SITE INFORMATION AND CORRESPONDENCE

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5.13 VISUAL RESOURCES the LEC,the overall change from the existing lighting conditions at the project site, as viewed from nearby locations and from vantage points,would not be substantial. Project construction activities are planned to occur between 6:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m. Lighting that may be required to facilitate nighttime construction activities would,to the extent feasible and consistent with worker safety codes,be directed toward the center of the construction site and shielded to prevent light from straying offsite. Task-specific construction lighting would be used to the extent practical while complying with worker safety regulations. In spite of these measures,there may be limited times during the 24- month construction period when the project site may appear as a brightly lit area as seen in views from surrounding areas. Because the duration of these effects will be limited,the impact will be less than significant. 5.13.2.3.7 Water Vapor Plumes Plumes tend to form in the winter months,at night,and during early morning hours when the temperatures are very low and humidity is relatively high. If fog is present,plumes will not be discernible in the fog. The height and width of the visible water vapor plume from the exhaust stack will depend on meteorological conditions. The height of the plume (whether visible or not) will be a function of the buoyant rise of the air from the exhaust stack plume. The width of the HRSG visible water vapor plume will depend on the length of time it takes for the plume to be diluted with ambient air, such that the moisture content of the air drops below the dew point, and hence the plume becomes visible. Plumes emanating from the proposed cooling tower will only occur during very cool weather with relatively high humidity, at night,or in the early morning hours. Cooling tower plumes will not be visible during warm weather. Similar to the HRSG plume,the height and width of the visible water vapor plume from the cooling tower will depend on the meteorological conditions. As discussed above,nearby residential density is low and the view of most residents is at a distance of 1 to 2 miles. The existing STIG plant stack produces a visible vapor plume in the winter months,under low temperature and high humidity conditions. 5.13.2.4 Assessment of Visual Effects 5.13.2.4.1 KOP 1—View from Interstate 5 Southbound Figure 5.13-2 presents a photo of the existing view toward the project site from the southbound lane of I-5,approximately one-half mile north of the LEC site (Photo A),a simulation of the view as it would appear during the project's operational period (Photo B), and a simulation of the view as it would appear with proposed landscaping after five years (Photo C). Comparison of the first two images indicates that when the proposed project is in place,the change to the view will be noticeable but not out of character with the existing setting. The exhaust stack would become the tallest structure visible from this viewpoint, as it would be taller than the STIG stack. The combustion turbine/generator would be the foremost major element of the new facility, appearing adjacent to one of the existing STIG plant buildings from this vantage point. The fire/raw water tank would be prominently visible along the eastern edge (left side) of the project site, and separate segments of the cooling tower would be visible beyond the tank,HRSG and combustion turbine/generator. SAC/371322/082350001(LEC_5.13_VISUAL.DOC) 5.13-23