EAFB_Industry_Day_Q&As_1Mar17.pdf

Edwards AFB Industry Day Questions and Answers

February 22, 2017

1. Industry Question: Multiple industry participants asked questions regarding the status and the availability of completed studies, reports and analysis associated with the programmatic Environmental Impact Study and Report (PEIS/R) described in AFCEC-17-R-0002. Several industry participants specifically requested information on potential mitigation measures, endangered flora/fauna, and the topography of the available parcel.

A. Air Force Answer: Completion of the PEIS/R has been suspended until the Air Force selects a developer(s), accepts their preliminary site development plan, and the selected developer(s) have negotiated specific agreements with the County of Kern California for the proposed interconnect. Prior to suspending the PEIS/R, the Air Force had completed a number of studies, reports and analysis using previous site development plans and information. The following information from these previously completed studies, reports and analysis is provided for situational awareness only as proposed lessees shall rely solely and exclusively on their own independent investigation and due diligence in determining whether the Property is suitable for their proposed use.

1. Based on similar completed projects in Kern County, the Air Force anticipates that Qualified Lessees will have to negotiate and/or comply with:

a. Kern County Dark Skies Ordinance;

b. Desert Tortoise Mitigation from Biological Opinion;

c. Cultural Resources Programmatic Agreement Mitigation; and

d. Inadvertent Discoveries Mitigation.

2. Based on similar completed projects in Kern County and expected National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) and/or California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requirements, the Air Force anticipates that Qualified Lessees will have to submit and negotiate:

a. Landscape Restoration and Revegetation Plan;

b. Air Quality Dust Control Measures;

c. Biological Monitoring Plan with Action Thresholds;

d. Cultural Resource Monitoring Plan with Action Thresholds;

e. Biological Resources Compensation Package;

f. Vegetation Salvage Plan;

g. Raven Management and Predator Control Plan;

h. Special Status Mammals Management Plan;

i. Cultural Resources Management Plan;

j. Natural Resources Management Plan;

k. Hazardous Materials Business Plan;

l. Spill Control and Countermeasure Plan;

m. Traffic Control Plan;

n. Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan;

o. Final Hydrology Report and Flood Hazard Assessment;

p. Drainage Plan; and

q. FEMA Flood Zone Mapping.

3. Studies Completed for the Project and provided for situational awareness only:

a. Acoustical Assessment

b. Air Quality Impact Analysis, December 2013

c. Air Quality Modeling using the California Emissions Estimator Model

(CalEEMod)

d. Air Quality On-Road Vehicular Emissions using the EMFAC2014 program

e. Conceptual Hydrology and Water Quality Assessment

f. Environmental Baseline Survey

g. Final Munitions and Explosives of Concern (MEC) Survey, US Army Corps of

Engineers 22 February 2008

h. Literature review, vegetation community and rare plant habitat mapping, focused desert tortoise, and burrowing owl surveys.

i. Paleontology Collection Records and Specimen Data

j. Phase I Cultural Resources Inventory

k. Preliminary Flood Hazard Assessment

l. Preliminary Geologic Hazards and Soils Report

m. Preliminary Hazardous Materials Memorandum

n. Record of Decision for Basewide Water Wells Operable Unit 3

o. Traffic Impact Analysis

4. Publicly Available Documents for situational awareness only that can be downloaded from the Federal Business Opportunities website:

https://www.fbo.gov/?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=c8b82b1fe94dbca5ecf66d26b 20aa2f1&tab=core&_cview=1 and the FPS Concourse website:

https://www.fpsadvisorygroup.com/

a. Jurisdictional Determination for the Sunlight Partners Solar Array Project, 7 June

b. USFWS Biological Opinion for Operations and Activities at Edwards Air Force Base California (8-8-14-F-14), 11 March 2014 https://www.fbo.gov/?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=c8b82b1fe94dbca5ecf66d26b20aa2f1&tab=core&_cview=1 https://www.fbo.gov/?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=c8b82b1fe94dbca5ecf66d26b20aa2f1&tab=core&_cview=1 https://www.fpsadvisorygroup.com/

B. The Air Force encourages proposed lessees to familiarize themselves with Appendix B, Environmental Baseline Survey for Real Estate Enhanced Use Lease to Construct and Maintain a Solar Energy Development, Edwards Air Force, California as it includes significant findings of the subject property and findings for adjacent properties. The Air Force emphasizes that the shape of the available parcel (Appendix A) is purposely shaped to minimize some of the environmental impacts documented in the EBS and previous studies and analysis.

2. Industry Question: Industry participants asked questions regarding potential off-takers and Air Force advocacy to support a Qualified Lessee’s negotiations with one or more off-takers.

A. Air Force answer: The Air Force is prohibited from promoting one company over another but will support specific requests for information from potential off-takers regarding a Qualified Lessee’s efforts to negotiate an off-take agreement. The Air Force and its consultant(s) have previously promoted this opportunity to multiple off-takers, regulators and agencies to include: SCE, LADWP, PG&E, SDG&E, Western Area Power Administration, Southern California Public Power Authority, Community Choice Aggregation, California Energy Commission, the Rocky Mountain Institute, and the Department of Energy. Based on this interaction, the Air Force is of the opinion that this project supports current renewable energy demands as well as future requirements primarily driven by State of California Senate Bill 350 (SB-350) and the extended Federal Solar Investment Tax Credit.

3. Industry Question: Several industry participants asked questions concerning the installation’s energy security needs and the acceptable construction consideration to alleviate those needs. Other industry representatives asked similar questions but focused on services as consideration.

A. Air Force answer: At this time, the Air Force will not commit to identifying a specific or preferable in-kind consideration for this project. The Air Force will accept cash rent and/or any consideration consistent with 10 USC 2667. After the selection of one or more Qualified Lessees and during negotiations, the Air Force will provide additional guidance and information to select the consideration that best supports all parties.

4. Industry Question: Some industry participants asked if any of the available parcel was under the control of the Bureau of Land Management.

A. Air Force answer: No, all of the available parcel is under the control of the Secretary of the Air Force.