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As an initial screening action
for the Century and Intrepid Projects, MidAmerican Energy met
with individuals from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources,
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Nature Conservancy, Iowa State
University, the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation and the Iowa Chapter
of the Sierra Club regarding the development of a map entitled Areas
of Concern for Wind Farm Sitings. The small-scale map is maintained
by the wildlife state program coordinator at the Iowa DNR and does not show the areas of concern in
a detailed manner. On a project-by-project basis, an updated version
of of the map is reviewed to ensure that a proposed wind farm site
avoids areas of concern. |
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A Phase I Environmental
Risk Assessment is completed for each wind farm site. The assessment
is meant to detect potential adverse impacts on the environment in connection with the parcels of land being proposed
for a wind farm. The assessments conform to the American Society
of Testing Materials E1527-00 Standard Practice for Environmental
Site Assessments: Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessment Process. |
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A Phase I Avian Risk Assessment
is completed for each site. The assessment is meant to detect
potential adverse impacts to birds, and in some cases bats, in connection with a proposed wind farm
location. The assessment includes
a relevant literature review, interviews with appropriate government
agencies and local experts, and a field reconnaissance. The project
team also attempts to materially comply with the assessments’
siting and engineering controls recommendations. |
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A Cultural and Biological
Review is completed for each site. The reviews are meant to detect
potential adverse impacts to local cultural resources and native wildlife.
The project team also attempts to materially comply with the
reviews’ recommendations. |
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We review the United States Department
of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Services Interim Guidance on Avoiding
and Minimizing Wildlife Impacts from Wind Turbines and attempt
to materially comply with those guidelines in negotiations with
turbine vendors, engineering services and construction contractors. |
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A wetlands delineation report
with respect to each site is completed. Based upon reports provided to the
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Corps has established preliminary jurisdiction
over several acres. As a result, we secure the appropriate permits
that address any potential risks with regard to disturbing identified wetlands. |
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Once the wind farms are in operation, we conduct ongoing environmental monitoring to ensure our actual operational results are consistent with the findings of our original assessments. |
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We comply with all other applicable environmental laws with regard to
each siting, construction and operation of a wind farm. |
