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Kenetech Windpower, Wyoming Wind Energy Project; Availability of Draft Environmental Impact Statement

 

Bureau of Land Management



[Federal Register: January 13, 1995]









DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR



Bureau of Land Management

[WY-030-94-5101-10-K014; WYW-130382]

 


Kenetech Windpower, Wyoming Wind Energy Project; Availability of 
Draft Environmental Impact Statement



AGENCIES: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.



ACTION: Notice of Availability of Draft Environmental Impact Statement 
(DEIS) for the Kenetech Windpower, Wyoming Wind Energy Project, Carbon 
County, Wyoming.






SUMMARY: Under section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy 
Act (NEPA) of 1969 as amended, the Bureau of Land Management, Rawlins 
District Office has prepared a DEIS on the potential impacts of a 
proposed wind energy project. A total of 1,390 wind turbines and 
associated facilities (including approximately 29 miles of 230 kV 
powerline) would be constructed on 62,000 acres (25,091 hectares) of 
private, Federal and State lands, over a 10-12 year development period, 
in Carbon County, Wyoming. If the project is approved, the BLM will 
issue a right-of-way grant under section 501 of the Federal Land Policy 
and Management Act of 1976 for the wind energy facilities and 
powerline. The U.S. Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) is a 
cooperating agency and will base a decision to purchase 25 MW of power, 
under Public Law 96-501, upon this analysis.



DATES: Comments on the DEIS will be accepted through March 20, 1995. 
Public Meetings will be held at the Jeffrey Center, Third and Spruce 
Streets, Rawlins, Wyoming, on February 8, 1995, at 7:00 p.m., and on 
February 9, 1995, at the Albany County Public Library, Large Meeting 
Room, 310 S. 8th Street, Laramie, Wyoming, at 7:00 p.m.



ADDRESSES: Comments should be sent to Bureau of Land Management, 
Rawlins District Office, Walter E. George, Project Leader, 1300 3rd 
Street, P.O. Box 670, Rawlins, Wyoming 82301 or Bonneville Power 
Administration, Richard Stone, Environmental Specialist (ECN-3), P.O. 
Box 3621, Portland, Oregon 97208.



FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bureau of Land Management, Walter E. 
George, Project Leader, 1300 3rd Street, P.O. Box 670, Rawlins, Wyoming 
82301, phone number 307-324-7171 or Bonneville Power Administration, 
Richard Stone, Environmental Specialist (ECN-3), P.O. Box 3621, 
Portland, Oregon 97208, phone number 503-230-3797.



SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Kenetech Windpower proposes to construct a 
500 (MW) Wind Energy Project to be located on Foote Creek Rim and 
Simpson Ridge in Carbon County, Wyoming. The project area is located 
approximately 40 miles (64.36 Km) southeast of Rawlins, and 40 miles 
(64.36 Km) northwest of Laramie, Wyoming. The Foote Creek Rim portion 
is in all or portions of approximately 10 sections in Townships l9N and 
20N, Ranges 78W and 79W north and west of Arlington. The Simpson Ridge 
portion is in all or portions of 92 sections in Townships 20N, 21N, and 
22N, Ranges 80W and 81W south of Hanna. Land ownership in the project 
area is approximately 62 percent private, 28 percent public 
(administered by BLM), and 10 percent State of Wyoming.
    The project will be constructed in phases over a 10-12 year period. 
The first phase, involving 70.5 MW of electrical power generated by 201 
Wind Turbine Generators (WTGs), would be constructed on Foote Creek Rim 
in 1995-1996. Later phases would involve 50 MW (approximately 75 WTGs/
50 MW) increases per year, as utility contracts are approved, until the 
500 MW capacity is reached (for a total of 1,390 WTGs). BLM would issue 
Notices to Proceed for subsequent phases following a review of sitespecific 
proposals (Plans of Development) and monitoring data for 
consistency with this analysis. Ancillary facilities include, but are 
not limited to:


    

  1.  Above and below-ground electric
    

  2.  Communication lines
    

  3.  Access roads
    

  4.  Substations
    

  5.  Control/maintenance building
    

  6.  Transformer sites
    
    The Bonneville Power Administration, Department of Energy, a 
Cooperating Agency for the EIS, will execute a power purchase contract 
to purchase 25 MW of electricity from the Foote Creek Rim phase of the 
project under BPA's Resource Supply Expansion Program.
    The wind turbines will be erected on 80 to 120 feet (24 to 37 
meters) tubular 
    
[[Page 3257]]
    
towers with height determined by specific meteorological and geographic 
characteristics. The WTGs are variable speed, up-wind, threefiberglass
-bladed machines with a rotor diameter of 108 feet (33 
meters). The WTGs will be spaced approximately 162 to 216 feet (49 to 
66 meters) apart with approximately 1,080 to 1,620 feet (329 to 494 
    meters) between each row.The electrical utility interconnection is 
with the PacifiCorp 230 kV system at the Miner's substation at Hanna, 
Wyoming. A wood pole 230 kV line would be erected from the project site 
northwest, approximately 29 miles (40 Km), to the Miner's substation.
    The DEIS analyzes impacts from the proposed action, a 300 MW 
alternative (Alternative A), and the No Action Alternative. Alternative 
project locations, reduced project area, construction phasing 
alternatives, and alternative generating sources were considered but 
not analyzed in detail.
    
    The DEIS identifies potentially significant impacts to:


  7.  Big game crucial habitat and movement patterns

  8.  Avian mortality from collisions with turbine blades

  9.  Loss of sage grouse habitat
    

  10.  Disturbance of native American religious or culturally significant 
sites
    

  11.  Modification of basic elements of visual resources in the project 
area


    Dated: January 9, 1995.
    
Robert A. Bennett,
    
Acting State Director.
    
[FR Doc. 95-908 Filed 1-12-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-22-P

 
 

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