IP Athos Renewable Energy Project Environmental Assessment
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United States Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management IP Athos LLC’s Athos Renewable Energy Project Environmental Assessment October 2019 CACA-57730 Publication Index #: DOI-BLM-CA-D060-2019-0016-EA U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT PALM SPRINGS-SOUTH COAST FIELD OFFICE Environmental Assessment EA Number: DOI-BLM-CA-D060-2019-0016-EA Case File: CACA 57730 Title/Proposed Action Type: IP Athos Renewable Energy Project Generation-Tie Line Applicant/Proponent: IP Athos, LLC Location of Proposed Action: Riverside County, California USGS Topographic Maps: East of Victory Pass, Corn Spring, & Sidewinder Well October 2019 IP Athos Renewable Energy Project Generation-Tie Line CONTENTS Contents Chapter 1: Introduction ......................................................................................................................................................................1-1 1.1 Introduction .............................................................................................................................................................................................1-1 1.2 Purpose and Need ...........................................................................................................................................................................1-1 1.3 Land Use Conformance Statement ..................................................................................................................................1-2 1.4 Relationship to Laws, Regulations, and Other Plans ........................................................................................1-3 1.5 Internal and External Scoping and Issues Statements ....................................................................................1-3 Chapter 2: Proposed Action and Alternatives ......................................................................................................2-1 2.1 Alternative 1: Proposed Action..............................................................................................................................................2-1 2.2 Alternative 2: Gen-Tie Segment #1 Alternative Route Option ..................................................................2-5 2.3 Alternative 3: No Action Alternative ..................................................................................................................................2-5 2.4 Alternatives Considered but Eliminated from Detailed Analysis .............................................................2-5 2.5 Applicant Proposed Measures and DRECP CMAs ............................................................................................2-6 Chapter 3: Affected Environment and Environmental Effects of Action ............................3-1 3.1 Introduction .............................................................................................................................................................................................3-1 3.2 Air Resources ................................................................................................................................................................................... 3-12 3.3 Cultural Resources ...................................................................................................................................................................... 3-14 3.4 Environmental Justice............................................................................................................................................................... 3-21 3.5 Geology and Soils ........................................................................................................................................................................ 3-24 3.6 Global Climate Change ........................................................................................................................................................... 3-27 3.7 Lands and Realty .......................................................................................................................................................................... 3-29 3.8 Noise ........................................................................................................................................................................................................ 3-31 3.9 Paleontological Resources ................................................................................................................................................... 3-33 3.10 Public Health and Safety ........................................................................................................................................................ 3-36 3.11 Recreation ........................................................................................................................................................................................... 3-39 3.12 Social and Economic Resources .................................................................................................................................... 3-42 3.13 Special Designations ................................................................................................................................................................. 3-44 3.14 Travel and Transportation ..................................................................................................................................................... 3-46 3.15 Vegetation and Wildlife Resources ............................................................................................................................... 3-49 3.16 Visual Resources .......................................................................................................................................................................... 3-54 3.17 Water Resources .......................................................................................................................................................................... 3-58 3.18 Wetland/Riparian Areas .......................................................................................................................................................... 3-61 3.19 Wildland Fire Ecology ............................................................................................................................................................... 3-63 Tables Table 2-1 APMs for the Athos Gen-Tie Project ..........................................................................................................2-6 Table 3.1-1 Past and Present Projects or Programs in the Proposed Action Area .........................3-5 Table 3.1-2 Probable Future Projects in the Proposed Action Area .............................................................3-8 Table 3.2-1 Proposed Solar Facility and Gen-Tie Line Maximum Daily Construction Emissions ....................................................................................................................................................................... 3-13 Table 3.3-1 Cultural Resources Within the Direct APE Determined Eligible for the NRHP ..... 3-16 Table 3.4-1 Racial Characteristics and Poverty Status ........................................................................................ 3-22 Table 3.9-1 Distribution of Paleontological Sensitivity Throughout the Proposed Action Area ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 3-34 Table 3.11-1 Recreation Areas and Special Designations with Recreational Opportunities ...... 3-39 Table 3.12-1 Socioeconomic Characteristics ................................................................................................................... 3-42 October 2019 i Environmental Assessment IP Athos Renewable Energy Project Generation-Tie Line CONTENTS Figures Figure 1-1 Project Vicinity Figure 1-2 DRECP Context Figure 2-1 Athos Solar and Athos Gen-Tie Project Figure 2-2 Proposed Gen-Tie Lines on BLM-Administered Land Figure 2-3 Typical 220 kV Gen-Tie Line Structures Figure 2-4 Typical 34.5 kV Medium Voltage Line Structures Figure 2-5 Gen-Tie Segment #1 Alternative Route Option Figure 3.1-1 Cumulative Projects Figure 3.9-1 Paleontological Sensitivity in the Project Area Figure 3.11-1 BLM Open Routes in Athos Renewable Energy Project Area Appendices Appendix A Acronyms and Abbreviations Appendix B Consultation and Coordination Appendix C List of Preparers and Contractors Appendix D Maps and Figures Appendix E References Appendix F Plan of Development Appendix G Regulatory Framework Appendix H Mitigation Measures and CMAs Appendix I CEQA Scoping Summary Report Appendix J Indirect Effects October 2019 ii Environmental Assessment IP Athos Renewable Energy Project Generation-Tie Line CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION Chapter 1: Introduction 1.1 Introduction The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has prepared this Environmental Assessment (EA) pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA, 42 U.S.C. Section 4321), Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) regulations (40 Code of Federal Regulations [CFR] Parts 1500–1508), and BLM NEPA Handbook H-1790-1. This EA evaluates the environmental effects of constructing, operating, maintaining, and decommissioning a proposed 34.5 kilovolt (kV) and/or 220 kV single-circuit generation interconnection (gen-tie) transmission line across land administered by the