Nation Rise Wind Farm Limited Partnership

Transcription

1 NATION RISE WIND FARM Summary of REA Technical Reports Nation Rise Wind Farm Limited Partnership Document No.: CAMO-R-09 Issue: A, Status: FINAL Date: 12 April 2017

2 IMPORTANT NOTICE AND DISCLAIMER 1. This document is intended for the sole use of the Customer as detailed on the front page of this document to whom the document is addressed and who has entered into a written agreement with the DNV GL entity issuing this document ( DNV GL ). To the extent permitted by law, neither DNV GL nor any group company (the "Group") assumes any responsibility whether in contract, tort including without limitation negligence, or otherwise howsoever, to third parties (being persons other than the Customer), and no company in the Group other than DNV GL shall be liable for any loss or damage whatsoever suffered by virtue of any act, omission or default (whether arising by negligence or otherwise) by DNV GL, the Group or any of its or their servants, subcontractors or agents. This document must be read in its entirety and is subject to any assumptions and qualifications expressed therein as well as in any other relevant communications in connection with it. This document may contain detailed technical data which is intended for use only by persons possessing requisite expertise in its subject matter. 2. This document is protected by copyright and may only be reproduced and circulated in accordance with the Document Classification and associated conditions stipulated or referred to in this document and/or in DNV GL s written agreement with the Customer. No part of this document may be disclosed in any public offering memorandum, prospectus or stock exchange listing, circular or announcement without the express and prior written consent of DNV GL. A Document Classification permitting the Customer to redistribute this document shall not thereby imply that DNV GL has any liability to any recipient other than the Customer. 3. This document has been produced from information relating to dates and periods referred to in this document. This document does not imply that any information is not subject to change. Except and to the extent that checking or verification of information or data is expressly agreed within the written scope of its services, DNV GL shall not be responsible in any way in connection with erroneous information or data provided to it by the Customer or any third party, or for the effects of any such erroneous information or data whether or not contained or referred to in this document. 4. Any energy forecasts estimates or predictions are subject to factors not all of which are within the scope of the probability and uncertainties contained or referred to in this document and nothing in this document guarantees any particular energy output, including factors such as wind speed or irradiance. KEY TO DOCUMENT CLASSIFICATION Strictly Confidential : Private and Confidential : For disclosure only to named individuals within the Customer s organization. For disclosure only to individuals directly concerned with the subject matter of the document within the Customer s organization. Commercial in Confidence : Not to be disclosed outside the Customer s organization. DNV GL only : Not to be disclosed to non-dnv GL staff Customer s Discretion : Published : Distribution for information only at the discretion of the Customer (subject to the above Important Notice and Disclaimer and the terms of DNV GL s written agreement with the Customer). Available for information only to the general public (subject to the above Important Notice and Disclaimer). GL Garrad Hassan Canada Inc. Page ii

3 Project name: Nation Rise Wind Farm DNV GL - Energy Report title: Summary of REA Technical Reports Advisory Americas Customer: Nation Rise Wind Farm Limited Partnership 110 Spadina Ave, Suite 609 Toronto, ON M5V 2K Rue Molson, Suite 100, Montreal, QC, H1Y 3N1 CANADA Tel: Contact person: Kenneth Little Enterprise No.: Date of issue: 12 April 2017 Project No.: Document No.: CAMO-R-09 Issue/Status A/FINAL Prepared by: Verified by: Approved by: Claudia Pilas Project Analyst, Environmental and Permitting Services Gabriel Constantin Team Leader, Environmental and Permitting Services Michael Roberge, Head of Section, Environmental and Permitting Services Strictly Confidential Private and Confidential Commercial in Confidence DNV GL only Customer s Discretion Published 2016 GL Garrad Hassan Canada Inc.. All rights reserved. Reference to part of this report which may lead to misinterpretation is not permissible. Issue Date Reason for Issue Prepared by Verified by Approved by A 12 April 2017 Draft REA submission C. Pilas G. Constantin M. Roberge GL Garrad Hassan Canada Inc. Page iii

4 Table of contents 1 PREAMBLE GENERAL INFORMATION Project Name and Project Proponent Location of Project Contact Information DOCUMENT SUMMARIES Project Description Report Construction Plan Report Design and Operations Plan Report Decommissioning Plan Report REPORT VIEWING LOCATIONS REFERENCES List of tables Table 2-1: Geographic coordinates of Project study area... 2 Table 3-1: Summary of Turbine Technical Specifications List of figures Figure 2-1: General Project study area... 3 DNV GL Document No.: CAMO-R-09, Issue: A, Status: FINAL Page iv

5 List of abbreviations Abbreviation APRD CPR DNV GL DOR EASR ESA EPA ERP HONI IESO MOECC MTO MW NIA OESC O.Reg. PDR REA SWH SNCA SESMP TMP Meaning Approval and Permitting Requirements Document Construction Plan Report GL Garrad Hassan Canada Inc. Design and Operation Report Environmental Activity and Sector Registry Endangered Species Act Ontario Environmental Protection Act Emergency Response Plan Hydro One Network Inc. Independent Electricity System Operator Ontario Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change Ministry of Transportation Ontario Megawatt Noise Impact Assessment Ontario Electrical Safety Code standards Ontario Regulation Project Description Report Renewable Energy Approval Significant Wildlife Habitat South Nation Conservation Authority Stormwater, Erosion and Sediment Management Plan Traffic Management Plan DNV GL Document No.: CAMO-R-09, Issue: A, Status: FINAL Page v

6 1 PREAMBLE Nation Rise Wind Farm Limited Partnership (the Proponent ) is proposing to develop the Nation Rise Wind Farm (the Project ) which is subject to Ontario Regulation (O. Reg.) 359/09 (Renewable Energy Approvals (REA) [1] under Part V.0.1 of the Ontario Environmental Protection Act (EPA)), as amended. The Proponent was awarded a contract for this Project in March 2016 from the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) under the Large Renewable Procurement (LRP), and is seeking a Renewable Energy Approval (REA) from the Ontario Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change (MOECC). The Project will be owned and operated by Nation Rise Wind Farm Limited Partnership, a wholly-owned subsidiary of EDP Renewables Canada Ltd. This Project with a total nameplate capacity of approximately 100 megawatts (MW) is considered to be a Class 4 wind facility. A total of 34 wind turbine locations are being permitted and the Proponent is currently evaluating different wind turbine technologies for the Project. It is likely to be a 3.0 to 3.6 MW turbine and for the purposes of reference, the Vestas V MW turbine model will be considered in the Project REA application, although an acoustically equivalent wind turbine may be chosen. The Summary of REA Technical Reports was prepared in accordance with O. Reg. 359/09 and support from the MOE s Draft Aboriginal Consultation Guide [2]. This report provides a summary of the following documents to be submitted as part of the REA application to the MOECC: Project Description Report; Construction Plan Report; Design and Operations Plan Report; o o o o o o Archaeological Assessments; Cultural Heritage Assessment; Natural Heritage Assessment and Environmental Impact Study; Water Body Report; Noise Impact Assessment; Wind Turbine Specifications Report; and Decommissioning Plan Report. DNV GL Document No.: CAMO-R-09, Issue: A, Status: FINAL Page 1

7 2 GENERAL INFORMATION 2.1 Project Name and Project Proponent The name of the Project is Nation Rise Wind Farm (hereafter referred to as the Project ) and Nation Rise Wind Farm Limited Partnership is the Project Proponent (hereafter referred to as the Proponent ). 2.2 Location of Project The Nation Rise Wind Farm is located in eastern Ontario, within the Township of North Stormont and the United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry, Ontario. More specifically, the Project is located in the western portion of North Stormont bounded to the south by the Township of South Stormont and to the west by the boundary of the Township of North Dundas. The north portion of the Project is delimited by the municipality boundaries of Russell and The Nation. Courville Road and MacMillan Road are the east boundaries of the Project. The Project has a total study area of approximately 8,974 hectares. Project components will be installed predominantly on privately-owned agricultural lots. It is anticipated that the electrical collector lines will be partially sited within public road allowances to connect to the substation that is located in the northern section of the Project study area. There is no proposed transmission line for the Project. The proposed Project study area is located on private and public lands; the geographic coordinates of the extreme points of the Project study area are presented in Table 2-1 and Figure 2-1. The location of the study area was defined early in the planning process and was selected based on the availability of wind resources, the approximate area required for the proposed Project, and availability of existing infrastructure for connection to the electrical grid. The Project substation is located along the existing L24A 230 kv transmission line just south of County Road 13. Most of the agricultural fields are planted annually with common crops (e.g. corn, soybeans and winter wheat) or are used as pasture lands. Table 2-1: Geographic coordinates of Project study area Site Location Easting Northing North East West South DNV GL Document No.: CAMO-R-09, Issue: A, Status: FINAL Page 2

8 Figure 2-1: General Project study area DNV GL Document No.: CAMO-R-09, Issue: A, Status: FINAL Page 3

9 2.3 Contact Information Project Proponent The Project proponent is the Nation Rise Wind Farm Limited Partnership, a renewable energy developer, owner and operator, with an office in Toronto, Ontario. The primary contact for this Project is: Kenneth Little Development Project Manager Nation Rise Wind Farm Limited Partnership 110 Spadina Ave., Suite 609, Toronto, ON M5V 2K4 (416) Project nationrise@edpr.com Project website: Project Consultant GL Garrad Hassan Canada Inc. (hereafter referred to as DNV GL ), a member of the DNV GL Group and part of the DNV GL brand, has been retained to lead the REA for the Project. The Environmental and Permitting Services team of DNV GL has completed mandates throughout Canada, the United States and in many other parts of the world. These mandates include permitting management, permit applications, environmental impact assessment, and various environmental studies for more than 15,000 MW of wind and solar-pv projects. DNV GL s environmental team is composed of over 20 environmental professionals, including environmental impact specialists, planners, GIS technicians and engineers. DNV GL has no equity stake in any Project. This rule of operation is central to its philosophy, distinguishing it from many other players and underscoring its independence. DNV GL s contact information is as follows: Gabriel Constantin Team Leader, Environmental and Permitting Services DNV GL Energy Advisory 4100 Molson Street, Suite 100, Montreal (QC), H1Y 3N1, Canada (416) Gabriel.Constantin@dnvgl.com 3 DOCUMENT SUMMARIES 3.1 Project Description Report The below section provides a summary of the Project Description Report (PDR) [3], which is the main summary document for a REA application. DNV GL Document No.: CAMO-R-09, Issue: A, Status: FINAL Page 4

10 3.1.1 Facility Components The Project will be made up of the following main components: Wind turbine generators; Meteorological towers; Access roads and crane pads; Electrical collector lines, substation and switchyard; and Construction staging and laydown areas (including temporary staging areas). The main components are described in greater detail in section 3.1 of the PDR Project Activities A wind energy project consists of three main phases: (i) development, site preparation and construction, (ii) operations, and (iii) decommissioning Development, Site Preparation and Construction Phase The Development, Site Preparation and Construction Phase includes all activities from initial work planning to testing of the wind energy project before commissioning. The Proponent will obtain all approval requirements, undertake site surveys, conduct a geotechnical assessment, complete preliminary and detailed engineering and complete equipment procurement (wind turbines, substation components, cabling, etc.) during the pre-construction period. Nation Rise Wind Farm Limited Partnership The Proponent will continue to engage with First Nation and Aboriginal communities, the Public, local landowners, federal, provincial and municipal authorities. The following activities will be undertaken during the Development, Site Preparation and Construction Phase: Mobilization on site; Clearing and grubbing of vegetation within construction limits; Site grading; Application of erosion mitigation measures; Preparation of the construction staging area; Installation of culverts; Construction of new private access roads or upgrading existing public roads, as necessary; Delivery of equipment and vehicles; Trenching and installation of electrical collector lines; Excavation and pouring of concrete turbine foundation; Construction of crane pads; Wind turbine assembly and installation; Construction of the substation and switchyard; Installation of the permanent meteorological towers; Installation of communication tower and associated equipment; Clean-up and reclamation of agricultural lands; and Turbine Commissioning. DNV GL Document No.: CAMO-R-09, Issue: A, Status: FINAL Page 5

11 More specific details about the Site Preparation and Construction phase will be provided in the Construction Plan Report [4], as part of the complete REA application package Operations Phase The Project will require full-time technical and administrative staff to maintain and operate the facility. The primary workers will be wind turbine technicians along with a site supervisor. The wind turbines will be operating and generating electricity when the wind speed is within the operating range for the turbine and there are no component malfunctions. Each turbine has a comprehensive control system that monitors the subsystems within the turbine and the local wind conditions to determine whether the conditions are suitable for operation. If an event occurs which is considered to be outside the normal operating range of the turbine (such as low hydraulic pressures or high generator temperatures), the wind turbine will immediately take itself out of service and report the condition to the Remote Operations Control Centre (ROCC). A communication line connects each turbine to the ROCC, which closely monitors and, as required, controls the operation of each turbine. The Project will be integrated with EDPR s portfolio of Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems to ensure that the Project critical controls, alarms, and functions are properly monitored and coordinated for safe, secure, and reliable operation. The following activities will be undertaken during the operations phase: Operation of wind turbines and substation; Routine turbine maintenance and inspections; Unplanned turbine maintenance; Conduct natural heritage and noise compliance surveys; Follow-up with any complaints from neighbors; Meter calibrations; and Road maintenance. More specific details about the operations phase will be provided in the Design and Operations Report [5] that is included in the REA application package Decommissioning Phase The anticipated operational life of the Project is estimated to be a minimum of 20 years. If the facility is to be decommissioned and the turbines are to be removed at the end of its service life, the procedures will be similar to the construction phase, but in reverse sequence: Mobilization on site; Preparation of temporary staging areas; Upgrading access roads to allow access to dismantling equipment; Dismantling or removal of Project components (wind turbines, meteorological towers, communication tower and associated equipment); Removal of wind turbine foundation: o The top 1 m of the turbine foundations will be removed and replaced with clean fill and stockpiled topsoil. This will be contoured to allow cultivation in the case of agricultural lands. DNV GL Document No.: CAMO-R-09, Issue: A, Status: FINAL Page 6

12 Underground electrical collector lines will be cut, the ends buried to 1 m below grade, and left in place; Overhead electrical lines and poles, if any, that are not shared with HONI or otherwise being utilized, will be removed and the holes will be filled with clean fill; Transportation of equipment and material: o All materials will be recycled, where possible, or disposed off-site at an appropriate facility; and Reclamation of agricultural lands (conditional to approval from landowner). The substation may not be decommissioned if IESO or Hydro One Network Inc. (HONI) require the infrastructure to be left in place at the time of decommissioning. More specific details on the Decommissioning Phase will be provided in the Decommissioning Plan Report [6] that is included as part of the REA application package Land Ownership Turbines and substation will be located entirely on private land and the Proponent currently holds a lease agreement for the properties on which Project components are proposed. Public road allowances (rights-of-way) will be used in some cases for electrical collector lines and access road entrance. Electrical collector lines will also cross the South Nation River via underground cabling or overhead lines. A legal description of the land parcels will be provided in the final REA application. 3.2 Construction Plan Report The Construction Plan Report (CPR) [4] describes the activities that will take place during the construction phase of the Project and identifies the measures that will be implemented to mitigate potential negative environmental effects that may occur during this phase Timing of Construction Commencement of the construction phase is anticipated to occur in the fall of In any scenario, construction activities leading up to Project operations are anticipated to take approximately up to 16 months. The exact calendar dates of construction activities have not yet been determined and will be based on the timing of the REA approval and the assistance of the selected general contractor. Testing and commissioning will occur over the last few weeks of construction in accordance with the MNRF and HONI requirements Construction and Installation activities Surveying and Geotechnical Study Surveys will be required for the micrositing of the turbines, crane pads, access roads, electrical lines and the substation. Crews will drive light trucks to reach sites primarily using existing roads. They will then survey the site on foot or ATV and mark the locations using stakes. DNV GL Document No.: CAMO-R-09, Issue: A, Status: FINAL Page 7

13 Typically, a truck-mounted drill rig visits the sampling locations, drills the borehole and collects geotechnical cores. Lab analysis will be performed on the sample cores collected to obtain geotechnical information. This operation typically uses two operators and requires one to two hours per turbine location. These activities will take place prior to construction and are not season-dependent Access Road, Crane Paths and Crane Pad, Turbine Laydown Area This activity generally involves the determination of roadway surfacing and road limits, as well as stabilizing of backfill, excavated material, and stripped soil. Where applicable, new road construction and upgrades will use existing material on site, such as excavated material from turbine sites, or offsite clean fill. The required amount and type of gravel will be the responsibility of the contractor and an effort will be made to obtain gravel locally. Typically trucks, graders, and bulldozers will be required for these activities as a minimum. This activity will preferentially be completed in late spring, summer or fall Culvert Installations Early consultation with the South Nation Conservation Authority (SNCA) occurred in Additional conversations will be held in 2017 to confirm permitting requirements for construction. Each culvert will be adequately designed and sized to meet flow conditions and maintain the natural alignment and grade and using streambank protection measures. This construction task would utilize one or more excavator(s), dump truck(s) and compaction equipment Delivery of Equipment Transportation of turbine parts and sections will be done using trucks or convoys. Heavy-load hauling trucks will be required for each turbine installed, including trucks for each tower section, the nacelle, the hub and cone, and one for each blade. Trucks or and heavy-load hauling trucks will also be mobilized to bring concrete, cranes, electrical components, and other equipment to the site. All proposed transportation routes will be discussed with the appropriate municipal engineering departments prior to construction. This activity will preferentially be completed in late spring, summer, fall or early winter to take advantage of typically drier weather and avoid load restrictions Wind Turbine Foundations The final foundation design will depend on the geotechnical results of each proposed turbine location. The two types of foundations that could be used are described below. Spread Footing Foundations This activity includes excavation of soil at turbine sites, preparation of the excavation bases which may include placement and compaction of gravel fill, installation of mud mats, installation of reinforcing steel (rebar), and pouring of concrete foundations. For typical spread footing foundations, the anticipated dimensions of the foundation excavation are approximately m diameter with a depth of approximately 5 m. While blasting could possible be required for spread footing turbine foundation, it is not anticipated to be required for the Project. DNV GL Document No.: CAMO-R-09, Issue: A, Status: FINAL Page 8

14 Deep Foundations In instances where soil conditions require deep foundations, case, steel, concrete or aggregate piles will be installed to support the turbine. Once piles have been installed to a suitable depth, a pile cap will be installed and a concrete slab will be poured to allow for the installation of steel rods and pouring of concrete foundations. Typical construction equipment required for this activity includes flatbed trucks (four to six) for delivery of rebar, turbine mounting assembly and forms, truck mounted crane or rough terrain forklift for unloading and placement of rebar and forms, concrete trucks for delivery of concrete, construction trucks, dozer, loader, excavator, vibratory compactor, aggregate pier, pile driver or pile boring machinery (for deep foundations), and dump trucks to backfill and compact foundation and remove surplus excavated materials. This activity will preferentially be completed in late spring, summer, fall or early winter to take advantage of typically drier weather and avoid load restrictions Wind Turbine Assembly Tower assembly will be decided by the general contractor based on the final wind turbine technology. Blades may be lifted one at a time, or a fully assembled rotor with all three blades may be elevated to the nacelle. The latter case would require a larger footprint area at the base of the tower. At a minimum, service trucks, two cranes, graders, and bulldozers will be required for this activity. This will preferentially be completed in summer or early fall to take advantage of typically drier weather. If necessary, this activity can be completed in the spring or fall, depending on weather conditions. Total assembly time will be 2-3 weeks per turbine Installation of Electrical Network All electrical installation work will meet or exceed Ontario Electrical Safety Code (OESC) regulations. Underground cabling will be placed through the concrete tower foundations and buried underground or installed overhead, linking the turbines to the Project substation. The underground cabling system, including grounding cable and fiber optic cable, will be buried at a depth of approximately 1 to 1.5 m. Typical equipment required for this activity consists of, at a minimum, trucks, graders, backhoes, track excavators, and cable plow. This activity will preferentially be completed in late spring or summer to take advantage of typically drier weather Construction of the Substation, Switchyard and Interconnection Components required for the substation, switchyard and interconnection are likely to be prefabricated and transported to site. The components will be supported by either cast-in place concrete foundations/slabs-on-grade or structural steel piers and the entire substation and switchyard area will be graded and overlaid with a stone granular material. Typical equipment required for this activity consists of earthworks equipment, small trenchers, crane(s), forklifts, and concrete trucks and a bulldozer. This will preferentially be completed in late spring or summer to take advantage of typically drier weather. DNV GL Document No.: CAMO-R-09, Issue: A, Status: FINAL Page 9

15 Construction Staging and Laydown Areas During construction of the staging and laydown areas, topsoil will be stripped, stockpiled and reused to the extent possible for site landscaping and reclamation. Gravel will be laid and compacted, the depth of which will vary depending upon site conditions/requirements at the time of construction. Once construction is complete, the areas will be restored to a condition acceptable to the landowner. Any topsoil that is removed and/or stockpiled during construction will be redistributed, as appropriate, during site clean-up and restoration. This will enable the land to be returned to its prior use following the construction of the Project. Typical equipment required for these activities consists of earthworks equipment, small trenchers, a crane, forklifts, compactors and concrete trucks and a bulldozer. This will preferentially be completed in late spring or summer to take advantage of typically drier weather Permanent Meteorological Tower The permanent meteorological towers will be installed using cranes and secured to a concrete foundation or with guy wires tied off to anchors, depending on the tower type that is selected for the Project. Local geotechnical conditions will be considered in the foundation design. Details on tower location, height and lighting will be submitted to NAV CANADA and Transport Canada for review and approval prior to installation. Typical equipment required for this activity consists of small trenchers, crane and concrete pick-up trucks and a bulldozer. This will preferentially be completed in late spring or summer to take advantage of typically drier weather Clean up and Reclamation Strategy Waste and debris generated during the construction activities will be collected and disposed of at an approved facility. All reasonable efforts will be made to minimize waste generated and to recycle materials including returning packaging material to suppliers for reuse/recycling. During construction, industry best practices for spill prevention will be utilized. In the unlikely event of a minor spill, it will be cleaned up immediately and any impacted soils will be removed from site and disposed of at an approved and appropriate facility. At the conclusion of construction, vehicles and construction equipment will be removed from the site. High-voltage warning signs will be installed at the transformer substation and elsewhere, as appropriate. Gravel will be removed from turbine assembly areas, and access roads where no longer needed. The gravel will likely be placed as a top layer on the new project roads, or in parking areas. The disturbed areas will then be de-compacted, and returned to their prior use. Any remaining stockpile material generated from excavation will be handled in an approved and appropriate manner Turbine Commissioning Turbine commissioning will occur once the wind turbines and substation are fully installed and HONI is ready to accept grid interconnection. The commissioning activities will consist of testing and inspection of electrical, mechanical, and communications systems. Temporary portable generator sets may be used to electrically commission the turbines prior to connection to the grid. These generators are required for approximately two days per turbine. Typical DNV GL Document No.: CAMO-R-09, Issue: A, Status: FINAL Page 10

16 equipment required for this activity consists of support trucks which will be driven to the construction site and temporary portable generators Summary of Potential Environmental Effects The potential environmental effects of the following components have been addressed in the Construction Plan Report and appropriate mitigation measures have been provided: Cultural Heritage (Protected Properties, Archaeological and Heritage Resources); Terrain and soils; Aquatic Resources; Natural Heritage; Air; Noise; and Local and Provincial interests, land use and infrastructure The Environmental Effects Monitoring Plan for the construction phase of the Project are explained in further details in Section 5 of the CPR. 3.3 Design and Operations Plan Report The Design and Operations Report (DOR) [5] describes the design considerations and activities that will take place during the operation phase of the Project and identifies the measures that will be implemented to mitigate negative environmental effects that will or are likely to occur during this phase Facility Components The Project will be made up of the following main components: Wind turbine generators; Meteorological towers; Access roads and crane pads; and Electrical collector lines, substation and switchyard; and Construction staging and laydown areas (including temporary staging areas). Facility components have been clearly depicted in the site plans included within Appendix A of the DOR and are described in greater detail within Section 4 (Facility Design Plan) of the DOR. DNV GL Document No.: CAMO-R-09, Issue: A, Status: FINAL Page 11

17 3.3.2 Turbine Specifications The currently proposed wind turbine technology for the Project is the Vestas V136 (3.45 MW) turbine model, although an acoustically equivalent wind turbine may be chosen. The Vestas V136 turbine is a three-bladed, upwind, horizontal-axis turbine. The total rotor diameter of the V136 is 136 m, with a corresponding swept area of 14,526 m 2. The turbine rotors and nacelles will be mounted on 132 m tubular towers consisting of up to seven steel sections, although other heights are being evaluated. Depending on the turbine technology selected, a pad mounted transformer will be installed adjacent to the tower or alternatively, an up-tower transformer may be used. Table 3-1 below provides a summary of the Turbine Technical Specifications. Table 3-1: Summary of Turbine Technical Specifications Model Vestas V136 STE Design Steel, tubular; up to 7 sections Rated Power 3.45 MW Hub height 132 m Rotor diameter 136 m Number of blades 3 Rotational Speed (rpm) Cut-in wind speed 3 m/s Cut-out wind speed 22.5 m/s Nominal wind speed 11.5 m/s Maximum sound power level dba (Noise Mode 0) The complete technical specifications for the selected technology are provided in the Wind Turbine Specification Report, which is included in Appendix B of the DOR report Facility Operations Plan The operations phase for the Project is not resource intensive, with typical activities pertaining to computer-controlled operation of turbines and maintenance. Each turbine is connected to a SCADA, which monitors a large number of meteorological and mechanical parameters in real time. If this system detects any condition that falls outside of the normal operating conditions of the turbine (i.e. high wind speeds, overheating of the generator, short circuits, etc.), the turbine will be stopped immediately. The operations phase activities mainly relate to regular maintenance runs and verification of the Project infrastructure. Maintenance may consist of the following activities: Routine turbine maintenance; Unplanned turbine maintenance; Electrical system maintenance, as necessary; and Waste management, as necessary. DNV GL Document No.: CAMO-R-09, Issue: A, Status: FINAL Page 12

18 Routine preventative maintenance activities are scheduled on an annual basis with specific maintenance tasks scheduled for each year. Maintenance is done by removing the turbine from service and having two to three wind technicians climb the tower to spend the necessary time carrying out maintenance activities. Modern wind turbines are very reliable and the major components are designed to operate for approximately 30 years. However, wind turbines are large and complex electromechanical devices with rotating equipment and many components; therefore, component failures may occur despite the high reliability of the turbines fleet-wide. Most commonly, the failure of small components such as switches, fans, or sensors will take the turbine out of service until the faulty component is replaced. Events involving the replacement of a major component such as a gearbox or rotor are rare. If they do occur, the use of large equipment, sometimes as large as that used to install the turbines, may be required. Typically only a small percentage of turbines would need to be accessed with large equipment during their operating life. Waste generated during the operations phase will be removed by a licensed operator and disposed of at an approved facility. Any lubricants or oils resulting from turbine maintenance will be drummed on site and disposed of in accordance with applicable provincial regulations. All reasonable efforts will be made to minimize waste generated and to recycle materials including returning packaging material to suppliers for reuse/recycling. The spill prevention protocols followed during construction will continue to be observed throughout the facility operations and maintenance activities Features of the Project Area Prescribed desktop and field studies were undertaken to identify and describe the features in the area that may be affected by the construction and/or operation of the Project. The following sections summarize the results of these studies Cultural Heritage (Archaeological and Heritage Resources) Detailed archaeological assessments have been prepared and submitted to the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport (MTCS) for acceptance and recommendation. A copy of the complete reports and confirmation letter from the MTCS will be included in the complete REA application package for this Project. Archaeological Features Stage 1 [7] and Stage 2 archaeological assessments [8] were conducted by Golder Associates Ltd. and will be submitted to the MTCS for review. The Stage 1 archaeological assessment report identified that the entire Project Location had archaeological potential for the presence of both Pre-Contact Aboriginal and Historic Euro-Canadian archaeological resources. The Stage 1 recommended that a Stage 2 property survey of the Project Location be completed prior to construction. To date, a portion of the total Project Location has been assessed through the Stage 2 assessment. The remainder of the Project Location will be assessed according to the MTCS 2011 Standards and Guidelines for Consultant Archaeologists prior to submission of the final REA application. The initial results from this assessment have identified two historic Euro-Canadian archaeological sites: the first DNV GL Document No.: CAMO-R-09, Issue: A, Status: FINAL Page 13

19 dates to the twentieth century, does not retain Cultural Heritage Value or Interest (CHVI), and is not recommended for further work. The second, a mid to late-nineteenth century site has CHVI and is recommended for Stage 3 specific archaeological assessment. No other cultural material or features were located in areas assessed to date through Stage 2 property survey, within the Project Location. The interim Stage 2 report concludes that no further archaeological assessments beyond the Stage 3 assessment discussed above are recommended for the Project Location. All archaeological field work was conducted according to the MTCS s 2011 Standards and Guidelines for Consultant Archaeologists [9] Copies of the Stage 1 and Stage 2 archaeological assessments are provided in Appendix C of the DOR. These reports will be accepted into the Ontario Public Register of Archaeological Reports by the MTCS prior to the complete REA application package being submitted to the MOECC. Heritage Features A Heritage Impact Assessment for the Project was conducted in December 2016 [10] by Golder Associates Ltd. The results of the assessment concluded that there are no protected cultural heritage resources and eighteen newly identified properties of cultural heritage value of interest (CHVIs) within the Project study area. It was determined that the Project poses no risk of direct or indirect adverse impacts to any heritage attributes of seventeen of these CHVIs. The heritage attributes of the remaining CHVI, Concession Road, was determined to be at minimal risk of direct impact from vibration. A pre-construction condition survey was recommended to be conducted prior to access road construction. A cemetery and monument in Berwick were identified to be within the Project study area, but will not be impacted by the Project. A copy of the Heritage Assessment Report is provided in Appendix D of the DOR Natural Heritage and Environmental Impact Study A Natural Heritage Assessment (NHA), as per the requirements in the NHA Guide for Renewable Energy Projects [11] was prepared in four separate reports (Records Review, Site Investigation, Evaluation of Significance and Environmental Impact Study) that can be found in Appendix E of the DOR. These reports will be submitted to the MNRF for review and comment prior to finalization. The NHA suggests that the Project effects on natural heritage features will be limited and generally avoided, provided that the Project design follows REA setback regulations and that proper mitigation measures are applied. The majority of the habitat in the Project study area is composed of deciduous, mixed, and coniferous forests and treed wetlands, with some regenerating habitats. The NHA indicates that there are no known Provincially Significant Wetlands (PSWs), Provincially Significant Life Science Areas of Natural and Scientific Interest (ANSIs), Important Bird Areas, Bird Sanctuaries or National Wildlife Refuges within the Project study area. To date, a detailed evaluation of significance of a portion of the potentially significant natural features and wildlife habitats within 120 m of the Project Location was completed. Of those habitats evaluated to date, two Significant Wildlife Habitats (SWHs) were confirmed, both of which required detailed consideration as part of the EIS: amphibian breeding habitat (woodland) and waterfowl stopover and staging area (aquatic). DNV GL Document No.: CAMO-R-09, Issue: A, Status: FINAL Page 14

20 In addition to wildlife habitats that have been confirmed to be significant through the completion of the evaluation of significance, several other wildlife habitats that could be considered to be significant have been identified. For the purposes of the NHA EIS submission, these habitats have been presumed to be significant. Wildlife habitats that have been presumed to be significant for the purposes of the EIS and that require pre-construction surveys include the following: Two (2) candidate bat maternity colonies; One (1) candidate turtle wintering area; Eleven (11) candidate reptile hibernacula; Two (2) candidate alvar communities; Eighteen candidate amphibian breeding habitats (woodland); One (1) open country bird breeding habitat; Nine (9) common nighthawk (Chordeiles minor) habitats; Seventeen (17) eastern wood-pewee (Contopus viren) habitats; Four (4) wood thrush (Hylocichla mustelina) habitats; and Six (6) monarch (Danaus plexippus) habitats. Assuming the implementation of the planned mitigation measures, monitoring programs, and contingency plans (if necessary), there are unlikely to be any significant impacts to natural heritage features, including wetlands, or significant wildlife habitat [12] Water Bodies The Water Body and Water Assessment Reports [13][14], which characterize the aquatic natural features and habitats in the Project area, are included in Appendix F of the DOR, as part of the complete REA application package. Comprehensive site investigations for the Project were undertaken by NRSI biologists between 2 June 2016 to 27 February These site investigations included site-specific habitat assessments of water bodies throughout the Project area. Through the completion of these studies, NRSI has confirmed the presence of 63 water bodies within the Project area, all of which have been identified as intermittent/permanent watercourses. A total of 39 of the identified water bodies intersect project infrastructure. The remaining 24 water bodies are present within 120 m of the Project Location but do not overlap project infrastructure. One seepage area was also identified within 120 m of the Project Location. No lakes or Lake Trout lakes were identified within the Project study area. Water takings, if required, will be conducted as outlined in the Water Body and Water Assessment Reports. No significant impacts are anticipated on the identified water body features as a result of the development of the Project following the implementation of proposed mitigation measures Noise Impact Assessment The Project study area is considered to be Class 3 (rural), defined as a rural area with an ambient noise dominated by natural sounds, with little or no road traffic. Class 3 areas often take one of the following forms: DNV GL Document No.: CAMO-R-09, Issue: A, Status: FINAL Page 15

21 A small community with a population of less than 1,000; An agricultural area; A rural recreational area such as a cottage or a resort area; or A wilderness area. As such, ambient sound levels within the Project study area and on adjacent lands are typical of rural areas of Ontario, with sounds originating from nature, residential activities, agricultural activities (tractors and other machinery), vehicle traffic, and ambient noise induced by wind. Buildings within 2 km of the Project Location are identified in the site plans, and for the purposes of preparing the Noise Impact Assessment (NIA) [15], Points of Reception (PoRs) within 1.5 km of the Project Location were identified by way of mapping, aerial imagery and a site validation. A total of 899 PoRs were identified for this Project, including dwellings, Vacant Lot Receptors (VLRs) and other buildings considered to be PoRs under the MOECC s noise guidelines. Wind energy projects have the potential to generate noise which may be observed under certain circumstances in the general vicinity of the study area, as well as at specific receptor locations (i.e., residents, hospitals, schools, daycares, places of worship, etc.). A NIA was conducted to evaluate these effects. The results from the NIA show that the Project complies with the applicable MOECC noise guidelines. The NIA has been provided within Appendix G of the DOR Summary of Potential Environmental Effects Given the type of renewable energy project, and due to its low impact nature, environmental effects on the following components have been analysed and provided in the DOR: Cultural Heritage (Protected Properties, Archaeological and Heritage Resources); Terrain and soils; Aquatic Resources; Natural Heritage; Air; Noise; Local and Provincial interests, land use and infrastructure; and Radio-communication and radar system. The Environmental Effects Monitoring Plan for the operations, construction and decommissioning of the Project are explained in further details in Section 6 of the DOR Emergency Response Plan The Project Emergency Response Plan (ERP) will be implemented throughout all phases of the Project. The purpose of the plan is to establish and maintain emergency procedures required for effectively responding to accidents and other emergency situations, and for minimizing losses. Potential DNV GL Document No.: CAMO-R-09, Issue: A, Status: FINAL Page 16

22 emergency scenarios which could occur during the operations phase include fire, personal injury and spills. In the rare instance that the wind generating facility exceeds operational parameters or there is an emergency, the appropriate regulatory agencies, Township of North Stormont, and Aboriginal communities will be notified using the procedures outlined in Section 7.5 of the DOR. The general contractor will be responsible for establishing and maintaining specific construction and decommissioning related emergency response procedures to be implemented during these phases. 3.4 Decommissioning Plan Report The Decommissioning Plan Report (DPR) [6] describes the activities that will take place during the decommissioning phase of the Project and identifies the measures that will be implemented to mitigate negative environmental effects that will or are likely to occur during this phase Decommissioning After Ceasing Operations It is anticipated that the Project will have an operational lifespan of 20 or more years. The Project lifespan could be further extended with proper maintenance, component replacement and repowering. The following steps would be taken to dismantle the various Project components. Should it be decided to not extend operations or repower the Project at the end of its service life, the steps outlined in Section would be taken to dismantle the various Project components Procedures for Dismantling If the facility is to be decommissioned and the turbines are to be removed at the end of its service life or during construction, the procedures will be similar to the construction phase, but in reverse sequence. The dismantling procedures will include: At the end of the Project s life, it will first be de-energized and isolated from all external electrical lines. The creation of temporary staging areas. In order to provide sufficient area for the laydown of the disassembled wind turbine components and loading onto trucks, a circular area of 80 m radius must be cleared, leveled and made accessible. After completion of the decommissioning, temporary staging areas and any associated temporary decommissioning facilities or components used throughout the decommissioning phase (e.g. temporary construction trailer) will be removed. The temporary staging areas will be located within the Construction Disturbance Area (Project Location) used during the construction phase of the Project. The installation of crane pads (if required). The crane pads will typically be 30 m x 70 m (actual size to be finalized) in size and will be located within the temporary staging area around each wind turbine. The topsoil at the crane pad will be removed and approximately 600 mm of compacted crushed gravel will be added. Once the turbine disassembly has been completed, the gravel area around each turbine will be removed and the area will be restored to prior use using stockpiled topsoil. DNV GL Document No.: CAMO-R-09, Issue: A, Status: FINAL Page 17

23 The use of cranes to remove the blades, hub, nacelle and tower segments. The use of trucks and heavy-load hauling trucks for the removal of turbines, towers and associated equipment. Removal of turbine components will also include the removal of 1 m of the underground foundation below the original grade (prior to construction). Excavated foundation areas will be backfilled with clean fill and stockpiled topsoil to match the original elevations. These areas will be graded, contoured, and restored to a land use similar to what was present prior to foundation installation in order to allow for prior activities to resume. Underground electrical collector lines, once de-energized, are expected to remain in place at the end of the Project life. However, electrical collection lines will be cut to a depth of approximately 1 m below original grade at their connection points in the substation or in junction boxes, where the underground electrical collector lines come to the surface. Overhead electrical lines are expected to be removed at the end of the Project s life; however, the poles on which the collector lines will be installed that are not shared with Hydro One Network Inc. (HONI) will be cut to a depth of approximately 1 m below original grade or may be completely removed from the ground, where feasible. Any electrical collector lines located at directionally drilled watercourse crossings or underneath significant natural features and wildlife habitats will be de-energized and remain in place; however, the connection point will be severed at a point located outside of the South Nation Conservation Authority (SNCA), where possible, and outside of significant natural features and/or wildlife habitats. The substation, switchyard and associated infrastructure will be dismantled and removed in accordance with the legal requirements at the time unless otherwise requested by HONI. Any concrete foundations associated with these facilities will be removed to at least 1 m below original grade. The area will be graded, contoured, and restored to land use similar to what was present prior to foundation installation in order to allow for prior activities to resume. All materials will be recycled, where possible, or disposed offsite at an approved and appropriate facility. The Proponent is responsible for decommissioning of the electrical connector line from the substation up to the Point of Common Coupling (PCC), after which point the infrastructure is owned by HONI. Removal of access roads will depend on the requirements and agreements in place with the individual landowner. Impacted lands will be restored to land use in place prior to access road construction, at the discretion of landowners. Meteorological tower(s) will be removed unless otherwise requested by the Township of North Stormont or local aviation groups (and agreed to by the Proponent and the property owner) for the tower(s) to remain in place. Any concrete foundation would be removed to at least 1 m below original grade or to the depth originally installed if less than 1 m below original grade. The area will be graded, contoured, and restored to land use similar to what was present prior to foundation installation in order to allow for prior activities to resume Restoration of Land Once the dismantling procedures have been completed and the turbines and other ancillary facilities have been removed, the restoration of land will occur. DNV GL Document No.: CAMO-R-09, Issue: A, Status: FINAL Page 18