Opinion ID: 1258678
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: General Operational Phase Certificate Issues:

Text: (1) This condition applies at anytime  not just in the operational stage: If Beech Ridge should transfer its certificate, Beech Ridge must, pursuant to Siting Rule 7.1, notify the Commission in writing of the identity of the transferee and submit an affidavit from the transferee attesting to its willingness to abide by the terms of a siting certificate as issued. (2) Beech Ridge must use licensed certified herbicide applicators. (3) Beech Ridge must have the Material Safety Data Sheet filed on the plant site for all herbicides used on the transmission line right-of-way. (4) Beech Ridge shall not use aerial spraying on its transmission line right-of-way. (5) Beech Ridge shall provide the PSC with copies of all future interconnection studies and any interconnection agreement. (6) Beech Ridge shall prohibit the use of lighting in the project area as much as possible. Beech Ridge may light the project as required by the FAA, or any applicable fire or safety code, regulation or accepted good utility practice. (7) Beech Ridge will consult with a Technical Advisory Committee regarding the post-construction bat and bird studies. Membership shall be open to a representative of each of the following: PSC, US Fish and Wildlife Services, WV DNR, Bat and Wind Energy Cooperative, A statewide environmental organization w/ 500+ members and in existence for at least 10 years, A statewide bird group, A private or academic institution with a background in avian issues, Beech Ridge shall consult with the Technical Advisory Committee on the following; (a) Three years of post-construction bat mortality and adaptive management studies, after operations commence, to assess: 1) the project's impact, if any, upon bat life, 2) the potential for adaptive management techniques to mitigate such impacts, and 3) the expected costs over a range of mitigation effectiveness levels. (b) Three years of post-construction bird studies, after operations commence, to assess the impact, if any, on birds. (c) A one year post-construction eagle/osprey study. (d) If the project causes significant levels of bat or bird mortality and adaptive management techniques are proven effective and economically feasible, Beech Ridge and its successors will make a good faith effort to work with the Commission to apply parameters to implement facility-wide adaptive management strategies on an on-going basis. (8) Beech Ridge shall update the Commission in writing twice a year on the studies being conducted. The update shall be directed to the attention of the Commission's Executive Secretary. Unless Beech Ridge obtains Commission consent for other deadlines, the updates shall be filed on or before January 30, and July 31 each year. Beech Ridge shall provide a copy of each report to the members of the Technical Advisory Committee. (9) Beech Ridge's agreement to test adaptive management strategies shall be in effect immediately upon operation of the project. Beech Ridge may request modifications of its strategies in filings with the Commission. (10) There have been concerns expressed at Backbone, under certain atmospheric conditions, that unnecessary lighting can contribute to additional bird mortality. Thus, Beech Ridge shall work with its employees and the FAA to minimize the impact that lighting will have upon the project's visibility. (11) All of these terms apply to Beech Ridge, and to any subsequent owners/operators. On September 18, 2006, MCRE filed its petition for reconsideration of the August 28, 2006, Commission order. On January 11, 2007, the Commission entered an order denying MCRE's petition for reconsideration. The Commission concluded that Beech Ridge had substantially complied with the pertinent regulations and that MCRE had presented no new information in its petition for reconsideration. Thereafter, on February 12, 2007, MCRE filed a petition for appeal with this Court. On that same day, Alicia and Jeffrey Eisenbeiss filed a pro se petition for appeal with this Court from the Commission's order. On April 18, 2007, this Court granted both MCRE's and the Eisenbeisses' petitions for appeal.