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

KERN COUNTY PLANNING & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT
RISING TREE WIND ENERGY PROJECT
that may travel at slower speeds than existing traffic and, due to their size, may intrude into
adjacent travel lanes. These oversize trips may decrease the existing level of service (LOS) on
area freeways, roadways and intersections. Additionally, the total number of vehicle trips
associated with all construction-related traffic (including construction workers) could temporarily
increase daily traffic volumes traveling on local roadways and intersections. The proposed
circulation amendments to remove road reservations and nonsummary easement vacations would
change the existing and planned traffic circulation for the Project area, thus potentially resulting
in significant impacts. Furthermore, transmission line infrastructure installation adjacent to Oak
Creek Road may require temporary lane closures that may result in traffic delays on affected
roadways. The EIR/EIS will evaluate these potential impacts on the local roadway system from
construction related vehicle trips.
Once constructed, the Project is expected to employ eight (8) to 16 staff and generate minimal
daily trips to maintain the Project. However, the potential impact of Project operational traffic on
the area roadway system will be evaluated in the EIR/EIS.
(b) (i) The Project site is located 40 miles southeast of the metropolitan Bakersfield area.
Construction and operation of the Project would result in increased vehicle trips on roadways
in the Project area; however, these trips are not expected to be focused within or result in a
substantial number of trips on roadways in the metropolitan Bakersfield area. However,
potential impacts to Bakersfield metropolitan area roadways will be discussed in the EIR/EIS.
(ii) Construction of the Project would generate construction trips and may require roadway lane
closures, which could temporarily increase the daily traffic volumes or cause delays on local
roadways and intersections. Operation of the Project would also generate trips on local roadways.
The proposed circulation amendments to remove road reservations and nonsummary
easement vacations would change the existing and planned traffic circulation for the Project
area, thus potentially resulting in significant impacts. The potential impacts of these
conditions on LOS of area roadways will be evaluated in the EIR/EIS.
(c) The Project site is located four (4) miles from the Mojave Air and Space Port, 22 miles from
Edwards Air Force Base, 13 miles from the California City Municipal Airport, 10 miles from the
Mountain Valley Airport and 12 miles from the Tehachapi Municipal Airport. Due to the
proximity of these airport facilities and the heights of Project components, the EIR/EIS will
evaluate potential impacts related to aviation safety hazards and compliance with the Kern
County ALUCP, FAA 7460, and military airspace requirements.
(d) A number of existing dirt roads within the Project site would be graded, widened, and compacted
to provide adequate construction and maintenance access to Project facilities. New access roads
would be constructed where required. Because all site access roadways would be private and
gated to restrict public use, all modifications to existing onsite access roads and any new access
roads created are not expected to result in an increase in hazards due to design features or
incompatible use. However, because Project access roads may require Access Road Design and
Encroachment Permits from both Kern County and the California Department of Transportation, the
Project’s compliance with regulations pertaining to access road modifications and construction
will be evaluated in the EIR/EIS.
(e) Construction of the Project would generate construction trips and potential roadway lane closures
that could temporarily increase the daily traffic volumes or cause delays on local roadways and
intersections, thereby impeding emergency access. The potential for Project-related traffic to
result in inadequate emergency access will be evaluated in the EIR/EIS.
July 2011 46 Initial Study/Notice of Preparation