{Converted
to text by Jed Margolin}
STANDARD
FORM 299 1/2006
Prescribed
by DOI/USDA/DOT
P.L.
96487 and Federal Register Notice 5-22-95
FORM
APPROVED
OMB
NO. 1004-0189
Expires:
November 30, 2008
FOR
AGENCY USE ONLY
Application
Number:
Date
filed:
APPLICATION
FOR TRANSPORTATION AND UTILITY SYSTEMS AND FACILITIES ON FEDERAL LANDS
NOTE:
Before completing and filing the application, the applicant should completely
review this package and schedule a preapplication meeting with representatives
of the agency responsible for processing the application. Each agency may have
specific and unique requirements to be met in preparing and processing the
application. Many times, with the help of the agency representative, the
application can be completed at the preapplication meeting.
1.
Name and address of applicant (include zip code)
2.
Name, title, and address of authorized agent if different from item 1 (include
zip code)
Rich Hamilton, President
3.
TELEPHONE (area code)
Applicant: Rich Hamilton
Authorized Agent: Kleinfelder
4.
As applicant are you? (check one)
a. _ Individual
b. x Corporation*
c. _ Partnership/Association*
d. _ State
Government/State Agency
e. _ Local
Government
f. _ Federal
Agency
* If checked, complete supplemental page
5.
Specify what application is for: (check one)
a. x
New authorization
b. _ Renewing
existing authorization No.
c. _ Amend existing authorization No.
d. _ Assign existing authorization No.
e. _ Existing
use for which no authorization has been received*
f. _ Other*
*If checked provide details under Item 7
6. If an individual, or partnership are you a
citizens of the
7. Project description (describe in detail):
(a) Type of system or facility, (e.g., canal,
pipeline, road);
(b) related structures and facilities:
(c) physical specifications (length, width,
grading, etc.);
(d) term of years needed;
(e) time of year of use or operation;
(f) Volume or amount of product to be
transported;
(g) duration and timing of construction; and
(h) temporary work areas needed for construction
(Attach additional sheets, if additional space is needed.)
(a) Wind
energy electric generating facility
(b) 64
wind turbines, improved and new unpaved roads, approximately 20 miles of new
underground electric distribution lines, approximately 5 miles of new overhead
transmission line, meteorological towers, a new electrical substation, 3 small storage
buildings and temporary use areas for construction
(c)
turbines masts will be approximately 197 to 330 feet tall with three 135 to
165-foot long blades, 30-foot wide access roads with wider turnouts on curves
to accommodate large vehicles, the transmission structures will be 65 to 90
feet tall, the meteorological towers will be 65 to 90 feet tall, the substation
will be approximately 2-3 acres, the storage buildings will be 1 story
structures approximately 2,000 to 5,000 square feet in size
(d) temporary
use areas will be needed for 1 year, all other facilities will be needed for a
minimum of 50 years with the possibility of renewal
(e) the
facility will be designed for year-long use
(f) the facility
will be designed to produce a maximum of 192 megawatts
(g)
construction is estimated to take approximately 6 mouths, weather and ground
conditions depending
(h) 4
temporary work areas for construction have been identified, 3 approximately 3
acres in size and 1 approximately 10 acres in size. Additional sheets providing
more detail have been attached.
8.
Attach a map covering area and show location of project proposal
9.
State or local government approval: _
Attached _ Applied for _ Not required
To be determined
10.
Nonreturnable application fee. x
Attached _Not required
11. Does project cross international boundary or
affect international waterways? _ Yes x No
(If
”yes,” indicate on map)
12.
Give statement of your technical and financial capability to construct,
operate, maintain, and terminate System for which authorization is being
requested,
Great
Basin Wind possesses both the financial and technical capabilities required to
develop and operate wind power generation projects through majority partner Oak
Creek Energy Systems (OCES). OCES has an experienced team of 50 employees with
extensive project development, permitting and operations experience on both
public and private lands in
(Continued
on page 2) This
form is authorized for local reproduction.
13a. Describe other reasonable alternative routes
and modes considered.
Although
other sites may have wind, few sites have the potential to supply wind at
speeds that can produce power economically. Desirable site characteristics need
to include sustained wind between 8 and 58 mph, low potentials for snow and ice
loading and close proximity to existing electric transmission lines with
suitable capacity.
b.
Why were these alternatives not selected?
The
proposed site provided the highest potential for power production in
consideration of the siting criteria. The powerline route was the shortest,
most direct given construction conditions and cost constraints. The powerline
route follows an existing access road to the proposed Substation site.
c.
Give explanation as to why it is necessary to cross Federal Lands
The site
has been selected for its potential to produce wind-generated electricity with
a minimum of operating issues such as snow and ice loading. Sites in this
region that are feasible for this purpose are located on select ridge tops
which are generally lands managed by federal agencies. Other desirable site
characteristics included close proximity to an electric transmission line with
available capacity and a large enough tract of land to accommodate a project
sized for economic feasibility.
14. List authorizations and pending applications
filed for similar projects which may provide information to the authorizing
agency. (Specify number, date, code, or name)
15. Provide statement of need for project,
including the economic feasibility and items such as: (a) cost of proposal
(construction, operation, and maintenance);
(b) estimated cost of next best alternative; and (c) expected public
benefits.
The
proposed project would be able to supply up to 192MW of renewable energy. The
Nevada Public Utilities Commission requires regulated utilities in the State to
supply a certain percentage of their energy mix from wind generated sources.
The Governor of Nevada has provided direction to make
16. Describe probable effects on the population
in the area, including the social and economic aspects, and the rural
lifestyles.
The
proposed project could result in tax benefits to both Washoe and
17. Describe likely environmental effects that
the proposed project will have on: (a) air quality; (b) visual impact; (c)
surface and ground water quality and quantity; (d) the control or structural
change on any stream or other body of water; (c) existing noise levels; and (d)
the surface of the land, including vegetation, permafrost, soil, and soil stability.
There
could be a long-term impact to visual resources resulting from the presence of
turbine structures located on the ridge top, The turbine units could be visible
from much of
18. Describe the probable effects that the
proposed project will have on (a) populations of fish, plantlife, wildlife, and
marine life, including threatened and endangered species; and (b) marine
mammals, including hunting, capturing, collecting, or killing these animals.
There is
a potential to be both long term and short term impacts to birds, bats and
other wildlife currently using the area. The impacts may come from displacement
and habitat fragmentation from facility siting, site avoidance due to
construction and operation disturbance, collision with facility components. The
potential presence of Sage Grouse and Pygmy rabbits has been noted within the
project area. Impacts to small mammals and reptiles could include displacement
due to loss of habitat. Loss of individuals may occur clue to construction
activities.
19.
State whether any hazardous material, as defined in this paragraph, will be
used, produced, transported or stored oil or within the right-of-way or any of
the right-of-way facilities, or used in the construction, operation,
maintenance or termination of the right-of-way or any of its facilities.
"Hazardous material" means ally substance, pollutant or contaminant
that is listed as hazardous under the Comprehensive Environmental Response,
Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 9601 et seq., and
its regulations. The definition of hazardous substances under CERCLA includes
any "hazardous waste" as defined in the Resource Conservation and
Recovery Act of 1976 (RCRA), as amended, 42 U.S.C. 9601 et seq., and its
regulations. The terms hazardous materials also includes any nuclear or
byproduct material as defined by the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended, 42
U.S.C. 2011 et seq. The term does not include petroleum, including crude oil or
any fraction thereof that is not otherwise specifically listed or designated as
a hazardous substance under CERCLA Section 101(14), 42 U.S.C. 9601(14), nor
does the term include natural gas.
a list
is attached
20.
Name all the Department(s)/Agency(ies) where this application is being filed.
Bureau
of Land Management- Carson City Field Office,
I
HEREBY CERTIFY, That I am of legal age and authorized to do business in the
State and that I have personally examined the information contained in the
application and believe that the information is correct
to the best of my knowledge.
Signature
of Applicant: {illegible} Date 4-18-2008
Title
18, U.S.C. Section 1001 and Title 43 U.S.C. Section 1212, make it a crime for
any person knowingly and willfully to make to any department or agency of the
(Continued
on page 3) (SF
-299, page 2)