[Federal Register: February 14, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 29)]
[Notices]
[Page 7488-7489]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr14fe05-47]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Bonneville Power Administration
Klondike III Wind Project Interconnection
AGENCY: Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), Department of Energy
(DOE).
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement
(EIS).
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SUMMARY: This notice announces BPA's intention to prepare an EIS, under
the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), on a proposed
interconnection requested by PPM Energy, Inc. (PPM) to integrate
electrical power from their proposed Klondike III Wind Project (Wind
Project) into the Federal Columbia River Transmission System (FCRTS).
The Wind Project is located in Sherman County, Oregon. BPA proposes to
execute an agreement with PPM to provide them with an interconnection
for up to 300 megawatts (MW) of generation from the Wind Project.
Interconnection would require BPA to build and operate a new 230-
kilovolt (kV) transmission line and two substations.
DATES: Written comments on the NEPA scoping process are due to the
address below no later than March 17, 2005. Comments may also be made
at an EIS scoping open house meeting to be held on March 1, 2005, at
the address below.
ADDRESSES: Send letters with comments and suggestions on the proposed
scope of the Draft EIS and requests to be placed on the Wind Project
mailing list to Bonneville Power Administration, Communications--DM-7,
P.O. Box 14428, Portland, OR 97293-4428. Comments may also be sent to
the following Web site: http://www.transmission.bpa.gov/NewsEv/commentperiods.cfm
.
Please refer to the Klondike III Wind Project Interconnection in
all communications. A scoping meeting will be held on March 1, 2005,
from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., at St. Mary's Parish Hall, 807 Barnett Street,
Wasco, Oregon. At this open house meeting, BPA representatives will be
available to discuss the proposed project, answer questions, and accept
oral and written comments. BPA representatives will provide information
on alternative routes being considered for the proposed BPA
transmission line, the types of transmission line structures being
considered, and topics to be addressed in the EIS. PPM representatives
will be available to discuss the proposed Wind Project.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kimberly St. Hilaire, Bonneville Power
Administration--KEC-4, P.O. Box 3621, Portland, Oregon 97208-3621,
toll-free telephone 1-800-282-3713; direct phone number 503-230-5361,
fax number 503-230-5699, e-mail krsthilaire@bpa.gov. Additional
information can be found at BPA's Web site: http://www.transmission.bpa.gov/PlanProj/Wind/
.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Proposed Action. BPA proposes to execute an agreement with PPM to
provide interconnection services for up to 300 MW of the Klondike III
Wind Project. As part of this agreement, BPA would agree to construct
and operate a 230-kV transmission line about 12 miles long, and two new
substations, one at each end of the proposed transmission line. The
electricity from the Wind Project would interconnect to the FCRTS at
BPA's existing John Day Substation through a new 500/230-kV substation
which could accommodate wind developers in the area. Transmission line
structure types being considered include H-frame wood pole, steel pole,
and lattice steel. The line and new substations would be located on
privately owned land primarily used for dryland wheat farming.
In addition to these Federal actions, the EIS will consider the
reasonably foreseeable consequence of construction and operation of
PPM's proposed Klondike III Wind Project. The Wind Project would be
located adjacent to the currently operating Klondike Wind Project,
Phases I and II, on privately owned land, most of which is used for
agriculture. The Klondike III Wind Project would add up to 165
operational wind turbines by the end of 2006. The Wind Project includes
wind turbines, substations, access roads, and other project facilities.
Siting of the proposed Wind Project is under the jurisdiction of Oregon
Energy Facility Siting Council (EFSC). PPM is in the process of
applying for an EFSC Site Certificate for the Wind Project, and is also
determining which other State and Federal permitting requirements will
need to be met for the Wind Project.
Construction of the BPA transmission line and substations and the
Wind Project currently is expected to commence by March 2006. The Wind
Project would be interconnected to BPA transmission lines in the fall
of 2006, with a proposed operation date of December 2006. Agricultural
activities could continue to take place directly adjacent to the
transmission line structures and wind turbines. The Wind Project would
operate for much of each year for at least 20 years.
Possible Alternatives for BPA's Proposed Action. An alternative to
the
[[Page 7489]]
proposed action of offering interconnection contract terms is to not
offer these terms. The EIS will evaluate this ``no-action''
alternative. In addition, the EIS will evaluate alternatives for
routing the proposed BPA transmission line. At this time, two
potentially feasible alternatives have been identified:
The Cross-County Alternative; and
The Medler Road Alternative (see attached Project Area
Map).
Another alternative, the South of Wasco Alternative (see Project
Map), was initially considered but has been eliminated from further
consideration in the EIS due to the potential for greater visual,
airport safety, and wetland impacts, as well as greater cost relative
to other alternatives.
Public Participation and Identification of Environmental Issues.
BPA is the lead Federal agency under NEPA for the EIS. BPA has
established a minimum 30-day scoping period during which affected
landowners, Tribes, concerned citizens, special interest groups, local
governments, State and Federal agencies, and any other interested
parties are invited to comment on the scope of the proposed EIS.
Scoping will help BPA identify potentially significant impacts that may
result from BPA's proposed action and the private Wind Project, and
ensure that all relevant environmental issues related to BPA's proposed
action are addressed in the EIS. Based on BPA's experience, potential
environmental issues for the Wind Project and BPA's interconnection
facilities may include noise created by wind turbines, visual effects
from the wind turbines and transmission line, socioeconomic impacts
created by an influx of construction workers into a sparsely populated
area, effects on recreation (primarily hunting), impacts on cultural
resources, and impacts to wildlife habitat and populations, including
migratory birds.
When completed, the Draft EIS will be circulated for review and
comment, and BPA will hold a public comment meeting on the Draft EIS.
In the Final EIS, BPA will consider and respond to comments received on
the Draft EIS. BPA expects to publish the Final EIS in late 2005 or
early 2006. BPA's subsequent decision will be documented in a Record of
Decision.
In addition to BPA's EIS process, Oregon EFSC provides opportunity
for public participation as part of its site evaluation process. It is
expected that representatives from the Oregon Office of Energy will
hold public meetings for the Wind Project during 2005. BPA will
coordinate with Oregon EFSC to ensure full consideration of all public
and agency comments received.
Issued in Portland, Oregon, on February 4, 2005.
Stephen J. Wright,
Administrator and Chief Executive Officer.
[FR Doc. 05-2781 Filed 2-11-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P