Interconnection of the Grande Prairie Wind Farm, Holt County, NE, 22569-22571 [2012-9038]
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Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 73 / Monday, April 16, 2012 / Notices
issuance of a new license for the project
or other disposition under the FPA,
whichever comes first. If issuance of a
new license (or other disposition) does
not take place on or before March 31,
2013, notice is hereby given that,
pursuant to 18 CFR 16.18(c), an annual
license under section 15(a)(1) of the
FPA is renewed automatically without
further order or notice by the
Commission, unless the Commission
orders otherwise. If the project is not
subject to section 15 of the FPA, notice
is hereby given that the Madison Paper
Industries, FPL Energy Maine Hydro,
LLC, and Merimil Limited Partnership
are authorized to continue operation of
the Brassua Hydroelectric Project, until
such time as the Commission acts on its
application for a subsequent license.
Dated: April 9, 2012.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2012–9015 Filed 4–13–12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
date need not serve motions to intervene
or protests on persons other than the
Applicant.
The Commission encourages
electronic submission of protests and
interventions in lieu of paper using the
‘‘eFiling’’ link at https://www.ferc.gov.
Persons unable to file electronically
should submit an original and 7 copies
of the protest or intervention to the
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission,
888 First Street NE., Washington, DC
20426.
This filing is accessible on-line at
https://www.ferc.gov, using the
‘‘eLibrary’’ link and is available for
review in the Commission’s Public
Reference Room in Washington, DC.
There is an ‘‘eSubscription’’ link on the
Web site that enables subscribers to
receive email notification when a
document is added to a subscribed
docket(s). For assistance with any FERC
Online service, please email
FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov, or call
(866) 208–3676 (toll free). For TTY, call
(202) 502–8659.
Comment Date: 5 p.m. Eastern Time
on Monday, April 16, 2012.
Dated: April 4, 2012.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission
[Docket No. PR12–20–000]
[FR Doc. 2012–9014 Filed 4–13–12; 8:45 am]
emcdonald on DSK29S0YB1PROD with NOTICES
NorthWestern Corporation; Notice of
Petition for Rate Approval
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
Take notice that on April 2, 2012,
NorthWestern Corporation
(NorthWestern) filed a Rate Election
pursuant to 284.123(b)(1) of the
Commissions regulations and to revise
its Statement of Operating Conditions.
NorthWestern proposes to utilize rates
that are the same as those contained in
NorthWestern’s transportation rate
schedules for comparable intrastate
service on file with the South Dakota
Public Utilities Commission as more
fully detailed in the petition.
Any person desiring to participate in
this rate filing must file in accordance
with Rules 211 and 214 of the
Commission’s Rules of Practice and
Procedure (18 CFR 385.211 and
385.214). Protests will be considered by
the Commission in determining the
appropriate action to be taken, but will
not serve to make protestants parties to
the proceeding. Any person wishing to
become a party must file a notice of
intervention or motion to intervene, as
appropriate. Such notices, motions, or
protests must be filed on or before the
date as indicated below. Anyone filing
an intervention or protest must serve a
copy of that document on the Applicant.
Anyone filing an intervention or protest
on or before the intervention or protest
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
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Western Area Power Administration
Interconnection of the Grande Prairie
Wind Farm, Holt County, NE
Western Area Power
Administration, Department of Energy.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an
environmental impact statement and
conduct scoping meetings; Notice of
potential floodplain and wetlands
involvement.
AGENCY:
The Western Area Power
Administration (Western), an agency of
the Department of Energy (DOE),
intends to prepare an environmental
impact statement (EIS) on the proposed
interconnection of the Grande Prairie
Wind Farm (Project) in Holt County,
near the city of O’Neill, Nebraska.
Grande Prairie Wind, LLC (Grande
Prairie Wind), a majority-owned
subsidiary of Midwest Wind Energy,
LLC, has applied to Western to
interconnect their proposed wind
energy generation project to Western’s
power transmission system. Western’s
Federal action would be to execute an
interconnection agreement with Grande
Prairie Wind and make any necessary
SUMMARY:
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22569
modifications to the transmission
system to accommodate the
interconnection at Grande Prairie
Wind’s expense. Western is issuing this
notice to inform the public and
interested parties about Western’s intent
to prepare an EIS, conduct a public
scoping process, and invite the public to
comment on the scope, proposed action,
alternatives, and other issues to be
addressed in the EIS.
Construction activities proposed by
Grande Prairie Wind may affect
floodplains and wetlands, so this Notice
of Intent (NOI) also serves as a notice of
proposed floodplain or wetland action
in accordance with DOE floodplain and
wetland environmental review
requirements.
The public scoping period begins
with the publication of this notice and
closes on May 16, 2012. To provide the
public an opportunity to review the
proposal and project information,
Western will hold one public meeting in
O’Neill, Nebraska. Western will
announce the date and location of the
public scoping meeting through local
news media, and posting on the Western
Web site at https://www.wapa.gov/ugp/
Environment/default.htm at least 15
days prior to the meeting. While
comments will be accepted at any time
during the EIS process, submission of
comments by the end of the scoping
comment period will ensure full
consideration in the Draft EIS.
ADDRESSES: Written comments on the
scope of the EIS should be addressed to
Mr. Matt Marsh, Western Area Power
Administration, P.O. Box 35800, 2900
4th Avenue, North, Billings, MT 59107,
fax (406) 255–2900 or email at
grandeprairie@wapa.gov.
DATES:
Mr.
Matt Marsh, Western Area Power
Administration, P.O. Box 35800, 2900
4th Avenue, North, Billings, MT 59107,
telephone (406) 255–2811, or email
grandeprairie@wapa.gov. For general
information on DOE’s National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
review procedures or status of a NEPA
review, contact Ms. Carol M. 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 or (800) 472–2756, fax
(202) 586–7031.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Western,
an agency within DOE, markets Federal
hydroelectric power to preference
customers, as specified by law. These
customers include municipalities,
cooperatives, irrigation districts, Federal
and State agencies, and Native
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
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Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 73 / Monday, April 16, 2012 / Notices
American tribes. Western’s service
territory covers 15 western states,
including Nebraska. Western owns and
operates more than 17,000 miles of
high-voltage transmission lines. Western
offers capacity to deliver electricity on
its transmission system, when such
capacity is available, under Western’s
Open Access Transmission Service
Tariff.
Grande Prairie Wind has applied to
Western to interconnect their proposed
wind energy generation Project to
Western’s Fort Thompson–Grand Island
transmission line. The proposed Project
is subject to county and local approvals
prior to Project construction.
emcdonald on DSK29S0YB1PROD with NOTICES
Grand Prairie Project Description
Grande Prairie Wind proposes to
construct and operate a 400-megawatt
(MW) wind energy generation facility in
Holt County in northern Nebraska. The
Project area would occupy
approximately 45,000 acres in portions
of Willowdale, Antelope, Grattan, Iowa,
Scott, and Steel Creek Townships.
Grande Prairie Wind proposes to
build up to 266 wind turbines.
Permanent disturbance for each wind
turbine generator location would be
approximately 0.25 acres. Grande
Prairie Wind is considering a variety of
wind turbine generator types, with
capacities ranging from 1.5 to 2.4 MW.
Each wind turbine generator would be
mounted on a single steel tower
between 263 and 329 feet tall and have
blade sweep diameter ranging from 271
to 385 feet, depending on the wind
turbine generator model selected.
Approximate total height at the rotor
apex would be between 398 and 521
feet.
Approximately 60 to 80 miles of
underground electrical collector cable
would be required to carry generated
power from each wind turbine generator
to a single Project collection substation.
The underground collector cables would
be buried to a depth that would not
interfere with farming operations. The
collection substation would occupy
about 7 to 15 acres of land. A 6-mile tieline would be built from the collector
substation to a point adjacent to
Western’s existing Fort Thompson–
Grand Island transmission line.
Grande Prairie Wind proposes to
build about 45 to 60 miles of new roads
and upgrade 30 to 50 miles of existing
roads for construction and maintenance
access to all turbines and Project
facilities. Other Project facilities may
include two or more permanent
meteorological towers, a SODAR unit,
and an operations and maintenance
building.
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Grande Prairie Wind would site wind
turbine generators and supporting
infrastructure to optimize wind and
land resources in the area while
minimizing environmental impacts to
the extent practicable. The proposed
Project would be located on publicly
and privately owned lands consisting of
a mix of rural cropland and grazing
land. The publicly owned land is owned
by the State of Nebraska Board of
Education Lands and Funds. Grande
Prairie Wind would comply with local
zoning requirements, including setbacks
from residences, roads, and existing
transmission and distribution lines.
Grande Prairie Wind proposes to begin
construction as early as spring 2014.
The life of the Project is anticipated to
be a minimum of 20 years.
Western’s Federal involvement is
related to consideration of the
interconnection request, and any
resultant impact to the transmission
system. However, the EIS will also
identify and review the environmental
impacts of constructing, operating,
maintaining, and decommissioning
Grand Prairie Wind’s proposed Project.
Grand Prairie Wind would be
responsible for completing necessary
coordination with local agencies to
permit its proposed Project.
Proposed Action and Alternatives
Western’s proposed Federal action is
to execute an interconnection agreement
to interconnect the proposed Project to
the Federal transmission system at a
new substation adjacent to its Fort
Thompson–Grand Island 345-kilovolt
transmission line. Any modification
necessary to accommodate the proposed
interconnection with Western’s
transmission system will be made at
Grand Prairie Wind’s expense. Western
will also consider the no-action
alternative in the EIS. Under the noaction alternative, Western would not
interconnect the proposed Project. If
additional reasonable alternatives are
identified during the scoping process,
they will be analyzed in the EIS.
Agency Responsibilities
Because interconnection of the
proposed Project would incorporate a
major new generation resource into
Western’s power transmission system,
Western has determined that an EIS is
required under 10 CFR 1021.400(a)(3)
and (c), and DOE NEPA implementing
procedures (10 CFR part 1021),
Appendix D to Subpart D of part 1021,
provision D7. Accordingly, Western will
prepare an EIS on the interconnection of
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the proposed Project.1 Western is the
lead Federal agency for preparing the
EIS, as defined at 40 CFR 1501.5.
Western invites other Federal, State,
local, and tribal agencies with
jurisdiction by law or special expertise
with respect to environmental issues to
be cooperating agencies on the EIS, as
defined at 40 CFR 1501.6. Such agencies
may also make a request to Western to
be a cooperating agency by contacting
Mr. Marsh at the address listed above in
the ADDRESSES section.
Western will consult with affected
tribes to jointly evaluate and address the
potential effects on cultural resources,
traditional cultural properties, or other
resources important to the tribes. These
consultations will be conducted in
accordance with Executive Order 13175,
Consultation and Coordination with
Indian Tribal Governments (65 FR
67249), the President’s memorandum of
April 29, 1994, Government-toGovernment Relations with Native
American Tribal Governments (59 FR
22951), DOE-specific guidance on tribal
interactions, and applicable natural and
cultural resources laws and regulations.
Floodplain or Wetland Involvement
Western’s proposed action may affect
floodplains or wetlands. This notice
also serves as notice of proposed
floodplain or wetland action, in
accordance with 10 CFR part 1022. The
EIS will include an assessment of
impacts to floodplains and wetlands,
and if required, a statement of findings
following DOE regulations for
compliance with floodplain and
wetlands environmental review (10 CFR
part 1022).
Environmental Issues
This notice is to inform agencies and
the public of Western’s intent to prepare
an EIS and solicit comments and
suggestions for consideration in the EIS.
To help the public frame its comments,
the following list contains potential
environmental issues preliminarily
identified for analysis in the EIS:
• Impacts on protected, threatened,
endangered, or sensitive species of
animals or plants
• Impacts on migratory birds
• Impacts from noxious weeds,
invasive, and non-native species
• Impacts on recreation and
transportation
• Impacts on land use and farmland
• Impacts on cultural or historic
resources and tribal values
• Impacts on human health and safety
1 On November 16, 2011, DOE’s Acting General
Counsel delegated to Western’s Administrator all
EIS authorities.
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Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 73 / Monday, April 16, 2012 / Notices
emcdonald on DSK29S0YB1PROD with NOTICES
• Impacts on air, soil, and water
resources (including air quality and
surface water impacts)
• Visual impacts
• Socio-economic impacts and
disproportionately high and adverse
impacts to minority and low-income
populations
This list is not intended to be allinclusive or to imply any
predetermination of impacts. Western
invites interested parties to suggest
specific issues within these general
categories, or other issues not included
above, to be considered in the EIS.
Public Participation
Interested parties are invited to
participate in the scoping process to
help define the scope of the EIS,
significant resources, and issues to be
analyzed in depth, and to eliminate
from detailed study issues that are not
pertinent. The EIS scoping process will
involve all interested agencies (Federal,
State, county, and local), Native
American tribes, public interest groups,
businesses, affected landowners, and
individual members of the public.
Western will hold one public meeting
in O’Neill, Nebraska, and will announce
the EIS scoping meeting details through
local news media, direct mailings, and
by posting on the Western Web site at
https://www.wapa.gov/ugp/Environment/
default.htm at least 15 days prior to the
meeting. Attendees will be able to speak
directly with Western and Grand Prairie
Wind representatives at the EIS scoping
meetings about the proposed Project.
Attendees are welcome to come and go
at their convenience throughout the
meeting. If inclement weather should
prohibit hosting the scoping meeting, an
alternate meeting date and location will
be publicized locally. The meeting
location is handicapped-accessible.
Anyone needing special
accommodations should contact Mr.
Marsh to make arrangements.
The public is encouraged to provide
information and comments on issues it
believes Western should address in the
EIS. Comments may be broad in nature
or restricted to specific areas of concern.
After gathering comments on the scope
of the EIS, Western will address those
issues raised during scoping in the EIS.
While comments will be accepted at any
time during the EIS process, submission
of comments by the end of the scoping
comment period will ensure full
consideration in the Draft EIS.
Comments may be submitted at the
public scoping meeting or sent to
Western as described under the
ADDRESSES section above. Comments
received outside of the designated
comment periods may be addressed in
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the Draft EIS; otherwise they will be
addressed later in the process, such as
in the Final EIS, if practicable.
The EIS process will include this NOI,
local EIS scoping meeting notifications,
a public scoping meeting; consultation
and coordination with appropriate
Federal, State, county, and local
agencies and tribal governments;
involvement with affected landowners;
distribution of and public review and
comment on the Draft EIS; a formal
public hearing or hearings on the Draft
EIS; distribution of a published Final
EIS; and publication of a Record of
Decision in the Federal Register.
Dated: April 6, 2012.
Timothy J. Meeks,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2012–9038 Filed 4–13–12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450–01–P
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
[EPA–HQ–RCRA–2011–0890; FRL–9515–6]
Agency Information Collection
Activities; Submission to OMB for
Review and Approval; Comment
Request; RCRA Expanded Public
Participation (Renewal)
Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
In compliance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) (44
U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this document
announces that an Information
Collection Request (ICR) has been
forwarded to the Office of Management
and Budget (OMB) for review and
approval. This is a request to renew an
existing approved collection. The ICR,
which is abstracted below, describes the
nature of the information collection and
its estimated burden and cost.
DATES: Additional comments may be
submitted on or before May 16, 2012.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments,
referencing Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–
RCRA–2011–0890, to (1) EPA, either
online using www.regulations.gov (our
preferred method), or by email to rcradocket@epa.gov, or by mail to: EPA
Docket Center, Environmental
Protection Agency, Mail Code 28221T,
1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW.,
Washington, DC 20460, and (2) OMB, by
mail to: Office of Information and
Regulatory Affairs, Office of
Management and Budget (OMB),
Attention: Desk Officer for EPA, 725
17th Street NW., Washington, DC 20503.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Michael Pease, (5303P), Environmental
SUMMARY:
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22571
Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania
Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20460;
telephone number: 703–308–0008; fax
number: 703–308–8433; email address:
pease.michael@epa.gov.
EPA has
submitted the following ICR to OMB for
review and approval according to the
procedures prescribed in 5 CFR 1320.12.
On December 6, 2011 (76 FR 76158),
EPA sought comments on this ICR
pursuant to 5 CFR 1320.8(d). EPA
received no comments. Any additional
comments on this ICR should be
submitted to EPA and OMB within 30
days of this notice.
EPA has established a public docket
for this ICR under Docket ID No EPA–
HQ–RCRA–2011–0890, which is
available for online viewing at
www.regulations.gov, or in person
viewing at the Resource Conservation
and Recovery Act (RCRA) Docket at the
EPA Docket Center (EPA/DC), EPA
West, Room 3334, 1301 Constitution
Ave. NW., Washington, DC. The EPA/
DC Public Reading Room is open from
8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through
Friday, excluding legal holidays. The
telephone number for the Reading Room
is (202) 566–1744, and the telephone
number for the RCRA Docket is (202)
566–0270.
Use EPA’s electronic docket and
comment system at
www.regulations.gov, to submit or view
public comments, access the index
listing of the contents of the docket, and
to access those documents in the docket
that are available electronically. Once in
the system, select ‘‘docket search,’’ then
key in the docket ID number identified
above. Please note that EPA’s policy is
that public comments, whether
submitted electronically or in paper,
will be made available for public
viewing at www.regulations.gov as EPA
receives them and without change,
unless the comment contains
copyrighted material, confidential
business information (CBI), or other
information whose public disclosure is
restricted by statute. For further
information about the electronic docket,
go to www.regulations.gov.
Title: RCRA Expanded Public
Participation (Renewal).
ICR Numbers: EPA ICR No. 1688.07,
OMB Control No. 2050–0149.
ICR Status: This ICR is scheduled to
expire on April 30, 2012. Under OMB
regulations, the Agency may continue to
conduct or sponsor the collection of
information while this submission is
pending at OMB. An Agency may not
conduct or sponsor, and a person is not
required to respond to, a collection of
information, unless it displays a
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 73 (Monday, April 16, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22569-22571]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-9038]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Western Area Power Administration
Interconnection of the Grande Prairie Wind Farm, Holt County, NE
AGENCY: Western Area Power Administration, Department of Energy.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement
and conduct scoping meetings; Notice of potential floodplain and
wetlands involvement.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Western Area Power Administration (Western), an agency of
the Department of Energy (DOE), intends to prepare an environmental
impact statement (EIS) on the proposed interconnection of the Grande
Prairie Wind Farm (Project) in Holt County, near the city of O'Neill,
Nebraska. Grande Prairie Wind, LLC (Grande Prairie Wind), a majority-
owned subsidiary of Midwest Wind Energy, LLC, has applied to Western to
interconnect their proposed wind energy generation project to Western's
power transmission system. Western's Federal action would be to execute
an interconnection agreement with Grande Prairie Wind and make any
necessary modifications to the transmission system to accommodate the
interconnection at Grande Prairie Wind's expense. Western is issuing
this notice to inform the public and interested parties about Western's
intent to prepare an EIS, conduct a public scoping process, and invite
the public to comment on the scope, proposed action, alternatives, and
other issues to be addressed in the EIS.
Construction activities proposed by Grande Prairie Wind may affect
floodplains and wetlands, so this Notice of Intent (NOI) also serves as
a notice of proposed floodplain or wetland action in accordance with
DOE floodplain and wetland environmental review requirements.
DATES: The public scoping period begins with the publication of this
notice and closes on May 16, 2012. To provide the public an opportunity
to review the proposal and project information, Western will hold one
public meeting in O'Neill, Nebraska. Western will announce the date and
location of the public scoping meeting through local news media, and
posting on the Western Web site at https://www.wapa.gov/ugp/Environment/default.htm at least 15 days prior to the meeting. While comments will
be accepted at any time during the EIS process, submission of comments
by the end of the scoping comment period will ensure full consideration
in the Draft EIS.
ADDRESSES: Written comments on the scope of the EIS should be addressed
to Mr. Matt Marsh, Western Area Power Administration, P.O. Box 35800,
2900 4th Avenue, North, Billings, MT 59107, fax (406) 255-2900 or email
at grandeprairie@wapa.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Matt Marsh, Western Area Power
Administration, P.O. Box 35800, 2900 4th Avenue, North, Billings, MT
59107, telephone (406) 255-2811, or email grandeprairie@wapa.gov. For
general information on DOE's National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
review procedures or status of a NEPA review, contact Ms. Carol M.
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 or (800) 472-2756, fax (202) 586-7031.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Western, an agency within DOE, markets
Federal hydroelectric power to preference customers, as specified by
law. These customers include municipalities, cooperatives, irrigation
districts, Federal and State agencies, and Native
[[Page 22570]]
American tribes. Western's service territory covers 15 western states,
including Nebraska. Western owns and operates more than 17,000 miles of
high-voltage transmission lines. Western offers capacity to deliver
electricity on its transmission system, when such capacity is
available, under Western's Open Access Transmission Service Tariff.
Grande Prairie Wind has applied to Western to interconnect their
proposed wind energy generation Project to Western's Fort Thompson-
Grand Island transmission line. The proposed Project is subject to
county and local approvals prior to Project construction.
Grand Prairie Project Description
Grande Prairie Wind proposes to construct and operate a 400-
megawatt (MW) wind energy generation facility in Holt County in
northern Nebraska. The Project area would occupy approximately 45,000
acres in portions of Willowdale, Antelope, Grattan, Iowa, Scott, and
Steel Creek Townships.
Grande Prairie Wind proposes to build up to 266 wind turbines.
Permanent disturbance for each wind turbine generator location would be
approximately 0.25 acres. Grande Prairie Wind is considering a variety
of wind turbine generator types, with capacities ranging from 1.5 to
2.4 MW. Each wind turbine generator would be mounted on a single steel
tower between 263 and 329 feet tall and have blade sweep diameter
ranging from 271 to 385 feet, depending on the wind turbine generator
model selected. Approximate total height at the rotor apex would be
between 398 and 521 feet.
Approximately 60 to 80 miles of underground electrical collector
cable would be required to carry generated power from each wind turbine
generator to a single Project collection substation. The underground
collector cables would be buried to a depth that would not interfere
with farming operations. The collection substation would occupy about 7
to 15 acres of land. A 6-mile tie-line would be built from the
collector substation to a point adjacent to Western's existing Fort
Thompson-Grand Island transmission line.
Grande Prairie Wind proposes to build about 45 to 60 miles of new
roads and upgrade 30 to 50 miles of existing roads for construction and
maintenance access to all turbines and Project facilities. Other
Project facilities may include two or more permanent meteorological
towers, a SODAR unit, and an operations and maintenance building.
Grande Prairie Wind would site wind turbine generators and
supporting infrastructure to optimize wind and land resources in the
area while minimizing environmental impacts to the extent practicable.
The proposed Project would be located on publicly and privately owned
lands consisting of a mix of rural cropland and grazing land. The
publicly owned land is owned by the State of Nebraska Board of
Education Lands and Funds. Grande Prairie Wind would comply with local
zoning requirements, including setbacks from residences, roads, and
existing transmission and distribution lines. Grande Prairie Wind
proposes to begin construction as early as spring 2014. The life of the
Project is anticipated to be a minimum of 20 years.
Western's Federal involvement is related to consideration of the
interconnection request, and any resultant impact to the transmission
system. However, the EIS will also identify and review the
environmental impacts of constructing, operating, maintaining, and
decommissioning Grand Prairie Wind's proposed Project. Grand Prairie
Wind would be responsible for completing necessary coordination with
local agencies to permit its proposed Project.
Proposed Action and Alternatives
Western's proposed Federal action is to execute an interconnection
agreement to interconnect the proposed Project to the Federal
transmission system at a new substation adjacent to its Fort Thompson-
Grand Island 345-kilovolt transmission line. Any modification necessary
to accommodate the proposed interconnection with Western's transmission
system will be made at Grand Prairie Wind's expense. Western will also
consider the no-action alternative in the EIS. Under the no-action
alternative, Western would not interconnect the proposed Project. If
additional reasonable alternatives are identified during the scoping
process, they will be analyzed in the EIS.
Agency Responsibilities
Because interconnection of the proposed Project would incorporate a
major new generation resource into Western's power transmission system,
Western has determined that an EIS is required under 10 CFR
1021.400(a)(3) and (c), and DOE NEPA implementing procedures (10 CFR
part 1021), Appendix D to Subpart D of part 1021, provision D7.
Accordingly, Western will prepare an EIS on the interconnection of the
proposed Project.\1\ Western is the lead Federal agency for preparing
the EIS, as defined at 40 CFR 1501.5. Western invites other Federal,
State, local, and tribal agencies with jurisdiction by law or special
expertise with respect to environmental issues to be cooperating
agencies on the EIS, as defined at 40 CFR 1501.6. Such agencies may
also make a request to Western to be a cooperating agency by contacting
Mr. Marsh at the address listed above in the ADDRESSES section.
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\1\ On November 16, 2011, DOE's Acting General Counsel delegated
to Western's Administrator all EIS authorities.
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Western will consult with affected tribes to jointly evaluate and
address the potential effects on cultural resources, traditional
cultural properties, or other resources important to the tribes. These
consultations will be conducted in accordance with Executive Order
13175, Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribal Governments (65
FR 67249), the President's memorandum of April 29, 1994, Government-to-
Government Relations with Native American Tribal Governments (59 FR
22951), DOE-specific guidance on tribal interactions, and applicable
natural and cultural resources laws and regulations.
Floodplain or Wetland Involvement
Western's proposed action may affect floodplains or wetlands. This
notice also serves as notice of proposed floodplain or wetland action,
in accordance with 10 CFR part 1022. The EIS will include an assessment
of impacts to floodplains and wetlands, and if required, a statement of
findings following DOE regulations for compliance with floodplain and
wetlands environmental review (10 CFR part 1022).
Environmental Issues
This notice is to inform agencies and the public of Western's
intent to prepare an EIS and solicit comments and suggestions for
consideration in the EIS. To help the public frame its comments, the
following list contains potential environmental issues preliminarily
identified for analysis in the EIS:
Impacts on protected, threatened, endangered, or sensitive
species of animals or plants
Impacts on migratory birds
Impacts from noxious weeds, invasive, and non-native
species
Impacts on recreation and transportation
Impacts on land use and farmland
Impacts on cultural or historic resources and tribal
values
Impacts on human health and safety
[[Page 22571]]
Impacts on air, soil, and water resources (including air
quality and surface water impacts)
Visual impacts
Socio-economic impacts and disproportionately high and
adverse impacts to minority and low-income populations
This list is not intended to be all-inclusive or to imply any
predetermination of impacts. Western invites interested parties to
suggest specific issues within these general categories, or other
issues not included above, to be considered in the EIS.
Public Participation
Interested parties are invited to participate in the scoping
process to help define the scope of the EIS, significant resources, and
issues to be analyzed in depth, and to eliminate from detailed study
issues that are not pertinent. The EIS scoping process will involve all
interested agencies (Federal, State, county, and local), Native
American tribes, public interest groups, businesses, affected
landowners, and individual members of the public.
Western will hold one public meeting in O'Neill, Nebraska, and will
announce the EIS scoping meeting details through local news media,
direct mailings, and by posting on the Western Web site at https://www.wapa.gov/ugp/Environment/default.htm at least 15 days prior to the
meeting. Attendees will be able to speak directly with Western and
Grand Prairie Wind representatives at the EIS scoping meetings about
the proposed Project. Attendees are welcome to come and go at their
convenience throughout the meeting. If inclement weather should
prohibit hosting the scoping meeting, an alternate meeting date and
location will be publicized locally. The meeting location is
handicapped-accessible. Anyone needing special accommodations should
contact Mr. Marsh to make arrangements.
The public is encouraged to provide information and comments on
issues it believes Western should address in the EIS. Comments may be
broad in nature or restricted to specific areas of concern. After
gathering comments on the scope of the EIS, Western will address those
issues raised during scoping in the EIS. While comments will be
accepted at any time during the EIS process, submission of comments by
the end of the scoping comment period will ensure full consideration in
the Draft EIS. Comments may be submitted at the public scoping meeting
or sent to Western as described under the ADDRESSES section above.
Comments received outside of the designated comment periods may be
addressed in the Draft EIS; otherwise they will be addressed later in
the process, such as in the Final EIS, if practicable.
The EIS process will include this NOI, local EIS scoping meeting
notifications, a public scoping meeting; consultation and coordination
with appropriate Federal, State, county, and local agencies and tribal
governments; involvement with affected landowners; distribution of and
public review and comment on the Draft EIS; a formal public hearing or
hearings on the Draft EIS; distribution of a published Final EIS; and
publication of a Record of Decision in the Federal Register.
Dated: April 6, 2012.
Timothy J. Meeks,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2012-9038 Filed 4-13-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P
