1 -----CERTIFIED TRANSLATION----- I, the undersigned, Patricia Andrés-Carmona, Official Translator of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Costa Rica, appointed by Agreement No. 197-002-AJ of April 15, 2002, certify that in English, the document to be translated reads as follows: ________________________________________________________________________________ SPECIFIC ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT WITH RESPECT TO THE RELOCATION OF SIX OF TWELVE WIND GENERATORS TO BE INSTALLED FOR INCREASING THE CAPACITY OF THE HONDURAS 2000 WIND POWER GENERATING PLANT (CERRO DE HULA) II CDH HONDURAS 2000 WIND POWER GENERATION PROJECT, PROPERTY OF ENERGIA EOLICA DE HONDURAS S.A. (EEHSA) PRESENTED BY JOSE LUIS SEGOVIA, MSc. OCTOBER 22, 2012
Transcript
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-----CERTIFIED TRANSLATION-----I, the undersigned, Patricia Andrés-Carmona, Official Translator of the Ministry of Foreign Affairsof the Republic of Costa Rica, appointed by Agreement No. 197-002-AJ of April 15, 2002, certifythat in English, the document to be translated reads as follows:________________________________________________________________________________
SPECIFIC ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT WITHRESPECT TO THE RELOCATION OF SIX OF TWELVE
WIND GENERATORS TO BE INSTALLED FORINCREASING THE CAPACITY OF THE HONDURAS
2000 WIND POWER GENERATING PLANT(CERRO DE HULA) II CDH
HONDURAS 2000 WIND POWER GENERATION PROJECT,PROPERTY OF ENERGIA EOLICA DE HONDURAS S.A.
3. SPECIFIC ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT METHOD........................................................................................6
4. GENERAL INFORMATION ................................................................................................................................7
5. DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT FOR INCREASING INSTALLED CAPACITY .......................................................12
5.1 Background.............................................................................................................................................125.2 Description of the Microsite....................................................................................................................135.3 Basic Services ..........................................................................................................................................135.4 Construction and Operating Stage Contingency Plans ...........................................................................135.5 Human Resources and Execution Timeline .............................................................................................13
6.1.1 CLIMATE PROVINCES ....................................................................................................................................14
6.6 PLANT COVER AND SOIL USE ........................................................................................................................19
6.6.2 SOIL USE .......................................................................................................................................................21
6.6.3 PLANT COVER AND SOIL USE DIAGNOSIS......................................................................................................21
10. ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANT INFORMATION ..........................................................................................34
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1. INTRODUCTION
The objective of the company Energía Eólica de Honduras S.A. (EEHSA) is to increase itsinstalled wind power generating capacity, adding 24 MW to its current capacity of 100 MW.However, in order to obtain the respective environmental permit, an environmental technical notehad to be prepared giving the project’s background and scope and the potential impact suchincrease could have on the environment.
EEHSA applied for a permit to increase the installed capacity of the Cerro de Hula Wind Farm atthe Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (SERNA) by delivering the aforementionedenvironmental technical note, remitted on July 23, 2012. Due to programming considerations,however, the company decided to change the location of 6 of the 12 wind generators proposed inthe initial request, which has therefore required an environmental assessment of the Cofradía siteand the El Suyatillo community adjacent to the plant where EEHSA’s office is situated, thelocation sites for the 6 wind generators.
In consideration of the foregoing, the environmental assessment of the potential impact caused bychanging the location of the 6 wind generators is given herein below. It is important to keep inmind that the report in question focused on those impacts that potentially represent a medium orhigh rating, taking into consideration the information already described in the environmentaltechnical note submitted in July 2012.
After identifying the relevant impacts, this report evaluates the factors involved (with mediumand high values) to see if the potential matrix rating is maintained or changed to a lower value. Ifthe level of impact remains the same, the report will give the environmental mitigation works ormeasures that should be taken during the construction and operating phases of the windgeneration towers.
Since this document is an environmental assessment deriving from the technical note submittedfor authorization to increase installed capacity, it should be clarified that it makes use of theinformation already submitted in previous environmental studies such as the QualitativeEnvironmental Diagnostics (DACs, in Spanish) prepared by AMBITEC S.A. de C.V., and theforest inventory and analysis prepared by the National School of Forest Sciences (ESNACIFOR)in August and September 2009.
Although that information was used in this document, a field visit was made to verify its qualityand trustworthiness.
2. PROJECT BACKGROUND
2.1 Legal Background
Below is an account of events concerning the project’s legal aspects to provide an understandingof same.
1. On November 9, 2007, SERNA issued Resolution 932-2007, admitting the environmentalpermit application for developing the Honduras 2000 Wind Power Generation Project.
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2. On December 11, 2007, SERNA issued the contract for environmental mitigationmeasures in accordance with technical resolution no. 145-2006 issued by the Office forEnvironmental Monitoring and Control (DECA, in Spanish).
3. On December 13, 2007, SERNA granted the project environmental permit no. 352-2007.4. On November 22, 2008, the official paper, La Gaceta, published Legislative Decree 151-
2008, issued by the sovereign National Congress of the Republic of Honduras, approvingthe operating agreement for power generation of the Honduran government with thecompany Energía Eólica de Honduras S.A. (EEHSA). Appendix 1 of this decree specifiesthe concession polygon granted to the power generating company, which has an area of9785.249 hectares. In addition, Appendix 2 establishes that the number of wind turbineswill be 67, with a generating capacity of 1.5 MW each.
5. On January 14, 2009, SERNA authorized by means of resolution 097-2009 the project’srequest for increasing its installed capacity to 29 wind generators, projecting an additionalinstalled capacity for electrical generation from wind power of 43.5 MW, giving amaximum total of 106.5 MW for the wind power project.
6. On March 12, 2009, SERNA issued Environmental Permit no. 128-2009, approving theproject’s expansion of installed capacity.
7. On July 15, 2010, EEHSA notified SERNA through its legal representative of a change inthe type of wind power generators, which essentially involved the replacement of theGeneral Electric series 1.5sle wind generators, with a nominal power of 1.5 MW, byGAMESA wind generators whose nominal power is 2 MW. The result was a total of 51wind generators and an installed capacity for electrical generation of 102 MW.
8. On July 5, 2011, SERNA issued resolution 1878-2011 regarding the request submitted byEEHSA’s legal representative for incorporating new environmental mitigation measuresand approval for exploiting quarries pursuant to Decision D-01-01-2011 of the ExecutiveDepartment for the Promotion of Mining (DEFOMIN, its acronym in Spanish), by meansof certificates issued on January 11, 2011. These authorized the extraction, use andadaptation of rocky material from 9 borrow pits. In addition, the certificate issued on May12, 2011, authorized the extraction and use of material from 11 borrow pits. Thisresolution admitted the application to incorporate new environmental mitigation measuresand ordered compliance with the recommendations and updating of the environmentalcontrol measures defined in technical resolutions 318-2011 and 805-2011, both issued bythe DECA.
9. On September 20, 2011, SERNA issued resolution 2484-2011 in response to the requestfor reconsideration filed by the project’s legal representative, in opposition toenvironmental control measures 1, 2, 8, 15, 17, 23 and 52 established in resolution 1878-2011. Pursuant to resolution 2484-2011, the opposition to measures 1, 3, 8, 15, 17 and 23was admitted, with the exception of environmental measure number 52, which requiresthat the project prepare a management plan structured with the following four programs:environmental education, natural resource management, coordination with the UMAs(municipal environmental units) and community development.
10. On September 29, 2011, the project initiated technical operational testing.11. On January 9, 2012, the National Electrical Power Company (ENEE, its initials in
Spanish) certified the project’s commercial operation as of December 21, 2011,suggesting that to date the project has been operating for 10 months.
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12. On March 29, 2012, EEHSA asked DEFOMIN for permission to shut down 18 quarries,retaining authorization for extraction and use of materials from the El Colorado and ElPicacho quarries located in the municipality of Santa Ana.
13. In January 2012 the wind park was officially inaugurated, suggesting that to date it hasbeen in full operation for 10 months.
14. On July 23, 2012, EEHSA submitted an environmental technical note to SERNA forrequesting authorization to increase wind power generation by an additional 24 MW.
15. After submission of the technical note, for programming reasons EEHSA specialistsconsidered relocating 6 of the 12 wind generators. The ones located in the community ofMesa Grande would be eliminated; 5 wind generators would be installed in the village ofCofradía and one in the El Suyatillo community in El Cruce next to the plant whereEEHSA’s office is located.
16. Based on this technical consideration, DECA asked EEHSA to prepare a specificenvironmental assessment to verify and evaluate the environmental impacts produced bythis change.
2.2 Environmental Background
The background for this topic was developed with sufficient detail in the environmental technicalnote submitted to SERNA on July 23 of this year; please refer to it for this information.
3. SPECIFIC ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT METHOD
The wind power generation project already has earlier environmental studies with a social andeco-environmental characterization of the polygon given in concession to EEHSA by theHonduran government; based on these, and after the company in question hired the services of anenvironmental specialist to prepare a technical note, applying the DECA 002 format, onincreasing wind generation by an additional 24 MW, the conclusion was reached that suchexpansion was viable.
This Specific Environmental Assessment considered that to verify whether or not the locationchange was viable for 6 of the 12 wind generators in the previous application, a specificassessment of the potential impacts should be made based on a field inspection. In addition, atwo-dimensional, double-entry matrix should be applied for the purpose of determiningsignificant potential impacts and evaluating them in the light of information procured in previousstudies and the field assessment.
Prior to applying the assessment matrix, a description will be made of the location for the 12wind generators requested in the environmental technical note submitted on July 23 to theMinistry of Natural Resources and Environment versus the new location for six wind generators.In addition, a description will be given of the biophysical aspect of the potentially affected areas,after which the environmental risk will be assessed and the impacts evaluated.
The Specific Environmental Assessment ends firstly with a conclusion on the viability of therequested change and secondly with recommended environmental mitigation measures if theyshould apply.
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4. GENERAL INFORMATION
4.1 Location
In accordance with the Environmental Technical Note, the area that would be used for increasingthe installed wind power generating capacity is located within the limits of the concessionpolygon granted by the Honduran government to EEHSA. Pursuant to Legislative Decree 151-2008, this has an area of 9,785.249 hectares (see inserted map, p. 10). The areas where, accordingto the technical note, the 12 wind generators would initially be installed is called polygon 11 and12, and 6 wind generators would be located in each. These polygons are situated in thesouthwestern part of the concession area close to the village of Nueva Arcadia in the municipalityof Santa Ana (see inserted map, p. 11).
In September of this year, however, EEHSA’s team of specialists felt it was technically better tochange the location of the six wind generators that were to be located in the Mesa Grande area,whose codes were 12-01 to 12-06 (see inserted map, p. 11). The new location for the windgenerators, still within the jurisdiction of the Santa Ana municipality, is as follows: Five wind generators will be installed in the area called La Cofradía, situated on one side
of the road to San Buenaventura, with codes 13-01G to 13-05G; One wind generator, with code 7-03G, will be located in the community of Suyatillo, El
Cruce, next to the EEHSA plant.
Below are the coordinates of wind generators 12-01 to 12-06 as well as the new location(coordinates) where the six wind generators will be installed.
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Description of Coordinates X, Y and Z of the 6 Wind Generators that are NOT to be Installed
EEHSA will invest more than US $63,000,000.00 (sixty-three million dollars).
4.3 Legal Representation
4.4 Legal Representative or Owner
Name AddressLegal
Representative Telephone
Energía Eólica deHonduras S.A.
Santa Ana, Km 25 highway to the south, at 1 kmfrom El Cruce in the direction of SanBuenaventura, Santa Ana, Francisco Morazán,Honduras
Jay Gallegos
Tel: +5042264-0040 to
0045Fax: +5042277-0804
5. DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT FOR INCREASING INSTALLEDCAPACITY
5.1 Background
Globeleq Mesoamérica Energy (owner) is a developer, builder and operator of wind power plantsin Central America. With its affiliate, Energía Eólica de Honduras S.A. (EEHSA), it has built a102 MW wind farm called Cerro de Hula Wind Farm (CDH) located 25 km south ofTegucigalpa, in the municipalities of Santa Ana and San Buenaventura in the department ofFrancisco Morazán, Honduras.
The power purchase agreement (EPA) between EEHSA and the National Electrical PowerCompany (ENEE), permits expansion of the project for up to an additional 24 MW under thesame EPA conditions. Given this scenario and the available resources at the site, EEHSA isdeveloping a 24 MW expansion of CDH as a project for increasing the installed capacity, calledCerro de Hula II (the “Project”), which will share infrastructure with the Cerro de Hula I WindFarm.
Design and construction of the Project will be handled by a turnkey EPC contractor, so the proposal to bepresented to the owner has to be based on these conditions.
The description regarding this increased wind power generating capacity has already been given in theenvironmental technical note submitted as a requirement for carrying out such expansion. It is thus notconsidered necessary to repeat it in this section or chapter of this specific environmental assessment.Nevertheless, the civil works for installation of the wind generators have been taken into consideration inorder to estimate and/or carry out the evaluation of the specific potential environmental impacts the newlocation of the six wind generators in question may produce.
5.3 Basic Services
It is important to emphasize that the installed capacity increase will make use of the facilities where thecurrent operating and maintenance building is located, so the existence was verified of the basic essentialservices such as the waste water treatment plant, water supply well and temporary management and finaldisposal of solid wastes.
The results of said evaluation appear with the required details in the Environmental Technical Notesubmitted on July 23 for the expanded generation; it was concluded from same that the services meetcurrent environmental requirements. However, certain results were found for the quality of the wellwater that was analyzed, for which the note makes the respective recommendations.
5.4 Construction and Operating Stage Contingency Plans
The Project has an emergency response plan that was submitted in the Environmental TechnicalNote, which according to its operating scheme and structure is applicable to the intendedrelocation of the six wind generators.
5.5 Human Resources and Execution Timeline
Total employees during the capacity-increasing construction stage will be approximately 150,distributed between direct and indirect jobs. Most of these people are expected to be fromcommunities near the Project, as occurred in the construction of the current wind farm. Thenumber of people to be hired remains as submitted in the previous Environmental TechnicalNote, so it is not considered necessary to repeat the already-submitted information.
Likewise, in view of the proximity of the relocation site to the previously established sites, theexecution timeline would not vary substantially from what was submitted in the EnvironmentalTechnical Note for the capacity expansion. It is therefore not considered necessary to present itagain in this report.
6. BIOPHYSICAL DESCRIPTION
This chapter of the specific assessment will give brief descriptions of the biophysical aspects ofthe relocation area. They take into account the information generated in 2005 and 2008 in the
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DACs submitted by AMBITEC S.A. de C.V. and the forest inventory and analysis prepared byESNACIFOR as a requirement for the Project’s environmental permit.
This information was also verified in the field to corroborate its applicability.
6.1 WEATHER
6.1.1Climate Provinces
Monthly Averages of Rainy Days 1966-85 PeriodCentral Region (Toncontín, Francisco Morazán)
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Annual11 6 5 7 16 21 20 20 22 22 14 12 174
General Characteristics1
a. Monthly rainfall averages for January and February are both close to zero, but thedriest month of the year on average is February.
b. The rainy season starts at the beginning of May and ends at the end of October.c. The rainiest months of the year are June and September, with the latter being the
rainier of the two.d. The amount of rain during the “dog days” of summer drops to deficit levels. The effect
of this phenomenon is most pronounced in July.e. The climate type is “Vb” – “rainy with dry winter”.f. The dry season also coincides with the arrival of cold fronts and modified polar air
masses coming in from the north.g. Increased rainfall during the rainy season corresponds approximately with a greater
influence of the I.T.C. in Honduras, which is reinforced in September by the effect ofthe weak low pressure centers noted in the previous case.
1 Source: Modalidades de la lluvia en Honduras, Edgardo Zúniga-Andrade
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h. The “dog days” period also coincides with the Bermudas anticyclone effect,conditioned by the relief, the direction of the watershed and its position on the leewardside of the continental divide, which from the northeast opens slightly and permits thepassage of winds from this direction.
i. There is a large rainfall deficit in the dry period due to the leeward effect of said divide,which is more marked from December to February.
6.1.2Wind
The Project’s most important component is the wind resource, since its feasibility depends onthis. Several studies to collect wind resource information were conducted between 1995 and 2001by Zond de Honduras, S.A., who started with the installation of 16 anemometer towers and laterinstalled up to 21 towers. Still later, Clipper de Honduras S.A. installed 4 weather towers.
EEHSA, current owner of all these studies, initiated its own weather studies in the area starting inJuly 2006. According to the final studies conducted by EEHSA and its consultants, the averageannual wind speed is 9.3 m/s, with a turbulence factor of 0.115 when the speed reaches 15 m/s.The site is thus classified as class I / class II, according to the IEC61400-1 (International Electro-technical Commission) standard applicable to wind generators.
In Cofradía, where 5 of the 6 wind generators would be located, EEHSA installed a weathertower; the tower is installed within the area of interest, and its location could be verified in thefield.
According to the studies conducted to date, this tower indicates sufficient average wind speeds toachieve the capacity expansion. For this reason the recommendation was made to relocate 5 ofthe 6 wind generators to this polygon, and one wind generator to the Suyatillo, El Cruce, area.
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6.1.3Climate Diagnosis
With respect to wind, clearly the site where the plant is already operating has very goodcharacteristics for the installation of 12 new wind generators in the Nueva Arcadia and Cofradíaareas, thus achieving an increase in the current installed generation capacity.
6.2 TOPOGRAPHY
Generally speaking, the topography of polygon 13 where relocation is planned for 5 of the windgenerators is relatively flat with slopes ranging from 3 to 5% and from >5 to 10%, maximum. Itis therefore obvious that there are no significantly rough spots in the terrain that could makeexecution of the Project difficult or pose an environmental risk from extreme cutting forconditioning the terrain.
6.3 GEOLOGY
According to the above figure, the 6 wind generators would be relocated on the Padre Miguelformation, whose geological characteristics are given as follows: formed by pyroclastic and
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volcanoclastic rhyolite and andesite rocks; the rhyolites are volcanic rocks with a high content ofglass and quartz crystals, feldspar and biotite.
6.3.1Geological Diagnosis
The conclusion reached on the geology and geomechanical properties of this formation and itsrock mass quality are that the conditions for tower foundations are adequate with the possibleexception of those sites where there is pyroclastic rubble and/or unconsolidated volcanic ash, inwhich case structural corrections will be made with regard to load distribution.
6.4 SOILS
Unlike the soils in the Mesa Grande area described and identified initially, the new areas forinstallation of the 6 wind generators have soils which, according to the Simmons seriesclassification, are classified as Ojojona.
Ojojona soils are fairly shallow, well-drained soils formed on fine-grained ignimbrites. Theyoccupy terrains with steep reliefs at altitudes above 600 meters situated in the southern andwestern regions of Honduras. Most of the slopes have grades of 30 to 60%, but in some placestheir grades could be more than 60%, and precipices are one feature of the landscape.Ojojona soils are similar to the Coray and Cocona soils with which they are associated andmixed. They are found at higher altitudes than the Coray soils and are characterized by thepresence of pine trees. They have a finer texture and are frequently formed on harder rocks thanthe ones giving rise to Cocona soils. Ojojona soils are also associated and mixed with Salalica
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soils, but the latter develop on rocks with a high mafic mineral content and are deeper, with redsubsoil.
One notable feature of the Ojojona soil landscape, especially in the south of the country, is theexistence of small local tracts of almost flat land. These areas represent others where a current ofhard ignimbrites has resisted erosion. They frequently form along the edge of a steep slope orcliff. Yauyupe soils have formed in many of these areas.
For up to a depth of some 10 cm, the surface soil is very fine clay loam to silt loam, brown, darkgrey and crumbly. It has a slightly acid pH of approximately 6.3. The subsoil, at a depth of 20 to30 cm, is crumbly, yellowish-brown clay loam. It is strongly or moderately acidic, with a pH of5.5, approximately; underneath is partially meteorized, living rock. The thickness to the livingrock varies tremendously, since in many spots the rock is visible; but there are small sectionswhere the thickness is one meter.
On the surface and in the soil mass are frequent stones, some reaching a thickness of more thanone meter.
Pine groves with oaks mixed in are frequently found on the Ojojona soils. In some protectedstations, such as at the headwaters of waterways, there are other species, including liquidambarand shrubs. In many parts with Ojojona soils, especially where it is deeper than 30 cm, corn andbeans are cultivated in a shifting cultivation system. The farms are small, and less than 10% ofthe area has been cleared. Ojojona soils are in agrological capacity class VII.
6.4.1Soil Diagnosis
In terms of soil use, the soil characteristics themselves are not incompatible with the desiredrelocation of wind generators in either the Cofradía area or the Suyatillo area. In addition, theconstruction footprint of the wind generators is relatively small (0.741 ha). It accounts for a verysmall area compared to the size of the Ojojona edaphological series, leading us to infer that therisk of substantial impact on the infiltration rate and destruction of edaphic microbiota and biotais minimal.
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6.5 HYDROGRAPHY AND HYDROGEOLOGY
According to the hydrogeological map of Honduras, the Project will be located in an area of poorto moderately productive, extensive local aquifers.
There is no running surface water at the location points.
6.5.1Hydrographic Diagnosis
According to the field evaluation and the information collected previously on this topic, therelocation of the 6 wind generators will not cause any significant impact putting the surface andunderground hydrography at risk in the area of direct or indirect influence.
6.6 PLANT COVER AND SOIL USE
6.6.1Plant Cover
EEHSA contracted the services of the National School of Forest Sciences (ESNACIFOR) toprepare a technical report on the sites where the wind generators would be located. The objectiveof the report was to make a forest assessment to determine the environmental mitigationmeasures the Project would have to implement in the wind farm construction areas.
The assessment took into consideration forest plants as well as middle canopy and grasspopulations – this last found only in the area where the wind generators would be installed. Aninventory was made of all trees in those areas that would be intervened for power generationinfrastructure and civil works such as opening up of access roads, platforms, etc.
The study defined 7 sites where vulnerable plant cover conditions were recorded andcharacterized. The new location of the 6 wind generators EEHSA hopes to install is at the siteclassified in the technical report as site 2, for which the results are given below:
Site 2:
484 trees were found in the site 2 area, distributed into 24 species (see attached figure). The mostabundant species is Lysiloma auritum, with 210 trees, followed by Quercus sapotifolia, Pinusoocarpa and Quercus segoviensis, with 93, 80 and 37 trees, respectively. This site ischaracterized by mixed stands of these species, comprising most of the forest cover (Figure 13).
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The points in site 2 that were studied and inventoried by ESNACIFOR are shown in thegeoreferenced image. Tower 7-03G corresponds to evaluation point number 220K, and the windgenerators coded from 13-01G to 13-05G in the Cofradía area correspond to evaluation points209K to 213K in the image.
In addition to the species reported by ESNACIFOR, the following specimens were identifiedduring the field visit made for this specific assessment:
Dodonaea viscosa (L.), shrubby plant Leucaena diversifolia, a shrub called “cipra”by the locals
6.6.2Soil Use
The field visit to polygon 13 confirmed that the predominant use in this area is agricultural,particularly extensive livestock farming, implying the establishment of grasses such asHyparrhenia rufa and Paspalum sp. without any type of management or establishment ofpastures.
6.6.3Plant Cover and Soil Use Diagnosis
With respect to plant cover, an impact will be produced on tree vegetation, specifically Lysiloma,Pinus and Quercus. It is important to take into account that EEHSA has already set up a nurseryfor its reforestation efforts with more than 29,000 plants, of which according to the inventory atSeptember 2012, there are 2,232 plants of the Pinus and Quercus genera, enough to handle theresponsibility of carrying out the reforestation program requiring a 10 to 1 ratio. The foregoingis in consideration that 80 Pinus oocarpa, 93 Quercus sapotifolia and Quercus segoviensis, and210 Lysiloma auritum will be cut down.
Moreover, it was verified that prior to any intervention the company does an inventory in whichit records not only trees with a diameter at breast height (DBH) of more than 10 cm, but alsoseedlings and shrubs with a height of 1 m. The objective is to estimate the offsetting part of thereforestation plan that must be carried out due to the impact on vegetation.
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As for soil use, livestock farming is extensive, so there is a lack of management infrastructure,which might substantially affect this soil use.
6.7 FAUNA
Due to the aforementioned destruction of primary vegetation, wildlife is scarce, being limited tospecies that can adapt to the proximity of human settlements and crops. The mammal species thatcan be mentioned include rodents such as the house mouse (Mus Musculus), field mouse(Peromyscus maniculatus), cotton rat (Sigmodon hispidus), squirrel (Sciurus variegatoides);marsupial species such as the rabbit (Silvilagus floridanus); and carnivorous species such as theraccoon (Procyon lotor), grey fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) and skunk (Mephitis sp.). Birdspecies that can be mentioned include those in the Fringillidae, Icteridae, Cathartidae,Columbidae, Falconidae and Trochillidae families.2
During the field visit the Project staff living in the vicinity were asked about the birds and landanimals frequently and sporadically sighted in the location sites for the wind generators.According to the information gathered, fauna is scarce since the area has been anthropogenicallyintervened by the rural population. Among the fauna mentioned were the following species:vultures (Coragyps atratus), grackles (Quiscalus mexicanus), woodpeckers (Melanerpesformicivorus, hoffmannii), certain types of parrots (Amazona spp), Inca doves (Columbina inca),rabbits (Silvilagus brasilensis), squirrels (Sciurus deppei), and certain unidentified species ofsnakes, small reptiles and lizards (Ameiva undulata). None of the aforementioned species is indanger of extinction or enjoys the special protection of national or international environmentalconventions. In addition, once the Project is installed its impact on these species will beminimal.3
6.7.1Fauna Diagnosis
With respect to the potential impact on the land fauna (primarily mammals and reptiles),according to earlier research the reported species are common and easily relocated. However, itis known that this type of project has an impact on birds, so particular attention must be given tothis issue. Going back to what was said in the background section of this note, though, theProject has contracted a specialized firm that has been conducting a monitoring program for one
2 Taken from the Qualitative Environmental Diagnostic submitted by AMBITEC S.A DE C.V., 20083 Taken from the Qualitative Environmental Diagnostic submitted by AMBITEC S.A DE C.V., 2008
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year to learn the degree of impact and thus the potential environmental risk for the local andmigratory bird population and bats, with the goal of establishing adequate mitigation measures, ifnecessary.
6.8 ENVIRONMENTALLY IMPORTANT AREAS
The closest protected area is the Cerro Uyuca Biological Reserve, some 19 kilometers northeastof the Project. Also close to the Project site (4 kilometers away) are the Ayasta petroglyphs,declared a Cultural Monument in 1992. 4
7. SOCIOECONOMIC SITUATION
7.1 HUMAN SETTLEMENTS IN THE AREA OF INFLUENCE
In polygon 13, where 6 wind generators will be relocated, there are no human settlements thatmight be impacted in either the construction or operating phase.
As for the effect on private lands, EEHSA currently works through the use of advanceagreements, which are set up by both parties before initiating construction and wind generatorplacement.
In conclusion, as stated in the Environmental Technical Note submitted on July 23 to SERNA,EEHSA has experience and the necessary management tools, and has therefore been able tomaintain good relations with the rural settlements and municipal governments involved.
4 Taken from the Qualitative Environmental Diagnostic submitted by AMBITEC S.A DE C.V., 2008
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7.2 PROJECT SOCIALIZATION
Aware of the need for the Project’s neighboring population and the respective authorities to havefirst-hand knowledge of this type of generation (since it was previously nonexistent in thiscountry), EEHSA has made a tremendous effort to socialize the Project and its experience inCosta Rica among local authorities, the central government, and the communities themselveswhere the wind farm was installed.
Meetings have been held since 2005 with municipal corporations in the municipalities of SantaAna and San Buenaventura and with smallholders and community leaders. As a result of thesemeetings, the local authorities have been able to learn about the company’s experience in CostaRica and have publically manifested their support for EEHSA’s efforts for the Project.
In addition to the foregoing, meetings are constantly being held with the municipal corporationsof Santa Ana and San Buenaventura, elected in 2006, to socialize the Project. As a result, it hasbeen possible to reaffirm the support of the mayors and municipal corporations for the Project.
8. ENVIRONMENTAL RISK
8.1 IMPACT APPRAISAL
Since an Environmental Technical Note has already been submitted for evaluating the increase ininstalled capacity of wind power generation proposed by EEHSA, it was consideredrecommendable for this report to do an appraisal of the potential environmental impacts. Theobjective is to verify the environmental risk based on a double-entry matrix method thatdetermines both the activities to be carried out and the potentially affected aspects of thebiophysical environment. The descriptive method that was used and the results that were obtainedare given below.
8.1.1Methodology
The matrix considers the direct potential impacts that may be produced during the Project’sconstruction and operating phases. For the purposes of this assessment, however, only those ofthe construction stage are considered, since the wind farm is currently in operation and hasenvironmental mitigation measures, which in addition to being adapted to this type of projecthave been evaluated, reviewed and ratified by SERNA.
Based on the Project description, which gives the activities to be carried out, the potentialimpacts that might arise during the construction stage are determined.
A double-entry matrix was prepared for this rating; the rows list the activities (5) and sub-activities (20) identified from the description of the project for relocating the six towers, whilethe columns give the aspects of the social and biophysical environment that may potentially beaffected. A qualitative impact value is assigned to the intersection of each activity and aspect ofthe biophysical environment, which may be null, very low, low, medium or high.
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The following aspects of the biophysical environment are taken into account for the qualitativeanalysis:
Construction Atmosphere Plant Cover Fauna Water Hydrogeology Soil Cultural Heritage Social Environment
In addition to the qualitative rating, this assessment has included a quantitative rating that makesit possible to appraise the level of impact produced by the activities and caused to the evaluatedaspects of the social and biophysical environment. The quantitative appraisal was determined asfollows:
1 A maximum percentage value was set for what the activities can cause for eachaspect, dividing 100 by the number of aspects impacted. For example, if the number ofevaluated aspects is 10, the greatest impact each activity can have would be 10%. Forthis Project, where 8 biophysical aspects were evaluated, the maximum possible valueto be assigned is 12.50% (100/8).
2 Based on the maximum value (12.50%), the values for the subsequent categorieswere calculated, multiplying it by 0.75 for medium, 0.5 for low and so on,successively. Quartiles were then used to determine the value of each category, sincefour categories were involved. See the following table:
3 Once all the aspects and activities had been evaluated, the level of impactgenerated by each activity was estimated by adding the values for each row. Based onthe value obtained, the degree of impact generated by each activity is determinedaccording to the following table:
CATEGORY Score RangeHigh 75.01 to 100%Medium 50.01 to 75%Low 25.01 to 50%Very Low 0.01 to 25%Null 0%
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4 The values of each column were added to determine the degree of impactreceived by each biophysical aspect. The obtained value was divided by a factordetermined by multiplying the maximum score value by the number of activities anddividing it by 100. For example, for this Project the maximum value of 12.50% wasmultiplied by 20 activities, obtaining 250, which divided by 100 gave a factor of 2.50.This means that the sum of each column had to be divided by 2.50 in order to get apercentage 100%).
The scores for understanding the level of impact on each biophysical aspect are givenin the following table:
CATEGORY Score RangeHigh 75.01 to 100%Medium 50.01 to 75%Low 25.01 to 50%Very Low 0.01 to 25%Null 0%
5 The values obtained in each column are added and divided by the number ofevaluated biophysical aspects in order to establish the Project’s level of impact; thedegree of impact is determined according to the ranges in the above tables.In this Project, the value obtained was 45.31%, which rates the relocation of the six
wind generators as being of low impact.
8.1.2Potential Impact Appraisal Results
The following matrix gives the results obtained from appraisal of the potential impacts generatedduring the construction stage. Graphical output is given for both the activities (5) and sub-activities (20), as well as for the potentially impacted environmental aspects.
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0.00%10.00%20.00%
30.00%40.00%50.00%60.00%
70.00%80.00%
Actividades
Valorización
Valorización de Impactos por Subactividades
0.00%
10.00%
20.00%
30.00%
40.00%
50.00%
60.00%
70.00%
Atmosfera
CoberturaVegetal
Fauna
Agua
Hidrogeología
Suelo
PatrimonioCultural
MedioSocial
MedioBiofisico
Valorización
Valorización por Medio Biofisico Impactado
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From the above graph the sub-activities that generate the biggest impacts can be identified, whichby order of magnitude from greater to lesser would be:
1. Cutting and clearing for opening up new roads2. Digging and configuring for new roads3. Cutting and clearing for the wind generator platforms4. Structural digging for the wind generator foundations5. Digging and configuring for the wind generator platforms6. Concrete foundations for the wind generators7. Digging of rainwater drainage ditches8. Digging for installing hookups to the system
On the other hand, the environmental aspects that obtained medium ratings, ordered from greaterto lesser, were:
1. Social Environment: Resulting from affected homes and/or properties and the risk ofwork-related accidents during the structural digging and wind generator installation.
2. Cultural Heritage: Which could be affected during the digging activities on the differentwork fronts
3. Plant Cover: By the cutting down of trees and plants for opening up roads, preparing ofwind generator stations and digging of ditches for different purposes.
The overall score for the Project was 45.31%, situating it in the low impact range.
No assessment is given for the operating stage, since the Project is in operation and the mitigationmeasures established in the respective contract are being applied.
8.1.37.1.3 Assessment of the Impacted Biophysical Aspects
According to the results of the environmental assessment, the three aspects that will receivemedium impact during the relocation of the six wind generators are as follows:
1. Social Environment2. Cultural Heritage3. Plant Cover
Social Environment
Although the social environment will be impacted to a medium extent, both the EnvironmentalTechnical Note submitted as a requirement for increasing the wind farm’s installed generatingcapacity and this report recognize and state that the company has an entire program forsocialization and implementation of social measures that have produced offsetting and mitigationresults and which have been accepted by the locals as well as the municipal governments of SantaAna and San Buenaventura. From all this it can be concluded that this aspect is being addressedadequately by EEHSA.
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Cultural Heritage
This is an aspect whose potential impact rating is maintained as a real value, since the companyrequested the evaluating and prospecting of archaeological sites from the Honduran Institute ofAnthropology and History (IHAH) during the installation and construction work for the windgenerators already in operation. This work came up with the respective findings and freed thearea of archeological remains in compliance with IHAH guidelines. The results of these studieswere presented in the Environmental Technical Note and are accompanied by the Institute’sapproval for going ahead with the addition of the 12 wind generators (see the EnvironmentalTechnical Note).
Since 6 of the 12 wind generators are going to be relocated, however, it will be necessary to carryout a new archeological dig. When interviewed on this, the Coordinator of EEHSA’sEnvironmental Department, Scarleth Nuñez, stated that plans have already been made for aninspection with the IHAH for carrying out the necessary activities. The coordinator gave thefollowing list of actions that will be taken as part of the archeological dig:
Phase 1: Explore the following using the field work defined in the methodology:
1. Identify if there are archeological or historical remains endangered by the Project’sconstruction along the line where the underground power cable will go and in the areaswhere the Project’s turbines and towers will be placed.
2. Do a survey drawing of each location where archeological sites are located and identified.
3. Fill out the respective identification card for each location where archeological sites arelocated and identified.
4. Systematically remove materials according to the most recent archeological practice ateach location where archeological sites are located and identified.
5. Create a database with the information recovered from the exploration (archeologicalinformation).
6. Dig enough test wells in accordance with the most recent archeological practice at siteswith archeological potential and any other site that may be identified as havingarcheological significance, all along the land where construction of the Project’s powerline is planned and while the service is being provided.
7. Evaluate the archeological information.
8. Include all the collected archeological information in the final report.
Phase 2: Identify the degree of impact on the historical or archeological sites located in Phase 1of this Appendix, if there are any.
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According to Ms. Nuñez, this work will begin in the last week of October and will take ten daysto finish. With the commitment to carrying out the aforementioned protocol, the relocation of the6 wind generators will fully comply with the mitigation measures for reducing the potentialimpact on this environmental aspect.
Another matter that was evaluated in the field and is connected to the cultural aspect was the rockart heritage located in the area called Las Pintadas de Ayasta, which belongs in the culturallandscape category according to ICOMOS/UNESCO guidelines. To determine whether or notthis would be impacted when the six wind generators are relocated, the company enlisted the aidof a doctor of archeology and specialist in this field, Dr. Gloria Lara, who is developing aprogram for the conservation and management of prehistoric rock art in Honduras.
To assess the possibility of impact, Dr. Lara was asked for the coordinates of the site in questionso that a georeferenced map could be drawn up to place the location of the wind generators withrespect to the Ayasta grottos. The respective image is given below:
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According to the georeferenced image, the Ayasta grottos are not in the area of influence of thepolygons where relocation of the six wind generators is being requested, so the possibility ofimpact on this heritage was dismissed.
Plant Cover
Although this aspect will receive medium impact, in the preparation of both the technical noteand this specific assessment report it could be confirmed that EEHSA has a reforestation programthat integrates items such as a count or inventory of specimens to be affected during theconstruction work and wind generator installation. The reforestation plan includes shrubs andseedlings of woody plants, production in nurseries of endemic plants, location of reforestationsites agreed upon with the municipalities and water boards, and reforested area management andprotection.
Due to the foregoing, the conclusion is that the Project already has installed capacity forcomplying with the environmental mitigation measures and current forestry law.
8.2 POSITIVE IMPACTS5
After discussing the environmental aspects that will be affected and the mitigation measures thatwill be or are being implemented by EEHSA, this report will now give the positive impacts thatthe wind power project generates:
The advantage of wind power is that it generates electricity without producing thecontaminants associated with fossil fuels and nuclear energy, the most significant ofthese being carbon dioxide, the greenhouse gas.
Taking as a reference that a 10 MW wind farm eliminates the yearly production of28,480 tons of the CO2 greenhouse gas contributing to climate change, the Cerro deHula wind power project could eliminate, at its maximum installed capacity includingthe expansion (126.5 MW), the 358,848 tons of CO2 that would have been emittedinto the atmosphere if the electricity had been generated with fossil fuels.
There won’t be much of an impact on the access roads, but the roads to the differentcommunities could be improved if necessary in order to ensure the Project’sequipment.
The project will produce clean energy using the wind, which will drive the area’seconomic and social development.
It will improve the quality of life of the population to be served because of the jobs itwill create.
It will increase local and international tourism because of being the country’s firstwind power plant and the largest one in Central America.
5 Taken from the Qualitative Environmental Diagnostic submitted by AMBITEC S.A DE C.V., 2008
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It does not change current soil use and is compatible with other current productionactivities such as cattle grazing and the cultivation of corn and other minor crops.
It improves the country’s international image as a nation that submits its policies tothe fight against global warming.
A community development plan will be implemented during the wind farm’soperating phase, helping with education, infrastructure and health in the neighboringcommunities.
8.3 MITIGATION MEASURES DURING THE CONSTRUCTION STAGE
The Project currently has an environmental permit, number 128-2009, issued March 12, 2009. Inaddition, resolution number 1878-2011 was issued on July 5, 2011, establishing the operating andconstruction measures for the Honduras 2000 Wind Power Generation Project (Cerro de Hula),which was modified pursuant to the request for reconsideration filed by EEHSA’s legalrepresentative according to resolution 2484-2011. Compliance with the environmental mitigationmeasures agreed in resolution 1878-2011 is thus recommended for the construction stage forincreasing the wind farm’s installed capacity, respecting the modifications and incorporating thenew measures admitted in resolution 2484-2011.
9. CONCLUSIONS
After having reviewed the environmental aspects involved in the relocation of 6 of the 12 windgenerators, and taking into consideration EEHSA’s background, which shows its environmentaland social responsibility, and the fact that the temporary impacts produced during theconstruction phase for installing the 6 wind generators to increase the installed capacity of theCerro de Hula II Project are rated as having a low or medium impact, it is our opinion, withoutprejudice to any decision made by SERNA as the maximum authority, that the relocation of thewind generators in question is environmentally feasible.
The foregoing is grounded in the results of the impact assessment, which gave a rating of lowimpact for the relocation of the wind generators.
10. ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANT INFORMATION
Bioingeniería Turismo y Ambiente (BIOTA)José Luis Segovia Castillo, MSc. Biology
General Manager
Identification Number 0401-1958-00350SERNA Registration No. RI -0103-2004
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SWORN STATEMENT
I, José Luis Segovia Castillo, a Honduran national of legal age with identification card number0401-1958-00350 and a biologist by profession with a postgraduate degree in environmentalengineering, acting in representation of the company, BIOTA, hereby state that the informationprovided in the SPECIFIC ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT WITH RESPECT TOTHE RELOCATION OF SIX OF TWELVE WIND GENERATORS TO BE INSTALLEDFOR INCREASING THE CAPACITY OF THE CERRO DE HULA WIND POWERGENERATING PLANT (CDH II) reflects the legitimate and true information of the foregoingto the best of my knowledge and sincere understanding.
For all relevant purposes I am issuing this sworn statement on October 21, 2012.
[Signature and Seal]
JOSE LUIS SEGOVIA CASTILLO________________________________________________________________________________IN WITNESS WHEREOF this translation from Spanish to English and which consists of 35 pagesis issued in San Jose, Costa Rica, on December 12, 2012. The corresponding legal stamps areaffixed and cancelled.
