The wetlands report shows that approximately 50 percent of the 14.1 acre project site is unbuildable as it contains Class III and IV wetlands which require a 150 foot setback.
The developer is applying for a Critical Area Alterations Exemption. Will King County approve the Exemption? Will it come down to money rather than ecology? The county can permit destruction of the wetlands by a requesting that the developer provide compensation to a mitigation bank.
The PGE transmission corridor where the High Voltage line will be sited is an active wildlife corridor. Deer, elk, coyotes, owls, raptors, all frequent this area and cross through the Project site, heading to Little Soos Creek for water.
This is a residential-zoned area without proper infrastructure for major emergencies. How will students and residents evacuate safely when the transportation infrastructure is limited to 2-lane streets that all exit onto 164th street SE.
The middle school was constructed in 1981. It has an outdoor courtyard and hallway design with old HVAC and windows. “Shelter in place” is not a safe option if and when a fire or explosion occurs.
A study from a NY school near a subway showed low test scores (constant noise interferes with learning), then after sound barriers & building updates, scores improved.
The Puget Sound area is situated across several seismic fault lines. We have all been told that an earthquake of extreme magnitude could happen any day. How will emergency personnel respond to a fire at the Battery site while responding to other 911 calls. Unincorporated King County and the City of Covington does not have the infrastructure.
These fires can’t be extinguished with chemicals or water – they must “burn out” while firefighters in Hazmat suits monitor. They claim “6 hours to burn down”, yet a recent fire at a small 10 MW battery site burned for 11 days & residents for miles around were forced to evacuate.
There are only 4 constructed utility-scale Battery Energy Storage Systems in WA – 2 still operating in Everett near Boeing; 2 have been decommissioned. These were 2MW batteries the proposed BESS will be 200MW!
Currently there are no BESS sites of this size operating in the state. A few in Eastern Washington, associated with Wind and Solar facilities, are currently under permit review with the Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council (EFSEC).
Noise levels may reach 106dB on site from the cooling fans that will operate 24/7. Tenaska says they will build a wall to dampen the noise to 50dB in neighboring areas (equivalent to the sound of a dishwasher). How will they dampen the noise to address two story dwellings?
Runoff from water treatment to cool exploded/burning battery units will contaminate well-water/aquifer/water table. Drainage maps prepared for the Project shows the run-off will drain to the east polluting Little Soos Creek, a salmon bearing stream, and all its tributaries on the way to the Green River.
High voltage power lines will be installed in a 150ft wide corridor behind the Tamarack Ridge Community. Two lower voltage lines are currently sited in that corridor. Cumulative radiation from the three lines can damage DNA and cells. Symptom include headaches, insomnia, depression, anxiety, etc.
Several states have residential setbacks in place for these utilities that range from 300ft to 700ft. Washington State has no setbacks.
Sandwiched between the school and the BESS site, is a 1908 farm house. The farmhouse was constructed in 1908 by local builder Pete Englund for Matt and Adolphine Mattson. The house was listed as eligible in the State Historic Sites Database in 1978. It was considered significant for its architecture and for its association with a Finnish pioneer of the Soos Creek area.
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