Re: Revised Draft Environmental Impact Report for the Rosamond Solar Array Project by First Solar, Inc. (PP10231)

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1 PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT Lorelei H. Oviatt, AICP, Director 2700 "M" STREET, SUITE 00 BAKERSFIELD, CA Phone: (66) FAX: (66) TTY Relay Web Address: DEVELOPMENT SERVICES AGENCY Engineering, Surveying and Permit Services Planning and Community Development Roads July 28, 20 ADDRESSEE LIST (See DEIR Distribution List) Re: Revised Draft Environmental Impact Report for the Solar Array Project by First Solar, Inc. (PP023) Dear Interested Party: A Notice of Availability dated July 8, 20 was distributed which described the above-noted project and included a copy of the DEIR. The previously distributed DEIR included several typographical errors in the text as noted below and inadvertently omitted several project-specific maps and technical studies; as detailed below. Therefore, a revised CD is being provided to you that includes a copy of the corrected DEIR. All conclusions, analysis, and proposed mitigation remain the same as proposed in the original DEIR. The revised copy of the DEIR with the project specific maps have been added to the Department s website which can be viewed at environmental-documents/33- rosamond-solar. Additionally, the public comment period for the review of the DEIR has been extended and will now conclude on September, 20; which is a full 5-days from the date of this letter. The specific revisions and to the DEIR are as noted below. REVISIONS TO DEIR:. Inadvertently Omitted Studies (Included online) I2 - Habitat Assessment for SCE Interconnection Facilities Northern Alignment J2 - Cultural Resources Report for the Powerline and Whirlwind Substation J3 - Cultural Resources Assessment for SCE Interconnection Facilities Northern Alignment J - Paleontological Assessment for SCE Interconnection Facilities Northern Alignment 2. Replacement Figures 3-8, 3-9 and.3- (hard copy attached to this letter and Included online) 3. Following revisions to text of DEIR: DEIR PAGE.0-9: As described in Chapter 3, Project Description, there are 69 projects proposed of varying size and complexity throughout the Western Antelope Valley."

2 DEIR PAGE:.-52: As large scale energy projects and urbanization pressures increase within d the western Mojave Desert, impacts to biological resources within the region are expanding on a cumulative level. As described in Chapter 3, Project Description, multiple projects, including other utility-scale energy production facilities are proposed throughout the western Mojave Desert, which includes the Counties of Kern and Los Angeles. The geographic scope for analysis of project-related cumulative impacts on biological resources includes the western portion of the Antelope Valley, generally bounded by the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains to the south, the foothills of the Tehachapi Mountains to the north and west, and Highway Edwards Air Force Base to the east. The cumulative projects shown in Table 3- were narrowed down based on geography and bioregions. In general, bioregions are defined through physical and environmental features, including watershed boundaries and soil and terrain characteristics. Areas to the north and west of the Tehachapi Mountains, and to the south of the San Gabriel Mountains, are within a different bioregion and are separated from the project site by the natural geography that these ranges present. Several solar and wind cumulative projects are presently under, or proposed for, development within the project's geographic scope (i.e., bioregion) described above. Thirty-eight of these projects are solar energy developments in eastern Kern County; there are least 9 other projects not related to solar development in eastern Kern County. Forty of the cumulative projects that were analyzed are within Kern County (Figure 3-8), 2 of which are solar developments. The remaining cumulative projects are within Los Angeles County (Figure 3-9). There are a number of special-status species that currently utilize the project area and surrounding vicinity that can also occur within the cumulative project scope mentioned above. Implementation of the project in addition to the cumulative projects mentioned above would impact transient wildlife species, such as burrowing owls and other raptors, as well as desert kit fox and other mammals that may currently forage or move through the area. Should you have any comments regarding these changes; please do note hesitate to contact the case planner assigned to this project, Mr. Mathew Hall, Planner III; at (66) 86. If this Department has not received a reply from you by September 8, 20, at 5:00 P.M., we will assume that you have no comments regarding this Draft EIR. Sincerely, Jacquelyn R. Kitchen, Supervising Planner Advanced Planning Division Planning and Community Development Department By: Mathew Hall, Planner III Advanced Planning Division

3 KERN COUNTY PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT Tehachapi Mojave Project Boundary California City Solar Projects Outside the Western Antelope Valley Projects Within the Western Antelope Valley 0 8 Figure 3-8: EASTERN KERN COUNTY CUMULATIVE PROJECTS MAP Draft EIR 20

4 50th St East 90th St East 38 East Ave I 5 East Ave J Lancaster 7 Palmdale East Palmdale Blvd 38 Pearblossom Acton 0th St West Draft EIR 20 Projects Within the Western Antelope Valley Project Boundary KERN COUNTY PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT Figure 3-9: LOS ANGELES COUNTY CUMULATIVE PROJECTS MAP 20

5 KERN COUNTY PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT 395 UV Cantil UV Mojave California City UV 58 Project Boundary UV UV Kern County Los Angeles County Projects Within the Western Antelope Valley 0 6 Figure.3-: KERN COUNTY PROJECTS WITHIN A SIX-MILE RADIUS OF THE PROJECT SITE Draft EIR 20