State of Washington

Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council

OER WA Solar 1, LLC.-Goose Prairie Solar Project – EFSEC Docket No. EF-210012

 

NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING AND REQUEST FOR PUBLIC COMMENT

SEPTEMBER 27, 2021

5 PM

Virtual Public Meeting

Description of Proposal

On January 19, 2021, OER WA Solar 1, LLC (Applicant) submitted an Application for Site Certification (ASC) to the Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council (EFSEC) to develop, construct and operate the Goose Prairie Solar Photovoltaic Project (Project). The proposed Project location is in Yakima County near the City of Moxee and will have a maximum generating capacity of 80 Megawatts (MW).

 

Proponent: OER WA Solar 1, LLC

 

State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) Lead Agency: EFSEC

 

What is EFSEC is proposing to do? 

EFSEC is conducting a public comment period, beginning Monday, September 13, 2021, through Monday, September 27, 2021.

EFSEC is  hold a public comment meeting in order to receive verbal comment on conditions to be included in a draft site certification agreement for the proposed Project to:

(a)    Comply with any development standard or criteria for approval set forth in the Yakima County Unified Development Code, YCC Title 19;

(b)    Mitigate material impacts of the development, whether environmental or otherwise;

(c)    Ensure compatibility of the development with existing neighboring land uses; assure consistency with the intent and character of the Agricultural Zoning District;

(d)    Ensure that the structures and areas proposed are surfaced, arranged and screened in such a manner that they are compatible with and not detrimental to existing or reasonable expected future development of the neighborhood, or resource uses, consistent with the Comprehensive Plan; and

(e)    Achieve and further the intent, goals, objectives, and policies of the Yakima County Comprehensive Plan and Unified Development Code. The Applicant and EFSEC staff will make presentations. The public will then have an opportunity to provide comment for the Council’s consideration.

How can you review the Project proposal documents?

Copies of the ASC and other materials are available at:

• https://www.efsec.wa.gov/energy-facilities/goose-prairie-solar/goose-prairie-application
• EFSEC
  621 Woodland Square Loop
  PO Box 43172
  Lacey, WA 98503-3172

How can you provide public comment?  

You may submit your comments to EFSEC  from 8:00 am Monday, September 13^th, 2021 through 5:00 pm Monday, September 27^th on the EFSEC website at https://comments.efsec.wa.gov, or in writing to the EFSEC office (see address above). Public comment will also be accepted during the public meeting.

 

Meeting Location

The public meeting will be held on Monday, September 27^th, 2021, from 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm or last speaker, whichever comes first. This meeting is being held remotely. You may attend the meeting via Microsoft Teams online or via phone at:

• Microsoft Teams Meeting link
• +1 253-372-2181 Conference ID: 77911428#

To facilitate this remote meeting, EFSEC would like to invite speakers to sign up ahead of the meeting. Anyone wishing to speak during the public meeting should please notify EFSEC by phone at (360) 664-1345 or email at efsec@utc.wa.gov before 5:00 pm on September 27, 2021.

 

For more information about the Project, contact Amí Hafkemeyer at (360) 664-1305 or ami.hafkemeyer@utc.wa.gov .

 

To request ADA accommodation or materials in a format for the visually impaired, contact the EFSEC office at (360) 664-1345.

 

 

Public Comment:

Public Comment will be accepted during the Public Information Meeting and Testimony will be accepted during the Land Use Consistency Hearing. If you are unable to attend these meetings please send your comment in writing to efsec@utc.wa.gov or at the mailing address below. Please do not email your comments directly to EFSEC staff or the Chair, only send to the EFSEC inbox.

To sign up to speak at this meeting please send an email to efsec@utc.wa.gov or call EFSEC staff at (360) 664-1345 before 5:00 pm on March 16, 2021. Please include your name and the phone number you plan to call from if you are attending the meeting over the phone. This will help us identify you at the virtual meeting.

Virtual Comment drop box:

You may submit your comments to our electronic database as a sort of virtual comment drop box similar to our comment box at in-person meetings. The campaign will only appear in the electronic database at 5pm to Midnight PST on March 16th.

Meeting Location – The Public Information Meeting and Land Use Consistency Hearing will be held virtually due to public health concerns related to the spread of the novel corona virus (COVID-19). We appreciate your participation and thank you for your patience and understanding.

You may attend the meeting via Skype online or via phone at:

• https://lync.wa.gov/utc.wa.gov/meet/joan.owens/156MT8YD
• 1 (360) 407-3810 ID:19601017#

Open House – March 16, 2021, 5:00 – 5:30 PM: The Applicant and EFSEC staff will be available to answer questions about the Project and the EFSEC review process.

Informational Public Meeting – March 16, 2021, 5:30 – 7:30 PM or last speaker, whichever comes first: As required by RCW 80.50.090 (1) and WAC 463-26-025 EFSEC will hold a Public Informational Meeting. At this meeting, the Applicant and EFSEC staff will make presentations. Also, at this meeting, Counsel for the Environment, an Assistant Attorney General appointed by the Washington Attorney General will be introduced and will explain the duties of this position. Public comment will be taken during this meeting. To sign up to speak at this meeting please send an email to efsec@utc.wa.gov or call EFSEC staff at (360) 664-1345 before 5:00 pm on March 16, 2021.

Land Use Consistency Hearing – March 16, 2021, 7:30 – 9:00 PM or last speaker, whichever comes first: As required by RCW 80.50.090 (2) and WAC 463-26-035, subsequent to the informational public hearing, at approximately 7:30 PM EFSEC will hold a Land Use Hearing. During this hearing, the public will be given an opportunity to provide testimony regarding the proposed Project’s consistency and compliance with land use plans and zoning ordinances. To sign up to give testimony at this hearing please send an email to efsec@utc.wa.gov or call EFSEC staff at (360) 664-1345 before 5:00 pm on March 16, 2021.

Note: The Land Use Consistency Hearing will begin no later than 30 minutes after the conclusion of the Informational Public Meeting, which may end before 7:30 PM.

For information regarding the Project please contact Kyle Overton, EFSEC Site Specialist at (360) 664-1357. If you have special accommodation needs or need language translation services to provide your comment, please contact EFSEC staff at (360) 664-1345 or send an email to efsec@utc.wa.gov.

Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council
621 Woodland Square Loop P.O. Box 43172,
Olympia, WA, 98504-3172

Governor's Proclamation on EFSEC Public Meetings 21-04

No comments received.

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