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

KERN COUNTY PLANNING & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT
RISING TREE WIND ENERGY PROJECT
(c) Although the Project would create a small amount of additional impervious surface and consume
water for concrete mixing and dust suppression during construction, these are not expected to
substantially increase the amount of stormwater runoff. The Project site is drained by natural
stream channels. The Project would not substantially alter local drainage patterns. As any new
impervious surface and grading of access roads have the potential to alter the pattern and
concentration of runoff; the EIS/EIS will provide further analysis to determine the need for any
appropriate stormwater mitigation/design measures.
(d) Drinking water would be provided by bottled water or onsite well. However, water that is needed
for construction, such as for dust suppression and concrete mixing, would be trucked in from
nearby Mojave Public Utility District facilities. A Water Supply Assessment has been prepared to
analyze water supplies and availability in the Project area. Therefore, the potential for new or
expanded entitlements will be evaluated in the EIR/EIS.
(e) The Project may include construct septic systems and leach lines to accommodate on-site
operations facilities. There would be no substantial wastewater flows to treatment providers and
no impacts to existing wastewater treatment facilities. Nevertheless, this issue will be evaluated in
the EIR/EIS.
(f) The Project is not expected to generate a significant amount of waste that would exceed the
capacity of local landfills. Materials brought to the Project site would be used to construct facilities
and few residual materials are expected. Non-hazardous construction refuse and solid waste
would be disposed of at a local landfill, while any hazardous waste generated during Project
construction would be disposed of at an approved location using an authorized waste hauler.
However, as the Project would generate some waste during construction, the EIR/EIS will assess
whether the amount of solid waste generated by the Project site would exceed the capacity of
local landfills likely to receive the waste.
(g) The Project would generate solid waste during construction and operation, thus requiring the
consideration of waste reduction and recycling measures. The 1989 California Integrated Waste
Management Act (AB 939) requires Kern County to attain specific waste diversion goals. In
addition, the California Solid Waste Reuse and Recycling Access Act of 1991, as amended,
requires expanded or new development projects to incorporate storage areas for recycling bins
into the Project design. The need for measures to ensure that the Project will comply with the
1989 California Integrated Waste Management Act and the 1991 California Solid Waste Reuse
and Recycling Access Act of 1991, as amended will be evaluated in the EIR/EIS.
July 2011 49 Initial Study/Notice of Preparation