EA, Spring Canyon Wind Project ix TABLE OF CONTENTS Page 1.0 PURPOSE AND NEED......................................................................................................... 1 1.1 INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................... 1 1.2 PURPOSE AND NEED............................................................................................. 3 1.2.1 Federal Agency Action ............................................................................... 3 1.2.2 Applicant's Purpose and Need .................................................................... 3 1.3 SCOPING .................................................................................................................. 3 2.0 ALTERNATIVES INCLUDING THE PROPOSED ACTION ............................................ 5 2.1 WESTERN'S PROPOSED ACTION ........................................................................ 5 2.2 DESCRIPTION OF INVENERGY'S PROPOSED PROJECT................................. 5 2.2.1 Overview..................................................................................................... 5 2.2.2 Construction................................................................................................ 9 2.2.2.1 Road and Pad Construction.......................................................... 10 2.2.2.2 Foundations and Tower Erection................................................. 12 2.2.2.3 Trenching and Placement of Underground Electrical and Communications Cables ............................................................... 15 2.2.2.4 Overhead Electrical Power and Communication System ............ 15 2.2.2.5 Installation of FAA-required Lights ............................................ 16 2.2.2.6 Substation and O&M Building Construction............................... 16 2.2.2.7 Final Testing ................................................................................ 17 2.2.2.8 Final Road Grading, Erosion Control, and Site Clean-up ........... 17 2.2.3 Public Access and Safety............................................................................ 19 2.2.4 Operations and Maintenance ...................................................................... 19 2.2.5 Work Force ................................................................................................. 20 2.2.6 Traffic ......................................................................................................... 20 2.2.7 Water Use.................................................................................................... 21 2.2.8 Hazardous Materials ................................................................................... 22 2.2.9 Reclamation and Abandonment.................................................................. 22 2.2.10 Western's Standard Construction, Operation, and Maintenance Practices .................................................................................................... 23 2.2.11 Applicant-committed Mitigation Measures.............................................. 23 2.2.11.1 Fire Control................................................................................ 26 2.2.11.2 Cultural Resources..................................................................... 26 2.2.11.3 Paleontologic Resources............................................................ 27 2.2.11.4 Air Quality/Noise....................................................................... 27 2.2.11.5 Vegetation.................................................................................. 27 2.2.11.6 Noxious Weeds .......................................................................... 28 2.2.11.7 Streams and Wetlands................................................................ 28 2.2.11.8 Soils ........................................................................................... 29 2.2.11.9 Wildlife ...................................................................................... 29 x EA, Spring Canyon Wind Project TABLE OF CONTENTS (Continued) Page 2.2.11.10 Federally Listed Threatened, Endangered, Proposed, and Candidate Species and State-listed Threatened and Endangered Species ...................................................................... 31 2.2.11.11 Sanitation ................................................................................. 33 2.2.11.12 Existing Utilities ...................................................................... 33 2.2.11.13 Miscellaneous .......................................................................... 33 2.3 ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED BUT REJECTED.............................................. 34 2.4 NO ACTION ALTERNATIVE................................................................................. 34 2.5 SUMMARY OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS................................................... 35 3.0 ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS ........................................................................................ 39 3.1 CLIMATE AND AIR QUALITY ............................................................................. 39 3.1.1 Environmental Setting for the Proposed Project......................................... 39 3.1.1.1 Climate......................................................................................... 39 3.1.1.2 Air Quality ................................................................................... 40 3.1.2 Environmental Impacts and Mitigation Measures...................................... 42 3.1.2.1 Significance Criteria .................................................................... 42 3.1.2.2 Impacts of the Proposed Project .................................................. 42 3.1.2.3 Impacts of the No Action Alternative.......................................... 43 3.1.2.4 Mitigation Measures .................................................................... 43 3.2 GEOLOGY, PALEONTOLOGY, AND SOILS ....................................................... 43 3.2.1 Environmental Setting for the Proposed Project......................................... 43 3.2.1.1 Geology........................................................................................ 43 3.2.1.2 Paleontology ................................................................................ 45 3.2.1.3 Soils ............................................................................................. 55 3.2.2 Environmental Impacts and Mitigation Measures...................................... 55 3.2.2.1 Significance Criteria .................................................................... 55 3.2.2.2 Impacts of the Proposed Project .................................................. 57 3.2.2.3 Impacts of the No Action Alternative.......................................... 58 3.2.2.4 Mitigation Measures .................................................................... 58 3.3 WATER RESOURCES ............................................................................................. 58 3.3.1 Environmental Setting for the Proposed Project......................................... 58 3.3.2 Environmental Impacts and Mitigation Measures...................................... 61 3.3.2.1 Significance Criteria .................................................................... 61 3.3.2.2 Impacts of Proposed Project ........................................................ 61 3.3.2.3 Impacts of the No Action Alternative.......................................... 62 3.3.2.4 Mitigation Measures .................................................................... 63 3.4 FLOODPLAINS AND WETLANDS........................................................................ 63 3.4.1 Environmental Setting for the Proposed Project......................................... 63 3.4.2 Environmental Impacts and Mitigation Measures...................................... 64 EA, Spring Canyon Wind Project xi TABLE OF CONTENTS (Continued) Page 3.4.2.1 Significance Criteria .................................................................... 64 3.4.2.2 Impacts of the Proposed Project .................................................. 64 3.4.2.3 Impacts of the No Action Alternative.......................................... 64 3.4.2.4 Mitigation Measures .................................................................... 64 3.5 VEGETATION.......................................................................................................... 65 3.5.1 Environmental Setting for the Proposed Project......................................... 65 3.5.2 Environmental Impacts and Mitigation Measures...................................... 65 3.5.2.1 Significance Criteria .................................................................... 65 3.5.2.2 Impacts of the Proposed Project .................................................. 65 3.5.2.3 Impacts of the No Action Alternative.......................................... 67 3.5.2.4 Mitigation Measures .................................................................... 67 3.6 WILDLIFE................................................................................................................. 68 3.6.1 Environmental Setting of the Proposed Project.......................................... 68 3.6.2 Environmental Impacts and Mitigation Measures...................................... 70 3.6.2.1 Significance Criteria .................................................................... 70 3.6.2.2 Impacts of the Proposed Project .................................................. 70 3.6.2.3