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5.12 TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORTATION existing power plant,transmission lines and other hazards in the area of the proposed LEC (including birds attracted to the ponds at White Slough WPCF)4,crop dusting pilots already avoid the area around LEC and the proposed project will not create new hazards for these pilots. 5.12.2.6.2 Potential Issues of Concern As discussed above,it is very unlikely that aircraft will fly over or near the LEC. Nevertheless,the following potential issues with respect to flight operations at Kingdon Airpark have been evaluated: • The CTG/HRSG stack may produce a hazard to low flying aircraft, • A saturated plume from the CTG/HRSG stack may cause visibility obstructions and thus produce a hazard to aircraft operations, • Saturated cooling tower plumes may cause visibility obstructions and thus produce a hazard to aircraft operations, and • A thermal plume from the HRSG stack may cause turbulence that could adversely affect flight operations. This section provides an assessment of potential impacts of LEC operations on operations at Kingdon Airpark in terms of these potential issues. The conclusions of these analyses are supported by real-world experience at the existing Lodi STIG plant. NCPA currently operates a combustion turbine/STIG and a cooling tower immediately adjacent to the LEC site. Conversations with the operators at Lodi and Kingdon Airparks indicate that there have been no pilot complaints regarding the existing NCPA units and there are no concerns regarding the proposed expansion.5 The STIG plant HRSG and cooling tower plumes are sufficiently similar to the expected plumes from the LEC to conclude that any thermal and vapor plumes from the proposed project will not pose any potential hazards to aviation. Additional analysis of the LEC HRSG and cooling tower plumes is provided below. 5.12.2.6.3 Compliance with FAA Height Restrictions Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) Part 77 establishes standards for determining obstructions to air navigation. It applies to existing and proposed man made obstacles, objects of natural growth and terrain. FAR Part 77.13 identifies notification requirements for proposed construction. In general,notification is required for: • Construction or alteration of more than 200 feet above the ground level at the site, and • Construction or alteration of greater height than an imaginary surface extending outward and upward at the following slopes: - 100 to 1 for horizontal distance of 20,000 feet from the nearest point of the nearest runway at airports with at least one runway greater than 3,200 feet in length (excluding heliports). 4 Telephone conversations between Sarah Madams,CH2M HILL,and Amrit Grewal,co-owner of Kingdon Airpark, August 21,2008. 5 Telephone conversations between Sarah Madams,CH2M HILL,and Peter Precissi,owner of Lodi(Precissi)Airpark,and Amrit Grewal,ibid,August 21,2008. 5.12-24 SAC/371322/082330005(LEC_5.12_TRAFFIC_AND_TRANSPORTATION.DOC)