DOE/EA-1683 FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY LOAN GUARANTEE TO ABENGOA SOLAR INC. FOR THE SOLANA THERMAL ELECTRIC POWER PROJECT NEAR GILA BEND, ARIZONA U.S. Department of Energy Loan Guarantee Program Office Washington, DC 20585 May 2010 DOE/EA-1683 CONTENTS Acronynms and Abbreviations ................................................................................................. viii SUMMARY ....................................................................................................................................x 1 Purpose and Need for Agency Action .......................................................................... 1-1 1.1 Scope of the Environmental Assessment ................................................................... 1-1 1.2 Public Participation .................................................................................................... 1-2 1.3 Document Organization ............................................................................................. 1-5 1.4 Availability of the Environmental Assessment .......................................................... 1-6 2 Proposed Action and Alternatives ................................................................................ 2-7 2.1 Proposed Action ......................................................................................................... 2-7 2.2 Solana CSP Project Construction............................................................................. 2-13 2.3 Solana CSP Project Operations ................................................................................ 2-14 2.4 Solana CSP Project Decommissioning .................................................................... 2-14 2.4.1 Facilities Closure ............................................................................................... 2-14 2.4.1.1 Temporary Closure ..................................................................................... 2-15 2.4.1.2 Permanent Closure ..................................................................................... 2-15 2.5 Permits, Approvals, and Authorizations .................................................................. 2-16 2.6 Alternative Locations Considered but Eliminated ................................................... 2-16 2.7 No-Action Alternative ............................................................................................. 2-18 3 Affected Environment and Environmental Consequences ...................................... 3-19 3.1 Land Use .................................................................................................................. 3-19 3.1.1 Regulatory Framework ...................................................................................... 3-19 3.1.2 Affected Environment ........................................................................................ 3-21 3.1.3 Environmental Consequences ............................................................................ 3-25 3.1.3.1 Proposed Action ......................................................................................... 3-25 3.1.3.2 No-Action Alternative ................................................................................ 3-29 3.2 Visual Resources ...................................................................................................... 3-29 3.2.1 Methods.............................................................................................................. 3-29 3.2.2 Affected Environment ........................................................................................ 3-30 3.2.3 Environmental Consequences ............................................................................ 3-31 3.2.3.1 Proposed Action ......................................................................................... 3-31 3.2.3.2 No-Action Alternative ................................................................................ 3-39 3.3 Air Quality ............................................................................................................... 3-39 3.3.1 Regulatory Framework ...................................................................................... 3-39 i DOE/EA-1683 3.3.2 Affected Environment ........................................................................................ 3-41 3.3.3 Environmental Consequences ............................................................................ 3-41 3.3.3.1 Proposed Action ......................................................................................... 3-41 3.3.3.2 No-Action Alternative ................................................................................ 3-47 3.3.4 Greenhouse Gases and Global Climate Change ................................................ 3-47 3.4 Noise ........................................................................................................................ 3-48 3.4.1 Affected Environment ........................................................................................ 3-48 3.4.2 Environmental Consequences ............................................................................ 3-48 3.4.2.1 Proposed Action ......................................................................................... 3-48 3.4.2.2 No-Action Alternative ................................................................................ 3-52 3.5 Geology and Seismicity ........................................................................................... 3-52 3.5.1 Affected Environment ........................................................................................ 3-52 3.5.2 Environmental Consequences ............................................................................ 3-52 3.5.2.1 Proposed Action ......................................................................................... 3-52 3.5.2.2 No-Action Alternative ................................................................................ 3-56 3.6 Water Resources ...................................................................................................... 3-56 3.6.1 Regulatory Framework ...................................................................................... 3-56 3.6.1.1 Surface Water ............................................................................................. 3-56 3.6.1.2 Wetlands ..................................................................................................... 3-56 3.6.1.3 Floodplains ................................................................................................. 3-56 3.6.1.4 Groundwater ............................................................................................... 3-57 3.6.2 Affected Environment ........................................................................................ 3-57 3.6.2.1 Surface Water ............................................................................................. 3-57 3.6.2.2 Wetlands ..................................................................................................... 3-59 3.6.2.3 Floodplains ................................................................................................. 3-59 3.6.2.4 Waters of the United States ........................................................................ 3-63 3.6.2.5 Groundwater ............................................................................................... 3-63 3.6.3 Environmental Consequences ............................................................................ 3-68 3.6.3.1 Proposed Action ......................................................................................... 3-68 3.6.3.2 No-Action Alternative ................................................................................ 3-72 3.7 Biological Resources ............................................................................................... 3-72 3.7.1 Regulatory Framework ...................................................................................... 3-72 3.7.2 Affected Environment ........................................................................................ 3-72 3.7.2.1 Vegetation .................................................................................................. 3-72 3.7.2.2 Wildlife ....................................................................................................... 3-73 3.7.2.3 Special Status Species ................................................................................ 3-74 ii DOE/EA-1683 3.7.3 Environmental Consequences ............................................................................ 3-75 3.7.3.1 Proposed Action ......................................................................................... 3-75 3.7.3.2 No-Action Alternative ................................................................................ 3-81 3.8 Tribal Consultation and Coordination ..................................................................... 3-81 3.9 Cultural Resources ................................................................................................... 3-84 3.9.1 Regulatory Framework ...................................................................................... 3-84 3.9.2 Affected Environment ........................................................................................ 3-85 3.9.2.1 Cultural Setting ........................................................................................... 3-85 3.9.2.2 Definition of the Area of