Skookumchuck Wind Energy Project Proposed Habitat Conservation Plan and Incidental Take Permit for Marbled Murrelet, Bald Eagle, and Golden Eagle Lewis and Thurston Counties, Washington Draft Environmental Impact Statement Prepared by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Washington Field Office 510 Desmond Drive SE, Suite 102 Lacey, Washington 98503 November 2018 Estimated Total Costs Associated with Developing and Producing this EIS $629,000 COVER SHEET Title of Proposed Action: Skookumchuck Wind Energy Project Proposed Habitat Conservation Plan and Incidental Take Permit for Marbled Murrelet, Bald Eagle, and Golden Eagle. Subject: Draft Environmental Impact Statement Lead Agency: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service County/State: Lewis and Thurston Counties, Washington Abstract: The Skookumchuck Wind Energy Project, LLC (Applicant), a wholly owned subsidiary of Renewable Energy Systems, has determined that operations and maintenance activities associated with the Skookumchuck Wind Energy Project (Project) have the potential to result in take of marbled murrelet (Brachyramphus marmoratus), listed as federally threatened under the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973, and bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) and golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos), protected under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act (BGEPA)—collectively, the Covered Species—and is seeking an incidental take permit (ITP) pursuant to Section 10(a)(1)(B) of the ESA, as amended (16 United States Code [USC] 1531 et seq., 1539) for take of the Covered Species that could result from Project operations and maintenance activities. Doing so would also confer take authorization as required under the BGEPA (16 USC 668–668c, 50 Code of Federal Regulations [CFR] 22.261) without the need for a separate bald and golden eagle permit. This Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) has been prepared by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA; 42 USC 4321 et seq.) to evaluate the effects of the Service’s proposed action to issue the ITP for Project operation and maintenance (O&M) activities. Key issues include the assessment of the potential for impacts associated with the different alternatives and the corresponding need to implement conservation strategies to offset these impacts on the Covered Species. For Information, Contact: Tim Romanski U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 510 Desmond Dr. SE, Suite 102 Lacey, WA 98503 360-753-5823 [email protected] Deadline for Comments: Within 45 days of the publication of the Notice of Availability in the Federal Register 1 The BGEPA prohibits take specifically of bald and golden eagles. Permitting requirements are set forth in 50 CFR 22.26 and 74 Federal Register 46835. Skookumchuck Wind Energy Project Draft Environmental Impact Statement C-1 November 2018 TABLE OF CONTENTS Summary ..................................................................................................................................... S-1 1 Purpose and Need ...................................................................................................................1 Introduction .....................................................................................................................1 Proposed Federal Action .................................................................................................1 Purpose and Need for Action ..........................................................................................2 Decision to be Made........................................................................................................2 Scope of Analysis ............................................................................................................3 Regulatory Context .........................................................................................................4 2 Alternatives Including the Proposed Action ........................................................................5 Project Location ..............................................................................................................5 No Action Alternative .....................................................................................................6 Alternative 1 – Habitat Conservation Plan......................................................................7 2.3.1 Operations and Maintenance Activities ..............................................................7 2.3.2 Conservation Measures .......................................................................................8 2.3.3 Monitoring ........................................................................................................13 2.3.4 Adaptive Management ......................................................................................14 Alternative 2 – Modified Project Site Design ...............................................................15 Alternative 3 – Enhanced Curtailment ..........................................................................15 Alternatives Considered but Eliminated from Detailed Study ......................................16 2.6.1 Alternate Project Siting Locations ....................................................................16 2.6.2 Project Operation and Maintenance Without Incidental Take Coverage ..........17 2.6.3 Emerging Technologies Alternative .................................................................17 3 Affected Environment ..........................................................................................................17 Introduction ...................................................................................................................17 3.1.1 Study Area .........................................................................................................17 Geology and Soils .........................................................................................................18 Air Quality ....................................................................................................................18 Water Resources............................................................................................................19 Vegetation and Wetlands ..............................................................................................19 3.5.1 Project Area .......................................................................................................20 3.5.2 Mitigation Areas................................................................................................21 Fish and Wildlife ...........................................................................................................21 3.6.1 Fish ....................................................................................................................21 Skookumchuck Wind Energy Project Draft Environmental Impact Statement i November 2018 3.6.2 Birds ..................................................................................................................22 3.6.3 Bats ....................................................................................................................24 3.6.4 Mammals ...........................................................................................................25 3.6.5 Reptiles and Amphibians ..................................................................................25 Rare, Threatened, and Endangered Species ..................................................................26 3.7.1 Marbled Murrelet ..............................................................................................32 3.7.2 Bald and Golden Eagle......................................................................................35 3.7.3 Pileated Woodpecker ........................................................................................37 3.7.4 Vaux’s Swift .....................................................................................................38 3.7.5 Northern Goshawk ............................................................................................38 3.7.6 Townsend’s Big-Eared Bat ...............................................................................38 Land Use and Recreation ..............................................................................................39 Visual Resources ...........................................................................................................40 Cultural and Historic Resources....................................................................................40 Tribal Resources............................................................................................................41 Transportation ...............................................................................................................41 Noise .............................................................................................................................42 Public Services and Utilities .........................................................................................42 Health and Safety ..........................................................................................................43 Socioeconomics.............................................................................................................44 3.16.1 Employment and Income ..................................................................................45 3.16.2 Population and Housing ....................................................................................46