Northern Wind Project Draft Environmental Assessment DOE/EA-1902 Roberts County, South Dakota U.S. Department of Energy Western Area Power Administration November 2014 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.0 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Need for the Proposed Project ...............................................................................................................................1 1.2 Applicant’s Underlying Need ..................................................................................................................................2 1.3 Purpose of the Proposed Project ............................................................................................................................2 1.4 Agency Purpose and Need ......................................................................................................................................3 1.5 Authorizing Action ..................................................................................................................................................3 1.6 Public Participation .................................................................................................................................................4 2.0 DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSED PROJECT AND ALTERNATIVES .................................................. 6 2.1 Pre-Construction Activities .....................................................................................................................................6 2.2 Proposed Project ....................................................................................................................................................7 2.2.1 Proposed Project .............................................................................................................................................7 2.2.2 Construction Procedures ...............................................................................................................................10 2.2.3 Project Operation and Maintenance.............................................................................................................14 2.2.4 Decommissioning ..........................................................................................................................................16 2.2.5 Construction Waste Management and Restoration/Reclamation ...............................................................16 2.2.6 Environmental Protection Measures.............................................................................................................17 2.2.7 Mitigation Management Plan.......................................................................................................................18 2.2.8 Conservation Measures ................................................................................................................................19 2.3 No Action Alternative ...........................................................................................................................................23 3.0 AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES ................................... 24 3.1 Geology and Soils ..................................................................................................................................................24 3.1.1 Existing Conditions ........................................................................................................................................24 3.1.2 Potential Impacts of the Proposed Project ....................................................................................................27 3.2 Air Resources ........................................................................................................................................................28 3.2.1 Existing Conditions ........................................................................................................................................28 3.2.2 Potential Impacts of the Proposed Project ....................................................................................................29 3.3 Water Resources ...................................................................................................................................................30 3.3.1 Existing Conditions ........................................................................................................................................30 3.3.2 Potential Impacts of the Proposed Project ....................................................................................................32 3.4 Vegetation ............................................................................................................................................................33 3.4.1 Existing Conditions ........................................................................................................................................33 3.4.2 Noxious and Invasive Weeds .........................................................................................................................35 3.4.3 Potential Impacts of the Proposed Project ....................................................................................................36 3.5 Wildlife ..................................................................................................................................................................37 3.5.1 Existing Wildlife Species ................................................................................................................................37 3.5.2 Sensitive Wildlife Species ..............................................................................................................................40 3.5.3 State-Listed Species.......................................................................................................................................45 3.5.4 Potential Impacts of the Proposed Project ....................................................................................................47 3.6 Land Use ...............................................................................................................................................................52 3.6.1 Existing Conditions ........................................................................................................................................52 3.6.2 Potential Impacts of the Project ...................................................................................................................54 3.7 Socioeconomics and Environmental Justice .........................................................................................................56 3.7.1 Socioeconomics .............................................................................................................................................56 3.7.2 Environmental Justice ...................................................................................................................................57 3.7.3 Potential Impacts of the Proposed Project ....................................................................................................58 TABLE OF CONTENTS – (Continued 3.8 Visual Resources ...................................................................................................................................................59 3.8.1 Existing Conditions ........................................................................................................................................60 3.8.2 Potential Impacts of the Proposed Project ....................................................................................................60 3.9 Noise .....................................................................................................................................................................61 3.9.1 Existing Conditions ........................................................................................................................................62 3.9.2 Potential Impacts of the Proposed Project ....................................................................................................63 3.10 Transportation ......................................................................................................................................................63 3.10.1 Existing Conditions ........................................................................................................................................64 3.10.2 Potential Impacts of the Proposed Project ....................................................................................................64 3.11 Safety and Health Issues .......................................................................................................................................64 3.11.1 Existing Conditions ........................................................................................................................................64 3.11.2 Potential Impacts of the Proposed Project ....................................................................................................65 3.12 Cultural Resources ................................................................................................................................................66 3.12.1 Existing Conditions ........................................................................................................................................67