ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL IMPACT ASSESSMENTWorld class EIAs and ESIAs for wind farms

OUR APPROACH TO EIA AND ESIARamboll Environ is a global award-winning provider of Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) and Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIAs). Our aim is to assist in delivering our customers’ visions while enhancing the sustainable performance of their developments.

Ramboll Environ was a founding member of the Institute of Environmental Assessment (now IEMA) and has been a registered EIA provider since 1993. Our in-house team of environmental specialists enables us to place staff in the field worldwide and to manage the most technically demanding EIA applications.

Our experts adopt a flexible, interdisciplinary, and commercially oriented approach to EIAs that is sensitive to local customs and legislative requirements. We meet the requirements of relevant authorities and stakeholders early in the process to clearly define the studies required. This discipline enables us to deliver greater certainty to developers and identify key issues early so they can be resolved or mitigated through design.

We seek to provide clear, focused, and technically robust EIAs/ESIAs, to enable consenting authorities, equity partners and lenders to make informed decisions, and to inform stakeholders in the process. We continue to be active in the development of EIA/ESIA strategies across the globe by identifying and disseminating best practices.

WHY RAMBOLL ENVIRON?Clients choose Ramboll Environ because of our ability to deliver projects in an efficient and credible manner, and because we have the expertise and capacity to provide support well beyond the submission of the EIA report.

We help by:

• Securing project finance and regulatory approvals with the minimum of delay

• Enhancing the national and international reputation of our clients and their projects

• Identifying and recommending designs that avoid or reduce environmental and social impacts in a cost-effective manner

• Delivering value throughout the project lifecycle

• Assessing community health, safety, and security

OUR SERVICES AND EXPERTISEAcoustic noise modeling

Bat surveys

Bird surveys

Biodiversity action plan development and implementation

Biodiversity assessment

Cetacean surveys

Community health, safety, and security assessment

Cumulative impact assessment

Ecological risk assessment

Ecosystem services

Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), EIA, and ESIA strategy and planning

Environmental and social management system (ESMS) development and implementation

Environmental and social monitoring

Environmental impact identification (ENVIID) studies

Environmental, social and health impact assessments

Equator Principles (EP) and International Finance Corporation (IFC) Performance Standards compliance

Fishery impact analysis

Indigenous peoples and ethnic minorities assessments

Labor and working condition evaluations

Project feasibility assessments

Scoping

Sediment dispersion modeling

Ship collision risk assessments

Site and route alternatives analysis

Socio-economic and socio-cultural assessment

Stakeholder engagement and public consultation

Transboundary impact assessment

Visualization studies

OUR EXPERIENCENorth AmericaStudy Design for Bird and Bat Surveys, Offshore Wind Project, Ohio, USA: Prepared an environmental assessment to support the environmental review for a proposed offshore, freshwater wind energy project. Completed activities necessary to secure the required environmental permits at the state and federal levels. After critically reviewing existing survey information, developed pre- and post-construction surveys, utilizing point, radar and acoustic techniques, and short- and long-term monitoring plans for birds, bats, and aquatic organisms, focusing on protection of migrating and protected species.

EIA for Wind Project, Colorado, USA: For a confidential client, Ramboll Environ completed an environmental assessment for the approximately 90MW (60 turbines) Colorado Highlands wind project. The EA identified and analyzed potential effects on the human and natural environment and recommended mitigation strategies for potential adverse impacts. Among other strategies, mitigation included relocating planned turbine towers to avoid wildlife habitat. Ramboll Environ was responsible for completion of: wildlife and habitat assessments including acoustical bat monitoring and raptor surveys; geological/paleontological surveys; and class I and III cultural resources surveys. Ramboll Environ staff represented the developer at meetings with regulatory agencies, public meetings, and meetings with local government entities. The EA received no public comments or comments from the regulatory agencies. A finding of no significant impact (FONSI) was issued by the US Department of Energy.

Peer Review of Avian and Bat Baseline Studies for Wind Farm, Michigan, USA: For a confidential client, Ramboll Environ peer reviewed avian and bat baseline studies for a wind farm project developed in Gratiot and Midland counties in Michigan. The project involved installation of up to 133 wind turbines and two meteorological towers on more than 25,000 ha of residential, agricultural, and undeveloped lands which will produce about 200MW of electricity.

OUR EXPERIENCENorth AmericaPeer Review for Wind Development, The Great Basin, USA: On behalf of a confidential energy financing client, Ramboll Environ completed a peer review of bird and bat pre-construction survey requirements and results for two major complexes of wind facilities comprising 13 sites in the Great Basin. Ramboll Environ reviewed information provided by the developer, their consultant and the client in an electronic data room including resource agency correspondence, and survey protocols and results. Supplemental telephone interviews were conducted to assess data gaps. Key risks assessed included the need for additional resource agency consultation and permitting related to state or federal sensitive or listed species under the Endangered Species Act, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, and the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act.

Noise Assessment, Washington, USA: For a confidential client, Ramboll Environ conducted a noise assessment of a large wind power project proposed near Ellensburg, Washington. Results were documented in the noise section of the project EIS and EIS addendum.

Fatal Flaw Analysis, California, USA: On behalf of a renewable energy financing firm, Ramboll Environ completed a fatal flaw analysis of over 15 current and proposed renewable energy facilities in the USA, including wind and geothermal projects in 10 sites in California. Ramboll Environ’s analysis enabled the client to divest assets with environmental risks and liabilities determined to be unacceptable on the desired time horizon, projected asset retention time for a return, and identified potential for delays due to environmental impact assessment and permitting under the California Environmental Quality Act and the National Environmental Policy Act.

OUR EXPERIENCENorth AmericaCetacean Assessment for Hydroelectric Project, Alaska, USA: Ramboll Environ is currently under contract with the State of Alaska and the US National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) to conduct an assessment of the potential effects of the proposed Susitna-Watana Hydroelectric project on the endangered nonmigratory population of beluga whales within the Susitna River estuary. Potential impacts to beluga estuarine habitat and beluga prey populations include changes in sea ice formation, contaminant biomagnification and increased human disturbance. Ramboll Environ is reviewing the available project literature related to hydrology, ice processes, geomorphology, instream flows, salmon and eulachon production, water quality and mercury bioaccumulation to determine if sufficient information is being developed to adequately assess the project impacts.

Cetacean Assessment on Oil Exploration, Alaska, USA: Ramboll Environ staff worked under contract to Shell Oil investigating the effects of oil exploration in the Chukchi Sea (extreme north Pacific) on marine mammals. Species of interest included all of the north Pacific whale populations, walruses Odobenus rosmarus and seals. Crews worked on an ice breaker deployed in the vicinity of a stationary drilling rig. The presence of marine mammals within the area of exploration was evaluated using visual animal counts and hydrophone recordings of underwater sound, used to detect whale song. During this study, Ramboll Environ personnel also participated in a federal walrus population inventory conducted within the ice floes onboard the ice breaker in the north Chukchi Sea.

Cetacean Assessment, Hudson Bay, Canada: RambollEnviron staff conducted Arctic killer whale Orcinus orcapassive acoustic monitoring in south-western Hudson Bay, Canada and provided technical and logistical support for the deployment of seasonal passive acoustic monitoring pods to detect the presence of killer whales and other marine mammals in western Hudson Bay. Deployments accompanied concurrent shore and boat-based field surveys. Duties also included device pre-testing, data retrieval, review and interpretation.

OUR EXPERIENCENorth AmericaChetwynd, Peace River, British Columbia, Canada: Ramboll Environ is conducting an environmental review of a proposed wind farm to be constructed in the Peace River Regional District (PRRD) of British Columbia, approximately 1.25 km outside of the district boundary of Chetwynd. The project will consist of a number of wind turbine generators (WTGs), new access roads, collector cables and electrical network, project substation, transmission line connection to BC Hydro, operations and maintenance center, up to two permanent meteorological towers, laydown area, and a concrete batch plant.

In addition to other environmental documents, Ramboll Environ reviewed the EA submitted to the BC Environmental Assessment Office (EAO) as required by the British Columbia Environmental Assessment Act (BCEAA). Ramboll Environ is conducting its environmental review of the project in two phases. Phase 1 is a fatal flaw analysis based on current documentation provided by the client and potential phone interviews with project personnel. If no fatal flaws are identified, Phase 2 will entail a more detailed environmental review, the scope of which will include a review of environmental documents, a review of readily available environmental database information and historical information for the site, interviews with appropriate project personnel, and potentially a physical reconnaissance of the site.

OUR EXPERIENCENorth AmericaEnvironmental Review, Canada: For a confidential client, Ramboll Environ performed an environmental review of the proposed Wildmare wind energy project to be constructed by Finavera in the Peace River regional district of British Colombia.

Desktop Review, Peace River, British Columbia, Canada: Ramboll Environ conducted a desktop environmental site review of a proposed Dokie wind energy project to be constructed south of the Peace River region of British Columbia, approximately 40 km west of Chetwynd and 40 km southwest of Hudson‘s Hope. The project would consist of 48 Vestas V90 3MW turbines (including foundations, towers, blades, nacelles, transformers, a crane pad, and a rotor assembly pad) with a maximum capacity of 144 MW, 77 km of new access roads and upgrades to existing access roads, an electrical network, two substations, a 21 km system of 230 kV transmission lines to the grid connection, off-site components, maintenance building, concrete batch plant, and gravel pits.

Ramboll Environ’s review included evaluating the British Colombia (BC) Environmental Assessment Office’s (EAO) EA (July 2006), Natural Resources Canada’s (NRCan) screening recommendation and decision summary (October 2009), the provincial EA certificate issued for the project and its specific requirements associated with construction, operation and eventual closure of the project. Interviews were conducted with the project developer and environmental advisor

OUR EXPERIENCEEuropeCalliachar and Griffin Operational Wind Farms, Ornithological Survey, SSE Renewables, Scotland: Ramboll Environ completed ornithological survey work for SSE Renewables on two wind farm sites (Calliachar and Griffin) in Perthshire, Scotland. Surveys included vantage point surveys, breeding bird surveys and species specific work for hen harrier, short eared owl, and black-throated diver to identify potential pre-construction constraints and inform the development of appropriate mitigation for the sites in the form of buffer zones around active nests and continued monitoring.

Glenchamber and Annabaglish Proposed Wind Farms, Ornithology and Ecology Surveys, RES, Ltd, Scotland: Ramboll Environ completed ecology and ornithology work on two peatland dominated wind farm sites for RES Ltd in Dumfries and Galloway. Work involved detailed vantage point and breeding bird surveys; habitat surveying for badger, water vole, otter, and great-crested newt suitability; reptile and bat surveys; and oversight of fish surveys. We advised on the optimal turbine layout to minimize ecological impacts while retaining an effective wind farm design through a process of constraint mapping and engagement with the client, and completed all year vantage point survey. We subsequently assisted with the discharge of planning conditions for one of the sites by completing further ecological surveys and assisting in the preparation of a habitat management plan.

Strath Tirry Proposed Wind Farm, Ornithology and Ecology Surveys, REG Windpower, Scotland: Ramboll Environ completed ecology and ornithology work on a wind farm site in Sutherland for REG Windpower Ltd. Surveys include migratory season, non-breeding and breeding season vantage point surveys, a breeding bird survey and species-specific surveys to identify breeding raptors in the vicinity of the site. Ramboll Environ also completed protected species surveys for bats, terrestrial mammals, aquatic invertebrates, and habitats.

EIA, Site Development and Strategic Environmental Assessment for Offshore Wind Farm, Djursland/ Anholt, Denmark: For Energinet.dk, our experts completed a full-scale EIA for a 400 MW offshore wind farm (80 – 170 wind turbines) in the Kattegat strait of the North Sea, between Jutland and the island of Anholt. The AnholtOffshore Wind Farm will connect Anholt Island with the rest of the Danish electrical system and take diesel-powered generators out of service.

The EIA required several background studies on baseline conditions of the marine environment, including hydrography, sediment conditions, marine flora and fauna, and marine mammals and birds. The studies also described fisheries, military areas, cultural heritage, and existing cables. Interaction with Danish and Swedish authorities was carried out throughout the project.

OUR EXPERIENCEEuropeTechnical Review of Environmental Statements, Perth and Kinross, Scotland: For a confidential client, Ramboll Environ conducted detailed technical reviews of environmental statements produced for Clashindarroch wind farm in Aberdeenshire and Abercairny wind farm in Perth and Kinross.

EIA of Proposed Wind Turbine Cluster, Perthshire, Scotland: For SSE Renewables, Ramboll Environ conducted an EIA and prepared an environmental statement as part of the planning application for a proposed wind turbine cluster. Our team undertook all technical aspects of the EIA process, excluding the landscape and visual impact assessment.

EIA of Proposed Wind Turbine Cluster, Perthshire, Scotland: Ramboll Environ was commissioned by RWE Innogy UK to carry out an EIA as part of the planning application for a proposed wind turbine cluster. Key issues included potential impacts on ecological resources, particularly bird life; landscape and visual impact including cumulative impacts with other proposed and permitted wind farms in the area; and effects of construction. Our team undertook a series of baseline studies to inform the scheme design and EIA process. The project was postponed before completion of the EIA.

OUR EXPERIENCEEuropeEIA and Site Development for Offshore Wind Farm, Aarhus, Denmark: Our experts carried out the site development for a new potential offshore wind farm on Mejl Flak in Aarhus Bay. The wind farm will have a capacity of maximum 120MW, equivalent to the annual electricity consumption of approximately 120,000 households. Our services included geophysical/geotechnical investigations, the entire EIA process including Natura 2000 impact assessment, visualization, and prefeasibility studies including economic assessments.

Environmental Screening and EIA for a Wind Farm, Poland: For CERAC, Ramboll Environ conducted an environmental screening of a planned wind farm development near Tolkowiec, Elbląg. The project related to the planned development of a wind farm comprising ten WTGs, an internal network of access roads and underground power and steering cables, assembly and service yards, and a main transforming station.

Our team validated the EIA and birds and bats reports for the Kwidzyn wind farm investment. We also validated the project’s compliance with Polish guidelines for wind energy development and identified potential shortcomings that could be of concern to environmental authorities.

Environmental and Social Due Diligence for a Wind Farm, Orla, Poland: Ramboll Environ performed environmental and social due diligence (ESDD) of a wind farm development. The wind farm configuration included 15 WTGs, a main electrical substation, underground infrastructure of power transmission and control cables, access roads to individual WTGs, and assembly and service yards. Ramboll Environ completed an ESDD assessment and provided independent opinion on the environmental and social impacts associated with the project.

Cumulative EIA for Wind Farms, Słupsk, Poland: RambollEnviron prepared a cumulative EIA of wind farm projects (total capacity exceeding 300MW) within the Słupsk area. Work included evaluation of the cumulative EIA, collection and analysis of EIA reports, and completion of a comprehensive cumulative EIA report.

OUR EXPERIENCEEuropeEIA for Aerial Electrical Connections, Sassari, Italy: For a public electric network, Ramboll Environ conducted an EIA for 150kV aerial electrical connections at a wind farm in Florinas, Sassari, Italy.

Technical Environmental Studies, Foggia, Italy: For E.ON Climate & Renewables Italy, Ramboll Environ performed technical environmental studies for two Autorizzazione Unica wind farms (approx 125MW), in Costa Borea and Selva delle Grotte in Torremaggiore, Foggia, Italy.

AfricaTaiba N’Diaye Proposed Wind Farm, Ornithological and Ecological Review and Assessment, Sarreole, Senegal: Ramboll Environ is assisting with the completion of ornithological and ecological survey work at this proposed wind farm site in western Senegal. Experts from the company have reviewed existing information, completed a site visit and prepared a scope of work to be completed by in-country specialists to ensure that the project meets international standards. Ramboll Environ is also completing the biodiversity assessment chapter for and addendum to the EIA for the project that brings the project into compliance with Performance Standard 6 of the IFC Guidance.

GlobalInternational Portfolio Assessment for 30 Wind Projects around the World: For a private energy development client, Ramboll Environ assessed an international portfolio of 30 wind energy projects located in 10 states within the US, Scotland, France, Bulgaria, and China. The project involved assessing potential business risks related to issues stemming from wetlands, threatened and endangered species, avian and bat mortality, land use constraints, cultural resources, visual resources, and general environmental permitting requirements.

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CONTACT USFor more information about ourEIA services please contact:

Thomas RandManaging Director, Ramboll Energy+45 51618610tr@ramboll.com

Glenn MillsPrincipal Consultant, Ramboll Environ+1 206 336 1672gmills@environcorp.com