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Decision 3571-D01-2015
AltaLink Management Ltd.
Deerland 13S Substation Telecommunications Upgrade
February 27, 2015
Alberta Utilities Commission
Decision 3571-D01-2015
AltaLink Management Ltd.
Deerland 13S Substation Telecommunications Upgrade
Proceeding 3571
Application 1611069-1
February 27, 2015
Published by the:
Alberta Utilities Commission
Fifth Avenue Place, Fourth Floor, 425 First Street S.W.
Calgary, Alberta
T2P 3L8
Telephone: 403-592-8845
Fax: 403-592-4406
Website: www.auc.ab.ca
Alberta Utilities Commission
Calgary, Alberta
AltaLink Management Ltd.
Deerland 13S Substation Telecommunications Upgrade
1
Decision 3571-D01-2015
Proceeding 3571
Application 1611069-1
Introduction and background
1.
AltaLink Management Ltd. (AltaLink) filed a facility application with the
Alberta Utilities Commission on December 11, 2014, registered as Application 1611069-1 (the
application), for approval to construct a new telecommunications tower and salvage the existing
telecommunications tower at the Deerland 13S substation.
2.
AltaLink is the operator of the Deerland 13S substation pursuant to Permit and
Licence U2014-448.1
3.
Deerland 13S substation is located in the northwest quarter of Section 22, Township 56,
Range 20, west of the Fourth Meridian.
4.
On December 24, 2014, the Commission issued information requests to AltaLink.
AltaLink responded to the information requests on January 12, 2015.
5.
On December 24, 2014, the Commission issued a notice of application for
Proceeding 3571. Information was provided about how to express objections to, concerns
about or support of the application. Submissions to the Commission were to be made by
January 19, 2015. The notice was sent directly to agencies, industries, landowners, renters and
occupants within 800 metres of the proposed project. The notice was also published on the AUC
website.
6.
On January 16, 2015, AltaLink submitted an addendum to the stakeholder list that
identified one address correction and one additional contact name.
7.
On January 19, 2015, the Commission reissued the notice to the stakeholders provided in
the addendum. A deadline of February 6, 2015, was given to file submissions to the AUC.
8.
No submissions were received by the submission deadline date of February 6, 2015.
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Discussion
9.
AltaLink’s proposed scope of work for the telecommunications tower upgrade at the
Deerland 13S substation includes the following:
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1
installation of an approximately 91-metre tall self-supporting steel lattice
telecommunications tower;
Substation Permit and Licence U2014-448, Proceeding 3419, Application 1610887, December 17, 2014.
Decision 3571-D01-2015 (February 27, 2015) • 1
Deerland 13S Substation Telecommunications Upgrade
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AltaLink Management Ltd.
salvage of the existing 73-metre tall telecommunications tower;
installation of a telecommunications building;
installation of a propane tank to power a new generator;
a fence expansion of approximately 20 metres by 30 metres; and
construction of a new access road adjacent to the proposed tower.
10.
The proposed project was submitted as part of AltaLink’s capital replacement and
upgrades program. As such, it did not require a direction letter or needs identification document
from the Alberta Electric System Operator.
11.
AltaLink stated that all proposed work would be conducted on land owned by AltaLink.
12.
AltaLink conducted a participant involvement program that included notification to all
stakeholders within 800 metres of the proposed development and provided personal consultation
to landowners, renters and occupants directly adjacent to the proposed project.
13.
AltaLink submitted a noise impact assessment because the scope of the proposed project
included the addition of one new 25-kilowatt emergency backup generator to support the
proposed radio equipment.
14.
AltaLink assessed the contribution to audible noise from the proposed project combined
with the sound level contribution of the approved Maxim Deerland peaking power plant and the
proposed Maxim Power Skaro 109S substation. At the most impacted receptor location,
approximately 920 metres south of the Deerland 13S substation, the sound level contribution
from the proposed backup generator alone was 8.9 dBA resulting in a daytime cumulative sound
level of 45.8 dBALeq. This is predicted to meet the permissible sound level requirement of
50 dBA daytime by a margin of 4.2 dBA.
15.
AltaLink stated that it anticipated minimal environmental impacts during the proposed
project activities and, where possible, salvage activities would occur outside of the migratory
bird restricted activity period.
16.
In response to information requests, AltaLink stated it is committed to assessing and
remediating, if necessary, any soils that are identified during construction as potentially
contaminated.
17.
In response to information requests, AltaLink stated that if an active nest of a migratory
bird is found during construction, an appropriate setback distance for the species would be
developed by a qualified environmental professional and applied in consultation with the
AltaLink environmental advisor. AltaLink added that the environmental advisor may consult
with the appropriate local or regional wildlife biologist to determine the setback and mitigations
as necessary.
18.
AltaLink received Historical Resources Act clearance from Alberta Culture.
19.
AltaLink submitted that the estimated project cost (within +20 per cent/-10 per cent
accuracy) would be $1,845,000.
2 • Decision 3571-D01-2015 (February 27, 2015)
Deerland 13S Substation Telecommunications Upgrade
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AltaLink Management Ltd.
Findings
20.
The Commission finds that the application meets the information requirements stipulated
in Rule 007: Applications for Power Plants, Substations, Transmission Lines, Industrial System
Designations and Hydro Developments.
21.
The Commission is satisfied that the participant involvement program undertaken by
AltaLink meets the requirements of Rule 007 and notes that there were no objections in response
to the notice of application.
22.
The Commission accepts AltaLink’s assertion that the proposed project is anticipated to
have minimal environmental impacts on the basis of its commitment to assess and remediate any
soils that are identified during construction as potentially contaminated. Should AltaLink be
unable to complete construction prior to the start of the migratory birds restricted activity period,
AltaLink shall consult with the regional Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource
Development Wildlife staff member about the feasibility of continuing work during the restricted
activity period and implement any additional assessment or mitigation specified.
23.
The Commission accepts that the noise impact assessment is complete and that the
requirements set out in Rule 012: Noise Control have been met.
24.
The Commission acknowledges that there are no outstanding technical, environmental or
noise concerns associated with the proposed project, or any outstanding public or industry
objections.
25.
Given the considerations discussed above, the Commission finds the proposed project to
be in the public interest pursuant to Section 17 of the Alberta Utilities Commission Act.
4
Decision
26.
Pursuant to Section 21 of the Hydro and Electric Energy Act, the Commission approves
the application and grants AltaLink the approval set out in Appendix 1 – Salvage Approval
3571-D02-2015.
27.
No amendment is required to Permit and Licence U2014-448.
Dated on February 27, 2015.
Alberta Utilities Commission
(original signed by)
Anne Michaud
Commission Member
Decision 3571-D01-2015 (February 27, 2015) • 3