[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 199 (Monday, October 15, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52398-52399]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-25832]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Bonneville Power Administration


Horse Heaven Wind Project

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 on the 
proposed Horse Heaven Wind Project (Project), located southwest of the 
town of Kennewick in Benton County, Washington. Washington Winds 
Incorporated (Washington Winds) proposes to construct and operate the 
wind generation facility, which would have a generating capacity up to 
225 megawatts (MW). BPA proposes to purchase about 150 MW (up to 50 
average megawatts) from the Project and to provide transmission 
services from an existing BPA transmission line. Washington Winds would 
construct a transmission line approximately 13 miles long to connect 
the Project to an existing BPA transmission line. The EIS will identify 
and analyze the potential environmental impacts to various resources 
from the temporary construction activities and the ongoing operation of 
the wind generation site and proposed transmission line. Benton County 
will be a ``cooperating agency,'' as contemplated by the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the Washington State Environmental 
Policy Act (SEPA).

DATES: An EIS scoping meeting will be held at the location below on 
October 29, 2001. Written comments are due to the address below no 
later than November 14, 2001.

ADDRESSES: BPA invites comments and suggestions on the scope of the 
EIS. Send comment letters and requests to be placed on the Project 
mailing list to: Communications, Bonneville Power Administration--KC-7, 
Attn: Horse Heaven Wind Project, P.O. Box 12999, Portland, Oregon, 
97212. Comments may also be faxed to 503-230-3285 or email to 
[email protected]. Please reference the ``Horse Heaven Wind Project'' in 
all communications.
    An EIS scoping meeting will be held at the Benton County Public 
Utility District (PUD) Building, 2721 West 10th Avenue in Kennewick, 
Washington, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on October 29, 2001. At this informal 
meeting, information about the Project will be available from BPA 
environmental and engineering staff, the Project developer, and the 
consultant who is currently conducting bird studies on the Project 
site. Printed information on the Project will be available, including 
maps of the Project area and the location of Project elements. BPA 
staff will accept oral and written comments on the proposed scope of 
the EIS and explain how and when comments can be submitted after the 
meeting.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kimberly St. Hilaire, the 
Environmental Project Manager, at Bonneville Power Administration--KEC-
4, P.O. Box 3621, Portland, Oregon, 97208-3621, or fax 503-230-5699, 
telephone 503-230-5361, or email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    This Project would help to alleviate the current and/or future 
shortage of electrical power in the Northwest. In addition, there is 
increased demand on the energy industry to diversify portfolios and 
produce energy from renewable resources. The Northwest Power Planning 
Council's Fourth Conservation and Electric Power Plan recommends that 
Northwest utilities offer green power purchase opportunities as a way 
to help the region integrate renewable resources into the power system. 
BPA is committed to power conservation and increasing its supply of 
renewable resources to help meet demand.

Purpose and Need of Project

    BPA needs to acquire additional power generation resources, to 
acquire power from renewable resources, and to acquire wind generation 
resources. These needs arise from BPA's statutory obligations and 
planning directives.
    The purpose of the proposed action is to:
     Protect BPA and its utility customers against risks 
associated with power shortages by diversifying BPA's energy supplies;
     Fulfill BPA's obligations under the Northwest Electric 
Power Planning and Conservation Act to acquire additional power 
generation resources, develop renewable energy resources, and encourage 
the development of renewable energy resources;
     Meet the growing customer demand for energy from renewable 
resources;
     Ensure consistency with the resource acquisition strategy 
of BPA's Business Plan EIS (DOE/EIS 0183, June 1995) and Resource 
Programs EIS (DOE/EIS-0162, February 1993);
     Further the objectives of the President's National Energy 
Policy (May 2001) to diversify energy sources by making greater use of 
non-hydro

[[Page 52399]]

renewable sources such as wind power; and
     Meet the objective in the January 2000 Strategic Plan of 
BPA's Power Business Line to acquire at least 150 average megawatts of 
new renewable resources to meet customer demand by the end of fiscal 
year 2006.

Proposed Action

    BPA proposes to execute one or more power purchase and transmission 
services agreements to acquire about 150 MW (up to 50 average MW) of 
electrical output from the proposed Horse Heaven Wind Project. The 
Project would be constructed and operated by Washington Winds. It would 
consist of the wind generation site and the transmission line that 
would connect the Project to an existing BPA transmission line. 
Construction on the Project would begin in 2002 and the Project would 
operate year-round for at least 20 years.
    The privately owned wind generation site where wind turbines, a 
substation, and other Project elements would be located is in the Horse 
Heaven Hills. The wind generation site is located within portions of 
the following Sections within Township 7 North, Range 28 East, 
Willamette Meridian: Sections 4, 7, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17, and 18.
    Land uses within and adjacent to the proposed wind generation site 
consist primarily of dryland wheat farming, with scattered rural 
residences. Farming activities could continue adjacent to Project 
elements during operation of the wind generation facility.
    Within the wind generation portion of the Project, approximately 
250 wind turbines would be arranged in rows called ``strings,'' with 
approximately 250 to 450 feet between turbines in each string, 
depending upon the turbine size and topographical features. Washington 
Winds is considering using turbines ranging from 900-kilowatt (kW) to 
2,000-kW output each. The proposed turbines would be upwind, dual-speed 
turbines (i.e., the rotor always faces upwind and turns at one of two 
constant speeds), mounted on tubular steel towers installed on a 
reinforced concrete foundation. These turbines would operate during 
wind speeds of approximately 9 to 56 miles per hour (mph). At speeds 
greater than approximately 56 mph, the wind turbines automatically 
cease operating and remain stationary until the wind speeds become 
slower. The height of the turbines would range from approximately 246 
feet to 380 feet, depending upon the type of turbine chosen for the 
site. Foundations would be either caisson or pad style, ranging from 
approximately 15 to 50 feet in width and extending 15 to 50 feet 
underground, depending upon turbine size and ground conditions.
    Other Project elements within the wind generation site include 
small pad-mounted transformers located at the base of each wind turbine 
tower, access roads, several meteorological towers, a substation, and 
an Operations and Maintenance (O&M) facility. Power from the turbines 
would be collected by an underground and overhead cable system that 
would run between turbines and turbine strings. This system would then 
feed into a proposed substation, located on the Project site. The 
fenced substation and O&M facility would each occupy approximately four 
acres.
    A transmission line would lead from the wind generation site to an 
existing BPA transmission line located to the south, near the town of 
Plymouth, Washington. The proposed 13-mile long transmission line would 
be either a 230/287-kilovolt (kV) or 345-kV line, depending on which 
existing BPA transmission line BPA determines can accept the output of 
the Project.
    The location of the proposed transmission line is currently under 
consideration. The proposed transmission line would run along or near 
Plymouth Road, a county road, for most of its length and would likely 
cross Plymouth Road several times to avoid homes, agricultural 
facilities, and other transmission lines. Just north of the town of 
Plymouth, the proposed line may veer to the west of Plymouth Road for 
several miles, crossing agricultural lands, before connecting to the 
BPA transmission line. A small tap (fenced area) would be built within 
the existing BPA right-of-way to connect the proposed transmission line 
to the existing BPA transmission line. The proposed line would be 
located within Townships 5, 6, and 7 North, on or near the boundary 
between Range 27 East and Range 28 East (located within various 
sections depending on the location of the line).

Process to Date

    Washington Winds has applied for a conditional use permit from 
Benton County. Field surveys to identify bird species that utilize or 
fly over the site were initiated by Washington Winds in April of 2001 
and are ongoing. Scoping will help identify any additional studies that 
should be conducted.

Proposed Alternatives for Consideration

    The alternatives include the proposed action and a no-action 
alternative. The proposed action alternative is to execute a power 
purchase agreement for approximately 150 MW (up to 50 average MW) of 
power from the Project and transmit up to the entire 225 MW output from 
the project to customers over existing BPA power lines, thereby 
enabling construction of the Project. The no-action alternative is for 
BPA to not purchase and transmit any power output from the Project 
site, thereby not enabling construction of the Project.

Public Participation and Identification of Environmental Issues

    The environmental analyses for recent wind power projects in the 
region have addressed potential environmental issues, including visual 
issues, noise levels, impacts to cultural resources, socio-economic 
ramifications, effects on rare plant and animal species, and impacts to 
wildlife, including migratory birds. BPA has established a 30-day 
scoping period to enable affected tribes, landowners, concerned 
citizens, special interest groups, local governments, State and Federal 
agencies, and other interested parties to comment on the scope of the 
EIS. Comments will assist BPA in identifying the environmental issues 
that should be analyzed and addressed. After the public scoping 
meeting, the following activities are planned in order to satisfy the 
requirements of NEPA:
     A Draft EIS will be developed and circulated for public 
review and comment.
     BPA will hold at least one public comment meeting about 
the Draft EIS.
     Comments on the Draft EIS will be considered and responded 
to by BPA in the Final EIS.
     The Final EIS is scheduled for publication in 2002.
     BPA's subsequent decision will be documented in a Record 
of Decision.

    Issued in Portland, Oregon, on October 5, 2001.
Stephen J. Wright,
Acting Administratr and Chief Executive Officer.
[FR Doc. 01-25832 Filed 10-12-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-U