{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)

 

Great Basin Wind LLC

P.O. Box 10604

Reno, NV 89510

 

 

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 United States?               x Yes             _ No

 

 

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 Kern County, CA. In early 2008 Marubeni Corporation of Tokyo, Japan acquired a controlling interest in Oak Creek Energy Systems - giving OCES the financial resources needed to carry out significant wind energy development in the coming years. Mountain Wind Energy LLC will provide local knowledge and lead the permitting activities for Great Basin Energy in Nevada. Contractors will be used in the permitting and development process, as needed.

 

 

(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 Nevada energy independent and eventually become an energy exporter. Nevada will require an increasing amount of wind power to meet the increasing load demand from growth and also allow regulated utilities to meet the renewable energy requirement.

 

 

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 Storey Counties. Anticipated new jobs associated with the project equates to 2 temporary jobs/MW during construction and 10 to 16 long-term jobs during operation, in addition to the secondary job creation impact. The proposed project is sited away from residential development and is not anticipated to impact the rural lifestyle of the area. The project may have the potential to impact cultural resources and the project is partially located within the Comstock Historic District.

 

 

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 Washoe Valley and from specific locales in Carson City. The proposed project may result in temporary impacts to air and water quality associated with construction disturbance. Noise levels will be below 50 mhtz on the wind side.

 

 

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, Nevada

Nevada Public Utilities Commission

 

 

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 United States any false, fictitious, or fraudulent statements or representations as to any matter within its jurisdiction.

 

 

(Continued on page 3)                                    (SF -299, page 2)