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Home My WebLink About20080725.tiff SITE SPECIFIC DEVELOPMENT PLAN AND USE BY SPECIAL REVIEW (USR) APPLICATION • FOR PLANNING DEPARTMENT USE DATE RECEIVED: RECEIPT#/AMOUNT# /$ CASE #ASSIGNED: APPLICATION RECEIVED BY PLANNER ASSIGNED: / Z 6 9 O 3 O O b 0 0 Parcel Number 1 2 0 9 - 1 0 - 0 - 0 0 - 0 0 6 (See Appendix B) z b 9 0 3 0 0 0 o z / (12 digit number-found on Tax I.D.Information,obtainable at the Weld County Assessor's Office,or www.co.weld.co.us). Legal Description Portions of Sections 3 & 10 of T3N, R67W (See Appendix B) Flood Plain: N/A Zone District: I-3 , Total Acreage: 125 ,Overlay District: Geological Hazard: N/A ,Airport Overlay District: N/A FEE OWNER(S)OF THE PROPERTY: Name: Public Service Company of Colorado Work Phone #503-57L-7284—_Home Phone#_ _ Email Address:550 35th Street. Suite 700 Address: City/State2ip Code Denver, Colorado 80202 Name: Rick Thompson • — Work Phone #_303-571-7284 Home Phone #__ Email rick.thompson@xcelenergy.com Address: 550 15th Street, Suite 700 Address: City/State/Zip Code Denver, Colorado 80202 Name: Jason Manassee Work Phone # 303-571-7759 Home Phone #_ — Email jason.manassee@xcelenergy_ccmn Address: 550 15th Street, Suite 700 Address: City/State/Zip Code Denver, Colorado 80202 APPLICANT OR AUTHORIZED AGENT (See Below:Authorization must accompany applications signed by Authorized Agent) Name: Work Phone # Home Phone # Email Address: Address: City/State/Zip Code • PROPOSED USE: Installation of (2) Peak-Load Gas Fired Simple Cycle Electric Generating Units EXHIBIT 2008-0725 204 -6- • I (We) hereby depose and state under penalties of perjury that all statements, proposals, and/or plans submitted with or contained within the application are true and correct to the best of my (our)knowledge. Signatures of all fee owners of properly must sign this application. If an Authorized Agent signs,a letter of authorization from all fee owners must be included with the application. If a corporation is the fee owner, notarized evidence must be included indicating that the signatory has to legal authority to sign fo orporation. N/A /24.9/07 Signature:Owner or Authorized Agent Date ignature: Ow r r uthorized Agent Date Riley H , Regional Vice President Custome & Community Service Xcel Energy Services, Inc. Agent for Public Service Company of Colorado • • • Xcel Ener 9'YsM PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY INSTALLATION OF TWO SIMPLE CYCLE NATURAL GAS TURBINES (UNITS 5 & 6) AT THE FORT SAINT VRAIN GENERATING FACILITY • December, 2007 Use by Special Review Permit Application Submittal to Weld County Under Areas and Activities of State Interest • ghts • .be,Energy"• Siting nd Land 550 15th Street Suite 700 Denver,Colorado 80202-4256 PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY Telephone:303.571.7799 Facsimile:303.571.7877 December 20, 2007 Mr. Kim Ogle, Planning Manager Weld County— Department of Planning Services 918 10th Street Greeley, CO 80631 Re: Installation of Two Simple-Cycle Natural Gas Turbine Generators (Units 5 & 6) at the Fort Saint Vrain Generating Facility Dear Mr. Ogle: • With this application, Public Service Company of Colorado (PSCo), an Xcel Energy Company, hereby submits a Use by Special Review permit application in compliance with Weld County's Chapter 21, Areas and Activities of State Interest requirements allowing for the construction, operation and maintenance of two simple-cycle natural gas turbine generators at its Fort Saint. Vrain (FSV) generating facility located west of Platteville, Colorado. As we discussed in our pre-application meeting, the proposed project will replace power generation capacity that PSCo contracted to purchase from a new power plant that had been under development in El Paso County. The generator in El Paso County was scheduled to be operational in May 2009, in time to meet our summer peak energy demand. However, we recently learned that the El Paso project could not be completed under the terms of the contract. These circumstances present PSCo with the challenge of having to permit, engineer and construct the FSV project within an extremely tight timeframe. Specifically, to enable us to meet energy demands in summer 2009, we need to begin construction in April 2008. PSCo is also filing with the Colorado Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) an application for approval of a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) to construct • the proposed turbines. Page 1 of 2 • The CPUC application seeks to amend the contingency plan that was approved under our 2003 Resource Plan, and it requests expedited treatment due to the aggressive development schedule. Consistent with the review timeframe we are requesting of Weld County for this application, our CPUC application asks that the Utilities Commission render a final decision no later than April 1, 2008. In accordance with directives from the Weld County Department of Planning Services, and pursuant to C.R.S. 29-20-108 and other applicable state statutes, PSCo hereby submits this application for your review. We sincerely appreciate Weld County's support and willingness to help meet this critical deadline. Please contact Rick Thompson (303-571-7284), Jason Manassee (303-571-7759), or me (303-571-7281) with any questions. Sincerely, J n Lup nager, ' ' g and Land Rights Public Service Company of Colorado • Enclosures Cc: Fisher M. El Mallakh, N. • Page 2 of 2 • WELD COUNTY ROAD ACCESS INFORMATION SHEET Weld County Department of Public Works 111 H Street, P.O. Box 758, Greeley, Colorado 80632 Phone: (970 )356.4000, Ext. 3750 Fax: (970) 304-6497 Road File #: Date: RE # : Other Case #: 1. Applicant Name Public Service Company of Colorado Phone 303-571-6985 Address 550 15th Street, Suite 700 City Denver State CO Zip 80202 2. Address or Location of Access 16805 CR 19-1/2, Platteville, Colorado 80651 Section 10 Township 3N Range 67W Subdivision NA Block NA Lot NA Weld County Road #: 19-1/2 Side of Road East Distance from nearest Intersection 3. Is there an existing access(es)to the property? Yes X No #of Accesses 2 4. Proposed Use: ❑ Permanent ❑ ResidentiaVAgricultural ❑ Industrial ❑ Temporary ❑ Subdivision ❑ Commercial ® Other Construction access on existing service roads 5. Site Sketch Legend for Access Description:A AG = Agricultural RES = Residential O&G = Oil&Gas • D.R. = Ditch Road = House El = Shed A , =Proposed Access • = Existing Access `a rn ~Nr l N9TCaJ<T tea _U I OFFICE USE ONLY: Road ADT Date Accidents Date Road ADT Date Accidents Date Drainage Requirement Culvert Size Length Special Conditions ❑ Installation Authorized ❑ Information Insufficient Reviewed By: Title: CERTIFICATE OF CONVEYANCES WELD COUNTY STATE OF COLORADO DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING SERVICES • COUNTY OF WELD -10- • SAMPLE PLAT CERTIFICATES PLANNING COMMISSION CERTIFICATION This is the certify that the Weld County Planning Commission has certified and does hereby recommend to the Board of County Commissioners, Weld County Colorado, for its confirmation, approval and adoption this Site Specific Development Plan and Use by Special Review as shown and described thereon this day of ,20 Chair,Weld County Planning Commission BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS CERTIFICATION This is to certify that the Board of County Commissioners,Weld County,Colorado,does herebyconfirm and adopt this Site Specific Development Plan and Use by Special Review and Development Standards as shown and described hereon this day of , 20 • Chair, Board of County Commissioners ATTEST: Weld County Clerk to the Board BY: Dated: Deputy Clerk to the Board PROPERTY OWNER'S CERTIFICATION The undersigned major property owner(s) do hereby agree to the Site Specific Development Plan and Use by Special Review Development Standards as described hereon this__day of 20 Signature Signature FOR COMMERCIAL SITES, PLEASE COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION BUSINESS EMERGENCY INFORMATION: • Business Name: Fort Saint Vrain Generating Facility Phone: 303-620-1313 -12- • Address: 16805 Weld County Road 19-1/2 City,ST,Zip: Platteville, CO 80651 Business Owner: Public Service Company of Colorado Phone: 303-620-1313 Home Address: N/A City,ST,Zip: N/A List three persons in the order to be called in the event of an emergency: NAME TITLE ADDRESS PHONE Marty Block, Plant Director 303-620-1313 Jerry McCauley, Operations Manager 303-620-1181 Bob Gunnerson,_ Maintenance Manager 303-620-1389 Business Hours: 24 Hours Days: 7 Type of Alarm: None Burglar Holdup C Silent e Name and address of Alarm Company: N/A Location of Safe: N/A MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION: Number of entry/exit doors in this building: Location(s): • Is alcohol stored in building? Location(s): Are drugs stored In building? Location(s): Are weapons stored In building? Location(s): The following programs are offered as a public service of the Weld County Sheriff's Office. Please indicate the programs of interest. Physical Security Check Crime Prevention Presentation UTILITY SHUT OFF LOCATIONS: Main Electrical: Gas Shut Off: Exterbr W ater S h utoff: Interior Water Shutoff: • -13- December 2007 • USE BY SPECIAL REVIEW (USR) QUESTIONNAIRE The following questions are to be answered and submitted as part of the USR application. If a question does not pertain to your use, please respond with "not applicable", with an explanation as to why the question is not applicable. 1. Explain, in detail, the proposed use of the property. Public Service Company (PSCo), an Xcel Energy Company, currently operates the Fort Saint Vrain Generating Station site. The Fort Saint Vrain (FSV) generation facility is a natural gas-fired combined cycle plant that consists of three combustion turbines and three heat recovery steam generators that feed the plant's original steam turbine. PSCo operates the facility under a Weld County Special Review permit (USR-1063). This permit allows for all current operations on the site. The project would involve construction and installation of two (2) new peak-load gas-fired simple cycle electric generating units and a new 12-inch natural gas pipeline located on FSV property. The new combustion turbines are similar to the three (3) combustions currently in operation at the site now, but without the heat recovery steam generating components. A new gas pipeline providing fuel to the new turbine units would be constructed from an existing meter station • located on FSV property near the intersection of WCR 34 and WCR 19%. The pipeline alignment will generally parallel the existing pipeline that supplies gas to the existing turbines less than % mile to the north. No future phases or extensions associated with this Project in unincorporated Weld County are envisioned at this time. This application requests the granting of a Use by Special Review permit allowing PSCo to construct the proposed facilities necessary to meet summer peak energy demand in 2009. This demand was originally to be met by a new plant to be constructed in El Paso County. PSCo recently learned that this facility would not be completed under the terms of the contract, necessitating this project in Weld County and expedited treatment during the review process. 2. Explain how this proposal is consistent with the intent of the Weld County Code, Chapter 22 (Comprehensive Plan). The Weld County Comprehensive Plan identifies a wide range of goals and policies. These goals and policies were apparently considered when Weld County set forth the 1041 and USR permit application requirements. Some examples include: • Page 1 of 7 Fort Saint Vrain Combustion Turbine Installation Weld County Use By Special Review Permit Application December 2007 • • Weld County Comprehensive Plan—Sec 22-5-30.6 W. Policy 2.1—The effect of the proposed development upon wildlife and habitat should be evaluated and the loss of critical habitat mitigated. Weld County maintains maps of known critical wildlife habitats. The project would not occur in critical habitat areas. • Weld County Comprehensive Plan—Sec. 22-5-30.B W. Policy 2.2 — Destruction of wetlands or riparian areas will be strongly discouraged and mitigation for loss of wetlands and riparian habitat will be encouraged. No direct or indirect impacts on wetlands or waters of the U.S. are anticipated. A Clean Water Act, Section 404 permit is not needed. There are no wetlands or riparian areas within or immediately adjacent to the project site. • Weld County Comprehensive Plan—Sec. 22-5-50.D O. Goal 4— Development improvements should minimize visual scarring from grading, road cuts, and other site disturbances and should integrate new landscaping with the existing natural landscape. Land disrupted during pipeline construction would be re-graded to • preconstruction contours and revegetated with appropriate plant species. • Weld County Comprehensive Plan—Sec. 22-2-150.D.2.l Policy 4.2— An evaluation of economic impacts and benefits for industrial development. The proposed FSV turbine project will yield significant economic and fiscal benefits to Weld County, both during and after construction. The total capital cost of the project is $191 million, including $114 million for equipment and materials, labor, and $77 million for contingencies and indirect costs. Construction is scheduled to begin in April 2008 and run through May 2009. During this 14 month period, up to 165 laborers and high-skilled workers will report to the site. These workers will stimulate the local economy through spending on goods, retail and personal services, lodging and restaurants. Construction activities will generate local tax revenue, payroll for construction workers and sales taxes for some construction goods and services. Existing operations at FSV employ 36 full-time workers, including skilled professional technicians, operators and laborers. A total of two to four full- • time jobs will be added following construction of the proposed project. Page 2 of 7 Fort Saint Vrain Combustion Turbine Installation Weld County Use By Special Review Permit Application December 2007 • Each year the State of Colorado values PSCo assets, including the FSV generating facility, as one unit of uniform ownership. The rates that Weld County will apply to the value of PSCo assets will not be known until late in 2007. However, by applying the rates used for 2006 taxes, PSCo's tax department has estimated tax revenues that will be generated from the proposed project. A breakdown of estimated property tax revenues is shown in below. Annual Property Tax Revenue Projections from FSV Project Entity Amount (2007 $) Weld County $316,360 Gilcrest School District RE-1 $583,670 Platteville-Gilcrest Fire Protection District $132,100 Aims Junior College $219,870 No. Colorado Water Conservancy District $34,700 Weld County Library District $113,300 Total $1,400,000 • Each of Comprehensive Plan policies relates to a specific discussion later in the application submittal package. More generally, the Weld County Comprehensive Plan seeks to avoid land use incompatibilities and to conserve Weld County's environmental and natural resources. The proposed action would occur on an existing industrial site with surrounding land uses that have adapted to and responded to site conditions and uses since the 1980s when the site supported a nuclear power plant. Conversion of the plant from nuclear fuel to gas combustion in the late 1980s and early 1990s likely reduced land use compatibility issues and potential impacts on environmental and natural resources. At this point, expansion of regional power generation capacity with two additional gas combustion turbines would have incremental impacts on environmental and natural resources, but these effects would be less than significant and would be in compliance with Weld County's goals and policies. 3. Explain how this proposal is consistent with the intent of the Weld County Code, Chapter 23 (Zoning) and the zone district in which it is located. The zoning district is 1-3. Weld County's zoning designations for lands adjacent to the FSV Generating Facility site are shown in Figure 3. Major Facilities of a Public Utility may be allowed in the 1-3 District upon the approval of a Use by Special Review permit in accordance with the requirements and procedures set • forth in Article II, Division 4 of Chapter 23. Page 3 of 7 Fort Saint Vrain Combustion Turbine Installation Weld County Use By Special Review Permit Application December 2007 • The two new combustion turbine sites are located within the 1-3 zoning district. The pipeline alignment is located within the 1-3 district and an adjoining Agricultural designated zoning district. Major Facilities of a Public Utility are allowed as a Use by Special Review in the Agriculture zone district, subject to the provisions of Section 23-4-420 of the Weld County Code. 4. What type of uses surround the site? Explain how the proposed use is consistent and compatible with surrounding land uses. Surrounding uses are comprised primarily of agricultural uses with some residences located on the Agriculture zoned properties. The nearest residence is approximately % mile away from the project site. Noise created by operation of the new turbines will be at or below the state standard for noise. The 1-3 zone was established for developments that may have greater visual impacts. Views into this industrial site by most residences are in excess of one mile. At this distance the addition of the turbines will have a minor visual impact and from most viewing angles are absorbed into the existing plant site because of scale and perspective. • 5. Describe, in detail, the following: a. How many people will use this site? Thirty-six people are currently employed at the FSV Generating Facility b. How many employees are proposed to be employed at this site? The addition of the two combustion turbines may require 2-4 additional employees. c. What are the hours of operation? The turbines will be constructed at the existing FSV Generating Facility, which operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The actual operation of the new turbines will be much less. It is estimated that the turbines will operate intermittently for only 600 hours out of the year during peak demand periods of the summer months. • Page 4 of 7 Fort Saint Vrain Combustion Turbine Installation Weld County Use By Special Review Permit Application December 2007 • d. What type and how many structures will be erected (built) on this site? The project would involve construction and installation of two (2) new peak- load gas-fired simple cycle electric generating units and a new 12-inch natural gas pipeline located on FSV property. The new combustion turbines are similar to the three (3) combustions currently in operation at the site now, but without the heat recovery steam generating components. A new gas pipeline providing fuel to the new turbine units would be constructed from an existing meter station and will generally parallel the existing pipeline that supplies gas to the existing turbines. No future phases or extensions associated with this Project in unincorporated Weld County are envisioned at this time. e. What type and how many animals, if any, will be on this site? Not applicable. No animals will be on the site of this project. The proposed project is for the construction of two combustion turbines and a gas supply pipeline for the turbines. f. What kind (type, size, weight) of vehicles will access this site and how often? • Construction equipment will include excavators, wheeled and tracked backhoes, bulldozers, loaders, dump trucks, cement trucks, cranes, excavators, man lifts, and semi trailers that deliver parts and equipment. The exact number and types of vehicles and train loads will not be known until final engineering plans are complete and the construction schedule is finalized. Once much of the heavy equipment is delivered on-site, it will remain there until work is completed. Personal vehicles owned by the construction workforce will access the site on a daily basis until work is completed. The combustion turbine and generator will be delivered via railcar over Union Pacific (UP) tracks and an existing spur into the site that is owned by PSCo. We do not anticipate the delivery and unloading will not interfere with rail transport schedules or vehicular traffic on any Weld County roads. Rail equipment delivery will not result in any lengthy blockage of traffic as the train will only pull a maximum of six cars and can pull completely onto the PSCo rail spur. No vehicles are needed for facility operations. Light and heavy trucks will be used during periodic maintenance activities. These vehicles are part of an • existing maintenance fleet at the generating station. Page 5 of 7 Fort Saint Vrain Combustion Turbine Installation Weld County Use By Special Review Permit Application December 2007 • g. Who will provide fire protection to the site? Platteville Fire Rescue h. What is the water source on the property? (Both domestic and irrigation). Domestic and process water comes from Central Weld Water District, and groundwater wells #11 and #12. I. What is the sewage disposal system on the property? (Existing and proposed). The FSV Generating Station maintains two aerated lagoons to treat domestic sewage for its approximately 36 employees. The addition of the combustion turbines may require 2 to 4 additional employees. The discharge system is permitted through the State of Colorado under CWDPS Permit No. CO-0001121. No modification to the system is proposed. j. If storage or warehousing is proposed, what type of items will be stored? • Not applicable. Warehousing and storage are not proposed in this application. 6. Explain the proposed landscaping for the site. The landscaping shall be separately submitted as a landscape plan map as part of the application submittal. No landscaping currently exists or is proposed in the vicinity of the turbines, as the new turbines will be set partially within what is now the existing fenced equipment yard adjacent to the existing three turbines. A new fence will be erected to enclose the additional turbines. The riparian vegetation on the South Platte River provides natural screening from adjacent properties east of the project site. For natural gas pipeline construction, all areas disturbed by construction will be returned to pre-construction contours and re-seeded where appropriate with a Weld County approved seed mix. • Page 6of7 Fort Saint Vrain Combustion Turbine Installation Weld County Use By Special Review Permit Application December 2007 • 7. Explain any proposed reclamation procedures when termination of the Use by Special Review activity occurs. PSCo does not anticipate the termination of electric generation activities at the FSV site in the foreseeable future. This site is a critical component in our fleet of generation resources and not a temporary or term-limited type of facility. 8. Explain how the storm water drainage will be handled on the site. At the FSV Generating Facility, much of the stormwater within the plant site flows to storm drains, through oil/water separators, and to the designated outfalls established under Colorado Wastewater Discharge Permit System held by PSCo for discharges to state waters (CO-0001121). Stormwater on the east side of the plant flows into a storm retention pond via a swale. The stormwater that accumulates in the pond either evaporates or infiltrates. The soils at the plant are sandy, so in outlying areas, and away from active plant operations, stormwater follows the natural grade through a vegetative buffer and infiltrates. Stormwater around the proposed combustion turbines will be directed to the existing storm drain system. The new combustion turbines will be constructed near the existing stormwater retention pond requiring the pond to be relocated north of its current location. However, the modified stormwater flow path will still • utilize the existing storm drain system on the east side of the plant. 9. Explain how long it will take to construct this site and when construction and landscaping is scheduled to begin. The construction period for the new turbines is estimated to be 14 months from site preparation to project completion. Site preparation is expected to begin in April of 2008. The turbines must be complete and operational in June of 2009. 10.Explain where storage and/or stockpile of wastes will occur on this site. Construction debris and wastes will not be permanently stored or stockpiled on site. Wastes will be kept in appropriate containers on-site then will be disposed of in accordance with local, state and federal law. • Page 7 of 7 Fort Saint Vrain Combustion Turbine Installation Weld County Use By Special Review Permit Application • INSTALLATION OF TWO SIMPLE CYCLE NATURAL GAS TURBINES (UNITS 5 & 6) AT THE FORT SAINT VRAIN GENERATING FACILITY December, 2007 Prepared by Public Service Company of Colorado • Short Elliott Hendrickson, Inc. • December 2007 • TABLE OF CONTENTS SECTION PAGE I. INTRODUCTION 1 A. Applicability of 1041 Requirements 1 B. Summary of Existing Conditions, 1 Operations and Permits C. Summary of Project Description 1 II. PROJECT DESCRIPTION 12 A. Project Location and Setting 12 A.1 Local and Regional Setting 12 A.2 Current Operations and Facilities 13 A.3 Land Ownership Details 14 A.4 Site Owner/Applicant 14 • A.5 Legal Description of the Site 14 A.6 Adjacent Property Owners 14 A.7 Mineral Owners and Lessees 14 B. Purpose and Need 15 B.1 Xcel Energy's Plan for Future Power Generation 15-16 B.2 Basis for Selection of Fort Saint Vrain Generating Facility 17-18 B.3 Specific Needs Met by the Proposed Project 18-19 C. Proposed Improvements 20 C.1 Overview 20 C.2 Structures 21 C.3 Other Facilities 21 C.4 Roads and Parking 21 C.5 Landscaping 21 C.6 Required Permits 22 D. Proposed Facility Operations 22 D.1 Employment and Operators 22 • D.2 Facility Operation Schedule 22 Page i of 55 Fort Saint Vrain Combustion Turbine Installation Weld County Use By Special Review Permit Application December 2007 • D.3 Vehicle Types and Access 23 D.4 Hazardous Conditions and Emergency Procedures 23 D.5 Hazardous Waste Generation 24 D.6 Fire Protection 24 D.7 Water Sources and Uses 24 D.8 Sewage Disposal System 24-25 D.9 Stormwater Drainage System 25 D.10 Reclamation Plans and Procedures 25 D.11 Other 26 E. Construction Requirements for the 26 Proposed Facility E.1 Schedule 26 E.2 Construction Activities 26 E.3 Construction Equipment, Vehicles and Access 26-27 E.4 Construction Materials and Waste: Storage and Stockpiling 27 III. BACKGROUND INFORMATION, ANALYSIS 27 OF POTENTIAL IMPACTS, AND INDENTIFICATION OF MITIGATION MEASURES AND PROJECT COMMITMENTS • A. LAND USE, PLANNING AND PUBLIC POLICY 28 A.1 Existing Land Uses 28 A.2 Planned Land Uses and Zoning 28 A.3 Applicable Plans and Policies 29-30 A.4 Agricultural Productivity Capability of the Land Affected 31 A.5 Existing Easements and Rights of Way 31 B. NATURAL RESOURCES 31 B.1 Vegetation 31 B.2 Wildlife 32-33 B.3 Threatened, Endangered and Protected Species 33-34 B.4 Wetlands 35 B.5 Air Quality 35-36 B.6 Noise 36-37 B.7 Hazardous Materials and Waste 37-38 B.8 Hydrologic Conditions -Water Resources 38-39 B.9 Geologic and Soil (Pedologic) Resources 39-40 • Page ii of 55 Fort Saint Vrain Combustion Turbine Installation Weld County Use By Special Review Permit Application December 2007 • C. SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC RESOURCES 40 C.1 Transportation 40 C.2 Public Services and Utilities 40-41 C.3 Visual Quality and Aesthetics 41 C.4 Recreation 41 C.5 Economic and Fiscal Conditions (Public Finances) 42 D. CULTURAL RESOURCES 43 A. Archaeology 43 B. History 43 IV. PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT 44 V. FIGURES 45 VI. DATA SOURCES 46 VII. PREPARERS AND QUALIFICATIONS 47 VIII. APPENDICES 48 A. Landowner Information 49 B. Legal Descriptions 50 C. Air Pollution Emission Notices (APENS) 51 D. Noise Study 52 E. Fort Saint Vrain Emergency Operations Procedures 53 F. Wastewater Discharge Permits 54 G. Water Well Permits 55 • Page iii of 55 Fort Saint Vrain Combustion Turbine Installation Weld County Use By Special Review Permit Application December 2007 LIST OF FIGURES FIGURES 1. Vicinity Map 2. Plot Plan/General Arrangement (Sheets a, b, c, d and e) 3. Current Use and Zoning 4. Weld County Generating Facility Locations 5. Critical Habitat 6. Water Resources 7. Geologic Hazards 8. Photographs of the Project Site 9. Visual Simulation of the Proposed Turbine Facilities from WCR 34 looking north 10. Milliken Comprehensive Plan LIST OF TABLES TABLE PAGE 1. Submittal Requirements Cross Reference 3 2. PSCo Summer Peak Demand, 2008 —2015 16 3. Generation Resources Acquired through PSCo's 17 2003 Resource Plan 4. Noise Effects Summary 37 5. Property Tax Revenue Projections from FSV Project 42 • Page iv of 55 Fort Saint Vrain Combustion Turbine Installation Weld County Use By Special Review Permit Application December 2007 • I. INTRODUCTION A. Applicability of 1041 Requirements The proposed project is considered a major facility of a public utility. The Weld County 1041 requirements are applicable and a Development Permit is required. The documentation presented herein is consistent will the application submittal requirements set forth under Section 21-3-330 of Weld County Code, Article Ill Site Selection and Construction of Major Facilities of a Public Utility and per discussions with Weld County staff representatives. Table 1 presents a cross referencing tool to clarify where information meeting all submittal requirements and can be found in this document. All applicable Section 21-3-330 application information and mapping requirements have been met. B. Summary of Existing Conditions, Operations and Permits Public Service Company (PSCo), an Xcel Energy Company, currently operates the Fort Saint Vrain Generating Facility site. The Fort Saint Vrain (FSV) generation facility is a natural gas-fired combined cycle plant that consists of three combustion turbines and three heat recovery steam generators that feed the plant's original steam turbine. PSCo operates the facility under a Weld County Use by Special Review (USR) permit, (No. 1063) in compliance with • Weld Counties Section 1041, "Areas and Activities of State Interest" requirements. This permit allows for all current operations on the site. Figure 1 presents a vicinity map showing existing conditions. C. Summary of Project Description The project would involve construction and installation of two (2) new peak-load gas-fired simple cycle electric generating units and a new 12 inch natural gas pipeline located on FSV property. The new combustion turbines are similar to the three (3) combustions currently in operation at the site now, but without the heat recovery steam generating components. A new gas pipeline alignment providing fuel to the new turbine units would be added generally parallel to the existing pipeline that supplies gas to the existing turbines. Figure 2, Sheets b, c, d, and e present a general arrangement drawing of the existing site with the addition of the two (2) units and pipeline facilities. No future phases or extensions associated with this Project in unincorporated Weld County are envisioned at this time. Figure 3 characterizes current uses of the site and Weld County zoning designations. • Page 1 of 55 Fort Saint Vrain Combustion Turbine Installation Weld County Use By Special Review Permit Application December 2007 • This application requests the granting of a Use by Special Review permit allowing PSCo to construct the proposed facilities in order to meet summer peak energy demand in 2009. This demand was to be met by a new plant in El Paso County. PSCo recently learned that this facility would not be completed under the terms of the contract, necessitating this project and expedited treatment during the review process. • • Page 2 of 55 Fort Saint Vrain Combustion Turbine Installation Weld County Use By Special Review Permit Application December 2007 • Table 1 Submittal Requirements Cross Reference Application Submittal Requirements Section 21-3-330 Section Page B. 1. The following are general requirements for any map or plan required p.45 hereunder. Minimum requirements include: a. The name of the proposed development or use and total number of acres under consideration. b. Because all maps and plans may be used for public presentation, the map scale and size should be large enough for effective presentation and should accurately illustrate the application. c. Name, address and telephone number of the applicant, designer, engineer, p.12 surveyor and any other consultants of the applicant. d. Date of preparation, revision box, written scale, graphic scale and north arrow for each map. 2. The applicant must provide the following information concerning title of the project site, which shall be the entire proposed alignment or corridor under consideration at the time of the application for transmission line and pipeline projects: a. The names and addresses of all surface property owners of the project site p.49 and within one thousand three hundred twenty(1,320)feet of the boundaries of the property proposed to be physically disturbed, except for transmission line or pipeline projects, for which the names and addresses of all surface property owners for five hundred (500)feet on either side of the centerline of the proposed alignment shall be provided. b. The planned access to the project site and the means the applicant intends to Figures 2a-e • use to obtain a legal right to utilize such access, including copies of any access or right-of-way agreements which have been entered into by the date of the application for such access. c. The names and addresses of persons or entities with an interest in any real p.12 property proposed to be physically disturbed or crossed by the activity or development which is the subject of the application, excluding mineral interests but including those holding mortgages,judgments, liens, easements, contract rights, rights-of-way, reservations, exceptions or other encumbrances, at least to the extent shown in the records of the County Clerk and Recorder or of which applicant has actual knowledge. d. The names and addresses of mineral interest holders with an interest in any p.49 real property proposed to be physically disturbed or crossed by the activity or development which is the subject of the application in the case of projects to be constructed more than ten (10)feet below the surface, excluding foundation structures for above-ground transmission lines, at least to the extent shown in the records of the County Clerk and Recorder and County Assessor. In addition, the applicant shall provide a certificate stating the process by which the applicant compiled such information, when such information was compiled and the steps which were taken to ensure the accuracy of the information. The County will require that the information be compiled and verified in a manner reasonably designed to ensure the accuracy of such information, but shall not require the use of title insurance or attorney's title opinions. • Page 3 of 55 Fort Saint Vrain Combustion Turbine Installation Weld County Use By Special Review Permit Application December 2007 • Application Submittal Requirements Section 21-3-330 Section Page The County will require that the last search for such information have been updated no later than ten (10) days before the date that the application is submitted, and that such information be updated again no later than ten (10) days before the public hearing on the application. 3. Section 1041 Permit Map: a. The map shall be delineated on reproducible material approved by the Figures 1 and Department of Planning Services. 2a-e b. The dimensions of the map shall be thirty-six (36) inches wide by twenty-four (24) inches high. c. The map shall include certificates for the property owner's signature (excepting linear facilities), the Planning Commission, the Board of County Commissioners and the Clerk to the Board. The required content of the certificates is available from the Planning Department. d.Vicinity Map. A vicinity map shall be drawn on the Use by Special Review Figure 1 Permit Plan Map. i. The exact scale of the vicinity map shall be determined at the time of the preapplication conference, taking into consideration the type and size of the proposed project, as well as the type and complexity of the information to be mapped. ii. The vicinity map shall delineate all of the required information within a one- half-mile radius of the property (one thousand [1,000] feet for linear facilities) • proposed for the Section 1041 Permit. iii. The following information shall be shown on the vicinity map: a) Section, township and range. b) Scale and north arrow. c) Outline of the perimeter of the parcel proposed for the site. (For linear facilities, the proposed centerline and width of any corridor to be considered for the Section 1041 Permit.) d)The general classifications and distribution of soils over the parcel under consideration. Soil classification names and agricultural capability classifications must be noted in the legend. (These requirements are generally not applicable to linear facilities.) e) Locations and names of all key roads, irrigation ditches and water features. f) Location of all residences within a one-half-mile radius, existing and proposed accesses to the property proposed for the facility(excepting linear facilities), any abutting subdivision outlines and names, and the boundaries of any adjacent municipality. g)Any other relevant information within a one-half-mile distance of the perimeter property proposed for the facility as may be reasonably required by the County to meet the intent and purpose of this Chapter. • Page 4 of 55 Fort Saint Vrain Combustion Turbine Installation Weld County Use By Special Review Permit Application December 2007 • Application Submittal Requirements Section 21-3-330 Section Page 4. Plot Plan. A plot plan of the facility area shall be drawn on the Section 1041 Figures 2a-e, Permit Map. p.45 a. The exact scale of the plot plan shall be determined at the time of the preapplication conference, taking into consideration the type and size of the proposed project, as well as the type and complexity of the information to be mapped. b. The plot plan shall outline the boundaries of the parcel being considered for the facility. c. The plot plan shall include the location and identification of all of the following items which are presently existing within a two-hundred-foot radius of the boundaries of the Section 1041 Permit area as well as within the area itself; it shall also include the proposed features and structures of the facility(some of the following may not be applicable to linear facilities): i. All public rights-of-way of record, including names. ii. All existing and proposed structures. iii. All utility easements or rights-of-way for telephone, gas, electric, water and sewer lines. iv. Irrigation ditches. v. Adjacent property lines and respective owners' names (may be shown on Figure 1 vicinity map instead). vi. All hydrographic features including streams, rivers, ponds and reservoirs Figure 2b-e • (including names). and Figure 7 vii. Topography at two-foot contour intervals or at intervals as determined necessary by the Planning Department. (Linear facilities shall include appropriate topographic data derived from USGS maps or an equivalent database.) viii. Location of areas of moderate or severe soil limitations as defined by the NA, p.39 Natural Resources Conservation Service or by a soil survey and study prepared by a soils engineer or scientist for the uses and associated structures proposed for the parcel. ix. Location and design of storm water management devices or structures Figure 2b-e (excepting linear facilities). x. Complete traffic circulation and parking plan showing locations and sizes Figure 2b-e (excepting linear facilities). xi. Location, amount, size and type of any proposed landscaping, fencing, walls, NA, p.21, 22 berms or other screening. (Linear facilities shall provide information regarding revegetation and reclamation.) xii. Location of any flood hazard, geologic hazard or mineral resource areas. Figure 7 xiii. Such additional information as may be reasonably required by the Planning Department, the Planning Commission or the Board of County Commissioners in order to determine that the application meets the requirements of this Chapter and the policies of Chapter 22 of this Code and any other applicable Code provision or ordinance in effect. • Page 5 of 55 Fort Saint Vrain Combustion Turbine Installation Weld County Use By Special Review Permit Application December 2007 • Application Submittal Requirements Section 21-3-330 Section Page 5. The following items and information: a. Description of the present use and zoning. p.28 b. A sketch or map showing the following: Figure 3 i. If a power plant is proposed, the area within ten (10) miles from the site. NA H. For transmission lines or pipelines, provide a map showing all existing NA transmission lines(115 kV or greater)or pipelines (ten-inch diameter or greater) for a distance of two (2) miles beyond any reasonable alternative studied. c. For upgrades of existing transmission lines (115 kV or greater)or gas NA pipelines (ten-inch diameter or greater), provide a sketch showing all existing transmission lines and pipelines within one (1) mile on either side of the NA proposed alignment. d. For all other major facilities of a public utility, provide a sketch showing the NA area within five(5) miles of the site if another major facility is proposed. e. Type of facility-specify where applicable: pp.12-19 i. The voltages and lengths of transmission lines. U. Power source and generating capacity. p.13 iii. The functions and sizes of substations. iv. For pipeline projects, the diameters and lengths of pipelines. p.20 v. The capacities of the storage tanks and types of petroleum derivative to be NA, p.26 stored. vi. Corridor locations. vii. Service area. viii. Resource area (e.g., source of power being generated or transmitted, p.12 source of petroleum derivative being transported). • ix. Describe applicable support facilities (e.g., pollution control, parking areas, pp.13, 14 landscaping, etc.)to U. For transmission lines or pipelines, provide a map showing all existing transmission lines(115 kV or greater) or pipelines(ten-inch diameter or greater) for a distance of two(2) miles beyond any reasonable alternative studied. f. Projected development schedule: p.26 i. Estimate maximum number of employees, number of shifts and employees p.22 per shift during the construction, operation and maintenance phases of the project. U. Specify any future phases or extensions of the facility and relationship of the p.26 facility(if currently foreseen)to larger programs and plans. iii. timetable for planning (e.g., federal permits, other state permits, local zoning, p.26 etc.) iv. Estimate beginning and completion of construction and beginning of p.26 operation of facility. g. Hazards and emergency procedures: i. Describe hazards, if any, of fire, explosion and other dangers to the health, p.23 safety and welfare of employees and the general public. H. Describe hazards, if any, of environmental damage and contamination due to pp.23,24, 37 materials used at or activities taking place at the proposed facility. iii. Describe emergency procedures to be used in the event of fire, explosion or p.23, other event which may endanger the public health, safety and welfare. Appendix E • Page 6 of 55 Fort Saint Vrain Combustion Turbine Installation Weld County Use By Special Review Permit Application December 2007 • Application Submittal Requirements Section 21-3-330 Section Page iv. Describe any prevalent natural hazards that will affect or be affected by NA, pp.23, 38- development, and describe mitigating measures to be taken to reduce danger 40 due to such natural hazards. h. Name, address and telephone number of the applicants. Application i. Name and address of the fee owners of the property proposed for the Section Form different from above. j. Legal description of the property under consideration. Figure 2a, k. Total acreage of the parcel, right-of-way or corridor under consideration. Application Form I. Existing land use of the parcel, right-of-way or corridor under consideration. Figures 1 and m. Existing land uses of all properties adjacent to said parcel, right-of-way or 3 corridor. n. Present zone and overlay zones, if appropriate. Figure 3 o. Signatures of the applicant and fee owners or their authorized legal agent. Application Form 6. Summarization of major natural and socioeconomic environmental pp.40-42 constraints as they affect the site selection and construction of the facility as proposed. 7. Summarization of the effects of the proposed site selection and construction pp.4042 • upon the natural and socioeconomic environment of the impact area as applicable to submission requirements. Included should be an analysis of impacts upon agricultural productivity and agricultural resources and upon vested water rights. 8. Analysis of the long-term effects of the proposed site selection and pp.40-42 construction upon the physical and socioeconomic development of the impact area. 9. A description of a program to minimize and mitigate adverse impacts and to p.30 maximize the positive impacts of the proposed site selection and construction. 10. Analysis of nonstructural alternatives to the project such as conservation of p.18 energy use, no development or management(different scheduling, conservation programs, facility design, land trades, etc.), if applicable. 11. Analysis of reasonable structural alternatives to the project such as pp.15-19 alternate locations and routes, alternative types of facilities, use of existing rights-of-way,joint use of rights-of-way with other utilities and upgrading of existing facilities. 12. Analysis of air and water pollution impacts and control alternatives. pp.36-38 13. Analysis of design alternatives concerning access, landscaping, NA, p.40 architectural controls and so forth. • Page 7 of 55 Fort Saint Vrain Combustion Turbine Installation Weld County Use By Special Review Permit Application December 2007 • Application Submittal Requirements Section 21-3-330 Section Page 14. Submission of a proposed form of development agreement to meet costs of NA affected political subdivisions in the project area of providing new or upgraded services and facilities necessary to serve the proposed project. 15. Analysis of hydrologic, atmospheric, geologic, pedologic, biotic, visual and pp.31-40 noise impacts. 16. Surface and subsurface drainage analysis. p.25 17. Any other information required by the Board or the Planning Department and communicated to the applicant at the preapplication conference. This limitation shall not preclude the Board from requesting the applicant to provide additional information during the public hearing on the application, in order to provide which the applicant shall be granted reasonable continuances it the applicant so requests. C. Specific submittal requirements. These additional requirements shall be imposed on the applicant by the Planning Department, in such Department's sole discretion, if the Planning Department determines that the need for the additional information is warranted by the size and scope of the proposed project in order for the Board of County Commissioners to make an informed decision on the application. It is the intention of these Regulations that the following information shall be required • only if the proposed project is of such size and scope that it is reasonably likely to have significant environmental or social impacts on the County residents or lands. 1. Detailed description of the need for the proposed development or activity, pp.15-19 including but not limited to: a. The present population of the area to be served and the total population to be served when the project is operating at full capacity. b. The predominant type of users or communities to be served by the proposal. pp.18,19 c. The percentage of the design capacity at which the current system is now p.19 operating. d. The relationship of the proposal to the applicant's long-range planning and p.19 capital improvements programs. e. A description of why public convenience and necessity require a facility of the p.19 size and nature proposed. f. A description of the user needs and user patterns to be fulfilled by the p.19 proposed project. g. A description of the relationship of the project to other existing and planned Figure 4, utility facilities of a similar nature, other communication or energy generation pp.17,19 and transmission facilities, local government capital improvement programs and special district expansion programs. • Page 8 of 55 Fort Saint Vrain Combustion Turbine Installation Weld County Use By Special Review Permit Application December 2007 • Application Submittal Requirements Section 21-3-330 Section Page 2. Environmental impact analysis. a. Land use: i. Describe the relationship of the project to local land use, policies and pp.29-31 comprehensive plans and to policies and plans adopted or under preparation by federal, state, regional or other affected local governmental agencies. ii. Detail the agricultural productivity capability of the land affected by the NA proposal (SCS classification). iii. Specify how the proposed development will utilize existing easements or rights-of-way for any associated distribution or collector networks. b. Information regarding other utility facilities. i. A map showing each existing major facility of a public utility within the County Figure 4 of the type proposed for development. c.Water resources: i. On the map of the base area, or another appropriate map, indicate any flood Figure 6 plain associated with the proposal. Documentation of the historical flooding activity should be included. Detail potential, adverse impacts related to the associated floodplain. ii. Describe the potential adverse effects of the proposal upon plant and animal pp.31-35 life dependent upon the water resources in question. iii. Describe proposed sewage treatment facilities and non-point source controls, pp.24, 25 if applicable. iv. Describe pollutant loads (point and non-point sources) expected directly from pp.24,25,36 the development. Specify seasonal variations, if applicable. v. Describe the proposed water system, if applicable, including: p.39 • a) Source of supply, volume and rate of flow at full development. b)Water rights owned or utilized. c) Proposed points of diversion and changes of points of diversion. d)Volume of stream flow to remain unused between points of diversion. e) Dependability of supply(physical and legal). f) Effects on downstream users. d. Air quality(nonlinear facilities). pp.35, 36 i. Detail how many average daily trips will be generated by the proposal. p.22 H. Describe atmospheric and meteorological conditions in the impact area, and pp.35, 36 the background ambient air quality. iii. Describe any regulated pollutant outputs anticipated from the development pp.35, 36 and mitigation strategies, including any required control devices. e. Significant environmentally sensitive factors: NA, pp.31-40 i. Identify and locate on a map of appropriate scale the juxtaposition of any of Figures 5,6, the following features present in the proposed development or activity and its 7 vicinity, and detail the potential impact of the proposal upon each feature: a) Marshlands and wetlands. b)Groundwater recharge areas, if applicable. NA c) Potential natural hazards. d) Forests and woodlands. e)Critical wildlife habitat. f) Public outdoor recreation areas. g) Unique areas of geologic, historic or archeological importance. f. Visual aesthetics and nuisance factors: i. Identify key locations where the facility can be viewed from and its proximity to Figures 8,9, residences, simulate the appearance of the facility, and identify noise pollution p,41 • or obnoxious odors which may stem from the proposal. Page 9 of 55 Fort Saint Vrain Combustion Turbine Installation Weld County Use By Special Review Permit Application December 2007 • Application Submittal Requirements Section 21-3-330 Section Page H. Where significant, map or describe area within view of project. Hi. Describe proposed mitigation strategy. g. Transportation impacts: NA, pp.21,27, i. Describe what impacts the proposal will have upon transportation patterns in 40 the area intended to be served or affected by the proposal. H. Describe the potential impact on roads within the County. iii. Identify improvements required to any roads within the County in order to serve the project adequately. h. Less damaging alternatives: i. If the Planning Department determines that the nature or extent of the proposal involves the potential for significant environmental damage or warrants examination of specific, less environmentally damaging alternatives, the Planning Department may request that the Board require the applicant evaluate and present information on such alternatives as part of the application. ii. Required information on alternatives may include, but shall not necessarily be NA limited to, information on the environmental impacts and cost-effectiveness of the alternatives in relationship to the proposal presented. 3. Community impact analysis. a. Public support facilities and impacts: i. Describe community or public support facilities needed for the project, p.41 including but not limited to police and fire protection, public road maintenance and educational and health services, and identify needs for improvement or construction of new facilities or programs required for the success of the project. H. Describe how these needs are proposed to be accomplished or financed. • b. Impact on public finances: p.42 i. Describe capital investment in the facility from public sources. NA H. Estimate anticipated revenues to local, state and federal governments, and p.42 special districts. 4. Applicants seeking a permit for the site selection and construction of NA pipelines or storage areas shall submit the following additional documents and information: a. Description of hydrologic conditions-surface (impact area). i. Provide map of all surface water. ii. Describe expected monthly streamflows for typical year, wet year, dry year (include seven-day-ten-year low flows where sufficient data exists). Hi. Describe physical stream features(gradient, velocity, depth, etc.). iv. Provide data on chemical and biological quality, including BOD, dissolved 02, free CO2, pH, TOS, pH-tH alkalinity, MO alkalinity, NH3, heavy metals and other toxic or deleterious substances, if appropriate. b. Description of hydrologic conditions-subsurface (impact area), if appropriate. i. Map all aquifers that may be affected by the project. ii. Provide tables, graphs, map showing permeability, transmissibility, thickness, volume, depth of aquifers. iii. Describe geology of strata overlying aquifers including percolation rates, travel time to ground water surface. iv. Map of all wells using aquifers including diameter, flow rates. • Page 10 of 55 Fort Saint Vrain Combustion Turbine Installation Weld County Use By Special Review Permit Application December 2007 • Application Submittal Requirements Section 21-3-330 Section Page v. Applicants seeking a permit for the site selection and construction of a power NA, p.12 plant shall submit, in addition to those requirements set forth above, a map locating and describing resource areas to be utilized as sources of energy. 5. Applicants seeking a permit for the site selection and construction of NA, p.12 transmission lines or substations shall submit the following additional documents and information: a. Computer modeled electromagnetic field measurements within the proposed transmission line easement for that portion of transmission line between substations or transition sites; and b. Measures taken to comply with the concept of prudent avoidance with respect to planning, siting, construction and operation of transmission lines, which may be those steps taken to comply with the Colorado Public Utilities Commission's Rule 180), or similar authority, for projects where other similar authority is applicable. D. Waiver of submittal requirements. Specific submittal requirements may be waived by the Planning Department, as provided in these Section 1041 Regulations. (Weld County Code Ordinance 2001-6) • • Page 11 of 55 Fort Saint Vrain Combustion Turbine Installation Weld County Use By Special Review Permit Application December 2007 • II. PROJECT DESCRIPTION A. Project Location and Setting A.1 Local and Regional Setting The Fort Saint Vrain Generating Facility (FSV) is located in southwest Weld County, Colorado approximately three miles north and west of Platteville, Colorado. The plant site is located southwest of Milliken, just east of County Road (CR) 19%, and north of CR 34. The confluence of Saint Vrain Creek and the North Platte River is located just north of the plant's northern boundary line. The FSV site address is as follows: Public Service Company 16805 County Road 19% Platteville, Weld County, CO80651 Public Service Company P.O. Box 840 Denver, CO, 80201-0840 The location of the proposed turbines is at the center of the site and within the • site's industrial area, the Weld County 1-3 zone, and the amended Weld County USR boundary. Access to the FSV property and the combustion turbine site is via Country Road 19% as shown in Figure 2b. The pipeline alignment is accessible via County Roads 34 and 19%. The Vicinity Map for the project is presented in Figure 1. Figure 1 meets County requirements and includes: • Map scale at 1 inch equals 1,000 feet at 24 x 36 inches (slightly larger scale than required by Weld County) • Sections, township, and range • Scale and north arrow • Location and names of all key roads • Irrigation ditches and water features • Abutting subdivision outlines and names • Boundaries of adjacent municipalities • General classification and distribution of soils • All residences within a one-half mile radius of the proposal • Page 12 of 55 Fort Saint Vrain Combustion Turbine Installation Weld County Use By Special Review Permit Application December 2007 • A.2 Current Operations and Facilities The FSV generation facility is a natural gas-fired combined cycle plant that consists of three combustion turbines and three heat recovery steam generators that feed the plant's original steam turbine. Other plant facilities include equipment such as transformers, pumps, switching facilities, and a host of civil improvements for drainage, storm water detention, parking and roads. Natural gas is supplied to the FSV plant through a 12-inch gas pipeline owned by PSCo. During the summer, the plant produces 720 megawatts (MW) of power, with three combustion turbines producing 140 MW each, and the original steam turbine producing 300 MW. Three heat recovery steam generators capture excess heat that would otherwise be vented into the atmosphere, turn it into steam and use it to power the original steam turbine. All three combustion turbines were built with the best available controls technology, at the time of their construction, to reduce emissions. The first two combustion turbines, installed in the mid 1990s, have General Electric dry low-NOx burners to help reduce the amount of nitrogen oxides produced through combustion. The third combustion turbine also has selective catalytic reduction technology to further reduce NOx emissions. The plant's operation is controlled through PSCo's central dispatch center, which operates the entire fleet of generating facilities to meet minute-to-minute changes in energy demand on the system. As system demand fluctuates throughout the day, the Company's dispatchers increase or decrease power output to ensure that supply and demand are in balance real-time. PSCo uses "economic dispatch," which means that generation units are dispatched according to their energy production costs, with the lowest cost units being dispatched first. These costs are mainly a function of fuel and other variable costs, as well as a unit's efficiency relative to other units. FSV's combined cycle configuration makes it a high efficiency facility, which drives its operation. Within PSCo's generation fleet, the existing FSV plant provides "intermediate" capacity, running about 70% of a typical year. This contrasts with coal or nuclear generators, which provide "base load" capacity, running over 90% of the time, and "peaking" generators that run only 5% - 10% of the year—typically during summer months between 2:00 P.M. and 6:00 P.M. From an operational standpoint, the FSV plant provides extraordinary value to the system due to its ability to "follow the load." Because of its combined-cycle configuration, the plant can ramp up and down as PSCo's electrical demand • increases and decreases. Page 13 of 55 Fort Saint Vrain Combustion Turbine Installation Weld County Use By Special Review Permit Application December 2007 • This characteristic also allows the plant to respond to sudden, unpredictable changes in wind energy generation, which is increasingly important as PSCo adds more wind resources to its system. The FSV facility occupies the site of a decommissioned nuclear power generating facility. Nuclear operations ceased at this facility in 1989 and decommissioning was completed in 1996. A.3 Land Ownership Details PSCo owns and operates the FSV generation facility within an approximately 2,800-acre site. This ownership includes surface and mineral rights within the USR and surrounding property. There are no persons or entities that hold liens, judgments, easements, contract rights, rights of way, reservations, exceptions or other encumbrances, which would preclude the proposed development. The project does not require the use of other private property, easements or leases. The names and addresses of all owners of surface property within 1,320 feet of the FSV property line are provided in Appendix A. This information was obtained from Weld County in November of 2007. If requested by Weld County, PSCo will update this information prior to the hearing on the application. The project only involves PSCo owned lands. No legal descriptions of other • parcels are provided. A.4 Site Owner/Applicant PSCo owns the site and is the applicant. PSCo is a wholly owned subsidiary and operating company of Xcel Energy, Inc., a utility holding company. A.5 Legal Description of the Site Activities associated with this project occur within the E/2 and E/2 of the W/2 Section 10, Township 3 North, Range 67 West, 6th P.M., Weld County, Colorado (See Appendix B for a written legal description of the FSV property). A.6 Nearby Property Owners See Appendix A. A.7 Nearby Mineral Owners and Lessees of Mineral Owners See Appendix A. • B. Purpose and Need Page 14 of 55 Fort Saint Vrain Combustion Turbine Installation Weld County Use By Special Review Permit Application December 2007 • B.1 Xcel Energy's Plan for Future Power Generation This discussion describes the proposed FSV turbine project within the context of PSCo's overall planning process for future power generation resources. Electric utilities in Colorado determine the need for additional electric generation resources and a plan for acquiring these resources under a process established by the Colorado Public Utilities Commission ("CPUC" or"Commission") pursuant to the Commission's Electric Resource Planning Rules, 4 CCR, 723-3-3600 et seq. As part of this process, PSCo submits a Resource Plan to the CPUC every four years. PSCo's most recent "Colorado Resource Plan" was filed with the CPUC on November 15, 2007. Some of PSCo's Resource Planning Objectives, include: 1) Developing a resource plan that reliably meets the needs of PSCo customers at reasonable rates. 2) Positioning Xcel Energy Inc., PSCo's holding company parent, and PSCo as environmental leaders in the utility industry by acquiring more renewable • resources and more energy conservation than the minimum levels set forth in recent legislation. 3) Selecting generation resources that substantially reduce the amount of carbon emitted from electric operations. 4) Developing an energy supply portfolio with significant fuel diversity and price stability. An important part of PSCo's Resource Plan is its strategy for meeting future demands for energy and capacity. Under the current Resource Plan, the acquisition period will address resource needs through the summer of 2015. The acquisition period of 2008 - 2015 allows adequate time for new generation resources to be planned, permitted and constructed. Table 2 shows PSCo's mix of generation supply resources and forecasted summer peak demand (blue line) through 2015. • Page 15 of 55 Fort Saint Vrain Combustion Turbine Installation Weld County Use By Special Review Permit Application December 2007 • Table 2 PSCo Summer Peak Demand, 2008— 2015. 10,000 9,000 Finn Load+16%Reserve 8,000 7,000 Purchases 6,000 5,000 4,000 ii , l• . � " "1r- pF fs'�nh.S�e i"2"`ks 3,000 2,000 1,000 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 Note: The slope of the "Firm Load"line is relatively flat until 2013 due to the 4111 termination of several wholesale sales contracts. These terminations offset growth in PSCo's commercial, industrial and retail load in these years. As shown here, PSCo's current generation supply consists of approximately 4,000 megawatts (MW) of company-owned generation capacity, and about 4,000 MW of capacity that we purchase from other entities, such as independent power producers (IPPs) and other utilities. Over the past decade, PSCo has used competitive bidding processes to acquire new generation resources. In fact, over this period virtually all of PSCo's energy demands have been met through long-term power purchase agreements (PPA) with IPPs. The one exception is the PSCo-owned Comanche 3 plant, which is currently under construction and scheduled to be on-line by summer 2012. As part of PSCo's 2003 Resource Plan, PSCo acquired a significant amount of new generation capacity that was scheduled to come on-line through 2012. Table 3 summarizes the amount and type of new generation resources that were added through PSCo's 2003 Resource Plan. • Page 16 of 55 Fort Saint Vrain Combustion Turbine Installation Weld County Use By Special Review Permit Application December 2007 • Table 3 Generation Resources Acquired through PSCo's 2003 Resource Plan Fuel Type Location In-Service Year Natural Gas Frederick, CO 2007 Natural Gas Morgan County 2007 Landfill Gas Aurora, CO 2007 Wind Weld County 2007 Wind Logan County 2007 Wind Prowers County 2007 Natural Gas Jefferson County 2008 Natural Gas El Paso County 2009 Coal Pueblo, CO 2010 Natural Gas Morgan County, CO 2012 Note: In addition to the new "supply-side"resources acquired, PSCo currently offsets about 230 MW of demand from aggressive energy conservation and load management programs. As shown in Table 3, PSCo selected ten generation resources to meet energy • and capacity needs between 2007 and 2012. Of these ten resources, PSCo owns only one, the Comanche Coal Plant Unit 3 addition that is currently under construction in Pueblo. The other nine resources are owned and developed by independent power producers who will supply energy and capacity through long- term purchase agreements with PSCo. B.2 Basis for Selection of Fort Saint Vrain Generating Facility PSCo's resource planning process includes a resource acquisition strategy that relies on competitive bidding to identify new supply-side and demand-side resource options. Supply-side alternatives include conventional generation technologies such as gas and coal resources, and renewable technologies such as wind and solar. On the demand-side, technologies involve measures and programs to conserve energy and reduce demand. After PSCo receives bids in response to a competitive solicitation, PSCo undertakes a rigorous evaluation of alternatives to identify an energy supply portfolio that meets the objectives noted above. PSCo's Resource Plan also contains a contingency plan to cover such events as a delay in the in-service dates of new power supplies, or an unanticipated increase in customer demand that the Company must serve. • Page 17 of 55 Fort Saint Vrain Combustion Turbine Installation Weld County Use By Special Review Permit Application December 2007 • When PSCo learned that the project in El Paso County could not meet its in- service date, PSCo evaluated alternatives in the contingency plan to determine which to pursue to replace the lost power. The alternative selected was for PSCo to build and own a new facility at an existing company-owned generation site. PSCo determined that this alternative was the only workable solution due to the short timeframe available for permitting, engineering, constructing and commissioning a new facility. PSCo identified the FSV site as the preferred alternative after evaluating several potential candidate development sites. The primary criteria that led to the selection were that key infrastructure is already in place and PSCo owns sufficient real estate to accommodate the proposed turbines. With respect to infrastructure, the site offers ready access to adequate supplies of natural gas, as well as adequate injection capacity on the electric transmission system. The site's existing electrical and mechanical systems, and its water and wastewater systems can be readily adapted to add the proposed turbines. Moreover, the site has good regional highway and rail access, and well-developed roads and parking on-site. Another advantage of the site is that it is already zoned for industrial use. PSCo's resource planning and acquisition processes include an exhaustive analysis of non-structural alternatives, which allow us to meet some energy and • capacity demands without building new power plants or electric transmission lines. Today the Company runs several "demand-side management" (DSM) programs, which are the most cost-effective non-structural alternatives to meet electric demand. These programs essentially pay customers to conserve energy during peak demand periods, thereby offsetting the need to construct new power plants. In 2009 PSCo will rely on 278 MW of DSM savings, including 155 MW from "interruptible load" programs (where PSCo pays industrial customers to interrupt their service) and 123 MW from the "Savers' Switch" program, through which PSCo will pay residential and commercial customers to remotely control their air conditioners during summer months. PSCo continues to aggressively pursue additional DSM reductions through similar conservation programs, however PSCo cannot penetrate this market quickly enough to offset the need for the proposed CTs at the FSV site. B.3 Specific Needs Met by the Proposed Project Population to be Served and Types of Users and Communities to be Served As part of PSCo's generation fleet, the existing and proposed facilities at FSV will help to serve 1.3 million electric customers in Colorado. • Page 18 of 55 Fort Saint Vrain Combustion Turbine Installation Weld County Use By Special Review Permit Application December 2007 • These customers include wholesale and retail market segments and residential, commercial, industrial and institutional classes. Percentage of Design Capacity at which the Current System is now Operating The FSV system and the overall PSCo system operate at varying levels. The percentage of design capacity at any given time changes according to hour-to- hour demand (See Section B.1). Relationship of the Proposal to the Applicant's Long-Range Planning and Capital Improvements Program The proposed FSV turbine project results from the failure of one of the projects PSCo selected through its 2003 Resource Plan. Specifically, in late August 2007 it was learned that the natural gas turbine project that has been under development in El Paso County could not be completed under the terms of the power purchase contract. This new generator was scheduled to be operational in June 2009, in time to meet forecasted peak summer energy demand. Due to the failure of this development, PSCo is proposing to build and own the two gas turbines proposed at FSV as a contingency plan to replace the lost power. PSCo recently filed with the CPUC an application for approval of a Certificate of • Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) to construct the proposed turbines. The application also seeks to amend the contingency plan, and requests expedited treatment due to the aggressive development schedule. The application asks that the CPUC render a final decision on the CPCN application no later than April 1, 2008. Why Public Convenience and Necessity Require a Facility of the Size and Nature Proposed and Description of User Needs and Patterns to be Fulfilled by the Proposed Project. The proposed turbines will provide 300 MW of new capacity that is critical to enabling PSCo to meet customers' summer peak demands in 2009. If PSCo does not have additional capacity on line by the summer of 2009, there is a real danger of outages because without a replacement for the El Paso County project, PSCo will be 371 MW short of its 16 percent reserve margin. This additional capacity will bring FSV's total summer capacity to 1,020 MW, making it PSCo's largest gas-fired generator. Description of the Relationship of the Project to Other Existing and Planned Facilities of a Similar Nature Figure 4 presents existing generating facilities in Weld County. PSCo has no • current plans for similar facilities in Weld County (See Section Table 3). Page 19 of 55 Fort Saint Vrain Combustion Turbine Installation Weld County Use By Special Review Permit Application December 2007 • C. Proposed Improvements C.1 Overview The project involves construction and installation of two (2) new peak-load gas- fired simple cycle electric generating units and a new 12-inch natural gas pipeline located on FSV property. The new combustion turbines are similar to the three (3) combustions turbines currently in operation at the site now, but without the heat recovery steam generating components. The new gas pipeline alignment providing fuel to the new turbine units generally parallels the existing pipeline that supplies gas to the existing turbines. This pipeline leaves the existing meter station located at the northwest corner of the WCR 34 and WCR 19% intersection by crossing to the east side of FSV 19% and then paralleling the western side of WCR 19% outside of the road right-of-way northerly for approximately % mile before proceeding northeasterly to the generation site. Figure 2, Sheets b, c, d and e presents a general arrangement drawing of the existing site with the addition of the two (2) units and pipeline facilities. These figures meet County requirements by including: • Map scale at 1 inch equals 100 feet (larger scale than required by Weld County) • Outline of boundaries of parcels (one owner: PSCo) • • Location of utilities within 200 feet • Public ROWs, including names; and existing and proposed poles • Existing and proposed structures • Irrigation ditches • Hydrographic features, including the names of streams, rivers, ponds, and reservoirs There are no utility easements or ROWs for telephone, gas, electric, water, and sewer lines on the site with the exception of those associated with Road 19%. Adjacent property lines and respective owners' names are provided on Figure 1 and Figure 3. Topographic contours are shown in Figure 2b. There are no future phases or extensions associated with this Project in unincorporated Weld County envisioned at this time. • Page 20 of 55 Fort Saint Vrain Combustion Turbine Installation Weld County Use By Special Review Permit Application December 2007 • C.2 Structures The project involves the construction and installation of two (2) new peak-load gas-fired simple cycle electric generating units located at the FSV generating facility. The proposed generating units are "F" class combustion turbines designed specifically for peaking service and will be designated as Units 5 and 6 at FSV. This project will not include the installation of waste heat boilers and associated cooling tower that the three (3) existing units currently have in place. C.3 Other Facilities The installation of the new turbines will require the construction of approximately one mile of high-pressure natural gas pipeline. The natural gas pipeline, which supplies the existing turbines, does not have enough capacity to meet the natural gas requirements of the new turbines. The new pipeline will originate at the existing metering station located at the corner of Weld CR 34 and Weld CR 19%. From this point the new pipeline will run north adjacent to Weld CR 19% on the east side of the road outside of the road right-of-way. Halfway up section ten, the pipeline turns east then north at about the quarter section line. At this point gas heaters will be installed on the line to bring the natural gas up to a temperature for the most efficient combustion of the gas in the turbine. After passing through the heaters the pipeline will run north to a manifold, which will serve the new • turbines. The pipe will be a 12-inch diameter high-pressure pipe designed for 1,000 psi, however the pipeline will operate in the range of 450-500 psi. Construction of the pipeline will require a trench width of 2 feet and a trench depth in the range of 24 to 48 inches. Standard pipeline construction practices will be employed. Where the pipeline crosses Weld CR 19% at the metering station PSCo will bore under CR 19 '/2. Pipeline trench stockpiles will be located on the east side of the trench, outside of the ditch to prevent any sediment laden stormwater runoff from entering the county ditch along CR 19 %. C.4 Roads and Parking The installation of the turbines will not require additional parking or other traffic related improvements beyond the extension of an existing service road on the south side of the existing turbines. Existing plant employee parking is provided as shown in Figure 2b. C.5 Landscaping No landscaping is proposed in the vicinity of the turbines, as the new turbines will be set partially within the existing fenced equipment yard adjacent to the existing three turbines. • Page 21 of 55 Fort Saint Vrain Combustion Turbine Installation Weld County Use By Special Review Permit Application December 2007 • For natural gas pipeline construction, all areas disturbed by construction will be returned to pre-construction contours and re-seeded where appropriate with a Weld County approved seed mix. C.6 Required Permits Permits required for the project include: ■ 1041 permit from Weld County ■ Construction Activities Permit—Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE), Water Quality Control Commission, Regulation 61.3(2)(e)(iii)(J) (5 Colorado Code of Regulations [C.C.R.] 1002) • Construction Dewatering Wastewater Discharge Permit—CDPHE, Water Quality Control Commission, Regulation 61.32(2) (5 C.C.R. 1002) • Construction Permit—CDPHE, Air Quality Control Commission, Regulation 3, Part B.II.A.1 (5 C.C.R. 1001) • Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) from the Colorado Public Utilities Commission D. Proposed Facility Operations D.1 Employment and Operators • The maximum number of employees per shift (day only) during construction is estimated to be 165. A total of 2 to 4 new permanent on-site employees may be needed to address the needs of the two new turbines. Four to eights trips per day would be generated as result of the additional employees. Currently the FSV Generating Facility has 36 employees. The plant is in operation 24 hours a day and 7 days a week so it is manned at all times. Typically there will be about 20 people working 7:00 AM - 4:00 PM five days a week. This includes management, engineering, maintenance and administrative staff. The Operations group works 12 hour shifts from 7:00 AM-7:00 PM and 7:00 PM-7:00 AM seven days a week. Day shift and night shift consists of three individuals each. D.2 Facility Operation Schedule The Project is designed to operate at peak energy demand periods, which includes early June, July and August between 2:00 and 6:00 PM when high temperatures increase air conditioning demands in the region. Under the air permit for the project, the two new turbines can operate up to a 7% annual "capacity factor", or about 600 hours per year. The majority of the operating hours will fall within the summer periods described. • Page 22 of 55 Fort Saint Vrain Combustion Turbine Installation Weld County Use By Special Review Permit Application December 2007 • D.3 Vehicle Types and Access No new permanent access off an Weld County road is required for the project. Temporary construction access is discussed in II.E.3. No vehicles are needed for facility operations. Light and heavy trucks will be used during periodic maintenance activities. Construction vehicles are discussed in Section E.3. D.4 Hazardous Conditions and Emergency Procedures Fire Detection The risks of fire and explosion are minimized through the use of many system and process controls. A fire and gas detection system, complete with the requisite audible and visual alarms will be installed. The Generator Step Up Transformer (GSU) and other major electrical equipment will be protected by a deluge system that will automatically activate in the event of a fire. Digital Control System • The new turbines will be integrated into the generating facility's existing Digital Control System (DCS). The DCS allows the turbines and generators to be safely and efficiently operated and monitored real-time, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Personnel are on-site 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for key operations, such as inspections and routine maintenance activities. Emergency procedures in compliance with applicable regulations are in place at the FSV Generating Facility. In the event of an emergency Platteville Fire Rescue will respond under the Fort Saint Vrain Emergency Operations Procedures, which is contained in Appendix E. Spent nuclear fuel from former nuclear power generation is stored on property owned by the Department of Energy, north of the current power generating facilities. The spent fuel is managed in compliance with all applicable requirements by the Department of Energy. There are no known natural hazards that will affect or be affected by the Project. Floodplains for Saint Vrain Creek and the South Platte River are discussed in Section B.8. • Page 23 of 55 Fort Saint Vrain Combustion Turbine Installation Weld County Use By Special Review Permit Application December 2007 • D.5 Hazardous Waste Generation The current operations do not generate hazardous waste. D.6 Fire Protection Platteville Fire and Rescue will provide fire protection. D.7 Water Sources and Uses Sources of water used on the site include diversions from the Saint Vrain Creek (Goosequill Pumping Station and Pipeline), South Platte River (Jay Thomas Pumping Station and Pipeline), Well Number 11, Well Number 12 and Central Weld Water District. PSCo may also use well numbers 3, 4, 9, and 10 as needed. State of Colorado, Division of Water Resources well permits are shown in Appendix G. There are two water wells actively serving the site (See Figure 6). Water from these wells is used on the site along with water supplied by Central Weld Water District. Total annual water usage is approximately 4,662 acre-feet. Consumptive use is approximately 2,670 acre-feet. Total return flows are • approximately 1,993 acre-feet. Annual water usage is expected to increase to approximately 10 acre-feet per year from the existing 4,662 acre-feet per year, all of which will be supplied by Central Weld Water District. This will be an increase of approximately 5.5% over the 182 ac-ft supplied by Central Weld Water District in 2006. The proposed project does not modify existing water rights or involve acquiring new water rights. D.8 Sewage Disposal System FSV maintains two aerated lagoons to treat domestic sewage for its approximately 36 employees. The addition of the combustion turbines is expected to require two to four additional employees, however this increase will not significantly impact the existing system. Discharge from the treatment system is permitted under the Colorado Wastewater Discharge Permit System (CO-0001121). A copy of the discharge permit is contained in Appendix F. Regular sampling occurs at the outfall and the sampling results reported to the Water Quality Control Division. As needed, which is infrequent, the lagoons are cleaned of accumulated solids and disposed of off-site at an appropriate third party operated site. • Page 24 of 55 Fort Saint Vrain Combustion Turbine Installation Weld County Use By Special Review Permit Application December 2007 • In addition, FSV maintains one on-site wastewater-holding tank to serve the bathroom at one of its laboratory buildings. The wastewater is pumped from this tank as needed by a third party contractor and disposed of off-site at an approved facility. FSV is authorized to dispose of sludge under permit COG-650003, issued by the State of Colorado. Temporary sewage facilities will be placed in the Project area during construction for workers to use. These facilities will be pumped on a weekly basis or more frequently depending upon actual use. D.9 Stormwater Drainage System At the FSV Generating Facility, much of the stormwater within the plant site flows to storm drains, through oil/water separators, and to the designated outfalls established under Colorado Wastewater Discharge Permit System held by PSCo for discharges to state waters (CO-0001121). Regular sampling occurs at the designated outfalls and the sampling results reported to the Water Quality Control Division. Stormwater on the east side of the plant flows into a storm retention pond. The stormwater that accumulates in the pond either evaporates or infiltrates. The soils at the plant are sandy, so in outlying areas, and away from active plant operations, stormwater follows the natural grade through a vegetative buffer and infiltrates. • Stormwater around the proposed combustion turbines will be directed to the existing storm drain system. The new combustions turbines will be constructed near the existing stormwater retention pond requiring the pond to be relocated north of its current location. However, the modified stormwater flow path will still utilize the existing storm drain system on the east side of the plant. At least ten (10) days prior to the commencement of construction activities PSCo will apply for and obtain a Construction Stormwater General Permit issued by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, Water Quality Control Division. PSCo will comply with the terms and conditions set forth in the Stormwater Permit until the site is finally stabilized. Prior to construction PSCo will submit a drainage report to Weld County Public Works, which conforms to the guidelines established under the Denver, Colorado, Urban Drainage and Flood Control District's Urban Storm Drainage Criteria Manual as adopted by Weld County. D.10 Reclamation Plans and Procedures For natural gas pipeline construction, all areas disturbed by construction will be returned to pre-construction contours and re-seeded where appropriate with a • Page 25 of 55 Fort Saint Vrain Combustion Turbine Installation Weld County Use By Special Review Permit Application December 2007 • Weld County approved seed mix. There are currently no final plant closure reclamation plans. D.11 Other Storage and warehousing are not proposed. Additionally, petroleum storage tanks are not part of this proposal. Construction staging will occur in the immediate vicinity of the turbine sites and pipeline alignment on PSCo owned property within the existing fenced area adjacent to the existing turbines or on PSCo property near the pipeline where located outside of the fenced area. No future phases or extensions associated with this Project in unincorporated Weld County are envisioned at this time. E. Construction Requirements for the Proposed Facility E.1 Schedule Once Weld County issues a decision on the land use permit application PSCo • will submit an application to CDPHE for a Construction Activities Permit, a Construction Dewatering Permit, and a Stormwater General Construction Permit. Full Notice to Proceed is anticipated in February of 2008. The construction period is estimated to be 14 months from site preparation to project completion. Site preparation will begin in April of 2008. The turbines are scheduled to be in full commercial operation in June of 2009. E.2 Construction Activities Construction will include excavation for foundations, duct banks and underground piping runs. Concrete foundations will be poured for major equipment. Most piping will be routed underground. Turbine generator components will be mounted on foundations and interconnecting ductwork and piping will be installed. Electrical cables and wiring will be installed in the duct banks and in above ground cable trays. The gas fuel line will be installed underground from the gas metering station to the turbines. E.3 Construction Equipment, Vehicles and Access Construction equipment will include excavators, wheeled and tracked backhoes, bulldozers, loaders, dump trucks, cement trucks, cranes, excavators, man lifts, • and semi trailers that deliver parts and equipment. Page 26 of 55 Fort Saint Vrain Combustion Turbine Installation Weld County Use By Special Review Permit Application December 2007 • The exact number and types of vehicles and train loads will not be known until final engineering plans are complete and the construction schedule is finalized. The combustion turbine and generator will be delivered via railcar over Union Pacific (UP) tracks and an existing spur into the site that is owned by PSCo. The delivery and unloading will not interfere with rail transport schedules or vehicular traffic on any Weld County roads. A heavy haul trailer will be used to move the combustion turbine and generator from the railcar to their respective foundations. Access to the site will be from main thoroughfares to the site on CR 19%. All vehicles that access the site via roadways will be certified to operate on interstate highways. The construction entrance for the project site will utilize an existing service road located approximately 580 feet south of the main plant entrance off CR 19 %. This service road leads to a south gate where construction equipment and vehicles will access the turbine construction site. A construction workforce parking area will be designated adjacent to the east side of the existing switchyard. A Traffic Safety Management Plan will be developed and submitted to Weld County Public Works prior to construction. • After construction is complete, pickup trucks would be used to perform maintenance. E.4 Construction Materials and Waste: Storage and Stockpiling Material lay down areas will be adjacent to the construction site on PSCo owned property. Construction waste will be stockpiled in the construction staging areas and will be removed from the construction sites during the construction process. Waste will be accumulated in large haul-off containers and disposed of in local landfills. III. BACKGROUND INFORMATION, ANALYSIS OF POTENTIAL IMPACTS, AND INDENTIFICATION OF MITIGATION MEASURES AND PROJECT COMMITMENTS Relevant background information, potential environmental effects and measures to avoid, minimize and mitigate project effects and related commitments are presented in the following discussion. Related commitments are discussed in the following section. • Page 27 of 55 Fort Saint Vrain Combustion Turbine Installation Weld County Use By Special Review Permit Application December 2007 • It is anticipated that construction and operational impacts would not generate conditions that violate local, state or federal environmental laws or regulations or conflict with other governmental policies or code. A. LAND USE, PLANNING AND PUBLIC POLICY A.1 Existing Land Uses Figure 3 presents an aerial photograph of the site and surrounding area. The predominant land use in the vicinity is agriculture. In addition to the electricity generating facility, there are several residences on PSCo property and various facilities associated with resource extraction and transmission (wells, pipelines, transmission lines, substation facilities, etc.). These features are shown in Figures 2, 3 and 5. Some residences are occupied and some are unoccupied. Other land uses include natural open spaces associated with the Saint Vrain and Platte river systems, and local roads. The site for the two new combustion turbines is vacant, industrial land. The pipeline route is presented in Figure 2b-e. Current uses of the land within and along the pipeline alignment include agricultural land, roads, and energy facilities. The overall use of the FSV site will not change with the installation of two • additional gas turbines, the pipeline extension or the additional support facilities necessary to connect the turbines to the transmission network. The two new turbines will be located adjacent and parallel to the three existing turbines on land within the site's industrial zone. This land is vacant and has an improved gravel surface with no existing vegetative cover. The project would not physically disturb or cross property that is not already owned by PSCo. A.2 Planned Land Uses and Zoning The Project is a major facility of a public utility that is subject to the regulations regarding Areas and Activities of State Interest as described in Weld County Code Section 21-3-200. The zoning district is 1-3. Weld County's zoning designations for lands adjacent to the FSV Generating Facility site are shown in Figure 3. The combustion turbine site is located in the 1-3 zoning district. The pipeline alignment is located within the 1-3 and an agricultural zoning district. • Page 28 of 55 Fort Saint Vrain Combustion Turbine Installation Weld County Use By Special Review Permit Application December 2007 • A.3 Applicable Plans and Policies The project site is located within Weld County and is subject to review by the County in relation to the Weld County Comprehensive Plan, which is currently being updated. The project site is located outside of the planning area boundaries of the Town of Milliken Comprehensive Plan. The Weld County Comprehensive Plan is presented in Chapter 22 of the Weld County Code. Chapter 22 is comprised of five (5) Articles and an Appendix. The five Articles are: I General Provisions, II Land Use Categories, Ill Land Use Amenities, IV Environmental Resources, and V Natural Resources. The Weld County Comprehensive Plan establishes a common vision for the County will over the next 20 to 30 years and provides a wide range of goals and policies to direct growth and development decisions. The Comprehensive Plan for Weld County has been reviewed in relation to the proposed site and project, and the following discussion summarizes how the proposed project and application process relates to the existing Comprehensive Plan. The Comprehensive Plan does not refer specifically to the Fort Saint Vrain Generating Facility or other locations of or for regional energy generation • facilities. Facilities of this type are addressed under the County's Use by Special Review (USR) permit process in compliance with Weld County's 1041 requirements for"Areas and Activities of Statewide Interest,"which is the subject of this document. The FSV facilities are an existing use with a current USR permit. The Weld County Comprehensive Plan identifies a wide range of goals and policies. These goals and policies were apparently considered when Weld County set forth the 1041 and USR permit application requirements. Some examples include: • Weld County Comprehensive Plan—Sec 22-5-30.6 W. Policy 2.1—The effect of the proposed development upon wildlife and habitat should be evaluated and the loss of critical habitat mitigated. Weld County maintains maps of known critical wildlife habitats. The project would not occur in critical habitat areas. • Weld County Comprehensive Plan—Sec. 22-5-30.B W. Policy 2.2 — Destruction of wetlands or riparian areas will be strongly discouraged and mitigation for loss of wetlands and riparian habitat will be encouraged. No direct or indirect impacts on wetlands or waters of the U.S. are anticipated. A Clean Water Act, Section 404 permit is not needed. • Page 29 of 55 Fort Saint Vrain Combustion Turbine Installation Weld County Use By Special Review Permit Application December 2007 • • Weld County Comprehensive Plan—Sec. 22-5-50.D O. Goal 4— Development improvements should minimize visual scarring from grading, road cuts, and other site disturbances and should integrate new landscaping with the existing natural landscape. Land disrupted during pipeline construction would be re-graded to preconstruction contours and revegetated with appropriate plant species. Each of these policies relates to a specific discussion later in this document. More generally, the Weld County Comprehensive Plan seeks to avoid land use incompatibilities and to conserve Weld County's environmental and natural resources. The proposed action would occur on an existing industrial site with surrounding land uses that have adapted to and responded to site conditions and uses since the 1980s when the site supported a nuclear power plant. At this point, expansion of regional power generation capacity with two additional gas combustion turbines would have negligible incremental impacts on environmental and natural resources, and would be in general compliance with Weld County's goals and policies (refer to the following discussions). PSCo is minimizing adverse impacts by utilizing an existing facility to locate the needed generation capacity. By locating the turbines at the FSV Generating Facility, PSCo will not need to build additional transmission line infrastructure, which may otherwise create additional adverse impacts. PSCo will mitigate potential adverse impacts to the environment through the application of best management practices for stormwater runoff control and the use of best available control technology as it relates to air emissions from the combustion turbines. PSCo maximizes the positive impacts through the use of these practices. The positive socioeconomic impact to Weld County is substantial, as the addition of the turbines at the FSV Generating Facility will contribute approximately $1,400,000 annually to Weld County in the form of tax revenue as shown in Table 5. The Planning Commission adopted Milliken's Comprehensive Plan July 21, 2004. The southwest boundary of the Town of Milliken is located near the northeast corner of the FSV Generating Facility site. Development on the site would not be subject to the policies of the Milliken Comprehensive Plan. • Page 30 of 55 Fort Saint Vrain Combustion Turbine Installation Weld County Use By Special Review Permit Application December 2007 • A.4 Agricultural Productivity Capability of the Land Affected The project vicinity is located in an agricultural area, including prime farmland of national importance and non-prime farmland of statewide importance. The non- prime soils require irrigation. Many areas in Weld County have these designations. Soils within the FSV Generating Facility site have potential for agricultural use, but they are not currently used for agricultural purposes. The site soils (Altvan loam (1), Dacono clay loam (21), Olney fine sandy loam (46) and Vona sandy loam (76)) are primarily used for irrigated crops and typically require fertilizers to reach top yields. The agricultural productivity of the areas where the turbine and pipeline facilities would be constructed would be considered relatively low due to past disruption and existing uses of the land. The turbine site is disrupted and no vegetation currently exists in this area. The pipeline would be placed underground, so any potential for future agricultural use of this site would remain possible. A.5 Existing Easements and Rights of Way PSCo needs no easements or rights of way to construct or operate the proposed project. Existing generation and linear transmission facilities do not require easements because PSCo owns the property and the facilities. Other than these existing facilities, several oil and gas companies operate under lease agreements with PSCo, and Colorado Interstate Gas Company operates a natural gas pipeline under a license agreement with PSCo. Weld CR 19'/ runs along the western boundary of the proposed USR. B. NATURAL RESOURCES B.1 Vegetation Vegetation in the vicinity is characterized by wooded riparian corridors associated with Saint Vrain Creek and the South Platte River. The upland areas are grasslands common in this portion of Weld County. The turbine site and pipeline alignment are located in upland areas. No vegetation is present on the turbine site due to normal facility operations and related requirements. Native grasses and weeds are present east of the turbine site and within and adjacent to the pipeline alignment. • Page 31 of 55 Fort Saint Vrain Combustion Turbine Installation Weld County Use By Special Review Permit Application December 2007 • Installation of the pipeline will displace existing vegetation, but site restoration efforts involving native species will minimize this effect over time and limit the intrusion of invasive and exotic weeds. B.2 Wildlife The stream corridors, floodplain areas, and uplands associated with Saint Vrain Creek and the South Platte River provide habitats for a wide range of wildlife, including aquatic and terrestrial species. A variety of species adapted to upland grassland habitats live within or forage within the property of the FSV Generating Facility. The project area consists of irrigated farmlands that have not been subject to farming for several years. The fields are covered with short grasses and weeds. Consequently, the fields in the project area provide little habitat to wildlife with the exception for foraging. Wildlife likely to occur in the proposed project area include mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus), coyote (Canis latrans), raccoons (Procyon lotor), red fox (Vulpes vulpes), striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis), along with various rodents, rabbits, and migratory birds. • Construction of the turbines and pipeline facilities will have a short-term temporary impact on habitat. The effects would likely include temporary avoidance of the area by some species. However, displaced species would likely return following completion of construction and pipeline corridor restoration efforts. Due to existing noise levels from existing operations and the anticipated future noise levels in primary habitat areas (within and near the stream corridors) with five turbines, the net noise increase on wildlife would not be considered substantial. No long-term impacts to wildlife and wildlife habitats are anticipated. No impacts to aquatic habitats are anticipated. Raptors (birds of prey) such as the bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), American kestrel (Falco sparverius), ferruginous hawk (Buteo regalis), red-tailed hawk (Bueo jamaicensis), and Swainson's hawk (Buteo swainsoni) among others, occur in the project area. There is an active bald eagle nest located approximately 1-mile northwest of the project area. The proposed project area does not contain large trees to provide nesting or roosting habitat, all nesting and roosting habitat exists along the Saint Vrain and South Platte Rivers. No impacts on raptors, including bald eagles, are anticipated (also see Section B.3). Migratory birds (raptors and others) are protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA). The MBTA makes it unlawful to take, capture, or kill any migratory Page 32 of 55 Fort Saint Vrain Combustion Turbine Installation Weld County Use By Special Review Permit Application December 2007 • bird, bird parts, nests or eggs without a permit. Migratory birds may use the project area for foraging on a seasonal basis. While no long-term impacts to migratory birds are anticipated, if construction occurs during the spring nesting time periods, a bird survey may need to be completed prior to the initiation of earthwork and season restriction may apply. B.3 Threatened, Endangered and Protected Species Saint Vrain Creek and the South Platte River provide well-established habitats for a variety of species, including some protected by federal and state laws. The United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) was contacted to obtain information on federally listed species of concern within the proposed project area. Data from the CDOW and the Natural Diversity Information Source (NDIS) were used to determine those species of concern that could potentially occur in the vicinity of the proposed project area. Federally listed species with the potential to occur in the vicinity of the project area include the following: least tern (sterna antillarum) - Endangered, Southwestern willow flycatcher (Empidonax traillii extimus) - Endangered, piping plover (Charadrius melodus circumcintus) - Threatened, black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes) - Endangered, and Preble's meadow jumping mouse (Zapus • hudsonius preblei) —Threatened, Ute ladies' tresses orchid (Spiranthes diluvialis) - Threatened, and the Colorado butterfly plant (Gaura neomexicana) - Threatened. The following discussions define the habitat requirements of these species and whether such habitat exists in the project area. Least Tern — Occupy and nest along sandbar habitats in riverine systems. No potential habitat present in project area. Southwestern Willow Flycatcher— Occupies dense willow and cottonwood habitats along streams and rivers. No potential habitat present in project area. Piping Plover— Inhabits mudflats and shorelines of reservoirs and lakes. No potential habitat present in project area. Black-footed Ferret— Inhabit short grass prairies usually associated with prairie dog towns. No potential habitat present in project area. Preble's Meadow Jumping Mouse — Inhabits wetland and riparian areas, usually with dense undergrowth of grasses and forbes, with an overstory of brush and shrubs. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) recently proposed to • de-list Preble's as "threatened" in Wyoming, but did not change the current Page 33 of 55 Fort Saint Vrain Combustion Turbine Installation Weld County Use By Special Review Permit Application December 2007 • designation in Colorado. Measures to protect this species, especially along primary habitat corridors, remain in place. One of those corridors is the Platte River system. Preble's are known to inhabit the South Platte north of the project site and may inhabit locations near the FSV Generating Facility. However, no potential habitat is present in the project area. Ute Ladies'-Tresses Orchid —The orchid is found in open areas along moist streambanks and wet meadows. No potential habitat exists in the project area. Colorado Butterfly Plant— Found in moist meadows typified by sub-irrigated, alluvial soils of streams at elevations between 5,800-6,400 feet. No potential habitat exists in the project area. The proposed project would have no anticipated affects to the various listed species or their habitats. The project does not contain suitable habitat for any of the listed species. However, formal consultation with the USFWS should occur prior to construction and may require additional surveys for species mentioned above. State listed species of concern that have the potential to occur in the vicinity of • the project are as follows: plains sharp-tailed grouse (Tympanuchus phasianellus jamesil), bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), greater sandhill crane (Grus Canadensis tabida), ferruginous hawk (Buteo regalis), American peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus anatum), western snowy plover (Charadrius alexandrinus), mountain plover (Charadrius montanus), long billed curlew (Numenius americanus), black-tailed prairie dog (Cynomys ludovicianus), northern pocket gopher (Thomomys talpoides macrotis), swift fox (Vulpes velox), midget faded rattlesnake (Crotalus viridis concolor), and common garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis). However, the project site contains marginally suitable habitat for each of these species. Construction activities may create some minimal temporary impacts causing these species to temporarily occupy areas outside the project area. Bald Eagle Although this species was recently "de-listed" by the USFWS as "threatened," measures to protect this species remain in place under the Bald Eagle Protection Act. An active Bald Eagle nest currently exists west of the project site within the riparian corridor of Saint Vrain Creek. In addition, winter roosting sites exist to the north and along the South Platte River in the vicinity of the project site. The regulatory buffers providing protection for Bald Eagle nesting sites and • roosting sites are shown in Figure 5. The proposed construction areas are Page 34 of 55 Fort Saint Vrain Combustion Turbine Installation Weld County Use By Special Review Permit Application December 2007 • outside of these buffer areas. Based on consultation and coordination with the USFWS, the anticipated impacts from the planned construction activities and additional turbine operations would have no effect on local populations of Bald .Eagles or their habitat. B.4 Wetlands A qualified biologist has reviewed site conditions relative to applicable definitions of wetlands and waters of the U.S. Wetlands, including riparian areas are located along Saint Vrain Creek and the South Platte River (See Figure 5). However, no wetlands or waters of the U.S. are located in the vicinity of the proposed improvements. No impacts to wetlands will occur from the improvements. A Clean Water Act, Section 404 process and permit is not required. B.5 Air Quality The area of Weld County in the vicinity of the Fort Saint Vrain Facility is currently designated as attainment for all criteria air pollutants. This means that the national ambient air quality standards, established to protect human health and the environment, for sulfur dioxide (SO2), oxides of nitrogen (NOx), carbon monoxide (CO), fine particulate matter (PM-10), and ozone are being met. In • July 2007, however, ozone levels in the western part of the Denver Metro area exceeded the new, more stringent federal 8-hour ozone standard. As a result, by the end of 2007, EPA plans to designate as non-attainment for ozone the entire Denver Metro area and parts or all of surrounding counties (i.e. Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Denver, Douglas, and Jefferson counties as well as parts of Larimer and Weld counties). The Fort Saint Vrain Facility is located in the portion of Weld County that lies within the boundaries of the future ozone nonattainment area. While the area is designated nonattainment, any new major sources or major modifications to existing sources will have to be permitted under the nonattainment area New Source Review requirements. Thus emission offsets for NOx and VOCs would be required along with the requirement to install emission controls that meet Lowest Available Emission Rate standards. However, the proposed addition of the two simple cycle combustion turbines at Fort Saint Vrain will be permitted as a minor modification to an existing major source and thus will not be required to meet the more stringent nonattainment area permitting requirements for major sources. As part of the air emission permit application for the new combustion turbines, PSCo completed a screening modeling analysis to determine the impacts of the proposed project on ambient air quality. The SCREEN3 dispersion model was • used for this analysis. Emission rates and stack characteristic for the new Page 35 of 55 Fort Saint Vrain Combustion Turbine Installation Weld County Use By Special Review Permit Application December 2007 • combustion turbines were used as inputs to the model along with worse case meteorological conditions to project the maximum impacts from the project. Results of this conservative modeling analysis show impacts from CO, NOx, SO2, and particulate matter to be below the significant impact thresholds established by the Colorado Air Pollution Control Division. Based on this analysis, the addition of the two simple cycle combustion turbines at Fort Saint Vrain will have no adverse impact on ambient air quality. The federal New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) require that all new major sources in a specific source category meet certain emission control limits. For Combustion Turbines, the limits applicable to the new units are found in federal regulations at 40 C.F.R. Part 60, Subpart KKKK. Generally, Subpart KKKK requires that new combustion turbines control NOx emissions. The General Electric model 7FA combustion turbines at Fort Saint Vrain will be equipped with dry low-NOx combustors designed to meet the NSPS NOx emission limit of 15 parts per million (ppm). The projected NOx emission rate for these turbines will be in the range of 9 ppm during normal full-load operation. Calculated air emissions for both criteria and hazardous air pollutants are listed on the Air Pollutant Emission Notices (APENs) for each turbine. Copies of the APENs that were filed with the air emission permit application for this project are included in Appendix C. • During earth operations, fugitive dust may be generated during periods of dry weather and windy conditions in areas where soil has been disturbed for installation of the gas pipeline and turbines. These effects will be minor and temporary. Upon completion of the project, dust generation would return to normal levels. The use of Best Management Practices will occur to control construction related dust emissions. B.6 Noise A noise study was completed to assess noise levels from existing and future operations on the FSV Generating Facility. The noise study is presented in Appendix D. The following discussion summarizes the findings of the noise study. Existing noise levels from the existing on-site turbines and operations were measured. Existing levels were compared to future conditions with two new turbines on the site. The future conditions scenario involved five turbines operating at one time. This scenario represents worst-case noise conditions and would only occur during peak electricity demand periods. Table 4 summarizes the results of the noise study for these monitoring sites. • Page 36 of 55 Fort Saint Vrain Combustion Turbine Installation Weld County Use By Special Review Permit Application December 2007 • The locations of the key monitoring sites are shown in Appendix D. Site la is located at the property's southeast boundary. Site 2a is located at the property's eastern boundary due east of the existing and proposed turbines. The study concludes that average noise level at the property line under worst case power generation conditions (all five turbines operating at one time) is expected to be well below the Colorado Department of Public Health and the Environment (CDPHE) noise nuisance limits set by Colorado Noise Statute (25- 12-103). This standard is incorporated by reference by Weld County in the Weld County Code. The applicable limit is 70dBA for industrial properties. The study identifies that on average noise will be below 50dBA. Table 4. Noise Effects Summary Predicted Impact of Existing Average Units 5 and 6 and Net Noise Increase Site Plant Sound Level Range (Predicted During Peak Electricity and Range(Noise Noise Level During Generating Periods Level from Existing Peak Electricity dBA Turbines)dBA Generating Periods) dBA (a 35 28to43 42 35to49 +7 (Southeast at Property Line) 2a 39 32 to 45 45 38 to 52 +6 (Due East at Property Line) Other Locations at <37 <40 0 to 3* the Site's Property Line *A change of two decibels or less is not noticeable to most people. B.7 Hazardous Materials and Waste Radioactive materials from the site's former nuclear operations are stored at the Independent Spent Fuels Storage area (ISFS) property located on the northeast side of the plant. This property is owned and operated by the U.S. Department of Energy. The spent fuels are stored in accordance with DOE mandates and federal code. The proposed project would not involve activities that would impact the ISFS in any way. Page 37 of 55 Fort Saint Vrain Combustion Turbine Installation Weld County Use By Special Review Permit Application December 2007 • Hazardous materials will not be drained onto the ground or into streams or drainage areas. Completely enclosed containment will be provided for all trash. All construction waste, including trash and litter, garbage, other solid waste, petroleum products, and other potentially hazardous materials, will be removed to a disposal facility authorized to accept such materials. Any hazardous materials will be properly stored to prevent drainage or accidents when not in use. B.8 Hydrologic Conditions -Water Resources Saint Vrain Creek and the South Platte River are located west and east of the FSV Generating Facility, respectively. The confluence of these two north flowing watercourses is located at the northern end of the generating facility site. Figure 6 identifies these resources and other surface water resources and water wells adjacent to the site. Beeman Ditch, a concrete lined, channel, passes through the planned pipeline alignment. This crossing is unavoidable. The crossing would be handled in a manner similar to the manner that was used for other pipelines passing under this ditch. This involves construction while no water is flowing in the ditch. The ditch will then be repaired after pipeline construction is completed for the ditch section and prior to flows returning to the ditch. No impacts associated with water • leakage or flows in the ditch are anticipated. There are no aquifers that will be affected by the proposed construction as the proposal.is for the installation of two natural gas combustion turbines and a gas supply pipeline. A leak in the natural gas pipeline would not constitute a significant risk of groundwater contamination. Much of the impurities and liquids are removed from the gas prior to transmission, and condensate is removed from the gas by separators and drips along the pipeline route. In the event of a leak, any liquids in the pipeline would be atomized. There are no constituents in natural gas that would constitute a threat to groundwater. Process water for the turbines will not come from any new groundwater source. Process water will be treated and discharged in accordance with conditions set forth in the existing discharge permit issued by the State of Colorado, Appendix F. Groundwater flow is toward Saint Vrain Creek and the South Platte River, and generally to the north. Groundwater levels fluctuate, but are generally located approximately 20 to 28 feet below ground surfaces. Floodplains of Saint Vrain Creek and the South Platte River encroach into the FSV Generating Facility site on the west, north and east side of the property, but • do not reach areas where planned construction would occur. Page 38 of 55 Fort Saint Vrain Combustion Turbine Installation Weld County Use By Special Review Permit Application December 2007 . The project area is located in "Zone C" of the local Flood Insurance Rate Map, Community-Panel Number 080266 0750 C (See Figure 6), meaning there is minimal flood hazard on the site. Sources of water used on the site include diversions from Saint Vrain Creek (Goosequill Pumping Station and Pipeline), South Platte River (Jay Thomas Pumping Station and Pipeline), Well Number 11, Well Number 12 and water supply tap from Central Weld Water District. There are two water wells, which are currently in service (See Figure 6). Water from these wells is used on the site along with water supplied by Central Weld Water District. Total annual water usage is approximately 4,662 acre-feet. Consumptive use is approximately 2,670 acre-feet. Total return flows are approximately 1,993 acre-feet. Annual water usage is expected to increase by approximately 10 acre feet per year from the existing 4,662 acre feet per year, all of which will be supplied by Central Weld Water District. This will be an increase of about 5.5% over the 182 acre-feet supplied by Central Weld Water District in 2006. The proposed project does not modify existing water rights or involve acquiring new water rights. • No water quality impacts are anticipated from the proposed project (See Section II, D.9, Stormwater Drainage System). B.9 Geologic and Soil (Pedologic) Resources The geology of the project vicinity and site area involves bedrock at depths ranging from approximately 40 to 50 feet consisting of Pierre Shale. Quaternary Alluvium covers the bedrock. These geologic units are stable and do not present seismic risks or other hazardous geologic conditions. There is no Moderate to Severe soil limitations within the construction areas of the proposed USR. No adverse effects from site geology would be expected and no effects from the project on geologic conditions would occur as a result of the Project. There are four soil complexes located in the project area, consisting of Altvan loam, Dacono clay loam, Olney fine sandy Loam and Vona sandy loam. Soil shrink/swell potential and erodibility are shown in Figure 7. Altvan loam Altvan loam consists of deep, well-drained soils that formed in material weathered from loamy alluvium underlain by sand and gravel. Altvan Loam soils are located on terraces and have a low erodibility and low shrink/swell potential. • Page 39 of 55 Fort Saint Vrain Combustion Turbine Installation Weld County Use By Special Review Permit Application December 2007 • Dacono clay loam Dacono clay loam consists of deep, well-drained soils that formed in mixed alluvium underlain by sand and gravel. Dacono Clay Loam soils are located on terraces, have a low erodibility and moderate shrink/swell potential. Olney fine sandy loam Olney fine sandy loam consists of deep, well-drained soils that developed in alluvium. Olney Fine Sandy Loam is located on plains and has a low erodibility and a low to moderate shrink/swell potential. Vona sandy loam The Vona soils consists of deep, well drained to somewhat excessively drained soils that formed in eolian or alluvial deposits. Vona sandy loam is located on plains and high terraces, which have moderate erodibility and a low to high shrink/swell potential. Standard construction techniques and measures would adequately address moderate soil shrink/swell potential. C. SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC RESOURCES • C.1 Transportation Site access involves local roads County Roads (CR) 34 and CR 19% and a spur off of a north/south Union Pacific railroad line. The main access to the site is located along CR 19%. Construction vehicles and the construction workforce will access the construction areas via two existing service roads off of CR 19%. Traffic volumes on these roads and the associated road network are below design capacity. The local road network is maintained by Weld County. The proposed facilities will temporarily increase vehicle travel on the road network during the construction, but is not expected to create travel or access issues from worker vehicle or material/equipment handling trucks. The rail spur will be used to transport oversized and heavy pieces of turbine equipment, thereby keeping them off of the local road network. C.2 Public Services and Utilities Water from Central Weld Water District supplies domestic and industrial water to • the site. Page 40 of 55 Fort Saint Vrain Combustion Turbine Installation Weld County Use By Special Review Permit Application December 2007 • This water is augmented, as necessary, by existing on-site well water and river water, which is used for industrial and landscape irrigation rather than domestic water purposes. Sanitary Sewer is provided to the site by on-site septic tank and leach field systems. (See D.8 for information) Emergency response is provided by Weld County. Platteville Fire Rescue will provide fire protection. Project demands are not expected to change public service staffing or equipment requirements. C.3 Visual Quality and Aesthetics The project area is characterized by natural vegetation along natural watercourses, agricultural land uses and facilities, occasional residential structures, oil and gas development facilities, and the facilities associated with the existing FSV Generation Facility. Photographs of the existing project site are presented in Figure 8. Figure 9 provides a visual simulation of the proposed turbine facilities from WCR • 34 looking north. The turbine facilities would be visible from various public vantage points, but the changes would be inconsequential relative to existing conditions because the new facilities would be located immediately adjacent to existing and similar facilities. Minor differences would exist between the existing turbines and the new turbines. The primary difference would be the lack of the combine cycle facilities and a slightly shorter stack on the new turbines. No views would be blocked or disrupted. The new visual elements would not substantially change the character of existing views. C.4 Recreation Saint Vrain Creek and the South Platte River provide for a wide range of recreation values, uses, and opportunities. The Milliken Comprehensive Plan identifies a recreation trail along the South Platte to a location near the northern end of the FSV Generating Facility site boundary (See Figure 10). The project site is not open to the public. No impacts on public recreation values, uses or opportunities would be associated with the proposed improvements. • Page 41 of 55 Fort Saint Vrain Combustion Turbine Installation Weld County Use By Special Review Permit Application December 2007 • C.5 Economic and Fiscal Conditions (Public Finances) The proposed FSV turbine project will yield significant economic and fiscal benefits to Weld County, both during and after construction. The total capital cost of the project is $191 million, including $114 million for equipment and materials, labor, and $77 million for contingencies and indirect costs. Construction is scheduled to begin in April 2008 and run through May 2009. During this 14 month period, up to 165 laborers and high-skilled workers will report to the site. These workers will stimulate the local economy through spending on goods, retail and personal services, lodging and restaurants. Construction activities will generate local tax revenue, payroll for construction workers and sales taxes for some construction goods and services. Existing operations at FSV employ 36 full-time workers, including skilled professional technicians, operators and laborers. A total of two to four full-time jobs will be added following construction of the proposed project. Each year the State of Colorado values PSCo assets, including the FSV generating facility, as one unit of uniform ownership. The rates that Weld County will apply to the value of PSCo assets will not be known until late in 2007. However, by applying the rates used for 2006 taxes, PSCo's tax department has • estimated tax revenues that will be generated from the proposed project. A breakdown of estimated property tax revenues is shown in Table 5. Table 5. Annual Property Tax Revenue Projections from FSV Project Entity Amount (2007 $) Weld County $316,360 Gilcrest School District RE-1 $583,670 Platteville-Gilcrest Fire Protection District $132,100 Aims Junior College $219,870 No. Colorado Water Conservancy District $34,700 Weld County Library District $113,300 Total $1,400,000 There would be no direct adverse economic or fiscal impacts on Weld County from the project. • Page 42 of 55 Fort Saint Vrain Combustion Turbine Installation Weld County Use By Special Review Permit Application December 2007 • D. CULTURAL RESOURCES Consultation and coordination with the Colorado Historical Society, Office of Archaeology and Historic Preservation has occurred to determine whether recorded archaeological or historic sites of importance were located in the project vicinity or site development areas. While cultural sites are known to occur in the project vicinity along and near Saint Vrain Creek and the South Platte River, no sites are recorded in the project area (PM 6th, Township 3N, Range 67W, Section 10). This result was based on four previous surveys in the designated area. A. Archaeology Although no recorded archaeological sites are located in the project area, the project presents the potential to disrupt previously undiscovered archaeological resources. While this potential is low due to the distance between the construction areas, known sites, and water resources, measures should be taken to prevent impacts to such resources if they are encountered. The proposed project should proceed in accordance with applicable State and Federal laws, subject to the following stipulation: • If any cultural resources are discovered during construction, work in the area will halt immediately and the Colorado Office of Historic and • Archaeological Preservation will be notified to evaluate the resources. B. History Weld County has a rich cultural history, including but not limited to, early settlers of the area and their trade routes, settlements and posts. Historic resources, including FSV, are located in the project vicinity. No historic sites are recorded within the boundaries of the FSV Generating Facility. The proposed action would not have impacts on any known historic resources or sites. The potential for the project to encounter a previously undiscovered historical site is very low. • Page 43 of 55 Fort Saint Vrain Combustion Turbine Installation Weld County Use By Special Review Permit Application December 2007 • IV. PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT In January 2008 PSCo will communicate about the project with all neighbors within %,-mile of the FSV property. PSCo will also reach out to other stakeholders and organizations that may have an interest in the project. Initial efforts will focus on making one-on-one personal phone contacts with property owners and stakeholders. PSCo will explain the scope and purpose of the project and invite neighbors on tours of the development site. The intent of holding site visits is to give stakeholders an opportunity to ask questions, and to visualize the scale and context of the project. PSCo plans to schedule these visits around stakeholders' availability, with individuals and small groups. Narrative and graphic communication materials will also be prepared and distributed to stakeholders. For stakeholders that cannot be reached by phone, contact information will be provided to discuss the project with a company representative. • • Page 44 of 55 Fort Saint Vrain Combustion Turbine Installation Weld County Use By Special Review Permit Application December 2007 • V. FIGURES • Page 45 of 55 Fort Saint Vrain Combustion Turbine Installation Weld County Use By Special Review Permit Application • PL1942 1942 Oversized Maps Located in Original File • Not Scanned • I ca 1 _I Y J ;IL r I— s s ,�tl f� Ul S5 ' U Z•ryod S � � Q � i= 1J I`I _I,Ti Y Z lif '.C - n • J ,it - 0Ilr-A r We „ it...44v i''t r fl - - .rte Rte" x 3tiriv CO h L•I Y 5 S- f Si q.! 1O_ .� *A te C co J' 0 . ., * ` #. r }A C') C 41.114 ra► , ,id,. Mt. /IN a i N ii 0 cm co , ....,.. kir -. 1-,;Y N 11►, 0:ill NC ` y�yK il, � ie � .�y_ .lfg'li :.-y •, U Q i y �,r w� � .Air SY ipiii CDC CC .� f t ' tti • -.., .. R F- a �,,, h, ti) a 'r . • �IC •• W M40 4 , Y 4)i '°r 9 T i.-4) •- y I • V a> ;aft 4. 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DATA SOURCES • U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resource Conservation Service • U.S. Department of the Interior, Geological Survey • U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency • Colorado Department of Higher Education, Office of Archaeology and Historic Preservation • Colorado Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife • Colorado Department of Transportation • Colorado Division of Wildlife, Natural Diversity Information Source • Colorado Natural Heritage Program • U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service • Weld County Planning Department • Weld County Comprehensive Plan, and Website for the Comprehensive Plan Update • • Milliken Comprehensive Plan • Public Service Company of Colorado interdepartmental communications • Page 46 of 55 Fort Saint Vrain Combustion Turbine Installation Weld County Use By Special Review Permit Application December 2007 • VII. PREPARERS AND QUALIFICATIONS Xcel Energy and Public Service Company of Colorado Rick Thompson Supervisor, Siting & Land Rights, PSCo Project Manager B.S. Landscape Architecture, Colorado State University 27 years land and environmental planning, utility planning, permitting Jason Manassee Senior Agent, Siting & Land Rights, PSCo Project Planner, Contributor B.A. Environmental Studies, Evergreen State College 15 years environmental and land planning, and cultural resource management John Lupo Manager, Siting & Land Rights, Xcel Energy Services Project Lead, Contributor B.S. Landscape Architecture, Penn State; M.S. Urban & Regional Planning, CU 25 years land use, environmental, and energy resource planning • Short Elliott Hendrickson, Inc. (SEH) Chris Wichmann Environmental Scientist Environmental Analyst B.A. University of Wyoming, Fish and Wildlife Biology, 1995. 12 years of environmental analysis and project management. Experience includes agency consultation, environmental assessments and analysis, for various federal, state and local agencies. • Page 47 of 55 Fort Saint Vrain Combustion Turbine Installation Weld County Use By Special Review Permit Application December 2007 • VIII. APPENDICES A. Land Ownership Information (&As SA) ) B. Legal Descriptions (sA, 0id ) C. Air Pollution Emission Notices (APENS) D. Noise Study E. Fort Saint Vrain Emergency Operations Procedures F. Wastewater Discharge Permits G. Water Well Permits ( Sot. t :d .iio tab • Page 48 of 55 Fort Saint Vrain Combustion Turbine Installation Weld County Use By Special Review Permit Application December 2007 • Appendix C Air Pollution Emissions Notices (APENS) • • Page 51 of 55 Fort Saint Vrain Combustion Turbine Installation Weld County Use By Special Review Permit Application t W 7- E , 111 a II R 0 : II -41ii • 1 !z iimi ' 44 r, A • . 1 . °m a R ti i 1 HP il IIIHI hi A imam • o a yr 1 g as TH 8D 1 1111 I fik il g Phil iii Z � .. 9 ,I >a al i FO • p i 0 ii 11vigdi i lid 14 0 "C3H d a 7 kfla lic - len lit li sh H Iii g 11 1 1 A18- _11 il •• n i i I oz ,fr di IL 11 ; 10 ! 0 LEI li i TR il i 10 — I 1 ' is < o a W g ': a � � xP & .` a i is t , i 1 g 1 Cr'� z I i tai ©❑ _ ill a of t il 2 E 17 ilt� iJ' I0 III # ,,, ,4 ,1 , I 1 ? d ¢ a. , i ii 1 aF.H iiof les I., I ,. h 1 , 2 i 41 I t • :rol li 2 114 1 ; . � ; 1 ;� a = 1 11 , T - as 0 o >, v N Q o .. c FO -aD 0 o z m � w a m o O N ¢ y m L O N •a Q Q N n �" m o ?, r ° g tiCl. 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