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About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (June 16, 2021)
EIGHT- Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, June 16, 2021 PUBLIC NOTICE Figure 1: Proposed Facility Site Boundary PUBLIC NOTICE Amended Notice of Intent for Wagon Trail Solar Project Summary: Date Issued: June 16, 2021 Amended Proposal: Up to 500 megawatt (MW) photovoltaic (PV) solar energy generation facility within an approximately 7,339 acre (11.47 sq. miles) site boundary on privately-owned land zoned for Exclusive Farm Use. The original proposal included an approximately 5,957 acres (9.3 sq. miles) site boundary. Location: Morrow County, approximately 24 miles southeast of the City of Arlington. Public Comment Deadline: July 8, 2021 Introduction: The Oregon Department of Energy (Department), staff to the Energy Facility Siting Council (EFSC), previously received a Notice of Intent (NOI) on November 3, 2020 from Wheatridge East Wind, LLC (applicant), a wholly owned subsidiary of NextEra Energy Resources, LLC, that it intends to submit a preliminary application for site certificate (pASC) to construct and operate the Wagon Trail Solar Project, a proposed PV solar energy generation facility. Due to modifications of the proposed facility, the applicant submitted an amended NOI on June 11, 2021. The applicant expects to submit the pASC in July or August, 2021. The proposed facility would occupy approximately 5,000 acres of arable and nonarable lands, which constitutes a State jurisdictional energy facility under ORS 469.300(11)(D)(ii) and (iii), requiring that the applicant obtain a site certificate from EFSC prior to construction and operation. The Department is accepting public comments on the Amended NOI from June 16, 2021 through July 8, 2021. Proposed Facility Description: The Wagon Trail Solar Project (proposed facility) would have a generating capacity of up to 500 MW using solar PV technology. The proposed facility site boundary includes approximately 7,339 acres. The proposed facility consists of PV solar panels/modules, steel tracker tables and posts, cabling, power conversion stations, and related or supporting facilities. Proposed related or supporting facilities include distributed battery storage (lithium- ion); up to four collector substations on 5- to 10-acre sites, each; up to 8-mile 230 kilovolt (kV) transmission line on H-frame structures extending up to 150 feet in height; an Operations and Maintenance building; up to three meteorological towers; site access, service roads, perimeter fencing, and gates; and, up to four temporary construction areas. Additional detailed information is available in the amended NOI Exhibit B (see hyperlink to Department’s project webpage in More Information below). Proposed Facility Location: The proposed facility would be located south of I-84 in Morrow County. A map of the proposed facility site boundary is attached to this notice. More maps are available in Attachment 2 of the amended NOI, and the Department maintains an online mapping program where the proposed facility site and regional location can be viewed via hyperlink: https://arcg.is/1Gf8CK EFSC Review Process: The review of an application for site certificate (ASC) is a consolidated, comprehensive process where the Department requests comments from state and local agencies, tribal governments and the general public throughout the process, and concurrently reviews other permits necessary for the proposed facility. The applicant must demonstrate that the proposed facility meets EFSC standards established under Oregon Revised Statute (ORS) 469.501 and set forth in Oregon Administrative Rule (OAR) Chapters 345, divisions 22 and 24, as well as all other applicable Oregon statutes, rules, and standards. The Department serves as staff to EFSC and conducts the ASC review process. Pursuant to ORS 469.504(4), an applicant must elect to demonstrate compliance with the statewide planning goals by either obtaining local land use approval from the affected local government(s) or through EFSC’s determination of compliance. At this time, Wheatridge East Wind, LLC intends to satisfy the Council’s Land Use standard (OAR 345-022-0030) PUBLIC NOTICE: Oregon Department of Energy, Wagon Trail Solar Project Amended Notice of Intent June 16, 2021 which includes compliance with Morrow County land use standards, by seeking an EFSC determination under ORS 469.504(1)(b). Morrow County Board of Commissioners is the Special Advisory Group for the EFSC review. Public Participation: There are several opportunities for public participation and comment during the EFSC process. The first is the public comment period on the NOI, which is currently open. The Department and applicant held a teleconference public informational meeting on Thursday, January 7, 2021. Informational meetings provide an opportunity for the public to provide comments and ask questions about the proposed facility and review process. After the application is determined to be complete the Department will issue notice of another public informational meeting. Then at the issuance the Department’s draft proposed order, notice will be provided about a public hearing and comment period that will provide an opportunity for the public to provide in-person and remote oral and written testimony on the application and draft proposed order for the proposed facility. The purpose of amended NOI and ASC informational meetings is for the Department and applicant to provide information about the proposed facility and EFSC review process to the general public, which differs from a public hearing, where the purpose is to provide the general public an opportunity to provide oral comments to EFSC and a Hearing Officer on the ASC and DPO. The Department will provide notice of all future public informational meetings and hearings. Notice of Intent: The amended NOI provides notice to the Department and the public that the applicant intends to submit an ASC in the future. The amended NOI contains preliminary information about the proposed facility and provides an opportunity for the public, state and local governments and Tribal governments to comment on the amended NOI. Page 1 Comments on the amended NOI are due by July 8, 2021, and must be submitted in writing by U.S. mail, e-mail, or by fax. Please send comments to: Chase McVeigh-Walker, Senior Siting Analyst Oregon Department of Energy 550 Capitol Street NE Salem, OR 97301 Phone: (503) 934-1582 Email: chase.mcveigh-walker@oregon.gov Please Note: The submission of comments does not automatically register your contact information to receive notices. If you would like to receive notices for this proposed facility or any other EFSC project, and have not already done so, please follow the instructions on the next page. 2) Updates by Email/Mail: Subscribe to ClickDimensions for email updates on the proposed facility or other energy facilities under EFSC jurisdiction. ClickDimensions is an automated email system that allows interested members of the public to manage subscriptions to information received about Department projects and events. For more information, please visit: https://tinyurl.com/ODOE-EFSC. To receive notices by U.S. Mail, please contact Chase McVeigh-Walker and request to be added to the paper notice list. 3) In Hardcopy: Hard copies of the amended NOI are available for public inspection at the following location at no cost. Hard copies will be provided at reasonable cost upon request to the Department. Oregon Department of Energy 550 Capitol Street NE Salem, OR 97301 Please contact the Department to arrange viewing of hard copies of the amended NOI. Accessibility information: The Oregon Department of Energy is committed to accommodating people with disabilities. If you require any special physical or language accommodations, or need information in an alternate format, please contact Dawnita Bruce at 503-428-7905, toll-free in Oregon at 800-221-8035, or email to Dawnita.M.BRUCE@oregon.gov . Published June 16, 2021 Affidavit Ione holds Cardinal cleanup day Receipt of this Notice: You are receiving this notice because: 1) You own property within or adjacent to (within 500 feet) the property on which the proposed facility would be located. You will automatically receive all future EFSC notices for this facility if the site boundary remains the same. 2) You have previously signed up via ClickDimensions to receive notices on this facility, or all EFSC facilities. You will automatically receive all future email notices per your request, unless you unsubscribe via ClickDimensions or by contacting the Department. More Information: More information about the proposed facility and the review process are available using any of the following options. If you need more information, please contact Chase McVeigh-Walker. 1) Oregon Department of Energy’s webpage: More details on the Wagon Trail Solar Project, including the amended NOI, are available online at: https://www.oregon.gov/energy/facilities- safety/facilities/Pages/WTS.aspx Comment Period and Informational Meeting: Public comments on the amended NOI are encouraged to help the applicant identify issues and concerns early in the process. Resources describing the State Siting Process, including “Oregonians Guide to Siting and Oversight of Energy Facilities” are available at: https://www.oregon.gov/energy/facilities- safety/facilities/Pages/default.aspx Willow Creek Water Park 2021 Summer of Fun! CHANGE: Pool Opens Monday, June 21st 1-7 pm Heppner Elementary School students, Heppner Jr./Sr. High School students, MCSD Homeschool students and incoming Kindergartners can sign up for a FREE pool pass for this summer. Family passes are still available at a discounted rate. These same students also get a FREE goodie bag – everything you need for a fun summer at the pool! Call us if you want a jumpstart to signing up for passes, swim lessons and/or getting your goodie bag!. 541-676-5752 Many volunteers came out to help with the Cardinal cleanup day in Ione May 27. On May 27, 2021, the City of Ione and the Ione Community Charter School joined forces to hold their first joint Cardinal Clean- up Day. The city partnered with the school to tackle the cleanup of the school’s grounds and common areas of Ione in time for summer activities. The city of Ione, the Ione Charter School ASB Officers, Mrs. Cydney McElligott and Mr. Rollie Marshall diligently worked together to organize and make the event success- ful. The participants were supplied with T-shirts and bottles of water that were donated by the local busi- nesses. The city supplied the dumpsters, garbage bags and gloves and the students (K-12), faculty and staff provided the man- power. By the end of the morning, they had filled two large dumpsters with garbage, yard debris and other miscellaneous items. The school offered the par- ticipants a barbeque lunch at the end of the event. The city of Ione will sponsor a second cleanup day for the citizens for yard debris and other litter. Haz- ardous materials will not be accepted. The city will provide dumpsters that will be located at city hall and the city maintenance shop. The dates for this cleanup will be June 18 to 29, 2021. Please join us at Cutsforth park Sunday June 20th at 1PM for the annual Elks Father's Day picnic. Some of the events scheduled are; Kids treasure hunt, egg toss & water Balloons The Annual Kenny Turner Memorial Horseshoe Tournament Beverages, Hamburgers and Hotdogs will be provided. Side dishes are welcomed. Open to all Elks members and their families. 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