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

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KERN COUNTY PLANNING & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT RISING TREE WIND ENERGY PROJECT Potentially Significant Impact GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS. Would the project: a. Generate greenhouse gas emissions, either directly or indirectly, that may have a significant impact on the environment? b. Conflict with an applicable plan, policy or regulation adopted for the purpose of reducing the emissions of greenhouse gases? Discussion: Potentially Significant Impact Unless Mitigated Less Than Significant Impact No Impact (a-b) Global climate change is an international phenomenon, and the regulatory background and scientific data are changing rapidly. In 2006, the California State legislature adopted AB 32, the California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006. Assembly Bill (AB) 32 describes how global climate change would affect the environment in California including changing sea levels, changes in snow pack and availability of potable water, changes in storm flows and flood inundation zones, and other impacts. As required by AB 32, California Air Resources Board (CARB) determined what the statewide greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions level was in 1990 and then approved a statewide GHG emissions limit that is equivalent to that level, which is to be achieved by 2020. CARB approved the 2020 limit on December 6, 2007. CARB’s GHG inventory estimated the 1990 emissions level in California to be 427 million metric tons carbon dioxide equivalent (MMTCO2e). In 2004, the emissions were estimated to be 480 MMTCO2e. The primary source of GHG emissions from the Project during operation would be mobile sources. GHGs exhibit various capacities to induce climate change; therefore, GHG contributions are commonly quantified in terms of carbon dioxide equivalencies. The carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) portion of GHGs from the Project will be estimated in the air quality impact analysis consistent with California Climate Action Registry (CCAR) General Reporting Protocol. These emissions would be predominantly produced during construction and therefore would be shortterm in duration and would not have a continual impact on the environment. The Project’s operational emissions are expected to be low. However, since this Project would displace energy generated using other technologies, such as natural gas fired turbines, Project operation may result in a net reduction of overall GHG emissions. GHG emission reductions attributable to the replacement of fossil fueled generation sources by the Project will be addressed in the cumulative impacts analysis of the EIR/EIS. Impacts related to GHGs and climate stemming from the Project and any potential conflicts with any applicable plan or policy will also be evaluated in the EIR/EIS. July 2011 30 Initial Study/Notice of Preparation
KERN COUNTY PLANNING & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT RISING TREE WIND ENERGY PROJECT Potentially Significant Impact HAZARDS AND HAZARDOUS MATERIALS. Would the project: a. Create a significant hazard to the public or the environment through the routine transport, use or disposal of hazardous materials? b. Create a significant hazard to the public or the environment through reasonably foreseeable upset and accident conditions involving the release of hazardous materials into the environment? c. Emit hazardous emissions or handle hazardous or acutely hazardous materials, substances, or waste within one-quarter mile of an existing or proposed school? d. Be located on a site which is included on a list of hazardous materials sites compiled pursuant to Government Code Section 65962.5 and, as a result, would it create a significant hazard to the public or the environment? e. For a project located within the adopted Kern County Airport Land Use Compatibility Plan, would the project result in a safety hazard for people residing or working in the project area? f. For a project within the vicinity of a private airstrip, would the project result in a safety hazard for people residing or working in the project area? g. Impair implementation of or physically interfere with an adopted emergency response plan or emergency evacuation plan? h. Expose people or structures to a significant risk of loss, injury or death involving wildland fires, including where wildlands are adjacent to urbanized areas or where residences are intermixed with wildlands? i. Would implementation of the project generate vectors (flies, mosquitoes, rodents, etc.) or have a component that includes agricultural waste? Specifically, would the project exceed the following qualitative threshold: i. Occur as immature stages and adults in numbers considerably in excess of those found in the surrounding environment; and Potentially Significant Impact Unless Mitigated Less Than Significant Impact No Impact July 2011 31 Initial Study/Notice of Preparation
Page 1 and 2: PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Page 3 and 4: ZCC #48, Map #197; ZCC #7, Map #180
Page 5 and 6: Center on Race, Poverty & the Envir
Page 7 and 8: Notice of Completion & Environmenta
Page 9 and 10: Reviewing Agencies Checklist Lead A
Page 11 and 12: Notice of Preparation Of a Joint En
Page 13 and 14: NOP / REQUEST FOR SCOPING COMMENTS
Page 15 and 16: INITIAL STUDY/NOTICE OF PREPARATION
Page 17 and 18: KERN COUNTY PLANNING & COMMUNITY DE
Page 19 and 20: 1. Project Description KERN COUNTY
Page 31 and 32: 1.4.2 Construction KERN COUNTY PLAN
Page 37 and 38: AESTHETICS. Would the project: a. H
Page 43 and 44: BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES. Would the pro
Page 45 and 46: CULTURAL RESOURCES. Would the proje
Page 47: KERN COUNTY PLANNING & COMMUNITY DE
Page 53 and 54: Discussion: KERN COUNTY PLANNING &
Page 55 and 56: LAND USE AND PLANNING. Would the pr
Page 57 and 58: NOISE. Would the project result in:

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

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