ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT Lonesome Creek Station Units 2 & 3 Project Basin Electric Power Cooperative McKenzie County, North Dakota prepared for USDA Rural Utilities Service August 2013 prepared by Burns & McDonnell Engineering Company, Inc. Kansas City, Missouri Environmental Assessment August 2013 Table of Contents TABLE OF CONTENTS Page No. 1.0 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................... 1-1 2.0 DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPOSED PROJECT ............................................. 2-1 3.0 PURPOSE AND NEED FOR THE PROPOSED PROJECT ............................. 3-1 3.1 Load Forecast ....................................................................................................... 3-1 3.2 Basin Electric Purpose and Need ......................................................................... 3-5 3.3 Rural Utilities Service Purpose and Need ............................................................ 3-5 4.0 ALTERNATIVES EVALUATED ........................................................................ 4-1 4.1 Demand Side Management .................................................................................. 4-1 4.2 Baseload Capacity ................................................................................................ 4-2 4.3 Intermediate Capacity .......................................................................................... 4-2 4.4 Peaking Capacity ................................................................................................. 4-3 4.5 Purchase Power/Request for Proposals ................................................................ 4-5 4.6 Summary of Alternatives ..................................................................................... 4-5 4.6.1 No Action Alternative ........................................................................... 4-6 4.6.2 Proposed Project ................................................................................... 4-6 5.0 AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT ............................................................................ 5-1 5.1 Air Quality ........................................................................................................... 5-1 5.2 Land Use .............................................................................................................. 5-2 5.3 Geology, Soils, and Farmland .............................................................................. 5-3 5.3.1 Geology ................................................................................................. 5-3 5.3.2 Soils....................................................................................................... 5-3 5.3.3 Farmland ............................................................................................... 5-3 5.4 Water Resources .................................................................................................. 5-6 5.4.1 Surface Water, Water Supply, and Discharge ...................................... 5-6 5.4.2 Groundwater ......................................................................................... 5-6 5.4.3 Water Quality ........................................................................................ 5-6 5.4.4 Wetlands and Waters of the U.S. .......................................................... 5-7 5.4.5 Floodplains ............................................................................................ 5-7 5.5 Vegetation ............................................................................................................ 5-7 5.6 Wildlife ................................................................................................................ 5-7 Basin Electric – LCS Units 2 & 3 TOC.1-1 USDA, Rural Utilities Service Environmental Assessment August 2013 Table of Contents 5.7 Threatened, Endangered and Special Concern Species ....................................... 5-8 5.8 Socioeconomics and Community Resources ....................................................... 5-9 5.8.1 Population Growth Trends .................................................................... 5-9 5.8.2 Racial and Ethnic Characteristics ......................................................... 5-9 5.8.3 Employment and Income .................................................................... 5-10 5.8.4 Environmental Justice ......................................................................... 5-11 5.9 Aesthetics ........................................................................................................... 5-12 5.10 Transportation .................................................................................................... 5-12 5.11 Human Health and Safety .................................................................................. 5-12 5.12 Noise .................................................................................................................. 5-12 5.13 Cultural Resources ............................................................................................. 5-13 6.0 ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES ............................................................ 6-1 6.1 Air Quality ........................................................................................................... 6-2 6.1.1 No Action .............................................................................................. 6-2 6.1.2 Construction and Operation Impacts of the Proposed Project .............. 6-2 6.2 Land Use .............................................................................................................. 6-4 6.2.1 No Action .............................................................................................. 6-4 6.2.2 Construction and Operation Impacts of the Proposed Project .............. 6-4 6.3 Geology, Soils, and Farmland .............................................................................. 6-5 6.3.1 No Action .............................................................................................. 6-5 6.3.2 Construction and Operation Impacts of the Proposed Project .............. 6-5 6.4 Water Resources .................................................................................................. 6-5 6.4.1 Surface Water, Water Supply, and Discharge ...................................... 6-5 6.4.2 Groundwater ......................................................................................... 6-6 6.4.3 Water Quality ........................................................................................ 6-6 6.4.4 Wetlands ............................................................................................... 6-7 6.4.5 Floodplains ............................................................................................ 6-7 6.5 Vegetation ............................................................................................................ 6-7 6.5.1 No Action .............................................................................................. 6-7 6.5.2 Construction and Operation Impacts of the Proposed Project .............. 6-7 6.6 Wildlife ................................................................................................................ 6-7 6.6.1 No Action .............................................................................................. 6-8 6.6.2 Construction and Operation Impacts of the Proposed Project .............. 6-8 6.7 Threatened and Endangered Species ................................................................... 6-8 6.7.1 No Action .............................................................................................. 6-8 6.7.2 Construction and Operation Impacts of the Proposed Project .............. 6-8 6.8 Socioeconomics and Community Resources ....................................................... 6-9 6.8.1 Employment and Population ................................................................. 6-9 6.8.2 Environmental Justice ......................................................................... 6-10 6.9 Aesthetics ........................................................................................................... 6-10 6.9.1 No Action ............................................................................................ 6-10 6.9.2 Construction and Operation Impacts of the Proposed Project ............ 6-10 6.10 Transportation .................................................................................................... 6-10 6.10.1 No Action ............................................................................................ 6-10 6.10.2 Construction and Operation Impacts of the Proposed Project ............ 6-11 Basin Electric – LCS Units 2 & 3 TOC.1-2 USDA, Rural Utilities Service Environmental Assessment August 2013 Table of Contents 6.11 Human Health and Safety .................................................................................. 6-11 6.11.1 No Action ............................................................................................ 6-11 6.11.2 Construction and Operation Impacts of the Proposed Project ............ 6-11 6.12 Noise .................................................................................................................. 6-13 6.12.1 No Action ............................................................................................ 6-14 6.12.2 Construction and Operation Impacts of the Proposed Project ............ 6-14 6.13 Cultural Resources ............................................................................................