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About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (July 24, 2024)
SIX- Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon July 24, 2024 Final Order: Following the Contested Case proceeding, EFSC will issue a Final Order either approving or rejecting the ASC. If approved, a Site Certificate will also be issued. PUBLIC NOTICE Sunstone Solar Project Public Hearing and Request for Comments on the Draft Proposed Order Summary: Notice Date: July 24, 2024 Proposal: 1,200 megawatt (MW) solar photovoltaic power generation facility and related or supporting facilities that would permanently occupy up to approximately 9,442 acres (14.75 sq. miles). Proposed Facility Location: Morrow County, approximately 15 miles northeast of Lexington, Oregon. Draft Proposed Order: The Draft Proposed Order (DPO), in which Oregon Department of Energy Staff (ODOE) recommends the Application for Site Certificate (ASC) meets all required standards and should be approved by the Energy Facility Siting Council (EFSC or Council), was issued on July 12, 2024. Public Comment Period: A 42-day comment period from July 12, 2024 through the close of the Public Hearing on August 22, 2024 is open. The public may comment on the ASC, DPO, and DPO Attachments including the proposed site certificate conditions in the draft site certificate. In Person & Remote Public Hearing Information: Date: August 22, 2024 Start Time: 5:30 p.m. Pacific Time Location: Maxwell Event Center 145 N First Place Hermiston, OR 97838 You may also participate in the public hearing via Webinar or Teleconference Information: Webinar Link: https://odoe.webex.com/odoe/j.php?MTID=m2ad8b d61fc874b61d6f3ccd0d0da5f65 Webinar Event Number: 2333 011 8388 Webinar Event Password: EFSC (3372 from phones and video systems) Teleconference #: 408-418-9388 Teleconference Access Code: 2333 011 8388 If using Webex, please use your full name to sign in to help staff manage public comments. Additional information will be provided at the hearing about how to provide an oral comment using Webex features. Description of Proposed Facility: The Sunstone Solar Project (proposed facility; formerly Echo Solar Project), is proposed by Sunstone Solar, LLC (applicant), a wholly owned subsidiary of Pine Gate Renewables, LLC. While the proposed site boundary is 10,960-acre (17-sq. mile), the facility would permanently occupy approximately 9,442 acres (14.75 sq. miles) of private land. In addition, the facility would include: • • • • • • Up to 7,200 MW hours of battery storage capacity; An interconnection substation; Up to six collector substations; Up to four operations and maintenance buildings; Up to 9.5 miles of 230-kilovolt (kV) overhead transmission lines; Other structures including roads, perimeter fencing and gates. More detailed information about the proposed energy facility and the related or supporting facilities is available in ASC Exhibit B and the DPO Project Description. Location of Proposed Facility: The proposed facility would be located on privately owned land zoned for Exclusive Farm Use in Morrow County, Oregon. The proposed facility would have solar photovoltaic energy generation components located on more than 1,280 acres of land that is predominately cultivated, and therefore is an energy facility subject to EFSC jurisdiction under the definition in ORS 469.300(11)(a)(D). As such, the proposed facility must receive approval from EFSC for a site certificate prior to construction. Sunstone Solar Project Process Overview: Application for Site Certificate: The applicant filed a complete ASC on May 16, 2024. Under OAR 345-015- 0190(5), an ASC is complete when the Department finds that an applicant has submitted information adequate for the Council to make findings or impose conditions on all applicable Council standards. The Department held a Public Informational Meeting on the proposed facility on June 5, 2024. The ASC and the Public Information Meeting presentation and recording are located on the project page as described in the Additional Information section below and are available for review. Draft Proposed Order Issuance: On July 12, 2024, ODOE issued a DPO on the ASC. The DPO, ODOE’s first evaluation of the proposed facility which includes findings of facts, conclusions of law and conditions, recommends EFSC approve the ASC and issue a site certificate. The DPO is not a Final Order. The purpose of this DPO notice is to inform the public of an open comment period and a public hearing, with opportunities for in-person and remote participation. Public Hearing: EFSC will hold a public hearing on the DPO on August 22, 2024 which will provide opportunities for in person and remote participation. See in person meeting details and Webex login information on Page 1 of this notice for more details. The hearings will be conducted by EFSC. EFSC will not accept or consider any further public comments on the ASC or on the DPO after the close of the Public Hearing on August 22, 2024, which represents the close of the record on the DPO for the proposed facility, unless the comment deadline is extended. Online Comment Portal ODOE has an online portal for submitting comments on projects during an active comment period. The goal of the online comment portal is to provide members of the public with a convenient option to submit input on projects, and to provide additional resources that will enable meaningful participation in the Site Certificate Application process. The portal can be accessed via the link below: https://odoe.powerappsportals.us/SitingPublicCom ment/ To get started, choose the Sunstone Solar Project from the drop-down menu. Click “Next” and follow the instructions on screen. You will receive an email confirmation after submitting your comment. ODOE also has a docket system available which displays comments that have been submitted. Comments for this project will be posted to the docket and will normally be available to view within 3 business days of receipt. The docket can be accessed via the following link: https://odoe.powerappsportals.us/en- US/sitingdocket/ Please note: All comments submitted to ODOE may be disclosed to the public, subject to Oregon Public Records Laws (ORS Chapter 192). Public comments may be available on the ODOE webpage for the Wagon Trail Solar Project as an attachment to the Proposed Order, to be issued at a later date. Comment submission does not register your contact information to receive future electronic notices. If you would like to receive notices for this proposed facility or any other EFSC facility, and have not already done so, please follow the information in this notice to subscribe to the ClickDimensions email notification list as described below. 1) Oregon Department of Energy’s webpage: The ASC, DPO and additional details regarding the proposed facility may be found at: https://www.oregon.gov/energy/facilities- safety/facilities/Pages/ESP.aspx to review and access free of charge. Additional resources to help you participate in the state siting process can be found at: http://www.oregon.gov/energy/facilities- safety/facilities/pages/default.aspx https://www.oregon.gov/energy/facilities- safety/facilities/Pages/Fact-Sheets.aspx 3) In hardcopy: Hard copies of the ASC and DPO are available for public inspection at the following locations at no cost: Oregon Department of Energy 550 Capitol Street NE Salem, OR 97301 Please contact Christopher Clark to arrange viewing of hard copies of the ASC and DPO; hard copies will be provided at reasonable cost upon request to ODOE. Accessibility information: ODOE is committed to accommodating people with disabilities. For the review of the ASC or attendance at the information meeting, if you require any special physical or language accommodations, or need information in an alternate format, please contact Nancy Hatch at 503-428-7905, toll-free in Oregon at 800-221-8035, or email to nancy.hatch@energy.oregon.gov. For any other accommodation needed to attend the public hearing, please contact ODOE as soon as possible so we may provide the accommodation. Figure 1: Facility Location and Proposed Site Boundary Page 1 During the hearing there will first be a brief overview by ODOE on the siting process and proposed facility, followed by an overview of the hearing format provided by the presiding officer and followed by an opportunity to provide oral comments on the ASC and the DPO. The duration of the time for individual commenters will be 7 minutes, but that may be lengthened or shortened based on the number of people who comment. To raise an issue on the record of the DPO public hearing, a person must raise an issue either in person at the public hearing, or in a written comment submitted after the date of this notice and received by ODOE before the record closes at the close of the Public Hearing on August 22, 2024, unless extended by Council. A person’s failure to raise an issue in person or in writing prior to the close of the record, with sufficient specificity to afford the decision maker an opportunity to respond to the issue, will preclude consideration of the issue, by the Council or by a court on judicial review of the Council’s decision. Failure to raise an issue in person or in writing prior to the close of the record of the public hearing with sufficient specificity to afford the decision maker (Council), the Department and the certificate holder an opportunity to respond to the issue precludes the Council from considering whether that issue justifies a contested case proceeding. To raise an issue with sufficient specificity, a person must present facts that support the person’s position on the issue. Written or oral comments may be hand-delivered, submitted verbally via Webinar/teleconference or in- person at the public hearing, or via electronic methods previously described. In order to be included on the record of the public hearing written comments must be received by the close of the Public Hearing on August 22, 2024 (the comment deadline), unless otherwise extended by Council, submitted at the hearing, through the public comment portal described below or by mail, email or fax to the presiding officer/hearing officer, in care of: Christopher Clark, Senior Siting Analyst Oregon Department of Energy 550 Capital Street NE Salem, OR 97301 PUBLIC NOTICE: Public Hearing and Comment Period on the Draft Proposed Order for Sunstone Solar Project | July 24, 2024 Phone: (503) 871-7254 Fax: 503-373-7806 Email: Christopher.clark@energy.oregon.gov Additional Information: Additional information about the proposed facility and updates on the review process is available using any of the following options. To receive notices by U.S. Mail, please contact Christopher Clark (see contact information provided above). Maps of the proposed facility and site boundary and proposed layout are included at the end of this notice. Specific locational maps can be found in ASC Exhibit C at: https://www.oregon.gov/energy/facilities- safety/facilities/Pages/ESP.aspx and on ODOE’s online mapping tool at: https://tools.oregonexplorer.info/OE_HtmlViewer/in dex.html?viewer=renewable&efsc=Echo%20Solar%2 0Project PUBLIC NOTICE: Hearing and Comment Period on the Draft Proposed Order for Sunstone Solar Project | July 24, 2024 EFSC Review Process Overview: The site certificate process is a consolidated, comprehensive siting process. 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, which constitutes EFSC’s scope of review. ODOE serves as staff to EFSC and conducts the application review process. Receipt of this Notice: Please note that you may be receiving this notice for multiple reasons: 1. You own property within or adjacent to (within 500 feet) the property boundary on which the proposed facility would be located. You will automatically receive all future EFSC notices for this proposed facility. 2. You have previously signed up via ClickDimensions to receive email notices related to the Sunstone Solar Project or all EFSC project- related notices. You will automatically receive all future email notices per your request, unless you unsubscribe via ClickDimensions or by contacting ODOE. 2) Updates by email/mail: Subscribe to ClickDimensions, a self-managed, automated email system that sends notices and updates on the Sunstone Solar Project as well as any or all other energy facilities and events under EFSC jurisdiction. For more information, please visit: https://tinyurl.com/ODOE-EFSC. Page 2 Council Review of the Draft Proposed Order: Following the close of the record of the public hearing on the DPO, and during a Council meeting, EFSC will review the DPO, comments received on the record of the DPO and provide any comments they have to ODOE. Proposed Order: ODOE will evaluate the comments received on the record of the DPO as well as those by EFSC, and make any necessary changes to findings of fact, conclusions of law and conditions. These will be reflected in the Proposed Order, ODOE’s second evaluation of the proposed facility. Contested Case: Along with the issuance of the Proposed Order, ODOE will issue a notice of Contested Case. To be eligible to participate in a Contested Case proceeding, a person must raise an issue either in person at the public hearing or in a written comment submitted between July 12, 2024 and the close of the Public Hearing on August 22, 2024 the date the record closes, unless extended. Even if a person commented before the close of the Public Hearing on August 22, 2024, that person must raise an issue(s), either via oral comment at the public hearing or in writing during the comment period to be eligible to participate in the Contested Case. Failure to raise an issue in person or in writing prior to the close of the record of the public hearing with sufficient specificity to afford the decision maker (EFSC), an opportunity to respond to the issue precludes consideration of the issue in a contested case. To raise an issue with sufficient specificity, a person must present facts that support the person’s position on the issue. See OAR 345-015-0016(3). The Siting Division Public Guide contains information on the EFSC process, including the contested case process. To view this information on ODOE’s website, please use the following link: https://www.oregon.gov/energy/facilities- safety/facilities/Documents/Fact-Sheets/EFSC-Public- Guide.pdf For more information relating to EFSC standards, please visit: http://www.oregon.gov/energy/facilities- safety/facilities/Pages/Siting-Standards.aspx Published July 24, 2024 affid 1c Sheriff’s Report MCSO March 8, 2024 Unauthorized Entry MV Occurred at Love's Travel Stop And Coun- try Store on Tower Rd, in Boardman, OR. RP ad- vised a 2017 Nissan Alti- ma was broken into and some items were stolen out of it. It is parked next to the Carl's Jr drive-th- ru. **MCSO responded, report taken. Disposi- tion:REPORT TAKEN Driving Complaint Occurred on W High- way 730, in Irrigon, OR. Smaller gold sedan failed to maintain lane, swerv- ing all over the roadway. RP believes they may be intoxicated. **Completed. Disposition: COMPLET- ED. March 9, 2024 Area Check Officer initiated activi- ty at Frederickson Farms, Paterson Ferry Rd, Ir- rigon, OR. Completed area check of Fredrick- son Farms. Disposition: COMPLETED. Area Check Officer initiated activity at High Banks, Paterson Ferry Rd/Riverview Ln, Irrigon, OR. Area check of High Banks completed. Disposition: COMPLET- ED. Juvenile Complaint Occurred at Love's Travel Stop And Coun- try Store on Tower Rd, in Boardman, OR. RP advised that there is a fe- male and male child in the front of Love's, about 6 to 7 years old, wearing dark clothing. RP stated that the children were request- ing a ride to their parent's house. RP is concerned but is no longer on scene. MCSO and BPD respond- ed, complete/OHS is han- dling the call. Disposition: COMPLETED. Driving Complaint Occurred on Se Utah Ave, in Irrigon, OR. RP advised that he is still being harassed by the same person that has been harassing him for 10 years. RP states that there is a tire mark that begins from his residence all the way to Tenth St. RP is very irate. He is requesting contact from a deputy when avail- able. MCSO advised. Dis- position: COMPLETED. Warrant Arrest Occurred at Morrow County Sheriffs Office on W Willow View Dr, in Heppner, OR. Pendleton PD out with subj. Subject was arrested by Pendle- ton PD on MCCC warrant 19CR00138 PY/Criminal Mischief II. Subject lodged at UCJ with NO BAIL. Disposition: REPORT TAKEN. Noise Complaint Occurred on Se Utah Ave, in Irrigon, OR. RP advised he can hear mu- sic coming from the area of Division/Seventh. RP states it's well over 150ft away. MCSO advised. Dis- position: ADVISED. Driving Complaint Occurred on Se Utah Ave, in Irrigon, OR. White Nissan Frontier speed- ing through the area and causing rivets in the road. MCSO checked the area, UTL. Disposition: UN- ABLE TO LOCATE. Extra Patrol Occurred on Division Rd, in Irrigon, OR. Extra patrols for thefts and sus- picious activities in the afternoon and through- out the night. Disposition: COMPLETED. Juvenile Complaint Occurred at Irrigon Skate Park on Ne Main Ave, in Irrigon, OR. EMS respond to 145 SE Ninth to check out juvenile per parent's request. RP advised his son told him that there was another male that pushed -Continued to PAGE EIGHT INOGEN ® PORTABLE OXYGEN CONCENTRATORS Call us toll-free at 1-855-839-0752 1 30-day risk-free trial- Return within 30 days of purchase for a full refund of purchase price. PM230469 EN_EX_USA | Rx Only. © 2024 Inogen, Inc. 859 Ward Drive, Suite 200, Goleta, CA 93111 Inogen® is a trademark of Inogen, Inc. The usage of any Inogen, Inc. trademark is strictly forbidden without the prior consent of Inogen, Inc. All other trademarks are trademarks of their respective owners or holders. Be prepared before the next power outage. Receive a free 5-year warranty with qualifying purchase* - valued at $535. 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