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Home My WebLink About20080736.tiff HEARING CERTIFICATION DOCKET NO. 2008-21 RE: SITE SPECIFIC DEVELOPMENT PLAN AND USE BY SPECIAL REVIEW PERMIT#1647 AND A 1041 PERMIT FOR A MAJOR FACILITY OF A PUBLIC UTILITY (FORT SAINT VRAIN GENERATING FACILITY AND ASSOCIATED NATURAL GAS PIPELINE) IN THE 1-3 (INDUSTRIAL) AND A (AGRICULTURAL) ZONE DISTRICTS - PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY OF COLORADO A public hearing was conducted on March 5, 2008, at 2:00 p.m., with the following present: Commissioner William H. Jerke, Chair Commissioner Robert D. Masden, Pro-Tem Commissioner William F. Garcia Commissioner David E. Long Commissioner Douglas Rademacher Also present: Acting Clerk to the Board, Esther Gesick Assistant County Attorney, Cyndy Giauque Planning Department representative, Hannah Hippely Health Department representative, Lauren Light Public Works representative, David Snyder The following business was transacted: I hereby certify that pursuant to a notice dated February 15, 2008, and duly published February 20, 2008, in the Fort Lupton Press, a public hearing was conducted to consider the request of Public Service Company of Colorado for a Site Specific Development Plan and Use by Special Review (USR) Permit #1647 and a 1041 Permit for a Major Facility of a Public Utility (Fort Saint Vrain Generating Facility and associated natural gas pipeline) in the 1-3 (Industrial) and A(Agricultural) Zone Districts. Cyndy Giauque,Assistant County Attorney, made this a matter of record. Hannah Hippely, Department of Planning Services, presented a brief summary of the proposal and entered the favorable recommendation of the Planning Commission into the record as written. She stated the applicant is proposing to install two additional electric generating units and an additional gas pipeline to fuel the units. She explained the units will be used to supply additional power during peak periods of demand in the summer months. She stated the site is located between the Saint Vrain Creek and South Platte River, two miles north of Highway 66, adjacent to County Road 19.5, and south of the Town of Milliken. Ms. Hippley reviewed the surrounding land uses, and stated a majority of the USR's in the area are related to energy transmission uses. She stated twelve referral agencies reviewed the proposal and provided comments which have been addressed in the Conditions of Approval and Development Standards. She displayed photographs of the site, as well as a rendering of what the site will look like once the two new units are completed. In response to Commissioner Rademacher, Ms. Hippely stated the requirements of the Plattewille/Gilcrest Fire Protection District will be addressed prior to recording the plat. In response to Commissioner Masden, Ms. Hippely stated the applicant can address the additional energy output generated by the new units. 2008-0736 PL1942 rip ,. PG, J9bL, HEARING CERTIFICATION - PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY OF COLORADO (USR #1647) PAGE 2 Laurent Light, Department of Public Health and Environment, stated the site will be serviced by the Central Weld County Water District, and sewer service for the office is provided by a permitted septic system, as well as a vault system located at the laboratory building, which will need to be permitted. Ms. Light stated the applicant did file an addendum to the A.P.E.N. in November 2007, and the Construction Permit from the Air Pollution Control Division was issued on February 8,2008. She stated the applicant has also submitted a copy of the Draft Discharge Permit, from the Water Quality Control Division, and the Conditions of Approval and Development Standards require the site to comply with Industrial noise standards. She further stated the Noise Study indicates the site will operate at 50 decibels, although the Industrial Zone District allows up to 80 decibels. Ms. Light stated the facility will also be required to provide bottled water and portable toilets for approximately 200 workers during construction of the compressor units. David Snyder, Department of Public Works, stated County Road 19.5 is classified as a collector status road,which requires 80 feet of right-of-way. He stated it is a paved road,and the temporary construction traffic will have a minimal impact. He stated the facility will continue to use an existing stormwater drainage system, and the applicant must obtain permits for working in the County right-of-way. Marty Block, Fort Stain Vrain Plant Director, stated staff has been very helpful through the application process. He stated the facility started 40 years ago as a nuclear plant, it was closed 19 years ago, and was then re-powered thirteen years ago. He stated the re-powering took place in three phases, over a period of five years. Mr. Block stated the site currently has three combustion turbines which generate steam that drives the old nuclear steam turbine. He stated the turbines are fired by natural gas, and they generate 720 megawatts, making this facility the largest Public Service plant in the system. He stated the proposed turbines will be simple cycle, they will generate approximately 300 megawatts, and the Fort Saint Vrain property consists of approximately 3,000 acres. Mr. Block stated the project began at the Squirrel Creek facility, near Colorado Springs; however, that facility could not meet the contractual requirements for simple cycle generation by the year 2009. He stated this is an attractive project because no new gas or electric transmission lines will be needed,and most of the new construction will be completed within the Industrial Zone District. He further stated the applicant conducted a public meeting on January 25, 2008, and five neighbors attended who expressed some concerns, which have since been addressed. Mr. Block stated the applicant is currently seeking approval from the Colorado Public Utilities Commission (PUC), although they have received the Air Permit. He stated there will be minimal off-site impacts during construction; however, the overall project will have a $2 million financial impact,with Weld County benefitting from $1.4 million on annual basis. He further stated the applicant is requesting an early release of building permits, in an effort to get the facility functioning by the summer of 2009. In response to Commissioner Rademacher, Mr. Block deferred to an associate to address the capacity of the existing transmission lines. Responding to Commissioner Rademacher,Jim Vader,Xcel Energy,stated if a steam turbine were added to increase the generation beyond the two proposed simple cycle units, they would have to upgrade the transmission system, and the gas service has already been sized to include the two new units. In response to Commissioner Masden, Mr. Block stated no additional raw water will be required for this project, since the new turbines are simple cycle and limited by the Air Permit to 700 hours per year. He explained most of the water is domestic water from the Central Weld 2008-0736 PL1942 HEARING CERTIFICATION - PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY OF COLORADO (USR#1647) PAGE 3 County Water District for the evaporative coolers. He stated they use between one and five million gallons of water per year, from a six-inch tap. He further stated the applicant brought a line into the site from the east; however, it has not yet been connected. Responding further to Commissioner Masden, Mr. Block stated the two turbines are for backup during summer and winter peak use. In response to Commissioner Jerke, Mr. Block stated most of the gas comes from the Chalk Bluffs area; the plant currently burns 25 billion cubit feet of natural gas per year, at about a 70 percent capacity factor; and the new combustion units will use less than 10 percent of the overall capacity. Responding further to Commissioner Jerke, Mr. Block stated the early release of building permits will allow the applicant to proceed with civil work and preparation of the site. He reiterated the project started at another site, and many of the parts have been,or will be, delivered. Ms. Hippely stated staff has no objection to the early release of building permits, as long as the applicant acknowledges proceeding will be at the risk of not being able to complete the requirements of the USR. Mr. Block stated although there is some risk, since the applicant still needs permission from the PUC,this is a very important project to allow the company to meet peak consumer needs. No public testimony was offered concerning this matter. In response to Commissioner Jerke, Ms. Hippley stated building permits are not typically released until the Conditions of Approval have been met. Rick Thompson, Xcel Land Representative, suggested including language which states, "The applicant requests permission to proceed with review and issuance of building permits for the initial phases of construction, prior to recordation of the plat, at their risk." Esther Gesick, Acting Clerk, suggested addressing the issue in the criteria and findings of the Board as paragraph #3. Following discussion, the Board and Ms. Giauque concurred and gave direction to use the language proposed by the applicant. Commissioner Jerke stated he appreciates the applicant developing the proposed use in Weld County. Commissioner Rademacher complimented the applicant and facility managers for operating with no problems in the past ten years, especially considering the plant's original use and past issues. Commissioner Rademacher moved to approve the request of the Public Service Company of Colorado for a Site Specific Development Plan and Use by Special Review Permit #1647 and a 1041 Permit for a Major Facility of a Public Utility (Fort Saint Vrain Generating Facility and associated natural gas pipeline)in the 1-3(Industrial)and A(Agricultural)Zone Districts, based on the recommendations of Planning staff and the Planning Commission, with the Conditions of Approval and Development Standards as entered into the record and modified, with the additional finding that the Board agrees with the applicant's request for the early release of building permits. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Masden, and it carried unanimously. There being no further discussion, the hearing was completed at 2:55 p.m. 2008-0736 PL1942 HEARING CERTIFICATION - PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY OF COLORADO (USR#1647) PAGE 4 This Certification was approved on the 10th day of March, 2008. APPROVED: . BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS y WELD COUNTY, COLORADO ATTEST: t"sr„aj ) ; F C ,y c W. ' m H. Jerke, Chair Weld County Clerk to the Board: " ` � 'e, l CM Robert D. den, Pro-Tem BY: � 7De ty Cler o the Board i17F. Garcia David E. Long ougla Rademacher 2008-0736 PL1942 EXHIBIT INVENTORY CONTROL SHEET Case USR#1647 - PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY OF COLORADO Exhibit Submitted By Exhibit Description A. Planning Staff Inventory of Items Submitted B. Planning Commission Resolution of Recommendation C. Planning Commission Summary of Hearing (Minutes 02/19/2008) D. Clerk to the Board Notice of Hearing (Filed under Legals) E. Planning Staff Modified request language, dated 02/11/2008 F. Patricia Fairbanks E-mail re: 1041 Permits, dated 03/02/2008 G. Town of Milliken Referral response, dated 02/07/2008 H. Weld Sheriff's Office Referral response, dated 02/22/2008 J. K. L. M. N. O. P. Q. R. S. T. U. V. k i 2 N e w 1 \ % a \ \ , % � & / G @ 0. 9 / / " ; zq § \ 2 / / p � � ~ . 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