U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management Environmental Assessment DOI-BLM-NV-S010-2013-0052-EA DOE/EA-1960 June 28, 2013 Townsite Solar Project Transmission Line PREPARING OFFICE U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management Southern Nevada District Office Las Vegas Field Office 4701 N. Torrey Pines Drive Las Vegas, Nevada 702-515-5000 Office 702-515-5010 Fax Environmental Assessment for the Townsite Solar Project DOE/EA-1960 DOI-BLM-NV-S010-2013-0052 EA N-91290 Prepared For U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management Southern Nevada District Office Las Vegas Field Office 4701 N. Torrey Pines Drive Las Vegas, NV Prepared by: 8250 West Charleston Boulevard, Suite 100 Las Vegas, NV 89117 June 28, 2013 Townsite Solar Project Environmental Assessment Contents Contents 1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Background ................................................................................................................................... 1 1.1.1 Scope of Analysis.................................................................................................................. 1 1.1.2 BLM’s Purpose and Need for the Action .............................................................................. 1 1.1.3 BLM Decisions to be Made .................................................................................................. 2 1.1.4 Western’s Purpose and Need ................................................................................................ 2 1.1.5 Western’s Decisions to be Made ........................................................................................... 2 1.2 Relationship to Laws, Regulations, Policies, and Other Plans...................................................... 4 1.3 Supplemental Authorities .............................................................................................................. 4 1.4 Identifying Information ................................................................................................................. 6 2 Proposed Project and Alternatives ........................................................................................................ 7 2.1 Proposed Project ........................................................................................................................... 7 2.2 Non-federal Connected Action ..................................................................................................... 7 2.3 Alternatives ................................................................................................................................... 7 2.3.1 Alternative A1 ..................................................................................................................... 10 2.3.2 Alternative A2 ..................................................................................................................... 10 2.3.3 Alternative A3 ..................................................................................................................... 10 2.3.4 Alternative B ....................................................................................................................... 10 2.3.5 No Action Alternative ......................................................................................................... 11 2.3.6 Alternatives Considered but not Analyzed in Detail ........................................................... 11 2.4 Proposed Project Facilities .......................................................................................................... 11 2.4.1 Site Preparation and Mobilization Activities ...................................................................... 15 2.4.2 Waste and Hazardous Materials Management .................................................................... 15 2.4.3 Surface Reclamation ........................................................................................................... 16 2.4.4 Best Management Practices ................................................................................................ 16 2.5 Proposed Project Construction Schedule .................................................................................... 16 2.5.1 Operations and Maintenance ............................................................................................... 17 2.5.2 Decommissioning................................................................................................................ 17 3 Affected Environment, Environmental Consequences, and Mitigation Measures ............................. 19 3.1 Proposed Project General Setting ............................................................................................... 19 3.2 Air Quality and Climate .............................................................................................................. 20 3.2.1 Affected Environment ......................................................................................................... 20 Townsite Solar Project Environmental Assessment Contents 3.2.2 Environmental Consequences ............................................................................................. 22 3.2.3 Mitigation ............................................................................................................................ 25 3.3 Geology, Minerals, and Soils ...................................................................................................... 27 3.3.1 Affected Environment ......................................................................................................... 27 3.3.2 Environmental Consequences ............................................................................................. 28 3.3.3 Mitigation ............................................................................................................................ 28 3.4 Water Resources ......................................................................................................................... 29 3.4.1 Affected Environment ......................................................................................................... 29 3.4.2 Environmental Consequences ............................................................................................. 30 3.4.3 Mitigation ............................................................................................................................ 31 3.5 Vegetation ................................................................................................................................... 32 3.5.1 Affected Environment ......................................................................................................... 32 3.5.2 Environmental Consequences ............................................................................................. 33 3.5.3 Mitigation ............................................................................................................................ 34 3.6 Special Status Vegetation............................................................................................................ 36 3.6.1 Existing Condition .............................................................................................................. 36 3.6.2 Environmental Consequences ............................................................................................. 36 3.6.3 Mitigation ............................................................................................................................ 37 3.7 Wildlife ....................................................................................................................................... 38 3.7.1 Affected Environment ......................................................................................................... 38 3.7.2 Environmental Consequences ............................................................................................. 38 3.7.3 Mitigation ............................................................................................................................ 39 3.8 Special Status Wildlife Species................................................................................................... 40 3.8.1 Affected Environment ......................................................................................................... 40 3.8.2 Environmental Consequences ............................................................................................. 42 3.8.3 Mitigation ............................................................................................................................ 46 3.9 Cultural Resources ...................................................................................................................... 50 3.9.1 Affected Environment ......................................................................................................... 50 3.9.2 Environmental Consequences ............................................................................................. 51 3.9.3 Mitigation ............................................................................................................................ 51 3.10 Visual Resources ......................................................................................................................... 52 3.10.1 Affected Environment ........................................................................................................