Revised Record of Decision for Offer of Conditional Commitment for a Loan Guarantee for, and Electrical Interconnection of, the Shepherds Flat Wind Project, 64296-64301 [2010-26229]
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Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 201 / Tuesday, October 19, 2010 / Notices
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[FR Doc. 2010–26290 Filed 10–18–10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Revised Record of Decision for Offer
of Conditional Commitment for a Loan
Guarantee for, and Electrical
Interconnection of, the Shepherds Flat
Wind Project
U.S. Department of Energy
(DOE), Loan Programs Office (LP) and
Bonneville Power Administration
(BPA).
ACTION: Revised Record of Decision
(ROD).
AGENCY:
The U.S. Department of
Energy announces its decisions to
provide a conditional loan guarantee
for, and interconnection to the Federal
Columbia River Transmission System
(FCRTS) of, the 846-megawatt (MW)
Shepherds Flat Wind Project (Wind
Project) in Gilliam and Morrow
counties, Oregon. This ROD revises a
previous BPA ROD approving the
interconnection of the Wind Project to
the FCRTS that was issued on July 18,
2008. The Revised ROD reflects the
decisions with regard to the Wind
Project for: The issuance by BPA of
modified Large Generator
Interconnection Agreements (LGIAs);
and the offer by LP of a conditional
commitment for a loan guarantee to
Caithness Shepherds Flat, LLC (CSF) for
construction of the Wind Project. The
Revised ROD also addresses the division
of the previously approved Wind Project
into three separate projects, and the
transfer of these projects to three
separate subsidiaries of CSF that will
result in additional turbines,
adjustments of site boundaries and
additional acreage.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Doug Corkran, Bonneville Power
Administration, KEC–4, P.O. Box 3621,
Portland, Oregon 97208–3621; toll-free
telephone number 1–800–622–4519; fax
number 503–230–5699; or e-mail
dfcorkran@bpa.gov; and Matthew
McMillen, Director, Environmental
SUMMARY:
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Compliance Division, Loan Programs
Office (LP–1), U.S. Department of
Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue,
SW., Washington, DC 20585; telephone
202–586–7248; or e-mail
Matthew.McMillen@hq.doe.gov. For
general information about the DOE
National Environmental Policy Act
(NEPA) process contact Carol
Borgstrom, Director, Office of NEPA
Policy and Compliance (GC–54), U.S.
Department of Energy, 1000
Independence Avenue, SW.,
Washington, DC 20585; telephone 202–
586–4600; leave a message at 800–472–
2756; or e-mail AskNEPA@hq.doe.gov.
Information about DOE NEPA activities
and access to many DOE NEPA
documents are available through the
DOE NEPA Web site at https://
www.nepa.energy.gov.
ADDRESSES: Copies of the Revised ROD,
the July 2008 ROD for the Electrical
Interconnection of the Shepherds Flat
Wind Project, the Business Plan
Environmental Impact Statement and
Business Plan ROD may be obtained by:
(1) Calling the BPA toll-free document
request line, 1–800–622–4520, (2)
submitting a request to the BPA Public
Information Center, P.O. Box 12999,
Portland, Oregon 97212, or (3) accessing
these documents on the BPA NEPA
document Web site at https://
www.efw.bpa.gov/
environmental_services/nepadocs.aspx.
The Revised ROD will also be posted on
the DOE LP Web site at https://
www.lgprogram.energy.gov and the DOE
NEPA Web site at https://
www.nepa.energy.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Introduction
On July 18, 2008, the BPA issued a
ROD to interconnect the proposed Wind
Project to the FCRTS (73 FR 43730, July
28, 2008). DOE, through its Loan
Programs Office, and BPA, are issuing
this Revised ROD to address actions by
the project developers subsequent to the
2008 ROD: A loan guarantee application
submitted to LP, and applications to
BPA for Large Generator
Interconnection Agreements related to
the transfer of ownership of the Wind
Project to three wholly owned
subsidiaries. The Wind Project, as
modified, has been approved by the
Oregon Energy Facility Siting Council
(EFSC).
As with the decision made by BPA for
the originally proposed Wind Project,
BPA and LP decisions concerning the
revised Wind Project are consistent with
and tiered to the BPA Business Plan
Final Environmental Impact Statement
(BP EIS) (DOE/EIS–0183, June 1995),
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and the Business Plan Record of
Decision (BP ROD, August 1995).
Background
The BPA, a power marketing
administration within DOE, owns and
operates most of the high-voltage
electric transmission system in the
Pacific Northwest. This system is
known as the FCRTS. In 2004, CSF
submitted a generator interconnection
request to BPA to interconnect the
proposed Wind Project to the FCRTS. In
its July 2008 ROD, BPA decided to offer
contract terms (called a Large Generator
Interconnection Agreement [LGIA]) to
CSF for interconnection of the Wind
Project to the FCRTS.1 Under this LGIA,
up to 846 megawatts (MW) of power
from the Wind Project will be
interconnected at the existing Slatt
Substation in Gilliam County, Oregon.
To provide the interconnection, BPA is
in the process of expanding its Slatt
Substation to accommodate a 230kilovolt (kV) yard and will provide
transmission access for up to 846 MW
from the Wind Project to the BPA 500kV transmission system.2
In November 2009, CSF applied to
DOE LP for a loan guarantee for the
Wind Project. DOE established the LP in
response to Title XVII of the Energy
Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16511–
16514), which authorizes the Secretary
of Energy to make loan guarantees for
projects that (1) avoid, reduce, or
sequester air pollutants or
anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse
gases, and (2) employ new or
significantly improved technologies as
compared to commercial technologies in
service in the United States at the time
the guarantee is issued. Section 406 of
the American Recovery and
Reinvestment Act of 2009 (42 U.S.C.
16516; Recovery Act) amended Title
XVII to create Section 1705 authorizing
a new program for rapid deployment of
renewable energy projects and related
manufacturing facilities, and electric
power transmission projects that
commence construction no later than
September 30, 2011. Section 1705 is
designed to address national economic
conditions, in part, through the
advancement of renewable energy and
transmission. CSF submitted its
application for a loan guarantee in
response to LP’s solicitation, Financial
Institution Partnership Program—
Commercial Technology Renewable
Energy Generation Projects, issued
October 7, 2009.
Subsequent to issuance of the BPA
July 2008 ROD originally approving the
interconnection, CSF initiated certain
changes to the originally proposed Wind
Project. In May 2009, CSF transferred
ownership and control of its Wind
Project to three wholly owned
subsidiaries of CSF—Horseshoe Bend
Wind, LLC, South Hurlburt Wind, LLC,
and North Hurlburt Wind, LLC. In June
2009, these CSF subsidiaries submitted
a joint request to the Oregon Department
of Energy (ODOE), which serves as the
primary staff for the EFSC, to transfer
the Site Certificate for the Wind Project
to the subsidiaries under three separate
site certificates and to divide the Wind
Project into three separate facilities, as
follows:
• Shepherds Flat South (SFS), to be
constructed, owned, and operated by
Horseshoe Bend Wind LLC
• Shepherds Flat Central (SFC), to be
constructed, owned, and operated by
South Hurlburt Wind LLC
• Shepherds Flat North (SFN), to be
constructed, owned, and operated by
North Hurlburt Wind LLC
In September 2009, the EFSC
approved this request and issued three
new site certificates to the three CSF
subsidiaries. See Final Order on
Amendment #1—In the Matter of the
Request for Amendment #1 of the Site
Certificate for the Shepherds Flat Wind
Farm (available on the Web at https://
www.oregon.gov/ENERGY/SITING/
decisions.shtml#SFWF091109).
In November 2009, each of the CSF
subsidiaries submitted a separate
Request for Amendment of their
Original
turbines
Facility
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SFS ...........................................................................................
SFC ...........................................................................................
SFN ...........................................................................................
Totals .................................................................................
120
77
106
303
Change in
turbines
respective Site Certificates to the ODOE
to, among other things, incorporate their
turbine selections, conform the overall
project MW capacity to the authorized
interconnection capacity, and revise the
project boundaries for each of their
wind projects. The ODOE and the EFSC
evaluated and considered these
requests, and the EFSC issued Final
Orders approving the requests on March
12, 2010. See Final Order on
Amendment #1—In the Matter of the
Request for Amendment #1 of the Site
Certificate for Shepherds Flat South,
Final Order on Amendment #1—In the
Matter of the Request for Amendment
#1 of the Site Certificate for Shepherds
Flat Central, and Final Order on
Amendment #1—In the Matter of the
Request for Amendment #1 of the Site
Certificate for Shepherds Flat North
(available at https://www.oregon.gov/
ENERGY/SITING/decisions.shtml
#SFN031210). The DOE has utilized the
extensive project record developed by
the EFSC to support these Final Orders
and associated Amended Site
Certificates in describing the
environmental impacts presented in this
Revised ROD.
The modifications to the Wind Project
that have resulted from the changes in
ownership and site certification,
including the number of turbines and
boundary changes, collectively referred
to as the Modified Wind Project, are
summarized below.
Concerning turbine selection, each
CSF subsidiary has selected a 2.5–MW
nameplate wind turbine generator for its
portion of the Wind Project. The
original Site Certificate contemplated a
larger nameplate turbine (up to 3 MW),
with up to 303 turbines installed. Based
on the selected 2.5–MW turbine and the
overall 846 MW of interconnect
capacity, the EFSC Final Orders
authorized an increase in the number of
wind turbines to 338, which will be
distributed among the three wind
projects as follows:
Revised total
turbines
¥4
+ 39
0
+ 35
The three CSF subsidiaries also have
adjusted their respective site boundaries
and turbine layouts to better
accommodate each of their projects, as
follows:
1 In July 2008, CSF received a Site Certificate
from EFSC that authorized CSF to construct and
operate the Wind Project.
116
116
106
338
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2.5 MW ........
2.5 MW ........
2.5 MW ........
.....................
Facility
capacity
290
290
265
845
MW
MW
MW
MW
• Transferring approximately 2,413
acres originally approved for facility
development from SFS to SFC;
2 The BPA July 2008 ROD contains a full
description of the interconnection and associated
environmental considerations.
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• Assigning a 1,290-acre transmission
line corridor to be shared by the SFS
and SFC facilities to SFS;
• Expanding the SFS facility to
include an additional 4,855 acres not
previously considered for development
to better site the SFS facility’s approved
number of turbines and reducing the
amount of access roads by 9.7 miles;
• Expanding the SFC facility to
include an additional 2,421 acres not
previously considered for development
to better site the SFC facility’s approved
number of turbines and increasing the
amount of access roads by 8 miles;
• Transferring approximately 1,152
acres originally approved for facility
development from SFC to SFN and
expanding the SFN facility to include an
additional 15 acres not previously
considered for development. The
combined 1,167 acres added to SFN are
intended to accommodate an alternative
transmission line corridor (to the one
considered in the 2008 ROD) that
extends from the SFS substation to the
SFC substation and then to the BPA
substation, bypassing the SFN
substation. Use of the alternative
corridor would result in shorter
transmission line runs and eliminate
one crossing of an existing high-voltage
power line and county road. SFN access
roads would be decreased by 4 miles
under the alternative corridor.
With these adjustments, the overall
size of the project area has increased
from approximately 22,390 acres to
about 28,170 acres. However, only a
very small portion of this expanded
project area will actually be impacted by
the increased project footprint resulting
from the Modified Wind Project. As
documented in the Amended Site
Certificates, the area that will actually
be occupied by permanent project
facilities has increased from about 179.4
acres to 183.4 acres—an increase of
about 4.0 acres in total. The rest of the
expanded project area will remain in its
current agricultural use and will not be
affected by project facilities. Access
roads for the Modified Wind Project will
be reduced by 5.7 miles from the
original project.
Public Process and Consideration of
Comments
A public process conducted by the
ODOE for the requested Site Certificate
amendments provided opportunities for
public comment. After the ODOE
received these amendment requests
from the three CSF subsidiaries, copies
of the amendment requests were sent to
a list of reviewing agencies on
November 12, 2009, along with a
memorandum from ODOE that
requested submittal of any agency
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16:24 Oct 18, 2010
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comments to the ODOE by December 11,
2009. On November 17, 2009, the ODOE
sent notice of the amendment requests
to all persons on the Oregon EFSC
general mailing list, to persons on a
mailing list specifically established for
the proposed projects, and to an
updated list of property owners
supplied by the three CSF subsidiaries.
This notice also requested submittal of
any public comments to the ODOE by
December 11, 2009.
On February 4, 2010, the ODOE
issued Proposed Orders for each of the
three projects that included
recommended findings and the
conclusion for each project. The ODOE
mailed notice of the Proposed Orders to
the same mailing lists described above
and also posted this notice on the ODOE
Web site. The notice invited public
comments and set a deadline of March
8, 2010, for public comments or
contested case requests. Comments were
received on the SFS Proposed Order and
on the SFC Proposed Order. No
comments were received on the SFN
Proposed Order.
The ODOE and EFSC considered
public comments in preparing the Final
Order approving the Site Certificate
amendments. Comments included
concerns about cumulative effects to
wildlife, impacts to Washington ground
squirrels, and the appropriate
designation of habitat types within the
new wind project boundaries;
groundwater use and impacts to
aquifers; impacts to scenic values;
impacts from turbine noise; facility
lighting concerns; and impacts to the
Oregon Trail. A summary of all
comments received and the ODOE
responses are included in the
appendices of the Final Orders for each
of the three projects (see https://
www.oregon.gov/ENERGY/SITING/
decisions.shtml#SFN031210).
Discussion of Environmental Effects
As discussed in the BPA July 2008
ROD, BPA reviewed the BP EIS and BP
ROD to determine whether offering
terms to interconnect the Wind Project
was adequately covered in the scope of
the previous programmatic review. The
BP EIS supports a number of BPA
decisions concerning, among other
things, the interconnection of proposed
generation to the FCRTS. BPA
determined that its decision clearly fell
within the scope of the BP EIS and BP
ROD. The BPA July 2008 ROD described
the environmental impacts that would
result from the BPA interconnection
facilities, and summarized the
environmental impacts resulting from
the Wind Project. BPA also based its
July 2008 ROD on project and
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environmental information that was
considered by EFSC as part of its Site
Certificate application process, and on
EFSC’s findings in its June 11, 2008
Proposed Order and Final Order dated
July 25, 2008). EFSC, as the siting
authority for the Wind Project, fully
analyzes potential environmental
impacts of its siting decisions, and
specifies mitigation measures to
minimize impacts to natural resources.
BPA’s July 2008 ROD used these
findings and other information to assess
the Wind Project’s environmental
impacts.
Through this Revised ROD, BPA and
LP jointly determine that the BP EIS and
BP ROD adequately cover additional
BPA and LP actions and decisions
related to the Modified Wind Project,
and that these actions and decisions do
not represent a significant change
relevant to environmental
considerations from the July 2008 ROD.
BPA and LP reviewed the additional
project and environmental information
considered by EFSC for the Modified
Wind Project, as well as the EFSC
findings in the Final Orders for the new
site certificates. The environmental
analyses and findings by EFSC indicate
that no significant impacts to natural
resources (when compared to those
already considered in the July 2008
ROD) will occur as a result of the
Modified Wind Project. This Revised
ROD has been developed by BPA and
LP, in part, on the basis of the findings
and the project record developed by
EFSC.
BPA and LP also reviewed the BP EIS
to ensure that the Modified Wind
Project still fits within the
environmentally preferred alternatives.
In addition, BPA and LP considered the
environmental benefits of energy from
wind power, as opposed to fossil-fuel
alternatives, and have determined those
benefits to be substantial, particularly
the avoidance of 1,215,991 tons of CO2
emissions per year. Finally, in the
process of developing this Revised ROD,
BPA and LP reviewed the extensive
environmentally protective measures
included in the Wind Project Site
Certificate as a result of the EFSC
process. These protective measures
apply to the Modified Wind Project and
will reduce potential environmental
impacts considerably. Based on this
review, DOE believes the proposed
Modified Wind Project is an
environmentally preferable alternative
to generation of the equal amount of
electricity generated by conventional
fossil-fuel sources.
Because the Wind Project is now
divided into three separate wind
facilities and owned by three separate
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entities (the three CSF subsidiaries),
BPA will modify its LGIA for the Wind
Project by issuing three new LGIAs to
replace the single LGIA it had
previously issued. BPA issuance of
three new LGIAs is strictly an
administrative contract action to bring
BPA agreements in alignment with the
change in Wind Project parties that has
been authorized by EFSC. BPA is not
undertaking any activities beyond those
considered in the July 2008 ROD, with
the exception of placing some metering
equipment at one additional customer
substation. However, because this
equipment will be placed within the
boundaries of the substation, this
activity will not cause a significant
change in environmental effects already
considered in the July 2008 ROD.
The LP offer of a conditional
commitment for a loan guarantee to the
developers of the Wind Project will not
result in significant environmental
impacts beyond those considered in the
July 2008 ROD. The potential
environmental impacts from
development of the Wind Project by the
CSF subsidiaries are considered to be a
consequence of providing the loan
guarantee, and these impacts have
already been evaluated and considered
through the July 2008 ROD, as modified
by this Revised ROD.
The following section describes the
environmental impacts associated with
changes to the Wind Project that the
CSF subsidiaries initiated after EFSC
issued Wind Project Site Certificate in
July 2008. EFSC approved these changes
in its March 2010 Final Orders for the
Modified Wind Project. This description
of impacts is based on the EFSC
environmental considerations and
findings for the Modified Wind Project,
as contained in the March 2010 Final
Orders, associated Amended Site
Certificates, and other parts of the EFSC
project record.
a very small portion of the expanded
project area will be affected by
increased project footprint (i.e., the land
area that will be occupied by permanent
structures) from the Modified Wind
Project. The revised footprint areas that
will be used for siting the Modified
Wind Project facilities are currently in
the same type of land use (i.e.,
agricultural) as previously approved for
the original Wind Project. About 136.5
acres in Gilliam County (up from 135.9
acres) and about 46.8 acres in Morrow
County (up from 43.5 acres), for a total
of 183.3 acres (originally 179.4 acres),
will be removed from agricultural
production for the wind turbines and
associated facilities. This small increase
(4.0 acres) in affected agricultural uses
does not represent a significant change
in impacts to land use. There are no
designated recreational facilities or
activities on the project site. The land is
posted to prevent trespass and hunting.
There will be no impacts to recreation
from the project.
Land Use and Recreation
Impacts to vegetation will increase
with the construction of up to 35
additional turbines. However, impacts
will be similar to those of the originally
While the overall size of the project
area will increase from approximately
22,390 acres to about 28,170 acres, only
Transportation
The Modified Wind Project will
reduce new access roads by 5.7 miles as
compared with the original Wind
Project. Because the type of access road
will be the same as proposed originally
and there is no change in the amount or
mix of vehicles related to the Modified
Wind Project, impacts to existing
transportation infrastructure and traffic
patterns are expected to be the same as
considered in the July 2008 ROD.
Geology and Soils
The area of temporary and permanent
disturbance to soils will increase with
the Modified Wind Project. However,
given the small change in disturbed area
(4.0 acres), impacts to geology and soils
will be similar to those of the originally
proposed Wind Project.
Vegetation
proposed Wind Project. After
construction, all disturbed areas, except
the areas needed for permanent
facilities, will be restored with native
grasses and shrubs or will be managed
as cropland or rangeland.
Wetlands and Water Resources
Wetlands surveys were performed for
the areas that have been added to the
Modified Wind Project. No wetlands or
water resources were documented that
will be affected by any of the changes
in the Wind Project.
Fish and Wildlife
Impacts to fish and wildlife will be
similar to those of the originally
proposed Wind Project. The new areas
proposed for the alternative
transmission line route and the
boundary expansion of SFS and SFC
contain wildlife habitat that is similar to
the habitat in areas already considered.
Surveys for sensitive species in the new
lands did not identify any new
populations. No new risks to sensitive
species are anticipated from the changes
in facility design.
The avian and bat cumulative impacts
analysis in the July 2008 ROD was based
on the siting of up to 303 turbines with
a capacity up to 909 MW within the
Wind Project area. The EFSC has
authorized the CSF subsidiaries to
increase the number of turbines to 338,
but the maximum project capacity has
been reduced to 845 MW. Mortality risk
to bats and birds has been correlated to
total MW, not to total numbers of
turbines; thus, the impact analysis was
based on regional potential new
generation in MW. Because the
Modified Wind Project will result in a
decrease in installed MW, a
proportional decrease in the cumulative
risks to birds and bats from the Wind
Project is expected.
State and Federal Threatened and
Endangered Species
The following species with federal or
state status are listed for Gilliam and
Morrow counties:
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Species
Federal Status
Greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) .................................
Bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) ....................................................
Washington ground squirrel (Spermophilus washingtoni) ........................
Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis) ...............................................................
Gray wolf (Canis lupus) ............................................................................
Grizzly bear (Ursus arctos horribilis) ........................................................
Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) ........................................
Steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) ...........................................................
Sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) ..................................................
Candidate .......................................
None ...............................................
Candidate .......................................
Threatened .....................................
Endangered ....................................
Threatened .....................................
Threatened .....................................
Threatened .....................................
Endangered ....................................
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State status
State Sensitive—Vulnerable.
Threatened.
Endangered.
None.
Endangered.
None.
Threatened.
State Sensitive—Vulnerable.
None.
19OCN1
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Sage-grouse—The historic
distribution of the greater sage-grouse
includes Gilliam County; however there
are no records of current detections in
either Morrow or Gilliam county and
there were no observations of this
species recorded during the on-site
wildlife surveys in the new areas. There
is little suitable sage-grouse habitat
within the site boundaries. The
Modified Wind Project will not cause
any impacts to sage-grouse, because
habitat for the species is lacking in the
project areas and no sage-grouse have
been observed in or near the project
areas.
Bald Eagle—Bald eagles winter along
the Columbia River north of the project
area. Based on the limited use of the
facility site by bald eagles and the
mitigation measures included in the Site
Certificate for the Modified Wind
Project, changes to the project are not
likely to result in greater risk to bald
eagles than originally analyzed.
Washington Ground Squirrel—No
active Washington ground squirrel
colonies were found within the areas
that have been added to the Modified
Wind Project. Three potential use sites
might have previously been occupied
but were not at the time of the surveys.
These sites are in ravines where wind
turbines will not be placed.
Accordingly, project changes will not
result in impacts not already considered
to Washington ground squirrels.
Canada Lynx, Gray Wolf, and Grizzly
Bear—Although the historic distribution
of these three species includes Gilliam
and Morrow counties, they are now
extremely rare or non-existent in
Oregon. There are no recent recorded
detections of these species in either
Morrow or Gilliam county, and these
species were not observed during onsite wildlife surveys. No designated
critical habitat for these species is
present in or near the project area.
Because these species are not present in
or near the project areas, the Modified
Wind Project will have no effect on
Canada lynx, gray wolf, or grizzly bear.
Fish—The three listed fish species in
the analysis area are anadromous
species that travel the Columbia River
north of the facility site. The fish might
be present in Morrow and Gilliam
counties, but there are no perennial
streams within the site boundaries that
can support these species. Facility
construction will not consume water
from any streams that function as
habitat for these species.
Historic/Archaeological Resources
Modified Wind Project developers
will complete cultural resource surveys
on all new areas of disturbance not
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included as part of the originally
proposed Wind Project, and any cultural
resources will be avoided or mitigated
as described in the EFSC Site
Certificate. ODOE staff contacted the
Oregon State Historic Preservation
Officer about the most recent EFSC
amendments, but the Officer did not
respond with any supplemental
comments.
Visual Quality
The revision to lands authorized for
wind turbine siting and the addition of
35 turbines to the SFS area will change
the configuration of turbines from that
originally considered, but will not
change the overall visual impacts
associated with the original facility
layout.
Noise
Overall, impacts from construction
noise are not expected to change from
the originally proposed Wind Project,
because roughly the same number of
wind turbines will be constructed in
approximately the same area. However,
the reconfiguration of turbine locations
could temporarily increase noise levels
during construction in areas with a
greater concentration of turbines than
previously expected. Due to the lack of
sensitive noise receptors and the
temporary nature of this type of noise,
impacts will be the same as described
for the original Wind Project even with
this change. Operation of the additional
wind turbines will comply with
applicable state and county noisecontrol regulations; therefore, impacts
from operations noise will be similar to
those of the originally proposed Wind
Project.
Public Health and Safety
Impacts to public health and safety,
such as fire risk and hazardous
materials, will not change from those
described for the originally proposed
wind farm. Electromagnetic fields (EMF)
will increase in certain areas where new
turbines will be constructed. There have
been numerous studies on the potential
health effects from EMF; however these
studies remain inconclusive, showing
no or weak associations with effects on
health.3 Therefore, the Modified Wind
Project is not expected to result in any
3 Minnesota Department of Health, [undated].
Electric and Magnetic Fields, Frequently Asked
Questions, Web site: https://
www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/radiation/emf/
#risks, accessed December 5, 2005.
National Institute of Environmental Health
Sciences and National Institutes of Health, 2002.
EMF Electric and Magnetic Fields Associated with
the Use of Electric Power. June. Web site: https://
www.doh.wa.gov/ehp/rp/xray/emf202.pdf, assessed
December 5, 2005.
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different public health and safety
impacts from the originally proposed
Wind Project.
In April 2010, the Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA) and the
Department of Defense (DoD) raised the
potential impact of Wind Project
turbines on a nearby radar installation
in Oregon. DoD objected to a
Determination of No Hazard proposed
by FAA pursuant to Federal Aviation
Regulations (FAR) 14 CFR part 77,
Objects Affecting Navigable Airspace.
DoD subsequently analyzed this issue
and DoD removed its objection.
Consequently, the FAA issued a
Determination of No Hazard for
Modified Wind Project turbines on
April 30, 2010.
Socioeconomics and Public Services
Because the Modified Wind Project
will largely consist of the same types of
facilities in the same general area as
originally proposed, potential impacts
to socioeconomics and public services
are expected to be similar. However, the
additional turbines included in the
Modified Wind Project will provide
additional lease payments and other
local revenues compared to the
originally proposed Wind Project. In
addition, the additional turbines that
will be constructed likely would
lengthen the construction period.
Although this increase in the
construction period is expected to be
very slight, there could be a
corresponding increase in indirect
economic benefits to area businesses
from construction workers purchasing
more goods and services in Gilliam and
Morrow counties. However, this
increase will not be substantially more
than the impacts from the originally
proposed Wind Project.
Air Quality
By increasing the number of wind
turbines, the Modified Wind Project
could result in a temporary increase in
the amount of fugitive dust emissions
associated with construction activities.
This increase will be minor and short
term. The mitigation included in the
EFSC Site Certificate will minimize
these temporary impacts to levels
similar to the originally proposed Wind
Project. Other air quality impacts will be
the same as those described in the
original Site Certificate for the Wind
Project.
Greenhouse Gases
While the scientific understanding of
climate change continues to evolve, the
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
Change (IPCC) Fourth Assessment
Report stated that warming of Earth’s
E:\FR\FM\19OCN1.SGM
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Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 201 / Tuesday, October 19, 2010 / Notices
climate is unequivocal, and that
warming is very likely attributable to
increases in atmospheric greenhouse
gases (GHGs) caused by human
activities (anthropogenic).4 The release
of anthropogenic GHGs and their
potential contribution to global warming
are inherently cumulative phenomena.
The Fourth Assessment Report indicates
that changes in many physical and
biological systems, such as increases in
global temperatures, more frequent heat
waves, rising sea levels, coastal
flooding, loss of wildlife habitat, spread
of infectious disease, and other potential
environmental impacts are linked to
changes in the climate system, and that
some changes could be irreversible.
GHGs, which include carbon dioxide
(CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide
(N2O), are chemical compounds in the
Earth’s atmosphere that trap heat. Of
these gases, CO2 is recognized by the
IPCC as the primary GHG affecting
climate change. Present atmospheric
concentrations of CO2 are believed to be
higher than at any time in at least the
last 650,000 years, primarily as a result
of combustion of fossil fuels. It is also
very likely that observed increases in
CH4 are partially due to fossil fuel use,
according to the IPCC Report.
The energy produced by the Modified
Wind Project facilities would be free of
both GHG emissions and other air
pollutants. The project would generate
electrical power from a renewable
source of energy (wind) representing an
alternative to carbon-emitting fossil
fuels. Accordingly, as compared with
regional electrical generation mix, the
project will avoid 1,215,991 tons of CO2
per year, equivalent to the annual
greenhouse gas emissions of 212,141
passenger vehicles. Nonetheless, the
project would unavoidably produce
some greenhouse gas emissions through
activities such as project construction
and transportation. These emissions
would be extremely small compared to
the 8,026 million tons of CO2-equivalent
greenhouse gases emitted in the U.S. in
2007,5 and the 54 billion tons of CO2equivalent anthropogenic greenhouse
gases emitted globally in 2004.
However, emissions from the proposed
action in combination with past and
future emissions from all other sources
would contribute incrementally to the
climate change impacts described
above.
4 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change,
Fourth Assessment Report, Climate Change 2007:
Synthesis Report, Summary for Policy Makers,
released in Valencia, Spain, November 17,2007.
5 Energy Information Administration Report No.
DOE/EIA 0573 (2007).
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Conclusion
The DOE LP has decided to offer a
conditional commitment/term sheet for
a loan guarantee to CSF for the Modified
Wind Project, consisting of the SFN,
SFC, and SFS wind farms. When and if
all of the terms and conditions specified
in the conditional commitment have
been met, DOE and the Applicant may
enter into a Loan Guarantee Agreement
for the Modified Wind Project. To
conform with the changes to the Wind
Project Site Certificate authorized by the
EFSC, the BPA will issue three separate
LGIAs for the SFN, SFC, and SFS wind
farms to replace the single LGIA it had
previously issued for the Wind Project.
As relevant to environmental concerns,
these decisions are consistent with the
BP EIS and BP ROD. The July 2008 ROD
for the Wind Project thus is revised by
this ROD to include these additional
decisions concerning the Modified
Wind Project.
Issued in Portland, Oregon; Issued in
Washington, DC.
Dated: September 24, 2010.
Stephen J. Wright,
Administrator and Chief Executive Officer,
Bonneville Power Administration.
Dated: October 12, 2010.
Jonathan M. Silver,
Executive Director, Loan Programs Office.
[FR Doc. 2010–26229 Filed 10–18–10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission
[Docket No. IC11–537–000]
Commission Information Collection
Activities (FERC–537); Comment
Request; Extension
October 8, 2010.
Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission.
ACTION: Notice of proposed information
collection and request for comments.
AGENCY:
In compliance with the
requirements of section 3506(c)(2)(A) of
the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995,
44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A) (2006), (Pub. L.
104–13), the Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission (Commission or FERC) is
soliciting public comment on the
proposed information collection
described below.
DATES: Comments in consideration of
the collection of information are due
December 20, 2010.
ADDRESSES: Comments may be filed
either electronically (eFiled) or in paper
SUMMARY:
PO 00000
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Fmt 4703
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64301
format, and should refer to Docket No.
IC11–537–000. Documents must be
prepared in an acceptable filing format
and in compliance with Commission
submission guidelines at https://
www.ferc.gov/help/submissionguide.asp. eFiling instructions are
available at: https://www.ferc.gov/docsfiling/efiling.asp. First time users must
follow eRegister instructions at: https://
www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/
eregistration.asp, to establish a user
name and password before eFiling. The
Commission will send an automatic
acknowledgement to the sender’s e-mail
address upon receipt of eFiled
comments. Commenters making an
eFiling should not make a paper filing.
Commenters that are not able to file
electronically must send an original of
their comments to: Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission, Secretary of the
Commission, 888 First Street, NE.,
Washington, DC 20426.
Users interested in receiving
automatic notification of activity in this
docket may do so through eSubscription
at https://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/
esubscription.asp. In addition, all
comments and FERC issuances may be
viewed, printed or downloaded
remotely through FERC’s eLibrary at
https://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/
elibrary.asp, by searching on Docket No.
IC11–537. For user assistance, contact
FERC Online Support by e-mail at
ferconlinesupport@ferc.gov, or by phone
at: (866) 208–3676 (toll-free), or (202)
502–8659 for TTY.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: Ellen Brown
may be reached by e-mail at
DataClearance@FERC.gov, telephone at
(202) 502–8663, and fax at (202) 273–
0873.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
information collected under the
requirements of FERC–537, ‘‘Gas
Pipeline Certificates: Construction,
Acquisition, and Abandonment’’ (OMB
Control No. 1902–0060), is used by the
Commission to implement the statutory
provisions of the Natural Gas Policy Act
of 1978 (NGPA), 15 U.S.C. 3301–3432,
and the Natural Gas Act (NGA) (15
U.S.C. 717–717w). Under the NGA,
natural gas pipeline companies must
obtain Commission authorization to
undertake the construction or extension
of any facilities, or to acquire or operate
any such facilities or extensions in
accordance with Section 7(c) of the
NGA. A natural gas company must also
obtain Commission approval under
Section 7(b) of the NGA prior to
abandoning any jurisdictional facility or
service. Under the NGA and the NGPA,
interstate and intrastate pipelines must
also obtain authorization for certain
E:\FR\FM\19OCN1.SGM
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 201 (Tuesday, October 19, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64296-64301]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-26229]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Revised Record of Decision for Offer of Conditional Commitment
for a Loan Guarantee for, and Electrical Interconnection of, the
Shepherds Flat Wind Project
AGENCY: U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Loan Programs Office (LP) and
Bonneville Power Administration (BPA).
ACTION: Revised Record of Decision (ROD).
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Energy announces its decisions to
provide a conditional loan guarantee for, and interconnection to the
Federal Columbia River Transmission System (FCRTS) of, the 846-megawatt
(MW) Shepherds Flat Wind Project (Wind Project) in Gilliam and Morrow
counties, Oregon. This ROD revises a previous BPA ROD approving the
interconnection of the Wind Project to the FCRTS that was issued on
July 18, 2008. The Revised ROD reflects the decisions with regard to
the Wind Project for: The issuance by BPA of modified Large Generator
Interconnection Agreements (LGIAs); and the offer by LP of a
conditional commitment for a loan guarantee to Caithness Shepherds
Flat, LLC (CSF) for construction of the Wind Project. The Revised ROD
also addresses the division of the previously approved Wind Project
into three separate projects, and the transfer of these projects to
three separate subsidiaries of CSF that will result in additional
turbines, adjustments of site boundaries and additional acreage.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Doug Corkran, Bonneville Power
Administration, KEC-4, P.O. Box 3621, Portland, Oregon 97208-3621;
toll-free telephone number 1-800-622-4519; fax number 503-230-5699; or
e-mail dfcorkran@bpa.gov; and Matthew McMillen, Director, Environmental
Compliance Division, Loan Programs Office (LP-1), U.S. Department of
Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585; telephone
202-586-7248; or e-mail Matthew.McMillen@hq.doe.gov. For general
information about the DOE National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
process contact Carol Borgstrom, Director, Office of NEPA Policy and
Compliance (GC-54), U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 Independence
Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585; telephone 202-586-4600; leave a
message at 800-472-2756; or e-mail AskNEPA@hq.doe.gov. Information
about DOE NEPA activities and access to many DOE NEPA documents are
available through the DOE NEPA Web site at https://www.nepa.energy.gov.
ADDRESSES: Copies of the Revised ROD, the July 2008 ROD for the
Electrical Interconnection of the Shepherds Flat Wind Project, the
Business Plan Environmental Impact Statement and Business Plan ROD may
be obtained by: (1) Calling the BPA toll-free document request line, 1-
800-622-4520, (2) submitting a request to the BPA Public Information
Center, P.O. Box 12999, Portland, Oregon 97212, or (3) accessing these
documents on the BPA NEPA document Web site at https://www.efw.bpa.gov/environmental_services/nepadocs.aspx. The Revised ROD will also be
posted on the DOE LP Web site at https://www.lgprogram.energy.gov and
the DOE NEPA Web site at https://www.nepa.energy.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Introduction
On July 18, 2008, the BPA issued a ROD to interconnect the proposed
Wind Project to the FCRTS (73 FR 43730, July 28, 2008). DOE, through
its Loan Programs Office, and BPA, are issuing this Revised ROD to
address actions by the project developers subsequent to the 2008 ROD: A
loan guarantee application submitted to LP, and applications to BPA for
Large Generator Interconnection Agreements related to the transfer of
ownership of the Wind Project to three wholly owned subsidiaries. The
Wind Project, as modified, has been approved by the Oregon Energy
Facility Siting Council (EFSC).
As with the decision made by BPA for the originally proposed Wind
Project, BPA and LP decisions concerning the revised Wind Project are
consistent with and tiered to the BPA Business Plan Final Environmental
Impact Statement (BP EIS) (DOE/EIS-0183, June 1995),
[[Page 64297]]
and the Business Plan Record of Decision (BP ROD, August 1995).
Background
The BPA, a power marketing administration within DOE, owns and
operates most of the high-voltage electric transmission system in the
Pacific Northwest. This system is known as the FCRTS. In 2004, CSF
submitted a generator interconnection request to BPA to interconnect
the proposed Wind Project to the FCRTS. In its July 2008 ROD, BPA
decided to offer contract terms (called a Large Generator
Interconnection Agreement [LGIA]) to CSF for interconnection of the
Wind Project to the FCRTS.\1\ Under this LGIA, up to 846 megawatts (MW)
of power from the Wind Project will be interconnected at the existing
Slatt Substation in Gilliam County, Oregon. To provide the
interconnection, BPA is in the process of expanding its Slatt
Substation to accommodate a 230-kilovolt (kV) yard and will provide
transmission access for up to 846 MW from the Wind Project to the BPA
500-kV transmission system.\2\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ In July 2008, CSF received a Site Certificate from EFSC that
authorized CSF to construct and operate the Wind Project.
\2\ The BPA July 2008 ROD contains a full description of the
interconnection and associated environmental considerations.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
In November 2009, CSF applied to DOE LP for a loan guarantee for
the Wind Project. DOE established the LP in response to Title XVII of
the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16511-16514), which authorizes
the Secretary of Energy to make loan guarantees for projects that (1)
avoid, reduce, or sequester air pollutants or anthropogenic emissions
of greenhouse gases, and (2) employ new or significantly improved
technologies as compared to commercial technologies in service in the
United States at the time the guarantee is issued. Section 406 of the
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (42 U.S.C. 16516;
Recovery Act) amended Title XVII to create Section 1705 authorizing a
new program for rapid deployment of renewable energy projects and
related manufacturing facilities, and electric power transmission
projects that commence construction no later than September 30, 2011.
Section 1705 is designed to address national economic conditions, in
part, through the advancement of renewable energy and transmission. CSF
submitted its application for a loan guarantee in response to LP's
solicitation, Financial Institution Partnership Program--Commercial
Technology Renewable Energy Generation Projects, issued October 7,
2009.
Subsequent to issuance of the BPA July 2008 ROD originally
approving the interconnection, CSF initiated certain changes to the
originally proposed Wind Project. In May 2009, CSF transferred
ownership and control of its Wind Project to three wholly owned
subsidiaries of CSF--Horseshoe Bend Wind, LLC, South Hurlburt Wind,
LLC, and North Hurlburt Wind, LLC. In June 2009, these CSF subsidiaries
submitted a joint request to the Oregon Department of Energy (ODOE),
which serves as the primary staff for the EFSC, to transfer the Site
Certificate for the Wind Project to the subsidiaries under three
separate site certificates and to divide the Wind Project into three
separate facilities, as follows:
Shepherds Flat South (SFS), to be constructed, owned, and
operated by Horseshoe Bend Wind LLC
Shepherds Flat Central (SFC), to be constructed, owned,
and operated by South Hurlburt Wind LLC
Shepherds Flat North (SFN), to be constructed, owned, and
operated by North Hurlburt Wind LLC
In September 2009, the EFSC approved this request and issued three
new site certificates to the three CSF subsidiaries. See Final Order on
Amendment #1--In the Matter of the Request for Amendment #1 of the Site
Certificate for the Shepherds Flat Wind Farm (available on the Web at
https://www.oregon.gov/ENERGY/SITING/decisions.shtml#SFWF091109).
In November 2009, each of the CSF subsidiaries submitted a separate
Request for Amendment of their respective Site Certificates to the ODOE
to, among other things, incorporate their turbine selections, conform
the overall project MW capacity to the authorized interconnection
capacity, and revise the project boundaries for each of their wind
projects. The ODOE and the EFSC evaluated and considered these
requests, and the EFSC issued Final Orders approving the requests on
March 12, 2010. See Final Order on Amendment #1--In the Matter of the
Request for Amendment #1 of the Site Certificate for Shepherds Flat
South, Final Order on Amendment #1--In the Matter of the Request for
Amendment #1 of the Site Certificate for Shepherds Flat Central, and
Final Order on Amendment #1--In the Matter of the Request for Amendment
#1 of the Site Certificate for Shepherds Flat North (available at
https://www.oregon.gov/ENERGY/SITING/decisions.shtml#SFN031210). The DOE
has utilized the extensive project record developed by the EFSC to
support these Final Orders and associated Amended Site Certificates in
describing the environmental impacts presented in this Revised ROD.
The modifications to the Wind Project that have resulted from the
changes in ownership and site certification, including the number of
turbines and boundary changes, collectively referred to as the Modified
Wind Project, are summarized below.
Concerning turbine selection, each CSF subsidiary has selected a
2.5-MW nameplate wind turbine generator for its portion of the Wind
Project. The original Site Certificate contemplated a larger nameplate
turbine (up to 3 MW), with up to 303 turbines installed. Based on the
selected 2.5-MW turbine and the overall 846 MW of interconnect
capacity, the EFSC Final Orders authorized an increase in the number of
wind turbines to 338, which will be distributed among the three wind
projects as follows:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Original Change in Revised total Nameplate Facility
Facility turbines turbines turbines rating capacity
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SFS......................... 120 -4 116 2.5 MW.......... 290 MW
SFC......................... 77 + 39 116 2.5 MW.......... 290 MW
SFN......................... 106 0 106 2.5 MW.......... 265 MW
Totals.................. 303 + 35 338 ................ 845 MW
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The three CSF subsidiaries also have adjusted their respective site
boundaries and turbine layouts to better accommodate each of their
projects, as follows:
Transferring approximately 2,413 acres originally approved
for facility development from SFS to SFC;
[[Page 64298]]
Assigning a 1,290-acre transmission line corridor to be
shared by the SFS and SFC facilities to SFS;
Expanding the SFS facility to include an additional 4,855
acres not previously considered for development to better site the SFS
facility's approved number of turbines and reducing the amount of
access roads by 9.7 miles;
Expanding the SFC facility to include an additional 2,421
acres not previously considered for development to better site the SFC
facility's approved number of turbines and increasing the amount of
access roads by 8 miles;
Transferring approximately 1,152 acres originally approved
for facility development from SFC to SFN and expanding the SFN facility
to include an additional 15 acres not previously considered for
development. The combined 1,167 acres added to SFN are intended to
accommodate an alternative transmission line corridor (to the one
considered in the 2008 ROD) that extends from the SFS substation to the
SFC substation and then to the BPA substation, bypassing the SFN
substation. Use of the alternative corridor would result in shorter
transmission line runs and eliminate one crossing of an existing high-
voltage power line and county road. SFN access roads would be decreased
by 4 miles under the alternative corridor.
With these adjustments, the overall size of the project area has
increased from approximately 22,390 acres to about 28,170 acres.
However, only a very small portion of this expanded project area will
actually be impacted by the increased project footprint resulting from
the Modified Wind Project. As documented in the Amended Site
Certificates, the area that will actually be occupied by permanent
project facilities has increased from about 179.4 acres to 183.4
acres--an increase of about 4.0 acres in total. The rest of the
expanded project area will remain in its current agricultural use and
will not be affected by project facilities. Access roads for the
Modified Wind Project will be reduced by 5.7 miles from the original
project.
Public Process and Consideration of Comments
A public process conducted by the ODOE for the requested Site
Certificate amendments provided opportunities for public comment. After
the ODOE received these amendment requests from the three CSF
subsidiaries, copies of the amendment requests were sent to a list of
reviewing agencies on November 12, 2009, along with a memorandum from
ODOE that requested submittal of any agency comments to the ODOE by
December 11, 2009. On November 17, 2009, the ODOE sent notice of the
amendment requests to all persons on the Oregon EFSC general mailing
list, to persons on a mailing list specifically established for the
proposed projects, and to an updated list of property owners supplied
by the three CSF subsidiaries. This notice also requested submittal of
any public comments to the ODOE by December 11, 2009.
On February 4, 2010, the ODOE issued Proposed Orders for each of
the three projects that included recommended findings and the
conclusion for each project. The ODOE mailed notice of the Proposed
Orders to the same mailing lists described above and also posted this
notice on the ODOE Web site. The notice invited public comments and set
a deadline of March 8, 2010, for public comments or contested case
requests. Comments were received on the SFS Proposed Order and on the
SFC Proposed Order. No comments were received on the SFN Proposed
Order.
The ODOE and EFSC considered public comments in preparing the Final
Order approving the Site Certificate amendments. Comments included
concerns about cumulative effects to wildlife, impacts to Washington
ground squirrels, and the appropriate designation of habitat types
within the new wind project boundaries; groundwater use and impacts to
aquifers; impacts to scenic values; impacts from turbine noise;
facility lighting concerns; and impacts to the Oregon Trail. A summary
of all comments received and the ODOE responses are included in the
appendices of the Final Orders for each of the three projects (see
https://www.oregon.gov/ENERGY/SITING/decisions.shtml#SFN031210).
Discussion of Environmental Effects
As discussed in the BPA July 2008 ROD, BPA reviewed the BP EIS and
BP ROD to determine whether offering terms to interconnect the Wind
Project was adequately covered in the scope of the previous
programmatic review. The BP EIS supports a number of BPA decisions
concerning, among other things, the interconnection of proposed
generation to the FCRTS. BPA determined that its decision clearly fell
within the scope of the BP EIS and BP ROD. The BPA July 2008 ROD
described the environmental impacts that would result from the BPA
interconnection facilities, and summarized the environmental impacts
resulting from the Wind Project. BPA also based its July 2008 ROD on
project and environmental information that was considered by EFSC as
part of its Site Certificate application process, and on EFSC's
findings in its June 11, 2008 Proposed Order and Final Order dated July
25, 2008). EFSC, as the siting authority for the Wind Project, fully
analyzes potential environmental impacts of its siting decisions, and
specifies mitigation measures to minimize impacts to natural resources.
BPA's July 2008 ROD used these findings and other information to assess
the Wind Project's environmental impacts.
Through this Revised ROD, BPA and LP jointly determine that the BP
EIS and BP ROD adequately cover additional BPA and LP actions and
decisions related to the Modified Wind Project, and that these actions
and decisions do not represent a significant change relevant to
environmental considerations from the July 2008 ROD. BPA and LP
reviewed the additional project and environmental information
considered by EFSC for the Modified Wind Project, as well as the EFSC
findings in the Final Orders for the new site certificates. The
environmental analyses and findings by EFSC indicate that no
significant impacts to natural resources (when compared to those
already considered in the July 2008 ROD) will occur as a result of the
Modified Wind Project. This Revised ROD has been developed by BPA and
LP, in part, on the basis of the findings and the project record
developed by EFSC.
BPA and LP also reviewed the BP EIS to ensure that the Modified
Wind Project still fits within the environmentally preferred
alternatives. In addition, BPA and LP considered the environmental
benefits of energy from wind power, as opposed to fossil-fuel
alternatives, and have determined those benefits to be substantial,
particularly the avoidance of 1,215,991 tons of CO2 emissions per year.
Finally, in the process of developing this Revised ROD, BPA and LP
reviewed the extensive environmentally protective measures included in
the Wind Project Site Certificate as a result of the EFSC process.
These protective measures apply to the Modified Wind Project and will
reduce potential environmental impacts considerably. Based on this
review, DOE believes the proposed Modified Wind Project is an
environmentally preferable alternative to generation of the equal
amount of electricity generated by conventional fossil-fuel sources.
Because the Wind Project is now divided into three separate wind
facilities and owned by three separate
[[Page 64299]]
entities (the three CSF subsidiaries), BPA will modify its LGIA for the
Wind Project by issuing three new LGIAs to replace the single LGIA it
had previously issued. BPA issuance of three new LGIAs is strictly an
administrative contract action to bring BPA agreements in alignment
with the change in Wind Project parties that has been authorized by
EFSC. BPA is not undertaking any activities beyond those considered in
the July 2008 ROD, with the exception of placing some metering
equipment at one additional customer substation. However, because this
equipment will be placed within the boundaries of the substation, this
activity will not cause a significant change in environmental effects
already considered in the July 2008 ROD.
The LP offer of a conditional commitment for a loan guarantee to
the developers of the Wind Project will not result in significant
environmental impacts beyond those considered in the July 2008 ROD. The
potential environmental impacts from development of the Wind Project by
the CSF subsidiaries are considered to be a consequence of providing
the loan guarantee, and these impacts have already been evaluated and
considered through the July 2008 ROD, as modified by this Revised ROD.
The following section describes the environmental impacts
associated with changes to the Wind Project that the CSF subsidiaries
initiated after EFSC issued Wind Project Site Certificate in July 2008.
EFSC approved these changes in its March 2010 Final Orders for the
Modified Wind Project. This description of impacts is based on the EFSC
environmental considerations and findings for the Modified Wind
Project, as contained in the March 2010 Final Orders, associated
Amended Site Certificates, and other parts of the EFSC project record.
Land Use and Recreation
While the overall size of the project area will increase from
approximately 22,390 acres to about 28,170 acres, only a very small
portion of the expanded project area will be affected by increased
project footprint (i.e., the land area that will be occupied by
permanent structures) from the Modified Wind Project. The revised
footprint areas that will be used for siting the Modified Wind Project
facilities are currently in the same type of land use (i.e.,
agricultural) as previously approved for the original Wind Project.
About 136.5 acres in Gilliam County (up from 135.9 acres) and about
46.8 acres in Morrow County (up from 43.5 acres), for a total of 183.3
acres (originally 179.4 acres), will be removed from agricultural
production for the wind turbines and associated facilities. This small
increase (4.0 acres) in affected agricultural uses does not represent a
significant change in impacts to land use. There are no designated
recreational facilities or activities on the project site. The land is
posted to prevent trespass and hunting. There will be no impacts to
recreation from the project.
Transportation
The Modified Wind Project will reduce new access roads by 5.7 miles
as compared with the original Wind Project. Because the type of access
road will be the same as proposed originally and there is no change in
the amount or mix of vehicles related to the Modified Wind Project,
impacts to existing transportation infrastructure and traffic patterns
are expected to be the same as considered in the July 2008 ROD.
Geology and Soils
The area of temporary and permanent disturbance to soils will
increase with the Modified Wind Project. However, given the small
change in disturbed area (4.0 acres), impacts to geology and soils will
be similar to those of the originally proposed Wind Project.
Vegetation
Impacts to vegetation will increase with the construction of up to
35 additional turbines. However, impacts will be similar to those of
the originally proposed Wind Project. After construction, all disturbed
areas, except the areas needed for permanent facilities, will be
restored with native grasses and shrubs or will be managed as cropland
or rangeland.
Wetlands and Water Resources
Wetlands surveys were performed for the areas that have been added
to the Modified Wind Project. No wetlands or water resources were
documented that will be affected by any of the changes in the Wind
Project.
Fish and Wildlife
Impacts to fish and wildlife will be similar to those of the
originally proposed Wind Project. The new areas proposed for the
alternative transmission line route and the boundary expansion of SFS
and SFC contain wildlife habitat that is similar to the habitat in
areas already considered. Surveys for sensitive species in the new
lands did not identify any new populations. No new risks to sensitive
species are anticipated from the changes in facility design.
The avian and bat cumulative impacts analysis in the July 2008 ROD
was based on the siting of up to 303 turbines with a capacity up to 909
MW within the Wind Project area. The EFSC has authorized the CSF
subsidiaries to increase the number of turbines to 338, but the maximum
project capacity has been reduced to 845 MW. Mortality risk to bats and
birds has been correlated to total MW, not to total numbers of
turbines; thus, the impact analysis was based on regional potential new
generation in MW. Because the Modified Wind Project will result in a
decrease in installed MW, a proportional decrease in the cumulative
risks to birds and bats from the Wind Project is expected.
State and Federal Threatened and Endangered Species
The following species with federal or state status are listed for
Gilliam and Morrow counties:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Federal Status State status
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus Candidate.............. State Sensitive--Vulnerable.
urophasianus).
Bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) None................... Threatened.
Washington ground squirrel Candidate.............. Endangered.
(Spermophilus washingtoni).
Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis)........ Threatened............. None.
Gray wolf (Canis lupus).............. Endangered............. Endangered.
Grizzly bear (Ursus arctos Threatened............. None.
horribilis).
Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus Threatened............. Threatened.
tshawytscha).
Steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss)...... Threatened............. State Sensitive--Vulnerable.
Sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka).. Endangered............. None.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[[Page 64300]]
Sage-grouse--The historic distribution of the greater sage-grouse
includes Gilliam County; however there are no records of current
detections in either Morrow or Gilliam county and there were no
observations of this species recorded during the on-site wildlife
surveys in the new areas. There is little suitable sage-grouse habitat
within the site boundaries. The Modified Wind Project will not cause
any impacts to sage-grouse, because habitat for the species is lacking
in the project areas and no sage-grouse have been observed in or near
the project areas.
Bald Eagle--Bald eagles winter along the Columbia River north of
the project area. Based on the limited use of the facility site by bald
eagles and the mitigation measures included in the Site Certificate for
the Modified Wind Project, changes to the project are not likely to
result in greater risk to bald eagles than originally analyzed.
Washington Ground Squirrel--No active Washington ground squirrel
colonies were found within the areas that have been added to the
Modified Wind Project. Three potential use sites might have previously
been occupied but were not at the time of the surveys. These sites are
in ravines where wind turbines will not be placed. Accordingly, project
changes will not result in impacts not already considered to Washington
ground squirrels.
Canada Lynx, Gray Wolf, and Grizzly Bear--Although the historic
distribution of these three species includes Gilliam and Morrow
counties, they are now extremely rare or non-existent in Oregon. There
are no recent recorded detections of these species in either Morrow or
Gilliam county, and these species were not observed during on-site
wildlife surveys. No designated critical habitat for these species is
present in or near the project area. Because these species are not
present in or near the project areas, the Modified Wind Project will
have no effect on Canada lynx, gray wolf, or grizzly bear.
Fish--The three listed fish species in the analysis area are
anadromous species that travel the Columbia River north of the facility
site. The fish might be present in Morrow and Gilliam counties, but
there are no perennial streams within the site boundaries that can
support these species. Facility construction will not consume water
from any streams that function as habitat for these species.
Historic/Archaeological Resources
Modified Wind Project developers will complete cultural resource
surveys on all new areas of disturbance not included as part of the
originally proposed Wind Project, and any cultural resources will be
avoided or mitigated as described in the EFSC Site Certificate. ODOE
staff contacted the Oregon State Historic Preservation Officer about
the most recent EFSC amendments, but the Officer did not respond with
any supplemental comments.
Visual Quality
The revision to lands authorized for wind turbine siting and the
addition of 35 turbines to the SFS area will change the configuration
of turbines from that originally considered, but will not change the
overall visual impacts associated with the original facility layout.
Noise
Overall, impacts from construction noise are not expected to change
from the originally proposed Wind Project, because roughly the same
number of wind turbines will be constructed in approximately the same
area. However, the reconfiguration of turbine locations could
temporarily increase noise levels during construction in areas with a
greater concentration of turbines than previously expected. Due to the
lack of sensitive noise receptors and the temporary nature of this type
of noise, impacts will be the same as described for the original Wind
Project even with this change. Operation of the additional wind
turbines will comply with applicable state and county noise-control
regulations; therefore, impacts from operations noise will be similar
to those of the originally proposed Wind Project.
Public Health and Safety
Impacts to public health and safety, such as fire risk and
hazardous materials, will not change from those described for the
originally proposed wind farm. Electromagnetic fields (EMF) will
increase in certain areas where new turbines will be constructed. There
have been numerous studies on the potential health effects from EMF;
however these studies remain inconclusive, showing no or weak
associations with effects on health.\3\ Therefore, the Modified Wind
Project is not expected to result in any different public health and
safety impacts from the originally proposed Wind Project.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\3\ Minnesota Department of Health, [undated]. Electric and
Magnetic Fields, Frequently Asked Questions, Web site: https://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/radiation/emf/#risks, accessed
December 5, 2005.
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and National
Institutes of Health, 2002. EMF Electric and Magnetic Fields
Associated with the Use of Electric Power. June. Web site: https://www.doh.wa.gov/ehp/rp/xray/emf202.pdf, assessed December 5, 2005.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
In April 2010, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the
Department of Defense (DoD) raised the potential impact of Wind Project
turbines on a nearby radar installation in Oregon. DoD objected to a
Determination of No Hazard proposed by FAA pursuant to Federal Aviation
Regulations (FAR) 14 CFR part 77, Objects Affecting Navigable Airspace.
DoD subsequently analyzed this issue and DoD removed its objection.
Consequently, the FAA issued a Determination of No Hazard for Modified
Wind Project turbines on April 30, 2010.
Socioeconomics and Public Services
Because the Modified Wind Project will largely consist of the same
types of facilities in the same general area as originally proposed,
potential impacts to socioeconomics and public services are expected to
be similar. However, the additional turbines included in the Modified
Wind Project will provide additional lease payments and other local
revenues compared to the originally proposed Wind Project. In addition,
the additional turbines that will be constructed likely would lengthen
the construction period. Although this increase in the construction
period is expected to be very slight, there could be a corresponding
increase in indirect economic benefits to area businesses from
construction workers purchasing more goods and services in Gilliam and
Morrow counties. However, this increase will not be substantially more
than the impacts from the originally proposed Wind Project.
Air Quality
By increasing the number of wind turbines, the Modified Wind
Project could result in a temporary increase in the amount of fugitive
dust emissions associated with construction activities. This increase
will be minor and short term. The mitigation included in the EFSC Site
Certificate will minimize these temporary impacts to levels similar to
the originally proposed Wind Project. Other air quality impacts will be
the same as those described in the original Site Certificate for the
Wind Project.
Greenhouse Gases
While the scientific understanding of climate change continues to
evolve, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Fourth
Assessment Report stated that warming of Earth's
[[Page 64301]]
climate is unequivocal, and that warming is very likely attributable to
increases in atmospheric greenhouse gases (GHGs) caused by human
activities (anthropogenic).\4\ The release of anthropogenic GHGs and
their potential contribution to global warming are inherently
cumulative phenomena. The Fourth Assessment Report indicates that
changes in many physical and biological systems, such as increases in
global temperatures, more frequent heat waves, rising sea levels,
coastal flooding, loss of wildlife habitat, spread of infectious
disease, and other potential environmental impacts are linked to
changes in the climate system, and that some changes could be
irreversible. GHGs, which include carbon dioxide (CO2),
methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O), are
chemical compounds in the Earth's atmosphere that trap heat. Of these
gases, CO2 is recognized by the IPCC as the primary GHG
affecting climate change. Present atmospheric concentrations of
CO2 are believed to be higher than at any time in at least
the last 650,000 years, primarily as a result of combustion of fossil
fuels. It is also very likely that observed increases in CH4
are partially due to fossil fuel use, according to the IPCC Report.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\4\ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Fourth Assessment
Report, Climate Change 2007: Synthesis Report, Summary for Policy
Makers, released in Valencia, Spain, November 17,2007.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The energy produced by the Modified Wind Project facilities would
be free of both GHG emissions and other air pollutants. The project
would generate electrical power from a renewable source of energy
(wind) representing an alternative to carbon-emitting fossil fuels.
Accordingly, as compared with regional electrical generation mix, the
project will avoid 1,215,991 tons of CO2 per year,
equivalent to the annual greenhouse gas emissions of 212,141 passenger
vehicles. Nonetheless, the project would unavoidably produce some
greenhouse gas emissions through activities such as project
construction and transportation. These emissions would be extremely
small compared to the 8,026 million tons of CO2-equivalent
greenhouse gases emitted in the U.S. in 2007,\5\ and the 54 billion
tons of CO2-equivalent anthropogenic greenhouse gases
emitted globally in 2004. However, emissions from the proposed action
in combination with past and future emissions from all other sources
would contribute incrementally to the climate change impacts described
above.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\5\ Energy Information Administration Report No. DOE/EIA 0573
(2007).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Conclusion
The DOE LP has decided to offer a conditional commitment/term sheet
for a loan guarantee to CSF for the Modified Wind Project, consisting
of the SFN, SFC, and SFS wind farms. When and if all of the terms and
conditions specified in the conditional commitment have been met, DOE
and the Applicant may enter into a Loan Guarantee Agreement for the
Modified Wind Project. To conform with the changes to the Wind Project
Site Certificate authorized by the EFSC, the BPA will issue three
separate LGIAs for the SFN, SFC, and SFS wind farms to replace the
single LGIA it had previously issued for the Wind Project. As relevant
to environmental concerns, these decisions are consistent with the BP
EIS and BP ROD. The July 2008 ROD for the Wind Project thus is revised
by this ROD to include these additional decisions concerning the
Modified Wind Project.
Issued in Portland, Oregon; Issued in Washington, DC.
Dated: September 24, 2010.
Stephen J. Wright,
Administrator and Chief Executive Officer, Bonneville Power
Administration.
Dated: October 12, 2010.
Jonathan M. Silver,
Executive Director, Loan Programs Office.
[FR Doc. 2010-26229 Filed 10-18-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P