1. Prehearing Conference
   
2. Evidentiary Hearing
   
3. Procedures to Intervene

The Modesto Irrigation District (MID) Woodland 2 Committee (Committee) is reviewing an Application for Small Power Plant Exemption (SPPE) by MID to add an 80-megawatt, natural gas-fired, combined cycle electric generation facility at the existing generating station at 920 Woodland Avenue, Modesto, Stanislaus County, California.

The Committee will conduct a Prehearing Conference followed by an Evidentiary Hearing covering all potential impacts of the proposed power plant. The public and interested agencies are encouraged to attend and make comments on the topics to be discussed listed in the side bar.

Written comments on the proposed project may be submitted to the Energy Commission, Docket Unit (01-SPPE-1), 1516 - 9th Street, Sacramento, CA 95814 at any time prior to the close of the proceeding.

Documents

The Applicant's information concerning the potential impacts as well as proposed conditions is found in its Application and data responses. In addition, the Staff of the Energy Commission has published an independent analysis in the Final Initial Study and Proposed Mitigated Negative Declaration, which evaluate potential project impacts, mitigation and proposed conditions of exemption for each topic listed in the side bar.

The Final Initial Study and Proposed Mitigated Negative Declaration are available in a printed version as well as for viewing on the Energy Commission Web Site:

The Committee will conduct a pre-hearing conference to assess readiness for evidentiary hearings, to identify areas of agreement and dispute, and discuss procedures for the evidentiary hearing. To present evidence that will become part of the record upon which the Proposed Decision is based, a person, group or agency must become an intervenor, also known as a "party" to the proceeding. (See below) All Petitions to Intervene must be submitted no later than August 7, 2001.

During the Prehearing Conference, the Hearing Officer will maintain a list of topics (See Appendix A) which will include, among other things, an indication of whether any party requests an opportunity to present evidence or cross-examine a witness on that topic and the nature of the expected testimony. Therefore, the filing of a Prehearing Conference Statement is optional for any party participating in the Prehearing Conference.

Any party intending to present a witness at the evidentiary hearing who is not participating in the Prehearing Conference shall file and serve a statement identifying the issue to be presented and the name of the witness(s) on or before August 3, 2001.

Anyone with a legitimate interest relevant to the siting of the proposed power plant may file a Petition to Intervene and become a formal party to this proceeding. Party status provides the rights to present independent evidence, receive pertinent documents, and cross-examine witnesses; it also imposes the duty to comply with various orders, procedures, and filing requirements, as well as be subject to cross-examination by other parties.

In this proceeding, a Petition to Intervene shall be filed no later than August 7, 2001. The Energy Commission, through its Public Adviser's office, will assist anyone interested in preparing a Petition to Intervene. Contact Roberta Mendonca, the Public Adviser at 916-654-4489 or toll-free 800-822-6228 or by e-mail at pao@energy.state.ca.us

The purpose of the evidentiary hearings is to establish the record upon which this case will be decided through the taking of oral, written, or documentary evidence under oath from the Applicant, Commission staff, and others Witnesses may appear by declaration instead of in person if the topic is uncontested. If a topic is contested, a witness must appear in person to testify under oath and may be subject to cross-examination by other parties. A party sponsoring an expert witness, either by declaration or in person, shall establish the witness' qualifications.

Uncontested and contested topics will be identified at the Prehearing Conference held on August 7, 2001. See Appendix A.

Members of the public may participate in all phases of the licensing process in a variety of ways. If you need information concerning public participation, please contact Roberta Mendonca, the Energy Commission's Public Adviser, at 916-654-4489 or, toll free in California, at 800-822-6228, or by e-mail at: pao@energy.state.ca.us

Information concerning the status of the project, notices and other relevant documents are available on the Commission's Web Site at: www.energy.ca.gov/sitingcases/modesto

Technical questions concerning the project should be addressed to the Energy Commission Staff's Project Manager, Sandra Fromm, at (916) 654-4206 or e-mail at: sfromm@energy.state.ca.us.

Questions of a legal or procedural nature should be directed to Garret Shean, the Hearing Officer, at 916-654-3893 or e-mail at: gshean@energy.state.ca.us

Media inquiries should be directed to Claudia Chandler, Assistant Executive Director for Media and Public Communications, at 916-654-4989 or by e-mail at: energia@energy.ca.gov