[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 233 (Tuesday, December 6, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 72635-72636]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E5-6904]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Bonneville Power Administration


Klondike III/Biglow Canyon Wind Integration Project

AGENCY: Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), Department of Energy 
(DOE).

ACTION: Notice of Extension of Comment Period for an Environmental 
Impact Statement (EIS).

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SUMMARY: This notice extends the close of comment for scoping from the 
previously published May 13, 2005 to January 5, 2006. BPA is preparing 
its Klondike III/Biglow Canyon Wind Integration EIS under the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). BPA is currently considering a 
proposed interconnection requested by PPM Energy, Inc. (PPM), to 
integrate electrical power from their proposed Klondike III Wind 
Project into the Federal Columbia River Transmission System (FCRTS). 
The EIS will now also include a proposed interconnection requested by 
an additional wind developer, Orion Energy, LLC (Orion) to integrate 
electrical power from their proposed Biglow Canyon Wind Farm Project. 
BPA published a NOI to prepare an EIS for the Klondike III Wind Project 
in the Federal Register on February 11, 2005. After receiving comments 
during the scoping period that suggested combining the interconnections 
of these two projects, and receiving an interconnection request from 
Orion, BPA has decided to include both projects in the same EIS and 
change the name of the EIS to Klondike III/Biglow Canyon Wind 
Integration Project EIS. Both proposed wind projects are located in 
Sherman County, Oregon. BPA proposes to execute agreements with both 
developers to provide them with an interconnection for up to 700 
megawatts (MW) of generation (300 MW from Klondike III, 400 MW from 
Biglow Canyon). Interconnection would require BPA to build and operate 
a new double-circuit 230-kilovolt (kV) transmission line, a new 230-kV 
substation, and to expand an existing 500-kV substation.
    BPA also intends to consider the impacts of building another 
substation in the area. Because more local wind generation projects are 
expected to be constructed in the coming years, a substation is likely 
to be needed in this area to integrate them into BPA's transmission 
system; however, another substation is not needed at this time.

DATES: Written comments on the NEPA scoping process are due at the 
address below no later than January 5, 2006.

ADDRESSES: Send letters with comments and suggestions on the proposed 
scope of the Draft EIS and requests to be placed on the project mailing 
list to Bonneville Power Administration, Communications--DKP-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/Biglow Canyon Wind Integration 
Project EIS in all communications. Comments submitted at the previous 
scoping meetings or in writing do not have to be resubmitted.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gene Lynard, Bonneville Power 
Administration--KEC-4, P.O. Box 3621, Portland, Oregon 97208-3621, 
toll-free telephone 1-800-622-4519; direct phone number 503-230-3790, 
fax number 503-230-5699, email [email protected]. Additional information 
can be found at BPA's Web site: http://www.efw.bpa.gov/environmental_services/Document_Library/Klondike/.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Proposed Action. BPA proposes to execute an agreement with PPM to 
provide interconnection services for up to 300 MW from the Klondike III 
Wind Project. BPA also proposes to execute an agreement with Orion to 
provide interconnection services for up to 400 MW from the Biglow 
Canyon Wind Farm Project. As part of these agreements, BPA would agree 
to construct and operate an approximately 12-mile, double-circuit 230-
kV transmission line that would interconnect the electricity from the 
wind projects to the FCRTS. BPA would also build and operate a new 230-
kV substation, expand and place new

[[Page 72636]]

equipment in BPA's existing John Day 500-kV Substation, and connect to 
two transmission lines built by PPM and Orion. Steel tubes and lattice 
steel towers are being considered for BPA's transmission line. The line 
and new 230-kV substation would be on privately-owned land that is 
primarily used for dryland wheat farming.
    The EIS will also analyze a potential site for a future substation, 
not yet proposed, in the project area. A substation would likely be 
needed in the future for other wind development integration, but is not 
needed at this time.
    In addition to these federal actions, the EIS will consider the 
reasonably foreseeable consequences from the construction and operation 
of the PPM's proposed Klondike III Wind Project and Orion's proposed 
Biglow Canyon Wind Farm Project.
    The Klondike III Wind Project would be next to the currently 
operating Klondike Wind Project Phases I and II, on privately-owned 
land, mostly used for agriculture. Up to 165 additional wind turbines 
are proposed to be commercially operating by the end of 2007. The 
Klondike III 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), and PPM has applied for an EFSC Site Certificate.
    The Biglow Canyon Wind Farm Project would be on privately-owned 
land mostly used for agriculture. Up to 225 wind turbines are proposed 
to be commercially operating by the end of 2007. The Biglow Canyon Wind 
Farm Project includes wind turbines, substation, access roads, and 
other project facilities. Siting of the proposed wind project is under 
the jurisdiction of EFSC, and Orion has applied for an EFSC Site 
Certificate.
    Construction of the BPA transmission line, new 230-kV substation 
and the wind projects would commence in early 2007. The wind projects 
would be interconnected to BPA transmission lines in fall 2007, with a 
commercial operation date for the wind projects in 2007. Agricultural 
activities could continue to take place next to the transmission line 
structures and wind turbines. The wind projects would operate for much 
of each year for at least 20 years.
    Possible Alternatives for BPA's Proposed Action. An alternative to 
the proposed action of offering interconnection contract terms is to 
not offer the terms requested. Thus, 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, at least 
two potentially feasible alternatives have been identified:
     The North Alternative; and
     The Middle Alternative (see attached Project Area Map).
    Public Participation and Identification of Environmental Issues. 
BPA is the lead federal agency under NEPA for the EIS. BPA originally 
established a minimum of a 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 were invited to comment on the scope of the proposed EIS. BPA 
extended this scoping period after reviewing the comments received by 
mail and at a public scoping meeting on March 1, 2005. After revising 
alternatives proposed for the transmission line route, BPA held a 
second public scoping meeting on April 27, 2005. Now that the second 
proposed wind project will be included in the EIS, BPA has reopened 
scoping to receive comments.
    Scoping will help BPA identify potentially significant impacts that 
may result from BPA's proposed action and will help 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 projects 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 summer or early 
fall 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 public meetings for the projects will be held by 
representatives from the Oregon Office of Energy sometime in 2006. BPA 
will coordinate with Oregon EFSC to ensure full consideration of all 
public and agency comments received.

Stephen J. Wright,
Administrator and Chief Executive Officer.
[FR Doc. E5-6904 Filed 12-5-05; 8:45 am]
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