioning phases of the project will be primarily in the form of gasoline and diesel for transportation and machinery operation. There will be no unusual energy demands in the construction, commissioning and decommissioning of M.K. Ince and Associates Ltd. 9

13 the wind turbines, and no significant energy demands during the operation of the project. The only requirement for water will be for dust suppression during construction. This water will be brought in from off-site. 2.6 Material Use and Disposal Materials brought on site The materials required for the construction of the Big Thunder Wind Park include, but are not limited to, wood, concrete, steel, electrical cabling and poles, and road base. Materials will be used in varying quantities for each of the construction stages described in Section 2.4. Materials will be stored at each individual turbine site and if needed at the two staging areas within the wind park. Trucks will bring all materials to the project site. Oversized trucks will be used to transport turbine structures and blades. The number of trips made by delivery vehicles will depend on the final selection of transport companies and the capacity and availability of their vehicles. Transport of materials will occur at various stages between November 2010 and July Frequency of delivery will be dependent upon the construction staging listed in Table Waste Disposal No toxic or hazardous materials will be produced during the construction of the project. Oils and other fluids that may be considered toxic or hazardous depending on quantities and handling are required for use in turbine maintenance. Waste fluids will be removed from the project site and recycled or disposed according to municipal and provincial waste management regulations. Nonhazardous waste material will be handled by the municipal waste management system. M.K. Ince and Associates Ltd. 10

14 3 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF PROJECT CONSTRUCTION 3.1 Study Area As required under the Renewable Energy Approval regulation O.Reg. 359/09, environmental impacts of construction activities have been evaluated within a 300 m radius of construction works. 3.2 Potential Environmental Impacts and Mitigation Measures The potential negative environmental impacts arising from construction of the proposed Big Thunder Wind Park are described in Sections through of the Environmental Screening Report included with the REA Application reports. These sections of the Environmental Screening Report also describe proposed mitigation measures to address these environmental impacts, as well as an assessment of residual environmental effects after mitigation measures have been applied. Summaries of some of the main construction-related impacts considered in the Environmental Screening Report are included in the Sections below Stormwater Runoff Stormwater patterns may change due to project construction. Land will be cleared and re-graded at each turbine site to permit construction of individual turbines. Unpaved roads will also be constructed to allow access to the project site and turbine locations. Mitigation options for storm water runoff include the use of siltation fences and appropriate setback distances from water bodies and natural heritage features. Siltation fences will be used where excavation and re-grading operations pose a risk to surface waters. All turbine locations, roads and staging areas will be more than 120 m from water bodies and natural heritage features. There are several crossings of watercourses by proposed overhead electrical lines that for which appropriate mitigation measures will be applied to reduce impacts on these water bodies. Please see both the Environmental Screening Report and the Water Bodies Impact Assessment Report for further details Dust and Noise Emissions Construction activities, including re-grading and excavation activities, will result in increased dust and noise emissions. Dust suppression, project scheduling, and limiting noise emissions from heavy equipment will be used to mitigate the effects of dust and noise emissions. Construction activities will occur during daytime hours to minimize disturbance to residences around the project location during quiet hours. Please see the Environmental Screening Report for further details. M.K. Ince and Associates Ltd. 11

15 3.2.3 Destruction of Vegetation and Habitat Construction activities will result in a small amount of land being cleared (approximately 2% of the project area). Most land cleared will be for road construction and tapline corridors. Land will be cleared at all turbine locations during construction to allow for turbine installation and assembly. Portions of the turbine assembly areas and reclaimed access road areas will undergo natural regeneration upon completion of construction, and erosion-prone areas will be re-seeded or replanted with native vegetation species. See Environmental Screening Report for further details Impacts on Water Bodies Impacts to water bodies are expected to be minimal as a result of project construction. Roads, turbines, and substations are all located at distances greater than REA setback distances (120 m) from water bodies as defined in the REA regulation. Crossings of watercourses by electrical taplines will be necessary and, depending on which of the two optional routes in selected, may cross between two and five watercourses. Proposed electrical taplines for the Big Thunder Wind Park will be above ground, except where crossings of the Kaministiquia River are proposed. Poles on which the electrical taplines are mounted will be set back from riverbanks and shorelines by at least 30 meters. Construction practices and mitigation measures associated with the electrical tapline crossings of these watercourses are described in the Water Bodies Impact Assessment Report included with the REA Application documents. Also please see the Water Assessment Report and the Environmental Screening Report for further details Fuel Spills Construction vehicles and equipment will require fuel in the form of gasoline or diesel; as a result, the potential for accidental spills exists. The potential for contamination of surface and groundwater due to accidental spills will be minimized by the implementation of the measures included in the Environmental Effects Monitoring Plan (EEMP) and Design and Operations Report for fuel, oil, and lubricant handling and storage. Storage and use of these materials during construction of the wind farm will comply with all applicable provincial and federal regulations, codes, and guidelines. See the Environmental Screening Report and the Design and Operations Report for further details Impacts on Archaeological Resources During construction of access roads, there is the potential of uncovering archaeological artifacts of both Euro-Canadian and First Nation origins. A Stage 1 Archaeological Assessment identifying areas of high potential has been completed for the project area. A Stage 2 Archaeological Assessment of areas that will be impacted by the construction of the wind farm will be carried out prior to construction, as per guidance received from the Ministry of Culture. During excavation operations, if any deeply buried archaeological M.K. Ince and Associates Ltd. 12

16 remains are found, the Ministry of Culture will be notified immediately. In the event that human remains are uncovered, the Ministry of Culture and the Registrar or Deputy Registrar of the Cemeteries Regulation Unit of the Ministry of Consumer and Commercial Relations will be contacted. See Environmental Screening Report for further details, including the Stage 1 Archaeological Assessment Report in Appendix G of the Environmental Screening Report. M.K. Ince and Associates Ltd. 13

17 4 ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING All construction, operation, and decommissioning activities will be guided by plans or programs designed by Horizon Wind Inc. and their contractors. These programs will ensure that the environmental concerns and mitigation measures discussed in the Renewable Energy Approval Application are addressed and implemented in the field and that the effectiveness of the environmental impact assessment is optimized. 4.1 Management Structures Horizon Wind Inc. will ensure that all construction personnel, contractors and sub-contractors are appropriately skilled and qualified to comply with the environmental responsibilities stipulated in the reports associated with the Renewable Energy Approval Application. Horizon Wind Inc. is committed to developing and operating the proposed wind park in an environmentally responsible manner and in compliance with all relevant municipal, provincial and federal laws. All organizations involved in the construction of the Big Thunder Wind Park will respect the monitoring programs described in the Environmental Effects Monitoring Plan included with the REA Application, and will have in place a reporting system that assigns responsibility and accountability for these actions. All contracts between Horizon Wind Inc. and its contractors and sub-contractors will explicitly incorporate provisions specified in the REA Application reports. 4.2 Environmental Effects Monitoring Plan An Environmental Effects Monitoring Plan (EEMP) has been developed for this project, outlining procedures based on regulations and good construction practices for waste management, health and safety, emergency response and training. The EEMP includes provisions for the reuse, recycling, and disposal of all hazardous and non-hazardous wastes. It specifies provisions for protecting the public from construction hazards, the proper use of safety equipment, and accident reporting. It includes an emergency response plan for accidental spills, fires, evacuations and medical emergencies. The EEMP is included within the Design and Operations Report included with the REA Application. M.K. Ince and Associates Ltd. 14

18 5 CONCLUSION Construction of the proposed Big Thunder Wind Park will be carried out so as to minimize negative impacts on the environment. This Construction Plan Report, along with Sections through of the Environmental Screening Report included with the REA Application, identify the potential environmental impacts resulting from construction of the wind park, and propose mitigation measures to reduce these impacts. Impacts resulting from construction of overhead and underground crossings of watercourses by electrical lines are discussed in the Water Bodies Impact Assessment Report, where appropriate mitigation measures to reduce these impacts are also presented. Environmental monitoring plans have been developed and are discussed in the Environmental Effects Monitoring Plan included within the Design and Operations Report document submitted with the REA Application. M.K. Ince and Associates Ltd. 15

19 6 QUALIFICATIONS AND LIMITATIONS M.K. Ince and Associates Ltd. has prepared this report in accordance with information provided by its Client. The information and analysis contained herein is for the sole benefit of the Client and may not be relied upon by any other person. The contents of this report are based upon our understanding of information and reports prepared by others, including Horizon Wind Inc. and their consultants. While we may have referred to and made use of this information and reporting, we assume no liability for the accuracy of this information. MKI s assessment was made in accordance with guidelines, regulations and procedures believed to be current at this time. Changes in guidelines, regulations and enforcement policies can occur at any time and such changes could affect the conclusions and recommendations of this report. M.K. Ince and Associates Ltd. 16