Cove Fort II Geothermal Exploration Project Environmental Assessment

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT Finding of No Significant Impact Environmental Assessment DOI-BLM-UT-C010-2015-0015-EA August 2015 COVE FORT II GEOTHERMAL EXPLORATION PROJECT Applicant/Address: Enel Cove Fort, LLC 1755 East Plumb Lane, Suite 155 Reno, Nevada 89502 U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management Cedar City Field Office 176 East DL Sargent Drive Cedar City, Utah 84721 (435) 586-2401 FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT Environmental Assessment Cove Fort II Geothermal Exploration Project DOI-BLM-UT-C010-2015-0015-EA This unsigned finding of no significant impact (FONSI) and the attached environmental assessment (EA) (DOI-BLM-UT-C010-2015-0015-EA) for the Cove Fort II Geothermal Utilization Plan are available for public review and comment for 30 days beginning on the date the EA is posted on BLM’s Environmental Notification Bulletin Board. Based on the analysis of potential environmental impacts in the attached EA and consideration of the significance criteria in 40 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 1508.27, I have determined that with required and proposed mitigating measures, the proposed geothermal project would not result in significant impacts on the human environment. An environmental impact statement is not required. The decision to approve or deny the project with a signed FONSI will be released to the public after consideration of public comments and completion of the EA. Authorized Officer Date Cove Fort II Geothermal Exploration Project Environmental Assessment CONTENTS CHAPTER 1. Purpose and Need .......................................................................................................... 1 1.1. Introduction .................................................................................................................................... 1 1.2. Background .................................................................................................................................... 1 1.3. Purpose of and Need for the Proposed Action ............................................................................... 3 1.4. Conformance with Land Use Plans ................................................................................................ 4 1.5. Relationships to Statutes, Regulations, and Other Plans ................................................................ 4 1.5.1. Federal Statutes and Regulations ........................................................................................... 5 1.5.2. State Statutes and Regulations ............................................................................................... 5 1.6. Identification of Issues ................................................................................................................... 5 1.6.1. Scoping Process ..................................................................................................................... 5 1.6.2. Issues ...................................................................................................................................... 6 CHAPTER 2. Description of Alternatives ........................................................................................... 8 2.1. Introduction .................................................................................................................................... 8 2.2. Proposed Action ............................................................................................................................. 8 2.2.1. Project Elements .................................................................................................................... 8 2.2.2. Surface Disturbance Summary ............................................................................................. 15 2.2.3. Design Features .................................................................................................................... 16 2.3. No Action Alternative .................................................................................................................. 20 2.4. Alternatives Considered but Eliminated from Further Analysis .................................................. 20 CHAPTER 3. Affected Environment and Environmental Consequences ...................................... 22 3.1. Introduction .................................................................................................................................. 22 3.2. General Setting ............................................................................................................................. 22 3.3. Air Quality ................................................................................................................................... 22 3.3.1. Affected Environment .......................................................................................................... 22 3.3.2. Environmental Consequences .............................................................................................. 25 3.4. Geology and Soils ........................................................................................................................ 28 3.4.1. Affected Environment .......................................................................................................... 28 3.4.2. Environmental Consequences .............................................................................................. 31 3.5. Water Resources ........................................................................................................................... 33 3.5.1. Affected Environment .......................................................................................................... 33 3.5.2. Environmental Consequences .............................................................................................. 35 3.6. Vegetation .................................................................................................................................... 38 3.6.1. Affected Environment .......................................................................................................... 38 3.6.2. Environmental Consequences .............................................................................................. 42 3.7. Wildlife ........................................................................................................................................ 46 3.7.1. Affected Environment .......................................................................................................... 46 3.7.2. Environmental Consequences .............................................................................................. 55 3.8. Special Status Species (including management indicator species) .............................................. 63 3.8.1. Affected Environment .......................................................................................................... 63 3.8.2. Environmental Consequences .............................................................................................. 67 i Cove Fort II Geothermal Exploration Project Environmental Assessment 3.9. Livestock Grazing ........................................................................................................................ 71 3.9.1. Affected Environment .......................................................................................................... 71 3.9.2. Environmental Consequences .............................................................................................. 73 3.10. Cultural Resources ....................................................................................................................... 74 3.10.1. Affected Environment .......................................................................................................... 74 3.10.2. Previously Conducted Inventories and Recorded Sites ........................................................ 75 3.10.3. Environmental Consequences .............................................................................................. 76 3.10.4. No Action Alternative .......................................................................................................... 78 CHAPTER 4. Cumulative Impacts Analysis ..................................................................................... 79 4.1. Introduction .................................................................................................................................. 79 4.2. Analysis Areas ............................................................................................................................. 79 4.3. Past, Present, and Reasonably Foreseeable Future Actions ......................................................... 80 4.3.1. Past and Present Actions Summary ...................................................................................... 80 4.3.2. Reasonably Foreseeable Future Actions Summary .............................................................. 81 4.4. Cumulative Effects by Resource .................................................................................................. 81 4.4.1. Air Quality ........................................................................................................................... 81 4.4.2. Geology and Soils ................................................................................................................ 81 4.4.3. Water Resources .................................................................................................................

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