DOCSLIB.ORG

Conservation Plan California Ridge Wind Energy Project

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Conservation Plan California Ridge Wind Energy Project Conservation Plan California Ridge Wind Energy Project Champaign and Vermillion Counties, Illinois Initial Submission: June 3, 2020 Revised Submission: November 10, 2020 Prepared for: California Ridge Wind Energy LLC 1 Illinois Conservation Plan – Required Elements Data provided in the California Ridge Wind Energy Project Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) for the California Ridge Wind Farm (CRWF) satisfies the following required elements needed for preparation of the State Conservation Plan. California Ridge Wind Energy, LLC (CRWE) requests a 20-year Incidental Take Authorization (ITA) for the Illinois state-listed species described below, as well as two additional species that may be listed in the future. It is the intent of CRWE to use the federal HCP, along with this document, to satisfy the requirements for an ITA from the State of Illinois. The 134-turbine project is already built and operating and take of the covered species is only anticipated during operation of the turbines. The proposed action would involve operation of the project with a cut-in speed of 5.0 meters-per-second (m/s) in the fall (August 1 – October 15), and 3.0 m/s during the rest of the bat active season (March 15 – July 31) or when temperatures are below 50°F in the fall. The Implementing Agreement is included in Appendix A and the HCP is included in Appendix B. 1. Description of the impact likely to result from the proposed taking of the species that would be covered by the authorization, including but not limited to: A. Identification of the area to be affected by the proposed action – Figure 1 in Section 2.1 of the HCP shows the Project location and turbine layout. Shapefiles of the turbine layout and project boundary have also been provided to the State of Illinois. Take of the covered species may occur due to operations at the turbine locations. Legal Description – Turbines located in the following: Champaign County: Township 20N, Range 14W, Sections 4 – 6, 8 & 9 Township 21N, Range 10E, Sections 25 & 26 Township 21N, Range 11E, Sections 30 & 31 Township 21N, Range 14W, Sections 19 – 21, 28 – 33 Vermilion County: Township 20N, Range 12W, Sections 19 & 20 Township 20N, Range 13W, Sections 3 – 24 Township 20N, Range 14W, Sections 1 – 3, 10 – 15, & 24 Township 21N, Range 13W, Sections 29 – 32 Township 21N, Range 14W, Sections 25 – 27, 34 – 36 CRWE has control of all the affected properties (i.e. turbines) through ownership or lease agreements with the landowners. B. Biological data on the affected species including life history needs and habitat characteristics – • Indiana Bat (Myotis sodalis) – Section 4.1 of the HCP • Northern Long-eared Bat (Myotis septentrionalis) – Section 4.2 of the HCP In addition to the Indiana bat and northern long-eared bat, the HCP provides biological data for the little brown bat (Myotis lucifugus) and the tricolored bat 2 (Perimyotis subflavus) (Sections 4.3 and 4.4 of the HCP, respectively). Although these species are currently not listed by the State of Illinois, CRWF is including these species due to the potential for future listing. It is understood that the State of Illinois cannot provide take authorization for these species at this time due to their unlisted status, however, it is assumed that take coverage for little brown bats and tricolored bats would become effective should these species become listed in the future, potentially through an amendment of this ITA. CRWE will remain in contact with the State of Illinois regarding these species should they become listed during the ITA term. C. Description of activities that will result in the taking of an endangered or threatened species, including practices and equipment to be used, a timeline or proposed activities, and any permitting reviews – • Operations and Maintenance – Section 2.5.1 of the HCP • Mitigation and Monitoring – Section 2.5.2 of the HCP Section 5.0 of the HCP presents the effects of the covered activities. Timeline of Proposed Activities – The project is currently built and operating. It is anticipated to continue operations, maintenance, mitigation, and monitoring for 20 years. The implementation schedule is provided in Section 8.1.2 of the HCP. D. Explanation of anticipated adverse effects on listed species – Section 5.0 of the HCP includes a discussion of direct and indirect effects to Indiana bat, northern long-eared bat, little brown bat, and tricolored bat as a result of the project. 2. Measures the applicant will take to minimize and mitigate the impact and the funding that will be available A. Plans to minimize the area affected by the proposed action, and the estimated number of individuals of an endangered or threatened species that will be taken and the amount of habitat affected – Section 7.2.1 of the HCP includes plans to minimize the area affected by the proposed action, plans to minimize impacts from operations, and other avoidance and minimization measures implemented. Section 6.2.5 of the HCP includes takes estimates for the covered species. The project is already built and operating, there are no new habitat impacts. B. Plans for management of the area affected by the proposed action that will enable continued use of the area by endangered or threatened species by maintaining/re-establishing suitable habitat – N/A, no habitat will be impacted. C. Description of all measures to be implemented to avoid, minimize, or mitigate the effects of the proposed action on endangered or threatened species – 3 Section 7.2.1 of the HCP includes measures to avoid and minimize the effects of the proposed action on the covered species. Section 7.2.2 of the HCP includes measures to mitigate the effects of the proposed action on the covered species. The State of Illinois will be provided any monitoring and mitigation reports. D. Plans for monitoring the effects of measures implemented to minimize or mitigation the effects of the proposed on endangered or threated species – Section 7.3 of the HCP describes the post-construction monitoring plan. The State of Illinois will be provided with any post-construction monitoring reports. If requested, California Ridge will provide carcasses or tissue samples for genetic research, at the direction of the State of Illinois. In addition, California Wind Energy LLC commits to conducting one (1) night of mist-netting within suitable bat habitat in proximity to the project area concurrent with the first year of post-construction monitoring under the permit. The survey will take place during the summer maternity season, and a report detailing species captured will be submitted to the State. Mitigation effectiveness monitoring will be outlined in the mitigation plan, which will be developed once mitigation properties are chosen, in consultation with US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the State of Illinois. Mitigation monitoring will include mist netting at a minimum of one (1) location within the mitigation property, and potentially telemetry and roost emergence counts if target species are captured, but results of these surveys will not be used to alter mitigation requirements. The State of Illinois will be provided any relevant mitigation and monitoring reports. Section 7.2.2.1 of the HCP describes the process for choosing mitigation and a general outline of monitoring requirements. E. Adaptive management practices used to deal with changed or unforeseen circumstances – Adaptive management is addressed in Section 7.4 of the HCP and changed and unforeseen circumstances are addressed in Section 8.2 of the HCP F. Verification that adequate funding exists – Sections 8.1.2 and 8.1.3 of the HCP includes verification that adequate funding exists to implement the conservation plan. 3. Description of alternative actions considered – Project alternatives are described in Section 2.6 of the HCP. 4. Data and information to indicate the proposed taking will not reduce the likelihood of the survival of the endangered or threatened species in the wild within the State of Illinois, the biotic community of which the species is a part, or the habitat essential to the species existence in Illinois – Occurrences of covered species are not limited to the Project Area. All covered species occur elsewhere in Illinois (Sections 4.1.8, 4.2.7, 4.3.7, and 4.4.7 of the HCP). The impacts of estimated take are described in Section 6.3 of the HCP and all take will be fully offset by the mitigation described in Section 7.2.2 of the HCP. 4 5. An implementing agreement will be prepared that will include: A. Names of all participants in the execution of the conservation plan, including public bodies, corporations, organizations, and private individuals: California Wind Energy LLC and Whitney Wilson, vice president wind operations, TerraForm Power and authorized signatory for California Wind Energy LLC Whitney Wilson Vice President, Wind Operations TerraForm Power B. The obligations and responsibilities of each of the identified participants with schedules and deadlines for completion of activities in the Conservation Plan and a schedule for preparation of progress report to be provided to the Department. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (the Department) is responsible for the review of this Conservation Plan and for subsequent issuance of the ITA. CRWE will be responsible for implementing the Conservation Plan. The implementation schedule is described in Section 8.1.2 of the HCP. CRWE will promptly report any Indiana bat or northern long-eared bat carcasses to the Department. If listed in the future, CRWE will also promptly report any little brown bat or tricolored bat carcasses to the Department. Reports summarizing the results of post-construction monitoring will be provided to the Department by January 31 following the completion of each year of post-construction monitoring C.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Kawailoa Wind Power Draft HCP Amendment
    Kawailoa Wind Power Draft Habitat Conservation Plan Amendment Applicant Kawailoa Wind, LLC 1166 Avenue of the Americas, 9th Floor New York, NY 10036 HCP Amendment Prepared by: Tetra Tech, Inc. 737 Bishop Street, Suite 2340 Honolulu, HI 96813 Revised September 2018 This page intentionally left blank Kawailoa Wind Draft Habitat Conservation Plan Amendment Table of Contents Introduction and Project Overview ................................................................................... 1 1.1 Summary ................................................................................................................ 1 1.1.1 Hawaiian Hoary Bat .............................................................................................. 1 1.1.2 Hawaiian Petrel .................................................................................................... 4 1.2 Applicant Background ................................................................................................ 4 1.3 Regulatory Context ................................................................................................... 4 1.4 Project Description ................................................................................................... 4 1.4.1 Project History ..................................................................................................... 5 1.4.2 Project Design and Components ............................................................................. 5 1.4.3 Purpose and Need for Kawailoa Wind Project ...........................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Bats and Wind Energy: Impacts, Mitigation, and Tradeoffs
    WHITE PAPER Bats and Wind Energy: Impacts, Mitigation, and Tradeoffs Prepared by: Taber D. Allison, PhD, AWWI Director of Research Novermber 15, 2018 AWWI White Paper: Bats and Wind Energy: Impacts, Mitigation, and Tradeoffs American Wind Wildlife Institute 1110 Vermont Ave NW, Suite 950 Washington, DC 20005 www.awwi.org For Release November 15, 2018 AWWI is a partnership of leaders in the wind industry, wildlife management agencies, and science and environmental organizations who collaborate on a shared mission: to facilitate timely and responsible development of wind energy while protecting wildlife and wildlife habitat. Find this document online at www.awwi.org/resources/bat-white-paper/ Acknowledgements This document was made possible by the generous support of AWWI’s Partners and Friends. We thank Pasha Feinberg, Amanda Hale, Jennie Miller, Brad Romano, and Dave Young for their review and comment on this white paper. Prepared By Taber D. Allison, PhD, AWWI Director of Research Suggested Citation Format American Wind Wildlife Institute (AWWI). 2018. Bats and Wind Energy: Impacts, Mitigation, and Tradeoffs. Washington, DC. Available at www.awwi.org. © 2018 American Wind Wildlife Institute. Bats and Wind Energy: Impacts, Mitigation, and Tradeoffs Contents Purpose and Scope .............................................................................................................................................. 3 Bats of the U.S. and Canada ..............................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Wind Energy & Wind Park Siting and Zoning Best Practices And
    2012 Wind Energy & Wind Park Siting and Zoning Best Practices and Guidance for States NARUC Grants & Research January 2012 NARUC The National Association A report for the Minnesota Public Utilities of Regulatory Commission Funded by the U.S. Department of Utility Energy Commissioners The report you are reading was created under the State Electricity Regulators Capacity Assistance and Training (SERCAT) program, a project of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) Grants & Research Department. This material is based upon work supported by the Department of Energy under Award Number DE-OE0000123. The report was authored by Tom Stanton. Throughout the preparation process, the members of NARUC provided the author(s) with editorial comments and suggestions. However, the views and opinions expressed herein are strictly those of the author(s) and may not necessarily agree with positions of NARUC or those of the U.S. Department of Energy. Special thanks to the Commissioners and staff at the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission for guiding this work, and to the Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability and the National Energy Technology Lab for their continued technical assistance to NARUC. Please direct questions regarding this report to Miles Keogh, NARUC’s Director of Grants & Research, [email protected]; (202) 898-2200. Disclaimer: This report was prepared as an account of work sponsored by an agency of the United States Government. Neither the United States Government nor any agency thereof, nor any of their employees, makes any warranty, express or implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights.
    [Show full text]
  • Operational Impacts to Raptors (PDF)
    To: John Ford, Director From: Bob Roy County of Humboldt Planning and Building Stantec Consulting Department 30 Park Drive 3015 H Street Topsham, ME 04222 Eureka, California 95501 [email protected] Date: August 23, 2019 Reference: Operational Impacts to Raptors Humboldt Wind has commissioned Western EcoSystems Technology, Inc. (WEST) to review the draft EIR for the Humboldt Wind Project and provide a re-evaluation of the DEIR’s analysis of potential impacts to raptors. WEST is a firm that is expert in conducting ecological studies and analyzing complicated natural resource data. The attached memo provides WEST’s recommended analysis of the likely impacts of the project on raptors. As noted in WEST’s memo, the DEIR appears to overestimate what the likely impacts of the project will be on local and regional raptor populations. The DEIR reviews several data sets but does not set an explicit expectation of what the project’s likely impact will be. Rather, it reviews a range of potential impacts using different datasets and metrics, and then concludes that impacts will be significant and unavoidable after mitigation. However, WEST’s analysis provides compelling evidence that the DEIR’s analysis is flawed and that actual impacts at the project are likely to be significantly less than that stated in the DEIR and would not lead to local or regional populations of raptor species to fall below self-sustaining levels. Key to this analysis, or the difference between the two analyses, is that raptor impacts at the Humboldt project would not be similar to those documented at projects in central and southern California (where raptor use is far greater than at the project) and the fact that raptor use at the project site is very similar to that documented at Hatchet Ridge, where raptor fatalities have been found to be very low after three years of post-construction monitoring.
    [Show full text]
  • Beech Ridge FEB 14 2014 ESD App.Pdf
    IL ATTORNEYS AT LAW Direct Dial: 304.340.3895 [email protected] February 14,2014 VUHAND DELIWRY Ms. Ingrid Ferrell Executive Secretary Public Service Commission of West Virginia 201 Brooks Street Charleston, West Virginia 25301 Re: Case No. 14- 02 73 - E-CS- f id BEECH RIDGE ENERGY LLC Application for Waiver of Siting Certificate Modification Requirements or, in the alternative, for a Modification to Siting Certificate and Related Requests for Relief Dear Ms. Ferrell: Enclosed for filing on behalf of Beech Ridge Energy LLC (“Beech Ridge”) please find an original and twelve copies of “Beech Ridge Energy LLC’s Application for Waiver of Requirement of Modification or Amendment for its Siting Certificate, or, in the Alternative, Petition for a Modification of a Siting Certificate” (the “Application”) to permit Beech Ridge to construct an energy storage device (“ESD”) in Greenbrier County, West Virginia adjacent to the substation previously constructed pursuant to the Public Service Commission of West Virginia’s (the “Commission”) Order in Case No. 05-1590-E-CS on August 28, 2006 (the “Siting certificate”). In the Application, Beech Ridge respectfully requests that the Commission waive any requirement that Beech Ridge obtain a modification or amendment to the Certificate in connection with the planned installation of an ESD at the Beech Ridge Wind Farm that is currently in operation in Greenbrier and Nicholas Counties, West Virginia. In the alternative, if the Commission finds that the proposed modification is material, Beech Ridge respectfully requests that the Commission enter an Order modifying Beech Ridge’s siting certificate to allow construction of the proposed ESD.
    [Show full text]
  • The State of the Science on Operational Minimization to Reduce Bat Fatality at Wind Energy Facilities
    The State of the Science on Operational Minimization to Reduce Bat Fatality at Wind Energy Facilities Prepared for: The National Renewable Energy Laboratory Prepared by: Michael D. Whitby, Michael R. Schirmacher, Winifred F. Frick May 2021 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Support for this document was provided by the Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC, Managing and Operating Contractor for the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. Funding was provided by the U.S. Department of Energy Wind Energy Technologies Office. Manuela Huso contributed expertise that greatly enhanced the methodology and interpretation of the meta-analysis. We thank Ross Renshaw for contributing to literature searches and reviews. SUGGESTED CITATION Whitby, M. D., M. R. Schirmacher, and W. F. Frick. 2021. The State of the Science on Operational Minimization to Reduce Bat Fatality at Wind Energy Facilities. A report submitted to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. Bat Conservation International. Austin, Texas. — i — EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Wind energy is rapidly growing in the United States and around the world. The growth of wind energy is stimulated by a desire to reduce carbon emissions from the electric power sector and reduce the effects of climate change. Projected industry growth and evolving turbine technology (i.e., taller turbines with larger rotor-swept areas and turbines with lower cut-in speeds) have heightened concerns about cumulative impacts on bat populations. In 2008, the Bats and Wind Energy Cooperative (BWEC) – an alliance of experts from government agencies, private industry, academic institutions, and non- governmental organizations – was formed to address these concerns. Since its formation, the BWEC has sought to develop and disseminate solutions to measure and mitigate the impacts of wind turbines on bats, while maintaining the ability to develop and operate wind energy facilities in a competitive and cost-effective manner.
    [Show full text]
  • Before the Missouri Public Service Commission
    Exhibit No.: Issue(s): Wildlife Concerns Witness: Terry J. VanDeWalle Type of Exhibit: Surrebuttal Testimony Sponsoring Party: Union Electric Company File No.: EA-2018-0202 Date Testimony Prepared: September 28, 2018 MISSOURI PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION FILE NO. EA-2018-0202 SURREBUTTAL TESTIMONY OF TERRY J. VANDEWALLE ON BEHALF OF UNION ELECTRIC COMPANY d/b/a Ameren Missouri St. Louis, Missouri September, 2018 ***Denotes Highly Confidential Information*** P BEFORE THE MISSOURI PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION File No: EA-2018-0202 SURREBUTTAL TESTIMONY OF TERRY J. VANDEWALLE ON BEHALF OF AMEREN MISSOURI 1 Q. Would you state your name please? 2 A. My name is Terry J. VanDeWalle. I work for Stantec Consulting Services Inc. ("Stantec"), 3 at 2300 Swan Lake Boulevard, Suite 202, Independence, Iowa 50644. I am a Senior 4 Biologist/Principal for Stantec. 5 Q. What are your duties as a Senior Biologist/Principal at Stantec? 6 A. As a Senior Biologist/Principal with Stantec, I manage projects; complete technical and 7 Quality Assessment/Quality Control ("QA/QC") review of reports and studies; prepare 8 permit applications, impact evaluations, and environmental reports for review under the 9 Endangered Species Act ("ESA"), the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act ("BGEPA"), 10 the Clean Water Act ("CWA"), and the National Environmental Policy Act ("NEPA"); 11 design and conduct surveys for, and studies of, rare, threatened or endangered plants and 12 animals, conduct wetland delineations, prepare wetland restoration and mitigation plans; 13 and, complete fieldwork within my areas of expertise, such as herpetology, mammalogy, 14 wildlife habitat analysis, wildlife population analysis, and wetlands, including wetland 15 delineation and mitigation site searches and evaluations.
    [Show full text]
  • Have We All Gone Batty? the Need for a Better Balance Between the Conservation of Protected Species and the Development of Clean Renewable Energy
    William & Mary Environmental Law and Policy Review Volume 36 (2011-2012) Issue 3 Article 6 May 2012 Have We All Gone Batty? The Need for a Better Balance Between the Conservation of Protected Species and the Development of Clean Renewable Energy Laura Householder Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarship.law.wm.edu/wmelpr Part of the Energy and Utilities Law Commons, and the Environmental Law Commons Repository Citation Laura Householder, Have We All Gone Batty? The Need for a Better Balance Between the Conservation of Protected Species and the Development of Clean Renewable Energy, 36 Wm. & Mary Envtl. L. & Pol'y Rev. 807 (2012), https://scholarship.law.wm.edu/wmelpr/vol36/iss3/6 Copyright c 2012 by the authors. This article is brought to you by the William & Mary Law School Scholarship Repository. https://scholarship.law.wm.edu/wmelpr HAVE WE ALL GONE BATTY? THE NEED FOR A BETTER BALANCE BETWEEN THE CONSERVATION OF PROTECTED SPECIES AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF CLEAN RENEWABLE ENERGY LAURA HOUSEHOLDER* My face is all cut up cause / My radar’s all shut up / Nurse I need a check-up from the neck up / I’m Batty! 1 INTRODUCTION Fears of collision with blades and radar interference have caused a stir in the world of renewable energy.2 Animal rights activists argue that wind farms have an adverse effect on bat populations across the country.3 In a recent Maryland circuit court decision, Animal Welfare Institute v. Beech Ridge Energy (“Beech Ridge”), a judge granted a prelim- inary injunction against the continued development of a mountain top wind farm in favor of a citizen activist group on behalf of the Indiana bat.4 * Laura Householder is a 2013 JD/MBA candidate at the College of William & Mary.
    [Show full text]
  • Appendix E Triple H Wind Project Avian Use Surveys
    Application for Facility Permit Appendix E Triple H Wind Project Avian Use Surveys Triple H Wind Project Avian Use Surveys for the Triple H Wind Project Hughes and Hyde Counties, South Dakota Final Report April 2016 – March 2017 Prepared for: Triple H Wind Project, LLC 3760 State Street, Suite 200 Santa Barbara, California 93105 Prepared by: Brian Heath and Guy DiDonato Western EcoSystems Technology, Inc. 415 West 17th Street, Suite 200 Cheyenne, Wyoming 82001 September 19, 2017 Privileged and Confidential - Not For Distribution Triple H Avian Use Surveys EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Triple H Wind Project, LLC (THWP) has proposed a wind energy facility in Hughes and Hyde Counties, South Dakota referred to as the Triple H Wind Project (Project). THWP contracted Western EcoSystems Technology, Inc. (WEST) to conduct baseline wildlife surveys to estimate the potential impacts of Project construction and operations on wildlife. This document provides the results of fixed-point avian use surveys conducted at the Project from April 2016 through March 2017. The surveys were conducted following the tiered process outlined in the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Land-Based Wind Energy Guidelines and the USFWS Eagle Conservation Plan Guidance (ECPG). The principal objectives of the study were to: 1) provide site-specific bird resource and use data that would be useful for evaluating potential impacts from the proposed wind energy facility; 2) provide information that could be used for project planning and design of the facility to minimize impacts to birds; and 3) collect data on eagle use in the area following the ECPG. This survey effort was designed to supplement additional baseline wildlife surveys conducted at the Project in 2016/2017 including a raptor nest survey, prairie grouse lek surveys, acoustic monitoring for bats, and a habitat characterization study, the results of which are included in separate reports.
    [Show full text]
  • High Bridge Avian Risk Assessment
    Avian Risk Assessment for the High Bridge Wind Project Chenango County, New York Prepared for: High Bridge Wind, LLC 717 Texas Avenue, Suite 1000 Houston, Texas 77002 Prepared by: Jason Ritzert, Michelle Ritzert, and Christopher Farmer Western EcoSystems Technology, Inc. 1017 Mumma Road, Suite 103 Lemoyne, Pennsylvania 17043 July 2019 High Bridge Avian Risk Assessment TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.0 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................ 1 2.0 FACILITY SITE AND FACILITY COMPONENTS ........................................................... 4 2.1 Facility Site ................................................................................................................. 4 2.2 Facility Components ................................................................................................... 4 3.0 REVIEW OF PRE-CONSTRUCTION SURVEYS ........................................................... 7 3.1 Critical Issues Analysis ............................................................................................... 7 3.1.1 Sensitive Species Identified in the Critical Issues Analysis ...................................... 7 3.1.2 Sensitive Species Identified During Follow-up Agency Correspondence ................. 8 3.2 Pre-Construction Field Studies ................................................................................... 8 3.2.1 Raptor Migration Surveys........................................................................................ 8 3.2.1.1
    [Show full text]
  • AUWAHI WIND FARM HABITAT CONSERVATION PLAN Draft Amendment
    AUWAHI WIND FARM HABITAT CONSERVATION PLAN Draft Amendment Prepared for Auwahi Wind Energy LLC Prepared by May 14, 2019 Auwahi Wind Farm Project Habitat Conservation Plan Amendment TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE 1.0 INTRODUCTION AND PROJECT OVERVIEW .................................................................. 1-1 1.1 INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................................. 1-1 1.2 APPLICANT INFORMATION ....................................................................................... 1-5 1.3 PROJECT DESCRIPTION ............................................................................................... 1-5 1.4 REGULATORY FRAMEWORK AND RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER PLANS, POLICIES, AND LAWS .................................................................................... 1-6 2.0 DESCRIPTION OF THE HABITAT CONSERVATION PLAN ........................................ 2-1 2.1 PURPOSE AND NEED FOR THE HCP ...................................................................... 2-1 2.2 SCOPE AND TERM ........................................................................................................... 2-2 2.3 SURVEY AND RESOURCES .......................................................................................... 2-2 3.0 ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING .................................................................................................. 3-1 3.1 REGIONAL LOCATION ................................................................................................. 3-1 3.2
    [Show full text]
  • Exploring the Barriers to Wind Development in Appalachia
    20% BY A Windfall for Coal Country? ExploringFP the Barriers to Wind Development in Appalachia Brent Bailey Evan Hansen Holly Groschner Rory McIlmoil Laura Hartz Jen Shaver Anne Hereford The Mountain Institute Appalachia Program 235 High Street, Ste. 706 Morgantown, WV 26505 www.mountain.org Downstream Strategies 295 High Street, Ste. 3 Morgantown, WV 26505 www.downstreamstrategies.com June 25, 2012 A Windfall for Coal Country? Exploring the Barriers to Wind Development in Appalachia Brent Bailey, Evan Hansen, Holly Groschner, Rory McIlmoil, Laura Hartz, Jen Shaver, Anne Hereford ABOUT THE AUTHORS Brent Bailey, Ph.D., Director, Appalachia Program, The Mountain Institute. Dr. Bailey directs the Appalachia Program at The Mountain Institute. He has more than 20 years' experience in forestry, natural resource management, environmental education, and local community development on three continents. Evan Hansen, M.S., Principal, Energy Program, Downstream Strategies. Mr. Hansen founded Downstream Strategies and has 20 years of experience as an environmental consultant on energy, greenhouse gas, and water resource issues for nonprofit organizations, government agencies, and private businesses. He has developed and applied computer models; provided training and expert testimony on issues related to environmental laws, policies, and permits; and led multi-disciplinary research teams. Holly Groschner, J.D., New Mountain Wind. Ms. Groschner has made her career at the interface of development and regulation in the utility sector, working to find common ground among publicly traded companies; local landowners; and federal, state, and municipal governments. Ms. Groschner received her J.D. from Vermont Law School, served as a law clerk for the Honorable Louis J.
    [Show full text]