EFSEC: Whistling Ridge Wind Power Project

Whistling Ridge Energy Project

On March 10, 2009 Whistling Ridge Wind Energy LLC, submitted an Application for Site Certification to construct and operate the Whistling Ridge Energy Project. The Project will consist of up to fifty 1.2- to 2.5-megawatt wind turbines with a maximum generating capacity of 75 MW, to be located on the forested ridges of Saddleback Mountain in eastern Skamania County (location map). The Project includes an operation and maintenance facility, underground collector lines and systems, and other ancillary facilities. The proposed project will cover 1,152 acres.

On October 12, 2009 Whistling Ridge Energy LLC submitted an Amended Application for Site Certification that eliminated the site access road that traveled through the Columbia Gorge National Scenic Area to a road at the site's western boundary, outside the National Scenic Area.

Applicant:	Whistling Ridge Energy LLC PO Box 266 Bingen, WA 98605 (509) 493-6103
Facility:	75 MW wind power project
Location:	Skamania County, Washington, approximately 7miles northwest of White Salmon, Washington. Site Location Figure
Status:	Amended Application submitted on Oct. 12, 2009, application review continuing. Adjudicative Proceeding initiated, Notice for intervention issued on June 25, 2009. Application review initiated. Land Use Consistency hearing held on May 7, 2009.

General Information:

Adjudicative Proceeding - EFSEC is holding an adjudicative proceeding or the Whistling Ridge Energy Project under Chapter 34.05 RCW, the Administrative Procedure Act and has commenced the adjudicative hearing related to Application No. 2009-01 in accordance with the procedural requirements found in Chapter 463-30 WAC and Chapter 34.05 RCW.

See the Adjudication page for information, motions, orders, and filings related to EFSEC adjudicative proceedings of the Whistling Ridge Energy Project.

Application Review Process - Please see EFSEC site certification/application review
process

Environmental Review - EFSEC, in cooperation with the Bonneville Power Administration is conducting an environmental review under the State and National Environmental Policy Acts (SEPA and NEPA). Environmental Review page

Land Use Consistency - On May 7, 2006 EFSEC held a Land Use Consistency hearing in Skamania County. Land Use page

Amended Application for Site Certification - On October 12, 2009 Whistling Ridge LLC submitted an Amended Application for Site Certification. The primary change is the elimination of the site access through the Columbia Gorge Scenic Area. Below are links to the amended Application (Please note that the new language is underlined and deleted language is in ~~strike through~~):

INTRODUCTION

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PART 1 GENERAL
SECTION 1.1 DESCRIPTION OF APPLICANT
SECTION 1.2 DESIGNATION OF AGENT
SECTION 1.3 ASSURANCES
SECTION 1.4 MITIGATION MEASURES
SECTION 1.5 SOURCES OF INFORMATION

PART 2 PROPOSAL
SECTION 2.1 SITE DESCRIPTION
SECTION 2.2 LEGAL DESCRIPTIONS AND OWNERSHIP
    INTERESTS
SECTION 2.3 CONSTRUCTION ON SITE
SECTION 2.4 ENERGY TRANSMISSION SYSTEMS
SECTION 2.5 WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM
SECTION 2.6 SYSTEM OF HEAT DISSIPATION
SECTION 2.7 CHARACTERISTICS OF AQUATIC
      DISCHARGE SYSTEMS
SECTION 2.8 WASTEWATER TREATMENT
SECTION 2.9 SPILLAGE PREVENTION AND CONTROL
SECTION 2.10 SURFACE WATER RUNOFF
SECTION 2.11 EMISSION CONTROL
SECTION 2.12 CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION
       ACTIVITIES
SECTION 2.13 CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT
SECTION 2.14 CONSTRUCTION METHODOLOGY
SECTION 2.15 PROTECTION FROM NATURAL HAZARDS
SECTION 2.16 SECURITY CONCERNS
SECTION 2.17 STUDY SCHEDULES
SECTION 2.18 POTENTIAL FOR FUTURE ACTIVITIES
      AT THE SITE
SECTION 2.19 ANALYSIS OF ALTERNATIVES
SECTION 2.20 PERTINENT FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL
      REQUIREMENTS

PART 3 NATURAL ENVIRONMENT
SECTION 3.1 EARTH
SECTION 3.2 AIR QUALITY
SECTION 3.3 WATER
SECTION 3.4 HABITAT, VEGETATION, FISH AND WILDLIFE
SECTION 3.5 WETLANDS AND OTHER JURISDICTIONAL
       WATERS
SECTION 3.6 ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES

PART 4 BUILT ENVIRONMENT
SECTION 4.1 ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
SECTION 4.2 LAND AND SHORELINE USE
SECTION 4.3 TRANSPORTATION
SECTION 4.4 SOCIOECONOMIC IMPACT

PART 5 APPLICATIONS FOR PERMITS AND AUTHORIZATIONS
SECTION 5.1 AIR EMISSIONS PERMITS AND
AUTHORIZATIONS
SECTION 5.2 WASTEWATER AND STORMWATER
DISCHARGE PERMIT APPLICATION

APPENDICES
Appendix A Geotechnical Report
Appendix B Wildlife Reports
Appendix C Wetlands Report
Appendix D Representative Health and Safety
Codes
Appendix E Proposed Skamania Zoning Code
Appendix F Tribal Consultation

Recent Activity:

1-27-10 Skamania County Resolution 2009-54 revising Certification of Land Use Consistency

10-12-09 Amendment to Application for Site Certification

9-8-09 Responses to the Yakama Nation Cultural Resources Program's Petition for Intervention

9-8-09 Applicant's Response to Statements of Legal Issues

8-31-09 SEPA Scoping Report

8-27-09 Notice of Opportunity to Respond to Yakama Nation Cultural Resources Program's Petition for Intervention

8-24-09 Yakama Nation Cultural Resources Program's Petition for Intervention

8-24-09 Interveners' statements of legal issues

8-6-09 July 28, 2009 Prehearing Conference Transcript

8-4-09 Council Order No. 842 - Prehearing Order Granting Petitions for Intervention; Establishing Schedule for Statements of Legal Positions

7-24-09 Applicant's motion for intervention consolidation.

7-20-09 Petitions for Intervention

6-25-09 Notice of Opportunity and Closing Date to File Petitions for Intervention July 16, 2009; Notice of Prehearing Conference and Oral Arguments on Intervention July 28, 2009

6-17-09 Written Scoping/Public Comments

6-2-09 Public Scoping Comment meeting transcript, May 6, 2009 Stevenson, WA

6-2-09 Public Scoping Comment meeting transcript, May 7, 2009 Underwood, WA

5-27-09 Land Use Consistency Hearing transcript.

5-12-09 Land Use submittals

4-29-09 Special Meeting Notice - Site Tour

4-21-09 Determination of Significance, Scoping Notice and Revised Notice of Initial Public Meeting, Land Use Consistency Hearing and Public Scoping Meeting - May 6 & 7, 2009

4-6-09 Determination of Significance, Scoping Notice & Notice of Initial Public Meeting, Land Use Consistency Hearing and Public Scoping Meeting - May 6, 2009

4-2-09 Request for Proposal - Independent Consulting Services for Environmental Review of Whistling Ridge Energy Project. Proposals due 5 pm, April 24, 2009.

3-10-09 Application Submitted

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For information or questions concerning this Project please contact:

Jim LaSpina, Siting Specialist
Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council
905 Plum Street SE 3rd Floor
PO Box 43172
Olympia, WA 98504-3172
(360) 956-2047

To be added to the Whistling Ridge Wind Power Project mailing list, please:

contact Tammy Talburt at (360) 956-2121

or

e-mail your complete name and postal or e-mail address to efsec@commerce.wa.gov

Important Note: Public comments submitted to the Council via the internet or in writing become public records under the Washington State Public Records Act (RCW 42.17). Information included in the comment such as the commentor's e-mail and mailing address becomes a public record once it is provided to EFSEC and may be subject to public inspection and copying if not protected by federal or state law. For additional information please see our Privacy Notice.

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