Green Mountain National Forest; Vermont; Deerfield Wind Project, 54893 [07-4747]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
• Forest Service

[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 187 (Thursday, September 27, 2007)]
[NOTI]
[Page 54893]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 07-4747]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Green Mountain National Forest; Vermont; Deerfield Wind Project

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Revision, notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact 
statement.

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SUMMARY: The Forest Service is processing an application for a special 
use authorization from Deerfield Wind, LLC for the installation and 
operation of wind turbines on National Forest System (NFS) lands 
managed by the Green Mountain National Forest (GMNF). This notice 
revises the ``responsible official'', updates the expected dates for 
the release of the EIS, makes minor modifications to certain parts of 
the proposed action, and asks for comments on those modifications.

DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis, specifically in 
regard to the modifications to the original proposed action, should be 
received by October 19, 2007. The draft environmental impact statement 
is now expected in January 2008 and the final environmental impact 
statement is expected in July 2008.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Bob Bayer, Project Coordinator, 
Manchester Ranger District, USDA Forest Service, 2538 Depot Street, 
Manchester Center, VT 05255.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bob Bayer, Project Coordinator, 
Manchester Ranger District, USDA Forest Service, 2538 Depot Street, 
Manchester Center, VT 05255; 802-362-2307 ext. 218; e-mail: 
rbayer@fs.fed.us.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The original notice of intent to prepare the 
Deerfield Wind Project EIS was published in the Federal Register on 
July 15, 2005 (Vol. 70, No. 135, page 409750). Revisions are as noted 
here. The responsible official is now Meg Mitchell, Forest Supervisor, 
Green Mountain and Finger Lakes National Forest. The expected dates for 
the release of the EIS is as noted above. The proposed action has been 
clarified as follows.

Modifications to the Proposed Action

    The Deerfield Wind Project is now proposed to consist of 17 wind 
turbines with a rotor size of 87 or 88 meters in diameter for a total 
turbine height from ground to the top of the blade tip at about 400 to 
410 feet and a name plate power rating of 2.0 or 2.1 megawatts (MW), 
depending upon which model of turbine is selected. The original notice 
proposed 20 to 30 turbines approximating 340-370 feet in height with a 
power rating of between 1.5 to 2.0 MW per turbine. The site will now be 
capable of producing 34 or 35.7 MW whereas the original proposal called 
for a site capacity of 30 to 45 MW of electricity. Access to the 
western project area will be from the north along a private road known 
as the Putnam Road, and will extend westerly onto Forest Service land, 
rather than from the south end of the project site as originally 
proposed. A storage and maintenance building and a new substation will 
be sited along the northern access road. An alternative to connect to 
an existing Green Mountain Power Company substation on private land on 
the east side of Route 8 is no longer feasible due to capacity issues.

Responsible Official

    Meg Mitchell, Forest Supervisor, Green Mountain and Finger Lakes 
National Forests, 231 North Main Street, Rutland, VT 05701-2417.

Comments Requested

    This revised notice of intent continues the process of gathering 
comments which guides the development of the environmental impact 
statement. The primary purpose is to gather public comments, issues, 
and concerns regarding the proposed action. Comments, issues and 
concerns will be used to help formulate alternatives to the proposed 
action. Please make your written comments as specific as possible as 
they relate to the modifications of the proposed action. There is no 
need to re-submit comments or thoughts that you have already submitted 
during the formal scoping process held in July-August of 2005. Those 
people new to the process at this time may feel free to provide a 
broader range of comments. Include your name, address, and, if 
possible, telephone number and e-mail address. Comments received in 
response to this solicitation, including the names and addresses of 
those who comment, will be considered part of the public record and 
will be available for public inspection. Comments submitted anonymously 
will be accepted and considered. Additionally, pursuant to 7 CFR 
127(d), any person may request that a submission be withheld from the 
public record by showing how the Freedom of Information Act permits 
such confidentiality. Persons requesting such confidentiality should be 
aware that confidentiality is granted in only very limited 
circumstances. The Forest Service will inform the requester of its 
decision regarding a request for confidentiality. Where the request is 
denied, the submission will be returned, and the requester notified 
that the comments may be resubmitted with or without name and address.

    Dated: September 20, 2007.
Steve Roy,
Acting Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 07-4747 Filed 9-26-07; 8:45 am]
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