U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management Environmental Assessment UT-040-07-20 UTU-82972 and UTU-82973 October 15, 2008 Milford Wind Corridor Project Millard and Beaver Counties, Utah Milford Wind Corridor, LLC c/o First Wind 85 Wells Avenue, Suite 305 Newton, MA 02459 (617) 964-3340 Phone (617) 964-3342 Fax U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management Cedar City Field Office 176 East D.L. Sargent Drive Cedar City, UT 84720 (435) 865-3005 Phone (435) 865-3058 Fax Fillmore Field Office 35 East 500 North Fillmore, UT 84631 Phone (435) 743-3100 Fax (435) 743-3135 Table of Contents Section Page Table of Contents ......................................................................................................................... i 1.0 PURPOSE AND NEED..........................................................................................................1 1.1 Introduction................................................................................................................1 1.2 Background ................................................................................................................1 1.3 Need for the Proposed Action .................................................................................2 1.4 Purpose of the Proposed Action..............................................................................3 1.5 Conformance with BLM Land Use Plans...............................................................4 1.6 Relationship to Statutes, Regulations, or Other Plans..........................................4 1.7 Identification of Issues..............................................................................................8 2.0 DESCRIPTION OF ALTERNATIVES INCLUDING THE PROPOSED ACTION.11 2.1 Introduction..............................................................................................................11 2.2 Proposed Action ......................................................................................................11 2.2.1 Construction Schedule............................................................................12 2.2.2 Wind Energy Facility ..............................................................................12 2.2.3 Transmission Line ...................................................................................31 2.3 Alternatives Considered but Eliminated from Detailed Analysis....................39 2.3.1 Alternative Wind Energy Facility Site..................................................39 2.3.2 Alternative Transmission Line Interconnection..................................39 2.3.3 Utah State Route 257 Corridor Alternative Transmission Line Route..........................................................................................................39 2.3.4 Other Alternative Transmission Line Routes......................................39 2.4 No Action Alternative.............................................................................................40 3.0 AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT ...........................................................................................41 3.1 Introduction...............................................................................................................41 3.2 General Setting..........................................................................................................41 3.3 Critical Elements of the Human Environment and Other Resources/Issues Brought Forward for Analysis ...............................................................................42 3.3.1 Land Use...................................................................................................42 3.3.2 Soils............................................................................................................43 3.3.3 Paleontological Resources......................................................................45 3.3.4 Water Resources ......................................................................................46 3.3.5 Air Quality................................................................................................48 3.3.6 Vegetation.................................................................................................49 3.3.7 Wetlands and Riparian Zones ...............................................................53 3.3.8 Wildlife......................................................................................................55 3.3.9 Sensitive Species ......................................................................................56 3.3.10 Cultural Resources ................................................................................65 3.3.11 Visual Resources....................................................................................68 3.3.12 Socioeconomics......................................................................................71 ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT I MILFORD WIND CORRIDOR PROJECT OCTOBER 2008 4.0 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS ........................................................................................76 4.1 Introduction...............................................................................................................76 4.2 Proposed Action .......................................................................................................76 4.2.1 Land Use...................................................................................................76 4.2.2 Soils............................................................................................................79 4.2.3 Paleontological Resources......................................................................81 4.2.4 Water Resources ......................................................................................82 4.2.5 Air Quality................................................................................................84 4.2.6 Vegetation.................................................................................................87 4.2.7 Wetlands and Riparian Zones ...............................................................92 4.2.8 Wildlife......................................................................................................94 4.2.9 Sensitive Species ....................................................................................103 4.2.10 Cultural Resources ..............................................................................108 4.2.11 Visual Resources..................................................................................115 4.2.12 Socioeconomics....................................................................................119 4.2.13 Compliance and Monitoring..............................................................124 4.3 No Action Alternative............................................................................................124 4.4 Cumulative Impacts Analysis...............................................................................125 4.4.1 Approach to Cumulative Impacts Analysis.......................................125 4.4.2 Geographic Scope of Cumulative Analysis .......................................126 4.4.3 Timeframe...............................................................................................126 4.4.4 Past, Present, and Reasonably Foreseeable Actions .........................126 4.4.5 Cumulative Impacts ..............................................................................129 4.5 Mitigation Measures and Residual Impacts .......................................................131 5.0 CONSULTATION AND COORDINATION................................................................132 5.1 Introduction.............................................................................................................132 5.2 Persons, Groups, and Agencies Consulted.........................................................132 5.3 Summary of Public Participation .........................................................................133 5.3.1 Comment Analysis.................................................................................134 5.3.2 List of Commenters ................................................................................134 5.3.3 Response to Public Comment...............................................................134 5.4 List of Preparers......................................................................................................146 6.0 REFERENCES, GLOSSARY, ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS....................148 6.1 References Cited .....................................................................................................148 6.2 Glossary ...................................................................................................................157 6.3 Acronyms and Abbreviations...............................................................................160 APPENDICES............................................................................................................................164 Figures Figure 1 Project Overview Figure 2 Wind Energy Facility Layout Figure 3 Typical Wind Turbine Figure 4 Anticipated Construction Work Force Figure 5 Conceptual Electrical Collection System Home Runs Figure 6 Typical H-Frame Transmission Line Tower Structure ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT II MILFORD WIND CORRIDOR PROJECT OCTOBER 2008 Tables Table 1 Potential Authorizations, Permits, Reviews, and Approvals Table 2 Anticipated Project Construction Schedule Table 3 Wind Turbine Specifications