CONSTRUCTION PLAN REPORT.pdf

8/11/2019 CONSTRUCTION PLAN REPORT.pdf

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CONSTRUCTION PLAN REPORTPREPARED BY: REFERGY CANADA INC.

KAP SOLAR PARK

ONTARIO SOLAR PV FIELDS 7 LP


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CONST_REFERGY2011KAP_VERSION7 2 | P a g e

ONTARIO SOLAR PVFIELDS 7LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

CONSTRUCTION PLAN REPORT

Prepared by REFERGY Canada Inc.

KAP SOLAR PARK

August 25th

, 2011

Developer Contact Information -

REFERGY Canada Inc.

330 Byron St S

Whitby ON L1N 4P8

Phone: +1 (905) 493-3440

Fax: +1 (905) 493-2331

E-Mail: [email protected]

Website: www.refergy.com

Owner Contact Information -

Ontario Solar PV Fields Inc.

c/o Photowatt Ontario

730 Fountain Street North

Cambridge ON N3H 4R7

Phone: +1 (519) 650-6535

E-Mail: [email protected]

Website: www.ontariosolarpvfields.com

DISCLAIMER

This report has been prepared solely in connection with the Renewable Energy Approval (REA) process, involving submissions to

the Ministry of the Environment (MOE), on behalf of Ontario Solar PV Fields 11 Limited Partnership (the Partnership),

pursuant to applicable regulations. The content of this document, and /or the fact that it has been posted and subsequently

submitted, is not intended to be used or relied upon by any third party. None of the Partnership, the entities comprising the

Partnership, REFERGY Canada Inc. and/or any of their respective affiliated pr partners, the entities comprising of the

Partnership, REFERGY Canada Inc. and/or any of their affiliates or partners shall have any liability whatsoever (by reason of

negligence or otherwise) for any harm or loss suffered by any third parties (including without limitation incurred legal or other

costs) who rely upon this document, and any such liability is expressly denied.


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TABLE OF CONTENTS

LIST OF FIGURES ...................................................................................................................................... 6

LIST OF TABLES ........................... .......................... .......................... .......................... .......................... ..... 6

1.0 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................. 7

2.0 DESCRIPTION OF CONSTRUCTION AND INSTALLATION ACTIVITIES .................................................. . 10

2.1 Site Preparation ............................. .......................... .......................... .......................... ................ 10

2.1.1 General Property Clearing .............................. .......................... .......................... ................... 10

2.1.2 Minimal Grading and Surface Water Drainage .................................................... ................... 10

2.1.3 Fencing ................................................................................................................................. 11

2.1.4 Roads ............................. .......................... ........................... .......................... ........................ 11

2.1.5 Staging Area ............................ .......................... .......................... .......................... ................ 11

2.2 Electrical Underground ...................................... .......................... ............................... ................. 12

2.2.1 Trenching and Underground Wiring ............................ .......................... .......................... ...... 12

2.2.2 Inverter and Transformer Foundation ................... .......................... .......................... ............ 12

2.2.3 Collector Substation .............................. .......................... .......................... .......................... .. 13

2.3 Foundations and Racking Tables ................................ ............................... .......................... ......... 13

2.4 Module Installation ............................. .......................... .......................... .......................... ........... 14

Module Wiring ............................. .......................... .......................... .......................... .................... 14

2.5 Storage Plans and Duration .............................. .......................... .......................... ........................ 15

2.6 Commissioning/Testing ........................... .......................... .......................... .......................... ....... 15

2.7 Timing of Construction, Installation and Operational Plans ........... .......................... ..................... 15

Timeline of Construction Activities .............................. .......................... .......................... ............... 16

2.8 Construction Equipment Used .............................. .......................... .......................... ................... 16

Description of Anticipated Construction Equipment and Machinery............................................... 17

2.9 Traffic .......................................................................................................................................... 18

2.10 Temporary Uses of Land ............................ .......................... .......................... .......................... .. 18

2.10.1 Current Land Use Description ........................... .......................... .......................... ............... 18

2.10.2 Land Use for Construction Purposes ............................... .......................... .......................... . 19

2.10.3 Timing and Duration ............................ .......................... .......................... .......................... .. 19

2.11 Materials and Equipment Delivery ................................ .............................. .......................... ..... 19

2.12 Seasonal Timing ........................... .......................... .......................... .......................... ................ 19


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3.0 DESCRIPTION OF NEGATIVE ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS ........................... .......................... .............. 19

3.1 Noise Disturbance ............................... .......................... .......................... .......................... ........... 20

3.1.1 Noise Emitters .............................. .......................... .......................... .......................... ........... 20

3.1.2 Noise Considerations and the Public................................. ............................... ...................... 20

3.1.3 Noise Considerations and Wildlife ............................... .......................... ........................... ..... 21

3.2 Dust ............................................................................................................................................. 21

3.3 Spills and Chemicals ............................ .......................... .......................... .......................... ........... 21

3.4 Alteration of Current Land Conditions ........................... .......................... ........................... .......... 21

3.5 Storm Water Runoff ............................ .......................... .......................... .......................... ........... 22

3.6 Materials Generated at, or Transported from the Project Location .................. .......................... .. 22

4.0 ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND HERITAGE, NATURAL HERITAGE AND WATER BODIES ................................. 23

4.1 Archaeological and Heritage Resources .............................. .......................... .......................... ...... 23

4.1.1 Stage 1 Archaeological Investigation Determinations ........ .......................... .......................... 23

4.1.2 Stage 2 Archaeological Investigation Determinations ........ .......................... .......................... 23

4.2 Natural Heritage ................................................. .......................... .......................... ..................... 23

4.2.1 Records Review Determinations .............................. .......................... .......................... .......... 23

4.2.2 Site Investigation Determinations................................................ .......................... ................ 24

4.3 Water Bodies ............................. .......................... .......................... .......................... .................... 24

4.3.1 Records Review ............................ .......................... .......................... .......................... ........... 25

4.3.2 Site Investigation................................................... .......................... .......................... ............ 25

5.0 NEGATIVE ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS MITIGATION MEASURES ................................ ....................... 25

5.1 Noise Disturbance ............................... .......................... .......................... .......................... ........... 25

5.1.1 Noise Emitters .............................. .......................... .......................... .......................... ........... 25

5.1.2 Noise Considerations and the Public................................. ............................... ...................... 26

5.1.3 Noise Studies .................................... ............................ ............................. ........................... 26

5.1.4 Noise Considerations and Wildlife ............................... .......................... ........................... ..... 27

5.2 Dust ............................................................................................................................................. 27

5.3 Spills Action Plan ............................ .......................... .......................... .......................... ................ 28

Chemicals ...................................................................................................................................... 29

5.4 Alteration of Current Land Conditions ........................... .......................... ........................... .......... 30

Surface Water Drainage and Site Grading .................. .......................... .......................... ................ 31

5.5 Sediment and Erosion Control ............................... .......................... .......................... ................... 31


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Light-Duty Straw Bale Barrier ............................. .......................... .......................... ........................ 31

Light-Duty Silt Fence ............................................ ........................... .......................... ..................... 32

5.6 General Monitoring ................................................ ........................... .......................... ................ 32

5.6.1 Construction ................................................ .......................... .......................... ..................... 32

5.6.2 Operation.............................................................................................................................. 32

5.6.3 Decommissioning ............................. .......................... .......................... .......................... ....... 32

5.6.4 Adaptive Management .............................. .......................... .......................... ........................ 32

5.7 Materials Generated at, or Transported from the Project Location .................. .......................... .. 33

REFERENCES .......................................................................................................................................... 34


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LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 1 - Geographical location of Kapuskasing, Ontario (Natural Resources Canada, 2011). .................. 9

LIST OF TABLES

Table 1 - Construction and installation activity timeline and duration. ................................................... 16

Table 2 - Construction/installation equipment and machinery. ............................................... ............... 17

Table 3 Approximate vehicle traffic per phase. ......... .......................... ............................. ................... 18


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1.0INTRODUCTION

Ontario Solar PV Fields Inc. (OSPV) is a joint venture between Photowatt Ontario (an ATS company) and

Q-Cells. OSPV is proposing to develop a solar park (Legal Project Entity: Ontario Solar PV Fields 7

Limited Partnership), hereby referred to as Kap Solar Park, and has engaged REFERGY Canada Inc.

(REFERGY) as the solar park project developer responsible for all pre-construction approvals.

OSPV is proposing to construct and install a 6 megawatt (MW) solar park in North-eastern Ontario in the

town of Kapuskasing (OBrien Township) within the Cochrane District. The facility will be a non-polluting

method in producing electricity to homes, buildings and businesses alike in and around the region.

The selected property is privately owned. The total usable area is approximately 40 hectares and is

classified as Class 3 and above land under the Canada Land Inventory (CLI). The property is situated

south of Highway 11; the nearest intersection is Brunelle Rd. South and Stevens Rd. The land is

currently in use for agricultural or logging purposes. There are no buildings, structures, or installations

of any kind on the leased property, with the following exceptions:

Trees

Bushes/shrubs

The proposed facility will encompass an area approximately 375 m (east-west) by 455 meters (north-

south), with a total project location area of approximately 183,109 m 2, and will consist of various rows

of solar module arrays mounted on fixed steel racking systems.

The primary technology consists of photovoltaic (PV) arrays mounted on fixed steel racking systems.

The PV arrays are connected to inverters used to convert the electrical current from direct current (DC)

to alternating current (AC) enabling the electricity to be connected to the grid for transmission and use.

A number of activities, many of which are mandated under Ontario Regulation 359/09 (O. Reg. 359/09),

are involved in the Renewable Energy Approval (REA) process. These activities form the basis of the REA

technical reporting requirements including the Construction Plan, Design and Operations and

Decommissioning Plan Reports. The main components of the REA process consists of archaeological,

environmental, geotechnical, surveying and noise study investigations, as well as associated

engagements and consultations with aboriginal, Mtis and public communities.

The main sections in the CONSTRUCTION PLAN REPORTinclude, but are not limited to the following bulleted

items:

Details of any construction and installation activities

Location and timing of any construction or installation activities for the duration of the

construction and installation

Negative environmental effects that may result from construction and installation activities

Within a 300 m radius of these activities

Mitigation measures in respect of any negative environmental effects


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In its operating stage, the solar farm is a passive facility creating no emissions, little noise and will

require minimal maintenance. During the decommissioning process many of the components of the

solar park will be reused and recycled by the project owner, while ensuring the land is reverted to its

original state.

This CONSTRUCTION PLAN REPORThas been prepared in accordance with requirements as listed in O. Reg.359/09, TECHNICALBULLETIN#3GUIDANCE FOR PREPARING THECONSTRUCTION PLANREPORT AS PART OF AN

APPLICATION UNDERO.REG.359/ 09, as well as relevant ongoing discussions with government authorities

as procedures and criteria are amended from time to time.

NOTICE:

At this time of submission two (2) inverter station options have been identified: the SMA Sunny Central

1000MV (2 x SC-500HE-11 inverters) and the Satcon Prism Platform - Equinox 1.25MW (2 x Satcon

Equinox 625kW inverters). The sound levels from both inverter stations have been reviewed, and both

meet the required sound level limits specified in MOE NPC-232.

The final selection of one (1) inverter station, which will occur prior to Renewable Energy Approval

(REA), will take into account product availability and compliance with Ontario FIT Domestic Content

Requirements. Care has been taken in the Solar Park design such that there would be no material design

impact based upon the final inverter station selection. Selecting either inverter station would not

change the inverter station locations or the inverter access plan. The final choice will also not impact the

locations of any other facility components such as modules, access roads, fences, etc.

While the Satcon inverter station is specified with a capacity greater than 1 MW, the output capacity of

these inverter stations would be limited to 1 MW to correspond with the block sizes provided in the

project design.


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Figure 1 - Geographical location of Kapuskasing, Ontario (Natural Resources Canada, 2011).


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2.0DESCRIPTION OF CONSTRUCTION AND INSTALLATION ACTIVITIES

The construction of the solar farm will begin after all applicable approvals and permits have been

obtained and have received the associated confirmation from ministries and other regulating

authorities. It is anticipated the construction phase of the project will last approximately six months

and require an average workforce of 60 employees, with a peak workforce of approximately 100. Every

effort will be made to recruit a local construction workforce.

Construction of the proposed solar park is composed of five main phases:

Site preparation

Electrical underground

Foundations and racking

Module installation

Commissioning/testing

Also provided in this section of the CONSTRUCTION PLAN REPORT is the timing of construction and

installation, operational plans, construction equipment to be used, and temporary uses of land. Unless

otherwise identified, all references towards sheets are contained within Appendix B Design

Documentation.

2.1 Site Preparation

2.1.1GENERAL PROPERTY CLEARING

The first phase of the construction process is the site preparation. To prepare the land, crops will

be harvested or mowed. Any existing trees or shrubs which could potentially negatively impact

the development of the solar park, or reduce the efficiency of the facility due to shading, will be

removed by a grader. Larger trees and shrubs will be removed with a dozer. Where possible,

wood from larger trees will be salvaged and sold locally, while smaller trees or shrubs removed

from the site will be disposed of in a local landfill.

2.1.2MINIMAL GRADING AND SURFACE WATER DRAINAGE

Dozers, graders and scrapers will flatten mounds and fill low areas to ensure proper drainage for

the site. Extensive grading of the land will be avoided and drainage for the site will be designed in

accordance with the natural slope of the land. Immediately after grading is complete, the

affected areas will be re-vegetated to reduce the potential for erosion using farm tractors with

seeder attachments. OPPS 804 old field mix will be planted on this site. A water truck may be

used to provide water for the seed until its root system is fully established, but normal

precipitation in the area is expected to sufficiently maintain the proposed vegetation.


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Refer to sheet C.101 Drainage Plan for further information.

Additional erosion control best management practices will be implemented for the site, including

silt fences, straw bales, and straw wattles as necessary.

2.1.3FENCING

A perimeter site fence and access gate consisting of galvanized steel posts, chain link fencing, and

barbed wire will be installed. As depicted on sheet C.200 Civil Details I, the perimeter site fence

will be constructed as per Ontario Provincial Standards Drawings 972.101 and 972.130. Each post

hole will be excavated to a depth of approximately 1 m and filled with concrete directly from the

concrete truck. Galvanized steel posts will be set in the concrete and held in place straight and

plumb with braces until the concrete is able to support the posts. The chain link fencing will then

be unrolled, pulled tight, and secured to the posts using wire clips. Brace rails and turnbuckles

will be installed at the corners to give the fencing additional rigidity, and angled brackets will be

attached to the tops of each post. Barbed wire will be strung across the angled brackets and

attached using wire clips.

ADDITIONAL FENCING SPECIFICATIONS

Approximate length of fencing = 1,170 m

Approximate number of posts = 390 posts

2.1.4ROADS

Several private roads will be constructed inside the perimeter of the facility using dozers, graders

and scrapers to allow for periodic maintenance of the facilitys equipment. Construction of the

interior roads will begin after the general site clearing is complete. To construct the roads, non-

compacted soil located under the footprint of the road will be excavated. Using graders and

dozers, this soil will be excavated to a depth of approximately 0.60 m, while extending over theentire 3.5 m width of the road. After the excavation of the road areas is complete, a geotextile

layer will be placed on the subgrade for additional soil stabilization and drainage efficiency.

The geotextile layer will be sloped to a perforated drain pipe approximately 15 cm in diameter to

remove excess water from the roadway subsurface. To form the subsurface of the road, granular

A and B secured from a local source will be delivered to the site using dump trucks. Graders

and dozers will spread the granular in 15 cm lifts for compaction by the roller until the road is built

up to its final thickness and slope.

Refer to the sheet C.100 Access Plan for more information on interior access roads.

ADDITIONAL ROAD SPECIFICATIONS

Approximate length of interior access road = 1,400 m

Approximate quantity of granular A and B = 2,628 tons

2.1.5STAGINGAREA

The staging area is located within the perimeter fence of the solar park, but outside of the

footprint of the solar arrays. The staging area will contain the construction office trailer, material


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storage containers, and provide parking for site worker vehicles. The staging area will be

constructed with granular materials similar to the gravel road detailed on sheet C.200 Civil

Details I and will be maintained as required throughout the construction phase of the project.

ADDITIONAL STAGINGAREA SPECIFICATIONS

Approximate staging area = 10,455 m2

o Length = 205 m

o Width = 51 m

Approximate quantity of granular A and B = 5,606 tons

The staging area is depicted on sheet A.103 Site Plan.

2.2 Electrical Underground

2.2.1TRENCHING AND UNDERGROUND WIRING

Once the site is prepared, burying of the underground DC and AC wiring will occur. Excavators will

be used to dig the trenches for this wiring, with approximate trench dimensions of 1.2 m deep by0.6 m wide. Spoils from the trenching will be placed next to the trenches for later use as backfill.

Cable reels placed on farm trailers will be used to quickly distribute the cable throughout the

trenches. As indicated in the diagram on sheet E.200 Electrical Details, the distance from the

ground surface to the beginning of the select backfill will be approximately 52.5 cm, while the 600

VAC and fiber optics will be located a minimum of 7.5 cm below this depth, as well as being

positioned approximately 7.5 cm from the outer walls of the undisturbed earth. Both the bare

cable and AC cabling will be located at a depth of greater than 1 m, with a minimum separation

between the cabling and earth fill material of 7.5 cm. After the wiring is installed, dozers and

excavators will be used to backfill and compact these trenches.

ADDITIONAL WIRING SPECIFICATIONS

DC home run cable from the combiner boxes to the inverter stations 7,224 m

600 VAC cable providing auxiliary power to the inverter stations 2,839 m

Fiber opt ic cabling for system communications 5,676 m

AC cable primary cabling from the inverter stations to the collector station 2,839 m

*The above wiring lenths are estimates.

2.2.2INVERTER AND TRANSFORMER FOUNDATION

Precast or cast-in-place concrete pads will act as support for the inverters and transformers. Each

inverter station will require one of these support pads, which are approximately 10.0 m x 4.0 m x

0.25 m in size (7 in total include the support pad needed for the collector substation). Precast or

cast-in-place concrete vaults will provide access for easier connection of wiring to the equipment

and will be installed throughout the site. In order to ensure proper drainage away from the

inverter stations, the concrete vaults will remain above the water table and will be installed on

elevated areas throughout the site. These raised areas, which will occur at each inverter station,

will be constructed using a dozer. A series of substrate types will be used to elevate these

components and are listed in order as follows: Approximately 15 cm of granular A over 45 cm


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of granular B, all installed over a vapour barrier which sits on top of native material. The

drainage slope will be typical for all sides of the elevated portion at a maximum gradient of 4:1.

The final pad layout has been designed according to the site-specific conditions. As well, topsoil

and hydroseed will be applied around the foundation and graded area for further support, erosion

control, and naturalization if necessary.

The arrival of the inverter and transformer assemblies will be scheduled so the equipment can be

offloaded from the delivery truck directly to the support pad, where they will be secured in place.

Refer to Appendix C Equipment and Component Specifications for inverter and transformer

specifications. Information related to the concrete vaults is located in sheet S.200 Structural

Details II.

INVERTERS AND TRANSFORMERS

6 medium voltage inverter stations (SMA Sunny Central 1000MV or Satcon Prism

Platform Equinox 1.25MW, please see Inverter Note in 1.0 Introduction)

25.0 kVA Step Up Transformer 6 each (1 per station)

Refer to sheet A.103 Site Plan for the locations of the inverters and transformers.

2.2.3COLLECTOR SUBSTATION

One collector substation will be required for the solar park project. The collector substation will

be similar in size and thickness to that of the inverter station. The collector substation will require

a vault, as well as being installed on an elevated area in the same fashion needed for the inverters

and transformers (refer to section 2.2.2INVERTER AND TRANSFORMER FOUNDATION). Its substrate will

consist of approximately 15 cm of granular A over 45 cm of granular B, all installed over a

vapour barrier which sits on top of native material. The drainage slope will be typical for all sides

of the elevated portion at a maximum gradient of 4:1. Refer to sheet E.200 Electrical Details for

further information relating to the collector substation.

COLLECTOR SUBSTATION

Medium Voltage Collector Substation 1 station

o 125 VDC battery + charger

o Control building

o Revenue meter

o Feeder cabling

o Motor operated switch

Refer to sheet A.103 Site Plan for the location of the collector substation.

2.3 Foundations and Racking Tables

Installation of the foundation and racking systems follows the electrical underground work. The

support system holding the solar modules in place consists of multiple foundation and racking


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assemblies referred to as tables. Foundation systems will include galvanized steel posts, H-piles, or

helical piles and will be driven into the ground to support the tables the modules are attached to.

Galvanized steel posts and helical piles usually range from 3 to 5 , depending on the loading design

and soil conditions. The standard H-pile size is approximately 6. The final results from the geological

investigations has determined that the preferred foundation to be utilized would be 6x6 H-piles driven

into the ground approximately 1.5 m to 2.0 m deep by a track driven hydraulic ram. In ideal conditions,

approximately 250 pile driven posts per day can be achieved with one machine. These foundation

systems will minimize disturbance of the existing soil on the site and can be easily removed when the

facility is decommissioned.

The foundations and racking systems will be delivered by trucks to the project location, while forklifts,

farm tractors and farm trailers will be used to distribute the foundation and racking materials. Once the

foundation support posts are installed, workers will complete the balance of the racking support system

by hand. Portable generators will be used to charge spare batteries for hand tools required to tighten

screws and bolts on the racking system.

The typical foundation and racking table layout is located in sheet A.103 Site Plan. Additional

foundation and racking information is contained in sheets E.100 Typical Block Layout and S.100

Structural Details I.

2.4 Module Installation

Once the onsite foundation and racking portion of the tables is complete, installation of the solar

modules will commence. Several trucks loaded with solar modules will be scheduled to arrive on the

site at the beginning of each work week. Forklifts, farm tractors, and farm trailers will be used to

distribute the modules throughout the site. Man-lift operators and on-the-ground workers will hoist

each module into place and secure them with clips.

MODULE WIRING

Solar modules are manufactured with positive and negative wire leads, each 0.9 m long,

connected to the rear of the module. These wire leads are also equipped with connector

couplings, allowing electricians to quickly join the wires together from adjacent modules in a

series to form an electrical string. Electricians route the wires from each string to the combiner

boxes, which are mounted on the racking at the center of each row. The strings located in the

combiner boxes are combined into one electrical output that is then fed underground to the

inverter.

#10 CU string wiring approximately 137,772 m

SOLAR MODULES

Photowatt PW2300 230 watt modules 30,480 in total

COMBINER BOXES

Solar BOS 100VDC combiner boxes 96 in total


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See Appendix C Equipment and Component Specifications for further information.

2.5 Storage Plans and Duration

Deliveries for all components for the proposed solar farm will be arranged to minimize the storage

required on site. Transit times to the project location will be easily identified as most components willbe manufactured within Ontario. It is anticipated solar module deliveries will be limited to

approximately 2,500 to 3,000 pieces to ensure installation on the delivery day. This approach minimizes

the risk of theft and damage to the modules. Other larger system components, such as the inverters,

transformers and the collector substation are also coordinated so no onsite storage is required.

Where needed, some system components will be stored on site for approximately a month until they

are installed. These items include the chain link fencing, electrical cabling, foundations and racking

materials. All materials will be stored onsite within the perimeter fencing of the project location, with

the majority placed in a lockable storage bin located at the construction staging area.

Materials requiring distribution across specific areas of the site upon arrival will be managed

accordingly, while all other offloading will take place at the construction staging area. Refer to sheet

A.103 Site Plan for further clarification.

Keeping all materials stored in one location will allow for more accurate monitoring of quantities on

hand and also provides for tighter security.

2.6 Commissioning/Testing

Commissioning and testing of the solar facility occurs once the installation of the system is complete,

but before connection to the electric utility companys distribution grid. During this process, a completereview and inspection of the completed system is performed. Components are tested and calibrated to

ensure they are performing as designed. Cables are tested to ensure they went undamaged during the

construction process and all wiring terminations are checked for connectivity. Specially trained

technicians and manufacturer representatives verify their components were installed and performing

properly. This will include checking inverter efficiency and output. Additionally, the automated

disconnect at the collector substation is tested to ensure the solar farm can be disengaged from the

electric utility companys distribution grid if necessary. All commissioning and testing activities

conducted are documented and compiled into a final report for future reference.

2.7 Timing of Construction, Installation and Operational Plans

Typical construction work hours are expected to be from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm, Monday through Friday.

Additional hours may be required depending upon project scheduling and progress. All construction

work that takes place outside these typical hours will comply with county and municipal standards and

by-laws for construction noise levels.


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TIMELINE OF CONSTRUCTIONACTIVITIES

As depicted in the Gantt chart below, the site preparation will take approximately 8 weeks, while

the electrical underground trenching and installation will take place over the course of

approximately 4 weeks. Subsequently the lengthiest portions of the construction process will

follow; the foundation and racking, and module installation. These activities will be

approximately a 20 week process in total. Lastly, the commissioning and testing portion of the

construction phase will take place, which should take approximately 4 weeks to complete.

2.8 Construction Equipment Used

Various pieces of equipment will be required to construct the proposed solar farm. Only qualified

individuals with the proper credentials will be allowed to operate machinery on site. It is anticipated

most pieces of equipment, with the exception of dump, pickup and water trucks, will be delivered and

removed from the site on a flatbed trailer.

The main functions of the construction and installation equipment consists of the distribution of

materials, site and road preparation (including excavation and trench backfilling), general

transportation, module and foundation installation and safety control mechanisms for dust. As depicted

below, facility materials will be distributed using 4 wheel drive forklifts and farm equipment such as

tractors and trailers. General road and site preparation, excavation and trench backfilling will

incorporate the operation of dozers, dump trucks, excavators, graders, as well as rollers. The primary

mode of onsite transportation will be ATVs. Module and foundation installation will be achieved via

man-lift and pile driver machinery. While all of the above construction and installation activities are

taking place, control mechanisms for dust will be strictly adhered to consisting mainly of onsite water

trucks for timely deployment.

Equipment will be parked overnight at the project location. The list below estimates the quantity and

type of equipment to be implemented over multiple weeks and the phases in which the machinery isrequired.

Table 1 - Construction and installation activity timeline and duration.


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DESCRIPTION OFANTICIPATEDCONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT AND MACHINERY

o 4WD Fork Lift 28 4WD reach fork; 5,000 lbs

o ATV Vehicles Kubota 4WD utility vehicle; 2,000 lbs

o Dozer Cat D8 dozer; 80,000lbs

o Dump Truck 5yd dump truck; 20,000 lbs

o Excavator Cat 330B excavator; 71,500 lbs

o Farm Tractor John Deere 5105 utility tractor; 8,400 lbs

o Farm Trailer 4 wheeled flatbed trailer; 2,000 lbs

o Grader Cat 120 motor grader; 31,000 lbs

o Man Lift track driven 15 scissors lift; 1,500 lbs

o Pile Driver track driven hydraulic ram; 6,800 lbs

o Roller 6 ton double drum roller; 12,000 lbs

o Generator 6kw portable generator; 200 lbs

o Seeder John Deere CS13 hydraulic seeder; 1,500 lbs

o Water Truck 2,000 gallon water truck; 30,000 lbs

Table 2 - Construction/installation equipment and machinery.


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2.9 Traffic

When operational, the facility will have no full time employees and will not add to the local daily traffic

load. Only a limited number of replacement deliveries for materials and equipment will be required

throughout the lifetime of the facility. Additional traffic from regular onsite inspections and scheduled

maintenance will not exceed several vehicles per month.

Traffic load will be the greatest during the construction and installation phase as a result from increased

traffic entering and exiting the facility for the delivery of facility components, equipment and

transportation of the workforce. Upon reaching the site, delivery trucks will enter the site using the

entrance as shown in sheets A.103 Site Plan and C.100 Access Plan. The trucks will be unloaded and

their materials will be distributed to the specific area needed for construction. The table below includes

a breakdown of the following:

Various vehicle types used in the construction process

Purpose of the vehicle used

Development phase the vehicle is required

Peak daily round trips per phase

Table 3 Approximate vehicle traffic per phase.

2.10 Temporary Uses of Land

2.10.1CURRENT LAND USE DESCRIPTION

The land is currently in use for agricultural or logging purposes.


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2.10.2LAND USE FOR CONSTRUCTION PURPOSES

A portion of the site within the perimeter of the security fence will be graded and used as a

construction staging area. The staging area will include construction office trailers, a first aid

station, employee parking, as well as truck loading and unloading facilities.

2.10.3TIMING AND DURATIONThe construction staging area will be installed shortly after the start of the site work phase and

remain in place until the commissioning and testing phase is complete. It is expected the

construction staging area will be used for the entire six month duration of the solar park

construction, with minimal use throughout the life of the project.

2.11 Materials and Equipment Delivery

All materials and equipment will be trucked to the site using delivery vehicles. Refer to relevant sections

of 2.0 CONSTRUCTION AND INSTALLATION ACTIVITY DETAILS for further information regarding all onsite

materials, machinery and equipment, delivery vehicles, as well as associated specifications and/orquantity and type.

2.12 Seasonal Timing

The seasonal timing of the construction phase of the project is directly related to MOE REA application

review and subsequent approval, as well as the Ontario Power Authority (OPA) Notice to Proceed, upon

which the proponent can then initiate the construction process. Construction can occur during portions

of the winter months, weather permitting. However, a majority of the construction phase is expected to

occur during the spring, summer and fall seasons, pending REA timing.

Refer to section 2.7.1 TIMELINE OF CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES for an overview of the sequence of

construction phases and the anticipated durations of each activity.

3.0 DESCRIPTION OF NEGATIVE ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS

There are three main stages to solar park development including predevelopment, construction and

installation, and operation. The most likely stage for negative environmental impacts to occur is the

construction and installation of the project.

Similar to other construction projects but more benign in comparison, potential negative environmental

effects of the development within a 300 m radius of the construction activities consist of the following

and will be discussed further in this report:

1. Noise disturbance

2. Dust

3. Spil ls and chemicals


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4. Alteration of current land conditions

5. Storm water runoff

6. Materials generated at , or t ransported from the project location

Potential factors affected by the above negative environmental impacts include the public, natural

features, wildlife, potential species at risk, as well as water bodies.

It is expected the potential for negative environmental impacts are minimal, however, as part of the

regulatory requirements these concerns have to be noted. Due to the short construction and

installation phase, these items would have a very restricted time period in which they could potentially

occur, ultimately limiting the likelihood and duration of the event.

Furthermore, the project owner will continue to monitor and apply any mitigation strategies in a timely

manner, when necessary. Ministry regulations and guidelines relating to the REA process have been,

and will continue to be, strictly adhered to. Strategies in addressing each of the identified concerns are

discussed in section 5.0NEGATIVEENVIRONMENTALIMPACTSMITIGATIONMEASURES.

3.1 Noise Disturbance

Some noise is produced during the construction and installation stage of the project. A number of

mitigation strategies will be applied in order to limit noise and any associated negative environmental

impacts on human and wildlife receptors.

3.1.1NOISE EMITTERS

Potential noise emitters during the construction and installation phase of the solar park project

consist of the following:

4 wheel-drive fork lift

ATV vehicles

Bulldozer

Dump truck

Excavator

Farm tractor

Farm trailer

Grader

Man lift

Worker vehicle

Generators

Pile driver

Roller

Water truck

2 24 straight trucks

40 tractor trailer

Delivery truck

25 ton truck

Fuel truck

Pickup truck

As noted above, noise emitters are resultant of the operation and use of typical heavy and small-

scale construction and installation equipment.

3.1.2NOISE CONSIDERATIONS AND THE PUBLIC

Public receptors will be impacted by the emitters listed above, but the impacts will be minimal,

short-term and finite. This stage will take approximately 22 weeks to complete. There will be no

construction and installation machinery use post- construction and installation.


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3.1.3NOISE CONSIDERATIONS AND WILDLIFE

Research has been conducted on the effects of noise on wildlife and there is evidence that

primary and secondary impacts may occur. The primary effects could potentially include auditory

changes, while secondary effects of noise are non-auditory in nature, including increased stress

levels and changes in other activities. Wildlife may adjust their diurnal patterns to counteract

changes to their environment related to noise level increases, but this often limits time spent

doing other activities (Burke MNR Zoologist, 2010).

3.2 Dust

Depending on the weather conditions at the site, construction vehicles and equipment may generate

dust while being operated. When necessary, a dust suppression system will be implemented. Although

there is the possibility for dust throughout this stage, specific activities such as the site preparation and

electrical underground work are most likely to have an impact. A water truck with an approximate

capacity of 2,000 gallons will be available on site to minimize any dust impacts caused by construction.

Machinery involved during these phases of the construction and installation consists of dozers, dump

trucks, excavators, graders and rollers.

3.3 Spills and Chemicals

Chemical sources present on site during the construction and installation phase will include those

required to power and lubricate construction vehicles and equipment. Engines for all vehicles and

equipment used on the site will require either diesel or gasoline fuel for operation. All vehicles and

equipment will use oil and grease for lubrication and a majority of the equipment will require hydraulic

oil for operation of its moving parts.

Other common chemicals present on-site will consist of antifreeze, coolant and windshield washer fluid.

Due to the chemical composition of concrete, this substance will be handled in a similar manner to the

chemicals previously mentioned. As a preventative measure, no concrete will be stored on site and

delivery will be implemented as needed from a ready-mix plant. No other chemicals are expected to be

used on site.

Please refer to section 5.0 - NEGATIVE ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS MITIGATION MEASURES for further

information regarding how on site chemicals will be addressed.

3.4 Alteration of Current Land Conditions

Agricultural practices are common in this area, often consisting of livestock grazing which may result in

rural nonpoint pollution to the surrounding ecosystem by exposing topsoil, overgrazing of the land, soil

compaction, damaged stream banks and riparian zones, as well as the addition of direct silt and nutrient

inputs to water bodies. Similarly, a number of negative environmental impacts are associated with the

urbanization of areas due to the increased presence of impermeable surfaces.


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In addition to the common sources of pollution noted above, negative impacts associated with

construction sites include inorganic pollution in the form of suspended and dissolved solids, mainly

comprised of silt and other minerals that could be carried to water bodies due to precipitation events.

Resultantly, a number of mitigation methods (Refer to section 5.0 NEGATIVE ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS

MITIGATION MEASURES) will be employed by the proponent to ensure natural features and water bodies

existing outside the 120 m buffer of the project location will remain undisturbed (Mitchell and Stapp,

2000).

Archaeological and Heritage Resources will not be negatively impacted by the development as there are

no significant archaeological or heritage features on the property as determined by the Stage 1 and 2

Archaeological Assessments. Please refer to section 4.0 ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND HERITAGE

RESOURCES, NATURAL HERITAGE AND WATER BODIES, as well as Appendix E Archaeological and

Heritage Resource Documentation and Appendix G Ministry Confirmation Letters.

No Significant Natural Heritage Resources will be negatively impacted by the development as

determined by the environmental investigations. Please refer to section 4.0 ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND

HERITAGE RESOURCES, NATURAL HERITAGE AND WATER BODIES, as well as Appendix F Natural

Heritage Assessment Documentation and Appendix G Ministry Confirmation Letters.

Minimal site grading and drainage will be required. Refer to sheet C.101 Drainage Plan.

3.5 Storm Water Runoff

Nonpoint pollution inputs in the form of storm water runoff may negatively impact aquatic organisms

due to increases in water body turbidity (leading to warmer water conditions) and sediment deposition

(negatively impacting benthic organisms) (Mitchell and Stapp, 2000). Therefore, various precautionary

control mechanisms will be implemented to limit the chances of storm water runoff from occurring and

are discussed further in section 5.0NEGATIVE ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS MITIGATION MEASURES.

Though there are no water bodies within 120 m of the project location, the proponent will still

implement sediment and erosion control mechanisms for best management practices, and to

thoroughly ensure water bodies, as well as natural features, remain undisturbed as a result of the

construction and installation phase.

3.6 Materials Generated at, or Transported from the Project Location

Approximately 1,500 wooden pallets and cardboard boxes used to protect the solar modules duringshipping will be accumulated on site and sent to a local recycling facility for processing. It is expected 10

trucks will be required to transport these materials to the recycling facility. Other than these items, only

general construction trash will be generated for the duration of the activities on site. Generally, any

garbage produced onsite will be trucked to the nearest landfill and any recyclable materials produced

onsite will be trucked to the nearest recycling facility.


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4.0 ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND HERITAGE, NATURAL HERITAGE AND

WATER BODIES

4.1 Archaeological and Heritage Resources

4.1.1STAGE 1ARCHAEOLOGICAL INVESTIGATION DETERMINATIONS

Archaeological and Heritage Resource Assessments as outlined in O. Reg. 359/09 and the Ontario

Heritage Act were conducted by Dr. David Slattery of Horizon Archaeology (Archaeological License

# P041-130-2010). The Stage 1 Archaeological Assessment commenced early spring 2010 and was

submitted to the Ministry of Tourism and Culture (MTC).

As recommended in the investigations, few indications of cultural values were identified on the

subject property. Prior to development a full field walkabout would be needed to ground truth

the determinations of the Stage 1 Archaeological Assessment.

4.1.2STAGE 2ARCHAEOLOGICAL INVESTIGATION DETERMINATIONS

Stage 2 Archaeological Assessments were conducted by the aforementioned consultant in June

2010. The field assessment was conducted in accordance with O. Reg. 359/09 as well as

evaluation criteria and procedures established by the MTC.

No archaeological remains were recovered during the Stage 2 Archaeological Assessments; as

indicated by the Archaeologist, further investigations are not required.

Stage 1 and 2 Archaeological Assessments are located in Appendix E Archaeological and

Heritage Resource Documentation, while MTC acceptance letters are located in Appendix G

Ministry Confirmation Letters.

4.2 Natural Heritage

The Natural Heritage Assessments (NHA) were conducted in accordance with O. Reg. 359/09, as well as

implementing approved Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) evaluation criteria, procedures and

applicable databases including the Natural Heritage Assessment guide for Renewable Energy Projects,

Natural Heritage Information Centre (NHIC) and the Biodiversity Explorer, the Significant Wildlife Habitat

Technical Guide (SWHTG), the Approval and Permitting Requirements Document (APRD), and others.

Listed below are the general determinations of the records review and site investigations, but are

provided in full detail in Appendix F Natural Heritage Assessment Documentation. The MNR

confirmation letter is located in Appendix G Ministry Confirmation Letters.

4.2.1RECORDS REVIEW DETERMINATIONS

The purpose of the records review is to determine and identify if the proposed solar park project

is within 120 m of a provincial park or conservation reserve, within or adjacent to a natural


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feature, within 50 m of an area of natural and scientific interest (ANSI) (earth science) or within

120 m of a natural feature that is not an ANSI (earth science).

The consultant used a variety of investigatory methods to explore the presence or absence of the

previously mentioned natural heritage features using the aforementioned technical guides and

databases, as well as Land Information Ontario (LIO), Natural Resources Canada (NRC), Species atRisk in Ontario (SARO) and the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada

(COSEWIC) sources, as well as incorporating numerous GIS layers and shapefiles. Furthermore,

municipalities, ministries and other authorities have been contacted to gain as much knowledge

as possible to limit the potential for any negative environmental impact.

The results of the records review investigations indicated the following:

Three rare plants could have the potential to occur on the proposed site and/or within

120 m of the project location

The rare species have been taken into account during the site investigation. The site investigationreport provides an evaluation of the potential for these species to occur; outside of these species,

no other natural features were identified.

As part of the regulatory standards outlined in O. Reg. 359/09 these determinations have to be

verified during the site investigation. Refer to section 4.2.2SITE INVESTIGATION DETERMINATIONSfor

further information.

4.2.2SITE INVESTIGATIONDETERMINATIONS

The results of the NHA site investigation indicate the potential for four types of wildlife habitat as

outlined in the MNRs SWHTG including black bear (Ursus americanus)/mammal foraging area,

land bird migratory stopover areas, mature forest stands and raptor winter feeding and roosting

areas. As presented in the report none of these habitat types are considered to be significant as

defined by the MNR. The three rare plant species identified during the records review were not

found within the project location or the 120 m setback distance outside the project location,

requiring no further analysis.

4.3 Water Bodies

As outlined in O. Reg. 359/09, proponents proposing to engage in a renewable energy project shall

conduct a water assessment, consisting of:

1. A records review conducted in accordance with section 30.

2. A site investigation conducted in accordance with section 31.

Depending on the results of the records review and site investigation, proponents may then have to

further investigate water bodies in accordance with sections 39 and 40.


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4.3.1RECORDS REVIEW

No water bodies were identified on the project location or within 120 m buffer adjacent to the

site. As well, the project location is not within 300 m of the average annual high water mark of a

lake trout water body that is at or above development capacity, nor is the site within 120 of any

other water body that is at or above development capacity.

4.3.2SITE INVESTIGATION

As determined during the site investigations, no water bodies as defined in O. Reg. 359/09 are

within the proposed project location or within the 120 m buffer of the project location. Further

substantiating the determinations of the records review, the site is not within 300 m of the

average annual high water mark of a lake trout lake that is at or above development capacity or

within 120 m of any other water body that is at or above development capacity.

The information obtained confirms the results of the Water Bodies records review; no corrections

are required to be made to the report.

For the complete Water Bodies Records Review and Site Investigation, refer to Appendix H Water

Assessment Documentation.

5.0 NEGATIVE ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS MITIGATION MEASURES

5.1 Noise Disturbance

Equipment used during the construction and installation of the solar park will produce noise. Below is a

list of various mitigation measures with respect to the aforementioned negative environmental effectsthat may result within a 300 m radius of the project location.

5.1.1NOISE EMITTERS

As previously mentioned, there are a number of noise emitters operating during the construction

and installation stage of the project; mainly related to heavy and small-scale construction

equipment.

To help mitigate the noise impacts of these emitters, their operation will typically occur between

the hours of 7:00 am and 7:00 pm from Monday to Friday. The primary source of noise during

construction will be as a result of driving foundation support posts, which will last for a period of

approximately 10 weeks.

When possible, newer equipment, which is generally quieter than older equipment, will be used

on site. Additionally, when equipment is delivered to the site, it will be inspected to ensure it has

been properly maintained and has a suitable functioning muffler in place.


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Equipment Operators, Emergency Response Coordinators, as well as Second-in-Command

Emergency Response Coordinators, will be on site to monitor and ensure equipment is operating

properly.

5.1.2NOISE CONSIDERATIONS AND THE PUBLIC

The temporary period in which the solar park will be constructed, during which the greatestamount of noise emissions will occur, will be minimal. The construction and installation stage will

be approximately 22 weeks in duration, after which noise will be resultant of the operation of the

facility. Noise studies have been conducted and prepared in accordance with Appendix A of the

MOE publication entitled Basic Comprehensive Certificates of Approval (Air) User Guide (2004),

as amended from time to time and available from the Ministry, as well as NPC 232 Sound Level

Limits for Stationary Sources in Class 3 Areas (Rural) (1995). Noise studies are further described in

section 5.1.3 NOISE STUDIES.

Due to the basic design of the solar park, little maintenance is required for the facility during the

operation phase, thus vehicle traffic will negligible limiting any associated noise disturbances.

The noise considerations presented in section 5.1.1 -NOISE EMITTERSwill help mitigate potential

issues with the public. As well, the rural setting of the project location limits the extent of noise

and its impacts on public receptors. For the complete Noise Studies report, refer to Appendix D

Noise Study Report.

5.1.3NOISE STUDIES

Though noise studies pertain mostly to the Design and Operation Phase of the project, the last

stage of the Construction and Installation Phase consists of Testing/Commissioning of the facility,

which will require some operation.

Under the REA requirements a Site-specific Noise Study Report is required to be submitted. This

report has been prepared in accordance with the MOE publication titled Basic Comprehensive

Certificates of Approval (Air) User Guide, dated April 2004.

RWDI completed a Noise Study report in accordance with applicable regulations (O. Reg. 359/09

and NPC-232). This assessment focused on sound emissions from the significant noise sources at

the Kap Solar Park facility which include one (1) transformer substation and six (6) power

inverters. The facility will operate 24 hours per day (energy production is limited to daylight

hours), 365 days per year. The noise assessment was completed through detailed modeling.

Engineering calculations were incorporated into the noise model to determine predictable worst-case noise impacts at the closest sensitive receptors.

The noise impacts from the above noted facility sources were shown to meet the MOE NPC-232

sound level limits at all modeled receptors provided that indicated maximum sound power levels

are met. The noise study documents are provided in Appendix D Noise Study Report.


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5.1.4NOISE CONSIDERATIONS AND WILDLIFE

There are negative environmental impacts associated with noise produced by the described

machinery and equipment, but mitigation measures are being applied to limit the impacts on

wildlife.

This particular phase of the project will be temporary and short-term, ultimately reducing theimpacts on local fauna. Another means in mitigating the negative impacts of noise is limiting the

use of the equipment to that of the project location. By restricting equipment use to a specified

area, the potential to negatively impact a greater range of wildlife will be reduced.

Due to the non-invasive, basic design of a solar park, the noise emissions will be minimal in

comparison to more involved construction projects, such as those requiring extensive grading and

paving, the use of larger land areas and the construction of complex buildings, structures, and

their foundations. Rather, site grading will be limited as required to meet drainage requirements.

Support posts will be pile driven or screwed into the substrate, while no cement will be needed

for additional rigidity and support, and the solar park layout will follow the current land contours.

As well, no paving operations will be needed as interior roadways and the staging area will be

comprised of permeable aggregates A and B.

Though wildlife use the project location and surrounding area during some instance of their

lifecycle, the final determinations of the NHAs, found no significant natural features within the

project location or its buffer areas. Thus, noise impacts on wildlife will be limited due to the fact

there are no significant features for wildlife to use in and around the project location. Refer to

Appendix F Natural Heritage Assessment Documentation and Appendix G Ministry

Confirmation Letters for further clarification.

5.2 Dust

Water will be used as the primary method in suppressing potential dust related issues as a result of the

construction and installation activities. Water will be obtained from offsite sources and trucked to the

site. Water will be free of any contaminants that could negatively impact the fill material or the

environment, and will be applied in a way so as not to cause equipment blockage. A water truck with an

expected capacity of 2,000 gallons will remain on site at all times and be ready for immediate dispatch

to mitigate any dust issues that may arise.

Water will be applied, if necessary, in a uniform manner with the appropriate coverage and pressure;

equipment automation will be avoided. Pooling, runoff or the distribution of material beyond theapplication area will be strictly avoided to reduce additional negative environmental impacts. Dust

suppression activities will not occur during rainfall events, when the ground surface is saturated or on

areas where water has accumulated.

Ultimately no natural sources of water at the project location will be disturbed, no pumping machinery

will be positioned close to any water bodies and water will be provided in a maneuverable fashion

quickly and efficiently.


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5.3 Spills Action Plan

Part X of the Environmental Protection Act (EPA) concerns spills. Substances used in the construction,

installation and operation of the solar park facility that could potentially spill include mineral oil from

transformers and gasoline from construction equipment and other motor vehicles.

According to the EPA, a spill is defined as a discharge into the natural environment, from or out of a

structure, vehicle or other container, that is abnormal in quality or quantity in light of all the

circumstances of the discharge.

It is important to note that there are exceptions to the above, including spills of small quantities. The

exceptions that may apply to a solar park are listed below. The following list is adapted from the MOE

publication entitled Spills Reporting A Guide to Reporting Spills and Discharges published in May,

2007.

Class VI: Motor Vehicles. Fluids under 100 liters, other than fluids transported as

cargo, that may be released from the operating systems of motor vehicles, such asfuels or radiator fluids in motor vehicle accidents, are defined as Class VI spills.

Class VII: Electrical Utilities.A spill of mineral oil, other than a PCB liquid, of less than

100 liters from electrical transformers or capacitors owned by a municipal or provincial

utility is classified as a Class VII spill. Subject to four conditions, Class VII spills need not

be reported to the Ministry. There are four conditions that must be met in order for

the reporting exemption to apply, they include:

o The spill of mineral oil does not enter and is not likely to enter directly or

indirectly water or a watercourse, as defined by the Ontario Water Resources

Act,

o The spill does not cause adverse effects other than those that are readily

remediated through cleanup and restoration of paved, graveled or sodded

surfaces,

o Arrangements for remediation are made immediately, and

o Records of the spill are maintained (Ministry of the Environment, 2007).

All other Part X duties and responsibilities remain unaltered by the exemption, including the duty to

notify the municipality, the owner and the person in control as these requirements may apply to the

circumstances of a Class VII spill (Ministry of the Environment, 2007).

Also important to note is that under S 91.1 of the EPA, every person who is in charge of a contaminant

that potentially could spill must, in accordance with the regulation, develop and implement plans to:

Prevent or reduce the risk of spills and pollutants; and

Prevent, eliminate or ameliorate any adverse effects that result or may result from

spills of pollutants including,

o Plans to notify the Ministry, other public authorities and members of the public

who may be affected by a spill, and

o Plans to ensure that appropriate equipment, material and personnel are

available to respond to a spill (Environmental Protection Act, 2009).


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CHEMICALS

A variety of mitigation measures have been assessed in order to address the potential for spills of

any chemicals which may be on-site.

CONSTRUCTIONANDINSTALLATIONEQUIPMENT- Secondary containment trays will be placed under

all equipment parked on site. At the beginning and the end of shifts, equipment operators willinspect the equipment they are using, specifically looking for leaking fluids and other potential

issues. Equipment found to be leaking fluids will be immediately repaired or removed from

the site.

Tidy tanks, drums and double walled tanks (i.e., fuel trucks) will contain any on site fuel and/or

chemicals, and will be stored at a distance greater than 30 m from the adjacent water body.

Drip pans, other control mechanisms, as well as spill kits will be available, while ensuring on

site personnel are adequately trained in their application. Material Safety Data Sheets

(MSDSs) will be provided and stored on site. Spill notification will be conducted as per O. Reg.

675/98.

SPILLREPORTING - Personnel and construction workers will be instructed to report all spills

regardless of the severity and will be reported to the Emergency Response Coordinator or the

Second-in-Command Emergency Response Coordinator who will be adequately informed

regarding the policies and procedures outlined in EPA and O. Reg. 675/98. Small spills will be

cleaned up immediately by using absorbent materials such as hay, sand, socks or pads. If the

spill is of such magnitude it cannot be contained, the Emergency Response Coordinatoror the

Second-in-Command Emergency Response Coordinator will contact the appropriate

authorities for assistance including the MOE and the Black River-Matheson Township. If

needed, the assessed landowners within 120 m of the project location (as provided by the

Black River-Matheson Township) will be notified.

SPILLINCIDENTREPORT- Further to the above paragraph, SPILL REPORTING, all site spills will

require a mandatory incident report to be filled out. The form includes pertinent information

to help describe the incident and the actions taken place to mitigate the issue. All personnel

and construction workers will be informed of the location of the incident reports to ensure no

spills go unaddressed (Refer to Appendix J Spill Incident Report for further clarification).

HAZARDOUS MATERIALS- In the event of a spill of a hazardous material in excess of reportable

limits, the spill must be reported to the Ministrys Spills Action Center at 1-800-268-6060.

Subsequently, in the event of a hazardous material spill, a spill report will be filled out andappropriate measures will be implemented to mitigate the issue.

Refer to section Appendix Y - Emergency Response and Communication Plans for further information.


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5.4 Alteration of Current Land Conditions

The project owner will limit land alterations as much as possible, not only to reduce costs and time

spent altering the land, but to reduce associated negative environmental impacts. The greatest land

altering effects will be resultant of the following:

Gravel roadways

Concrete pads for inverters and transformers

Gravel staging area

Operation and use of heavy equipment

Minimal site grading and drainage adjustments

Though gravel roadways will change the current property conditions, the roadway network will be very

limited in design. Roadways will be restricted to access to key components of the facility such as the

inverters and transformers (Appendix B Design Documentation - sheet C.100 Access Plan). The

concrete pads for the inverter stations switch gear and the collector substation, will be relatively small insize in comparison to the overall area of the solar park (approximately 45 acres). Seven foundations in

total will be required for the facility. The dimensions of the concrete pads are approximately 10.0 m x

4.0 m x 0.25 m (7 in total will be needed within the project location).

Similar to the gravel roadways, the staging area will be constructed from the same granular material; no

impermeable surfaces will be used for roadways or the staging area construction. Permeable surfaces

will allow precipitation to absorb and infiltrate into soils more naturally, reducing the chances of surface

water runoff into any nearby water courses, limiting the potential for sediment deposition (Mitchell and

Stapp, 2000).

Minimal site grading and drainage plans will be incorporated into the design of the facility. Immediately

after grading is complete, the entire site will be re-vegetated with OPPS 804 old field mix to reduce

the potential for erosion and surface water runoff.

The foundation and racking system selected for this project will minimize disturbance of the existing soil

on the site and can be easily removed when the facility is decommissioned. There are no concrete

foundations or permanent structures required to support the racking system that will be installed

throughout the site.

Due to the non-invasive nature of the solar park construction and installation in comparison to other

construction activities, the effects of the operation and use of heavy equipment will be negligible.

Regardless, the owner will ensure the primary negative environmental effects of equipment on the land

(i.e., soil compaction and exposure) will be addressed in the most appropriate way, by upgrading the

surface conditions and seeding any negatively impacted area accordingly, while ensuring these areas are

monitored until adequate growth has been achieved. The naturalization will help promote rainwater

infiltration into the soil, reducing the likelihood of surface water runoff and sediment deposition into

any nearby water bodies potentially existing outside the 120 m buffer area (as no water exist within this

setback distance).


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SURFACE WATER DRAINAGE AND SITE GRADING

Refer to the surface water drainage and site grading plan located in Appendix B Design

Documentation (See sheet C.101 Drainage Plan and the DESIGN AND OPERATIONS REPORT for

further clarification). Sediment and erosion control mechanisms will be implemented as per

section 5.5SEDIMENT AND EROSION CONTROL and are further described in sheet C.201 Civil Details

II (Appendix B).

5.5 Sediment and Erosion Control

Various methods will be taken into consideration in order to limit sediment and erosion of the

construction site terrain. All exposed land will be seeded accordingly using the previously mentioned

vegetation (i.e., OPPS 804 old field mix). The primary method for sediment and erosion control will

consist of straw bales and silt fencing.

The implementation of the above control mechanisms will be located on the down gradient portions of

any lay down area, along roadways, as well as surrounding any temporary stockpiles of materials, tohelp reduce the potential for sediment inputs and limit surface erosion. Additionally, straw bales and

silt fencing implemented during the construction and installation phase may be maintained during the

preliminary stages of the operation of the facility, until permanent storm water management vegetation

features have fully matured.

Refer to sheets C.101 Drainage Plan and C.201 Civil Details II (Appendix B) for further information.

LIGHT-DUTY STRAW BALE BARRIER

Straw bales will be dry, firm, rectangular bunches of wheat or oat straw and will be implemented

to decrease surface water flow, ultimately mitigating potential silt and mineral deposition intowater bodies potentially existing outside the 120 m buffer area of the project location.

Dimensions of individual straw bales will be approximately 36 x 14 x 18. The center portion of

the light-duty straw bale barrier will encounter the most direct surface water flow and will be

approximately 3 m in length. The winged portions will be angled slightly towards the direction of

flow to facilitate catchment of any surface water and will be approximately 2 m in length.

Located at the outlets of each swale will be light-duty straw bale barriers. Each straw bale will be

anchored with two stakes, positioned 150 mm from the ends of the bale and centered

accordingly. Stakes will be driven flush into the straw bales and anchored appropriately in the

earths surface.

As an additional contingency measure, both silt fencing and straw bale barriers will be used in

conjunction with each other at the outlets of each swale.


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LIGHT-DUTY SILT FENCE

Similar to the function of the straw bales, the silt fencing is a geotextile or fabric barrier used to

impede surface water flow, helping to reduce sediment deposition into waterways potentially

existing outside the 120 m buffer area of the project location.

When positioned at the drainage outlet of each swale, the center portion will be approximately 6m in length and will encounter the greatest amount of direct surface water flow. The wing

portions of the silt fencing will be 2 m in length and will be angled towards the direction of flow.

Stakes will be greater than 1.2 m in length and 600 mm will be anchored in the ground for

adequate support. On the upslope side of the stakes, a small trench approximately 200 mm x 200

mm will be installed by workers using hand shovels or possibly a small trenching machine. The

geotextile fabric will be attached on the upslope side of the stakes, as well as having a minimum

of 300 mm of fabric within the trench to ensure surface water flow will not travel beneath the

fencing. The trench will be backfilled and compacted for added support.

5.6 General Monitoring

5.6.1CONSTRUCTION Daily visual inspections will be conducted within and outside the project

location boundaries, equipment and machinery will be inspected daily for fuel leaks (control

mechanisms such as drip pans will be implemented accordingly), the site will be monitored for

surface rutting and mitigated when necessary, and material stockpiles will be monitored

routinely. Monitoring will be more intensive before and after storm events.

5.6.2OPERATION There will be little vehicular traffic on site during the operation phase of the

project. Inspections will focus on the evaluation of the effectiveness of the sediment and erosion

control strategies (especially before and after storm events) and electrical components of thefacility such as the inverters, transformers and collector substation.

5.6.3 DECOMMISSIONING Similar to the construction stage, daily visual inspections will be

conducted within and outside the project location boundaries, equipment and machinery will be

inspected daily for fuel leaks (control mechanisms such as drip pans will be implemented

accordingly), the site will be monitored for surface rutting and mitigated when necessary, and

material stockpiles will be monitored routinely. Monitoring will be more intensive before and

after storm events. Concrete foundations will be removed, all recyclable materials will be

recycled, garbage will be trucked to the nearest landfill and the land will be reclaimed to

agricultural field.

5.6.4ADAPTIVE MANAGEMENT Housekeeping and operational measures will be instituted at all

problem areas to decrease the potential risks and any associated negative environmental impacts.

Procedures will be adapted with the primary goal of reducing impacts, improving operational

effectiveness, as well as ensuring regular monitoring supported by operational change and

adoption of other mitigation measures if required.


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5.7 Materials Generated at, or Transported from the Project Location

As previously described, garbage will be produced during the construction and installation phase of the

project as a result of shipping materials needed for the solar modules, as well as general construction

trash. Though the generation of these materials is an inevitable part of the project development, listed

below are mitigation measures to be implemented by the project owner to limit the effects of the

production of excess materials:

During construction, the project will be maintained in a sanitary condition at all times. Waste

materials generated on the project location (e.g., trash, excess construction material, etc.) will

be stored in containers at all times and disposed of in an approved disposal site.

All waste generated during construction will be removed or disposed of in compliance with all

Provincial disposal standards and regulations.

Portable toilets will be available for human waste and will be serviced on a regular basis.

No open burning of waste materials will be allowed.

Any materials used to clean up a chemical spill will be treated as hazardous waste and disposed

of appropriately.

Concrete trucks will wash out into waste management containers and disposed of accordingly.


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REFERENCES

Burke, D. 2010. Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources Southern Science Zoologist. [Online] Personal e-

mail.

Environmental Protection Act. 2009. Ministry of the Environment. [Online] < http://www.e-

laws.gov.on.ca/html/statutes/english/elaws_statutes_90e19_e.htm>. Last accessed February,

2010.

Ministry of the Environment. 2007. Spills Reporting A Guide Reporting Spills and Discharges. [Online]

. Last accessed

February, 2010.

Mitchell, M and Stapp, W. 2000. Field Manual for Water Quality Monitoring An Environmental

Education Program for Schools (12th

Edition). Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company: 4050 Westmark

Dubuque, Iowa 52002. 266 pgs.

Natural Resources Canada. 2011. The Atlas of Canada (National Topographic Series) Toporama.

[Online] . Last accessed January 31st

,

2011.

NPC-232. 1995. Sound Level Limits for Stationary Sources in a Rural Area. [Online] . Last accessed February, 2010.

Ontario Regulation 359/09. Made under the Environmental Protection Act Renewable Energy

Approvals Under Part V.0.1 of the Act. 2009.

Documents

CONSTRUCTION PLAN REPORT.pdf