143-215.117. Permit preapplication site evaluation meeting; notice; preapplication package requirements.

(a) Permit Preapplication Site Evaluation Meeting. - No less than 180 days prior to filing an application for a permit to construct, operate, or expand a wind energy facility, a person shall request a preapplication site evaluation meeting to be held between the applicant and the Department. The preapplication site evaluation meeting shall be held no less than 120 days prior to filing an application for a permit to construct, operate, or expand a wind energy facility and may be used by the participants to:

(1) Conduct a preliminary evaluation of the site or sites for the proposed wind energy facility or wind energy facility expansion. The preliminary evaluation of the proposed wind energy facility or proposed wind energy facility expansion shall determine if the site or sites:

a. Pose serious risk to civil air navigation or military air navigation routes, air traffic control areas, military training routes, special-use air space, radar, or other potentially affected military operations.

b. Pose serious risk to natural resources and uses, including to species of concern or their habitats.

(2) Identify areas where proposed construction or expansion activities pose minimal risk of interference with civil air navigation or military air navigation routes, air traffic control areas, military training routes, special-use air space, radar, or other potentially affected military operations.

(3) Identify areas where proposed construction or expansion activities pose minimal risk to natural resources and uses, including avian, bat, and endangered and threatened species.

(b) Permit Preapplication Package. - No less than 45 days prior to the date of the permit preapplication site evaluation meeting scheduled in accordance with subsection (a) of this section, the applicant for a wind energy facility or wind energy facility expansion shall submit a preapplication package to the Department. To the extent that any documents contain trade secrets or confidential business information, those portions of the documents shall not be subject to disclosure under the North Carolina Public Records Act. The preapplication package shall include all of the following:

(1) A narrative description of the proposed wind energy facility or proposed wind energy facility expansion, including (i) the approximate number, type, and height of wind turbines to be constructed; (ii) the total planned capacity of the facility; and (iii) a description of any ancillary facilities.

(2) A map showing the approximate location of the proposed wind energy facility or proposed wind energy facility expansion.

(3) A description of any known potential impacts of the proposed wind energy project location on civil air navigation or military air navigation routes, air traffic control areas, military training routes, special-use air space, radar, or other potentially affected military operations. The applicant may use data made available by the Department pursuant to G.S. 143-215.123 to satisfy this requirement.

(4) A description of species of concern, habitats that support species of concern, critical areas of wildlife congregation, and protected lands, as those species, habitats, and critical areas are referenced in the March 23, 2012, United States Fish and Wildlife Service Land-Based Wind Energy Guidelines (OMB Control No. 1018-0148) that are or believed to be present at the site of the proposed wind energy facility or proposed wind energy facility expansion. The applicant may use data made available by the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, the Department, or other governmental agency to satisfy this requirement.

(5) A list of the federal, State, and local agencies from which approvals will be obtained and the name of those approvals required in order to authorize the construction, operation, or expansion of the proposed wind energy facility.

(6) A schedule showing the anticipated dates for commencement of construction, testing, and commercial operation of the proposed wind energy facility or proposed wind energy facility expansion.

(c) Notice to Interested Parties. - No less than 21 days prior to the date of the permit preapplication site evaluation meeting scheduled in accordance with subsection (a) of this section, the Department shall provide written notice of the meeting to the United States Army Corps of Engineers, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, the commanding military officer or the commanding military officer's designee of any potentially affected major military installation, and any other party that the Department deems relevant. The notice shall include an invitation to participate in the permit preapplication site evaluation meeting.