W 1600 IAIDLEYTOWER P.0. BOX 553 9 CHARLESTON,WESTVlRGlNlA25322 *TELEPHONE304-340-1000 TELECOPIER: 304-340-1 130 w.jacksonke/ly.com Direct Dial No. (304) 340-1307 e-mail: [email protected] State Bar ID No. 8835 November 7,2002 Via hand delivery Sandra Squire, Executive Secretary Public Service Commission of West Virginia 201 Brooks Street Post Office Box 812 Charleston, West Virginia 25323 Re: Case No. 02- 1 189-E-CN NedPower Mount Storm LLC Dear Ms. Squire: Enclosed please find an original and six copies of an “Endangered Species Status Report For a Proposed Wind Farm in Grant County, West Virginia, Supplemental Report, November 7, 2002” for the Project prepared by Potesta & Associates, Inc., NedPower Mount Storm LLC’s (“NedPower”) environmental consultants on the Project (“Study”). In the Study, Potesta summarizes two Species Surveys performed in connection with the Project and attached to the Study as Appendices A and B respectively: A. “West Virginia Northern Flying Squirrel Surveys at Three Sites Within the Proposed NedPower Mount Storm LLC Windmill Turbines Project Area Grant County, West Virginia,” prepared by Dr. Edwin D. Michael, Professor Emeritus, . e. *rmd - ___ BT-- ‘‘I~~~~Ch~~~~Sal~d~(~eth0aonnettingi>- ~ - 1 xr TTn.* GU Oy IYL 9 prepared by Dr. Thomas K. Pauley, Professor, Marshall University; We would be pleased to provide additional copies of the Study to the Commissioners should they so request. Washington,D.C. Denver, CO Lexington, KY Fairrnont,WV Martinsburg,WV Wheeling,WV Morgantown,WV New Martinsville,WV Parkersburg,WV Sandra Squire, Executive Secretary November 7,2002 Page 2 Please file the original of the Study and distribute the additional copies to the appropriate parties at the Commission. We also ask that you date stamp the extra copies provided and return them with our messenger. As always, we appreciate your assistance in this matter, and look forward to answering any questions you may have. Sincerely, STEPHANIE H. D. MULLETT Enclosures cc: John Barrett (w/enc.) Vincent Trivelli, Esq. (w/enc.) Caryn W. Short, Esq. (wlenc.) Leslie J. Anderson, Esq. (w/enc.) Timothy P. Heinle (w/enc.) Laidley E. McCoy (w/o enc.) David M. Kiser (w/o enc.) I 4 Potesta Associates, Inc. Engineers and Environmental Consultants 2300 MacCorkle Avenue, S.E., Charleston, West Virginia 25304- 1099 Telephone: (304)342-1400 Fax: (304)343-9031 E-mail: [email protected] November 2002 Endangered Species Status Report For a Proposed Wind Farm in Grant County, West Virginia Supplemental Report - November 7,2002 Prepared for: NedPower Mount Storm LLC 5 160 Parkstone Drive, Suite 260 Chantilly, Virginia 20 15 1 Prepared by: Potesta & Associates, Inc. 2300 MacCorkle Avenue, S.E. Charleston, West Virginia 25304 ~___~ ~ Project No. 02-0083-002 Endangered Species Status Report for a Proposed Wind Farm in Grant County, WV November 7,2002 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.O INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................................. 1 2.0 SURVEYS .......................................................................................................................... 1 2.1 West Virginia Northern Flying Squirrel ................................................................. 2 2.2 Cheat Mountain Salamander ................................................................................... 2 3.0 CLOSING ........................................................................................................................... 2 APPENDICES , ~ ,, West Virginia Northern Flying Squirrel Reports ....................................................... APPENDIX A Cheat Mountain Salamander Reports ........................................................................ APPENDIX B Endangered Species Status Report, November 2002 ENDANGERED SPECIES STATUS REPORT FOR A PROPOSED WIND FARM IN GRANT COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA 1.0 INTRODUCTION NedPower Mount Storm LLC (NedPower) is currently developing a wind power project along the Allegheny Front near Mount Storm, Grant County, West Virginia. The project entails the construction of a wind farm (up to 300MW) to be completed in three phases. The Project will consist of up to 200 wind turbines each with a rated capacity of 1.5 to 2.5 megawatts. Each turbine will be mounted on a steel tower approximately 15 feet (4.6 m) in diameter and 210 to 330 feet (64 to 101 m) in height. Each turbine will have three blades of approximately 115 feet (35 meters) with each turbine’s blades being more than 82 feet (25 meters) from the ground. I iI The proposed NedPower wind farm project will be located on a site approximately 14 miles long J with an average width of 0.5 miles near the Mount Storm power plant and Mount Storm Lake in Grant County, West Virginia. The Site extends along the Allegheny Front from east of the Stony River Reservoir to about 0.75 mile (1.21 km) from Mt. Pisgah. The site is private property primarily used for commercial logging and surface mining purposes. Telecommunications towers and utility rights-of-ways (ROWS) are found throughout the Mount Storm area. Actual land disturbance from the Project is expected to be less than 200 acres. i Any land disturbance that requires alteration in habitat has the potential to present risk to federally listed threatened and endangered species that may be present. To avoid such risk, NedPower has commissioned habitat and species surveys in the proposed project area. This work is ongoing and is being provided in a series of reports. The first report provide to NedPower was titled Endangered Species Status and Phase I Avian Risk Assessment For a Proposed Wind Farm in Grant County, West Virginia, dated September 23, 2002. This report is i a supplement to the September 23,2002 version. I i 2.0 SURVEYS Habitat surveys for the West Virginia northern flying squirrel and the Cheat Mountain i salamander were completed in August, 2002. The results of these surveys were included in the report titled Endangered Species Status and Phase I Avian Risk Assessment For a Proposed 1 I Wind Farm in Grant County, West Virginia. The flying squirrel habitat survey was completed - habitat survey was completed by Dr. Thomas Pauley, Professor of Biology at Marshall Univer si~y~h~-r~t~~su~~~~~u~wi~~~~~spe~ies~ ~ ~- I I t, I Endangered Species Status Report, November 2002 Page 1 , 2.1 West Virginia Northern Flying Squirrel rnq? yoy -7 fy 3: 52 Dr. Michael completed an initial site visit with Mr. Tim Sedosky of Po&&td and Associates, Inc. on August 6, 2002 and completed habitat surveys on August 7 throug through 14, 2002. Dr. Michaels found three areas with high three areas are located south of Route 42 and near Helmick two lines of turbines. The second and third locations are along the westernmost line of proposed turbines. A description of these habitat areas is included in Dr. Michael's report (Appendix A). As a result of the presence of suitable habitat, Dr. Michael was commissioned to complete a species survey. This survey consisted of a ten-night trapping event running from October 1 through October 14, 2002. The survey was completed using methods consistent with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service guidelines. As a result of this effort, six West Virginia northern flying squirrels (including one recapture) and 21 non-target mammals were captured. The six squirrels were all captured at the sampling location previously identified as Site #3. This site is located east of Helmick Run and north of the existing large power line right-of-way that crosses Helmick Run. Dr. Michael's species survey report (dated November 6, 2002) and curriculum vita are included in Appendix A. 2.2 Cheat Mountain Salamander Dr. Pauley completed an initial site visit with Tim Sedosky of Potesta and Associates, Inc. on I August 6, 2002 and completed habitat surveys on August 6, 15, 16 and 17, 2002. Dr. Pauley I I divided the proposed project area into four sections. The lower survey area, which extended from south of the power line right-of-way to Stack Rock, was the only area that contained some potential habitat (Figure 1, Appendix B). As a result of this finding, Dr. Pauley was commissioned to complete a species survey. Ii Dr. Pauley returned to the area he previously identified as potential habitat on October 16, 2002. 1 II He was accompanied by Dr. Mark B. Watson and two other individuals. The survey methods were consistent with those described in the Cheat Mountain salamander recovery plan with one I exception. The area contained large rocks, and to be more thorough, Dr. Pauley and his I investigators used log cant hooks to move some of these rocks (up to four feet in size). No Cheat Mountain salamanders were found as a result of this survey. Dr. Pauley's signed report, which I was received by POTESTA on November 1,2002, is included in Appendix B. I 3.0 CLOSING This report was prepared to assist NedPower Mount Storm LLC in evaluating and planning with ~- I respectto-t~~~bJe~itsite;ftis-~e~~t~~~~~~~~~~~~ed-~d. .. ~ I A ;an +;oh 91'nm-~ i un J "ww Inthe P' nd IC limi nnlv tn t Mountain salamander and the West Virginia Northern Flying Squirrel. The scope of this study I was mutually devised by Potesta & Associates, Inc. (POTESTA) and NedPower and is limited to I I the specific project, location and time period described herein. The work scope and report Endangered Species Status Report, November 2002 Page 2 I represent POTESTA’S understanding of site conditions as discernible from information provided by others and obtained by POTESTA using the methods specified.