Pacific Wind Energy Project Table of Contents VOLUME 1 1 Executive Summary... 1-1 1.1 Introduction... 1-1 1.2 Project Summary... 1-1 1.3 Purpose and Use of the Draft EIR... 1-4 1.4 Project Overview... 1-5 1.5 Environmental Impacts... 1-7 1.6 Alternatives to the Proposed Project... 1-45 1.7 Areas of Controversy... 1-49 1.8 Issues to Be Resolved... 1-49 2. Introduction 2.1 Intent of the California Environmental Quality Act... 2-1 2.2 Purpose of This Environmental Impact Report... 2-1 2.3 Terminology... 2-2 2.4 Decision-Making Process... 2-4 2.5 Availability of the Draft EIR... 2-9 2.6 Format and Content... 2-9 2.7 Responsible and Trustee Agencies... 2-10 2.8 Incorporated by Reference... 2-11 2.9 Sources... 2-13 3. Project Description 3.1 Introduction... 3-1 3.2 Proposed Project... 3-1 3.3 Project Objectives... 3-5 3.4 Environmental Setting... 3-6 3.5 Proposed Project Characteristics... 3-14 3.6 Entitlements Required... 3-22 3.7 Construction... 3-23 3.8 Operation and Maintenance Activities... 3-26 3.9 Decommissioning and Repowering... 3-27 3.10 Related Projects... 3-27 3.11 Cumulative Projects... 3-28 4. Environmental Analysis 4.1 Aesthetics... 4.1-1 4.1.1 Introduction... 4.1-1 4.1.2 Environmental Setting... 4.1-3 4.1.3 Regulatory Setting... 4.1-7 4.1.4 Impacts and Mitigation Measures... 4.1-11 4.2 Agricultural Resources... 4.2-1 4.2.1 Introduction... 4.2-1 4.2.2 Environmental Setting... 4.2-1 Pacific Wind Energy Project i June 2010
4.2.3 Regulatory Setting... 4.2-2 4.2.4 Impacts and Mitigation Measures... 4.2-9 4.3 Air Quality... 4.3-1 4.3.1 Introduction... 4.3-1 4.3.2 Environmental Setting... 4.3-1 4.3.3 Regulatory Setting... 4.3-6 4.3.4 Impacts and Mitigation Measures... 4.3-11 4.4 Biological Resources... 4.4-1 4.4.1 Introduction... 4.4-1 4.4.2 Environmental Setting... 4.4-2 4.4.3 Regulatory Setting... 4.4-47 4.4.4 Impacts and Mitigation Measures... 4.4-57 4.5 Cultural Resources... 4.5-1 4.5.1 Introduction... 4.5-1 4.5.2 Environmental Setting... 4.5-1 4.5.3 Regulatory Setting... 4.5-24 4.5.4 Impacts and Mitigation Measures... 4.5-28 4.6 Geology, Soils, and Paleontology... 4.6-1 4.6.1 Introduction... 4.6-1 4.6.2 Environmental Setting... 4.6-1 4.6.3 Regulatory Setting... 4.6-6 4.6.4 Impacts and Mitigation Measures... 4.6-12 4.7 Greenhouse Gas Emissions... 4.7-1 4.7.1 Introduction... 4.7-1 4.7.2 Environmental Setting... 4.7-1 4.7.3 Regulatory Setting... 4.7-4 4.7.4 Impacts and Mitigation Measures... 4.7-9 4.8 Hazards and Hazardous Materials... 4.8-1 4.8.1 Introduction... 4.8-1 4.8.2 Environmental Setting... 4.8-1 4.8.3 Regulatory Setting... 4.8-9 4.8.4 Impacts and Mitigation Measures... 4.8-24 4.9 Hydrology and Water Quality... 4.9-1 4.9.1 Introduction... 4.9-1 4.9.2 Environmental Setting... 4.9-1 4.9.3 Regulatory Setting... 4.9-8 4.9.4 Impacts and Mitigation Measures... 4.9-19 4.10 Land Use and Planning... 4.10-1 4.10.1 Introduction... 4.10-1 4.10.2 Environmental Setting... 4.10-1 4.10.3 Regulatory Setting... 4.10-8 4.10.4 Impacts and Mitigation Measures... 4.10-19 4.11 Mineral Resources... 4.11-1 4.11.1 Introduction... 4.11-1 4.11.2 Environmental Setting... 4.11-1 4.11.3 Regulatory Setting... 4.11-2 4.11.4 Impacts and Mitigation Measures... 4.11-3 Pacific Wind Energy Project ii June 2010
4.12 Noise... 4.12-1 4.12.1 Introduction... 4.12-1 4.12.2 Environmental Setting... 4.12-5 4.12.3 Regulatory Setting... 4.12-7 4.12.4 Impacts and Mitigation Measures... 4.12-13 4.13 Population and Housing... 4.13-1 4.13.1 Introduction... 4.13-1 4.13.2 Environmental Setting... 4.13-1 4.13.3 Regulatory Setting... 4.13-5 4.13.4 Impacts and Mitigation Measures... 4.13-9 4.14 Public Services... 4.14-1 4.14.1 Introduction... 4.14-1 4.14.2 Environmental Setting... 4.14-1 4.14.3 Regulatory Setting... 4.14-4 4.14.4 Impacts and Mitigation Measures... 4.14-6 4.15 Recreation... 4.15-1 4.15.1 Introduction... 4.15-1 4.15.2 Environmental Setting... 4.15-1 4.15.3 Regulatory Setting... 4.15-2 4.15.4 Impacts and Mitigation Measures... 4.15-3 4.16 Transportation and Traffic... 4.16-1 4.16.1 Introduction... 4.16-1 4.16.2 Environmental Setting... 4.16-1 4.16.3 Regulatory Setting... 4.16-5 4.16.4 Impacts and Mitigation Measures... 4.16-11 4.17 Utilities... 4.17-1 4.17.1 Introduction... 4.17-1 4.17.2 Environmental Setting... 4.17-1 4.17.3 Regulatory Setting... 4.17-3 4.17.4 Impacts and Mitigation Measures... 4.17-6 5. Consequences of Project Implementation... 5-1 6. Alternatives... 6-1 7. Reserved for Responses to Comments (to be included with Final EIR)... 7-1 8. Organizations and Persons Consulted... 8-1 9. Preparers... 9-1 10. Bibliography... 10-1 Pacific Wind Energy Project iii June 2010
VOLUME II A Notice of Preparation/Initial Study B.1 Visibility Analysis Technical Report B.2 Addendum to Visibility Analysis Technical Report B.3 Shadow Flicker Analysis B.4 Addendum to Shadow Flicker Analysis C LESA Model Worksheets D Air Quality Technical Report VOLUME III E.1 Biological Resources Technical Report VOLUME IV E.1 to Biological Report (continued) E.2 Addendum to Biological Report VOLUME V F.1 Cultural Resources Technical Report F.2 Addendum to Cultural Resources Technical Report G Geotechnical Report H Phase I Environmental Assessment I Hydrology Study J Radio Frequency Impact Study VOLUME VI K-1 Noise Technical Report K-2 Addendum to Noise Technical Report L-1 Traffic Study L-2 County Roads Comment Letter Pacific Wind Energy Project iv June 2010
List of Tables 1-1 Summary of Less-than-Significant and Significant but Mitigable Impacts and Mitigation for the Proposed Project... 1-9 1-2 Summary of Significant and Unavoidable Impacts and Mitigation for the Proposed Project... 1-25 1-3 Summary of Significant and Unavoidable Cumulative Impacts and Mitigation for the Proposed Project... 1-43 1-4 Comparison of Alternatives... 1-48 3-1 Example WTGs... 3-14 3-2 Anticipated Construction Equipment... 3-24 3-3 Proposed Wind Projects Identified by Kern County Planning and Community Development Department... 3-29 3-4 Relevant Cumulative Projects Other than Wind Energy in Kern County... 3-33 4.1-1 General Guidance for Review of Visual Impact Significance... 4.1-16 4.1-2 Summary of Structures Evaluated for Potential Shadow Flicker from the Proposed Project... 4.1-25 4.3-1 National and California Ambient Air Quality Standards... 4.3-2 4.3-2 Attainment Status for the KCAPCD... 4.3-3 4.3-3 Background Ambient Air Quality Data... 4.3-4 4.3-4 Air Quality Regional Thresholds... 4.3-12 4.3-5 Worst Case Unmitigated Daily Construction Emissions... 4.3-13 4.3-6 Worst Case Mitigated Daily Construction Emissions... 4.3-13 4.3-7 Worst Case Unmitigated Annual Construction Emissions Versus KCAPCD Thresholds 4.3-14 4.3-8 Worst Case Mitigated Annual Construction Emissions Versus KCAPCD Thresholds... 4.3-14 4.3-9 Worst Case Unmitigated Daily Operation Emissions... 4.3-15 4.3-10 Worst Case Mitigated Daily Operation Emissions... 4.3-16 4.3-11 Worst Case Unmitigated Annual Operation Emissions Versus KCAPCD Thresholds... 4.3-16 4.3-12 Worst Case Mitigated Annual Operation Emissions Versus KCAPCD Thresholds... 4.3-16 4.3-13 Cumulative Annual Construction Emissions... 4.3-21 4.3-14 Cumulative Annual Operation Emissions... 4.3-22 4.3-15 Cumulative Projects within Six-Mile Radius... 4.3-23 4.4-1 Acreage of Plant Communities within the Proposed Project Area... 4.4-18 4.4-2 Drainage Characteristics and Associated Impacts... 4.4-27 4.4-3 Known and Potential Occurrence of Special-Status Plant Taxa Within the Proposed Project Area... 4.4-30 4.4-4 Known and Potential Occurrence of Special-Status Wildlife Within the Proposed Project Area... 4.4-37 4.4-5 Proposed Project Impacts by Plant Community... 4.4-59 4.5-1 Newly Recorded Prehistoric Isolates... 4.5-13 4.5-2 Newly Recorded Historical Isolates... 4.5-16 4.6-1 Significant Earthquakes... 4.6-5 4,7-1 Total Construction Period CO2 Emissions... 4.7-12 4.7-2 Annual Operation Direct Emissions... 4.7-12 4.7-3 California Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction Strategies... 4.7-13 4.7-4 Project Consistency with an Applicable Plan, Policy, or Regulation for GHG Emissions4.7-17 4.10-1 Kern County Land Use Designations... 4.10-2 4.10-2 Existing Zoning Districts... 4.10-2 4.10-3 Project Consistency with Local Planning Document... 4.10-29 Pacific Wind Energy Project v June 2010
List of Tables (continued) 4.12-1 Definition of Acoustical Terms... 4.12-2 4.12-2 Noise Metrics - Comparative Noise Levels... 4.12-3 4.12-3 Typical Levels of Ground-Borne Vibration... 4.12-4 4.12-4 Noise Sensitive Receptors and Distance to Nearest Proposed Construction Site... 4.12-5 4.12-5 Ambient Noise Levels of Proposed Project Area... 4.12-7 4.12-6 WTG Operation Noise Levels at Sensitive Receptors... 4.12-15 4.12-7 WTG Operation Low Frequency (63 Hz) Noise Levels at Sensitive Receptors... 4.12-16 4.12-8 Transformer Noise Levels at Substations... 4.12-17 4.12-9 Vibration Velocities for Construction Equipment... 4.12-20 4.12-10 Vibration Velocities at Sensitive Receptors... 4.12-20 4.12-11 Maximum Noise Levels of Common Construction Equipment... 4.12-22 4.12-12 Outdoor Construction Noise Levels... 4.12-22 4.12-13 Unmitigated Construction Noise Levels at Sensitive Receptors... 4.12-22 4.12-14 Mitigated Construction Noise Levels at Sensitive Receptors... 4.12-24 4.12-15 Cumulative Operational A-Weighted Noise Levels for the Proposed Project with the PdV Wind Energy Project... 4.12-27 4.12-16 Cumulative Operational Low Frequency (63 Hz) Noise Levels for the Proposed Project with the PdV Wind Energy Project... 4.12-28 4.13-1 Kern County Population Trends U.S. Census... 4.13-2 4.13-2 Kern County Population Trends DOF... 4.13-2 4.13-3 Kern County Housing Trends DOF... 4.13-3 4.13-4 Industries in Kern County... 4.13-4 4.13-5 2006-2016 Industry Employment Projections, Bakersfield MSA, Kern County... 4.13-4 4.16-1 Year 2010 Construction Traffic Volumes Intersection LOS Analysis... 4.16-13 4.16-2 Construction Traffic Volumes Roadway Capacity LOS Analysis... 4.16-13 6-1 Comparison of Alternatives... 6-6 6-2 Reduced Acreage of Vegetation Communities within the Project Area Alternative C... 6-15 List of Figures 1-1 Regional Location Map... 1-2 1-2 Project Site and Areas Proposed for Zoning Change... 1-3 3-1 Regional Location Map... 3-2 3-2 Project Site Plan... 3-3 3-3 Project Site and Areas Proposed for Zoning Change... 3-4 3-4 Kern County General Plan Map Code Designations in the Project Area... 3-8 3-5 Existing Zoning Kern County Zoning Classifications... 3-9 4.1-1 KOP Location Map... 4.1-31 4.1-2 KOP-1 Northbound 170th Street West... 4.1-32 4.1-3 KOP-2 Northbound Pacific Crest Trail... 4.1-33 4.1-4 KOP-3 Northbound Pacific Crest Trail... 4.1-34 4.1-5 KOP-4 Pacific Crest Trail Looking South... 4.1-35 4.1-6 KOP-5 Northwest Corner of Project... 4.1-36 4.1-7 KOP-6 Northeast Corner of Project... 4.1-37 4.1-8 KOP-7 220th Street and Avenue A... 4.1-38 4.1-9 Zone of Visual Influences with 3.0 MW Turbines... 4.1-39 4.1-10 Viewshed Analysis... 4.1-40 Pacific Wind Energy Project vi June 2010
List of Figures (continued) 4.2-1 Farmland Classifications... 4.2-11 4.4-1 Regional Location... 4.4-16 4.4-2 Vegetation Communities Occurring in the Proposed Project Area... 4.4-19 4.5-1 Cultural Resources Direct Impact Areas, Areas of Potential Effect (APE), and Archaeological Survey Coverage... 4.5-11 4.5-2 Paleontological Resource Sensitivity... 4.5-24 4.8-1 CCR Title 14 Section 1254 Minimum Clearances... 4.8-12 4.9-1 Project Area Hydrologic Boundaries... 4.9-3 4.9-2 Project Area Surface Water Feature... 4.9-4 4.9-3 Project Area Flood Hazard Zones... 4.9-5 4.9-4 Project Area Groundwater Basins... 4.9-7 4.10-1 Kern County Zoning Classifications... 4.10-5 4.10-2 Areas within Project Boundary Proposed for Rezoning... 4.10-6 4.10-3 Kern County General Plan Map Code Designations in the Project Area... 4.10-7 4.12-1 Sensitive Receptor Locations and Observed Ambient Noise Levels... 4.12-6 4.16-1 Regional Roadways... 4.16-2 4.16-2 Roadways in the Project Vicinity... 4.16-3 6-1 Alternative B Relocate to San Gorgonio Wind Resource Area... 6-11 6-2 Alternative C Reduced Project Size... 6-14 Pacific Wind Energy Project vii June 2010