Districts and Wind Farms

1. Districts and Wind Farms

2. Role of the Districts • Comply with the Illinois Soil and Water Conservation Districts Act. • Provide for the control and prevention of soil erosion • Provide for the prevention of air and water pollution • Conserve the natural resources • Make natural resource information available to the appropriate county agency or municipality in the promulgation of zoning ordinances or variances (NRI).

3. Wind Farms result in land disturbing activities.

4. Wetlands, Streams, and Rivers are also potentially impacted by wind farms.

5. Stumbling Blocks • Some counties do not have zoning. • Some SWCD’s have not done Natural Resource Information Reports (NRI’s). • Some County Boards do not want any interference from outside sources.

6. Establish Relationships • With County Board Members • County Planning Director • With your Directors as they need to be on the same page regarding the districts responsibilities of providing natural resource information to the appropriate governing agency.

7. Natural Resource Information Reports

8. What are we Trying to Accomplish? • Consistency between SWCD’s throughout the State in completing NRI’s for Wind Farms. • NRI reports that are consistent between districts. (Supplemental Guide to Preparing Natural Resource Information Reports for Wind Farms) • Fee schedules that are relatively similar from one district to another.

9. Where Do We Begin? • You want to do what? • And you need an NRI by when? • How much do we charge? • What do I evaluate? • How do we present the information? • How long is this going to take?

10. Collecting Data • Scope of the project- How many? • Site locations, access roads (width, construction specs, easement, ditches, etc.), collection lines, substations. • Shape files and points

11. Example of Information Provided by the Petitioner

12. Shape Files and Points

13. Fee Schedule • Determine a fee that can be supported by your board. • Contact other counties that have wind farms and try to be consistent with fees being charged. • Make sure you are covering your costs and time. • Produce a quality document to reflect the fee collected.

14. Fee Breakdown • $350.00 Base Fee which included the first turbine. • 130 turbines @ $150.00 each = $19,500.00 • 15 acre substation = $500.00 • Amendment-14 turbines @ 150.00 = $2,100.00 • Total For the District - $22,450.00 Approximately 10 days committed to this report and 37 hours of overtime About 15 reams of paper $350.00 in supplies

15. Site Investigation • Drive the area. • Observe drainage patterns. • Steepness of slopes. • Location of rivers, streams, and wetlands. • Make note if located in CRP or other Ag related program acres.

16. Gathering Information • Use office data • Web Soil Survey • NRCS Standards (Access Roads, Vegetative seeding, Stream Crossing etc.) • IDOA Agricultural Impact Mitigation • Illinois Urban Manual BMP’s

17. SWCD Board Opinion • The SWCD Board should focus on the facts and the natural resource concerns. • Guide them away from using public opinion to influence their remarks. • Factual information will support your opinion.

18. Additional Involvement • Review wetlands with consultants. • Review applications for the site development permits, along with the county. • Provide assistance to the petitioner regarding critical planting areas. • Conduct inspections for the IEPA

19. Adjustments Were Made

20. NPDES and Wind Farms

21. Inspections completed by the SWCD resulted in changes to the Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan. IEPA was consulted regarding how to handle reclaimed farmland.

22. Conclusion Dean Johnson, CPESC Resource Conservationist DeKalb County SWCD 1350 West Prairie Dr. Sycamore, IL 60178 815-756-3237 X 3 Email- Dean.Johnson@il.nacdnet.net