Draft environmental impact statement for the proposed Mohave County Wind Farm Project

2012·156.7 MB·English

by  United States. Bureau of Land Management. Kingman Field Office

BLM LIBRARY
DRAFT
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT FOR THE
Mohave
Proposed County
Wind Farm
Project
J
7*
April 2012
BLM/AZ/PL-12/006
United States Department of the Interior
BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT
Take Pride"
Colorado River District in^MERICA
Kingman Field Office
2755 Mission Boulevard
Kingman, Arizona 86401
www.az.blm.gov
April 6, 2012
Reply Refer To:
2800 (C010)
AZA- 32315AA
Dear Reader:
Attached for your review and comment is the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for
the Mohave County Wind Farm Project (Project). BP Wind Energy North America Inc.,
submitted a right-of-way application to construct, operate, maintain, and decommission a wind
energy facility and associated infrastructure in the White Hills area ofnorthwestern Mohave
County, Arizona. The proposed wind energy facility would occupy 38,099 acres ofpublic land
managed by the Bureau ofLand Management (BLM), Kingman Field Office and 8,960 acres of
Federal land managed by the Bureau ofReclamation.
BLM
This document was prepared by the in consultation and cooperation with cooperating
agencies and in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as
amended; the Council on Environmental Quality and the Department ofthe Interior (DOI)
regulations implementing NEPA (40 CFR Parts 1500-1508, 43 CFR Part 46), and the Federal
Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, as amended.
Your timely review and comments will be critical to the success ofthis effort and in preparing
the Final EIS. Comments will be accepted for 45 calendar days following the date the
Environmental Protection Agency publishes the Notice ofAvailability in the Federal Register.
We request that your comments be as specific as possible. Comments are more helpful ifthey
reference a section or page number and include suggested changes, additional information
sources, or alternative methods. Comments may address the adequacy ofspecific analysis in the
Draft EIS and merits ofthe alternatives formulated and discussed in the document. Comments
that contain only opinion or preferences will be considered and included as part ofthe decision
making process, although they will not receive a formal response from the BLM.
You may submit comments by any ofthe following methods:
KFO [email protected]
Fax: [phone]
Mail: Bureau ofLand Management, Renewable Energy Coordination Office,
Arizona State Office, One North Central Avenue, Suite 800
Phoenix, Arizona 85004-4427
Please identify on the envelopes and the subject line ofthe email and facsimiles “Mohave
County Wind Farm Draft EIS”.
Before including your address, phone number, email address, or other personal identifying
information in your comment, be advised your entire comment - including your personal
identifying information - may be made publicly available at any time. Comments submitted
anonymously will be accepted and considered. Anonymous comments do not create standing or
a record ofparticipation. All submissions from organizations and businesses, and from
individuals identifying themselves as representatives, or officials oforganizations or business,
will be available for public inspection in their entirety.
BLM
The will host public meetings to provide further information on the Draft EIS and to solicit
written comments. The meeting dates and locations will be announced at least 15 days in
advance through local media, newspapers, and the BLM project Web site.
Copies ofthe Draft EIS have been sent to affected federal, state, and local government agencies
and applicable tribal governments. Printed copies ofthe Draft EIS are available for public
review at the BLM Kingman Field Office and the Arizona State Office. The document may also
be viewed at the following public libraries in Mohave County, Arizona:
• Boulder City Library
® Dolan Springs Community Library
• Kingman Mohave County Library
• Kingman Valle Vista Community Library
9 Peach Springs The Edward McElwain Memorial Library
You may also access the document on the project website at:
http://www.blm.gov/az/st/en/prog/energy/wind/mohave.html
.
Thank you for your interest in the Project. We appreciate your contribution to the NEPA
process.
MOHAVE COUNTY WIND FARM PROJECT
MOHAVE COUNTY, ARIZONA
DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT
Lead Agency: U.S. Department ofthe Interior, Bureau ofLand Management
Jurisdiction: Colorado River District, Kingman Field Office, Arizona
Cooperating Agencies: Bureau ofReclamation - Lower Colorado Region
Western Area Power Administration - Desert Southwest Customer
Service Region
National Park Service - Lake Mead National Recreation Area
Arizona Game and Fish Commission
Hualapai Tribe - Department ofCultural Resources
Mohave County Arizona - Board ofSupervisors
Type ofAction: Draft (X) Final
( )
Administrative (X) Legislative
( )
For More Information: Jerry Crockford, BLM Contracted Project Manager
Mohave County Wind Farm DEIS
Telephone [phone]
ABSTRACT: BP Wind Energy North America Inc. submitted a right-of-way application to construct,
operate, maintain and decommission a wind energy facility and associated infrastructure in the White
Hills area ofnorthwestern Mohave County, Arizona. The proposed wind energy facility would occupy
38,099 acres ofpublic land managed by the Bureau ofLand Management (BLM), Kingman Field Office
and 8,960 acres ofFederal land managed by the Bureau ofReclamation (Reclamation). The proposed
MW
project would produce up to 500 ofpower. This Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
analyzes in detail the environmental effects offour alternatives:
• Alternative A - proponent’s proposed action
• Alternative B - a reduced wind farm site footprint that encompasses approximately 30,872 acres
ofBLM-managed land and 3,848 acres ofland managed by Reclamation
• Alternative C - a reduced wind farm site footprint that encompasses approximately 30,172 acres
ofBLM-managed land and 5,124 acres ofland managed by Reclamation
• Alternative D - No Action, in which BLM would not authorize construction and operation ofthe
wind energy facility
Public comments on the draft EIS will be accepted for use in development ofthe final EIS for 45 calendar
days following the date the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency publishes its Notice ofAvailability in
the Federal Register.
You may submit written comments by any ofthe following methods: [email protected], by
fax [phone], or by mail: Bureau ofLand Management, Renewable Energy Coordination Office,
Arizona State Office, One North Central Avenue, Suite 800, Phoenix, Arizona 85004-4427. Please
identify on the envelopes and the subject line ofthe e-mail and facsimiles “Mohave County Wind Farm
Draft EIS.” For information about the project or to view the draft EIS, visit
http://www.blm.gov/az/st/en/prog/energy/wind/mohave.html.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ES-1
1.0 INTRODUCTION, PURPOSE AND NEED 1-1
1.1 PROJECT INTRODUCTION AND LOCATION 1-1
BACKGROUND
1.2 1-4
1.2.1 National and State Renewable Energy Requirements 1-4
1.2.2 BLM Wind Energy Policies and Requirements 1-4
1.2.3 Applicant 1-5
PURPOSE OF AND NEED FOR THE PROPOSED ACTION AND RELATED
1.3
AGENCY ACTIONS 1-7
1.3.1 Decisions to be Made 1-7
1.3.2 Agency Authority and Actions 1-9
1.4 LAND USE PLANNING 1-14
1.5 FEDERAL, STATE, AND COUNTY LAWS, REGULATIONS, AND POLICIES ... 1-14
1 .6 LEAD AGENCY AND COOPERATING AGENCIES 1-15
GOVERNMENT-TO-GOVERNMENT CONSULTATION
1.7 1-15
1.8 ISSUES TO BE ADDRESSED IN THE EIS 1-16
1.8.1 Proposed Actions and Alternatives 1-17
1.8.2 Environmental Impacts 1-17
2.0 PROPOSED ACTION AND ALTERNATIVES 2-1
2.1 INTRODUCTION 2-1
2.2 SITE SELECTION PROCESS 2-2
2.2.1 High Quality Wind Resource 2-2
2.2.2 Available Land 2-2
2.2.3 Suitable Transmission 2-3
2.2.4 Environmental Issues 2-3
CONFORMANCE WITH KINGMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PLAN AND
2.3
BUREAU OF RECLAMATION DIRECTIVES AND STANDARDS 2-3
2.4 BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES 2-4
2.5 PROPOSED ACTION 2-4
2.5.1 Site Preparation and Pre-Construction Activities 2-4
2.5.2 Project Components and Construction 2-7
2.5.3 Post-Construction 2-34
2.5.4 Operation and Maintenance 2-35
2.5.5 Decommissioning 2-37
2.6 ALTERNATIVES 2-39
2.6.1 Project Feature Options 2-39
2.6.2 Alternative A - Proposed Action 2-40
2.6.3 Alternative B 2-45
2.6.4 Alternative C 2-49
2.6.5 Alternative D - No Action 2-55
2.7 PROJECT DESIGN REFINEMENTS 2-55
BONDING
2.8 2-57
Table ofContents
ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED BUT ELIMINATED FROM FURTHER
2.9
ANALYSIS 2-57
2.9.1 Alternative E - Use Land East ofCurrent Wind Farm Site 2-57
2.9.2 Alternative F - Use 36,000 Acres ofBLM-administered and Reclamation-
administered Land 2-57
2.9.3 Alternative Locations that Failed to Satisfy Siting Criteria 2-58
2.9.4 Interconnection to Moenkopi-El Dorado 500-kV Transmission Line 2-58
2.9.5 Switchyard Locations Outside ofthe Wind Farm Site 2-58
2.9.6 Distributed Generation and Energy Conservation 2-58
2.9.7 Brownfields and Previously Disturbed Areas 2-60
3.0
2.9.8 Reduced Generation Capacity 2-60
2.10 SUMMARY OF EFFECTS FROM ALTERNATIVES 2-61
AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT
3-1
INTRODUCTION
3.1 3-1
3.2 CLIMATE AND AIR QUALITY 3-2
3.2.1 Introduction 3-2
3.2.2 Regional Overview 3-2
3.2.3 Existing Conditions 3-12
3.2.4 Climate Change 3-13
3.3 GEOLOGY, SOILS, AND MINERALS 3-14
3.3.1 Introduction 3-14
3.3.2 Geologic Setting 3-14
3.3.3 Soils Overview 3-14
3.3.4 Geologic Hazards 3-17
3.3.5 Collapsible Soils 3-18
3.3.6 Shrink/Swell Potential 3-18
3.3.7 Earth Fissures/Land Subsidence 3-18
3.3.8 Approximate Bedrock Location 3-18
3.3.9 Corrosion ofConcrete and Steel 3-18
3.3.10 Seismic Analysis 3-18
3.3.11 Landslides/Soil Erosion 3-19
3.3.12 Mineral Resources/Mining 3-19
3.3.13 Primary Access Road, Distribution Line, and Temporary Water Pipeline....3-19
3.4 WATER RESOURCES 3-23
3.4.1 Introduction 3-23
3.4.2 Regional Overview 3-23
3.4.3 Project Area Conditions 3-23
3.5 BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES 3-28
3.5.1 Existing Conditions 3-29
3.5.2 Wildlife 3-36
3.5.3 Special Status Species 3-47
3.6 CULTURAL RESOURCES 3-55
3.6.1 Introduction 3-55
3.6.2 Regional Overview 3-57
Mohave County Wind Farm Project Draft EIS ii April 2012
Table ofContents
3.6.3 Archaeological and Historical Resources 3-60
3.6.4 Traditional Cultural Resources and Other Cultural Resources Sensitive to
Visual Impacts 3-62
3.6.5 Indian Trust Assets 3-65
3.7 PALEONTOLOGICAL RESOURCES 3-65
3.7.1 Introduction 3-65
3.7.2 Regional Overview 3-66
3.7.3 Existing Conditions 3-66
3.8 LAND USE 3-67
3.8.1 Introduction 3-67
3.8.2 Regional Overview 3-67
3.8.3 Regional Land Use 3-70
3.8.4 Project Area Overview 3-74
3.9 TRANSPORTATION AND ACCESS 3-76
3.9.1 Introduction 3-76
3.9.2 Regional Overview 3-76
3.9.3 Existing Conditions 3-78
3.10 SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC CONDITIONS 3-80
3.10.1 Introduction 3-80
3.10.2 Regional Overview 3-80
3.10.3 Existing Conditions 3-80
3.11 ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE 3-87
3.11.1 Introduction 3-87
3.1 1.2 Regional Overview 3-89
3.11.3 Existing Conditions 3-89
3.12 VISUAL RESOURCES 3-96
3.12.1 Introduction 3-96
3.12.2 Methods 3-96
3.12.3 Regulatory and Management Framework 3-96
3.12.4 Existing Conditions 3-99
3.13 PUBLIC SAFETY, HAZARDOUS MATERIALS, AND SOLID WASTE 3-103
3.13.1 Introduction 3-103
3.13.2 Regional Overview 3-104
3.13.3 Existing Conditions 3-104
3.14 MICROWAVE, RADAR, AND OTHER COMMUNICATIONS 3-106
3.14.1 Introduction 3-106
3.14.2 Regional Overview 3-106
3.14.3 Existing Conditions 3-107
3.15 NOISE 3-108
3.15.1 Introduction 3-108
3.15.2 Regional Overview 3-115
3.15.3 Existing Conditions 3-115
Mohave County Wind Farm Project Draft EIS iii April 2012
Table ofContents
60
4.0
ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES
4-1
INTRODUCTION
4.1 4-1
4.1.1 Impact Analysis Approach 4-1
4.1.2 Impact Analysis Assumptions Common to All Resources and Resource
Uses 4-3
4.2 CLIMATE AND AIR QUALITY 4-3
4.2.1 Analysis Methods 4-3
4.2.2 Alternative A - Proposed Action 4-4
4.2.3 Alternative B 4-8
4.2.4 Alternative C 4-8
4.2.5 Alternative D - No Action 4-8
4.2.6 Mitigation Measures 4-9
4.2.7 Unavoidable Adverse Impacts 4-
1
4.3 GEOLOGY, SOILS, AND MINERALS 4-10
4.3.1 Analysis Methods 4-10
4.3.2 Alternative A - Proposed Action 4-10
4.3.3 Alternative B 4-13
4.3.4 Alternative C 4-13
4.3.5 Alternative D -No Action 4-14
4.3.6 Mitigation Measures 4-14
4.3.7 Unavoidable Adverse Impacts 4-14
4.4 WATER RESOURCES 4-14
4.4.1 Analysis Methods 4-15
4.4.2 Alternative A - Proposed Action 4-
1
4.4.3 Alternative B 4-20
4.4.4 Alternative C 4-21
4.4.5 Alternative D - No Action 4-22
4.4.6 Mitigation Measures 4-22
4.4.7 Unavoidable Adverse Impacts 4-23
4.5 BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES 4-23
4.5.1 Methods 4-23
4.5.2 Alternative A - Proposed Action 4-25
4.5.3 Alternative B 4-50
4.5.4 Alternative C 4-56
4.5.5 Alternative D - No Action 4-60
4.5.6 Mitigation Measures 4-60
4.5.7 Unavoidable Adverse Impacts 4-64
4.6 CULTURAL RESOURCES 4-65
4.6.1 Analysis Methods 4-65
4.6.2 Alternative A - Proposed Action 4-66
4.6.3 Alternative B 4-71
4.6.4 Alternative C 4-72
4.6.5 Alternative D - No Action 4-72
4.6.6 Mitigation Measures 4-73
4.6.7 Unavoidable Adverse Impacts 4-73
Table ofContents