Rising Tree Wind Farm Project Notice of Preparation - County of Kern

KERN COUNTY PLANNING & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT
RISING TREE WIND ENERGY PROJECT
structures that are not properly designed to withstand strong ground shaking. The Project
would potentially be subject to moderate to strong ground shaking from local and regional
earthquakes. This potential impact will be evaluated in the EIR/EIS.
(iii) The Project site has not been identified by the Safety Element of the Kern County General
Plan as an area that is subject to liquefaction hazards. However, due to the potential for major
seismic activity in the Project area, the potential for substantial adverse effects due to
seismic-related ground failure, including liquefaction, will be examined in the EIR/EIS.
(iv) Although the Project site is not considered to be at high-risk area for landslides, some
portions of the site are within Kern County’s Steep Slope designation and the potential for
adverse effects due to landslides will be analyzed in the EIR/EIS.
(b) Grading and excavation would be required for foundations for each WTG tower. Grading would
also be required for construction of access roads throughout the Project site and, possibly, for the
transmission line corridor between the site and the Windhub Substation. Construction activities
could result in substantial soil erosion if the access roads and/or turbine sites are not properly
designed. These issues and the potential for increased erosion will be evaluated in the EIR/EIS.
(c) A limited feasibility level geotechnical report was prepared for the Project and addressed the
stability of the soils in the Project area. Further geologic analyses would occur as part of the
Project design effort. The Project would be designed such that it would not be adversely affected
by the stability of the underlying soils. Because of this, potential impacts are expected to be less
than significant. However, the findings of the geotechnical reports will be presented and
evaluated in the EIR/EIS and mitigation measures will be identified, if necessary, to protect both
structures and people from adverse effects due to landslide, lateral spreading, subsidence,
liquefaction, or collapse.
(d) The soils present at the site and along the transmission line route options are primarily alluvial
sands, gravels and rock that typically would not exhibit shrink and swell characteristics.
Expansive soils generally result from specific clay minerals that expand when saturated and
shrink in volume when dry. Although clays and other fine grained soils are not expected to be
common at the Project site, the EIR/EIS will confirm and evaluate the presence or absence of
expansive soils.
(e) A septic system and leach lines are proposed by the Project applicant. Design will be as required
by the Kern County Environmental Health Services Division. Therefore, the ability of the soils on
the Project site to support a septic system will be examined in the EIR/EIS.
July 2011 29 Initial Study/Notice of Preparation