Environmental Assessment Lakeview Geothermal Project April 2012 One Embarcadero Center, Suite 740 San Francisco, CA 94111 650-373-1200 www.panoramaenv.com Environmental Assessment Lakeview Geothermal Project Lake County, Oregon Prepared For: US Department of Agriculture, Rural Development 1201 NE Lloyd Blvd, Suite 801 Portland, Oregon 97232‐1274 Prepared By: Panorama Environmental, Inc. One Embarcadero Center, Suite 740 San Francisco, CA 94111 650‐373‐1200 One Embarcadero Center, Suite 740 San Francisco, CA 94111 650-373-1200 www.panoramaenv.com TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 Introduction .................................................................................................................................. 1 1.1 National Environmental Policy Act .................................................................................... 1 1.2 Background ............................................................................................................................ 1 1.3 Purpose and Need ................................................................................................................. 1 1.3.1 USDA’s Purpose and Need ......................................................................................... 1 1.3.2 Oregon’s Purpose and Need ....................................................................................... 4 1.4 Public and Agency Involvement ......................................................................................... 4 2 USDA’s Proposed Action and the Proposed Project .......................................................... 2‐1 2.1 Proposed Action ................................................................................................................. 2‐1 2.1.1 Project Location .......................................................................................................... 2‐1 2.1.2 Existing FAcilities ...................................................................................................... 2‐1 2.1.3 Proposed Action......................................................................................................... 2‐3 2.1.4 Monitoring Wells ..................................................................................................... 2‐15 2.2 No‐Action Alternative ..................................................................................................... 2‐18 2.3 Safety and Risk Assessment ........................................................................................... 2‐19 2.4 Permitting .......................................................................................................................... 2‐19 2.5 Applicant‐committed measures ..................................................................................... 2‐21 2.5.1 Air Quality ................................................................................................................ 2‐21 2.5.2 Biological resources ................................................................................................. 2‐21 2.5.3 Water Resources ....................................................................................................... 2‐22 2.5.4 Cultural Resources................................................................................................... 2‐24 2.5.5 Noise .......................................................................................................................... 2‐26 2.5.6 Visual Resources ...................................................................................................... 2‐26 2.5.7 Human Health and Safety and Risk Assessment ................................................ 2‐26 3 Affected Environment and Environmental Impacts .......................................................... 3‐1 3.1 No‐Action Alternative ......................................................................................................... 3‐1 3.2 Proposed Action –Considerations Not Carried Forward for Further Analysis .......... 3‐1 3.2.1 Geology ....................................................................................................................... 3‐1 3.2.2 Water Resources – Floodplains ................................................................................ 3‐1 3.2.3 Land Use ..................................................................................................................... 3‐2 3.2.4 Transportation ............................................................................................................ 3‐4 Lakeview Geothermal Project EA i Table of Contents 3.2.5 Infrastructure .............................................................................................................. 3‐4 3.2.6 Visual Resources – Light Emissions ........................................................................ 3‐4 3.2.7 Wild and Scenic Rivers ............................................................................................. 3‐4 3.2.8 Socioeconomics .......................................................................................................... 3‐6 3.2.9 Intentional Destructive Acts ..................................................................................... 3‐6 3.3 Proposed Action ‐ Considerations Carried Forward for Further Analysis ................. 3‐6 3.3.1 Air Quality .................................................................................................................. 3‐6 3.3.2 Geology ..................................................................................................................... 3‐14 3.3.3 Water Resources ....................................................................................................... 3‐19 3.3.4 Biological Resources ................................................................................................ 3‐33 3.3.5 Cultural Resources................................................................................................... 3‐49 3.3.6 Noise .......................................................................................................................... 3‐54 3.4.1Visual Resources ....................................................................................................... 3‐58 3.4.2 Hazardous Materials, Human Health and Safety, and Risk Aasessment ....... 3‐61 3.4.3 Environmental Justice ............................................................................................. 3‐65 3.5 Irreversitlbe and irretreivable commitment of resources ........................................... 3‐67 3.6 Unavoidable Adverse Impacts ....................................................................................... 3‐68 3.7 The Relationship Between Local Short‐Term Uses of the Human Environment and the Maintenance and Enhancement of Long‐Term Productivity .............................. 3‐68 4 Cumulative Impacts ................................................................................................................. 4‐1 4.1 Reasonably Foreseeable Projects ...................................................................................... 4‐1 4.1.1 Bullard Canyon Micro Hydro Project ..................................................................... 4‐3 4.1.2 20‐Kilowatt Solar Installation ................................................................................... 4‐3 4.1.3 Lakeview School Wind Generator Project ............................................................. 4‐3 4.1.4 Biomass Plant Project ................................................................................................ 4‐3 4.1.5 Solar Plant Projet ........................................................................................................ 4‐3 4.1.6 Greenwing Wind Project .......................................................................................... 4‐3 4.1.7 New Library Building ............................................................................................... 4‐3 4.1.8 Lake County Industrial Park .................................................................................... 4‐4 4.2 Summary of Cumulative Impacts .................................................................................... 4‐4 4.2.1 Air Quality .................................................................................................................. 4‐4 4.2.2 Geology and soils ....................................................................................................... 4‐4 4.2.3 Biological Resources .................................................................................................. 4‐5 ii April 2012 Table of Contents 4.2.4 Water Resources ......................................................................................................... 4‐5 4.2.5 Noise ............................................................................................................................ 4‐5 4.2.6 Visual Resources ........................................................................................................ 4‐6 5 References .................................................................................................................................. 5‐1 6 Agencies and Persons Consulted ........................................................................................... 6‐1 LIST OF TABLES Table 2.1‐1: Summary of Project Components ............................................................................... 2‐4 Table 2.1‐2: Peak Geothermal Flow at Buildings ..........................................................................