Appendices AD

856 Pages·2013·18.2 MB·English

Draft
Environmental Impact
Report

SCH# 2015051069

Volume 2

Appendices A through N

VALENTINE SOLAR PROJECT
Valentine Solar, LLC
EDF RENEWABL DEVELOPMENT INC.

General Plan Amendment No. 3, Map 215
Specific Plan Amendment No. 20, Map 232
Zone Change Case No. 37, Map 232
Zone Change Case No. 12, Map 215
Conditional Use Permit No. 9, Map 215
Conditional Use Permit No. 10, Map 215
Conditional Use Permit No. 12, Map 215
Conditional Use Permit No. 30, Map 232

Kern County
Planning and Community Development Department
Bakersfield, California

March 2016
Draft

Environmental Impact Report

SCH# 2015051069

Volume 2
Appendices A through N

VALENTINE SOLAR PROJECT
Valentine Solar, LLC
EDF Renewable Development Inc.

General Plan Amendment No. 3, Map 215
Specific Plan Amendment No. 20, Map 232
Zone Change Case No. 37, Map 232
Zone Change Case No. 12, Map 215
Conditional Use Permit No. 9, Map 215
Conditional Use Permit No. 10, Map 215
Conditional Use Permit No. 12, Map 215
Conditional Use Permit No. 30, Map 232

Kern County Planning and Community Development Department
2700 M Street, Suite 100
Bakersfield, CA 93301-2370
[phone]

Technical Assistance by:
Environmental Science Associates
626 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 1100
Los Angeles, CA 90017
[phone]

March 2016
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Volume 2 – Appendices
APPENDIX A: IS/NOP AND COMMENT LETTERS
• Initial Study, Notice of Preparation and Comment Letters on the NOP/IS
APPENDIX B: VISUAL ASSESSMENT
B1 Visual Assessment Report for the Valentine Solar Project
B2 Visual Assessment Report for the Valentine Solar Project Technical
Memorandum
APPENDIX C: FARMLAND CONVERSION
C1 Reponses to Request from Kern County for a Farmland Conversion Study
Technical Memorandum
C2 Update: Reponses to Request from Kern County for a Farmland
Conversion Study Technical Memorandum
APPENDIX D: AIR QUALITY AND GHG EMISSIONS
D1 Air Quality & Greenhouse Gas Impact Analysis for the Proposed Valentine
Solar Project
D2 Air Quality & Greenhouse Gas Impact Analysis for the Proposed Valentine
Solar Project Technical Memorandum
APPENDIX E: BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES
E1 Biological Resources Technical Report for the Valentine Solar Project
E2 Supplemental Biological Resources Technical Report for the Valentine
Solar Project
E3 Mohave Ground Squirrel Survey for the Valentine Solar Project
E4 Draft 2015 Rare Plant Survey Report for the Valentine Solar Project
E5 Valentine Solar Project Burrowing Owl Survey Report
APPENDIX F: CULTURAL AND PALEONTOLOGICAL RESOURCEs
F1 Cultural Resources Survey Report for the Valentine Solar Project, Kern
County, California
F2 Supplemental Archaeological Survey and Testing Report for the Valentine
Solar Project, Kern County, California
F3 Draft Archaeological Survey and Testing Report for the Valentine Solar
Project, Kern County, California
F4 Paleontological Survey Report for the Valentine Solar Project, Kern
County, California
F5 Valentine Solar Change to 115 Megawatt Capacity and Implications for
Paleontological Resources
F6 Valentine Solar Change to 115 Megawatt Capacity and Cultural Resources
Survey Coverage

Draft Environmental Impact Report March 2016
i
Valentine Solar Project
County of Kern Table of Contents

APPENDICES (cont.)
APPENDIX G: GEOTECHNICAL DATA
G1 Preliminary Geotechnical Evaluation for the Proposed Valentine Solar
Project, Rosamond Area, Kern County, California
G2 Geotechnical Memorandum for the Proposed Valentine Solar Project,
Rosamond Area, Kern County, California
APPENDIX H: HEALTH RISK ASSESSMENT
H1 Health Risk Assessment Report for the Proposed Valentine Solar Project
H2 Update the Heath Risk Assessment Report date 9/4/15 for the Proposed
Valentine Solar Project
APPENDIX I: ENVIRONMENTAL SITE ASSESSMENT
I1 Phase I Environmental Site Assessment for the Valentine Solar Property
I2 Phase I Environmental Site Assessment for the Valentine Solar Property
Technical Memorandum (August 31, 2015)
I3 Phase I Environmental Site Assessment for the Valentine Solar Property
Technical Memorandum (December 8, 2015)
I4 Fate and Transport Evaluation of Potential Leaching Risks From Cadmium
Telluride Photovoltaic
APPENDIX J: HYDROLOGY DATA
J1 Hydrology Analysis for the Valentine Solar Project
J2 Hydrology Analysis for the Valentine Solar Project Technical Memorandum
APPENDIX K: NOISE DATA
K1 Noise and Groundborne Vibration Impact Assessment for the Proposed
Valentine Solar Project
K2 Noise and Groundborne Vibration Impact Assessment for the Proposed
Valentine Solar Project Technical Memorandum
APPENDIX L: TRAFFIC STUDY
L1 Traffic Investigation for the Proposed Valentine Solar Project
L2 Addendum to the Traffic Investigation for the Proposed Valentine Solar
Project
APPENDIX M: WATER SUPPLY ASSESSMENT
M1 Water Supply Assessment for the Valentine Solar Project
M2 Water Supply Assessment for the Valentine Solar Project Technical
Memorandum
APPENDIX N: SOLAR GLARE AND REFLECTANCE MEMO
• SunPower Solar Module Glare and Reflectance Memo

Draft Environmental Impact Report March 2016
ii
Valentine Solar Project
County of Kern Table of Contents

Contents of Volume 1
Chapter 1 – Executive Summary ................................................................................................................ 1-1
Chapter 2 – Introduction ............................................................................................................................ 2-1
Chapter 3 – Project Description ................................................................................................................. 3-1
Section 4.1 – Aesthetics .......................................................................................................................... 4.1-1
Section 4.2 – Agriculture and Forest Resources ..................................................................................... 4.2-1
Section 4.3 – Air Quality .......................................................................................................................... 4.3-1
Section 4.4 – Biological Resources .......................................................................................................... 4.4-1
Section 4.5 – Cultural Resources ............................................................................................................. 4.5-1
Section 4.6 – Geology and Soils .............................................................................................................. 4.6-1
Section 4.7 – Greenhouse Gases............................................................................................................. 4.7-1
Section 4.8 – Hazards and Hazardous Materials ..................................................................................... 4.8-1
Section 4.9 – Hydrology and Water Quality ........................................................................................... 4.9-1
Section 4.10 – Land Use and Planning .................................................................................................. 4.10-1
Section 4.11 – Noise .............................................................................................................................. 4.11-1
Section 4.12 – Population and Housing ................................................................................................ 4.12-1
Section 4.13 – Public Services ............................................................................................................... 4.13-1
Section 4.14 – Recreation ..................................................................................................................... 4.14-1
Section 4.15 – Traffic and Transportation ............................................................................................ 4.15-1
Section 4.16 – Utilities and Service Systems ......................................................................................... 4.16-1
Chapter 5 – Consequences of Project Implementation ............................................................................. 5-1
Chapter 6 – Alternatives ............................................................................................................................ 6-1
Chapter 7 – Response to Comments ......................................................................................................... 7-1
Chapter 8 – Organizations and Persons Contacted ................................................................................... 8-1
Chapter 9 – List of Preparers ..................................................................................................................... 9-1
Chapter 10 – Bibliography........................................................................................................................ 10-1

Draft Environmental Impact Report March 2016
iii
Valentine Solar Project
Appendix A
IS/NOP and Comment Letters
• Notice of Preparation and Initial Study
• Comments on the IS/NOP

Draft Environmental Impact Report March 2016

Valentine Solar Project
PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT SERVICES AGENCY
DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT
Plannlng and Communiry Otvelopmen•
Lorelei H. Oviatt, AICP, Director f.ngineering. Sun·e)1ng aod Permit $(n1(tt
Roads Drpartmrnl
2700 "M" STREET, SUITE 100
BAKERSFIELD, CA 93301-2323
Phone: [phone]
FAX: [phone] TTY Relay 1-800·735·2929
e-Mail: [email protected]
Web Address: www.co.kern.e<1.us/plannlng
NOTICE OF PREPARATION
DATE: May22, 2015
To: See Attached Mailing List FROM: Kern County Planning and Community
Development Department
Attn: Carlos Rojas
2700 "M" Street, Suite 100
Bakersfield, CA 9330 J
( 661) 862-5015; [email protected]
SUBJECT: NOTICE OF PREPARATION OF A DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT
The Kem County Planning and Community Development Department as Lead Agency (per CEQA Guidelines Section 15052) has
required that an Environmental Impact Report (per CEQA Guidelines Section 15161) be prepared for the project identified below.
The Planning and Communjty Development Department solicits the views of your agency as to the scope and content of the
environmental infonnation which is gennane to your agency's statutory responsibilities in connecrion with the proposed project.
Your agency will need to use the EIR prepared by our agency when considering your permit or other approval ofp rojects.
Due to the limits mandated by State law, your response must be received by June 22, 2015 at 5pm. In addition, comments can be
submitted at a scoping meeting that will be held at the Kem County Planning and Commwiity Development Department on June
15, 2015 at 1:30pm at the address shown above.
PROJECT TITLE: ElR 8-J 4; Valentine Solar Project by EDF Renewable Development lnc. (PP I 51 l 9); GPA 3, Map 2 I 5; SPA
20, Map232; ZCC37, Map232; ZCC 12, Map 215; CUP 9, Map215; CUP 10, Map 215; CUP 12, Map 215; CUP 30, Map232.
PROJECT LOCATION: The project site is located approximately 14 miles southwest of State Route 58 and approximately 28
miles east ofTnterstate (f) 5, in tbe Willow Spring area. Located immediately north of Hamilton Avenue and south of Aqueduct
Road. The site is located in: Section 32 and 33 ofTownship 10 North, Range 14 West & Section 5 and Section 6, Township 9
North, Range 14 West; all U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Tylerhorse Canyon and Willow Springs 7.5-minute quadrangles.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The project proponent is requesting: (a) Amendment to the Circulation Element oft he Kern County
General Plan and the Willow Spring Specific Plan to remove sections and midsection line road reservations, as follow: The west
halfo f the Section line between Section 32, TION, RJ4W and Section 5, T9N, R14W; The west halfoftheeast-westmid-sectioo
line of Section 4, T9N, Rl4W; the north balfofthe north-south mid-section line of Section 32, TlON, Rl4W; the east-west mid
section line of Section 33, Tl ON, R l 4W and the north half of the north-soutl1 section line of Section 33, Tl ON, R 14W ; (b)
changes in zone classificatfon from the existing zone district PL RS FPS (Platted Lands-Residential Suburban Combining
Floodplain Secondary) to A FPS (Exclusive Agriculture-Floodplain Secondary) on 2 I .5 acres of the project site within zoning
Map 215 and changes in zone classification from the existing zone district E (20) RS FPS (Estate 20 Acres, Residential Suburban
Combining-Floodplain Secondary) to A FPS on 731.14 acres of the project site within zoning Map 232; (c) Conditional Use
Permits to allow for the construction and operation of 100 megawatt solar photovoltajc electrical generating facility (Section
19.12.030.G) in an A District; (d) Conditional Use Permit to allow the operation of batch plant(s) (19.12.030.G) in anA District;
(e) a Conditional Use Permit for a construction microwave tower(s) (19.12.030.F) in the A zone district; (f) vacation of existing
public access easements on the project site. The project wouJd be supponed by a 230-kY overhead transmission corridor. The
project's pennanent facilities would include, service roads, a power collection system, communication cables, overhead and
underground transmission lines, electrical switchyards. project substations, and operations and maintenance facilities.
Document can be viewed online at' httpJ/pcd.kemdsa.oom/planning/notioes-of-p,~
S1gnature:
Name: Carlos ojas, Planner II
spa20:zcc54;cup50,map232
City of Arvin Bakersfield City Planning Dept
w/o #PP15119
P.O. Box 548 1715 Chester A venue
WP\LABELS\eirOS-14.nop
Arvin, CA 93203 Bakersfield, CA 93301
dr 5/20/15)
Bakersfield City Public Works Dept California City Planning Dept Delano City Planning Dept
1501 Truxtun Avenue 21000 Hacienda Blvd P.O. Box 3010
Bakersfield. CA 93301 California City, CA 935 I 5 Delano, CA 93216
City of Maricopa City of McFarland City of Ridgecrest
P.O. Box548 401 West Kem Avenue 100 West California Avenue
Maricopa, CA 93252 McFarland, CA 93250 Ridgecrest, CA 93555
City of Taft
City of Shafter City of Tehachapi
Planning & Building
336 Pacific A venue 115 South Robinson Street
209 East Kem Street
Shafter, CA 93263 Tehachapi, CA 93561-1722
Taft, CA 93268
City of Wasco Inyo County Planning Dept Kings County Planning Agency
764 E Street P.O. Drawer "L" 1400 West Lacey Blvd, Bldg 6
Wasco, CA 93280 Independence, CA 93526 Hanford, CA 93230
San Luis Obispo Co Planning Dept
Los Angeles Co Reg Planning Depl San Bernardino Co Planning Dept
Planning and Building
320 West Temple Street 385 Nortb Arrowhead Avenue, 1st floor
976 Osos Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012 San Bernardino, CA 92415-0182
San Luis Obispo, CA 93408
Santa Barbara Co Resource Mgt Dept Tulare County Planning & Dev Dept Ventura County RMA Planning Div
123 East Anapamu Street 5961 South Mooney Boulevard 800 South Victoria Avenue, Ll 740
Santa Barbara, CA 93101 Visalia, CA 93291 Ventura, CA 93009-1740
China Lake Naval Weapons Center
U.S. Bureau of Land Management Edwards AFB, Sustainability Office
Tim Fox, RLA -Comm Plans & Liaison
Ridgecrest Field Office 412 TW!XPO, Bldg 2750. Rm 204-38
429 E Bowen, Building 981
300 South Riclunond Road 195 East Popson Avenue
Mail Stop 4001
Ridgecre~t, CA 93555 Edwards AFB. CA 93524
China Lake, CA 93555
Environmental Protection Agency
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service U.S. Dept of Agriculrure/NRCS
Region IX Office
2493 Portola Road, Suite B 5000 California Avenue, Ste 100
75 Hawthorn Street
Ventura, CA 93003 Bakersfield, CA 93309-0711
San Francisco, CA 94105
U.S. Postal Service So. San Joaquin Valley Arch Info Ctr Caltrans/Dist 6
Address Management Systems California State University of Bkfd Planning/Land Bank Bldg.
28201 Franklin Parkway 9001 Stockdale Highway P.O. Box 12616
Santa Clarita, CA 91383-9321 Bakersfield, CA 93311 Fresno, CA 93778
Caltrans/Dist 9 State Dept of Conservation State Dept ofConservaclon
Planning Department Director's Office Divisjon of Oil & Gas
500 South Main Street 801 "K" Street, MS 24-01 4800 Stockdale Highway. Ste 108
Bishop, CA 93514 Sacramento, CA 95814-3528 Bakersfield, CA 93309
California Energy Commfasion
State Dept of Conservation
James W. Reed, Jr. California Fish & Wildlife
Division of Oil & Gas
1516 Ninth Street 1234 East Shaw Avenue
801 "K" Street, MS 20-20
Mail Stop 17 Fresno, CA 93710
Sacramento, CA 95814-3530
Sacramento, CA 95814
California Regional Water Quality State Dept of Water Resouroes
Public Utilities Comm Energy Div
Control Board/Lahontan Region San Joaquin Dist
505 Van Ness Avenue
14440 Civic Drive, Suite 200 3374 East Shields Avenue, Room A-7
San Francisco, CA 94102
Victorville, CA 92392-2306 Fresno, CA 93726
CalRecycle
Dept of Resources, Recycling, & Recovery Kem County Engineering, Surveying,
Kern County Admmistrative Officer
1001 "I" Street & Permit Svs/Floodplaio
Sacramento. CA 95812
Kern County Engineering, Surveying, Kem County Kern County Fire Dept
& Permit Svs/Survey Env Health Services Depanment Brian Man-ball Fire Chief
Kem County Fire Dept Kern County Fire Dept l<ern County Library/Beale
Benny Wofford Dave Goodell Local History Room
Kem Co'\Jllty Library/Beale Kem County Sheriff's Dept
Kem County Parks & Recreation
Sherry Gomez Administration
Rosamond Municipal Advisory Council
Kem County
Kem County Roads Depanroent P.O. Box 626
Waste Management Department
Rosamond, CA 93560
Mojave Town Council Kem County Superintendent of Schools
Kern County Water Agency
BiU Deaver, President Attention Mary Baker
P.O. Box 58
P.O. Box 1113 1300 17th Street
Bakersfield, CA 93302-0058
Mojave, CA 93502-1113 Bakersfield, CA 9330 I
U.S. Air Force
Adams, Broadwell, Joseph & Cardozo
Attn: Steve Arenson
East Kem Air Pollutfon Atten(fon: Janet M. Laurain
Western Regional Environmental Officer
Control District 60 I Gateway Boulevard, Suite I 000
50 Fremont Street, Suite 2450
South San Francisco, CA 94080
San Francisco, CA 94105-2230
U.S. Anny U.S. Navy
U.S. Army
Attn: Tim Kilgannon, Region 9 Attn: Steve Chung
Attn: Philip Crosbie. Chief
Coordinator Regional Community Plans & Liaison
Strategic Plans, SJ, NTC
Office of Strategic Integration Officer
P.O. Box 10172
721 - 19th Street, Room 427 1220 Pacific Highway
Fort Irwin, CA 92310
Denver, CO 80202 San Diego, CA 92132-5190
U.S. Marine Corps
AT&T California
Commanding General Southern Kem Unified School Djst
OSP Engineering/Right-of-Way
MCTWEST-MCB CamPen P.O. Box CC
4540 California Avenue, 4th Floor
Attn: NCS, G7, Box 555010 Rosamond, CA 93560
Bakersfield, CA 93309
Camp Pendleton, CA 92055-5246
Center on Race, Poverty
Kem Audubon Society Los Angeles Audubon & the Environment
P.O. Box 3581 926 Citrus Avenue Attn: Marissa Alexander
Bakersfield, CA 93385 Los Angeles. CA 90036-4929 1999 Harrison Street - Suite 650
Sao Francisco, CA 94612
Center on Race, Poverty Defenders of Wildlife/
& the Environmental/ Communities for a Better Environment Cynthia Wilkerson, M.S.
CA Rural Legal Assistance Foundation 1904 Franklin Street, Sujte 600 California Representative
I 012 Jefferson Street Oakland, CA 94612-2922 1303 ''J'' Street, Suite 270
Delano, CA 93215 Sacramento, CA 95814
Native American Heritage Council Beth Boyst Anitra Kass
of Kern County/Fay Van Hom Pacific Crest Trail Program Manager Pacific Crest Trail Association
P.O. Box 1507 1323 Club Drive 41860 Saint Annes Bay Drive
Bakersfield, CA 93302 Vallejo, CA 94592 Bermuda Dunes, CA 92203
Southern California Edison
Sierra Club/Kem Kaweab Chapter Southern California Edison
Planning Dept.
P.O. Box 410
42 l West 'T' Street
,_.**PUT IN BUCKET*** Long Beacb, CA 90801
Tehachapi, CA 9356 I
Southern California Gas Co 2 COPIES Verizon California, 1nc.
Southern California Gas Co 2 COPIES
Transportation Dept Attention Engineering Department
1510 North Chester A venue
9400 Oakdale A venue 520 South China Lake Boulevard
Bakersfield, CA 93308
Chatsworth, CA 9 I 313-651 J Ridgecrest, CA 93555
Kem Valley Indian Council
Chumash Council of Bakersfield David Laughing Horse Robinson
Attn: Robert Robinson, Chairperson
2421 "O" Street P.O. Box 20849
P.O. Box401
Bakersfield, CA 93301-2441 Bakersfield, CA 93390
Weldon, CA 93283
Kern Valley Indian Council Santa Rosa Rancheria Tejon Indian Tribe
Historic Preservation Office Ruben Barrios, Chairperson Kathy Morgan, Chairperson
P.O. Box 401 P.O. Box 8 1731 Hasti-acres Drive, Suite I 08
Weldon. CA 93283 Lemoore, CA 93245 Bakersfield, CA 93309
Kitanemuk & Yowlumne Tejon lndians l'ubatulabals of Kern Coumy Tule River Indian Tribe
Chairperson Attn: Robert Gomez, Chairperson Neal Peyron, Chairperson
J 15 Radio Street P.O. Box226 P.O. Box589
Bakersfield, CA 93305 Lake Isabella, CA 93240 Porterville. CA 93258