Draft Environmental Assessment ELECTRICAL DISTRICT 5 - PALO VERDE HUB PROJECT Western No: DOE/EA-1864 Prepared for: US Departmentp of Energygy Western Area Power Administration DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT DOE/EA-1864 Electrical District 5 – Palo Verde Hub Project Maricopa and Pinal Counties, Arizona US Department of Energy Western Area Power Administration Desert Southwest Customer Service Region 615 South 43rd Avenue Phoenix, Arizona 85009 June 2011 This page is intentionally left blank. TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.0 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................... 1 1.1 PROJECT BACKGROUND ............................................................................................ 1 1.2 PURPOSE AND NEED ................................................................................................... 5 1.3 CONFORMANCE WITH RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PLANS AND OTHER LAND USE PLANS ........................................................................................................ 6 1.4 APPLICABLE REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS AND REQUIRED COORDINATION ........................................................................................................... 7 1.5 PERMITS, LICENSES, AND ENTITLEMENTS ........................................................... 7 1.6 ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW ....................................................................................... 8 1.7 SCOPING ......................................................................................................................... 8 2.0 PROPOSED ACTION AND ALTERNATIVES .......................................................... 11 2.1 PROPOSED ACTION ................................................................................................... 11 2.1.1 Proposed Transmission Line Segments .................................................................. 15 2.1.2 Substations .............................................................................................................. 15 2.1.3 Right-Of-Way ......................................................................................................... 17 2.1.4 Construction Activities and Schedule ..................................................................... 17 2.1.5 Transmission Corridor and Access Roads .............................................................. 17 2.1.6 Design ..................................................................................................................... 17 2.1.7 Site Clearing............................................................................................................ 20 2.1.8 Electrical Outages ................................................................................................... 20 2.1.9 Excavation and Foundations ................................................................................... 21 2.1.10 Structure Assembly and Erection............................................................................ 21 2.1.11 Conductor Stringing ................................................................................................ 22 2.1.12 Operation and Maintenance .................................................................................... 23 2.1.13 Ground Disturbance ................................................................................................ 23 2.2 RESOURCE PROTECTION MEASURES ................................................................... 24 2.3 NO ACTION ALTERNATIVE ..................................................................................... 24 2.4 ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED BUT NOT FURTHER EVALUATED ................. 25 3.0 AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES ....... 26 3.1 RESOURCES CONSIDERED BUT NOT FURTHER EVALUATED ........................ 26 3.1.1 Water Resources ..................................................................................................... 26 3.1.2 Wild and Scenic Rivers ........................................................................................... 27 3.1.3 Geology, Mineral, and Soil Resources ................................................................... 27 3.1.4 Noise ....................................................................................................................... 28 3.1.5 Air Quality .............................................................................................................. 28 3.1.6 Solid Wastes and Hazardous Materials................................................................... 29 3.2 FLOODPLAIN ............................................................................................................... 29 3.2.1 Affected Environment ............................................................................................. 29 3.2.2 Environmental Consequences ................................................................................. 30 Electrical District 5 – Palo Verde Hub Project DOE/EA-1864 page i Draft Environmental Assessment 3.3 LAND USE AND OWNERSHIP .................................................................................. 33 3.3.1 Affected Environment ............................................................................................. 33 3.3.1.1 Land Ownership and Jurisdiction .................................................................... 33 3.3.1.2 Planned Land Use and Zoning......................................................................... 33 3.3.1.3 Prime and Unique Farmlands .......................................................................... 34 3.3.1.4 Recreation ........................................................................................................ 35 3.3.1.5 Wilderness Areas ............................................................................................. 36 3.3.2 Environmental Consequences ................................................................................. 39 3.4 VISUAL ......................................................................................................................... 40 3.4.1 Affected Environment ............................................................................................. 40 3.4.2 Environmental Consequences ................................................................................. 41 3.5 BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES ....................................................................................... 42 3.5.1 Vegetation ............................................................................................................... 43 3.5.1.1 Affected Environment ..................................................................................... 43 3.5.1.2 Environmental Consequences Native Plants ................................................... 45 3.5.1.3 Environmental Consequences Invasive Plants ................................................ 46 3.5.2 Wildlife ................................................................................................................... 47 3.5.2.1 Affected Environment ..................................................................................... 47 3.5.2.2 Environmental Consequences.......................................................................... 48 3.5.3 Threatened and Endangered Species ...................................................................... 52 3.5.3.1 Affected Environment ..................................................................................... 52 3.5.3.2 Environmental Consequences.......................................................................... 54 3.5.4 Sensitive and Special Status Species ...................................................................... 57 3.5.4.1 Affected Environment ..................................................................................... 57 3.5.4.2 Environmental Consequences.......................................................................... 58 3.6 CULTURAL RESOURCES .......................................................................................... 60 3.6.1 Affected Environment ............................................................................................. 60 3.6.2 Environmental Consequences ................................................................................. 63 3.6.3 Native American Religious Concerns ..................................................................... 65 3.6.3.1 Environmental Consequences.......................................................................... 65 3.7 SOCIOECONOMICS AND ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE/TITLE IV ..................... 66 3.7.1 Affected Environment ............................................................................................. 66 3.7.2 Environmental Consequences ................................................................................. 67 3.8 PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY ............................................................................... 68 3.8.1 Affected Environment ............................................................................................. 68 3.8.1.1 Emergency Infrastructure ................................................................................ 68 3.8.1.2 Public and Worker Safety ................................................................................ 68 3.8.1.3 Electric and Magnetic Fields ........................................................................... 69 3.8.2 Environmental Consequences ................................................................................