DOE/EA-1797 FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY LOAN GUARANTEE FOR THE AGUA CALIENTE SOLAR PROJECT IN YUMA COUNTY, ARIZONA U.S. Department of Energy Loan Guarantee Program Office Washington, DC 20585 November 2010 TABLE OF CONTENTS Section Page Executive Summary .................................................................................................................ES-1 Introduction ..........................................................................................................................ES-1 Purpose and Need ...............................................................................................................ES-1 Proposed Action and Alternatives........................................................................................ES-2 Summary of Environmental Effects......................................................................................ES-2 Chapter 1 Purpose and Need................................................................................................... 1-1 1.1 Purpose of and Need for Action ................................................................................... 1-1 1.2 Background................................................................................................................... 1-2 1.3 Scope of this Environmental Assessment .................................................................... 1-2 1.4 Public Participation ....................................................................................................... 1-3 1.5 Document Organization................................................................................................ 1-5 Chapter 2 Proposed Action and Alternatives ........................................................................ 2-1 2.1 Description of Proposed Action .................................................................................... 2-1 2.1.1 The Proposed Project and Site......................................................................... 2-1 2.1.2 Permits and Authorizations............................................................................. 2-10 2.1.3 Applicant-Committed Minimization Measures ................................................ 2-11 2.2 Alternatives Considered But Eliminated ..................................................................... 2-11 2.3 No Action Alternative .................................................................................................. 2-13 Chapter 3 Affected Environment and Environmental Effects.............................................. 3-1 3.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................... 3-1 3.2 Land Use ...................................................................................................................... 3-1 3.2.1 Regulatory Framework...................................................................................... 3-1 3.2.2 Affected Environment........................................................................................ 3-2 3.2.3 Environmental Effects....................................................................................... 3-5 3.3 Visual Resources.......................................................................................................... 3-7 3.3.1 Affected Environment........................................................................................ 3-7 3.3.2 Environmental Effects....................................................................................... 3-8 3.4 Air Quality ................................................................................................................... 3-14 3.4.1 Regulatory Background .................................................................................. 3-14 3.4.2 Affected Environment...................................................................................... 3-16 3.4.3 Environmental Effects..................................................................................... 3-19 3.5 Noise...........................................................................................................................3-26 3.5.1 Affected Environment...................................................................................... 3-26 3.5.2 Environmental Effects..................................................................................... 3-27 3.6 Geology and Soils....................................................................................................... 3-29 3.6.1 Affected Environment...................................................................................... 3-29 3.6.2 Environmental Effects..................................................................................... 3-32 3.7 Water Resources........................................................................................................ 3-32 3.7.1 Regulatory Framework.................................................................................... 3-32 3.7.2 Affected Environment...................................................................................... 3-33 3.7.3 Environmental Effects..................................................................................... 3-37 3.8 Biological Resources .................................................................................................. 3-40 3.8.1 Regulatory Framework.................................................................................... 3-40 3.8.2 Affected Environment...................................................................................... 3-40 3.8.3 Environmental Effects..................................................................................... 3-47 3.9 Cultural Resources ..................................................................................................... 3-50 3.9.1 Regulatory Framework.................................................................................... 3-50 3.9.2 Affected Environment...................................................................................... 3-50 November 2010 Environmental Assessment i Guarantee of the Agua Caliente Solar Project Table of Contents 3.9.3 Environmental Effects..................................................................................... 3-51 3.10 Socioeconomics and Environmental Justice .............................................................. 3-52 3.10.1 Affected Environment...................................................................................... 3-52 3.10.2 Environmental Effects..................................................................................... 3-54 3.11 Public Health and Safety ............................................................................................ 3-55 3.11.1 Regulatory Framework.................................................................................... 3-55 3.11.2 Affected Environment...................................................................................... 3-57 3.11.3 Environmental Effects..................................................................................... 3-57 3.12 Transportation............................................................................................................. 3-60 3.12.1 Affected Environment...................................................................................... 3-60 3.12.2 Environmental Effects..................................................................................... 3-61 Chapter 4 Cumulative Effects.................................................................................................. 4-1 4.1 Area of Evaluation ........................................................................................................ 4-1 4.2 Past and Present Actions ............................................................................................. 4-1 4.3 Reasonably Foreseeable Actions................................................................................. 4-3 4.4 Cumulative Effects Analysis ......................................................................................... 4-4 Chapter 5 List of Preparers...................................................................................................... 5-1 Chapter 6 List of Entities Contacted....................................................................................... 6-1 Chapter 7 References............................................................................................................... 7-1 FIGURES Figure ES-1 General Location of the Project........................................................................ES-3 Figure 2-1 Project Site Plan ................................................................................................. 2-2 Figure 2-2 Artist’s Rendering of Agua Caliente Solar Project.............................................. 2-3 Figure 3-1 Land Use Designations ...................................................................................... 3-3 Figure 3-2 Land Ownership ................................................................................................. 3-4 Figure 3-3 Local Land Use................................................................................................... 3-6 Figure 3-4 Location of Key Observation Points ................................................................. 3-10 Figure 3-5 Visual Simulation from KOP A.........................................................................