SOUTH BRANCH WIND FARM PROJECT DESCRIPTION REPORT

Transcription

1 SOUTH BRANCH WIND FARM PROJECT DESCRIPTION REPORT Report 1 of 9 May 31, 2012 South Branch Windfarm Inc. 226 ½ James Street North, Unit A Hamilton, Ontario L8R 2L3 Tel: Fax: info@prowind.ca

2 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. PURPOSE REPORT VERSION GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR RENEWABLE ENERGY GENERATION FACILITIES General Project Information Authorizations Required Federal Involvement PROJECT INFORMATION Energy Sources Project Components Class of Renewable Energy Generation Facility Project Activities Name Plate Capacity of Renewable Energy Generation Facility Ownership of the Land Negative Environmental Effects Public Health and Safety Areas Protected under Provincial Plans and Policies Project Area Maps May 31, 2012 i

3 LIST OF TABLES TABLE 1 SOUTH BRANCH WIND FARM REQUIRED AUTHORIZATIONS...8 TABLE 2 MAXIMUM TURBINE SPECIFICATIONS TABLE 3 CLASS DESIGNATION FOR WIND FACILITIES FROM O. REG 359/ TABLE 4 PARTICIPATING LAND PARCELS IN THE SOUTH BRANCH WIND FARM LIST OF FIGURES FIGURE 1 PROJECT LOCATION IN ONTARIO...3 FIGURE 2 SOUTH BRANCH WIND FARM BASIC PROJECT LAYOUT...4 FIGURE 3 A TYPICAL COMMERCIAL SCALE WIND TURBINE FIGURE 4 DRAWING OF THE ROTOR AND BLADES OF A WIND TURBINE FIGURE 5 SOUTH BRANCH WIND FARM COLLECTED WATER FEATURE RECORDS FIGURE 6 SOUTH BRANCH WIND FARM WOODLAND FEATURES FIGURE 7 SOUTH BRANCH WIND FARM WETLAND FEATURES FIGURE 8 SOUTH BRANCH WIND FARM CANDIDATE SIGNIFICANT WILDLIFE HABITAT May 31, 2012 ii

4 1. PURPOSE The South Branch Wind Farm is prepared for the purpose of compliance with section 13 of Ontario Regulation 359/09, which amends the Environmental Protection Act for the Renewable Energy Approvals under Part V.0.1 of the Act. Section 13 requires supporting documentation as outlined in Table 1 of O. Reg 359/09. Item 10 in Table 1 identifies a as a requirement for the South Branch Wind Farm Renewable Energy Approval (REA). A preliminary version of this report is made available to Aboriginal stakeholders, public stakeholders and agency stakeholders for review prior to the REA submission. This report is available online for download at and available in hard copy at select locations identified on the website and in newspaper advertisements. A final version of this report is included in the REA submission to the Ontario Ministry of the Environment (MOE). 2. REPORT VERSION Details for project design and development have been modified and enhanced since the initial release of the. The nature of this report as an overarching summary of project activities means that multiple versions will be released through the life of the project. This section records the details of each released version. Report Version Report Date 1.0 June 30, November 30, July 30, October 20, March 26, 2012 Final May 31, 2012 May 31,

5 3. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR RENEWABLE ENERGY GENERATION FACILITIES 3.1. GENERAL PROJECT INFORMATION Project Name This project is named South Branch Wind Farm Project Applicant Prowind Inc. (Prowind) is a Canadian wind energy developer based in Hamilton, Ontario. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Prowind GmbH, based in Osnabrück, Germany. Prowind s mandate is to create small- scale, renewable and zero- emission power generation. Prowind believes in distributed generation that has a minimum impact on the surrounding environment and landscape. The Applicant for this project is South Branch Windfarm Inc., a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) created to hold assets of the South Branch Wind Farm. The SPV is owned in equal parts by Prowind Inc. and Eolia Renewable Energy Canada Ltd Project Scope South Branch Wind Farm is a 30 MW project that will employ the use of up to fourteen (14) commercial scale wind turbines generators 1, depending on the make and model of turbine that is selected. The need for flexibility in turbine choice arises from several factors including which turbines will ultimately meet Ontario content requirements that are scheduled to increase before project construction. The largest turbine being considered has a nameplate rating of 3 MW. In the event that a turbine model larger than 2.14 MW is selected, a subset of the 14 proposed turbine locations will be built so that the total capacity of the park does not exceed the 30 MW limit. In the REA reporting for South Branch Wind Farm, turbine specifications are presented using maximum dimensions and maximum potential noise output. The selected turbine quantity, hub height, rotor diameter, and sound specifications may be less than as presented, but will not be greater. Wind turbines will have a maximum hub height of 140 m and a maximum rotor diameter of 118 m, for a total height of no more than 199 m. The operational wind farm will consist of wind turbine generators, access roads, a substation and a combination of underground and overhead cabling to connect the turbines to the substation and the substation to the feeder line. In addition, there will be a storage shed, and a designated operations and maintenance building for the life of the project. During the construction and decommissioning, there will be additional, temporary infrastructure including 3 concrete wash ponds and a construction office trailer. 1 Earlier versions of REA reports indicated the South Branch Wind Farm would host as many as 15 turbines. One of these proposed turbine locations, that of Turbine 14, was deemed unsuitable during environmental field studies and was subsequently removed from the wind farm design. Original turbine identifiers have been preserved for clarity. May 31,

6 The project is proposed on privately owned, agricultural land as well as municipal easements surrounding Brinston, Ontario. The project turbines are located in two main areas. The western area is defined by properties directly on each side of Byker Road, between Dobbie Road and Branch Road to the north and Pitt Road and Sandy Creek Road to the south. Turbines in the eastern area lie on either side of County Road 16 (Brinston Road) between Oak Valley Road to the north and Cook Road to the south. The footprint of the wind farm (including turbine foundations, roads, cables and temporary construction areas) is approximately 25 hectares in area, which is a maximum area based on the construction of all 14 turbines. This project will be located within 1,413 hectares of leased land. The Commercial Operation Date as defined by the Ontario Power Authority for this project is January 20, Figure 1 illustrates the project location within Ontario. Figure 2 shows the project area with proposed infrastructure layout. FIGURE 1 PROJECT LOCATION IN ONTARIO May 31,

7 FIGURE 2 SOUTH BRANCH WIND FARM BASIC PROJECT LAYOUT 4

8 REA Submission The REA submission for South Branch Wind Farm includes several reports written with the intent to describe the full assessment of potential and planned impacts to the project area. These reports are listed below for reference. Water Assessment Report Appendix A Appendix B Appendix C Natural Heritage Assessment Report Appendix A Appendix B Appendix C Appendix D Appendix E Appendix F Appendix G Appendix H Appendix I Appendix J Appendix K Site Investigation Field Notes Field Staff Qualifications Ecological Land Classification Information Maps Site Investigation Field Notes Pre Construction Bird Reports Pre Construction Bat Reports Ecological Land Classification Information Wetland Survey Information Amphibian Survey Information Field Staff Qualifications Post-Construction Monitoring Plan: Birds and Bats Observed Species List Agency Confirmation Letter Archaeology and Heritage Resources Report Appendix A Appendix B Appendix C Appendix D Design and Operations Report Appendix A Appendix B Appendix C Appendix D Appendix E Appendix F Stage 1 Archaeological Assessment Report Stage 1 & 2 Archaeological Assessment Report Heritage Impact Assessment Report Agency Confirmation Letters Site Plan Diagrams Turbine Specifications Report Noise Impact Assessment Report Emergency Preparedness and Fire Prevention Plan Template CBC TV Potential Impact Assessment Report Radio Communication, Radar and Seismo-Acoustic Impact Assessment Report May 31,

9 Construction Plan Report Appendix A Construction Site Plan Decommissioning Plan Report Abutting Property Impact Assessment Report Turbine Specification Report Consultation Report Appendix A Notice of Commencement issued under O. Reg 116/01 Appendix B Notice of Public Meeting under O. Reg 116/01 Appendix C Notice of Proposal and Public Meeting under O. Reg 359/09 Appendix D Notice of Final Public Meeting and Draft REA Appendix E Notice of Public Meetings Appendix F Public Consultation Appendix G Municipal Consultation Appendix H Agency Consultation Appendix I First Nations Consultation The first draft of the (PDR) for South Branch Wind Farm, version 1.0, dated June 30, 2010, was posted for public review and comment on July 7, An updated version (V2.0) was released on November 30, 2010 to agency reviewers and Aboriginal community contacts. The draft REA, including V3.0 of the PDR was issued to agency and Aboriginal community contacts in July 2011 and subsequently posted for public review on the Prowind Canada website at once feedback from early reviewers had been incorporated. Version (V3.1) incorporated minor updates to formatting, maps and report references from the previous version, but contains no significant updates to content or project intent. This was released along with draft REAs documents prior to final public meetings. Version 3.2 incorporated additional minor updates received from all stakeholder consultation. Version 3.2 is the final draft of this document that is submitted to the Ministry of the Environment as part of the Renewable Energy Approval application for the South Branch Wind Farm. The official REA application is submitted to the MOE after all stakeholder consultation and feedback has been completed. The final submission includes one additional report that was not included in the draft submission: the Consultation Report. This report includes details of all third- party communications for the South Branch Wind Farm, including agency, community and Aboriginal stakeholder consultation Contact Information Prowind Canada Inc., also a subsidiary of Prowind Inc., will serve as the project Consultant representing the Applicant. May 31,

10 Contact details for information on this project are as follows: Prowind Canada Inc. 226 ½ James St. N, Unit A Hamilton, Ontario L8R 2L3 Telephone: Fax: Website: (905) (866) info@prowind.ca May 31,

11 3.2. AUTHORIZATIONS REQUIRED Several licenses and authorizations, other than the REA are required in order for the project to proceed. Applicable permits, licenses and authorizations are listed in the table below. TABLE 1 SOUTH BRANCH WIND FARM REQUIRED AUTHORIZATIONS Agency Outside of REA NavCanada Ministry of Transportation Ontario Power Authority Township of South Dundas Township of Edwardsburgh/Cardinal South Nation River Conservation Authority Hydro One Ministry of Natural Resources Bell Canada Included in REA Ministry of Natural Resources Ministry of Tourism and Culture Description o Land Use Permit o Approval for towers in airspace o Feed-In-Tariff Contract o Notice to Proceed o Shared Services Agreement o Building Permit o Entrance Permit o Shared Services Agreement o Building Permit o Entrance Permit o Permit for development and/or site alteration within regulated area (watercourse/floodplain) o Joint Use Agreement to share existing utility poles in the project vicinity o Permit under Public Lands Act o Approval for Bell easement infringement o Approval/Comments on REA reports o Approval/Comments on Archaeology and Heritage Resource reports of REA 3.3. FEDERAL INVOLVEMENT The South Branch Wind Farm is not subject to the Federal Environmental Assessment process. The Federal Environmental Assessment process is enacted if one of several triggers are planned, which may include disruption to fish habitat, impact to navigable waters, federal funding, etc. The only federal involvement in the South Branch Wind Farm s environmental approval process is the consultation with Environment Canada (EC) on avian surveys. Feedback from EC was solicited both prior to and throughout pre- construction bird surveys. Environment Canada reviewed avian surveys and post- construction monitoring plans, but did not supply any comments or feedback. In addition, the draft REA was sent to Environment Canada for review and comment. May 31,

12 4. PROJECT INFORMATION 4.1. ENERGY SOURCES South Branch Wind Farm will use wind turbines to harness kinetic energy from the wind and, by means of an electrical generator, convert it to electricity PROJECT COMPONENTS South Branch Wind Farm will employ the use of up to 14 wind turbine generators, combining to produce a total nameplate capacity of 30 MW. The wind farm will also require a substation, a combination of overhead and buried electrical cabling and access roads. These and other components are discussed in the sections below. All of these items are thoroughly detailed in the Construction Site Plan presented in Appendix A of the Construction Plan Report Meteorological Tower A temporary meteorological tower was installed on project land in May It will remain in place until the construction phase of the wind farm when the Notice to Proceed has been secured from the Ontario Power Authority Turbines The commercial scale turbines proposed for the South Branch Wind Farm will consist of three main components: foundation, tower, and nacelle/rotor. Modern wind turbines self- regulate, optimize, and monitor output parameters using a variety of sophisticated instrumentation. Figure 3 shows a typical commercial scale wind turbine. May 31,

13 FIGURE 3 A TYPICAL COMMERCIAL SCALE WIND TURBINE South Branch Wind Farm will be comprised of wind turbines with a total maximum height (tower + blade) of 199 m, a rotor diameter that will not exceed 118 m, and a guaranteed sound power level of no more than db(a). The Applicant will ensure that all applicable noise and setback regulations have been met in the wind farm design. All modeling will incorporate the guaranteed sound power level presented by the turbine manufacturer. The project will consist of a maximum of 14 wind turbines. Once a final decision has been made on the make and model of turbines to be used at the South Branch Wind Farm, finalized parameters of the turbine will be provided in an updated and other REA documentation. Turbine dimensions and other parameters are described in Table 2, presented as maximum possible values. Figure 4 presents a generic representation of turbine components for reference. More detail on can be reviewed within the Design and Operations Report and the Turbine Specifications Report. May 31,

14 TABLE 2 MAXIMUM TURBINE SPECIFICATIONS Make and Model Maximum Electrical Output Rating Hub Height Rotor Diameter Range of Rotational Speeds Mode of Operation Diameter of Turbine Base Approximate Foundation Diameter Generic Turbine (Reflecting Maximum Size and Operational Parameters Being Considered) 3.0 MW 140 m 118 m Up to approximately 20 RPM Horizontal Axis, Upwind, Pitch Controlled Approximately 9.2 m 22 m depending on soil conditions FIGURE 4 DRAWING OF THE ROTOR AND BLADES OF A WIND TURBINE The wind turbine will have three blades mounted to the hub that will be limited to a maximum rotational speed of approximately 20 revolutions per minute (0.33 Hz). May 31,

15 The nacelle (containing much of the mechanical and electrical conversion equipment) and the rotor sit on top of a tower that will be made of concrete or steel. The height of the tower will be no more than 140 metres above ground level and will be assembled from five tower sections on- site. The base of the tower will be a maximum of 9.2 metres in diameter. Each turbine will have a small electrical transformer mounted either in the base of the tower or on a small pad adjacent to the tower. Each transformer will be rated at a maximum of approximately 3.5 MVA and will transform voltage from 690 V to 27.6 kv. The turbine will be equipped with a lightning protection system. Lightning receptors will be installed along the blades and the turbine will be grounded through the base of the turbine foundation. The tower, nacelle and rotor are painted with a matte, non- reflective, white paint to reduce glint on sunny days, thus reducing the visual impact of the turbines. The foundation of the turbine is a buried concrete footing structure that supports the wind turbine itself. The final design of the foundation is dependent on site- specific subsurface soil and groundwater conditions. The foundation will likely be a shallow spread foundation, however there is the possibility of requiring geo- piles, depending on geotechnical analysis of soil conditions. Concrete will be trucked to the site from an offsite ready- mix plant, and re- bar will be used extensively in the construction of the foundation. The tower will connect to the foundation via a circular flange or mounting bracket that is held in place with threaded rods. A cold weather package may be installed in each turbine. The system would ensure that turbine components, mainly lubricants, are well heated during cold temperature events Substation The substation will consist of fenced- in metal enclosures housing switchgear, communication hardware, over- current protection devices, an antenna mounted on a ~10 m tower, and a transformer for the project. The substation area will outwardly resemble steel cabinets, bolted to a concrete pad that will be surrounded by a secured fence. The substation will be located on the southern- most lot of the project area, between Turbine 15 and Brinston Road, and will occupy an area of approximately 14 m x 40 m. The main function of the substation will be to house the electrical switchgear, protection and control systems, and the Supervision Control And Data Acquisition (SCADA) monitoring equipment. The collection system from the wind farm will enter one side of the switching station via underground cabling, connect to the housed equipment, and then exit via overhead cables. The transformer will be rated at approximately 33 MVA (slightly higher rated capacity than the wind farm for equipment safety purposes) to increase the collection system voltage from 27.6 kv to 44 kv before the connection to the distribution grid. Substation construction will involve the removal and redistribution of topsoil from the substation area. A concrete slab for each metal enclosure will be poured on top of a 0.6 m layer of engineered gravel. The metal enclosures for the electrical components will be bolted to the concrete slabs outlined above. The precise dimensions of the electrical enclosures will be determined once the Engineering and Procurement Contractor (EPC) has selected specific equipment.. May 31,

16 The small metal lattice tower will be approximately 10 m in height and will be mounted to a concrete footing. An antenna will be mounted on the tower for the purpose of allowing the electrical system operator to control the switches that connect the wind farm to the electrical grid Electrical Cabling The electric cabling of the collection system will be installed underground and will be used to connect all turbines to the substation. The collection system will be designed with a voltage of 27.6 kv. The collection system will be buried to a depth of at least 1m to minimize the risk of disrupting farming operations. Where possible, the cabling will run adjacent to service roads so that they are easily accessible if repair is needed. A fibre optic cable will also be buried along with the electrical collection system cabling. The fibre optic cable provides a communication link between turbines and the SCADA equipment. Overhead wires will be used to connect the project to the existing Hydro One grid and to join up to the west and east portions of the project. Existing hydro poles will be used wherever possible to minimize disruption and impact to the surrounding area. A step- up transformer will convert the collection system from 27.6 kv to the 44kV level of the Hydro One feeder line where the project connects. Any identified streams will be crossed by overhead, or bored underground electrical cabling, with care taken to avoid disruption of the waterway. The impact assessment of these activities is presented in the Water Assessment Report Access Roads Access roads to project turbines will have a foundation of grade B gravel and a finished surface of grade A gravel. To construct the roads within agricultural fields the topsoil will be stripped and removed from the area, as the access roads will remain there for the lifetime of the project. The topsoil will be returned to the landowner for other farm uses. Geotechnical testing will determine if further excavation is required to support the access roads and will determine the thickness of each gravel layer. The roads must have a load bearing capacity of 72 kpa at a 3.1 cm (2 in) depth below grade. Wherever possible, access roads will be built along existing laneways and crop divides, and will be constructed such that the surface of the road is roughly flush with the field surface to allow for minimal disruption of farming operations and reduce impact on drainage patterns. Access roads during the construction and operation phase of the project will be approximately 6 m wide. The extra gravel making up the 43 m turning radii required during the construction phase of the project will be removed, as these are only required for delivery of turbine equipment Lay-down Areas A turbine component lay- down area covering approximately 1 hectare (100 m x 100 m) will be required around each turbine during the construction phase. This area is required to store tower sections, blades, the nacelle and the rotor hub during the construction process. The crane pad will also be located within this area. The turbine lay- down area will be constructed by stripping back the topsoil layer and covering the area with gravel. Topsoil will be stockpiled in low- lying windrows adjacent to the lay- down area and will be covered with a geo- textile membrane or seeded with vegetation suitable to prevent erosion, if required. May 31,

17 After the turbine is installed the gravel will be removed from the lay- down area and the topsoil will be returned. A 20 m x 40 m crane pad will be constructed within the turbine lay- down area. The crane pad will be constructed of gravel such that the bearing capacity is a minimum of 287 kpa. The crane pad will remain in place for the operational life of the wind farm to accommodate maintenance and periodic replacement of major components Storage Shed A storage shed approximately 10 m x 10 m will be built to store tools, small spare parts, and waste fluids until a specialized contractor removes them for disposal. The shed will be built to a standard suitable for hazardous waste storage so that any leaks or spills of waste lubricants from the site are contained and prevented from contacting the ground or surface water Temporary Buildings and Structures A temporary building will be installed within the project area over the duration of project construction. The characteristics and size of this temporary building will be determined by the Engineering and Procurement Contractor (EPC) engaged for South Branch Wind Farm. It is expected that this temporary building will be in the form of one or more portable 3.7 m x 18.3 m trailers brought to the site upon commencement of construction activities, and removed once commissioning is complete. These trailers will have electrical connection, but not plumbing. In addition, up to three 2.4 m x 6.1 m temporary metal storage containers will be utilized during the construction phase. Portable washroom facilities will also be utilized during the construction phase Temporary Concrete Wash Ponds During construction of the turbine foundations, three concrete wash ponds will be established at strategic locations within the project area. These wash ponds serve to contain waste produced as trucks are cleaned following concrete pouring. A shallow hole is dug in the ground and is then covered with a geo- textile membrane to filter solids from the water. External parts of the truck are washed above the membrane. Excess concrete will solidify on that membrane. These concrete wash ponds will be located outside of the floodplain, as requested by South Nation Conservation. At the end of the construction or when the membrane is filled with hardened concrete, it will be disposed of at an authorized site. More details on the concrete wash ponds are presented in the Construction Plan Report. May 31,

18 4.3. CLASS OF RENEWABLE ENERGY GENERATION FACILITY The South Branch Wind Farm is designated a Class 4 Wind Facility as outlined in Section 6 of the Renewable Energy Approvals Ontario Regulation 359/09, of the Environmental Protection Act and reproduced in Table 3 below. TABLE 3 CLASS DESIGNATION FOR WIND FACILITIES FROM O. REG 359/09 Class of Wind Facility Location of Wind Turbines Nameplate Capacity of the Facility (kw) Greatest Sound Power Level (dba) Class 1 At a location where no part of a wind turbine is located in direct contact with surface water other than in a wetland. 3 Any Class 2 Class 3 At a location where no part of a wind turbine is located in direct contact with surface water other than in a wetland. At a location where no part of a wind turbine is located in direct contact with surface water other than in a wetland. >3 and <50 Any 50 <102 Class 4 At a location where no part of a wind turbine is located in direct contact with surface water other than in a wetland Class 5 At a location where one or more parts of a wind turbine is located in direct contact with surface water other than in a wetland. Any Any 4.4. PROJECT ACTIVITIES The lifecycle of a wind farm progresses through three stages. The first stage is Construction and Installation. This period is typically comprised of surveying, road construction, foundation construction, turbine installation and commissioning. The second stage is Operation and Maintenance, expected to last twenty to twenty- five years at South Branch Wind Farm. The third stage is Decommissioning; this stage includes the dismantling of the wind farm and the restoration of the land to its original state. Construction will occur as soon as permits have been secured and the site conditions are suitable for planned activities. Certain construction activities will not occur during restricted seasonal periods. Once started, construction is expected to take 6-7 months, not including the exception periods stated above. The Operational phase of the project will begin as soon as commissioning has occurred and is expected to last for 20 to 25 years. Routine maintenance will be ongoing during this time. Roadways will be maintained and snow will be cleared throughout the operation of the project. It is expected that a major component will need to be replaced in an approximately 7- year cycle, which will require heavy load transportation and reconstruction of the turning radii. May 31,

19 The Decommissioning phase will begin after the end of operation of the wind farm and in any event, no later than 12 months beyond the official decommissioning date. This phase is expected to take less than 12 months to complete and will occur outside any period where road limits apply or the ground is not suitable for turning radii reconstruction (i.e. March April), or sensitive time periods for local habitat Construction The construction phase includes activities such as transportation, road building, turbine erection, foundation installation, and collection system and substation installation. Further detail can be found within the Construction Plan Report. All project activities will be undertaken according to current guidelines provided by governmental agencies, Hydro One and the turbine manufacturer Surveying and Geotechnical Investigation The exact location of the turbines and access roads will be determined by a registered Ontario land surveyor and marked out with stakes. The access to the site will be by lightweight vehicle and use existing roads and field edges as much as possible. This activity is expected to take one to two days. Geotechnical sampling will be conducted at the site prior to construction. This involves borehole sampling within the turbine foundation area. Turbine manufacturers require knowledge of the subsurface stratigraphy in order to design the appropriate foundation. Soil compaction, grain size analysis, soil ph testing, and groundwater levels are parameters a designer must know in order to design a safe foundation. It is likely that two boreholes per foundation location will be necessary to satisfy the turbine manufacturer s requirements Land Clearing The turbines will be located within existing agricultural fields. Land clearing will be limited to the excavation and on- site stockpiling of topsoil. Soil stockpiles will be located outside of the floodplain. No topsoil will be removed from the site at any time. Land clearing will occur for the construction of the access roads, crane pad and tower foundation. Construction timelines are designed to minimize crop damage and disturbance Access Road and Crane Pad Construction Access roads are placed to minimize the impacts to the natural environment and farming practices. Access roads will be built on private land and maintained privately. Maintenance of the roads, including snow removal, is the responsibility of the wind farm operator. During construction, topsoil will be removed from the surface and stockpiled as low- lying windrows along the length of the access road. Access roads will be built from compacted gravel sourced from a local aggregate quarry. Access roads will maintained as built during the operation phase and will be graded to self- drain. Entrances from Oak Valley Road (County Road 5), Snowbird Road, Henderson Road, Bell Road, and Hulbert Road will require a turning radius of 43 metres for construction and delivery equipment. All roadways and entrances will adhere to municipal regulations. May 31,

20 If any existing culverts require upgrading, consultation with the municipality and local conservation authority will take place. The design of new or upgraded culvert installation will comply with local municipal regulations. Access roads to project turbines will be 6 m wide and have a foundation of grade B gravel and a finished surface of grade A gravel. To construct the roads within agricultural fields the topsoil will be stripped and spread over the directly adjacent field. In total there will be 8.2 km of access roads required for all 14 turbines, of which 2.6 km will utilize existing driveways/laneways and field access paths. Geotechnical testing will determine if further excavation is required to support the access road and will determine the thickness of each gravel layer. The roads must have a load bearing capacity of approximately 72 kpa at a 5.1 cm (2 in) depth below grade. Wherever possible, access roads will be built such that the surface of the road is roughly flush with the field surface to allow for minimal disruption of farming operations and drainage patterns. The extra gravel making up the 43 m turning radii required during the construction phase of the project will be removed during the operational phase. A turbine component lay- down area covering approximately 1 hectare (100 m x 100 m) will be required around each turbine during the construction and decommissioning phases. This area is required to store tower sections, power electronics, blades, the nacelle and the rotor hub during the construction and decommissioning. The crane pad will also be located within this area. The turbine lay- down area will be constructed by stripping back the topsoil layer and covering the area with gravel. Topsoil will be stockpiled in low- lying windrows adjacent to the lay- down area and will be seeded with vegetation suitable to prevent erosion if required. After the turbine is installed the gravel will be removed from the lay- down area, with the exception of the crane pad, and the topsoil will be returned. Topsoil storage locations are outside of the floodplain and are shown on the construction site plan. A 20 m x 40 m crane pad will be constructed within the turbine lay- down area. The crane pad will be constructed of gravel such that the bearing capacity is a minimum of 287 kpa. The crane pad area will remain intact during the operational phase of the project. The topsoil from this area will be distributed over the cultivated fields directly surrounding the turbine (only on land of project participants). Further details on soil storage during the construction phase of the project can be found in the Construction Plan Report Transport of Equipment The wind turbine and related hardware will be transported to the site via transport truck. Five tower sections will be delivered separately and be stored on the crane pad until installation. The nacelle and each of the blades will be delivered to the site separately. Due to the size of the wind turbine components, an oversized transport truck will be necessary to transport equipment. It is typical that turbine manufacturers oversee the logistics of transportation of major equipment to the site for construction. May 31,

21 Foundation Construction Foundation construction begins with the removal and stockpiling of topsoil. Excavated material will be stockpiled and used for back- filling and grading operations once the foundation is complete. Specific on- site soil conditions will determine the final foundation design. It is likely that shallow- spread foundations will be used for South Branch Wind Farm, however there is the possibility that geopiles will be required. Typically, dimensions for a shallow spread foundation are m in diameter and 3 m deep. A reinforced steel frame is constructed first and then concrete will be poured for each foundation. Any wash water from the cleaning of the truck drums will be disposed of in sewage works/sediment ponds designed for that purpose. The locations of these wash water ponds are shown on the Construction Site Plan. The construction of turbine foundations will likely take 13 weeks to complete. A minimum of 5 weeks is necessary for foundations to cure before turbine erection can commence Turbine Installation After the main components arrive on site the turbine erection team will begin to assemble electrical equipment located in the base of the tower. Once completed, the bottom section of the tower is lifted and placed around the electrical assembly. It is then bolted to the foundation mounting ring, which is previously set into the concrete foundation. The remaining sections of the tower are lifted and stacked on top of each other to complete the tower. Each section of tower is bolted to the previous section. The nacelle is lifted and bolted to the top of the tower. The blades are either mounted to the rotor on the ground or lifted individually and installed. Local meteorological conditions at the time of turbine installation determine which method is used. Once the hardware is secured in place, the electrical connections between the nacelle and electrical equipment at the base of the tower are made Sewage and Storm Water Management There are no planned disruptions to any municipal sewage management system for the purposes of the wind farm. Local residents have individual septic tanks which have been carefully located. Project activities will avoid these areas. Portable toilets will be installed onsite to handle sewage and will be maintained appropriately. Sewage will be removed by a sewage pumping contractor. Three concrete wash ponds will be constructed on site to facilitate minimal washing of truck chutes after delivery of concrete for the foundations. This will be constructed as a shallow pit lined with geo- textile membrane to allow water to pass through while sediment is contained within the membrane. Concrete wash ponds will be located outside the floodplain Water-Taking Activities Water will be used during construction for dust control, erosion control, equipment maintenance and concrete wash ponds. This water will be brought in from off site in a water truck. No water will be required to be removed from the site. May 31,

22 Electrical Network Installation To collect and deliver the power generated from the turbines to the provincial grid, a combination of underground and overhead wires will be installed. The electrical collection system, which is used to connect the turbines to a common point, will be installed via direct burial in all locations where soil type permits. Direct burial is a simple method by which an excavator digs a trench at a depth that avoids farming operations (below tile drainage). The installation depth is typically greater than 1 m. Flagging tape will be placed below tile grade to identify the depth of the buried cable. A small amount of crushed gravel may be used to line the trench, depending on soil conditions. Material excavated from the trench will be used to refill the trench once the cables are in place. The trench will be compacted and the original topsoil will be replaced. Any damage to the tile drainage system will be repaired prior to the backfilling of the trench. The collection system consists of three electrical cables running at a system voltage of 27.6 kv, a neutral ground, and a fibre optic cable. The grounding wire will be the same diameter as the Hydro One system grounding wire to minimize the risk of stray voltage. The fibre optic cable is used for communication between turbines. The collection system cables connect to the transformer at the base of each turbine and subsequently connect to the other turbines along the collection system route. A T- Junction box will be used to join radial arms of the collection system. Directional boring may be used where the collection system intersects existing infrastructure. Appropriate permits and agreements will be obtained prior to the construction phase. The cables running along Gilmour Road/Glen Stewart Road and County Road 16 (Brinston Road) will run on overhead cables on existing or new hydro poles. A Joint Use Agreement wil be required to share the existing poles; consultation with Hydro One is ongoing. Road easement permits will be obtained from one or both municipalities, where necessary. The underground collection system will terminate at the project- owned substation. The electrical cables will exit the substation above ground and will be strung on wooden electrical poles located within the municipal road easement on County Road 16 (Brinston Road). The Applicant will coordinate upgrades to existing hydro poles within this easement so that they are able to accommodate the new collection system lines. All works will comply with the Ontario Electrical Safety Code regulations Substation Construction The substation will be located in the southern- most property of the project area, near the turbine 15. Construction will involve the removal and storage of topsoil from a 14 m x 40 m area. A concrete foundation will be poured on top of engineered gravel. Substation electrical components typically consist of switchgear, SCADA, fuses, and other protection and control systems. This equipment is housed in grey electrical cabinets bolted to a concrete foundation. The substation area will be fenced. May 31,

23 Wind Farm Commissioning Several tests will be performed on the wind farm prior to start up. Turbines, collection system, and substation will be checked for system continuity and expected performance. Tests will be conducted by the turbine manufacturer and Hydro One. If problems or issues are identified, modifications will be made prior to start up Site Rehabilitation Site rehabilitation is planned for all areas of construction. The main objective is to restore ecosystem attributes and associated vegetation communities to pre- disturbance conditions to the largest degree possible. It is expected that the most disruption will occur on agricultural land. In these areas, the land will be re- graded to existing drainage patterns and tile drains will be repaired or upgraded to ensure continued function of the farmland. It is anticipated that each farmer will till and plant their desired crop during the next planting season. In areas disrupted by construction that are not agricultural areas, re- vegetation will occur using native plants. The main goal of the rehabilitation process is to return any ecosystem attributes to pre- construction conditions Operation/Maintenance The operational phase for the South Branch Wind Farm will have a minimum duration of twenty years from commissioning. With improvements in technology, a diligent maintenance program, and re- powering, the life of a wind farm can be extended well beyond twenty years. Many manufacturers define the lifetime of a turbine to be between twenty and twenty- seven years, at which point the equipment would be replaced, upgraded or decommissioned. Detail of the plans for this phase of this project can be found in the Design and Operations Report Wind Farm Operation Due to the intermittent nature of wind, turbines will only produce power when the speed of the wind is greater than a minimum threshold. Based on the wind distribution determined from the meteorological sampling period, it is expected that the South Branch Wind Farm will produce electrical power approximately 80-90% of the time. The maximum rotational speed of the blades is limited to approximately 20 revolutions per minute. Turbines are computer controlled and do not need human resources on site to manage the wind farm operation on a day- to- day basis. Monitoring of system parameters is performed remotely by the use of the SCADA system. Turbines are connected directly to each other via fibre optic cable and information regarding turbine status is relayed back to a monitoring centre, which alerts operators if issues arise. If a problem occurs, the turbine may be shut down, if necessary, until the problem is resolved Wind Farm Maintenance Turbines typically require maintenance twice a year. Teams of two or three maintenance workers will conduct the activities together for safety purposes. Turbine manufacturers guarantee turbine availability during the warranty period. Guaranteed availability is typically around 90% for the first 6 months of operation and 95% or greater in the first five years of operation. Scheduled maintenance will be conducted during periods of low wind speed. May 31,

24 Typical maintenance visits will include hardware inspection, replacement of gear fluids, and inspection of electronics. Diagnostic tests, as well as visual inspection, typically take one to four days to complete, depending on the amount of maintenance required. All maintenance staff will be trained in emergency spill response. Due to the small volumes of hazardous fluids used within a turbine, the likelihood of a spill occurring is low. Access roads will undergo year- round maintenance to ensure safe access to the turbines and site facilities, including snow removal coordinated with a local contractor during the winter season Decommissioning The decommissioning phase has similar impacts to that of the construction phase. During this phase, agricultural land is returned to its previous state. Input from the landowner will be sought to determine the level of work conducted on their land. More detail on the plans for decommissioning at South Branch Wind Farm is presented in the Decommissioning Plan Report Land Clearing The lay- down area at the base of each turbine will be reconstructed around the crane pad to provide an area where heavy machinery can be located to disassemble the turbine. Topsoil will be removed and stored in low- lying windrows along the edge of the crane pad and outside of the floodplain. Any required repairs to the crane pad (regrading or adding gravel) will be performed Access Road Modification Access roads will be removed as per discussions with individual landowners. Aggregate material used in road construction will be given to the landowner, sold/given to an off- taker, removed and reused, or disposed of as per the appropriate legislation Disassembly of Wind Farm Components The main components of the turbine will be disassembled and recycled or reused where possible. The Applicant will comply with any local, Provincial or Federal decommissioning laws present at the time of decommissioning. The top metre of the concrete foundation will be removed. The remainder of the foundation will stay in place. During this process it is likely that heavy machinery will be used to break up the concrete. Tile drainage will be repaired over top of the foundation if applicable. The top metre will be backfilled and the existing topsoil, that was stored in the windrows around the foundation, will be graded over the foundation Electrical Network Removal It is expected that the electrical collection system, once disconnected and rendered inert, will not be removed during the decommissioning phase. Consultation with each landowner will determine the desired amount of remediation. If it is agreed that the collection system is to be removed, appropriate measures will be taken to minimize environmental impacts. It is expected that the overhead lines running along Gilmour Road/Glen Stewart Road and Brinston Road will be removed. Poles shared with Hydro One will remain in place. Poles May 31,

25 owned by the Applicant will be removed and sold or disposed of appropriately. Both electrical cables and poles will be sold, recycled, or disposed of appropriately. Consultation with the local distribution company will determine if work is necessary Site Rehabilitation Areas that were disturbed during the construction, operation, or decommissioning phases of the wind farm will be re- graded to mimic natural drainage patterns. Agricultural land will be remediated to the landowner s desired state. Non- agricultural land will be returned to its natural state using native plants. An erosion control seed mix, consisting of fast- growing species, will be applied in areas at risk of erosion NAME PLATE CAPACITY OF RENEWABLE ENERGY GENERATION FACILITY The maximum nameplate capacity of the entire South Branch Wind Farm is 30 MW. This project will consist of up to 14 turbines, each with a nameplate capacity of up to 3 MW. If a turbine with greater than 2.14 MW nameplate capacity is selected, the number of turbines will be decreased accordingly and a subset of the 14 turbine locations will be constructed. This report, and the submission for Renewable Energy Approval presents a scenario with the highest potential impact to the project area. The total size of the project will not exceed 30 MW OWNERSHIP OF THE LAND The project is located on privately owned, agricultural land and is described in the table below. Property labels correspond with the images presented in the Setback Site Plan, Appendix A of the Design and Operations Report. The majority of the land area contracted for this project is located within the Township of South Dundas, United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry (SD&G). There is one adjacent parcel located in the Township of Edwardsburgh/Cardinal, United Counties of Leeds and Grenville (L&G),. This is the western- most parcel of the project area. Municipal road allowances along Gilmour Road/Glen Stewart Road and Brinston Road will be used for components of the electrical collection system. Consultation with the Township of South Dundas and the Township of Edwardsburgh/Cardinal is ongoing. Existing utility poles owned by Hydro One may be used to string the overhead electrical cabling along Gilmour Road/Glen Stewart Road and Brinston Road. In this case, a Joint Use Agreement will be secured with Hydro One. May 31,

26 TABLE 4 PARTICIPATING LAND PARCELS IN THE SOUTH BRANCH WIND FARM Property Label P1 P2 P3 P3 P3 P4, P5 P5 Legal Description Part of the south or front half commons Lot A and Part of the Rear Half Commons, Lot A and Part of Lots 1 & 2, Concession 7 as described in Deed West half of Lot 37, Concession 6 and the Commons Lot, lying immediately along the west side of said Lot 37, save and except Parts 1 and 2 on Plan 8R- 2500, as described in Deed and North half of Lot 36, Concession 6, as firstly described in Deed Northeast ¼ of Lot 37, Concession 6, as thirdly described in Deed Part of Lot 35, Concession 6, being Part 1 on Plan 8R- 3926, as fourthly described in Deed South half of the east half of Lot 37, Concession 6, as thirdly described in Deed West half of Lot 36, Concession 6, lying south of the traveled Township Road, as fourthly described in Deed Municipality Geographic Township of Edwardsburgh, Township of Edwardsburg- Cardinal, County of Grenville Geographic Twp of Matilda, Twp of South Dundas (SD), SD&G P6 Part of Lot 17, Concession 8, as described in Deed P7 P7 P8 P9 P9 P10 P11 P12 P13 P14, P15 P16 North half of the east half of Lot 16, Concession 8, as firstly described in Deed Northeast quarter of the west half of Lot 16, Concession 8, as secondly described in Deed Part of Lot 15, Concession 8, as firstly described in Deed Part of Lots 16 and 17, Concession 8, as thirdly described in Deed Part of Lot 18, Concession 8, as fourthly described in Deed Part of the west half of Lot 16, Concession 7, lying north of the South Branch of the Nation River as described in Deed East half of Lot 16, Concession 7, lying north of the Nation River as thirdly described in Deed Part of the west half of Lot 15, Concession 7, lying north of the South Branch of the Nation River Part of the West half of Lot 15, Concession 7, having PIN as described in Deed DR Part of the West half of Lot 15, Concession 7, having PINs and , as described in Deed Part of the east half of Lot 15, Concession 7, lying north of the South Branch of the Nation River P16 East half of Lot 15, north of the South Branch of the Nation River and the west half of the northwest quarter of Lot 14, Concession 7, as described in Deed May 31,

27 Property Label P17 P18 P18 P19 P20 P21 P22 P23 P23 P23 P24 P25 P26 P27 P28 P29 P29 P28, P29 P31 P31 P31 P32 Legal Description Part of Lot 15, Concession 7, lying south of the South Branch of the Nation River Part of Lot 19, Concession 6, as firstly described in Deed South half of the east half of Lot 20, Concession 6, as secondly described in Deed Part of the west half of Lot 18, Concession 6 and the west quarter of the east half of Lot 18 West one- quarter of Lot 17, Concession 6, and east three- quarters of the east half of Lot 18, Concession 6, as described in Deed East three- quarters of Lot 17, Concession 6, as firstly described in Deed Part of the west half of Lot 16, Concession 6, as described in Deed West half of Lot 15, Concession 6, as firstly described in Deed Part of East half of Lot 16, Concession 6, as secondly described in Deed Part of Lot 16, Concession 6, being Part 2 on Plan 8R as thirdly described in Deed Part of the east half of Lot 15, Concession 6, as described in Schedule A of Deed Part of the west half of Lot 14, Concession 6, as described in Deed 27132B Part of the east half of Lot 14, Concession 6, as firstly described in Deed 26465B Part of the west half of Lot 13, Concession 6, as secondly described in Deed The east half of Lot 13, Concession 6 as firstly described in DRB13644 The west half of Lot 12, Concession 6, as firstly described in Deed DR99431 Part of the west half of Lot 12, Concession 6, being Part 1 on Plan 8R- 1157, as secondly described in Deed DR99431 Part of the road allowance between Lots 12 and 13, Concession 6, lying north of Part 1 on Plan 8R as described in Deed DR closed by DR Part of the south half of Lot 18, Concession 5, as secondly described in Deed Part of Lot 17, Concession 5, as thirdly described in Deed Part of the northwest quarter of Lot 18, Concession 5, as firstly described in Deed Part of the northeast quarter of Lot 18, Concession 5, as described in Deed Municipality May 31,

28 Property Label P33 P33 P35 P36 Legal Description Part of Lot 17, Concession 5, as firstly described in Deed Part of Lot 17, Concession 5, as secondly described in Deed East half of the North half of Lot 14, Concession 7; and South Half of the West half of the North half of Lot 14, Concession 7 as 6thly and 7thly described in Deed North half of Lot 13, Concession 7 and North 25 acres of the south half of Lot 13, Concession 7 as 5thly and 9thly described in Deed Municipality 4.7. NEGATIVE ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS Wind energy facilities, when placed properly, have few negative effects on the surrounding environment. The wind farm will be planned and constructed in a responsible manner, such that minimal negative environmental effects should occur. Below are the existing environmental components that have the potential for negative impacts from the construction, operation, maintenance and/or decommissioning of the South Branch Wind Farm. Applicant will take all appropriate measures to reduce these environmental effects as outlined in the respective reports Surface and Ground Water The Water Assessment Report presents the results of detailed assessment of all watercourses in the vicinity of the project area. Figure 5 shows water features surveyed at South Branch Wind Farm. There is potential during construction and decommissioning periods for water quality to be negatively impacted through contamination from accidental spills and/or sedimentation from improper surface water protection methods. Surface water contamination is a possible environmental effect from the presence of hazardous fluids on site. Fluids such as oil, gasoline, and lubricants used for construction equipment, turbine assembly, and directional boring of electrical cabling, will be present on site in small quantities. The likelihood that these fluids will be spilled and/or contaminate ground or surface water is low. Reduced water quality through increased sedimentation is a risk at the South Branch Wind Farm. Topsoil will be stockpiled in low lying windrows during the construction and decommissioning of the turbine foundations and if not properly setback from surface waters and protected from wind and rain, could pose a risk to surface water quality through increased sedimentation. Soil stockpiles will be located outside of the floodplain. Fluids (oils, lubricants) used during the general maintenance of the wind turbines will be present on site in small quantities during periods of regular maintenance. The likelihood that May 31,

29 these fluids will be spilled and/or contaminate ground or surface water at these small quantities is low Natural Heritage Resources The Natural Heritage Assessment Report (NHAR) for the South Branch Wind Farm provides a detailed report on the analysis of natural heritage features in and around the project area. Figure 6 describes the natural heritage features surveyed at South Branch Wind Farm. Records for natural heritage features have been collected and reviewed to determine whether areas of significance are located within 120 m from the project location as prescribed in Section 30 of O. Reg 359/09. In addition, complete Ecological Land Classification (ELC) has been completed within 120 m of the project location. All natural features identified within this area have been assessed for potential impacts. Survey results and the resulting impact assessment are presented within the NHAR. Natural heritage features are described in subsection 1(1) of O. Reg 359/09 are defined as: all or part of, (a) an area of natural and scientific interest (earth science), (b) an area of natural and scientific interest (life science), (c) a coastal wetland, (d) a northern wetland, (e) a southern wetland, (f) a valleyland, (g) a wildlife habitat, or (h) a woodland Fish and Fish Habitat There is a potential for negative environmental effects on fish and fish habitat within the project area. Potential threats to fish and fish habitat include increased surface water sedimentation and contamination, and riparian vegetation removal. The potential implications for species found within the project area and downstream have been thoroughly investigated and results are presented within this REA submission Flora/Fauna The risk to a variety of flora and fauna species exists from potential habitat destruction during construction and decommissioning. South Branch Wind Farm was designed in a way that avoids tree and vegetation removal so that minimal habitat is lost during construction of the wind farm. Details of wetland studies, amphibian monitoring and wildlife habitat surveys are also presented within the NHAR. May 31,

30 There may be temporary disruption during construction and decommissioning to resident fauna, but this is expected to return to its original state after the construction period. Additionally, the wind farm is placed in agricultural fields where little fauna habitat currently exists. Three areas were identified as significant wildlife habitat; two amphibian woodland breeding habitats and one species of special concern habitat. Details of this assessment and mitigation measures are outlined in the NHAR. The operation of the wind farm poses a risk to bird and bat species occupying air space within the project area. This impact is discussed in greater detail below Bird Species The impact of wind turbines on resident and migratory birds is a common and prevalent concern. There is potential for birds to collide with the turbine blades and/or tower. This concern has been dampened recently with post- construction monitoring results that indicate birds can see and navigate around the turbines. Even so, extensive pre- construction monitoring has been conducted on site to determine the variety and quantity of bird species present in this area. Post- construction monitoring will be carried out after commissioning of the wind farm to ensure the conclusions of the previous studies were correct and to properly assess the impacts of the wind farm on birds. Details of the pre- and post- construction monitoring are presented in the NHAR Bat Species There is a potential for wind turbines to impact bat species in much the same way as birds. There is potential for bat mortality from interaction with the wind turbines. Much of the impact of wind turbines on bat species can be addressed by careful wind farm design. Extensive pre- construction monitoring has been conducted at South Branch Wind Farm, including acoustic and radar monitoring, to determine bat species diversity and abundance in the area and where the bats primarily reside. Results of pre- construction studies are presented in Appendix D of the NHAR. Post- construction monitoring will be carried out after commissioning to properly assess the impacts of the wind farm on bats. These results will be shared with the responsible government agencies and will contribute to the wider general understanding of bat interactions with wind turbines. Details of the post- construction monitoring plan are presented in Appendix I of the NHAR Wetlands There were several potential wetland areas identified within the project area during ELC and further wetland surveys. These areas have been surveyed to assess the potential for any risk of negative impacts on the wetland. Results of this assessment are discussed in the NHAR with wetland evaluation results presented in Appendix F of the NHAR Amphibians Two significant amphibian woodland breeding habitats were identified within the project area. Each of these areas was surveyed in close detail to understand the scope and nature of May 31,

31 existing amphibian populations in the area. This information permits for an accurate review of potential for impacts on the natural areas. Details are provided in the NHAR with detailed field information available in Appendix G of the NHAR Heritage and Archaeological Resources The Archaeological and Heritage Resources Assessment Report presents results of detailed assessment of the project area Archaeological Resources There is a potential to disrupt existing and unknown European and Aboriginal archaeological sites during construction. For this reason a Stage 1 archaeological survey was conducted on any lands likely to be disrupted during construction. This initial assessment included desktop surveys to determine the nature of the area and likelihood of cultural significance. Results of this Stage 1 survey indicate that there is potential for unknown archaeological sites to be located within the project area due to the proximity to potable water and historical road network. Further assessment was recommended to confirm these results. Subsequent archaeological surveys were completed at the project location in the summer and fall 2010, and completed in spring Studies included an updated Stage 1 Assessment to expand on the project area and include new lands not previously surveyed. Stage 2 field surveys (pedestrian surveys and test pitting) were completed throughout the project area, targeting all areas that will be directly affected by project activities, including turbine or lay- down areas, roadways, underground and overhead cabling positions. Results are presented in their entirety in Appendices A and B of the Archaeological and Heritage Resources Assessment Report. It is unlikely that unknown archaeological sites outside those identified during Stage 1 and 2 Assessments exist at this location due to the ongoing extensive excavation from present and historic agricultural activities taking place in the project area. One Euro- Canadian findspot requiring Stage 3 assessment was identified during the Stage 2 assessment. Per recommendation from our archaeological consultant this area was removed from the project scope so as to avoid any disruption to this area. Communications with all Aboriginal communities having interest in the project area are ongoing. Communications thus far are detailed in the Consultation Report, Section 8. We note that the proposed project is located within Algonquin Traditional Territory where the Algonquins of Ontario have asserted rights that are the subject of a Land Claim Negotiation between the Government of Canada, the Province of Ontario and the Algonquins of Ontario Cultural and Built Heritage Resources A Heritage Impact Assessment was conducted at the South Branch Wind Farm in fall The intent of this survey is to identify any built heritage features or cultural heritage landscapes in the project area. This assessment involves desktop historical land- use studies and windshield surveys of the area for identification of culturally significant heritage features. Results are presented in Appendix C of the Archaeological and Heritage Resources Assessment Report. May 31,

32 Sound Sound emissions during construction and decommissioning phases of the project will result from the operation of heavy machinery used to construct roads, transport equipment to the site and assemble project components. Construction activities (and therefore noise emissions) will be limited to permissible working hours to minimize disruption to the surrounding residents. The Applicant will prepare and present a protocol for ensuring complaints and feedback are appropriately captured and logged. The sound emitted from wind turbines during operation has the potential to disrupt nearby residents. The Province of Ontario has strict regulations pertaining to wind turbine sound experienced at homes, schools, hospitals, etc. 2 These limits must be maintained or the wind farm developer could face legal consequences. Pre- construction noise modeling has been completed and is presented in Appendix C of the Design and Operations Report. The proposed project design is compliant with Ontario noise regulations under our generic turbine parameters. Turbine choice will be limited by those that can guarantee a dba maximum sound power level, and therefore the total noise output of the constructed project will remain within or below regulated levels Air, Odour and Dust There is a potential for increased levels of dust or suspended particulates during construction and decommissioning phases of the project due to operation of machinery and traffic on public roads and turbine access roads. Dust control measures will be taken to minimize the effect on the local environment by way of water suppression. Air quality during construction and decommissioning also has potential to decrease slightly due to exhaust from the operating machinery. These effects are expected to be minimal and short- lived. The value of the emission- free energy produced by the wind farm over its 20 year lifespan will far outweigh minor impacts at both ends of the life cycle Land Use and Resources The site and surrounding area of South Branch Wind Farm has been intensely altered over the past century to fulfill agricultural needs. The site is presently used for production of cash crops including corn, wheat and soybean, along with dairy and pig farming facilities. Major wind farm components will be situated within the agricultural fields and aside from temporary disruption to farming activities, and possible traffic pattern disruption during construction and decommissioning, disruption is limited to the space of each turbine foundation, its crane pad and access road. The turbines and permanent roadways will take approximately one- half hectare per turbine that was previously used for agricultural activities. Where possible, this has been minimized by using existing laneways or roads. Underground cabling will be buried below plough depth to further minimize disruption. There is no evidence of or reason to believe that prior activities at the site contributed to any contamination of soils. 2 Ontario Ministry of the Environment. October Noise Guidelines for Wind Farms. May 31,

33 Telecommunication, Radar and Seismoacoustic Systems Existing radar, telecommunication and seismoacoustic systems are currently in place for a variety of different uses; many are necessary for public safety and communication. There is a potential for the newly placed wind turbines to cause interference by intersecting or refracting the signal off the tower or blades. Pre- construction modeling of the existing signals in the area has been conducted and is presented within Appendix F of the Design and Operations Report. Turbines have been situated in locations that will not cause interference to these existing signals. South Branch Wind Farm is not expected to have negative effects on these signals; however, as per the Communication Plan described in the Design and Operations Report, complaints related to signal integrity will be investigated and resolved responsibly Provincial and Local Infrastructure Utilities There are several utility corridors located near project infrastructure: 1. High Voltage Electrical Transmission Corridors: Two side- by- side sets of high voltage electric transmission pylons run through the project area and are shown on each site plan diagram. The southern- most set of pylons supports two 230 kv circuits while the northern- most support a single 230 kv circuit. O.Reg 359/09 does not specify setbacks from transmission lines. Prowind contacted the Independent Electricity System Operator, Hydro One, Ontario Power Generation, the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, and the Renewable Energy Facilitation Office to consult on acceptable setbacks from transmission lines. Recommended setbacks were obtained from Hydro One via the Renewable Energy Facilitation Office and were stated as follows: a. 230 kv setback: 250 m b. 115 kv setback: the greater of 125 m or total turbine height + 10 m The easements for the transmission pylons are 42.7 m and 45.7 m (140 ft and 150 ft) wide for the northern and southern- most easements respectively. All turbine setbacks from the transmission lines conform to Hydro One s recommendations. 2. Hydro One Distribution Lines: Hydro One distribution lines run along several road allowances within the project area: a. North- South along Brinston Road (County Road 16) b. East- West along County Road 18, Gilmour Road and Henderson Road c. East- West along Snowbird Road d. East- West along Oak Valley Road e. East- West along Pitt Road May 31,

34 No conflict between project infrastructure and this line is anticipated. Joint use of Hydro Ones poles for the project collection system is addressed in Section of the Design and Operations Report. 3. Bell Canada Easement: A Bell Canada easement runs diagonally through the eastern portion of the project near Turbines The easement is 30.5 m (100 ft) wide and is presently vacant. A small crossing of the easement by the project collection system is required in 2 locations: within the lay- down area for Turbine 9, and between Turbines 8 and 10. Bell Canada stated: the [Prowind] encroachment will be tolerated. Full details of the method for crossing the easement will be provided to Bell Canada once detailed engineering grade plans are drafted Road Capacity and Local Traffic Minor traffic disruptions may occur as a result of transportation of major equipment such as turbine tower sections and blades. These disruptions will be planned with local municipalities and shall be scheduled to avoid high volume traffic periods wherever possible PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY A wind farm project has the potential to introduce public health and safety concerns if improperly designed and operated, or if appropriate precautions are not taken during construction or decommissioning activities. Regular operation of the wind farm will include a semi- annual emergency response drill in cooperation with local municipal services. To facilitate safe and efficient response during times of emergency, turbine access roads will be marked with municipal street addresses and roads will be cleared of snow and other debris and otherwise maintained year- round. The substation will be secured with a locked fence around its perimeter to deter trespassing and reduce the likelihood of injury or harm due to unauthorized access. Regular maintenance of the wind farm ensures safe and efficient operation of the facility. Ongoing monitoring of the facility will occur remotely; a template for an emergency response plan is presented in Appendix D of the Design and Operations Report. In response to some concerns by local municipalities and residents, an ice throw study was commissioned from a specialized consultant, Zephyr North. The results of this study are presented in the South Branch Wind Farm Ice Throw Report which is available on the Prowind website, This report concluded that the risk from ice throw is very low, even when traffic conditions along Byker Road are assumed to be higher than the current volume AREAS PROTECTED UNDER PROVINCIAL PLANS AND POLICIES The South Branch Wind Farm is not located within any areas protected by way of Provincial plans or policies. May 31,

35 4.10. PROJECT AREA MAPS Figure 5 below presents the water feature records collected and investigated as part of the water assessment at South Branch Wind Farm. Details on this study are presented in the Water Assessment Report. Figures 6, 7 and 8 present the natural features investigated for significance at South Branch Wind Farm. These figures show the woodland, wetland and candidate significant wildlife habitat areas respectively. A thorough presentation of the natural heritage features investigation is presented in the Natural Heritage Assessment Report. May 31,

36 FIGURE 5 SOUTH BRANCH WIND FARM COLLECTED WATER FEATURE RECORDS May 31,

37 FIGURE 6 SOUTH BRANCH WIND FARM WOODLAND FEATURES May 31,

38 FIGURE 7 SOUTH BRANCH WIND FARM WETLAND FEATURES May 31,

39 FIGURE 8 SOUTH BRANCH WIND FARM CANDIDATE SIGNIFICANT WILDLIFE HABITAT May 31,