I Datos Generales...DAC Project Expansion Eoloeléctrico Honduras 2000 AMBITEC, S.A. iii Property of Energía Eólica de Honduras and

“PROJECT EXPANSION EOLOELÉCTRICO HONDURAS 2000”

ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT

Tegucigalpa, M.D.C. Honduras, C.A. September 2008

DAC Project Expansion Eoloeléctrico Honduras 2000 AMBITEC, S.A.

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Property of Energía Eólica de Honduras and Mesoamerica Energy

INDEX I. General Information. ............................................................................................................................................. 1

1.1. Project Name. ............................................................................................................................................... 4 1.2. Economic Activity. ........................................................................................................................................ 4 1.3. Location. ....................................................................................................................................................... 4 1.4. Total Investment. .......................................................................................................................................... 7 1.5. Attorney In Fact. ........................................................................................................................................... 7 1.6. Legal Representative.................................................................................................................................... 7

II. Biophysical Description of the Project Area. ........................................................................................................ 8

2.1. Geographical Conditions. ............................................................................................................................. 8 2.1.1. Geology................................................................................................................................................. 8 2.1.2. Land Use............................................................................................................................................... 8 2.1.3. Topography. .......................................................................................................................................... 9 2.1.4. Orography. ............................................................................................................................................ 9

2.2. Surface and Groundwater Hydrography ..................................................................................................... 10 2.2.1. Surface Hydrography .......................................................................................................................... 10 2.2.2. Groundwater Hydrography. ................................................................................................................. 10

2.3. Climatological Conditions. .......................................................................................................................... 10 2.3.1. Wind Velocity ...................................................................................................................................... 11 2.3.2. Wind Studies in the New Locations .................................................................................................... 12

2.4. Flora and Fauna. ........................................................................................................................................ 14 2.4.1. Flora .................................................................................................................................................... 14 2.4.2. Fauna .................................................................................................................................................. 15

2.5. Environmentally Important Areas. .............................................................................................................. 15

III. Socioeconomic Situation. .................................................................................................................................. 17 3.1. Means of Communication in the Area. ....................................................................................................... 19 3.2. Nearest Towns. .......................................................................................................................................... 19 3.3. Economic Activities in the Area. ................................................................................................................. 20 3.4. Community Structures ................................................................................................................................ 20 3.5. Water Supply Source of Nearby Populations. ............................................................................................ 20 3.6. Project Socialization. .................................................................................................................................. 20

IV. Description of Project Activities to Carry Out in Each Phase. ........................................................................... 22

4.1. Construction. .............................................................................................................................................. 22 4.2. Operation. ................................................................................................................................................... 25

V. Human Resources. ............................................................................................................................................ 32

5.1. Number of Employees. ............................................................................................................................... 32 5.2. Distribution by Area .................................................................................................................................... 32 5.3. Work Schedule ........................................................................................................................................... 33 5.4. Benefits Offered.......................................................................................................................................... 33

VI. Basic Services. ................................................................................................................................................. 34

6.1. Water Supply and Consumption. ................................................................................................................ 34 6.2. Garbage Collection. .................................................................................................................................... 34 6.3. Telephone Access. ..................................................................................................................................... 34 6.4. Stormwater and Sanitation System ............................................................................................................ 34 6.5. Roadway System........................................................................................................................................ 34 6.6. Energy Type ............................................................................................................................................... 34


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VII. Contingencies. ................................................................................................................................................. 35 7.1. Contingency Plan and Risk Management. ................................................................................................. 35

7.1.1. Construction Phase ............................................................................................................................. 35 7.1.1.1. Safety in Construction and Assembly Works ............................................................................. 35

7.1.2. Operation Phase. ................................................................................................................................ 50 7.1.2.1. Contingency Plan against Pasture or Brush Fires ..................................................................... 51 7.1.2.2. Preventive Maintenance Plan to avoid Tower Blade or Mechanical Equipment Throws. .......... 52 7.1.2.3. Contingency Plan against Hurricane Force Winds. .................................................................... 52 7.1.2.4. Restricted Access Warning Signs in Proximity to Wind Turbine Towers. .................................. 53 7.1.2.5. Airplane or Bird Collisions. ......................................................................................................... 53 7.1.2.6. Electromagnetic Interference Contingency Plan. ....................................................................... 53

7.2. Occupational Safety. .................................................................................................................................. 54

VIII. Environmental Indicators. ............................................................................................................................... 57 8.1. Positive Impacts (General Description). ..................................................................................................... 57 8.2. Aspects that affect Human Perception or Behavior. ................................................................................... 58

8.2.1. Land Use............................................................................................................................................. 58 8.2.2. Visual Effect ........................................................................................................................................ 58 8.2.3. Sound Effect. ...................................................................................................................................... 59

8.3. Negative Impacts (General Description). .................................................................................................... 59 8.4. Construction Phase. ................................................................................................................................... 60

8.4.1. Liquid Waste. ...................................................................................................................................... 60 8.4.2. Solid Waste. ........................................................................................................................................ 60 8.4.3. Atmospheric Emissions. ...................................................................................................................... 61 8.4.4. Noise and Vibrations. .......................................................................................................................... 63 8.4.5. Biotic Environment. ............................................................................................................................. 66

8.5. Operation Phase......................................................................................................................................... 67 8.5.1. Liquid Waste. ...................................................................................................................................... 67 8.5.2. Solid Waste. ........................................................................................................................................ 67 8.5.3. Atmospheric Emissions. ...................................................................................................................... 68 8.5.4. Noise and Vibrations. .......................................................................................................................... 68 8.5.5. Biotic Environment. ............................................................................................................................. 69 8.5.6. Electromagnetic Interference .............................................................................................................. 69 8.5.7. Public Health and Safety ..................................................................................................................... 70 8.5.8. Archaeological and Paleontological Resources .................................................................................. 71

IX. Environmental Control Activities ....................................................................................................................... 72

9.1. Suggested Mitigation Measures. ................................................................................................................ 72 9.1.1. Construction Phase. ............................................................................................................................ 72 9.1.2. Operation Phase. ................................................................................................................................ 75

9.2. Compensation Measures. ........................................................................................................................... 76

X. Environmental Consultants Information ............................................................................................................. 77

XI. Sworn Statement of the Consultant. ................................................................................................................. 78

XII. Certification of Acceptance. ............................................................................................................................. 79

XIII. Bibliography. ................................................................................................................................................... 80

XIV. Annexes. ........................................................................................................................................................ 81


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I. General Information. Introduction. The rise in energy consumption is one of the greatest problems facing modern society, due to the increase in population and to the growing energy demands by industrial society. Moreover, society attempts to meet this demand through fossil fuels, which accelerates the more or less near depletion of these limited resources and results in serious consequences for the environment, such as acid rain, the greenhouse effect and climate change. Humanity should begin to use energy more efficiently every day, but also one must be aware that the developing world needs more energy in order to meet its more pressing needs. Humanity is faced with the challenge to satisfy the growing energy demand while, at the same time, confronting the equally urgent threat of climate change and mitigating damages to the environment. The advantage of wind power is that it generates electricity without producing the contaminants associated with fossil fuels and nuclear energy, the most significant contaminant among them being carbon dioxide, the most important greenhouse gas. The energy resources based on renewable sources, such as wind power, are potentially unlimited. The global installed wind capacity is growing annually at a rate of 38% – at present, it is the fastest growing energy industry in the world. Wind energy promotes a clean energy and sustainable future, reducing dependence on fossil fuels. Since the implementation of the Kyoto Protocol in 1997, a reduction in global greenhouse gas emissions by 5.2% is required for the period 2008-2012 as compared to 1990 levels. The Member States to the European Union, for example, have set a joint target that 22% of their electricity be supplied from renewable sources by the year 2010, taken from a starting point of the 17% share existing in 1997. Origin of Wind Energy: The uneven warming of the earth's surface by solar radiation is what mainly causes wind. In the equatorial regions, solar radiation absorption is greater than in the polar regions; the hot air that elevates in the tropics is replaced by the mass of fresh surface air originating from the poles. The cycle closes with the displacement of the hot air from the high atmosphere towards the poles. This general circulation, which would be observable if the Earth did not rotate, is deeply altered by Earth’s rotation, generating dominant wind zones that respond to set patterns. Throughout the year, the seasonal variations in solar radiation cause variations in the intensity and direction of the dominant winds at every point on the Earth's surface. In addition to the general movement of the atmosphere, which defines the dominant winds in large regions of the Earth, there also exist local characteristics that cause particular structures of the winds. Such is the case of land and sea breezes, caused by the uneven warming of masses of air. During the day, winds are formed along the coast from the sea toward the land, and the process reverses during the night. A similar phenomenon happens in mountainous zones, where mountain and valley breezes originate from the warming of the air along the sides of the mountains, generating ascending currents during the day and descending currents during the night.


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Windmills, wind motors, wind machines (terms that can be considered synonymous), or wind turbines in their modern meaning, are devices that convert the kinetic energy of the wind into mechanical energy. Wind turbines have gone through significant development during the last 20 years. Their performance has improved, their reliability has risen, and their costs have been reduced. In both small, community power systems as well as in systems connected to large distribution grids, if the conditions are adequate, wind power can compete with conventional generation systems. Wind power’s greatest constraints are perhaps the lack of awareness of many people on its potential, and the lack of incentives to encourage investment in this sector. Clean Energy: The contribution of wind power to the global electricity supply has reached 0.4%. The wind industry employs some 100,000 people worldwide, the majority of them in Europe. The global market for large wind turbines will surpass US$16,000 million annually for the year 2007. The most important environmental benefit from the generation of electricity by means of wind power is the reduction in the levels of carbon dioxide emitted to the planet's atmosphere. Carbon dioxide is the main gas responsible for the increment in the greenhouse effect, leading to the disastrous consequences of global climate change. Assuming that the mean value of carbon dioxide avoided by means of a switch to wind power is 600 tons/GWH, the annual decrease according to this scenario will be 1,856 million tons of CO2 by 2020 and 4,800 million tons by 2040. The accumulated reduction would be 11,768 million tons of CO2 by 2020 and 86,469 million by 2040. Europe accounts for nearly 73% of global wind generation, thanks to the strong, consistent policies aimed to stimulate renewable energy technology demand. Two thirds of the wind capacity added in 2003 was concentrated in Germany, the United States and Spain: Germany added 2,644 MW; the United States, 1,687 MW; and Spain, 1,377 MW. For the United States, this translates into a growth in wind power generation of 23% in the last five years. The American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) considers that wind power will be able to cover 6% of the American electricity demand by 2020. Global warming as a result of anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases is a generally accepted fact. Each unit (kWh) of electricity produced by wind turbines can displace a unit of electricity generated by a hydrocarbon-burning power station. It is possible to calculate the quantity of contaminating gases that this replacement signifies in generic form, though this value varies according to the efficiency of the power station, the use of emission-reduction equipment, and the type of fuel.

Wind energy turbine


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Wind power is one of the most economic energy options among the new sources of renewable energy in reducing CO2 emissions from electricity generation. A modern 600 kW wind turbine in an average location replaces between 20,000 and 30,000 tons of CO2 emissions, according to wind patterns and the capacity factor throughout its 20-year lifespan. With respect to the effects of acid rain, a problem which can be zonal or regional and is linked with the generation of SO2 and NOx, wind power has a positive contribution. In comparison to nuclear power plants, wind power generates no dangerous residues, such as those produced both during a plant's operation as much as in its dismantling at the end of its lifespan, nor does wind power present any risk of a grand-scale accident like those that occurred in the cases of Chernobyl or Three Mile Island. Moreover, the use of wind power generates savings in terms of using fossil fuel reserves, contributes to the rational use of energy, and for many countries in particular can result in hard currency savings, contributing to the security and diversity of the energy supply. Wind power helps economies, particularly local economies, in various important aspects. Jobs, greater incomes, and a contribution to regional development are created in the areas and communities where wind plants are located. A study conducted in the State of New York found that the production of 10 million kWh of electricity from wind power generates 27% more jobs in the State than the production of the same quantity of energy by the latest generation of coal plants, and generates 66% more jobs than combined cycle natural gas plants. One of the reasons for this is that part of the cost of generation is the acquisition of the fuel, a commodity that contributes to much fewer jobs than other industries, especially when the fuel comes from other regions of the country or is internationally imported. Wind plants pay considerable property taxes and eventually lease agreements. In the case of lease agreements, these taxes can equal a small fraction of the earnings of the wind plant but, when they are located in rural areas, for land owners the wind plant can signify an increase in income values from 50 to 100%, and moreover, the use of these lands, either for cattle raising or agricultural production, can continue without being affected. The regions and communities that intend to invest in wind power can gain additional benefits by promoting the creation of a local wind industry that exports electric power to other regions.

In the Central American region, there are many places apt for installing wind projects. At present, Costa Rica has four different wind farms in operation for a total installation of 69 MW (or 3.1% of the total energy supplied). Additionally, two more wind parks are in construction in the region: a 50 MW project in Costa Rica, and the first wind farm in construction in Nicaragua with an installed capacity of 40 MW. Likewise, Honduras presents an opportunity to develop wind projects. The excellent wind resources existing in the country are ideal verification for the installation of these types of projects, with an overall capacity of more than 200 MW according to studies of the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment, under the project SWERA. The Proyecto Eoloeléctrico Honduras 2000, or Cerro de Hula Wind Project, developed by the company Energía Eólica de Honduras (EEH - part of the Mesoamerica Energy group), is located in the zones of Cerro de Hula and Montaña de Izopo, 24 Km to the South of Tegucigalpa, Department of Francisco Morazán, in the municipalities of Santa Ana and San Buenaventura. Initially, it had been proposed that the turbines would be located in different places in six rows for a total of 42 turbines, each one generating 1.5 MW for a total installed capacity of 63 MW. The present environmental assessment is for an expansion of the installed capacity initially proposed with the addition of 29 turbines, each one with the same generation capacity of 1.5 MW as the previous turbines, projected to have an additional installed capacity of electric generation by wind power of 43.5 MW, totaling a maximum 106.5 MW wind farm. The location of the 29 additional turbines will be in Cerros de Ayasta, Cerro de Mesa Grande, Cerro Los Arrayanes, and Cerro El Montañés, all corresponding to the municipalities of Santa Ana and San Buenaventura. Achieving the installation of the 100 MW would turn this project into the largest one ever built in Central America by the date of its completion. The project will include a substation on the site for collection of the


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energy generated by the different turbines, and from there to connect to the National Interconnected System. This expansion is based on the promulgation of the Executive Decree No. PCM-016-2008, where the President of the Republic and the Cabinet authorized ENEE to purchase the energy generated by the project up to an installed capacity of 100 MW. It is of the interest of Mesoamerica Energy and Energía Eólica de Honduras to achieve the installation of the greatest capacity in order to achieve a better project and to take advantage of the economies of scale. Also, in December of 2007, SERNA issued Environmental License No. 352-2007 (see Annex No. 1), in favor of the Proyecto Eoloeléctrico Honduras 2000, by EEH according to the request presented in December of 2005 accompanied by the Environmental Assessment for the project, which can be verified in File No. 2005-A-713. 1.1. Project Name. “Proyecto Eoloeléctrico Honduras 2000 Expansion” 1.2. Economic Activity.

The economic activity of the project is the generation of electric power using the wind (Aeolian) and sale of energy to the national electric utility (ENEE) for its addition to the National Interconnected System (SIN). 1.3. Location.

The expansion of the Proyecto Eoloeléctrico Honduras 2000 is located in the municipalities of Santa Ana and San Buenaventura in the Department of Francisco Morazán (see Annex No. 2). The expansion consists of the installation of 29 wind turbines located at the following cartographic coordinates, UTM WGS 84:


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Turbine Municipality Site Coord X Coord Y

120 Santa Ana Cerro de Ayasta 477322 1540684

121 Santa Ana Cerro de Ayasta 477533 1540628

122 San Buenaventura Cerro de Ayasta 477698 1540511






210 Santa Ana Cerro Mesa Grande 475251 1536791






216 San Buenaventura Cerro Arrayanes 476420 1535460





221 San Buenaventura Cerro Montañés 478646 1534523











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Figure No. 1: Location of 29 Turbines

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Santa Ana

Nueva Arcadia

El Cruce

Agua Fría

Mesa Grande

El Sauce

San Buenaventura 210

211 212

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216 217

218 219

220 221

222

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225 226

227 228

229

230

El Horno

120

121

122 123 125

124 126

127


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1.4. Total Investment.

The project will have a total investment of Lps. 2,194,484.743. 1.5. Attorney in Fact. Name: Karla Gabriela Aguilar Rodríguez Address: Bufette JR Paz & Asociados/CONSORTIUM

Colonia Palmira, Avenida República de Argentina #2017, Tegucigalpa Tel.: 239-1300 Fax: 235-5868 E-mail: [email protected] 1.6. Legal Representative. Name: Jay Gallegos Address: Colonia Palmira, Avenida República de Argentina #2017, Tegucigalpa Tel.: 767-0633 / 767-0665 (in Costa Rica: 506+ 2209-7950) Fax: 767-0665 (in Costa Rica: 506+ 2209-7957) E-mail: [email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]


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II. Biophysical Description of the Project Area. 2.1. Geographical Conditions. 2.1.1. Geology. According to the Simmons classification of soils, the predominant soils in the project site are valley soils, which are indistinguishable soils presenting good drainage conditions. Likewise, the Geological Map of the country classifies these soils inside the Grupo Padre Miguel (Tpm), formed by andesite, rhyolite pyroclastic, and volcanoclastic rocks. The rhyolites are volcanic rocks with a lot of glass and quartz crystals, feldspar and biotite. These soils are also classified inside Quaternary Volcanic soils (Qv), consisting of tholeiitic basalt, andesites, pyroclastic debris and breccia tuffs in volcanic flows and cones (see Annex No. 3).

Figure No. 2: Geology

2.1.2. Land Use. At present, the areas are utilized for cattle and for the extraction of firewood given the existence of species of pine and encino in the sites.

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N Formación Matagalpa (Tm)

Grupo Padre Miguel (Tpm)

Volcánicos del Cuaternario (Qv)

Cattle pasture in the project location area


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2.1.3. Topography. In general terms, the Department of Francisco Morazán can be classified by the relief as Undulating Zones, with a slope gradient between 7 and 15%, which corresponds to a total of 6.6% of the surface area of the country (including also to parts of the Departments of Olancho, La Paz, Intibucá, Lempira, Cortés and Colón). The zone where the project is located is composed of complex topography, with hills, plateaus and alternating valleys. The projected location of the turbines is at an elevation of between 1340 and 1720 m.a.s.l. The formations of greatest height in the zone are Cerro de Hula (1722 m.a.s.l.), Montaña de Izopo (1920 m.a.s.l.) and Cerro La Mole (2021 m.a.s.l.). The sites where the wind turbines will be installed are flat, located along the plateaus of the hills. Nevertheless, pronounced slopes do appear along the access routes to the sites. 2.1.4. Orography.

The overall relief of the Department is mixed, composed of mountains, valleys and plateaus. Among the main mountains are La Flor (2,407 m.a.s.l.), Agua Blanca (1,500), El Chile (2,225, declared as a biological reserve by means of Decree No. 87-87); and the Southern and Central mountains of Hierbabuena (2,243), biological reserve San Juan (2,270), Lepaterique (2,243), Canta Gallo (1,380) and Urape (1,700). The valleys of this Department are of tectonic origin, the most commonly known being the valleys of Talanga, Siria, Guayabuque, Guaimaca, Amarateca, El Zamorano. The well-known plateaus are Zamorano, Lepaterique, and la Bodega or Cerro de Hula. The terrain is complex, with both hills and valleys, scarce vegetation cover throughout the majority of the area, and a dispersed population concentrated in nearby settlements.

Mesa Grande Plateau

Arrayanes Plateau Mesa Grande Plateau

Ayasta Plateau


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2.2. Surface and Groundwater Hydrography. 2.2.1. Surface Water Hydrography. The principal surface water source of the Department of Francisco Morazán is the Choluteca River, formed in the mountains of Lepaterique. It is part of the Choluteca and Sampile watershed basins, with an area of 7,907 km2, a length of 349 km, and an average flow of 90 m3/sec. The basins have a population density of 133 hab/km2, with an average annual rainfall of 1,100 mm, and an average annual surface runoff of 3,479 Hm3. Other water sources near the project site, near the city of Tegucigalpa, are three rivers including: the Jacaleapa or Sabacuante, originating from the mountains of Azacualpa; the Grande or San José, originating from Cerro de Hula; and the Guacerique, originating from the mountains of Yerba Buena. Other rivers that cross through the Department are: Río Cacao, Río Gauyape, Río Siria, Río Humuya, Río Ojojona, Río Adurasta, Río Talanga, Río Agalteca, and Río Siguapa, among others. 2.2.2. Groundwater Hydrography. In the central and southern zones of the country, the water table can descend many meters between November and April, being higher as one advances south, and considerably diminishing the productivity of the wells during that period. Springs are dispersed throughout the mountainous and undulating regions, which occasionally dry up. Continuous and accurate information on groundwater availability and exploitation flows is not available. According to the Hydrogeological Map of Honduras, the area where the project will be located is a zone of extensive local aquifers of poor to moderate productivity. In the area where the project facilities will be located, surface water currents do not exist. The Barajana River runs northeast of the foreseen wind turbine installation sites, at a distance of one kilometer; while the Guayapito River runs four kilometers to the south. Throughout the hills, there are natural corridors that drain to these rivers. Nearby and to the north of the Mesa Grande and Arayanes sites is the Agua Fría creek; to the south of the Montañés site is the Naranjo Agrio creek; and to the north of the Ayasta site is the Milpa Grande creek (see Annex No. 4). 2.3. Climatological Conditions. The climate of the Department of Francisco Morazán is variable due to the uneven topography, few valleys and numerous mountainous foothills. The precipitation is distributed in accordance with the orography, as well as the wind exposure. The winds are predominantly from the Northeast. The phenomena that determine precipitation are: the effect of the intertropical convergence zone from May to October, and then the anticyclone period from October to February. The climate of the country's central zone pertaining to Francisco Morazán and Comayagua is characterized according to Köppen1 as tropical savannah, with an average annual rainfall of 1,680 mm throughout 102 days of rain, a relative humidity of 66%, and an average annual temperature of 29.1ºC, with a maximum temperature of 34.5ºC and a minimum temperature of 23.4ºC. The climate of the project location area is classified into two types: rainfall highlands (Vx), where the rainiest months are June and September, and the months of least precipitation are February and March;

1 Wladimir Köppen, German climatologist and botanist


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and rainy with dry winters (Vb), where the rainiest months are also June and September, but the months of least precipitation are January and February. The average annual temperature in the area ranges from 27ºC to 29ºC, while the average annual rainfall in the area ranges between 1000mm to 1200mm.

Figure No. 3: Classification of the Climate

2.3.1. Wind velocity. Honduras is influenced by the Atlantic trade winds with a predominantly Northeastern direction. These winds enter the country from the North through the Departments of Atlantida and Colón. Portions of these winds are broken by the Cordillera Nombre de Dios. However, when the wind direction is NEE, there is a current that enters behind this mountain range, carrying strong winds to the center of the country. The most important component of this project is the wind resource, upon which the feasibility of the project depends. Various studies were conducted by the company Zond of Honduras, S.A. to collect wind resource information, ranging between the years 1995 and 2001. The company initially installed 16 anemometer towers, and subsequently came to install up to 21 towers. Later, the company Clipper de Honduras, S.A. installed 4 meteorology towers. Energía Eólica de Honduras is the current owner of all of these studies and since July 2006 has initiated its own meteorological data studies in the zone. According to the final studies executed by Mesoamerica Energy and its consultants, the average annual wind velocity is 9.3 m/s, with a turbulence intensity factor of 0.115 when the velocity reaches 15 m/s. For this reason, the site is classified as Class I / Class II according to the IEC 61400-1 standard (IEC - International Electrotechnical Commission), applicable to the wind turbines. The following chart shows the classification of turbines according to the class of wind.

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Wind Turbine Classification according to the Class of Wind

2.3.2. Wind Studies in the New Locations. For the new locations, EEH installed an anemometer tower within the municipal zone of Mesa Grande, in the Municipality of Santa Ana, Department of Francisco Morazán. This tower has an operation permit, approved by the Municipality of Santa Ana, and a permit from the General Directorate of Civil Aeronautics (DGAC) is being processed, based on the location study previously conducted by the General Directorate of Cadastre and Geography of the Properties Institute. The tower is located at coordinates UTM 16P 0475798E (WGS84), 1536185N, at an elevation of 1,347 m.a.s.l.

Anemometer located in Mesa Grande


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The 80-meter tall tower is equipped to collect atmospheric data, with: 4 horizontal anemometers at different heights, 1 sensor measuring the temperature, and 2 wind vanes measuring the direction of the wind, in addition to being equipped with the respective obstruction lighting. The data is continuously collected and automatically saved every 10 minutes to a data logger. This information is sent weekly to Mesoamerica Energy's central headquarters, where it is analyzed by a specialist.

According to the studies carried out to date, this tower measures an average annual wind velocity of 5.5 m/s, with a turbulence intensity factor of 0.2 when the velocity reaches 15 m/s. The following photographs show the location of the tower within the property.

Anemometer tower installed by EEH in Mesa Grande

Figure 4: Tower location in the Mesa Grande zone of the Municipality of Santa Ana according to the cartographic map N. 2757 I San Buenaventura


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2.4. Flora and fauna. 2.4.1. Flora. According to the descriptions obtained from “Life Zones in the Departments of Atlantidas, Comayagua, Cortez, Francisco Morazán and Yoro” (Tegucigalpa, D.C., 1980), it is apparent that the formerly characteristic vegetation of the area has been severely altered to the degree that it is unobservable in its primary state. The vegetation is characterized as secondary, with species belonging to various states of recovery or degradation. The vegetation cover is made up of conifers and hardwoods. The first group, dominant with regard to the second, generally occupies the most rugged lands composed of less fertile soil and forming pure or almost pure forests of "Ocote Pine", (Pinus ocarpa), with mostly thin, very spaced out trees of relatively low height, between 10 to 12 meters on average. In mixed forests, the mixture is primarily formed of "Ocote Pine" as the prevailing species and of "Encino", called (Quercus oleoides), "Oak" (Quercus peduncularis), "Honduras Oak" (Quercus hondurensis), "Nance" (Byrsonima crassifolia), "Quebracho" (Lysiloma seemannii), "Hopbush" (Bodonaca viscosa), "Yellow Trumpetbush" (Tecoma atans), "Suyate Palm" (Paurotis cookii), "Capulin" (Muntingia calabura), "White Poplar" (Clethra macrophylla), “Arrayán” (Leucothoe mexicana), and “Guava” (Peidium sp). Following is a chart outlining the existing vegetation in the turbine location areas, broken down by turbine number.

Turbine # Existing Vegetation

Site Turbine # Existing Vegetation

Site

120

Grass

Ayasta

221 Pasture (Grass)

El Montañés

121 222 Pines, Oak Trees

122 223 Pasture (Grass)

123 224 Shrubs

124 225 Trees/Shrubs

125 226 Trees/Shrubs

126 Young Oak 5-8m 227 Pasture (Grass)

127 Varied Shrubs 228 Trees/Shrubs

210

Thin Pine Trees 12 - 15 cm high

Mesa Grande

229 Shrubs

211 230 Oak Trees

212 213 214 215 216

Pine and Young

Oak, some medium-sized Pines

Los Arrayanes

217 218 219 220


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2.4.2. Fauna. Due to the aforementioned destruction of primary vegetation, the wild fauna is scarce, limited to the species that adapted to being near human populations and farms. Among the species of mammals found in the area are rodents, such as the "common mouse" (Mus Musculus), the "field mouse" (Peromyscus maniculatus), the "hispid cotton rat" (Sigmodon hispidus), and the "squirrel" (Sciurus variegatoides); species of marsupials, such as the "common opossum" (Didelphis marsupiales); herbivorous species, such as the "rabbit" (Sylvilagus floridanus); and carnivorous species, such as the "raccoon" (Procyon lotor), the "gray fox" (Urocyon cinereoargenteus), and the "skunk" (Mephitis sp). The bird species that can be found in the area belong to the families Fringillidae, Icteridae, Cathartidae, Columbidae, Falconidae and Trochilidae. During the field visit, project personnel living near the project area were consulted on the fauna that have commonly been observed in the area. According to the information collected, the fauna are scarce since the zone has been anthropogenically altered by the rural population. Among the fauna mentioned are the following species: "black vultures" (Coragyps atratus), "rooks" (Quiscalus mexicanus), "woodpeckers" (Melanerpes formicivorus, hoffmannii), certain types of "parrots" (Amazon spp), "doves" (Columbina inca), "rabbits" (Sylvilagus brasilensis), and "squirrels" (Sciurus deppei), as well as various types of non-specifically identifiable snakes, smaller reptiles and lizards (Ameiva undulata). None of the aforementioned species are found in danger of extinction or under special protection by national or international environmental agreements. Likewise, once the project is installed, the impact to these species will be minimal. 2.5. Environmentally Important Areas. The closest environmentally protected area to the project is the Cerro Uyuca Biological Reserve, approximately 19 kilometers to the northeast. Also close to the project site (4 kilometers) are the Ayasta Petroglyphs, declared a Cultural Monument in the year 1992 (see Annex No. 5).

Woodpecker Vultures


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Figure No. 5: Environmentally Important Areas

%[%[%[%[%[ %[

%[%[ %[ %[

%[ %[%[%[%[ %[ %[

%[%[%[ %[

%[ %[%[ %[%[ %[ %[ %[<

6 0 6 12 Kilometers

N

RB Cerro Uyuca

Petroglifos de Ayasta


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III. Socioeconomic Situation. Following is an outline of the socioeconomic situation of the municipalities found in the project area of influence: San Buenaventura: Municipality of the Department of Francisco Morazán, contains 4 villages, 45 settlements. The geographical position is Latitude North 15º50', Longitude West 87º08'. It has a territorial extension of 59.9 km2. The population of this municipality for the year 2004 was 2,079 inhabitants. Santa Ana: Municipality of the Department of Francisco Morazán, contains 6 villages, 57 settlements. The geographical position is Latitude North 13º55', Longitude West 87º16'. It has an elevation of approximately 1,430 meters, and an area of approximately 60.8 km2. The population of the municipality for the year 2005 was 9,461 inhabitants. Water Supply. The potable water supply in the municipalities of San Buenaventura and Santa Ana, of the Department of Francisco Morazán, can be broken down in the following manner, based on 2001 statistics:

San Buenaventura Houses Percentage

Public or private system piping 135 34.62% Well with winch 49 12.56% Well with pump 28 7.20% Spring, river or stream 165 42.30% Lake or lagoon 4 1.02% Street or delivery vendor 0 0.00% Other 9 2.30%

Santa Ana

Houses Percentage Public or private system piping 1,141 71.26% Well with winch 102 6.37% Well with pump 44 2.74% Spring, river or stream 205 12.80% Lake or lagoon 10 0.62% Street or delivery vendor 8 0.49% Other 91 5.68%

Garbage Collection. In the Municipality of San Buenaventura, there is no garbage collection system, while the Municipality of Santa Ana does have a garbage collection system. Nevertheless, the Santa Ana collection system does not cover all of the occupied dwellings in the municipality. For each municipality, the waste is disposed by means of:


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San Buenaventura Houses Percentages

Thrown in the street, river or ravine 42 10.76% Collected by garbage truck 0 0.00% Taken to the dump or Dumpster bin 0 0.00% Burned or buried 218 55.89% Private service 1 0.25% Other 129 33.07%

Santa Ana

Houses Percentages Thrown in the street, river or ravine 55 3.45% Collected by garbage truck 11 0.68% Taken to the dump or Dumpster bin 6 0.37% Burned or buried 1,506 94.06% Private service 7 0.43% Other 16 0.99%

Telephone Access.

o The Municipality of San Buenaventura has 90 telephone lines in service, reaching 43.29 per thousand inhabitants, with a percentage of lines by municipality of 0.07%.

o The Municipality of Santa Ana has 6 telephone lines in service, servicing only 0.63 per thousand inhabitants.

Sanitation System. In the Municipality of San Buenaventura, 0.76% of the population is connected to the sanitary sewage system, while 40.76% are not connected to the sewage system service, 30.00% use a simple latrine for the elimination of human waste, and 28.46% are connected to a septic tank. In the Municipality of Santa Ana, 1.56% of the population is connected to the sanitary sewage system, while 23.04% are not connected to the sewage system service, 38.72% use a simple latrine for the elimination of human waste, 36.47% are connected to a septic tank, and 0.18% use a toilet that discharges to a river or ravine. Energy Type. Energy to the municipalities is supplied by different sources, varying among the inhabited dwellings, and distributed by type in the following manner:

San Buenaventura

Energy Type Houses (%) Own electric generator 0.51 Electricity from a private system 1.02 Electricity from the public system 30.76 Oil or kerosene gas lamp 36.66 Candle 14.10 Pine 13.84 Solar panel 1.79


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Other 1.28 Total 100.00%

Santa Ana

Energy Type Houses (%) Own electric generator 0.062 Electricity from a private system 1.62 Electricity from the public system 66.52 Oil or kerosene gas lamp 15.55 Candle 8.36 Pine 5.43 Solar panel 0 Other 2.43 Total 100.00%

3.1. Means of Communication in the Area. The main access road is the Southern Highway, connecting the site with the city of Tegucigalpa towards the north, and with the port of Henecán towards the south. This highway is paved and is apt for transporting the generation equipment, according to the conclusions of the transportation logistics study.2 The access routes to nearby communities consist of roads in good condition. Nevertheless, to access the site locations, it will be necessary to open 14.9 kilometers of new roads as well as make improvements to 7 kilometers of existing road. The majority of the sites have mobile phone system coverage. 3.2. Nearest Towns. The communities closest to the project are the following:

Municipality Community Habitants Distance (km)

Santa Ana

Santa Ana

1055

6

El Cruce 454 3

San Buenaventura

San Buenaventura 482 2 Nueva Arcadia 360 2 Mesa Grande 103 0.5 Agua Fría 101 2 El Horno 152 1.2

2 Study conducted for Mesoamerica Energy by DACOTRANS, 2005.


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3.3. Economic Activities in the Area. The main economic activities in the zone are agriculture and cattle ranching. According to the 2001 National Census, in both municipalities: 25% of the labor force worked in agriculture, silviculture, hunting and fishing, while 23% worked in the manufacturing industry; 6% in communal, personal or social services; 11% in retail and wholesale trade, hotels and restaurants; 11% in construction; and 6% in transportation, storage and telecommunications activities. None of the aforementioned activities will be affected by the installation of the wind project, rather the same activities can continue as normal in the future since they are compatible with each other. 3.4. Community Structures.

According to the UNDP National Report on Human Development, access to health care services at the Departmental level is about 65% (including the hospitals in Tegucigalpa). Upon studying the situation on a micro-scale, neither of the two municipalities in the area of influence have a hospital, but they do have four (4) health centers for a total population of 11,000 people. Likewise, these municipalities have 21 schools for a surrounding population of 4,000 children (less than 14 years old). In the nearby communities, there are kindergartens and primary schools; the secondary education schools are found in the municipal townships of Santa Ana and San Buenaventura. The municipality of Santa Ana has a health center and a private clinic, with the nearest hospital found in the municipality of Ojojona, approximately 12 kilometers from the site. Both municipalities have catholic and evangelical churches. 3.5. Water Supply Source of Nearby Populations. The sources of water that supply the different communities in the Municipalities of Santa Ana and San Buenaventura stem from groundwater sources (springs), which are managed through Community Water Boards. It is estimated that in these two municipalities, more than 80% of the population has access to water. 3.6. Project Socialization. EEH and Mesoamerica Energy, conscious of the needs of the local population close to the project, as well as to the needs of the respective authorities, to have firsthand knowledge of this type of generation (since it is currently nonexistent in the country), have conducted great efforts to socialize the project and the company's experience in Costa Rica, both with the local authorities as well as the Central Government, and likewise in those communities where the wind power station will be installed. Since the year 2005, meetings have been held with the municipal councils of the Municipalities of Santa Ana and San Buenaventura, with landowners, and with community leaders. As a result of these meetings, the local authorities have been able to understand Mesoamerica Energy's experience in Costa Rica and have publicly declared their support for EEH’s efforts in relation to the project. Also, following the meeting with the Municipal Councils and as requested by said authorities, three (3) open town hall meetings have been held: one on November 23, 2005; another on July 15, 2007; and another on May 7, 2008. More than 200 people and both Municipal Councils have participated in these events.


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The objective of these town hall meetings was to bring community members affected by the project up to date on the current status of the project. Other objectives of these meetings were: to present EEH's interest in the development, construction and operation of the plant, as well as to share their experience and background; to give community members the opportunity to talk with municipal authorities and EEH; and to share with the inhabitants of the area firsthand the challenges and benefits of the installation of a wind plant in their communities. As a direct result of these open town hall meetings, landowners have signed lease agreements with EEH, as the implications and benefits of the project were publicly displayed. Likewise, the Municipalities have confirmed their support for landowners in relation to full land titles, a joint effort developed between the landowner, the Municipality, and with the collaboration by EEH. Also, in coordination with the Municipalities, EEH and Mesoamerica Energy have carried out a detailed survey of the landowners throughout the sites where the turbines will be installed. This information will be useful for the municipal cadastre and for the Municipality in improving the collection of taxes.

In addition to the aforementioned, in order to socialize the project with the Municipal Councils of Santa Ana and San Buenaventura, elected since 2006, regular meetings were held with said representatives. As a result of these meetings, support toward the project has been reaffirmed by the Mayor's Office and Municipal Councils.

Participants in the Open Town Hall Meeting in San Buenaventura, May 2008

Participants in the Open Town Hall Meeting

in Santa Ana, July 2007

Participation of the Municipalities’ Legal Advisor

in the Open Town Hall Meeting, November 2005


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IV. Description of Project Activities to Carry Out in Each Phase. 4.1. Construction. The Main Components of the Project will be:

Wind Turbine Park

Internal Collection or Transmission Line

Step-Up Substation (Transformer 60/80/100MVA)

Transmission Line Wind Turbine Park. Proyecto Eoloeléctrico Honduras 2000 will include a total of 71 wind turbines (42 in its initial phase, and 29 in the expansion phase), each turbine with a 1.5 MW capacity, for a total installed capacity of 106.5 MW. Internal Collection or Transmission Line. This consists of an electrical installation line that will collect the energy of each of the turbines and carry it to the step-up substation located within the project site. The collection line necessary for the 29 wind turbines to be installed in the expansion phase of the project will be approximately 5.7 kilometers. Step-Up Substation (Transformer 60/80/100MVA). This will consist of an area situated close to the site called El Cruce, where a 60/80/100MVA transformer will be installed in order to raise the voltage generated by the wind farm to the voltage of ENEE's National Interconnected System. EEH has already acquired the land necessary for this component of the project. Transmission Line. This will consist of opening the L614 line that currently connects the Suyapa and Pavana substations, at a 230Kv voltage. The collection and step-up substation will be built close to Tower 42 of said line in order to inject the energy into the National Interconnected System (SIN - Sistema Interconectado Nacional). Additional Components during Construction.

Access Roads

Camps

Offices a. Leveling, Excavations, New Roads. The project includes the construction of approximately 14.9 kilometers of new road, and the expansion and improvement of 7 kilometers of existing highway (see satellite photographs in Annex No. 2). b. Total Area. The total area of the project expansion forms an area of approximately 1,600,000 m2 (160 Hectares); this total surface area includes the substation, access roads, administrative and operations control building corresponding to the expansion.


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c. Construction Area. The area required for the construction of the turbine rows is a 200 m. wide strip, by the length of the string depending on the quantity of turbines and the characteristics of the land. The concrete foundation for each tower measures 14 meters in diameter, and occupies an area of approximately 159 m2, for a combined total area for the 29 wind turbines of 4,611 m2. The base of each steel tower measures 4.6 meters in diameter, and occupies an area of approximately 16.6 m2, without counting the foundations and access roads. During construction, an area of 40 meters in radius should be cleared for the assembly of each turbine. d. Constructive Characteristics of Physical Installations. Foundations. The tower foundations can extend beneath the surface at approximately three times the radius of the tower, according to the final design, which will depend on the geotechnical study. The main characteristics of the foundation necessary for the GE 1.5SLE are specified in the following table:

Characteristics GE 1.5SLE, 65m

Excavation 12 m diameter octagon

Depth 2.90 m

Mass of Steel 12.2 Tn

Volume of Concrete 215 m3

These foundations are suitable for terrain that complies with the following characteristics:

Bearing Capacity 65m Tower

Soil bearing capacity at the edge of the foundation 135 kN/M2

Soil bearing capacity at the center of the foundation 185 kN/M2

Minimum Friction Angle between soil and foundation: 10º. Minimum dynamic load modules of the terrain:

Bearing Capacities Transverse Elongation Coefficient

65m Turbine Lateral Load (MN/m2)

Soft Terrain 0.35 123

Semi-Hard Terrain

0.40 157

0.41 168

0.42 183

0.43 202

0.44 227

0.45 263

0.46

0.47


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These foundations are suitable for terrain that complies with the following characteristics: Minimum Friction Angle between soil and foundation: 27.5º. Minimum dynamic load modules of the terrain:

Bearing Capacities Land Elasticity Coefficients

Es dyn (MN/m2)

Land Elasticity Coefficients

Es Stat (MN/m2)

Soft Terrain 110 35

Semi-Rough to Rough Terrain >140 40

Internal Collection or Transmission Line. The project's collection or transmission line will have structures appropriate for rural mountain areas (wood posts) and will require a 15-meter wide easement zone. Access Roads. The project includes opening approximately 14.9 kilometers of new roads, as well as expanding and improving 7 kilometers of existing highway. In both cases, the roads should comply with the following minimum requirements:

- Minimum load that the road soil should bear: 12 TN per each axle of a truck. - Excavation: approximate depth of 30cm. - Lower layer of coarse gravel (20/40): thickness of 20 cm. - Upper layer of fine gravel (0/20): thickness of 10 cm. - Leveled. - Minimum width of the road: 4.5m in a straight line and a width increase at curves. - Maximum slope of the road between 8º and 10º. At the moment of determining the maximum slope,

the most critical transport is that of the nacelle (50TN), taking into account its weight. - Curvature radius should be established depending on the terrain, as both the radius and the slope

of the curves must be analyzed. - At the moment of determining the curvature radius, the most critical elements are the transport of

the blades, due to their length of 34 meters, and of the first section of the tower with a maximum diameter of 4.30 meters.

Camps The camps will be built of wood, with concrete floors, zinc sheet roofs, wood doors, and bunk bed cabins. The camps will be equipped with lavatories with respective septic tanks, one (1) lavatory per every ten (10) persons, and will also include showers or baths for use by the workers. Offices The project currently has an office in the community of Santa Ana, and another mobile office in Montaña de Izopo. Upon beginning the execution of the project, temporary offices will be installed at the required locations, using previously modified and conditioned trailers.


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Materials to be Utilized Ready-mix concrete Wood for formwork Sealing Iron Rods (rebar) Sand Gravel Welding Rods

Oxygen Cylinder Acetylene Cylinder Hitch Wiring Anticorrosive Paint Paint for Metal Surfaces Iron Sandpaper

Accessories Rope Slings Chains Hooks Machinery and Equipment to be Utilized

8 Trailer trucks for transportation of equipment 2 Forklifts 3 Cranes 5 Chain Tractors 20 Dump Trucks 6 Backhoes 5 Concrete Mixing Trucks 3 Graders

The cranes that will be used for assembling equipment are: - 500 TN Crane with folding jib of 35mts. - Alternative: 300 TN Demag CC 1800 Crane with tracks. - 80 or 100 TN Auxiliary Crane. 4.2. Operation. a. Project Scope.

The economic activity of the project is the generation and sale of electric power generated by means of the wind (Aeolian), for an additional nominal installed capacity of 43.5 MW, composed of 29 turbines of 1.5 MW nominal capacity each. b. Materials and Supplies to be Utilized. During the operation of the wind power station, the main input will be the local availability of the wind. Other materials to be utilized will be certain chemical products, oils and lubricating greases for the motors of the wind turbines, as well as oils for the transformers, which are depleted during use and are changed during planned maintenance activities. The plant will include the necessary supplies to provide adequate maintenance to operations in order not to alter the expected generation as contracted with ENEE (this includes spare parts such as blades, rotors,


26


local cranes, among others). During the months of September-October, annual preventive maintenance will be carried out on the turbines. This maintenance is planned and it is estimated that approximately 12 hours will be required for each wind turbine, signifying that for an installation of 29 turbines, a total of 384 maintenance hours will be required. The maintenance program is carried out as specified by the manufacturer, in order to maintain the equipment guarantees and to assure the safety of the operations and the generation capacity of the power station. c. Technology to be Utilized. Technical description of a wind turbine and its main components. The GE Energy 1.5SLE 60Hz is a three bladed, upwind, horizontal-axis wind turbine with a rotor diameter of 77 m. The turbine rotor and nacelle are mounted on top of a tubular tower, giving a rotor hub height of 64.7 m, 80 m or 85 m respectively. The wind turbine employs an active yaw control system (designed to orient the machine with respect to the direction of the wind), an active blade pitch control system (designed to regulate turbine rotor speed), and a generator/power electronic converter system coupled to the variable speed drive train system (designed to produce nominal 60 Hertz (Hz), 575-volt (V) electric power (see Annex No. 6)). The GE Energy 1.5SLE 60Hz wind turbine has been designed with a distributed drive train system, wherein the main drive train components, including main shaft bearings, gearbox, generator, yaw drives, and control panel, are attached to a bedplate (see Fig. 6).

The turbines to be installed in the wind power park will be turbines manufactured by the company GE, model GE 1.5SLE 60 Hz, comprised of the following main components: Rotor The rotor on the GE Energy 1.5SLE 60Hz wind turbine is designed to operate in an upwind configuration (the blades positioned upwind of the turbine tower) and is comprised of three blades mounted to a cast ductile iron hub.

Fig. 6: GE Energy 1.5SLE 60Hz wind turbine nacelle design


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The rotor diameter is 77 m, resulting in a swept area of 4,657 m2, and is designed to operate between 10 and 20 revolutions per minute (rpm). Rotor speed is regulated by a combination of blade pitch angle adjustment and generator/converter torque control. The rotor spins in a clock-wise direction when viewed from an upwind location. Full blade pitch angle range is approximately 90 degrees, with the zero degree position being with the airfoil chord line flat to the prevailing wind. The blades being pitched to a full feather pitch angle of approximately 90 degrees accomplishes aerodynamic braking of the rotor; whereby the blades “spill” the wind thus limiting the rotor speed. To give greater clearance between the rotor and the tower, the rotor is tilted upward and away from the tower by approximately 4 degrees and the blades have an effective coning angle of 1.5°. Blades There are three rotor blades used on each GE Energy 1.5SLE 60Hz wind turbine. The blades are manufactured from fiberglass epoxy resin and with a smooth layer of gel coat on the outer surface that is designed to provide UV protection and blade color. The rotor blades use a custom, proprietary family of airfoils that were designed specifically for use on wind turbines. The airfoils are designed to reduce sensitivity to blade-surface roughness caused by insect and dirt build-up seen during normal operation. The airfoils transition along the blade span with the thicker airfoils being located in-board towards the blade root (hub) and gradually tapering to thinner cross sections out towards the blade tip. Blade Pitch Control System The GE Energy 1.5SLE 60Hz rotor utilizes three (one for each blade) independent electric pitch motors and controllers to provide adjustment of the blade pitch angle during normal operation. Blade pitch angle is adjusted by an electric drive that is mounted inside the rotor hub and is coupled to a ring gear mounted to the inner race of the blade pitch bearing (see Fig. 6). GEWE’s active-pitch controller enables the wind turbine rotor to regulate speed, when above rated wind speed, by allowing the blade to “spill” excess aerodynamic lift. Energy from wind gusts below rated wind speed is captured by allowing the rotor to speed up, transforming this gust energy into kinetic which may then be extracted from the rotor. Three independent back-up battery packs are provided to power each individual blade pitch system to feather the blades and shut down the machine in the event of a grid line outage or other fault. By having all three blades outfitted with independent pitch systems, redundancy of individual blade aerodynamic braking capability is provided. Hub The hub is manufactured from cast ductile iron and is used to connect the three rotor blades to the turbine main shaft. The hub also houses the three electric blade pitch system sand is mounted directly to the main shaft. Access to the inside of the hub is provided through a hatch for inspection and service of the electric pitch system and blade mounting hardware.


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Gearbox The gearbox in the GE 1.5SLE 60Hz wind turbine is designed to function as a speed increaser and transmit power between the low-rpm turbine rotor and high-rpm electric generator. The gearbox for the 60 Hz version of the GE 1.5SLE 60Hz is a three-stage planetary/helical gear design with a ratio of gear 1:72. The gearbox is mounted to the machine bedplate with elastomeric elements that are designed to provide vibration damping and noise reduction between the gearbox and bedplate. The gearbox housing is cast from ductile iron and is designed to house the drive train gearing. The gearing is designed to transfer torsional power from the wind turbine rotor to the electric generator. A parking brake is mounted on the high-speed shaft of the gearbox. Bearings The blade pitch bearing is a dual, four-point ball bearing designed to allow the blade to pitch about a span-wise pitch axis. The inner race of the blade pitch bearing is outfitted with a blade drive gear that enables the blade to be driven in pitch by an electric gear-driven motor/controller. The main shaft bearing on the GE 1.5SLE 60Hz is a double-row spherical roller bearing mounted in a pillow -block housing arrangement. The bearings used inside the gearbox are of the cylindrical, spherical and tapered roller type. These bearings are designed to provide bearing and alignment of the internal gearing shafts and accommodate radial and axial loads. Gearbox Lubrication System The gearbox has a forced-lubrication system (driven by an electric pump).The fluid capacity of the gearbox is approximately 300 liters (L). The bearings are force-lubricated by cross flow from individual spray nozzles. Before the oil is pumped through the oil lines, it passes through a filter, a heat exchanger and a pressure reduction valve designed to provide clean oil at the correct pressure to the bearings. Brake System The electrically actuated individual blade pitch systems act as the main braking system for the wind turbine. Braking under normal operating conditions is accomplished by feathering the blades out of the wind. Any single feathered rotor blade is designed to slow the rotor, and each rotor blade has its own back-up battery bank to provide power to the electric drive in the event of a grid line loss. The turbine is also equipped with a mechanical brake located at the output (high-speed) shaft of the gearbox. This brake is only applied immediately on certain emergency-stops (E-stops). This brake also prevents rotation of the machinery as required by certain service activities. Generator The generator is a doubly fed induction-generator with wound rotor and slip rings. The generator synchronous speed is 1200 rpm, and a variable frequency power converter tied to the generator rotor allows the generator to operate at speeds ranging from 870 rpm to 1600 rpm. Nominal speed at 1.5 MW power output is 1440 rpm. The generator meets protection class requirements of the International Standard IP 54 (totally enclosed) and is air-cooled. The generator housing is grounded and an air-to-air thermal exchanger cools the windings


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under normal operating conditions. The generator is mounted to the bedplate on elastomeric foundations to reduce vibration and associated noise. Temperature sensors are built into the generator windings to provide a temperature reading to the wind turbine controller. In the event the generator temperature is outside of the normal operating range, an automatic shutdown of the turbine is initiated if the generator is on-line. Additionally the machine will be unable to start if the windings are below their acceptable operating temperature limit. Flexible Coupling Designed to protect the drive train from excessive torque loads, a flexible coupling is provided between the generator and gearbox output shaft. This is equipped with a torque-limiting device sized to keep the max. allowable torque below the 3 times limit of the drive train. Yaw System A roller bearing attached between the nacelle and tower facilitates yaw motion. Four planetary yaw drives (with brakes that engage when the drive is disabled) mesh with the outside gear of the yaw bearing and steer the machine to track the wind in yaw. The automatic yaw brakes engage in order to prevent the yaw drives from seeing peak loads from any turbulent wind. A wind vane sensor mounted on top of the nacelle sends a signal to the turbine controller to evaluate the position of the nacelle with respect to wind direction. Within a specified time interval, the controller activates the yaw drives to align the nacelle to the average wind direction. The yaw drives require electric power to operate. On the underside of the yaw deck, a cable twist sensor is mounted to provide a record of nacelle yaw position and cable twisting. After the sensor detects 900-degree rotation in one direction (net), the controller automatically brings the rotor to a complete stop, untwists the cable by counter yawing of the nacelle, and restarts the wind turbine. Tower The GE Energy 1.5SLE 60Hz wind turbine is mounted on top of a tubular tower, putting the wind rotor hub height at 64.7 m, 80 m and 85 m depending on the configuration. The tubular tower is tapered and manufactured in three or four sections from steel plate. Access to the turbine is through a lockable steel door at the base of the tower. Service platforms are provided. Access to the nacelle is provided by a ladder and a fall arresting safety system is included. Interior lights are installed at critical points from the base of the tower to the tower top. Nacelle The nacelle of the GE 1.5SLE 60Hz is constructed of fiberglass and lined with sound-insulating foam (see Fig. 6). This sound insulating foam helps reduce acoustic emissions from the wind turbine. Access from the tower into the nacelle is through a manhole in the bedplate, which is located beneath the wind rotor main shaft. The nacelle is ventilated and illuminated with electric lights and a skylight hatch. A hatch at the front end of the nacelle provides access to the blades and hub. When the rotor is stopped and secured in position with a hydraulic rotor lock, the interior of the hub can be accessed through one of three hatches located in the rotor spinner.


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Anemometer, Wind Vane, and Lightning Rod An anemometer, wind vane, and lightning rod are mounted on top of the nacelle housing. Access to these sensors is accomplished through a hatch in the nacelle roof. Lightning Protection The rotor blades are equipped with a strike sensor mounted in the blade tip. Additionally a solid copper conductor from the blade tip to root provides a grounding path that leads to the grounding system at the base of the tower foundation (see Fig. 7). The turbine is grounded and shielded to protect against lightning, however, lightning is an unpredictable force of nature, and it is possible that a lightning strike could damage various components notwithstanding the lightning protection deployed in the machine. Wind Turbine Control System The GE 1.5SLE 60Hz wind turbine machine can be controlled automatically or manually from either the control panel located inside the nacelle or from a personal computer (PC) located in a control box at the bottom of the tower. Control signals can also be sent from a remote computer via a Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition System (SCADA), with local lockout capability provided at the turbine controller. Using the tower top control panel, the machine can be stopped, started, and turned out of the wind. Service switches at the tower top prevent service personnel at the bottom of the tower from operating certain systems of the turbine while service personnel are in the nacelle. To override any machine operation, Emergency-stop buttons located in the tower base and in the nacelle can be activated to stop the turbine in the event of an emergency. Under partial load, the blade pitch angle is held constant and the rotor speed is controlled by the generator/converter control system. Once the rated wind speed is reached, the rotor blades operate in a

Fig. 7: Diagram of the Lightning Protection and Grounding System


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servo mode whereby turbine power output and rotor speed are controlled by varying the blade pitch angle in combination with the generator/converter torque/speed control system. Power Converter The GE 1.5SLE 60Hz wind turbine uses a power converter system that consists of a converter on the rotor side, a DC intermediate circuit, and a power inverter on the grid side. Altogether this complete system functions as a pulse-width-modulated converter in 4-quadrant operation. The converter system consists of an insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) power module and the associated electrical equipment. Variable output frequency of the converter allows a rotational speed-module operation of the generator within the range of 870 rpm to 1600 rpm.


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V. Human Resources. 5.1. Number of Employees. It is expected that during the approximate eighteen month construction phase, 260 direct jobs will be created. Likewise, during annual maintenance, around 75 people would be contracted to work for approximately 2 months.

During the commercial operation phase, it is estimated that around 60 direct jobs will be created. The final number of people contracted can be lower or higher than the predicted number, depending on the needs of the project during its actual construction and operation. 5.2. Distribution by Area. Construction Phase:

Description Direct Men Women

Welders 25 25

Engineers 15 14 1

Electricians 25 25

Foremen 10 10

Bricklayers & Builders 70 70

Technicians 50 50

Guards 25 25

Administrators 15 10 5

Warehouse 5 3 2

Food Supplies

Other 20 20

TOTAL 260 252 8

Operation Phase:


Administrative 5 3 2

Electricians 10 10

Operations Control 5 5

General Maintenance 15 10 5

Guards 15 15

Warehouse 5 4 1

Food Supplies

Other 5 2 3

TOTAL 60 49 11


Annual Maintenance 75 70 5


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5.3. Work Schedule. The work schedule for employees will be 8 hours per day, starting at 7:00 AM. For those positions or departments requiring 24-hour monitoring, such as that of the Operations Coordinators, three work shifts of 8 hours each are covered. In these cases of rotating shifts, the shifts will comply with the Law of the Labor Code of Honduras. 5.4. Benefits Offered. In addition to complying with the pertinent labor legislation, such as the payment of overtime hours, the thirteenth and fourteenth months, vacation leave, and social security, EEH will make an effort, as it is doing at present, by offering private medical services to employees through an affiliation with the San Juan María Vianney de Ars Hospital located in Ojojona.


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VI. Basic Services. 6.1. Water Supply and Consumption. The water necessary during construction activities will be transported in a 10,000 gallon cistern tank. During the operation phase of the offices and control room, water will be supplied by means of a connection to the system that supplies the municipality of Santa Ana. During the construction and operation phases of the project, purified water will be provided for project personnel consumption. 6.2. Garbage Collection. The project area of influence does not have a garbage collection system. All of the trash generated both in the construction and operation phases will be transported by hired truck and ultimately disposed of in a place designated by the corresponding Municipal Authority. 6.3. Telephone Access. The project location lacks a HONDUTEL landline telephone system. Nevertheless, there is an excellent cellular telephone signal by both of the companies that offer this service. The plant will have a radio communication system. During the operation phase, the control room will not only have radio communication, but will also have a cordless telephone system in order to make communication possible around the clock. 6.4. Stormwater and Sanitation System. During the construction phase of the project, portable latrines will be set up at a ratio of 10:1. During the operation phase, the control rooms will include sanitary services with their respective septic tanks. 6.5. Roadway System. The turbine installation sites are accessible by dirt roads that currently lack maintenance. The Eoloeléctrico Honduras 2000 project has considered the expansion and maintenance of 7 kilometers of existing roads and the construction of 14.9 km of new roads, in order to facilitate the transport of equipment during the construction phase of the project, and to ease implementation during operation of the power station. 6.6. Energy Type. During the construction of the wind farm, all of the respective procedures will be carried out before ENEE in order to include the necessary infrastructure for energy access at the sites. Portable electric generation could also be used.


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VII. Contingencies. 7.1. Contingency Plan and Risk Management. As part of the business politics of the Developer, and taking into account the guidelines provided by The National Legislation on matters of Safety, Health and the Environment, the author of the present study proposes general guidelines for the development of a Contingency Plan, which should be drawn up by the Contractor hired for civil works and the assembly of machinery, adapting the Plan to the specific conditions of the environment and the labor activities, for contractual acceptance and for compliance with the municipal and governmental environmental authorities. Additionally, the Developer of the project under study will draw up a Contingency Plan according to the organizational structure of the generation company and to its internal policies, in addition to taking into account institutions such as COPECO, the Fire Department, and the Red Cross, among others, which offer aid in case of high-risk natural events and disasters and contingent accidents. The purpose of said Plan is to prevent any potentially dangerous situation that poses a risk to the health or physical integrity of the workers, as well as to diminish the risks inherent to the activities related to site preparation, construction and operation of the project. 7.1.1. Construction Phase 7.1.1.1. Safety in Construction and Assembly Works. Excavations General Measures Risks Most of the construction works include some type of excavation work for the foundations, drains and underground services. Digging trenches or ditches can be extremely dangerous, and even the most experienced workers have been surprised by sudden and unexpected excavation wall cave-ins without warning. A person buried under a cubic meter of earth will not be able to breathe due to the pressure on their chest, and not considering the physical wounds that they might have suffered, they will soon suffocate and die, since this amount of earth can weigh over one ton. The task of excavation implies extracting earth or a mixture of soil and rock. Water is almost always present, although not in the form of soil dampness, and abundant rain is a frequent cause of slick surfaces. The possibility of flooding is another risk to always keep in mind. The release of pressure as material is removed, and the drying up of said material during hot seasons, causes the appearance of cracks. The character of the soil varies (for example, fine sand slides easily, whereas hard clay is more cohesive), but it cannot be expected that any ground surface bears one's own weight, therefore it is necessary to adopt precautions to prevent the collapse of the sides of any trench more than 1.2 m deep. Causes of Accidents The main causes of accidents during excavations are the following:

Workers trapped and buried in an excavation due to the sides caving in; Workers struck and injured by materials that fall inside the excavation; Workers falling inside the excavation; Unsafe access routes and insufficient escape routes in the event of a flooding; Vehicles driven to the edge of the excavation, or very near to it, (especially in reverse), causing the

walls to fall;


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Asphyxiation or intoxication caused by gases that are heavier than air penetrating the excavation, for example the exhaust pipe gases of diesel and gasoline motors.

Safety Measures to Prevent the Collapse of Excavations and Falls The sides of the excavation or trench should be given a secure inclination, generally with a 45° angle at rest, or should be propped up with woodwork or other adequate material for preventing a collapse. The appropriate type of support will depend on the type of excavation, the character of the soil and existing groundwater. Planning is of vital importance. The availability of materials to brace the entirely dug trench should be assured, since the supports should be installed without delay upon carrying out the excavation. For all excavations, it is necessary to a have a reserve pile of wood, but for those excavations 1.2 m deep or more in particular, woodwork or a special covering is required (Figure 8). If the ground is unstable or lacks cohesion, tighter boarding is needed. One should never work in front of the braced zone. Braces should be installed, modified or dismantled only by specialized workers under supervision. Braces should be erected if possible before having to dig to the maximum depth of the trench, or before arriving at the depth of 1.2 m. The excavation and the installation of supports should then continue by stages, until arriving at the desired depth. It is necessary that workers know the procedures for rescuing a fellow worker trapped by a landslide. Workers frequently fall inside excavations. Adequate barriers of sufficient height (for example, near 1 m) should be placed around the excavations in order to prevent these accidents (Figure 9). The ends of the supports protruding over the ground level are often utilized to hold up these barriers.

Figure 8. Braces to prevent the cave-in of the sides of an excavation, consisting of wood or steel frames with tight boarding between them


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Inspection The excavations should be inspected by a suitable person before commencing work in them, and at least once a day thereafter upon initiating tasks. A suitable person should conduct in-depth reviews of the excavations once a week, and should keep a record of these inspections. Vehicles Adequate, well anchored block buffers should be placed in the area in order to prevent dump trucks from sliding into the excavations, a risk which is especially high when the trucks are backing up to unload (Figure 10). The blocks should be of sufficient distance to the edge of the excavations in order to avoid the risk of a landslide under the weight of the vehicles. Scaffolding Risks The fall of people, as well as of materials and objects, from a height represents the most serious risk in the construction industry. Falls cause a great number of deaths. Many falls are a result of unsafe work sites, or from unsafe access routes to the work sites. The scaffold can be defined as a provisional structure that supports one or more platforms and is utilized as a work site or to store materials in any type of construction work, including maintenance and demolition works. This is the sense in which the term is used here.

Figure 9. Barriers on both sides of a trench, in order to prevent workers from falling in.

Figure 10. Block buffers to prevent dump trucks from

sliding into the excavations when backing up to unload.


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When work cannot be carried out in safe conditions from the ground or from the building or structure, an adequate scaffold should always be laid out. It should be mounted correctly with solid materials that have the necessary resistance to simultaneously offer workers safe access routes and work sites. Only competent people should be in charge of mounting, modifying or dismantling scaffolds, under supervision. This manual describes the general principles of the most common types of scaffolds. After being assembled, the scaffold should be inspected at least once a week, keeping a written record of each inspection. Many different materials are utilized to build scaffolds, such as steel, aluminum, wood and bamboo stalks. Whatever the material, the safety principles are the same: that the structure have the necessary resistance to bear the weight and tension of workers and the tasks to be done on it; that the structure have stable and secure anchorage; and that the structure be designed to prevent the fall of workers and materials. In this section, the design and assembly of metallic tubular scaffolds has been used as an example, as the use of this type of scaffold is increasingly expanding throughout the world. Independently Bound Platform An independent scaffold is a platform that rests on horizontal pipes, generally called crossbars, arranged at a 90° angle with regard to the face of the building, and secured at both ends to a row of studs (posts, columns), and to horizontal pipes, or beams, that run parallel to the wall of the building. Although the independent scaffolds have to be tied to the building or structure, they themselves are not supported by it. The scaffold studs should be positioned on firm and level land and the plates of their legs should rest on wood boards. This ensures that the load of each post be distributed in a sufficiently large area so as to prevent their sinking into the ground, affecting the equilibrium of the scaffold. Brittle or slippery materials should never be used for column support, as for example bricks or pieces of paving stone. The studs should be equidistant from each other and connected between them, and should be reinforced by beams that are bound to the internal part of the studs; to raise the resistance, the joints of the beams should be alternated. The crossbars should be supported by the beams, at a right angle to the building or structure. The horizontal distance between the crossbars of the work platforms will depend on the thickness of the boards that are utilized and rested upon them. For boards that are 38 mm thick, the crossbars should be spaced so that no board of the scaffold be put on top of another by more than 150 mm (6 inches) or less than 50 mm. The beams and crossbars should not unnecessarily protrude from the general contour of the framework, in order to avoid risks to pedestrian or vehicular traffic. The braces are essential to giving rigidity to the scaffold and to preventing lateral displacements; they should run diagonally from one beam to another or from one pair to another. The braces can be parallel or rise in zigzag. If it is necessary to remove them in order to allow the passage of workers or materials, it should be done to a single level only, replacing them immediately thereafter.

Fastenings It should be verified that the scaffold be tied or secured to the building or structure at adequate intervals, in order to prevent its movement. It should be remembered that the effect of the wind is greater in a covered scaffold, and can cause the scaffold to separate from the wall of the building and collapse. If it is necessary to remove ties during the construction process (for example to hang glass), it is necessary to remove them one at a time, replacing the previous one before moving to the next one. In these circumstances perhaps a different type of fastening will have to be used. Generally, the scaffold area per each fastening should not exceed 32 m2, decreasing to 25 m2 for covered scaffolds.


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Work Platforms and Catwalks The boards of the scaffold constituting a work platform should rest firmly and equally on the crossbars that support them, in order to prevent tripping. At the points where the boards meet, the crossbars must be duplicated and spaced in such a way that no board overhangs more than four times their thickness. If they hang over too much, they will tilt upon stepping on them, and if they do not meet and leave a space up to 50 mm, they can easily loosen from their place. Generally, each board should have three supports in order to prevent them from twisting or bending. The space between the edge of the work platform and the wall of the building should be as small as possible. The width of the platform should be sufficient in order to carry out the work; the recommended dimensions are:

no less than 60 cm if it is utilized only as a step;

no less than 80 cm if it is utilized also to stack material;

no less than 1.1 m if it is utilized as support for a sawhorse table. The walkways should preferably be horizontal and of an adequate width for their use. If its inclination exceeds 20°, or if it is probable that its surface might turn slippery with rain, then batten should be placed at right angles, with a small gap in the middle of each, in order to allow the wheel of wheelbarrows to pass. Finally, measures must be taken so that the boards do not fly off with strong winds. Railing and Foot Board Protection In order to prevent incidents from falls, it is of fundamental importance that safety rails and foot boards are placed anywhere where falls of more than 2 m could occur. Both should be set in the internal part of the studs. The banisters should be between 90 cm and 1.15 m high above the platform, in order to prevent an easy fall from above or below. The foot boards, which are also aimed at preventing materials from being pushed over the edge of the platform, should be elevated at least 15 cm above the edge in order to achieve this purpose. If materials of considerable height are stored on platforms, then it will perhaps be necessary to add boards or to fill the banister space with wire mesh (Figure 11). If the banisters and protective boards are removed in order to permit the passage of materials, it is necessary to replace them as soon as possible.

Figure 11. Work platform with banisters and foot board protection, protective wire mesh between both, and tightly jointed floorboards.


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Ladders. Every year, many workers lose their lives or are seriously injured from working on ladders of all types. The fact that ladders are so inexpensive and easy to obtain causes one to sometimes forget its limitations, and for that reason the first thing one must think about is if it is not more secure to carry out the work in question with another class of equipment. For example, an adequate work platform often guarantees that the task be carried out with greater speed and efficiency.

Restrictions If a ladder is going to be used, it must be remembered that:

Only permit the ascent or descent of one person at a time; Only permit that one person work on the ladder at a time; If it is not tied on the top, two workers will be required to use it: one on the ladder and the other

below to hold it in place; Leave one hand free; climbing a ladder with tools or loads is difficult and dangerous, and the

weight that one can carry is very limited. There is also the danger of dropping things on other people;

Restrict movements; It has to be well positioned and fastened; The height that it can reach is limited.

Fasten the Ladder More than half of all accidents involving ladders are produced from the ladder slipping at the base or at the upper part, and for that reason one should be assured that the ladder is supported on firm and level ground. Never raise a side of the ladder's base with a wedge if the land is uneven: if it is possible, level the ground or bury the foot of the ladder. If the land is soft, position the ladder on a board. Never support the ladder by putting all of its weight on the first step; only the legs or beams are destined to support the ladder and its weight. The head of the ladder should be leaned against a stable, solid surface in order to bear the load that it supports; otherwise, it is necessary to use reins. Whenever possible, tie or bind the upper part of the ladder; another person should support it at the base while the work is being done (Figure 12). If this is not feasible, the foot of the ladder should be steadied by tying it to buried stakes or by means of sandbags. If that is not possible either, another worker should be positioned at the foot of the ladder in order to prevent the ladder from sliding while work is being done on it, but this precaution is only effective if the ladder measures less than 5 m long. A fellow worker should face the ladder, holding one beam with each hand, with one foot on the first step. The use of nonskid feet on each leg of the ladder contributes to preventing it from slipping.

Figure 12. Ladder fastened to the footboard and protruding above the place of access.


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Ladder Safety The safe use of a ladder means adopting the following precautions:

Verifying that there are no electric transmission cables with which the ladder could come into contact;

When wood ladders have beams reinforced with metal, they should be utilized with the metallic side facing backwards; the metallic crossbars should be under the steps and not above;

The ladder should protrude at least 1 m above the place to which it is accessing, or at least from the highest rung on which one must step, unless an adequate handle is present with which to hold onto (Figure 12). This way, the risk of losing one's balance is avoided when entering and leaving from the access space above;

It is necessary to be able to leave the ladder in the place where one is going to work without needing to pass above or below the banisters or protective boards. At any rate, the spaces between the banisters and the boards should be minimal;

Never use a ladder that is too short, and never steady the base on a crate, a pile of bricks, a fuel drum or something similar to lengthen or extend the ladder;

Support the ladder at a secure angle around 75° with regard to the horizontal, i.e. a separation of around 1 m at the base per every 4 m of height;

Climb or go down the ladder facing it; Ensure that there is sufficient space behind the rungs in order to support one's feet well; With regard to extension ladders, leave at least two rungs together if the sections are 5 m long, and

three rungs if the sections are longer than 5 m (Figure 13); Always stretch and shorten the extension ladders from the ground, and verify that the hooks or

joints are adjusted before climbing; Verify that one's footwear is clean of mud or grease before climbing a ladder; As much as possible, carry tools in pockets or in a bag when climbing a ladder, leaving hands free

to hold on to the beams (Figure 13); Try not to carry materials when climbing ladders: use a cord to hoist these materials; A common cause of accidents is overreaching; try not to reach too far from the ladder (Figure 13);

move the ladder when it is necessary.

Points to Remember:

Ensure that the ladder has the necessary length. Do not carry tools or materials in hands when climbing the ladder. Clean footwear before climbing.

Ladder Care Proper ladder care requires the following measures:

Ladders have to be inspected regularly by a suitable person; those that are deteriorated should be removed from service. With regard to wood ladders, one must look for cracks, chips, and warping; with metal ladders, one must look for mechanical defects. They should not miss rungs;

Every ladder should be identifiable, for example, by means of some marking; Ladders should not be left on the ground when they are not in use, where they can be exposed to

the elements and to damages by water and other impacts. They must be stored adequately indoors on supports, without touching the ground. Those ladders more than 6 m long should have at least three points of support so that they do not become warped;


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A ladder should not be hung by the rungs or by a beam, as that is how rungs can be torn off; Wood ladders should be stored in well ventilated places, where there is no excess of heat or

humidity; Equipment and wood ladders can be covered with a layer of varnish or transparent protective, but

not with paint, which hides the defects; Aluminum ladders require an adequate layer of protection if they are going to be exposed to acidic,

alkaline or corrosive substances.

Elevating Apparatuses Personnel responsible for tasks involving the use of elevating equipment should be adequately trained and qualified on the risks of the specific tasks that have been assigned them. The cranes and equipment or similar fixed or mobile devices should have signs that indicate the acceptable maximum loads under different conditions of use, engraved in a visible place and on the original plaque. The assembly and dismantling of cranes and hoisting equipment should be done under the direct supervision of relevant personnel. Relevant personnel should review this equipment periodically, including all elements of the frame, of the machinery and of the crane mounting accessories, such as the winches, lathes and the rest of the elevation devices. Maneuvers with elevating equipment should be made by means of a code using pre-established signals or another system of effective communication. Similarly, the movement area should be identified, and traffic is prohibited while the task is being executed, as well as while transporting workers together with the load. Parts of the elevating equipment should be constructed and mounted under the following safety coefficients:

o THREE (3) for hooks used in the apparatuses driven by hand. o FOUR (4) for hooks used in the apparatuses driven by motor force. o FIVE (5) for those that are used to hoist or transport dangerous materials. o FOUR (4) for the structural parts. o SIX (6) for the hoisting cables. o EIGHT (8) for the transport of persons.

Figure 13. Safe ladder use: sufficient number of rungs together with extension ladders; carry tools in a secure place; do not reach too far over the ladder


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Those suspended loads that are characteristically received by the workers for positioning should be guided by means of accessories (cords or others) that prevent an accidental movement or direct contact. The elevation of loose materials should be done with precautions and procedures preventing their fall. Elevating equipment should not be left alone with suspended loads. The entry of the material to the different levels where they are to be elevated should be arranged in such a way that workers do not have to expose themselves to the void in order to perform the operations of loading and unloading. The elevating equipment driven by hand should include devices that automatically cut the driving force when either the maximum height, movement or load is surpassed. Cabs Cabs should have such a resistance and be installed so that they offer adequate protection to the operator against falls and the projection of objects, the displacement of the load and the capsizing of the vehicle. They should offer the operator an appropriate field of vision. The windshield and windows should be of non-shattering safety material. They should be well ventilated and in reasonable condition, avoiding the accumulation of smoke and gases in their interior, and having a heating system in the case of cold zones. Their design should allow the operator to be able to abandon the cab quickly in case of an emergency. The means of access to the cabs and the operator's position, whether they are footbridges, ramps, stairs, etc., should comply with the characteristics already specified in the section on stairs and their security. Cranes Cranes and similar equipment should at least have original devices and interlocks, in addition to those that are added in order to enable the ability to securely stop all movements and to operate under hoisting and transfer movement limits. When the crane requires the use of support stabilizers, it should not be operated with loads until the supports are positioned on firm bases that prevent the crane from capsizing. Equal precautionary criterion should apply when the equipment is situated on tires, in which case it will be necessary to wedge the equipment in order to prevent accidental movements. The cart frames and bridge ends of mobile cranes should be fitted with safety caps or cantilevers in order to limit the fall of the cart or bridge in case of a broken wheel or axle. When the cranes are operated from the ground of the premises, passages must be available along its route, of a minimum width of NINETY CENTIMETERS (90 cm), with no sudden drops in elevation, for movement by the operator. Overhead traveling cranes require corridors and platforms of a width no less than SIXTY CENTIMETERS (60 cm) along the length of the bridge, supplied with nonskid floors and railings, to ensure worker safety.


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Forklifts and Similar Equipment Forklifts should not be operated on uneven surfaces or surfaces with obstacles that jeopardize their stability. Nor should a forklift be manually loaded or unloaded when moving or in operation, or carry suspended and oscillating loads or people. The forklifts must have all safety features. Cables, Chains, Cords and Hooks The rings, cords, hooks, cables, hoses, swivels, pulleys and other components used for lifting or lowering materials or as a means of suspension should be tested:

o Before starting a project. o When they are intended for another use. o When there is some kind of incident (overload, sudden stops, etc.) that may alter the integrity of the

item. o At intervals indicated by the person responsible for Health and Safety. o This task must be performed by qualified and authorized personnel of the entity in charge of the

assembly. In this case, the maximum permissible bearing load should be identified, through letters and numbers in a particular code, spreadsheet, etc. This load must be strictly observed in every operation. All of the aforementioned items should be stored grouped and sorted according to their load, in a dry, clean, closed and well ventilated area, avoiding contact with corrosive substances, acids, alkalis, high temperatures or temperatures so low that they produce freezing. These items should be stored hanging. Any defective item must be replaced, not allowing for any treatment, repair or modification to the item. None of the above items should come into contact with sharp edges, electric arcs or any other item that might harm their integrity. General Use Metallic Cables General use metallic cables shall meet the following conditions:

o They must be made of steel with a minimum tensile strength of ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY KILOGRAMS (140 kg) per square millimeter. In any case, the coefficient is less than THREE POINT FIVE (3.5) times the maximum permissible load.

o They must be in one piece, with no longitudinal splices. o They must not have visible flaws, knots or kinks, cracks, etc., nor be frayed. o The terminals and clips of the cables that make up the loop as well as the clamp and flange

tighteners should be examined before their use. o The cables should be lubricated regularly, according to the use and environmental conditions of

where they are used or where they are stored. The lubricant used should not contain acids and alkalis.

o The cables that demonstrate wear, corrosion, elongation and broken wires should be discarded. o They should be visually checked on a daily basis by the operator under the supervision of the

person responsible for the task. o The diameter of the pulleys or spools in which a cable is coiled should not be set at less than the

written recommendation of the manufacturer of that cable or than the relevant standards.


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o Any cable terminals must be made of elements with a resistance ONE POINT FIVE (1.5) times higher than that of the cable.

Specific Use Metallic Cables Any cable that is used in aerial rails, lifts, elevators and hoists should be considered for specific use and comply with safety factors depending on the speed of the movement and the conditions of use. Cords All fiber cords that appear worn by friction, unraveling, crushing, fading or any other sign of deterioration should be replaced. A visual check should be done before every use, under the supervision of the person responsible for the task. In storing the fiber cords, the general rules described on storage must be respected. It should also be noted that the cords should not be in contact with rough surfaces, soil, harrow or sand, and should be protected from rodents. Fiber cords must only pass through pulleys that have a gorge the same width as the diameter of the cord and that do not have sharp edges, rough surfaces or projecting parts. Natural fiber cords should not be used when in wet or humid environments. The use of natural sisal fibers is not permitted. Those cords made of manila must meet a safety factor equal to NINE (9). Manufacturers are obligated to clearly state the safety factors to meet, the resistance tables and the average life of these items, in the marketing brochures and catalogs. In all cases, they must comply with national and international quality standards of recognized standardization institutes. It is mandatory to use the tensile strength and weight table provided by the manufacturer. In the absence of this table, and until one year after the enactment of entry into force of this decree, that which is integrated in this regulation will be used. Chains Only chains that are in their original condition can be used, and whose maximum warping of any of their links does not have an elongation higher than FIVE % (5%) of their original length. Additionally, no chain should be used that has a link that is worn down more than FIFTEEN % (15%) of its initial diameter. Chains should be constructed of forged steel and be selected for an effort calculated with a safety coefficient greater than or equal to FIVE (5) for the maximum permissible load. The rings, hooks, end bonds or anything else directly involved in the whole effort, must be of the same material as the chain to which they will be fastened. The pulleys or winding shafts should be appropriate to the type of chain to be used.


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Slings Slings must be constructed of chains, cables, fiber cords or belts of adequate resistance in order to withstand the forces to which they are submitted. The use of slings whose elements do not comply with standards in the area of cables, chains, cords and hooks shall be prohibited. The nominal load capacity varies with each sling use configuration and with the opening angle with respect to the vertical. The manufacturer should submit tables with these respective values. The manufacturer should provide detailed technical information on the tests performed on the slings that it manufactures. The rings, hooks, swiveling links and stationary links, mounted in the hoisting chains, must be of a material with at least equal resistance to that of the chain. When the slings are cables, they must be kept clean and lubricated. When using TWO (2) or more slings hung from the same hook or bracket, it must be verified that each of them is individually joined to the respective element, not permitting one sling to be joined only to the other. In operation, slings should be protected in those areas where the load has sharp angles. Workers should keep their hands and fingers away from both the slings and the cargo. Hooks, Rings, Shackles and Accessories When these accessories are used in slings, they must have a minimum resistance of ONE POINT FIVE (1.5) times the resistance of the sling, except in those cases where the whole (all of the elements that constitute the complete sling) has technical certification. Hooks must be of forged alloy steel and have a safety latch that prevents the accidental release of the loads. The portion of the hooks that come in contact with cables, cords and chains should not have sharp edges. Those hooks that stay open more than FIFTEEN PERCENT (15%) from the original distance of the opening, measured at the smallest point, or that are bent more than TEN DEGREES (10º) out of the hook plane, should be discarded. Shackles used for the suspension of blocks should be fastened with locknuts and cotter pins on the shackle bolt. Snatch or Pulley Blocks The diameter of the pulleys or sheaves constituting the blocks must be at least equal to TWENTY (20) times the diameter of the cable to be used. It is mandatory to replace the entire pulley if its groove or opening has been damaged. The person responsible for the operation must review the block and lubricate the shaft before being used. It is prohibited to use any block whose wear can compromise the sliding of the pulley on its axle, as well as those whose box distortions allow for the cable to insert itself between the box and the pulley.


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Belt Sling of Woven Synthetic Fibers The belt slings should meet the following characteristics and conditions, which should be indicated by the manufacturer in the product’s technical specifications:

o Sufficient resistance to the forces specified by its manufacturer. o Uniform thickness and width. o Have factory selvages. o Not be frayed or cut from a wider belt. o The belt should be made with thread of the same material. o The seam, coupling the ends of the belt and the formation of the eyelets, should have a resistance

higher than the sling breakage tension. o The minimum safety coefficient of synthetic fiber belts is equal to FIVE (5).

The metal fittings should meet the following requirements:

o Have sufficient capacity to withstand twice the nominal load of the belt without showing permanent warping.

o Breakage tension resistance at least equal to that of the sling. o Free from any sharp angle that may harm the fabric.

Each sling should be marked and codified in a way that allows them to be identified by:

o Name or registered trademark of the manufacturer. o Nominal load capacity for the type of use. o Type of material of which it is made.

Once the value of the load to be moved has been determined, the sling will be selected based on the configuration of the sling, load and work environment. When a sling is prepared to be used as a lasso, it should be of sufficient length so that the metalwork that secures the eye of the lasso hangs in the belt zone. The following should be adhered to when working with slings:

o They should not be dragged on the floor, or over an abrasive surface. o They will not be twisted nor knotted in any way. o They will not be removed by traction if they are trapped by the load. o They will not be left to fall from a height. o They will not be put in places that cause mechanical or chemical damages. o They will not be used in acidic environments. o They will not be used in caustic environments if they are made of polyester or polypropylene. o If they are made of polypropylene, they will not be used in environments where temperatures are

greater than EIGHTY DEGREES CELSIUS (80 ºC). o If they have aluminum metalwork, they will not be used in caustic atmospheres.

In general, the belt slings must be inspected by the person responsible for the task before each use. The frequency of this inspection depends on the frequency of use of the sling and the severity of the working conditions. All repairs must be done by the manufacturer of the product or specialists, which should issue a certificate for the nominal load, after being repaired. Provisional repairs are prohibited.


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Metal Belt Slings Belt slings should be of carbon steel or stainless steel, and all of their components must meet capacity, resilience and safety conditions appropriate to their intended functions. They shall have permanent markings containing the following data:

o Trademark and name of the manufacturer. o Nominal capacity for use as a simple sling that links to cargo and as a hooking sling at both ends.

These slings must be tested before their first use and after each repair, with a safety coefficient equal to FIVE (5). They shall be inspected at intervals specified by the Health and Safety Manager, who should dispose of those that present abnormalities which pose risk to the safety of workers, in particular the following abnormalities:

o Broken welding or metallic defects in the eyelets. o Cut wires anywhere in the mesh. o Reduction of the wire diameter by more than TWENTY-FIVE PERCENT (25%) due to abrasion or

FIFTEEN PERCENT (15%) due to corrosion. o Lack of flexibility due to the distortion of the mesh fabric. o Deformation or deterioration in the groove of the eye of the hook, so that it exceeds its original size

by FIFTEEN PERCENT (15%). o Metallic deterioration of the ends that makes its width appear reduced by more than TEN

PERCENT (10%). o Any wear or deterioration of the ends that makes the remaining metal section around the eyelets

reduced by more than FIFTEEN PERCENT (15%) of the original section. o Any deformation of the tip that shows a distortion or warping. o After each repair and before their new use, these slings should be subjected to a load test.

Personnel involved in tasks that use metal belt slings should be properly trained in the respective operations and trained with regard to the specific risks of that activity and of the use of these accessories. The Health and Safety Manager shall be involved in determining the work methods and the requirements of the features, capacity, storage and handling of the belts. Slings should be used within the temperature limits specified by the manufacturer in order to protect its integrity. In the absence of this information, the Health and Safety Manager shall indicate the limits to be observed. Vehicles and Automotive Machinery The staff involved in the operation of machinery and motor vehicles must be properly trained and trained with regard to the specific tasks to which they will be designated and the risks arising from those same tasks. These machinery and motor vehicles must be equipped with safety devices and mechanisms necessary to:

o Avoid the collapse or sudden return of the platform, bucket, pail, receptacle or vehicle, caused by damage to the machine, elevator or conveyor mechanism, or by broken cables, chains, etc. used.

o Prevent people and materials from falling out of these vessels and vehicles or through the gaps in the cab.

o Prevent accidental start-up and dangerous speeding.


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The following should be kept in perfect use condition:

o The electromechanical system: brakes and steering, headlights, taillights and horn; o Safety devices such as: signal direction, wipers, windshield and rear window defrosters and

defoggers, fire extinguishers, tire alarm system, rearview mirrors, reverse warning lights, audible reverse signal for trucks and vehicles that have them, non-slip bumper surfaces, floors and steps, safety belts, reflective markings, etc.

Vehicles and automotive machinery must have a visible sign indicating their maximum permissible load and in no case should transport people, unless they are adapted for this purpose. All such vehicles must be equipped with brakes that can immobilize the vehicles even if they are carrying loads to their maximum capacity, in any working condition and at the maximum slope allowed. These brakes must be locked when the vehicle is stopped. In addition, the vehicle must be equipped with chocks for their wheels, which should be used when necessary and whenever the vehicle is stopped on a slope. Automotive vehicles and machinery must be equipped with a driver’s seat, which must meet ergonomic conditions, and safety means for ascending and descending. All vehicles that are not available with closed cabs should be equipped with security gates of sufficient resistance in case of overturning, and should be protected from falls from high above with railings and baseboards in its surrounding space. Exhaust pipes must be installed so that no harmful gases and fumes accumulate around the driver or passengers, and be equipped with spark arrestors in good condition. During the operation or movement of a vehicle, people must not be allowed to stand or sit on the roof, trailer, trailer draw bars, fenders, running boards or cargo of the vehicle. It should also be prohibited for people to ascend, descend or move from one vehicle to another while the vehicles are moving. The towing hook mechanism of tow vehicles should prevent a worker from having to place himself between the vehicle being towed and the adjoining vehicle, if one of the vehicles is moving. The towing hook mechanism should also prevent vehicles that are being hooked together from colliding with each other, should have a resistance that allows towing the heaviest load in the most difficult conditions, and should be equipped with locking mechanisms. In the event that a vehicle is capable of transporting people, the transport of flammable liquids, explosive materials and/or toxic substances must not be allowed. All vehicles and machinery should be equipped with an inertial seatbelt (lap and sash), and be used on an ongoing basis by their drivers. Drivers should not be exposed to a noise level higher than the values established in this regulation. If these values are exceeded, the appropriate actions must be taken to diminish the exceeded levels. Any work done under a vehicle or machinery must be performed while the vehicle is stopped and properly wedged and supported with fixed elements, if it is elevated for that purpose.


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Trucks and Transport Machinery Cargo that is transported in trucks shall not exceed the truck's cargo capacity or the weight specified, and shall not be loaded higher than the sides of the vehicle. In the case of having to transport a single package that makes it impossible to comply with this standard, one should resort to using highly visible overload warning signs. Dump trucks must have a hood or cab screen. However, when a truck is loaded by other equipment (crane, bulldozer, etc.), the driver must ensure that the load cannot come up to the cab or the passenger seat. Cement Mixers All gears, chains, rollers and transmissions must be covered in order to prevent accidental contact. Protection by means of side rails are required in order to prevent workers from passing below the hub when it is high up. The hoppers through which a person could fall should also be protected, by means of screens. The equipment must have a locking mechanism which prevents actuation of the drum when they are being cleaned. Welding and Gas Cutting During cutting or welding tasks, equipment must be used that fulfills the conditions of worker safety and protection. Staff involved in this work must be properly trained and qualified with respect to the specific risks associated with said work. Appropriate protective equipment guarding against these risks must be provided by the Health and Safety Manager, and their use will be supervised by the person responsible for the task. Personnel passing through the vicinity of the welding areas must be protected from radiation by means of screens or similar mechanisms. When a worker enters a confined space through a manhole or other small opening, they will be provided a safety belt and life line, for performing an emergency rescue should assistance be necessary from the outside during the time it takes to complete the task. Compressed gas cylinders will remain on the outside of the opening while conducting the same task. When the work is interrupted, the blowtorches inside the space will be removed. During works in which welding and cutting containers that have contained flammable or explosive substances are performed, the containers shall be cleaned by means of a degassing and inertization procedure. If the contents of the container are unknown, precautions should be taken just as if they were explosive or inflammable substances. 7.1.2. Operation Phase. All health and safety programs have one single purpose: the performance of activities without accident, injury or occupational illness. In addition to eliminating deaths and human suffering, the programs eliminate the high costs, the squandering and the poor quality that result from accidents. That is why every project seeks to have a health and safety manual, so as to reduce the possibility of accidents and lower the high costs that accidents generate. All accidents are against work efficiency and


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effectiveness, because they are a product of the lack of control over the workers, materials, processes and environment. In order for a project to be efficient and effective, it must counteract the threat of accidents through the implementation of a health and safety manual. All projects seek to have safety. Safety is the set of formulated laws, criteria and norms, which aim to control the risk of accidents, occupational illnesses and injuries, both to individuals and to the equipment and materials involved in the development of any activity.

o Because wind power generation is different from other kinds of generation, as this kind of generation does not use flammable fuels as raw material that should be stored and processed, for this reason it does not generate toxic contaminants. Nonetheless, like other generation projects, wind plants have medium and high voltage electrical infrastructure, which requires appropriate care in accordance with the accepted practices and standards in force.

o The focal points in the contingency plan are based on if the turbines meet the design safety standards of the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). The standard applicable to design safety is the IEC 61400, as the components of the turbine will be tested to verify that they are within the design limits and do not pose any danger to safety when in operation.

o Further studies will be conducted on the suitability of the site ("Turbine suitability"), which simulate the maximum forces to which the equipment will be submitted under the site conditions, based on the extreme values determined by the study of wind and on the turbulence values resulting from the simulation considering the characteristics of the terrain and the location of the turbines.

7.1.2.1. Contingency Plan against Pasture or Brush Fires.

o Within operation and maintenance procedures, the immediate area around the wind turbines will be kept clear.

o Firefighting equipment shall be kept in operation and maintenance facilities.

o Crews should receive training on proper procedures, and the community shall be involved by forming preventive committees with the support of the company.

o Firefighting equipment will be kept near welding or other activities that imply greater risk.

o Flammable materials will be stored and used in strict adherence to its MSDS label.

o Warning signs will be posted and employees will be reminded of the proper basic procedures in case of an emergency.

o An inspection by the Fire Department will be requested for the proper evaluation of the facilities.


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7.1.2.2. Preventive Maintenance Plan to avoid Tower Blade or Mechanical Equipment Throws. Because a turbine blade could detach due to design flaws, poor manufacturing, incorrect installation, wind gusts that exceed design capabilities, impact with cranes or towers, or lightning strikes, the following measures are used:

Design flaws Design certification, simulation efforts, and laboratory tests on equipment components. Regular inspections will be conducted in accordance with the preventive maintenance program recommended by the manufacturer.

Deficient production Manufacturing quality control systems, independent certifications, equipment testing before shipment, equipment acceptance testing on site. Regular inspections will be conducted in accordance with the preventive maintenance program recommended by the manufacturer.

Incorrect installation Use of installation manuals prepared by the manufacturer, the use of contractors approved by the manufacturer and supervision of said contractors over the installation. Independent verification, acceptance testing. Regular inspections will be conducted in accordance with the preventive maintenance program recommended by the manufacturer.

Winds that exceed design capacity

Wind conditions of the site will be monitored, alarms and automatic braking systems, periodic inspections of and preventive maintenance on components subject to continuous loading. Turbines have an automatic system that puts them out of operation when limits are exceeded, securing the blades in the position of least resistance to the wind.

Impact with the cranes or towers

Safety procedures recommended by the manufacturer for the installation and maintenance of equipment will be followed in order to minimize risk. During crane operations, precautionary measures will be taken in accordance with the established safety procedures (distance, manual brakes and monitoring of weather conditions).

Lightning Turbines have a system of lightning arrestor conductors incorporated in the blades, which carry the discharge to the ground through conductors and ground networks installed for this purpose. The turbine monitoring and control system has vibration sensors and alarms that indicate if there was damage after a strike, and if so that triggers the emergency shutdown procedures of the machine or the required corrective maintenance.

7.1.2.3. Contingency Plan against Hurricane Force Winds.

o The wind turbines are designed to withstand winds of up to 55 m/s, a value which is higher than the upper limit of a class II hurricane according to the Saffir/Simpson scale (50m/s).


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o Since the plant has its own anemometry equipment and constant weather condition monitoring, any weather event of this nature will be detected early and plant staff will be trained to perform the necessary actions.

o In the case of extreme weather events, appropriate measures will be coordinated with the relevant

authorities. The turbine control mechanism will shut off operation automatically when winds are blowing above the acceptable range. Also, the variable pitch mechanism allows brakes to be applied to the rotor using the blades -- even a single functioning blade is sufficient to execute an emergency stop. The design of the turbines will be done in accordance with IEC 61400 standards in terms of safety, and is certified by independent bodies such as Germanischer Lloyd (GL).

7.1.2.4. Restricted Access Warning Signs in Proximity to Wind Turbine Towers.

o All facilities will be properly marked with warning signs.

o The towers themselves do not represent a danger to the immediate surroundings, as they have no exposed electrical components. Where appropriate, use of adequate signs and physical barriers to protect people's lives will be implemented, such as in the case of the electric substation, where a mesh perimeter fence and security indications are used in accordance with the NESC and NEC standards. In terms of safety procedures, industry specific best practices will be followed when performing equipment operations or maintenance.

7.1.2.5. Airplane or Bird Collisions. The towers are tall structures that are easily seen from land, though not as easily seen from the air, especially in bad weather conditions.

o The company has already established communication with the Civil Aviation Directorate General of the Ministry of Public Works and Transport on the possible restrictions to the implementation of the project. For this reason, the meteorological towers already installed have the favorable ruling of the aforementioned Directorate. Likewise, a study was done on the location of the installations near the area of approach and descent to runway 02 of the International Airport Toncontín (See Annex No. 7), and no impediment was found. In similar projects in Costa Rica, it has been required that the towers are painted with equal bands of red and white color, or that the necessary prevention mechanisms are incorporated in the electrical installations similar to those used by banana plantations for the service of fumigation pilots.

o In regard to the layout of the project in the municipalities of San Buenaventura and Santa Ana, the

area is not a route for migratory birds, and thus the possible collision of birds is considered not to affect the development of the project.

7.1.2.6. Electromagnetic Interference Contingency Plan.

o The turbine blades could produce interference with radio waves in the towns located near the towers, most of all because of the "shadow" effect that the blades would produce over the airwaves. Considering the way in which these waves propagate in different bands throughout the country, one can infer that if there is interference then it would be in a very restricted area around the towers.


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o The control and security equipment is linked to the turbines through fiber optics, which minimizes the impact of electromagnetic interference on the control system. The turbines have automatic and manual safety mechanisms that can be activated in case of communication failures. The harmonic current emissions are within the limit permitted by the IEEE 566 standard, and the electromagnetic fields are within the existing parameters. Two high voltage 230kV transmission lines belonging to ENEE pass through the project site already. The voltages present in the plant will all be lower than those already present in the existing lines.

7.2. Occupational Safety. Public health and safety risks associated with conventional electricity generating plants are typically connected with the emission of gases into the atmosphere and with the solid and liquid waste that is spewed into the ground or water. Any of this waste causes adverse impacts on public health, or poses risks to workers. Wind farms differ substantially from other electrical facilities given that they have no combustion processes and do not produce emissions. Moreover, the only potentially toxic or hazardous materials associated with the majority of wind farms are the relatively small quantities of lubricating oils, hydraulic fluids and insulation used in the turbines. Nonetheless, even small leaks of these materials can contaminate the groundwater or produce impacts on the local habitat if the leak is not controlled over a long period of time. Among the accidents that can pose a security issue is the incidence of a turbine blade, or parts of it, separating from the rotor and flying off with the wind. Also, blades can detach without breaking. Such events are rare and usually occur under unexpected and unprecedented wind conditions. Although the majority of wind projects are located in rural areas, many are visible from public roads and are relatively accessible to the public. Since the technology and equipment associated with wind generation of electricity are still new and unusual, they can be an attraction for those people who pass by the farms and want to see and touch an operating or idle wind turbine. Members of the public who will visit these facilities are susceptible to harm from the movement of the blades, the breakage and flying off of parts, the electrical equipment and the collapse or fall of the turbines. Arid locations where wind farms can be installed with high wind speeds, a low level of vegetation and no trees, and with variable topography, can also pose a potential fire hazard during the dry months of the year for various reasons, most of which are related to non-compliance of maintenance programs. Noise. Modern wind turbines are fairly quiet and will be made even quieter in the future. When planning a wind farm, special care must be given to any sound which can be heard from outside of neighboring houses. Inside of the houses, the level of sound will be much lower, even with the windows open. The potential effect of noise is usually evaluated by estimating the noise level that will be reached when the wind blows from the turbines towards the houses, which is considered a conservative assumption. The sound of wind turbines slightly increases with wind speed.


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Ten years ago, wind turbines were much noisier than the ones in use today. Much work has been put into creating this generation of turbines as silent machines, as much through the design of the blades as of the mechanical parts of the machine. Safety Mechanisms.

Staff who work during the construction phase of the project and in subsequent maintenance work should have safety devices that include personal and crew safety equipment. The construction company and the company responsible for the maintenance work thereafter must also have first aid kits available. The company that runs the construction works shall be responsible for providing staff with the following safety features:

Personal Safety Equipment: 1. Hard-hat, which is also used to identify employees as follows: White (Engineers),

Green / Blue (Managers of groups or crews), Yellow (Workers), Red (Safety Inspectors).

2. Protective goggles (where applicable). 3. Dust masks (where applicable). 4. Back support harness. 5. Safety belts. 6. Boots with steel protection. 7. Welding coats and aprons. 8. Gloves. 9. Ear plugs (in areas where applicable).

Crew Safety Equipment:

1. First aid kit (supplies and medicines). 2. Staff trained in first aid. 3. Vehicle available for mobilization of accident victims. 4. Radio communication equipment.

Construction Company Safety Equipment:

1. Stretchers to transport injured victims. 2. Stretcher harness for the evacuation of injured victims. 3. Vehicles available for transport in case of emergencies. 4. Radio communication equipment. 5. Guaranteed access to an ambulance system. 6. Medical and accident insurance.

Cleanliness and Order. In order to reduce the risk of accidents, it is essential to maintain order and cleanliness in all work areas. For this reason, the project site will include a series of rules to follow to maintain order and cleanliness at all times. Here are the rules and parameters to follow:


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Throw away garbage in the right place. Store tools and materials in pre-designated and well protected places. At the end of the day, collect garbage in your work area and put it in the trash can. At the end of the day, leave your work area neat and tidy.


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VIII. Environmental Indicators. All projects have an economic, social and ecological impact. Some of these effects are negative, but in well-designed projects, most are positive. In the case of negative impacts, these may be permanent or temporary, and depending on their magnitude, can be significant or insignificant. Currently there are methods, included in this environmental assessment, for analyzing the possible impacts of a project and for providing solutions to significant impacts through mitigation measures. Most important is to balance the increasing demands of our society, which in this case refers to providing a continuous supply of energy, and likewise, to balance out natural resources depletion and environmental pollution. Wind energy has many positive environmental aspects. It is clean, renewable and a means of sustainable generation. Some environmental impacts of wind energy are visual and landscape factors, noise and electromagnetic interference. While none of these effects last longer than the operational lifespan of the plant, they are generally just as significant as the ecological impact in terms of shaping public opinion and determining whether or not a proposed wind plant installation will get development permission. Ecological effects in this context cover all of the material effects on flora and fauna. 8.1. Positive Impacts (General Description). Among the main impacts of a wind plant installation are:

The advantage of wind energy is that it generates electricity without producing pollutants associated with fossil fuels and nuclear power, including the most significant greenhouse gas, carbon dioxide.

Taking into consideration that a 10MW wind farm avoids the annual generation of 28,480 tons of CO2, the greenhouse gas fueling climate change, then the Cerro de Hula wind farm at its maximum installed capacity (106.5MW) could avoid emitting an estimated 303,312 tons of CO2 which would have been emitted to the atmosphere if they had been generated by fossil fuels.

There will be no major impact on access routes, though these routes could be improved where necessary in order to secure the transport of project equipment.

Production of clean energy through wind, which boosts social and economic development of the area.

Improvements to the quality of life of the population served by the plant, through the generation of jobs.

Increased local and international tourism to the first wind plant in the country and the largest in Central America.

Introduction of clean technology to area residents and to the country. Does not change current land use and is compatible with other currently productive activities,

such as cattle grazing, the cultivation of corn and other small crops.


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There is no impact on soil erosion. The project does not cause any impact that could change cultural values in the area. The wind energy plant will produce a favorable added value to the landscape with the addition of

turbines. The area's original landscape has been previously directly altered by various human activities

that are currently being developed (antennas and others). Throughout the different stages of the project, local workforce native to the area will be

employed. 8.2. Aspects that affect Human Perception or Behavior. 8.2.1. Land Use. While wind farms require large areas for their installation, they effectively only use a small portion of land (less than 10%); for example, a 50MW plant can occupy an area of 6.07 km2, but the area needed to install the equipment will be 0.7 to 0.75 km2, leaving the rest of the area available and compatible with other productive activities used by humans. Moreover, wind farms are generally located in previously undeveloped rural or remote areas. These factors have unique environmental implications for land use, visual impact, noise, biology and socio-cultural considerations in general, all different from conventional power plants. About 99% of the area used to install a wind farm is physically available to be used for other purposes, including the use that it had before the installation. Among these, the land can be used for agriculture or livestock. Prior land use will not be significantly altered or displaced as a result of the establishment of the wind farm, as pre-existing rural activities will be able to integrate with wind power generation. 8.2.2. Visual Effect. Wind farms must be in open areas in order to be commercially viable, and they are therefore visible. The reaction to the sight of a wind farm is highly subjective. Many people see them as a welcome symbol of a clean source of energy, while others see them as an unwelcome addition to the landscape.

The wind industry has put considerable effort into the careful integration of wind farms with the landscape. Computer-created photomontages, animations and even panoramic views, along with zonal maps of the visual influence, all provide objective predictions of the appearance of a wind farm. A 1.5MW wind turbine looks slightly different from a 500kW machine, so the tendency to have more powerful machines,

paradoxically, reduces the subjective visual effect at a given installed capacity.

Cattle grazing on wind farm Corn cultivation adjacent to wind turbine


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Most turbines are currently installed on slender tubular steel towers, which for most people are more aesthetically pleasing than the classic high-voltage line railing towers (known as lattice towers). Professional designers are employed by many companies to improve the appearance of their machines and in many cases landscape architects are involved in the visual assessment of projects. There is no significant impact to the local landscape after the establishment of the wind turbine towers, since said area is not considered to have scenic value as a tourist attraction.

8.2.3. Sound Effect.

The impact due to noise generated by wind turbines has been studied in many countries, especially in detail in the United States, and it has been concluded that the real noise produced is not significantly higher than the sound of the wind itself passing through a moving object. There is only significant mechanical noise, therefore the primary source of sound is aerodynamic in nature as the wind passes over the blades of the wind turbine. Considering the project is not located near densely populated areas, there will be no significant adverse impact on the human environment at all. The resulting measured sound level for a single turbine on a reflective terrestrial surface at the standard distance is 57.9 dBA for a Model 1.5SLE wind turbine. For purposes of comparison, 57.9 dBA is far below other sounds that are common to the surrounding area. These noises include vehicular traffic (60-75 dBA). The turbine sound level would be more comparable to the sounds of children playing (50-60 dBA) or to the sounds of typical household appliances. Note however that sound levels are measured at a distance of only 100 meters. Therefore it is anticipated that the sound will not be distinguishable from a nearby house or meeting place. These sonic effects, because of their magnitude, have no impact on wildlife and thus are not considered important. Ten years ago, wind turbines were much noisier than the models we see today. Much effort has been put into creating this generation of turbines as silent machines, as much through the design of the blades as of the mechanical parts of the machine. 8.3. Negative Impacts (General Description).

- During the construction phase, negative impacts are related to biophysical aspects in the immediate project area.

- The quality of the environment will be altered by activities related to the use of machinery, transport, loading and unloading materials, and storage of construction materials.

- Other negative impacts include contamination from dust emissions, increased noise levels by

machinery, and poor management of solid waste produced by employees or other persons. While these impacts are considered low impact and temporary, they are negative for the quality of the environment. Once in the operation phase, the use of machinery will decrease considerably, as well as the amount of solid waste as a result of reducing the number of project staff.


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8.4. Construction Phase. 8.4.1. Liquid Waste. During the construction and assembly phase, there are mainly three sources of waste generation:

1. Gray and black water, which proportionally depend on the number of people employed during the construction stage. Using the following criterion of the volume of wastewater generated, if 150 liters is generated per person per day, equivalent to 40 gallons, and the number of working people is 260 people, then the total volume of wastewater generated is 10,400 gallons per day. Generally, black water is turbid wastewater containing solid material in suspension. When fresh, its color is gray and it has a mold-like smell that is not unpleasant. Varying amounts of material float in this water: fecal substances, food scraps, garbage, toilet paper, sticks and other waste. Over time, the color gradually changes from gray to black, developing an offensive and unpleasant odor, and black solids float on the surface or in all of the liquid. In this case, the black water is called septic sewage.

2. Lubricating oils for rotating machinery and equipment used during construction. Given the far

distance to urban area servicing workshops, special precautions must be taken in order to avoid contamination from oil spills in the event that oil changes need to be made or oil levels need to be adjusted at the work site. Engaging in on-site oil maintenance work should be avoided as much as possible.

3. Water with sediments as a byproduct of the production of concrete mixtures. The generation of this

waste is likely to occur, and special barriers must be in place that allow its sedimentation before leaving natural runoff at the site.

8.4.2. Solid Waste. During the construction phase, solid waste generation is expected from two sources:

- From the working population (domestic origin) - From construction materials and activities

From the working population (domestic origin) For construction and assembly activities, an estimated population of 260 workers is needed, including direct and indirect jobs. Considering that construction staff work 8 hours a day and that the production of domestic waste per person is 1 kg per day, it is believed that the production of domestic waste will be 260 kg per day, equivalent to 572 pounds. Due to the project location and its remoteness in relation to rural or urban areas with lodging services, it is necessary to set up camps to house workers. The lodging of this population incurs waste generation that can be categorized as domestic, such as:

- Paper - Cardboard - Plastic wrapping - Food waste - Plastic bottles


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For the collection of this domestic waste, properly labeled receptacles or trash cans will be available in all areas of the project, with the purpose of encouraging recycling of this waste. The trash receptacles must have sealed lids in order to prevent the generation of bad odors and to also avoid access to rodents. These receptacles will be taken to a specific site for temporary storage, from which their transfer to the landfill will either be by the municipal garbage collector or a private truck hired for this purpose.

From construction materials and activities

Construction activities involve the use of a variety of materials, which in turn generate waste or scrap, such as:

- Concrete mixture waste - Aggregate waste (gravel, sand, rocks) - Rods used for welding - Paper bags - Plastic wrapping - Cardboard packaging - Cut pieces of metal (plates, wires, etc.) - PVC material - Receptacles that have contained diverse products - Form wood

In order to prevent possible contamination of the original conditions of the site, this type of waste should be separated from the domestic waste, and should be recycled or reused where possible. The temporary dump site should be set with the appropriate controls.

8.4.3. Atmospheric Emissions. a. Particulate Matter Emissions. Vehicle Transit on Unpaved Roads. Particulate matter emissions always occur whenever vehicles travel on unpaved roads or land. Dust plumes are left floating behind vehicles, as the force of the wheels on the ground surface causes pulverization of surface material. Particles are lifted and fall from the moving wheels, and the ground surface is exposed to strong air currents in a turbulent cut with the surface. The turbulence left behind the vehicle continues along the surface once the vehicle has passed.

Emissions related to vehicular traffic on unpaved roads or land are designated as particulate matter (PM), and include particles smaller than 10 microns in aerodynamic diameter (PM-10) and particulate matter smaller than 2.5 microns in aerodynamic diameter (PM-2.5). The amount of dust emissions produced from a segment of unpaved road varies linearly with the volume of traffic. Further field investigations have shown that the emissions depend on correction parameters that characterize:


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a) The particular condition of the road or ground b) The associated vehicular traffic c) Number of vehicles d) Characteristics of the vehicles (weight of the vehicle) e) Speed of traffic f) The properties of the road surface material to be disturbed (silt content, moisture content) g) Weather conditions (frequency and amount of precipitation)

Dust emissions from unpaved roads vary directly with the amount of silt in the ground surface material. Silt consists of particles smaller than 75 µm in diameter.

b. Vehicle Emissions.

During the construction phase of the project, it is anticipated that there will be a degree of air pollution contributed by gases from zonal sources derived from both light vehicle traffic and heavy rolling equipment, since vehicles generate gases such as nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, water vapor, and volatile hydrocarbons. Of these gases, mainly CO2 and NOx emissions cause the greenhouse effect, and SO2 causes acid rain.

The contribution of vehicular emissions to air pollution in this sense, because of the magnitude of the construction works of the project, is moderate. However, its incidence is related to effects on occupational health and to a lesser extent to the natural environment, which has already been anthropogenically affected. Examples of human health effects include eye irritation, headaches and difficulties breathing. In relation to vegetation, these effects can cause abnormal growth, discoloration and mottling of leaves, and death. The concentration of vehicles on the project site is critical, and is proportional to the magnitude of the impact of gaseous emissions, although the magnitude of the impact is also related to the vehicle type, fuel used, and number of passengers. The direct and indirect impact is also determined by ambient temperature, vehicle speed, and weather conditions at the site. It has been estimated that about 87 trips will need to be made in order to transport the components of the wind turbine towers, leading to increased vehicular traffic in the area. The number of transport units to be used cannot yet be determined, as it will depend on the availability of the carriers at the time.


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Below is a table of emission factors for certain types of vehicles.

Transport Mode Carbon dioxide (lb/passenger-

mile)

(grams/passenger-mile)

Organic compounds

Carbon monoxide

Nitrogen oxides

Sulfur dioxide

Truck (gasoline): - Single occupancy - Average occupancy Car: - Single occupancy - Average occupancy Vehicle ride share: - 3 person car pool - 4 person car pool - 9 person van pool Bus (diesel): Transit

1.55 0.81 1.12 0.68 0.37 0.28 0.17 0.39

3.20 1.68 2.57 1.51 0.86 0.64 0.36 0.25

27.46 14.45 20.36 11.98 6.79 5.09 3.05 1.21

2.05 1.08 1.61 0.95 0.54 0.40 0.23 1.82

0.23 0.12 0.14 0.08 0.05 0.03 0.03 n/a

Source: World Resources Institute, 1992, page 70.

Another important factor to consider in regard to the vehicles used is the fuel that is used, as this is directly related to the concentration of pollutants produced by gasoline and diesel engines that largely contribute to air pollution. Pollutants produced by vehicles are formed at ground level, and in this case there is no smokestack that helps disperse the pollutants, such as what happens at factories. Below is a table showing the different concentrations of gases emitted in the vehicular emissions of diesel and gasoline engines:

Contaminant

Gasoline

Diesel

Suspended particles Sulfur dioxide (SO2) Nitrogen oxides (NOx) Volatile hydrocarbons (HC) Carbon monoxide (CO)

0.1 g/m3

25 ppm

1200 ppm

150 ppm

3%

0.01 g/m3

400 ppm

200 ppm

20 ppm

_____

8.4.4. Noise and Vibrations. Noise from construction activities is an important issue in a community. This importance, and subsequently its impact, is greater on nearby towns that develop activities without any connection to the construction activities (e.g., residents of the area, workers, etc.). Among the important factors in determining the sound


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levels that could potentially impact a population include the distance from the sound source, whether natural or anthropogenic barriers exist between the source and the affected population in this particular case, and the scale and intensity of the construction phase in particular (blasting, excavation, heavy equipment, lifting and finishing). There are two types of noise emissions: 1) impact noise, which is noise of short duration and high intensity, such as the blasting explosions in stone quarries, and 2) continuous noise, which is noise of longer duration and lower intensity, such as that of construction or of traffic from heavy rolling equipment. Construction activities generally cause noise levels exceeding those that typically appear at the project location, which in this case will be higher for the personnel working on the construction of the project. Construction noise varies with the particular operation being done. These operations can be divided into five consecutive phases:

1. Land clearance work, including demolition and removal of structures, trees and rocks. 2. Excavation. 3. Laying foundations, including reconditioning old cement beds and compacting trenches. 4. Lifting, including of structures, wall placement, floors, windows and pipe installations. 5. Finishing, including filling, paving and cleaning.

The noise of each activity is generated by the construction equipment used, as well as by the vehicles used for handling, loading and shipment of materials or wastes. The health of personnel may be affected by occasional noise caused by the movement of vehicles and machinery at the project site, according to the specific activity that is being done. Below is a table which shows that the noise levels produced by operating vehicles are a function of the speed of the vehicles.

Noise potential of individual vehicles as a function of their speed (Wyle Laboratories, 1971) From the Book: Environmental Impact Assessment Manual, by Larry W. Canter.

Leve

l of A

-wei

ghte

d no

ise,

at 5

0 fe

et (

15m

), d

B

Speed, meters / hour

Heavy trucks

Buses

Vans Range

Passenger

automobiles

Average levels


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Also, considering the concentration of heavy vehicles at both the site under construction and along the routes used, it is important to take appropriate measures that do not permit the concentration of too many loaded vehicles in one place. The following chart can be used as a reference, showing the noise levels produced at a certain distance from a reference point in relation to the number of heavy vehicles that can circulate. It can be said that the noise impacts in this regard are minimal or almost nil with respect to populations near the construction site.

Construction noise varies depending on the activity being done. The following table presents information on noise levels observed at 15 meters distance from various types of construction equipment. These levels range from 72 to 96 dBA for earthmoving equipment, from 75 to 88 dBA for material handling equipment, and from 68 to 87 dBA for fixed equipment.

Heavy trucks

Effective distance, ft

UNACCEPTABLE

ACCEPTABLE

Ave

rag

e d

aily

vo

lum

e o

f h

eavy

tru

cks,

veh

icle

s / 2

4 h


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Construction Equipment Noise Intervals.

Noise level from 50 feet (15 m), dBA

60 70 80 90 100 101

E

quip

men

t with

inte

rnal

com

bust

ion

engi

nes

Ear

th

Mo

vem

ent

Compactor (rolling)

Front loader

Rear shovel

Tractors

Scrapers, grades

Pavers

Trucks

Mat

eria

ls

Han

dlin

g Cement mixers

Concrete pumps Cranes, mobiles Cranes, towers

F

ixed

Pumps Generators

Compressors

Impa

ct

Equ

ipm

ent

Pneumatic keys Hammers and

friction drills Drop hammers,

picks

Oth

ers

Vibrator Saws

From the Book: Environmental Impact Assessment Manual, by Larry W. Canter.

The environmental impact related to the issue of noise during site preparation and construction is temporary and will mainly have an impact on the local fauna, as it will drive away and displace them. This adverse effect will be reversed once human activities and presence on the site have ceased. 8.4.5. Biotic Environment. The construction and equipment assembly activities are of temporary duration, and though the environmental aspects of dust and occasional noise have effects that cause local wildlife to be scared away, as these activities pass, wildlife will return back to the site.


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8.5. Operation Phase. 8.5.1. Liquid Waste. During the operation phase of the wind project, the characterization of liquid waste is listed as follows:

1. Liquid waste originating from the cleaning services of the control building and offices, disposed of via septic systems, since its remoteness from an established rural or urban area does not allow its connection to the sewage systems. It is estimated that the liquid waste generated during the operation phase will be 2,400 gallons, considering 60 people hired for this phase.

2. For wind turbine component and equipment maintenance activities, lubricating oils and greases of

various types will be used, as well as chemical cleaning products. Care should be taken to avoid the domestic garbage disposal of waste from oil and grease changes that have the potential to contaminate the soil and surface water, in order to prevent as much as possible these side effects from having negative effects on organisms and ecosystems. These wastes should be put in suitable containers and sent to the product supplier or be collected by an authorized company for the management, treatment and disposal of hazardous waste.

8.5.2. Solid Waste. During the operation phase, two solid waste generation sources can be anticipated: Domestic and Office Waste

The approximate volume of domestic solid waste in the operational phase will be 132 pounds, considering a population of 60 workers. Common domestic wastes are:

- Packaging paper - Packaging cardboard - Plastic casings - PET containers - Waste paper - Food waste

A suitable waste management program will prevent domestic waste from having any negative impact on issues of order, cleanliness and work hygiene.

Turbine Shop Waste

Among them being:

- Greased rags - Receptacles that have contained oil and lubricating grease - Receptacles that have contained chemical cleaning products - Scrap composed of replacement metal pieces

The proper handling and separating of turbine shop waste from domestic waste, as well as its subsequent management for recycling or reuse, is necessary in order to avoid contamination of materials in the environment, as well as to avoid the disposal of this waste in the municipal dump.


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8.5.3. Atmospheric Emissions. Global warming as a result of anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases is a generally accepted fact. Each unit (kWh) of electricity produced from wind turbines can displace one unit of electricity generated by a hydrocarbon-burning power plant. It is possible to calculate the quantity of contaminating gases that this replacement signifies in generic form, although this value varies according to the efficiency of the power station, the use of emission-reduction equipment, and the type of fuel. Electricity generation through wind power offers one of the most economic energy options among the new sources of renewable energy in reducing the emission of CO2 and other greenhouse gases. Taking into consideration that a 10MW wind farm avoids the equivalent annual generation of 28,480 tons of CO2, the main greenhouse gas fueling climate change, the Cerro de Hula wind farm at its maximum installed capacity (106.5MW) could avoid emitting an estimated 303,312 tons of CO2 that would otherwise be emitted into the atmosphere if they had been generated by fossil fuels. Wind energy does not generate acid rain, an environmental problem that has zonal or regional impacts and is associated with the generation of NOx and SO2. Below is a table comparing the impacts of various technologies used to generate electricity: COMPARISON OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF THE DIFFERENT FORMS OF PRODUCING ELECTRICITY

(in Tons per GWh produced):

SOURCE OF ENERGY

CO2 NO2 SO2 Particulates CO Hydrocarbons Nuclear Waste

TOTAL

Coal 1,058.2 2.986 2.971 1.626 0.267 0.102 - 1,066.1

Natural Gas (combined cycle)

824 0.251 0.336 1.176 TR TR - 825.8

Nuclear 8.6 0.034 0.029 0.003 0.018 0.001 3.641 12.3

Photovoltaic 5.9 0.008 0.023 0.017 0.003 0.002 - 5.9

Biomass 0 0.614 0.154 0.512 11.361 0.768 - 13.4

Geothermal 56.8 TR TR TR TR TR - 56.8

Wind 7.4 TR TR TR TR TR - 7.4

Solar Thermal 3.6 TR TR TR TR TR - 3.6

Hydro 6.6 TR TR TR TR TR - 6.6 Source: US Department of Energy, Council for Renewable Energy Education and AEDENAT. TR = traces. NOTE: The emissions values also consider those emitted by equipment used during the construction period.

8.5.4. Noise and Vibrations. During the operation phase, noise is generated by the wind turbines. The noise level reached is estimated to be 57 dBA. The manufacturer's specifications should be followed in terms of noise levels produced by the different machines installed during operation. The actual noise levels should be verified by means of noise audits, in order to determine risks in areas where the machines are located and to post warning signs requiring the use of ear protectors that mitigate the noise impact to which workers are exposed.


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The following table relates the level of noise generated to the maximum permitted exposure time:

* The maximum value of 115 dBA is considered the maximum exposure limit – the workers may not be exposed to higher levels of continuous noise.

8.5.5. Biotic Environment. During the operation of the turbines, a likely adverse effect would be during times of bird migration through the area. It is unknown whether this effect will be adverse directly on site, as no bird migration route has been registered at the site of the project.

Other biological resources include a wide variety of plants and animals that live, use or pass through a given area. They are also part of the habitat containing physical components such as soil and water and the biological components that sustain life. These components range from bacteria and fungi to the predators at the top of the food chain. Any construction project can affect the biological resources of the place where they are located, deteriorating the physical and ecological balance of the communities that live there. A wind plant can have direct effects on habitat destruction and on some of the organisms found in that habitat, as well as indirect effects from generating pollutants that affect the health of organisms or from the production of noises or movements that affect the behavior of animals. These effects can be confined to a small area of the plant, where the impacts are most acute, or can be scattered over a larger area. Some studies have shown that birds and other animals tend to avoid nesting or hunting in the vicinity of wind turbines. In addition, activities such as road building or tree cutting may destroy or alter the habitat and allow the entry of unwanted species. 8.5.6. Electromagnetic Interference. Radio waves and microwaves are used for a variety of communication purposes. Any large, moving structure can cause electromagnetic interference (EMI). Wind turbines can cause EMI due to reflection of the signal by the rotor blades, and thus a nearby receptor can capture direct and reflected signals. The interference occurs because the reflected signal is delayed due to the difference in the length of the traveling path and a Doppler shift due to movement of the blades. The EMI is more severe for metal blades, which are highly reflective, and less for wooden blades, which are highly absorbent. The more modern blades of reinforced plastic with glass fiber are partially transparent to electromagnetic waves and therefore have an intermediate effect on EMI.

Permitted Exposure Time by Work Shift (Hours)

Average Sound Pressure Level measured to Scale (Decibels)

8 85

4 90

2 95

1 100

0.50 105

0.25 110

0.13 115


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Typical military and civilian communication signals that can be affected by EMI include TV and radio stations, microwave and cellular telephone communications, and various signals of air traffic navigation and control systems. When designing a wind farm, the problems that affect microwave systems and aviation communications are considered important and should be eliminated. Interference with a small number of domestic television receivers is an occasional problem, but it is correctable using relatively inexpensive techniques, such as the use of transmitters and/or more directional receivers. Experience has shown that careful design of a wind farm can eliminate any disturbance to the telecommunications system. 8.5.7. Public Health and Safety. Public health and safety risks associated with conventional electricity generating plants are typically linked with the emission of gases into the atmosphere and with the solid and liquid wastes that are spewed into the ground or water. Any of these wastes cause adverse impacts to the health of the general population, or pose risks to the workers. As mentioned previously, wind farms differ substantially from other electrical facilities due to the fact that they have no combustion processes and do not produce emissions. Moreover, the only potentially toxic or hazardous materials associated with the majority of wind farms are the relatively small quantities of lubricating oils, hydraulic fluids and insulation used in the turbines. However, it must be remembered that even small leaks of these materials can contaminate the groundwater or produce adverse impacts on habitat if the leaks are not controlled over a long time period. Among the accidents that can pose a safety issue is the incidence of a turbine blade, or parts of it, separating from the rotor and flying off with the wind. Also, the blades can detach without breaking. Such events are rare and usually occur under unexpected and unprecedented wind conditions. Although the majority of wind projects are located in rural areas, many are visible from public roads and are relatively accessible to the public. Since the technology and equipment associated with wind generation of electricity are still new and unusual, they can be an attraction for those people who pass by the farms and want to see and touch an operating or idle wind turbine. The members of the public who will visit these facilities are susceptible to harm from the movement of the blades, the breakage and flying off of parts, the electrical equipment and the collapse or fall of the turbines. Arid locations where wind farms can be installed with high wind speeds, low levels of vegetation and no trees, and with variable topography, can also pose a potential fire hazard during the dry months of the year for various reasons, most of which are related to non-compliance of maintenance programs. As with many industrial activities, there is the potential for injury or loss of life of those individuals who work with electricity generators. There are no statistics to indicate whether work on wind farms is more or less dangerous than that at other plants. However, several people have been killed while working at heights, and some from pieces of ice falling from the towers.


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8.5.8. Archaeological and Paleontological Resources. Any project that includes clearing vegetation, disturbing the surface of the land or excavation has the potential to affect archaeological or paleontological resources that may be present in the area. Archaeological or cultural resources are structural evidence of the history of human development. This includes prehistoric and historic resources, as well as ethnographic resources that constitute the heritage of a particular cultural group. They are also associated with certain cultural and natural traits of a place, and with plants or species used for traditional purposes, or to trace the physical mark of the environment. Paleontological resources are the fossilized remains or traces of evidence of prehistoric plants and animals or even ancient human remains preserved in soils or rocks. The installation of a wind farm, because of its size and requirements, could affect these resources and thus it is required to have prior information recognized by the Institute of Anthropology and History of Honduras (IAH) before beginning any work in the area, in order to identify and avoid interfering with these resources.


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IX. Environmental Control Activities. 9.1. Suggested Mitigation Measures. 9.1.1. Construction Phase.

Physical Environment.

1. The organic soil layer that is removed when clearing the area shall be accumulated at a site within the same project area in order to be used for revegetation activities, as this organic layer will facilitate the natural processes of recovery.

2. Excavation activities, or bulldozing for both the preparation of site land and for the construction of new access roads, will have impacts on the air due to occasional suspension of particulate matter as well as due to the loading and unloading of material. Preventive measures with respect to occupational health and safety should be referred to in the Health and Safety Manual, which must be contractually understood by the Contractor and supervised by the Contracting Company.

3. The impacts of suspended particulate matter pose potential risks to occupational health during the transit of heavy vehicles. These impacts can be mitigated by implementing routine water sprinkler irrigation through tank trucks, taking care not to generate unwanted runoff.

4. In the case that cutting trees is required, the appropriate authority, UMA, AFE-COHDEFOR, should

be notified in order to apply for the necessary permits.

Road Expansion.

1. Select a suitable route based on the best balance between available data on the terrain, engineering and environmental and socioeconomic aspects of the project.

2. Slopes (where applicable) must be stabilized and eventually refortified in order to prevent any risk of landslides or erosion.

3. In mountainous areas, the construction of ditches is mandatory in order to prevent soil erosion.

4. Mark the sections of highway under construction.

5. Mark the roads to be used.

6. Post speed limit signs.

Camp Establishment.

1. The camps to be established on a temporary or semi-permanent basis, of lightweight construction or easily disassembled, and that are of no future use to the company, must be dismantled as soon as possible so that the area can return back to its natural state as much as possible. General site clean-up must be done, completely removing all existing solid waste, including materials made of cement, wood, scrap metal, glass, etc., which have accumulated from previous years.


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2. Similarly, once the land where the camp was established has been entirely cleared, the environment, in terms of flora, must be restored, or more specifically reforested.

Transmission and Collection Lines.

1. Identify an appropriate site for the disposal of waste generated during construction activities and

pole installation, or dispose of these materials at sites approved by the corresponding municipalities.

2. Properly dispose of vegetative material removed during clean-up work of the collection and transmission lines.

3. Maintain the demarcated servitude area where the poles and overhead electrical power cables are located.

4. Mark each post with notices warning of imminent danger from high voltage, indicating the voltage (volts) that pass through the cables.

Solid Waste.

1. During project construction, construction materials and waste should be transported by covered trucks in order to prevent particles from escaping into the atmosphere. Construction waste should be disposed of at sites authorized by the Municipal Department of Solid Waste.

2. Manage the correct disposal of domestic waste that could occur in the project area, supplying

receptacles and trash bins, in addition to managing the proper collection of said waste by a public or private garbage truck.

3. During the development of the project, avoid the accumulation of construction debris and solid waste in berms, sources of water or any other site that is not authorized by the Municipal Department of Solid Waste.

4. The request for domestic trash collection service should be made to the Municipal Department of Solid Waste; in the event that the public utility cannot cover this service, then adequate garbage collection and disposal should be executed by means of a private service.

5. Implement a waste management program that includes solid and liquid waste on an internal project scale, and with activities including the correct classification, separation, recycling, reuse and final disposal of the waste generated during the project construction and assembly phase.

6. Any remaining debris from metallic frames should be separated for recycling on behalf of the Contractor.

7. Any electrical installation debris, such as cables, pipelines and others, should be separated for recycling, avoiding being mixed with the domestic trash that goes to the municipal dump.

8. Raise awareness of and inform the Contractor to sort construction waste by type, and to dispose of

each type in the location or container that has been identified and earmarked for temporary disposal, prior to final disposal or recycling. Be careful not to throw trash outside of the trash bins located in the different work areas.


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9. Avoid at all costs burning waste in open pits on the project site and surrounding areas. Human Resources and Equipment.

1. Prepare a place specially equipped for employee food consumption in the case that employees bring food to the construction and assembly site.

2. Personnel working on and carrying out different construction and assembly activities will use the

respective personal safety equipment, such as a hardhat, gloves, protective goggles, work boots, and face mask.

3. Have a first-aid kit in the project area for attending to any accident that could occur.

4. Personnel working during the construction phase should have water available for human

consumption, in compliance with the parameters established in the Technical Norm for the Quality of Potable Water (Decree No. 084 of the 31st of July, 1995) published in The Gazette, on October 04, 1995.

5. Install portable latrines for the disposal of waste generated by the workers, to which periodic

maintenance and disinfection should be given. The number of latrines installed will be in relation to the number of employees hired – there should be one latrine per every ten (10) workers.

6. The entrance to the project will be clearly marked in order to avoid traffic accidents during the

construction phase.

7. Restricted areas of the project and precaution notices will be clearly marked and posted, as will the routes where vehicles and people can pass.

8. The Construction Company will implement a contingencies and safety plan applicable to the

project being developed, including employee safety equipment, accident prevention, and first aid, among others.

9. During construction and assembly of the project, only machinery in good condition will be utilized

in order to avoid generating contaminating gases and to reduce the generation of noise.

10. The Contractor should have a preventive maintenance program in order to ensure that the service machinery auxiliary equipment is functioning properly, and to guarantee the safety of the workers and the operators of said machines.

11. Avoid changing the oil and lubricating grease of heavy and mobile equipment on the project site,

as it should be the responsibility of the Contractor to ensure the compliance of this activity under strict supervision by someone designated to the duty by EEH.

12. During the transport of wind turbine parts, give precise instructions on the correct rules for

securing heavy loads and managing transport units with loads, in order to avoid obstacles on the highway and heavy traffic, requesting the collaboration of the Transit and SOPTRAVI authorities and regulating the speed of said vehicles.


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9.1.2. Operation Phase.

1. A waste management program should be implemented within the company with a scope that includes access road maintenance, substation transformer maintenance, domestic trash management of the administrative offices, and the wind farm land maintenance. The program should be focused on recycling, reuse, and final disposal activities, according to the type of waste.

2. Implement good maintenance practices aimed to prevent conditions that pose any risk, reviewing aspects of occupational safety and the correct use of tools and safety equipment.

3. Receptacles containing transformer oil changes and equipment should be collected and identified in closed bins in a covered space after the maintenance activities have been completed. This applies to lubricating greases as well. The oil and grease generated should be collected by businesses responsible for the collection and safe combustion of such waste in closed oven systems with energy recovery technology (cement ovens).

4. Separate the spare metallic parts, metal scraps and similar items from the domestic trash and send them to companies that recycle metals.

5. Establish a Preventive and Corrective Maintenance Program for the purpose of inspecting the ancillary equipment and the mechanical and electrical components, the instrumentation and control of the wind turbines and the electrical substation, in order to ensure their smooth and available operation, anticipating the failures that could put both the safety of the workers as well as of the equipment at risk.

6. Designate and post signs in areas specifically used for cattle grazing in the wind farm, taking precaution during wind turbine maintenance activities.

7. Establish a Hygiene and Safety Committee focused on supervising the correct use of personal protection equipment during maintenance and inspection activities, as well as of unsafe conditions of the ancillary equipment and tools.

8. Maintain the grass in adequate condition, avoiding the growth of weeds and bushes along the outskirts of the turbine towers, especially in the case of turbines that have no cattle grazing in the surrounding area.

9. Maintain unpaved roads in appropriate conditions in order to avoid the formation of potholes that lead to the development of water pits during the rainy season.

10. Conduct the waste water of project operation and administrative offices through to a sanitary sewer system for its disposal and treatment in the septic tank designed for such purpose.


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9.2. Compensation Measures.

Compensation measures are defined by means of coordination with the municipal environmental authorities of the jurisdiction of the Project and with town associations, taking into account the local needs to which collaboration can be offered. Regarding the aforementioned, there exists prior experience from which to build, given that EEH has collaborated with municipal authorities on support and compensation measures, such as the following:

Municipality of Santa Ana Municipality of San Buenaventura Municipality of Ojojona

- Donation of school equipment

to the Juan Lindo School

- Construction of a classroom at the Rancho Quemado School

- Mayor’s Office donation for access to an internet router and internal connections

- Donation for the Patron

Saint’s Day, Children’s Day, and Mother’s Day

- Support to the legal staff of

the El Cruce Development Association

- Support to the Nueva Arcadia

and Agua Blanca churches

- Support for the electrification of the La Lagunilla community

- Support for reforestation

training

- Support for the electrification of

Montaña de Izopo

- Donation for the Patron Saint’s Day

- Mayor’s Office donation of a

router for electronic communication

- Donation of equipment for field

measurements (GPS)

- Donation of office equipment

- Donation to Hospital San

Juan María Vianneyde Ars


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X. Environmental Consultants Information. MIGUEL ÁNGEL ENAMORADO VALLECILLO Identification No. 1622-1964-00190 License No. 2002-04-1290, CINAH Administrative Agronomist, University of San Pedro Sula, 1995 Consultants Registry SERNA RI-0152-2005 Environmental Analysis and Control in General Themes JORGE ALBERTO DE JESÚS BUESO Identification No. 0501-1971-07461 License No. C-1078, CIMEQ Industrial Chemistry Engineer, National Autonomous University of Honduras, 1995 MELISSA IRÍAS NAVAS Identification No. 0801-1980-01305 License No. 4176 COLPROCAH Environmental Engineer, Catholic University of Honduras Our Lady Queen of Peace, 2002 REGISTRY OF THE COMPANY WITH THE SERNA RE-0004-2002 AMBITEC


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XI. Sworn Statement of the Consultant.

SWORN STATEMENT

I, MIGUEL ÁNGEL ENAMORADO VALLECILLO, Agronomist, Administrator, of full legal age, married,

residing in San Pedro Sula, as General Manager of the company Ambiente y Tecnología, S.A. (AMBITEC) ,

through the present document and under sworn statement, declare that all of the information presented for

the Expansion of the Project Eoloeléctrico Honduras 2000, located in the municipalities of Santa Ana and

San Buenaventura, in the Department of Francisco Morazán; before Secretary of Natural Resources and

Environment (SERNA), is authentic in all of its content.

And for the corresponding legal purposes, issuing the present in the city of San Pedro Sula, Cortés, on the

twenty-second day of the month of September of the year two thousand and eight.

ING. MIGUEL ÁNGEL ENAMORADO V.

General Manager AMBITEC, S.A.


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XII. Certification of Acceptance.

CERTIFICATION OF ACCEPTANCE

I, JAY GALLEGOS, Engineer, of full legal age, married, of American citizenship, with passport #

710202707, residing here, acting as President and Legal Representative of the company named Energía

Eólica de Honduras, does formally accept the Qualitative Environmental Assessment, conducted for the

Expansion of the Project Eoloeléctrico Honduras 2000, which is located in the municipalities of Santa Ana

and San Buenaventura, in the Department of Francisco Morazán, for which I hereby certify that it is of my

consent that the aforementioned can be presented before the Secretary of Natural Resources and

Environment. And for which I sign the present document this twenty-fourth day of the month of September of

the year two thousand and eight.

JAY GALLEGOS President

Energía Eólica de Honduras


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XIII. Consulted Bibliography.

1. Environmental Aspects of Wind Energy, by Jaime A. Moragues and Alfredo T. Rapallini.

2. Sustainable Human Development, Latin American and Caribbean Quarterly Magazine on Sustainable

Development, Nº 6, Year 2004, Vol. # 2, by Marcos Summer.

3. World Wind Energy Association (WWEA), Sustainability and Due Diligence Guidelines, October 2005.

4. Safety, health and well-being in construction work, Training Manual of the OIT, 1992, by Mr. Victor Jordan, ex H.M. Deputy Chief Inspector of Factories of the Health and Safety Executive, United Kingdom.

5. Wind Energy: Characteristics, Possibilities and Limitations, by C.P.N. Carlos Andrés Ortíz. Docente -

Investigador. Professor - Investigator. Faculty of Economic Sciences, National University of Misiones, Argentina July 2005.

6. Report on the State of the Environment of Honduras, 2000, Secretary of Natural Resources and the

Environment (SERNA) (c) 2001.

7. General Regulation on Preventative Measures Against Labor Accidents and Professional Illnesses (Reformed), Executive Agreement Nº STSS-053-04, Gaceta Nº 30, 523, October 19, 2004.

8. National Atlas of Honduras, Noe Pineda Portillo, 1997.

9. Environmental Profile of Honduras, 1997.

10. National System of Municipal Information (SINIMUN) Version 2.

11. Life Zones of the Departments of Atlantida, Comayagua, Cortés, Francisco Morazán and Yoro, Nelson

of J. C., Marcio R. Lagos and Allan Aroztegui, Tegucigalpa, D.C., 1980.

12. General Law on the Environment, Decree 104-93 and its General Regulation – SEDA (1993).

13. Ecology and Environment, G. Tyler Miller, Jr., Latin American Editorial, 1994.

14. Technical documents on the GE 1.5SLE 60 Hz turbines.

15. Technical information provided by Mesoamerica Energy staff.


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XIV. Annexes.

Documents

I Datos Generales...DAC Project Expansion Eoloeléctrico Honduras 2000 AMBITEC, S.A. iii Property of Energía Eólica de Honduras and