Issuance of an Incidental Take Permit to Shell Wind Energy for Construction and Operation of the Bear River Ridge Wind Power Project (Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan), Humboldt County, CA, 68073-68075 [E9-30340]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 244 / Tuesday, December 22, 2009 / Notices the document, the NPS extended the comment period 30 days to November 27, 2007. By the close of the official comment period, a total of 509 comments on the draft EIS were received via oral comments, written letters, e-mail, and through the NPS Planning, Environment, and Public Comment system. Public and Agency comments addressed future management authorities, impacts to cultural and historical resources, interpretation of the Center’s history, and restoration of the Center to more natural conditions, as well as pointing out factual errors and shortcomings of the draft EIS. The Notice of Availability for the draft EIS also solicited written proposals for the future use of the Center property. Public Law 104–134 included provisions which would allow the transfer of the Center property to a local, State, or Tribal government or university entity. At the close of the comment period, six written proposals were received from qualified Agencies for the transfer of the Center property. Finally, the draft EIS did not identify the preferred alternative because at the time of its release, the Department of the Interior had not indicated a preference. The final EIS identifies the preferred alternative as alternative D. Under alternative D, the Federal Government would manage and bear the costs for modification of all or part of the land, structures, or other improvements prior to conveyance or retention of the Center. Following completion of the modifications, the property would be disposed through transfer to a university or nonfederal government entity without restrictions (alternative B), transfer to a university or nonfederal government entity with restrictions (alternative C), or retention by the Federal Government for use such as those described under the three conceptual land-use scenarios. Under the preferred alternative, the preferred land use scenario is open space/park. Contact Superintendent Paul Labovitz, Mississippi National River and Recreation Area, at the address or telephone number above. srobinson on DSKHWCL6B1PROD with NOTICES FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: Dated: October 21, 2009. David N. Given, Acting Regional Director, Midwest Region. [FR Doc. E9–30356 Filed 12–21–09; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4312–98–P VerDate Nov<24>2008 18:01 Dec 21, 2009 Jkt 220001 DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service [FWS–R8–ES–2009–N242; 80221–1112– 0000–F2] Issuance of an Incidental Take Permit to Shell Wind Energy for Construction and Operation of the Bear River Ridge Wind Power Project (Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan), Humboldt County, CA AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare a joint Environmental Impact Report (EIR) and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and notice of public scoping meetings. SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), intend to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) regarding an application from Shell Wind Energy for an incidental take permit for take of threatened wildlife species in accordance with section 10(a)(1)(B) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). The USFWS and the County of Humboldt will be developing a combined EIR and EIS document for the proposed project. Shell Wind Energy is proposing to construct and operate the Bear River Ridge Wind Power Project near Ferndale, in Humboldt County, California. The project would consist of up to 25 wind turbines with a generating capacity of 50 megawatts (MW) of electricity. Activities Shell Wind Energy will propose for permit coverage in its habitat conservation plan (Plan) include construction, operation, maintenance, and decommissioning of the Bear River Ridge Wind Power project and associated off-site improvements. The Plan may also cover certain proposed off site mitigation activities. We are furnishing this notice to announce the initiation of a public scoping period, during which we invite other agencies and the public to provide written comments on the range of alternatives and scope of issues to be included in the EIS. DATES: To ensure consideration, please send your written comments by February 22, 2010. We will hold two public scoping meetings: 1. Tuesday, February 2, 2010, 7–9 p.m., Fortuna, CA. 2. Wednesday, February 3, 2010, 7–9 p.m., Eureka, CA. ADDRESSES: PO 00000 Frm 00046 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 68073 Public Meeting Locations 1. Tuesday, February 2, 2010, at the Riverlodge, 1800 Riverwalk Drive Fortuna, CA 95540. 2. Wednesday, February 3, 2010, at the Wharfinger Building, #1 Marina Way, Eureka, CA 95501. EIS Preparation and NEPA Process: Address any information, written comments or questions related to the preparation of the EIS and NEPA process to Mr. James Bond, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1655 Heindon Road, Arcata, CA 95521. Alternatively, you may fax written comments to 707– 822–8411. Comments we receive will be available for public inspection, by appointment, during normal business hours (Monday through Friday; 8–4:30 p.m.) at the above address. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. James Bond, at the Arcata address above, or by telephone: 707–822–7201; fax: 707–822–8411; or e-mail: james_bond@fws.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with section 10(a)(2)(A) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act; 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), Shell Wind Energy is preparing a habitat conservation plan in support of an application for a permit from USFWS to incidentally take the marbled murrelet (Brachyramphus marmoratus), and northern spotted owl (Strix occidentalis caurina) in connection with the construction, operation and decommissioning of the Bear River Ridge Wind Power Project in Humboldt County, California. Both the marbled murrelet and the northern spotted owl are listed as threatened species under the Act. To facilitate a consistency determination under the California Endangered Species Act from the California Department of Fish and Game for the proposed project, the Plan is also expected to include the yellow-billed cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus) and willow flycatcher (Empidonax traillii) as covered species. Background Shell Wind Energy proposes to construct, operate, and decommission the Bear River Wind Power Project in Humboldt County, California. The Bear River Wind Power Project would be located on private property, primarily along the Bear River Ridge within the northern Coast Ranges around Cape Mendocino in Humboldt County, California. Shell Wind Energy has obtained long-term agreements (wind leases) with local landowners to develop the property for the wind energy project. The project area is currently used primarily for agriculture E:\FR\FM\22DEN1.SGM 22DEN1 srobinson on DSKHWCL6B1PROD with NOTICES 68074 Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 244 / Tuesday, December 22, 2009 / Notices (i.e., cattle production) and timberland management. The Bear River Wind Project proposes to operate up to 25 wind turbines with an anticipated total generating capacity of up to approximately 50 MW. The wind turbines would be arranged within turbine ‘‘strings’’ and be sited within 500-foot-wide corridors. In addition to turbines, Shell Wind Energy’s proposed project includes the following components: • Approximately 5 miles of newly constructed access roads, turbine string roads and turn-around areas; • Up to three permanent meteorological towers; • A site-control and data acquisition system; • A 34.5-kilovolt (kV) power collection system that will deliver power generated by the turbines to the project substation. Collector cables will be placed in trenches and buried underground between turbine locations. The underground collection system would terminate at the project substation; • A project substation where power from the 34.5-kV collection system would be stepped up to the voltage required for the interconnection to the regional transmission system. • An approximately 12-mile-long overhead transmission line that would transfer power from the project substation to the Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) regional transmission system in the City of Rio Dell; and • An operations and maintenance (O&M) facility, including a main building with offices, spare parts storage, restrooms, a shop area, outdoor parking facilities, a turn-around area for larger vehicles, outdoor lighting, and a gated access with partial or fullperimeter fencing located in the City of Rio Dell near the existing PG& E substation. Construction of the proposed project would also require a staging area on the project site and potentially a temporary concrete batch plant. During construction, a total of approximately 3 million gallons of water would be required for road compaction, underground collection line installation, dust suppression, and concrete mixing. Approximately half the water consumption would be for dust control and the other half for all other construction activities. No new wells would be drilled or springs developed. Water needed for the construction activities would be provided through a nearby water source with a permitted water right issued through the State of California, State Water Resources Control Board Division of Water Rights. VerDate Nov<24>2008 18:01 Dec 21, 2009 Jkt 220001 Construction of the project’s roads, facilities, and electrical/communication lines would occur at about the same time, using individual vehicles for multiple tasks. Based on data provided for typical wind energy projects of similar size, it is anticipated that during the construction period, there would be approximately 60 daily round trips by vehicles transporting construction personnel to the site. Over the entire construction period, there will be approximately 850 trips of large trucks delivering the turbine components and related equipment to the project site and approximately 2,500 truck trips by dump trucks, concrete trucks, water trucks, cranes, and other construction and trade vehicles. After construction, project O&M activities would require approximately three round trips per day using pickups or other light-duty trucks. Construction traffic would be routed from Humboldt Bay along State and county roads, ultimately accessing the project site through Ferndale and/or Rio Dell. It is anticipated that improvements to county roads would be required to enable the passing of trucks transporting large turbine components. Routine maintenance would consist primarily of daily travel by technicians that would test and maintain the wind facilities. Operation and Maintenance staff would travel in pickup or other light-duty trucks. Occasionally, the use of a crane or equipment transport vehicles may be necessary for cleaning, repairing, adjusting, or replacing the rotors or other components of the turbines. Cranes used for maintenance activities are not as large as the large track-mounted cranes needed to erect the turbine towers and are likely to be contracted at the time of service and not stored at the facility. Monitoring the operations of the Project will be conducted from computers located in the base of each turbine tower and from the O&M building using telecommunication links and computer-based monitoring. Over time, it will be necessary to clean or repaint the blades and towers and periodically exchange lubricants and hydraulic fluids in the mechanisms of the turbines. Decommissioning would involve removing the turbines, support towers, transformers, substation, and the upper portion of foundations. Site reclamation after decommissioning would be based on site-specific requirements and techniques commonly employed at the time the area will be reclaimed. Techniques could include regrading, spot replacement of topsoil, and revegetation of all disturbed areas with an approved native seed mix. Turbine PO 00000 Frm 00047 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 tower and substation foundations would be removed to a depth as agreed upon with landowners. Activities that Shell Wind Energy will propose for permit coverage include construction, operation, maintenance and decommissioning of the wind power project and associated offsite improvements. The company may also request permit coverage for certain offsite mitigation activities. Construction, operation and decommissioning of the wind farm, and actions to minimize and mitigate project impacts, have the potential to take wildlife species protected under the Act. Section 10(a)(1)(B) of the Act authorizes the Service to issue incidental take permits to non-Federal land owners for the take of endangered and threatened species, provided that, among other requirements, the take will be incidental to otherwise lawful activities, will not appreciably reduce the likelihood of the survival and recovery of the species in the wild and will be minimized and mitigated to the maximum extent practicable. Shell Wind Energy is preparing a habitat conservation plan that is intended to provide for management of the project site over its lifetime in a manner that will minimize and mitigate the impacts of take of the Federally listed marbled murrelet and northern spotted owl and certain other wildlife species that may be listed during the life of the Plan. Once completed, it is expected that Shell Wind Energy will submit the Plan to USFWS as part of an application for the incidental take permit. Environmental Impact Statement We will conduct an environmental review of the permit application, including the Plan. We will prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) in accordance with NEPA requirements, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), and NEPA implementing regulations (40 CFR parts 1500 through 1508), and in accordance with other applicable Federal laws and regulations, and the policies and procedures of the USFWS for compliance with those regulations. The Shell Wind Energy project will also require a conditional use permit from Humboldt County. The County is the lead agency pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act and is responsible for preparing an Environmental Impact Report for the project. The County and USFWS intend to prepare a joint EIR/EIS that we anticipate will be available for public review in late 2010. The EIR/EIS will analyze the environmental impacts of the proposed wind energy project and associated incidental take of species E:\FR\FM\22DEN1.SGM 22DEN1 srobinson on DSKHWCL6B1PROD with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 244 / Tuesday, December 22, 2009 / Notices proposed to be covered under the Plan. The EIR/EIS will also analyze the impacts of the conservation strategy proposed by Shell Wind Energy to minimize and mitigate those impacts to the maximum extent practicable. We anticipate that the conservation strategy will identify several biological goals, including development of high quality, suitable habitat necessary for the longterm persistence of the covered species and retention and recruitment of specific habitat elements, including older, larger and more structurally complex or decadent trees to provide for successful reproduction of marbled murrelets and spotted owls. The environmental review will analyze a full range of reasonable alternatives to the proposed action, including a No Action alternative, and describe the associated environmental impacts of each. We are currently in the process of developing alternatives for analysis. In connection with developing alternative approaches, we will consider, for example, modified lists of covered species, modified permit coverage areas (i.e., portions of the landscape subject to permit coverage), modified permit terms, and different resource management strategies that would serve the purpose of minimizing and mitigating the impacts of incidental take. We will consider other reasonable project alternatives recommended during this scoping process in order to develop a full range of alternatives. We invite comments and suggestions from all interested parties to ensure consideration of a full range of reasonable alternatives related to development of the EIR/EIS. The USFWS requests that comments be as specific as possible. Comments are requested to include information, issues and concerns regarding: (1) The direct, indirect, and cumulative effects that implementation of any reasonable alternatives could have on endangered and threatened species and their habitats; (2) Other reasonable alternatives, and their associated effects; (3) Measures that would minimize and mitigate potentially adverse effects of the proposed project; (4) Baseline environmental conditions in and adjacent to the covered lands; (5) Adaptive management or monitoring provisions that may be incorporated into the alternatives, and their benefits to listed species; (6) Other plans or projects that might be relevant to this project; and (7) Any other information pertinent to evaluating the effects of this project on the human environment. VerDate Nov<24>2008 18:01 Dec 21, 2009 Jkt 220001 The environmental review will analyze the effects that the considered alternatives would have on the marbled murrelet, spotted owl, yellow-billed cuckoo and willow flycatcher, as well as on other components of the human environment, including but not limited to cultural resources, social resources (including public safety), economic resources, water and air quality, global climate change, and environmental justice. Direct any comments or questions to the USFWS contact listed above in ADDRESSES. All comments and materials we receive, including names and addresses, will become part of the administrative record and may be released to the public. Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment—including your personal identifying information—may be made publicly available at any time. While you may ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. Reasonable Accommodation Persons needing reasonable accommodations to attend and participate in public meetings should contact James Bond (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT) as soon as possible. To allow sufficient time to process requests, please call no later than 1 week before the public meeting. Information regarding this proposed action is available in alternative formats upon request. Ken McDermond, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Region 8, Sacramento, California. [FR Doc. E9–30340 Filed 12–21–09; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–55–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [LLORV00000–L10200000.DF0000; HAG 9– 0189] Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Trout Creek Geographic Management Area, Jordan Resource Area, Vale District, OR AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: Notice of Intent. SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Vale District Office, PO 00000 Frm 00048 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 68075 Vale, Oregon intends to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for proposed actions pertaining to livestock grazing systems and rangeland developments that will affect 10 livestock grazing permit terms and conditions in the Trout Creek Geographic Management Area (TCGMA) Vale District. Actions may include, for example, installation and/or removal of fences and water developments, changes to duration or season of use of grazing, and other changes to the terms and conditions of affected grazing permits. By this notice the BLM is announcing the beginning of the scoping process and soliciting input on the identification of issues. DATES: To identify relevant issues, the BLM will announce public scoping meetings through local news media, newsletters, and the BLM Web site: http:www.blm.gov/or/districts/vale/ plans/tcgma_eis.php at least 15 days prior to each meeting. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on issues related to the TCGMA EIS by any of the following methods: • District Web site: http:www.blm.gov/or/districts/vale/ plans/valermp.php. • E-mail: TCGMA_EIS@blm.gov • Fax: (541) 473–6213. • Mail: Bureau of Land Management, Vale District Office, 100 Oregon Street, Vale, OR 97918. Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined at the Vale District Office during regular business areas. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information and/or to have your name added to our mailing list, contact Trisha Skerjanec, (541) 473–6222; or email trisha_skerjanec@blm.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This document provides notice that the BLM District Office, Vale, Oregon, intends to prepare an EIS for proposed actions for livestock grazing systems and rangeland developments that will affect 10 livestock grazing permit terms and conditions in the TCGMA. The project area covers about 627,900 acres of comingled Federal, private, and State land located in Southeastern Oregon and Northwestern Nevada. About 586,900 acres (or 94.4 percent) of the land is public domain administered by the BLM. Subsequent grazing decisions will be based on the EIS and Record of Decision (ROD) and conform to the BLM grazing regulations at 43 CFR subpart 4180, Fundamentals of Rangeland Health Standards and Guidelines for Grazing Administration, and the Southeastern Oregon Resource Management Plan and ROD. E:\FR\FM\22DEN1.SGM 22DEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 244 (Tuesday, December 22, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68073-68075]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-30340]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R8-ES-2009-N242; 80221-1112-0000-F2]


Issuance of an Incidental Take Permit to Shell Wind Energy for 
Construction and Operation of the Bear River Ridge Wind Power Project 
(Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan), Humboldt County, CA

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare a joint Environmental Impact Report 
(EIR) and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and notice of public 
scoping meetings.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), intend to 
prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), under the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) regarding an application from Shell 
Wind Energy for an incidental take permit for take of threatened 
wildlife species in accordance with section 10(a)(1)(B) of the 
Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). The USFWS and the 
County of Humboldt will be developing a combined EIR and EIS document 
for the proposed project. Shell Wind Energy is proposing to construct 
and operate the Bear River Ridge Wind Power Project near Ferndale, in 
Humboldt County, California. The project would consist of up to 25 wind 
turbines with a generating capacity of 50 megawatts (MW) of 
electricity. Activities Shell Wind Energy will propose for permit 
coverage in its habitat conservation plan (Plan) include construction, 
operation, maintenance, and decommissioning of the Bear River Ridge 
Wind Power project and associated off-site improvements. The Plan may 
also cover certain proposed off site mitigation activities. We are 
furnishing this notice to announce the initiation of a public scoping 
period, during which we invite other agencies and the public to provide 
written comments on the range of alternatives and scope of issues to be 
included in the EIS.

DATES: To ensure consideration, please send your written comments by 
February 22, 2010. We will hold two public scoping meetings:
1. Tuesday, February 2, 2010, 7-9 p.m., Fortuna, CA.
2. Wednesday, February 3, 2010, 7-9 p.m., Eureka, CA.

ADDRESSES:

Public Meeting Locations

1. Tuesday, February 2, 2010, at the Riverlodge, 1800 Riverwalk Drive 
Fortuna, CA 95540.
2. Wednesday, February 3, 2010, at the Wharfinger Building, 1 
Marina Way, Eureka, CA 95501.

    EIS Preparation and NEPA Process: Address any information, written 
comments or questions related to the preparation of the EIS and NEPA 
process to Mr. James Bond, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1655 Heindon 
Road, Arcata, CA 95521. Alternatively, you may fax written comments to 
707-822-8411. Comments we receive will be available for public 
inspection, by appointment, during normal business hours (Monday 
through Friday; 8-4:30 p.m.) at the above address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. James Bond, at the Arcata address 
above, or by telephone: 707-822-7201; fax: 707-822-8411; or e-mail: 
james_bond@fws.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with section 10(a)(2)(A) of 
the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act; 16 U.S.C. 1531 et 
seq.), Shell Wind Energy is preparing a habitat conservation plan in 
support of an application for a permit from USFWS to incidentally take 
the marbled murrelet (Brachyramphus marmoratus), and northern spotted 
owl (Strix occidentalis caurina) in connection with the construction, 
operation and decommissioning of the Bear River Ridge Wind Power 
Project in Humboldt County, California. Both the marbled murrelet and 
the northern spotted owl are listed as threatened species under the 
Act. To facilitate a consistency determination under the California 
Endangered Species Act from the California Department of Fish and Game 
for the proposed project, the Plan is also expected to include the 
yellow-billed cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus) and willow flycatcher 
(Empidonax traillii) as covered species.

Background

    Shell Wind Energy proposes to construct, operate, and decommission 
the Bear River Wind Power Project in Humboldt County, California. The 
Bear River Wind Power Project would be located on private property, 
primarily along the Bear River Ridge within the northern Coast Ranges 
around Cape Mendocino in Humboldt County, California. Shell Wind Energy 
has obtained long-term agreements (wind leases) with local landowners 
to develop the property for the wind energy project. The project area 
is currently used primarily for agriculture

[[Page 68074]]

(i.e., cattle production) and timberland management.
    The Bear River Wind Project proposes to operate up to 25 wind 
turbines with an anticipated total generating capacity of up to 
approximately 50 MW. The wind turbines would be arranged within turbine 
``strings'' and be sited within 500-foot-wide corridors.
    In addition to turbines, Shell Wind Energy's proposed project 
includes the following components:
     Approximately 5 miles of newly constructed access roads, 
turbine string roads and turn-around areas;
     Up to three permanent meteorological towers;
     A site-control and data acquisition system;
     A 34.5-kilovolt (kV) power collection system that will 
deliver power generated by the turbines to the project substation. 
Collector cables will be placed in trenches and buried underground 
between turbine locations. The underground collection system would 
terminate at the project substation;
     A project substation where power from the 34.5-kV 
collection system would be stepped up to the voltage required for the 
interconnection to the regional transmission system.
     An approximately 12-mile-long overhead transmission line 
that would transfer power from the project substation to the Pacific 
Gas and Electric (PG&E) regional transmission system in the City of Rio 
Dell; and
     An operations and maintenance (O&M) facility, including a 
main building with offices, spare parts storage, restrooms, a shop 
area, outdoor parking facilities, a turn-around area for larger 
vehicles, outdoor lighting, and a gated access with partial or full-
perimeter fencing located in the City of Rio Dell near the existing PG& 
E substation.
    Construction of the proposed project would also require a staging 
area on the project site and potentially a temporary concrete batch 
plant. During construction, a total of approximately 3 million gallons 
of water would be required for road compaction, underground collection 
line installation, dust suppression, and concrete mixing. Approximately 
half the water consumption would be for dust control and the other half 
for all other construction activities. No new wells would be drilled or 
springs developed. Water needed for the construction activities would 
be provided through a nearby water source with a permitted water right 
issued through the State of California, State Water Resources Control 
Board Division of Water Rights.
    Construction of the project's roads, facilities, and electrical/
communication lines would occur at about the same time, using 
individual vehicles for multiple tasks. Based on data provided for 
typical wind energy projects of similar size, it is anticipated that 
during the construction period, there would be approximately 60 daily 
round trips by vehicles transporting construction personnel to the 
site. Over the entire construction period, there will be approximately 
850 trips of large trucks delivering the turbine components and related 
equipment to the project site and approximately 2,500 truck trips by 
dump trucks, concrete trucks, water trucks, cranes, and other 
construction and trade vehicles. After construction, project O&M 
activities would require approximately three round trips per day using 
pickups or other light-duty trucks.
    Construction traffic would be routed from Humboldt Bay along State 
and county roads, ultimately accessing the project site through 
Ferndale and/or Rio Dell. It is anticipated that improvements to county 
roads would be required to enable the passing of trucks transporting 
large turbine components.
    Routine maintenance would consist primarily of daily travel by 
technicians that would test and maintain the wind facilities. Operation 
and Maintenance staff would travel in pickup or other light-duty 
trucks. Occasionally, the use of a crane or equipment transport 
vehicles may be necessary for cleaning, repairing, adjusting, or 
replacing the rotors or other components of the turbines. Cranes used 
for maintenance activities are not as large as the large track-mounted 
cranes needed to erect the turbine towers and are likely to be 
contracted at the time of service and not stored at the facility.
    Monitoring the operations of the Project will be conducted from 
computers located in the base of each turbine tower and from the O&M 
building using telecommunication links and computer-based monitoring. 
Over time, it will be necessary to clean or repaint the blades and 
towers and periodically exchange lubricants and hydraulic fluids in the 
mechanisms of the turbines.
    Decommissioning would involve removing the turbines, support 
towers, transformers, substation, and the upper portion of foundations. 
Site reclamation after decommissioning would be based on site-specific 
requirements and techniques commonly employed at the time the area will 
be reclaimed. Techniques could include regrading, spot replacement of 
topsoil, and revegetation of all disturbed areas with an approved 
native seed mix. Turbine tower and substation foundations would be 
removed to a depth as agreed upon with landowners.
    Activities that Shell Wind Energy will propose for permit coverage 
include construction, operation, maintenance and decommissioning of the 
wind power project and associated offsite improvements. The company may 
also request permit coverage for certain off-site mitigation 
activities. Construction, operation and decommissioning of the wind 
farm, and actions to minimize and mitigate project impacts, have the 
potential to take wildlife species protected under the Act. Section 
10(a)(1)(B) of the Act authorizes the Service to issue incidental take 
permits to non-Federal land owners for the take of endangered and 
threatened species, provided that, among other requirements, the take 
will be incidental to otherwise lawful activities, will not appreciably 
reduce the likelihood of the survival and recovery of the species in 
the wild and will be minimized and mitigated to the maximum extent 
practicable. Shell Wind Energy is preparing a habitat conservation plan 
that is intended to provide for management of the project site over its 
lifetime in a manner that will minimize and mitigate the impacts of 
take of the Federally listed marbled murrelet and northern spotted owl 
and certain other wildlife species that may be listed during the life 
of the Plan. Once completed, it is expected that Shell Wind Energy will 
submit the Plan to USFWS as part of an application for the incidental 
take permit.

Environmental Impact Statement

    We will conduct an environmental review of the permit application, 
including the Plan. We will prepare an Environmental Impact Statement 
(EIS) in accordance with NEPA requirements, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 
et seq.), and NEPA implementing regulations (40 CFR parts 1500 through 
1508), and in accordance with other applicable Federal laws and 
regulations, and the policies and procedures of the USFWS for 
compliance with those regulations. The Shell Wind Energy project will 
also require a conditional use permit from Humboldt County. The County 
is the lead agency pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act 
and is responsible for preparing an Environmental Impact Report for the 
project. The County and USFWS intend to prepare a joint EIR/EIS that we 
anticipate will be available for public review in late 2010. The EIR/
EIS will analyze the environmental impacts of the proposed wind energy 
project and associated incidental take of species

[[Page 68075]]

proposed to be covered under the Plan. The EIR/EIS will also analyze 
the impacts of the conservation strategy proposed by Shell Wind Energy 
to minimize and mitigate those impacts to the maximum extent 
practicable. We anticipate that the conservation strategy will identify 
several biological goals, including development of high quality, 
suitable habitat necessary for the long-term persistence of the covered 
species and retention and recruitment of specific habitat elements, 
including older, larger and more structurally complex or decadent trees 
to provide for successful reproduction of marbled murrelets and spotted 
owls. The environmental review will analyze a full range of reasonable 
alternatives to the proposed action, including a No Action alternative, 
and describe the associated environmental impacts of each. We are 
currently in the process of developing alternatives for analysis.
    In connection with developing alternative approaches, we will 
consider, for example, modified lists of covered species, modified 
permit coverage areas (i.e., portions of the landscape subject to 
permit coverage), modified permit terms, and different resource 
management strategies that would serve the purpose of minimizing and 
mitigating the impacts of incidental take. We will consider other 
reasonable project alternatives recommended during this scoping process 
in order to develop a full range of alternatives.
    We invite comments and suggestions from all interested parties to 
ensure consideration of a full range of reasonable alternatives related 
to development of the EIR/EIS. The USFWS requests that comments be as 
specific as possible. Comments are requested to include information, 
issues and concerns regarding:

    (1) The direct, indirect, and cumulative effects that 
implementation of any reasonable alternatives could have on endangered 
and threatened species and their habitats;
    (2) Other reasonable alternatives, and their associated effects;
    (3) Measures that would minimize and mitigate potentially adverse 
effects of the proposed project;
    (4) Baseline environmental conditions in and adjacent to the 
covered lands;
    (5) Adaptive management or monitoring provisions that may be 
incorporated into the alternatives, and their benefits to listed 
species;
    (6) Other plans or projects that might be relevant to this project; 
and
    (7) Any other information pertinent to evaluating the effects of 
this project on the human environment.
    The environmental review will analyze the effects that the 
considered alternatives would have on the marbled murrelet, spotted 
owl, yellow-billed cuckoo and willow flycatcher, as well as on other 
components of the human environment, including but not limited to 
cultural resources, social resources (including public safety), 
economic resources, water and air quality, global climate change, and 
environmental justice.
    Direct any comments or questions to the USFWS contact listed above 
in ADDRESSES. All comments and materials we receive, including names 
and addresses, will become part of the administrative record and may be 
released to the public. Before including your address, phone number, e-
mail address, or other personal identifying information in your 
comment, you should be aware that your entire comment--including your 
personal identifying information--may be made publicly available at any 
time. While you may ask us in your comment to withhold your personal 
identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we 
will be able to do so.

Reasonable Accommodation

    Persons needing reasonable accommodations to attend and participate 
in public meetings should contact James Bond (see FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT) as soon as possible. To allow sufficient time to 
process requests, please call no later than 1 week before the public 
meeting. Information regarding this proposed action is available in 
alternative formats upon request.

Ken McDermond,
 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Region 8, Sacramento, California.
[FR Doc. E9-30340 Filed 12-21-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P
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