Wilton IV Wind Energy Center Draft Environmental Impact Statement
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Wilton IV Wind Energy Center Draft Environmental Impact Statement DOE/EIS-0469 March 2013 COVER SHEET Lead Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Energy, Western Area Power Administration Title: Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Wilton IV Wind Energy Center For additional information on this Draft Environmental Impact Statement contact: Mr. Matt Marsh Upper Great Plains Regional Office Western Area Power Administration P.O. Box 35800, Billings, MT 59107-5800 [email protected], (800) 358-3415 For general information on the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Environmental Policy Act process please contact: Ms. Carol M. Borgstrom, Director Office of NEPA Policy and Compliance (GC-54) U.S. Department of Energy Washington, D.C. 20585 (202) 586-4600 Abstract: W estern Area Power Administration (Western) prepared this draft environmental impact statement (DEIS) in response to a request from NextEra Energy Resources, LLC (NextEra), on behalf of its subsidiary Wilton W ind IV, LLC (Wilton IV), to interconnect its proposed Wilton IV Wind Energy Center (Project) to Western’s power transmission system. The proposed Project is a wind turbine generation facility located in Burleigh County, North Dakota. It would consist of 62 wind turbine generators, with a total nameplate capacity of approximately 99 MW. NextEra has also requested that the existing interconnection contracts for the Wilton Wind I Energy Center (formerly known as Burleigh County Wind), Wilton Wind II Energy Center, and the Baldwin Wind Energy Center (together called the Existing Projects) be modified to lift their administrative 50 average annual MW production caps. This DEIS includes a description of the proposed Project and analyzes the impacts associated with the proposed construction, operation, and decommissioning of the W ilton IV Project and lifting the administrative 50 average annual MW cap on the Existing Projects. Western will consider the analysis as well as comments received during the public review period to determine whether (1) Western will execute an interconnection agreement for the proposed Project, and (2) amend the interconnection agreements for the Existing Projects to lift the administrative 50 average annual MW cap. Comments on this Draft EIS should be received no later than May 6, 2013. 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Draft Environmental Impact Statement Wilton IV Wind Energy Center TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ........................................................................................................... 1 1.0 INTRODUCTION............................................................................................................... 1-1 1.1 Western’s Agency Purpose and Need ....................................................................... 1-2 1.2 Wilton IV’s Purpose and Need for its Proposed Project ............................................. 1-2 1.3 Authorizing Actions .................................................................................................... 1-7 1.4 Public Participation .................................................................................................... 1-8 2.0 DESCRIPTION OF FEDERAL PROPOSED ACTION AND ALTERNATIVES, AND DESCRIPTION OF WILTON IV’S PROPOSED PROJECT ............................................... 2-1 2.1 Western’s Federal Proposed Action........................................................................... 2-1 2.2 No Action Alternative ................................................................................................. 2-1 2.3 Wilton IV’s Proposed Project ..................................................................................... 2-2 2.3.1 Pre-construction Activities ............................................................................. 2-2 2.3.2 Project Location ............................................................................................. 2-2 2.3.3 Proposed Project Description ........................................................................ 2-3 2.3.4 Proposed Facilities ........................................................................................ 2-4 2.3.5 Construction Procedures ............................................................................. 2-17 2.3.6 Construction Schedule................................................................................. 2-23 2.3.7 Project Operation and Maintenance............................................................. 2-23 2.3.8 Decommissioning ........................................................................................ 2-28 2.3.9 Construction Waste Management and Restoration/Reclamation ................. 2-28 2.3.10 Environmental Protection Measures ............................................................ 2-29 2.4 NextEra's Proposal to Lift the Production Caps on the Existing Projects.................. 2-32 3.0 AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES ..................... 3-1 3.1 Geology and Soils ..................................................................................................... 3-3 3.1.1 Existing Conditions ........................................................................................ 3-3 3.1.2 Potential Impacts of the Proposed Project ..................................................... 3-6 3.2 Air Resources .......................................................................................................... 3-13 3.2.1 Existing Conditions ...................................................................................... 3-14 3.2.2 Potential Impacts of the Proposed Project ................................................... 3-14 3.3 Water Resources ..................................................................................................... 3-16 3.3.1 Existing Conditions ...................................................................................... 3-16 3.3.2 Potential Impacts of the Proposed Project ................................................... 3-18 3.4 Vegetation ............................................................................................................... 3-23 3.4.1 Vegetation Communities.............................................................................. 3-23 3.4.2 Rare Plant Populations ................................................................................ 3-28 3.4.3 Noxious and Invasive Weeds....................................................................... 3-28 3.4.4 Potential Impacts of the Proposed Project ................................................... 3-29 3.5 Wildlife 3-30 3.5.1 Wildlife Species ........................................................................................... 3-30 3.5.2 Sensitive Wildlife Species ............................................................................ 3-31 3.5.3 Potential Impacts of the Proposed Project ................................................... 3-35 3.6 Land Use and Recreation ........................................................................................ 3-38 3.6.1 Existing Conditions ...................................................................................... 3-38 3.6.2 Potential Impacts of the Proposed Project ................................................... 3-40 3.7 Socioeconomics and Environmental Justice ............................................................ 3-41 3.7.1 Socioeconomics .......................................................................................... 3-41 i March 2013 Draft Environmental Impact Statement Wilton IV Wind Energy Center 3.7.2 Environmental Justice.................................................................................. 3-45 3.7.3 Potential Impacts of the Proposed Project ................................................... 3-46 3.8 Visual Resources..................................................................................................... 3-50 3.8.1 Existing Conditions ...................................................................................... 3-51 3.8.2 Potential Impacts of the Proposed Project ................................................... 3-51 3.9 Noise 3-54 3.9.1 Existing Conditions ...................................................................................... 3-55 3.9.2 Potential Impacts of the Proposed Project ................................................... 3-56 3.10Transportation ......................................................................................................... 3-59 3.10.1 Existing Conditions ...................................................................................... 3-59 3.10.2 Potential Impacts of the Proposed Project ................................................... 3-59 3.11Safety and Health Issues ......................................................................................... 3-60 3.11.1 Existing Conditions ...................................................................................... 3-60 3.11.2 Potential Impacts of the Proposed Project ................................................... 3-62 3.12Cultural Resources .................................................................................................. 3-65 3.12.1 Existing Conditions ...................................................................................... 3-65 3.12.2 Potential Impacts of the Proposed Project ................................................... 3-67 3.13Native American Religious Concerns......................................................................