Pacific Wind Energy Project Draft Environmental Impact Report

Transcription

1 Pacific Wind Energy Project Table of Contents VOLUME 1 1 Executive Summary Introduction Project Summary Purpose and Use of the Draft EIR Project Overview Environmental Impacts Alternatives to the Proposed Project Areas of Controversy Issues to Be Resolved Introduction 2.1 Intent of the California Environmental Quality Act Purpose of This Environmental Impact Report Terminology Decision-Making Process Availability of the Draft EIR Format and Content Responsible and Trustee Agencies Incorporated by Reference Sources Project Description 3.1 Introduction Proposed Project Project Objectives Environmental Setting Proposed Project Characteristics Entitlements Required Construction Operation and Maintenance Activities Decommissioning and Repowering Related Projects Cumulative Projects Environmental Analysis 4.1 Aesthetics Introduction Environmental Setting Regulatory Setting Impacts and Mitigation Measures Agricultural Resources Introduction Environmental Setting Pacific Wind Energy Project i June 2010

2 4.2.3 Regulatory Setting Impacts and Mitigation Measures Air Quality Introduction Environmental Setting Regulatory Setting Impacts and Mitigation Measures Biological Resources Introduction Environmental Setting Regulatory Setting Impacts and Mitigation Measures Cultural Resources Introduction Environmental Setting Regulatory Setting Impacts and Mitigation Measures Geology, Soils, and Paleontology Introduction Environmental Setting Regulatory Setting Impacts and Mitigation Measures Greenhouse Gas Emissions Introduction Environmental Setting Regulatory Setting Impacts and Mitigation Measures Hazards and Hazardous Materials Introduction Environmental Setting Regulatory Setting Impacts and Mitigation Measures Hydrology and Water Quality Introduction Environmental Setting Regulatory Setting Impacts and Mitigation Measures Land Use and Planning Introduction Environmental Setting Regulatory Setting Impacts and Mitigation Measures Mineral Resources Introduction Environmental Setting Regulatory Setting Impacts and Mitigation Measures Pacific Wind Energy Project ii June 2010

3 4.12 Noise Introduction Environmental Setting Regulatory Setting Impacts and Mitigation Measures Population and Housing Introduction Environmental Setting Regulatory Setting Impacts and Mitigation Measures Public Services Introduction Environmental Setting Regulatory Setting Impacts and Mitigation Measures Recreation Introduction Environmental Setting Regulatory Setting Impacts and Mitigation Measures Transportation and Traffic Introduction Environmental Setting Regulatory Setting Impacts and Mitigation Measures Utilities Introduction Environmental Setting Regulatory Setting Impacts and Mitigation Measures Consequences of Project Implementation Alternatives Reserved for Responses to Comments (to be included with Final EIR) Organizations and Persons Consulted Preparers Bibliography Pacific Wind Energy Project iii June 2010

4 VOLUME II A Notice of Preparation/Initial Study B.1 Visibility Analysis Technical Report B.2 Addendum to Visibility Analysis Technical Report B.3 Shadow Flicker Analysis B.4 Addendum to Shadow Flicker Analysis C LESA Model Worksheets D Air Quality Technical Report VOLUME III E.1 Biological Resources Technical Report VOLUME IV E.1 to Biological Report (continued) E.2 Addendum to Biological Report VOLUME V F.1 Cultural Resources Technical Report F.2 Addendum to Cultural Resources Technical Report G Geotechnical Report H Phase I Environmental Assessment I Hydrology Study J Radio Frequency Impact Study VOLUME VI K-1 Noise Technical Report K-2 Addendum to Noise Technical Report L-1 Traffic Study L-2 County Roads Comment Letter Pacific Wind Energy Project iv June 2010

5 List of Tables 1-1 Summary of Less-than-Significant and Significant but Mitigable Impacts and Mitigation for the Proposed Project Summary of Significant and Unavoidable Impacts and Mitigation for the Proposed Project Summary of Significant and Unavoidable Cumulative Impacts and Mitigation for the Proposed Project Comparison of Alternatives Example WTGs Anticipated Construction Equipment Proposed Wind Projects Identified by Kern County Planning and Community Development Department Relevant Cumulative Projects Other than Wind Energy in Kern County General Guidance for Review of Visual Impact Significance Summary of Structures Evaluated for Potential Shadow Flicker from the Proposed Project National and California Ambient Air Quality Standards Attainment Status for the KCAPCD Background Ambient Air Quality Data Air Quality Regional Thresholds Worst Case Unmitigated Daily Construction Emissions Worst Case Mitigated Daily Construction Emissions Worst Case Unmitigated Annual Construction Emissions Versus KCAPCD Thresholds Worst Case Mitigated Annual Construction Emissions Versus KCAPCD Thresholds Worst Case Unmitigated Daily Operation Emissions Worst Case Mitigated Daily Operation Emissions Worst Case Unmitigated Annual Operation Emissions Versus KCAPCD Thresholds Worst Case Mitigated Annual Operation Emissions Versus KCAPCD Thresholds Cumulative Annual Construction Emissions Cumulative Annual Operation Emissions Cumulative Projects within Six-Mile Radius Acreage of Plant Communities within the Proposed Project Area Drainage Characteristics and Associated Impacts Known and Potential Occurrence of Special-Status Plant Taxa Within the Proposed Project Area Known and Potential Occurrence of Special-Status Wildlife Within the Proposed Project Area Proposed Project Impacts by Plant Community Newly Recorded Prehistoric Isolates Newly Recorded Historical Isolates Significant Earthquakes ,7-1 Total Construction Period CO2 Emissions Annual Operation Direct Emissions California Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction Strategies Project Consistency with an Applicable Plan, Policy, or Regulation for GHG Emissions Kern County Land Use Designations Existing Zoning Districts Project Consistency with Local Planning Document Pacific Wind Energy Project v June 2010

6 List of Tables (continued) Definition of Acoustical Terms Noise Metrics - Comparative Noise Levels Typical Levels of Ground-Borne Vibration Noise Sensitive Receptors and Distance to Nearest Proposed Construction Site Ambient Noise Levels of Proposed Project Area WTG Operation Noise Levels at Sensitive Receptors WTG Operation Low Frequency (63 Hz) Noise Levels at Sensitive Receptors Transformer Noise Levels at Substations Vibration Velocities for Construction Equipment Vibration Velocities at Sensitive Receptors Maximum Noise Levels of Common Construction Equipment Outdoor Construction Noise Levels Unmitigated Construction Noise Levels at Sensitive Receptors Mitigated Construction Noise Levels at Sensitive Receptors Cumulative Operational A-Weighted Noise Levels for the Proposed Project with the PdV Wind Energy Project Cumulative Operational Low Frequency (63 Hz) Noise Levels for the Proposed Project with the PdV Wind Energy Project Kern County Population Trends U.S. Census Kern County Population Trends DOF Kern County Housing Trends DOF Industries in Kern County Industry Employment Projections, Bakersfield MSA, Kern County Year 2010 Construction Traffic Volumes Intersection LOS Analysis Construction Traffic Volumes Roadway Capacity LOS Analysis Comparison of Alternatives Reduced Acreage of Vegetation Communities within the Project Area Alternative C List of Figures 1-1 Regional Location Map Project Site and Areas Proposed for Zoning Change Regional Location Map Project Site Plan Project Site and Areas Proposed for Zoning Change Kern County General Plan Map Code Designations in the Project Area Existing Zoning Kern County Zoning Classifications KOP Location Map KOP-1 Northbound 170th Street West KOP-2 Northbound Pacific Crest Trail KOP-3 Northbound Pacific Crest Trail KOP-4 Pacific Crest Trail Looking South KOP-5 Northwest Corner of Project KOP-6 Northeast Corner of Project KOP-7 220th Street and Avenue A Zone of Visual Influences with 3.0 MW Turbines Viewshed Analysis Pacific Wind Energy Project vi June 2010

7 List of Figures (continued) Farmland Classifications Regional Location Vegetation Communities Occurring in the Proposed Project Area Cultural Resources Direct Impact Areas, Areas of Potential Effect (APE), and Archaeological Survey Coverage Paleontological Resource Sensitivity CCR Title 14 Section 1254 Minimum Clearances Project Area Hydrologic Boundaries Project Area Surface Water Feature Project Area Flood Hazard Zones Project Area Groundwater Basins Kern County Zoning Classifications Areas within Project Boundary Proposed for Rezoning Kern County General Plan Map Code Designations in the Project Area Sensitive Receptor Locations and Observed Ambient Noise Levels Regional Roadways Roadways in the Project Vicinity Alternative B Relocate to San Gorgonio Wind Resource Area Alternative C Reduced Project Size Pacific Wind Energy Project vii June 2010