[Graphic of Energy Commission Letterhead]

Notice Of Receipt Of The

Application For Certification

For The High Desert Power Project

Docket No. 97-AFC-1

On June 30, 1997, the High Desert Power Project, Limited Liability Company (LLC), filed an Application for Certification (AFC) with the California Energy Commission (Energy Commission) to construct and operate the High Desert Power Project (HDPP). Electrical energy produced from the proposed merchant power plant will be sold in California's newly created electricity market pursuant to sales agreements with municipalities or other customers. The HDPP electric generating plant and related facilities, such as the electric transmission line, natural gas pipeline and water lines are under the Energy Commission's jurisdiction. The power plant certification process examines engineering and environmental aspects of power plant proposals, and contains requirements similar to those contained in the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).

Project Summary

Project Location

The HDPP will be located on a 25 acre site in a portion of Section 24, Township 6 North, Range 5 West, (San Bernardino Base and Meridian) on the site of the Southern California International Airport (SCIA), formerly George Air Force Base, located within the northwest corner of the city of Victorville. See the map on the following page for the location of the project.

Project Description

The applicant has identified three alternative natural gas-fired design configurations for the HDPP: a simple cycle combustion turbine design consisting of five combustion turbines with a combined rating of 832 megawatts (MW), a combined cycle design consisting of three combustion turbines and three steam turbines with a combined rating of 720 MW, and a combined cycle design consisting of two combustion turbines and two steam turbines with a combined rating of 678 MW. Natural gas is combusted in the combustion turbine generators, which converts the thermal energy into mechanical energy required to drive the compressor and electric generator. The performance of the combustion is enhanced with an inlet air evaporative cooler. Nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions from the combustion process will be reduced to 9 parts per million by volume dry (ppmvd), or less, at 15 percent oxygen by utilizing dry low NOx combustion technology. Other major components of simple cycle combustion turbine configuration include water treatment equipment, air compressor, inlet air evaporative coolers, the compressor, turbine and generator set, exhaust stacks, continuous emission monitors, control room and administrative building, and step-transformers.

In addition to the major components described above for the simple cycle configuration, the combined cycle configurations will incorporate heat recovery steam generators, steam turbines, cooling towers, selective catalytic reduction (SCR) and aqueous ammonia storage and handling equipment. The SCR and ammonia are used to reduce NOx emissions. The SCR and dry low NOx combustion technology will reduce NOx emissions from the combined cycle configurations to 4 ppmvd, or less, at 15 percent oxygen. The heat recovery steam generators are used to recover waste heat from the combustion turbine exhaust to produce steam. This steam is then expanded in the steam turbines to produce electricity. Three heat recovery steam generator and steam turbine trains will be used for the 720 MW combined cycle configuration, and two heat recovery steam generator and steam turbine trains will be used for the 678 MW combined cycle configuration.

A new 7.2 mile 230 kilovolt (kV) overhead electric transmission line will be built to interconnect the project to the Southern California Edison Company's electrical transmission system at the Victor Substation. A new electric 230-kV switch yard will be constructed on the eastern end of the project site. A 2.75 mile natural gas pipeline will be constructed by Southwest Gas Company to provide fuel for the project, and will enter at the southeast corner of the site. Potable water will be provided by the Victor Valley Water District, and will enter at the southeast corner of the site. Cooling water for either of the combined cycle configurations will be provided from one of three alternative sources: tertiary water from the Victor Valley Reclamation Authority, ground water from future wells to be drilled in the area, or from the Mojave River Pipeline Project. Waste water will be disposed to an existing evaporation pond on the proposed site. The engineering and environmental details of the proposed project are contained in the AFC.

Energy Commission Review Process

The purpose of the AFC process is to enable the Energy Commission to make a determination regarding the need for the project, and to assess the project's impact on environmental quality and public health and safety. The first step in the Energy Commission's siting process will be data adequacy review. The Energy Commission's Executive Director will evaluate the completeness of the AFC and make recommendations to the Energy Commission regarding whether the AFC complies with the data requirements contained in the Energy Commission's data adequacy regulations. [Cal. Code Regs., tit. 20, § 1704, Appendix B] The Energy Commission has 45 days from June 30, 1997, to act on this recommendation. A Energy Commission decision on data adequacy is scheduled for the Energy Commission's August 13, 1997 business meeting. If the AFC is deemed adequate, the Energy Commission will appoint a committee of two Commissioners to review all matters related to this proceeding and the discovery phase will begin. Staff will conduct public workshops on data discovery and issue resolution. The next major milestone occurs when staff files its preliminary staff assessment (PSA), generally around 120 days after the AFC is accepted. Staff will conduct public workshops on its PSA to obtain comments and recommendations from the public, agencies and parties to the case. Based on those comments and recommendations staff will issue its final staff assessment (FSA), and, shortly thereafter, the Committee will conduct formal evidentiary hearings to accept evidence on the case. The Committee will then issue the Presiding Members Proposed Decision, and the public and agencies will have an opportunity to comment on the proposed decision.

Availability of the AFC Document

Copies of the AFC document are available for public inspection at public libraries in the cities of Victorville, Adelanto, and San Bernardino as follows:

San Bernardino County Library
Victorville Branch
15011 Circle Drive
Victorville, CA 92392

San Bernardino County Library
Adelanto Branch
11744 Bartlett Avenue
Adelanto, CA 92301

Norman Feldheym Central Library
555 West Sixth Street
San Bernardino, CA 92415

Copies are also available at the Energy Commission's Library in Sacramento, the California State Library in Sacramento, and at public libraries in Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, Fresno, and Eureka. In addition, copies will be distributed to those public agencies which have or would have jurisdiction but for the Energy Commission's exclusive authority to certify sites and related facilities. If you want additional information on how to obtain a copy of the AFC for review, please refer to the contacts in the public participation section below.

Public Participation

Over the next twelve months the Energy Commission will conduct a number of public workshops and hearings on the proposal. The purpose of these workshops include: data adequacy review, data discovery, issue resolution, identification of appropriate mitigation and compliance monitoring techniques, and review and comment on staff and applicant filings for the project. These workshops will provide the public, agencies and other parties the opportunity to ask questions and express concerns about the proposed project. The Energy Commission will issue notices for these workshops and hearings, normally 14 days, but in no case later than 10 days prior to the meeting. If you are not currently receiving these notices and want to be placed on the mailing list, please contact Gina M. Morthole', Project Secretary, at (916) 654-4235.

There are various ways in which members of the public can participate in the Energy Commission's proceedings. If you want information on how to participate in the Energy Commission's review of the project, please contact Ms. Roberta Mendonca, the Energy Commission's Public Adviser, at (916) 654-4489, or toll free in California at (800) 822-6228. Technical or project schedule questions should be directed to Richard K. Buell, Siting Project Manager, in the Energy Facilities Siting & Environmental Protection Division, at (916) 653-1614, or email at rbuell@energy.state.ca.us. The status of the project, copies of notices and other relevant documents will also be available via the Energy Commission's Internet home page at www.energy.ca.gov/sitingcases/hidesert. News media inquiries should be directed to Assistant Executive Director, Claudia Chandler, at (916) 654-4989.

This notice of receipt has been mailed to all parties that requested to be placed on the mailing list during prefiling and to property owners located adjacent to the project site and any of the project related facilities. By being on the mailing list, you will receive notices of all project related activities and notices that documents related to the project's approval are available for review. If you want your name removed from the mailing list, please contact Gina M. Morthole', Project Secretary, at (916) 654-4235, or Ms. Roberta Mendonca at (916) 654-4489, or toll free in California at (800) 822-6228.

DATE: July 3, 1997

_____//signed//_____
ROBERT L. THERKELSEN, Deputy Director for
Energy Facilities Siting and Environmental Protection

Mailed to List: 707 RECEIPT.W52