20201221 Ver 1_Buffer Approval Letter_20201218

DocuSign Envelope ID: 9COFA1AB-5EF3-49A5-9B12-0983AFCAA70E
ROY COOPER
Governor
MICHAEL S. REGAN
Secretary
S. DANIEL SMITH
Director
Highest Power Solar, LLC
Attn: Matt McGovern
880 Apollo Street, Suite 333
El Segundo, CA 90245
NORTH CAROLINA
Environmental Quality
December 18, 2020
DWR # 20201221
Franklin County
Subject: APPROVAL OF TAR-PAMLICO RIVER BASIN RIPARIAN BUFFER IMPACTS WITH
ADDITIONAL CONDITIONS
Highest Power Solar Farm
Dear Mr. McGovern:
You have our approval for the impacts listed below for the purpose described in your
application dated October 29, 2020, received by the Division of Water Resources (Division)
October 19, 2020 and payment received October 21, 2020 and additional information received
on December 16, 2020. These impacts are covered by the Tar -Pamlico River Buffer Rules and
the conditions listed below. Please note that you should get any other federal, state or local
permits before proceeding with your project, including those required by (but not limited to)
Sediment and Erosion Control, Non -Discharge, and Water Supply Watershed regulations. This
Authorization Certificate shall expire five (5) years from the date of this letter.
The following impacts are hereby approved, provided that all of the Conditions listed below and
all of the conditions of the Neuse River Buffer Rules are met. No other impacts are approved,
including incidental impacts. [15A NCAC 02B Neuse .0611(b)(2)]
Type of Impact
Amount Approved
(units)
Permanent
Amount Approved
(units)
Temporary
Buffers — Zone 1
B1: Road Crossing
4,130 (square feet)
2,305 (square feet)
B2: Road Crossing
3,415 (square feet)
1,290 (square feet)
B3: Road Crossing
3,410 (square feet)
1,920 (square feet)
B4: Road Crossing
2,860 (square feet)
2,140 (square feet)
B5: Road Crossing
2,870 (square feet)
2,060 (square feet)
D North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality Division of Water Resources
E Q��
Raleigh Regional Office 1 3800 Barrett Drive I Raleigh, North Carolina 27609
NORTH CAROLINA
Oepa"ment of Envi—mental Quail /`� 919.791.4200

DocuSign Envelope ID: 9COFA1AB-5EF3-49A5-9B12-0983AFCAA70E
Highest Power Solar Farm
DWR# 20201221
Buffer Authorization Certificate
Page 2of3
Type of Impact
Amount Approved
(units)
Permanent
Amount Approved
(units)
Temporary
Buffers — Zone 2
131: Road Crossing
1,665 (square feet)
660 (square feet)
132: Road Crossing
2,170 (square feet)
1,480 (square feet)
133: Road Crossing
1,445 (square feet)
695 (square feet)
134: Road Crossing
2,140 (square feet)
600 (square feet)
135: Road Crossing
1,395 (square feet)
920 (square feet)
This approval is for the purpose and design described in your application. The plans and
specifications for this project are incorporated by reference as part of this Authorization
Certificate. If you change your project, you must notify the Division and you may be required to
submit a new application package. If the property is sold, the new owner must be given a copy
of this Authorization Certificate and is responsible for complying with all conditions. [15A NCAC
02B .0611(b)(2)]
If you are unable to comply with any of the conditions below, you must notify the Raleigh
Regional Office within 24 hours (or the next business day if a weekend or holiday) from the time
the permittee becomes aware of the circumstances.
The permittee shall report to the Raleigh Regional Office any noncompliance with the
conditions of this Authorization Certificate and/or any violation of state regulated riparian
buffer rules [15A NCAC 02B .0734]. Information shall be provided orally within 24 hours (or the
next business day if a weekend or holiday) from the time the applicant became aware of the
circumstances.
This approval and its conditions are final and binding unless contested. [G.S. 143-215.5]
This Authorization Certificate can be contested as provided in Chapter 150B of the North Carolina
General Statutes by filing a Petition for a Contested Case Hearing (Petition) with the North
Carolina Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH) within sixty (60) calendar days. Requirements
for filing a Petition are set forth in Chapter 150B of the North Carolina General Statutes and Title
26 of the North Carolina Administrative Code. Additional information regarding requirements for
filing a Petition and Petition forms may be accessed at http://www.ncoah.com/ or by calling the
OAH Clerk's Office at [phone].
One (1) copy of the Petition must also be served to the North Carolina Department of
Environmental Quality:

DocuSign Envelope ID: 9COFA1AB-5EF3-49A5-9B12-0983AFCAA70E
Highest Power Solar Farm
DWR# 20201221
Buffer Authorization Certificate
Page 3of3
William F. Lane, General Counsel
Department of Environmental Quality
1601 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1601
This letter completes the review of the Division under the Neuse River Riparian Buffer Rules as
described in 15A NCAC 02B .0734. Please contact Stephanie Goss at 919-791-4256 or
[e-mail] if you have any questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
DOCUSigned by:
8CDA9D825D4A46D...
Scott Vinson, Regional Supervisor
Water Quality Regional Operations Section
Raleigh Regional Office
Division of Water Resources, NCDEQ
cc: Brad Luckey, Pilot Environmental Inc. (via email)
DWR 401 & Buffer Permitting Branch electronic file
DWR RRO 401/Riparian Buffer electronic file