July 31, 2020 Gravel Pit Solar and Public Need Compatibility of Environmental Certificate for Application Pit Solar Gravel Application for Certificate of Environmental Compatibility and Public Need SUBMITTED TO Connecticut Siting Council APPLICANT Gravel Pit Solar, LLC Gravel Pit Solar II, LLC Gravel Pit Solar III, LLC Gravel PIt Solar IV, LLC PREPARED IN ASSOCIATION WITH Pullman & Comley, LLC Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc. 22,May 2020 Heritage Consultants, LLC Environmental Design & Research D.P.C Exponent Engineering and Scientific Consulting APPLICATION FOR CERTIFICATE OF ENVIRONMENTAL COMPATIBILITY AND PUBLIC NEED Gravel Pit Solar 120 MW Solar Photovoltaic Energy Generation Project in East Windsor, Connecticut PREPARED FOR Gravel Pit Solar, LLC Gravel Pit Solar II, LLC Gravel Pit Solar III, LLC Gravel Pit Solar IV, LLC 1166 Avenue of the Americas, 9th Floor New York, NY 10036 PREPARED BY 100 Great Meadow Road Suite 200 Wethersfield, CT 06109 JULY 31, 2020 i APPLICATION OF GRAVEL PIT SOLAR APPLICATION FOR A CERTIFICATE OF ENVIRONMENTAL COMPATIBILITY AND PUBLIC NEED FOR THE CONSTRUCTION, OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF A 120 MW-AC SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAIC PROJECT NEAR APOTHECARIES HALL ROAD, PLANTATION ROAD, WAPPING ROAD, AND WINDSORVILLE ROAD IN EAST WINDSOR, CONNECTICUT JULY 31, 2020 Application for a Certificate of Environmental Compatibility and Public Need Table of Contents 1 Introduction ................................................................................................................. 1 2 Applicant ...................................................................................................................... 3 3 Proposed Project ......................................................................................................... 5 3.1 Project History ............................................................................................................................. 5 3.2 Project Purpose and Need ..................................................................................................... 6 3.3 Site Selection ............................................................................................................................... 8 3.4 Property Description............................................................................................................... 11 3.5 Project Description .................................................................................................................. 11 Interconnection ......................................................................................................................... 13 3.6 Electrical Interconnection ..................................................................................................... 14 3.7 Project Schedule ....................................................................................................................... 15 3.8 Project Costs .............................................................................................................................. 15 4 Project Benefits .........................................................................................................17 5 Local Input and Public Notice ..................................................................................19 5.1 Public Notice.............................................................................................................................. 19 5.2 Public Involvement and Outreach ..................................................................................... 19 6 Affected Environment ...............................................................................................25 6.1 General Site Description ....................................................................................................... 25 6.2 Wetlands ..................................................................................................................................... 25 Wetland 1 .................................................................................................................................... 26 Wetland 2 .................................................................................................................................... 26 Wetland 3 .................................................................................................................................... 26 Wetland 4 .................................................................................................................................... 27 Wetland 5 .................................................................................................................................... 27 Wetland 6 .................................................................................................................................... 27 Wetland 7 .................................................................................................................................... 27 Wetland 8 .................................................................................................................................... 27 Wetland 9 .................................................................................................................................... 27 Wetland 10 ................................................................................................................................. 28 Wetland 11 ................................................................................................................................. 28 Wetland 12 ................................................................................................................................. 28 Wetland 13 ................................................................................................................................. 28 Wetland 14 ................................................................................................................................. 29 Wetland 15 ................................................................................................................................. 29 i Table of Contents Application for a Certificate of Environmental Compatibility and Public Need Wetland 16 ................................................................................................................................. 29 6.3 Wildlife and Habitat ................................................................................................................ 29 Vegetation Cover Types ........................................................................................................ 29 Rare Threatened and Endangered Species .................................................................... 33 Breeding Bird Inventory and Surveys ............................................................................... 35 Vernal Pool Survey .................................................................................................................. 36 Mammals ..................................................................................................................................... 37 Plant Community Resources ................................................................................................ 37 6.4 Surface and Groundwater Resources ............................................................................... 37 Surface Water and Floodplain ............................................................................................ 37 Groundwater Resources and Aquifer Protection......................................................... 38 6.5 Stormwater ................................................................................................................................. 39 6.6 Scenic Values ............................................................................................................................. 40 6.7 Cultural Resources ................................................................................................................... 41 6.8 Aeronautical Facilities ............................................................................................................ 41 6.9 Air Quality ................................................................................................................................... 42 6.10 Noise ............................................................................................................................................. 42 6.11 Public Health and Safety ....................................................................................................... 44 6.12 Land Use ...................................................................................................................................... 44 Municipal Zoning ..................................................................................................................... 44 Future Land Use ........................................................................................................................ 46 Agriculture .................................................................................................................................. 46 Other Environmental Considerations ............................................................................... 52 7 Environmental Consequences ..................................................................................53 7.1 Tree Clearing and Vegetation Management 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