[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 131 (Tuesday, July 10, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37525-37527]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-13328]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Western Area Power Administration


White Wind Farm Project (DOE/ EIS-0376)

AGENCY: Western Area Power Administration, DOE.

ACTION: Record of decision.

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SUMMARY: White Wind Farm, LLC (Applicant), a wholly-owned subsidiary of 
Navitas Energy, Inc., has applied to the U.S. Department of Energy 
(DOE), Western Area Power Administration (Western), to interconnect its 
proposed White Wind Farm Project (Project) to Western's transmission 
system at the existing White Substation, near Brookings, South Dakota. 
The project would involve building up to 103 2-megawatt (MW) wind 
turbine generators (WTG or Turbine) with a net capacity of up to 200 
MW. Western considered the environmental impacts of the Project and has 
decided to grant the Applicant's request to interconnect to the White 
Substation. Taking into consideration the mitigation measures the 
Applicant has incorporated into the Project, Western expects no 
significant long-term or short-term impacts to resources from 
construction, operation, and maintenance of the proposed Project.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Catherine Cunningham, Western Area 
Power Administration, P.O. Box 281213, Lakewood, CO 80228, telephone 
(720) 962-7000, e-mail [email protected]. For information about DOE's 
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process, contact Ms. Carol M. 
Borgstrom, Director, NEPA Policy and Compliance, GC-20, U.S. Department 
of Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20585, 
telephone (202) 586-4600 or (800) 472-2756.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Applicant's objective for the proposed 
Project is to develop a technically feasible and economically viable, 
wind-powered, electrical generation resource. The Applicant has 
identified the Project Area, near the White Substation, as suitable to 
meet the required criteria for developing a large, utility-scale wind 
energy project and has applied to Western for interconnection there. 
The White Substation is located near Brookings, South Dakota. The 
Project Area encompasses approximately 28 square miles (17,920 acres). 
It is bisected by a 345-kilovolt (kV) transmission line owned by 
Western. The location and land availability would enable the economic 
viability of the proposed Project. The Applicant expects the proposed 
Project to meet a portion of the projected regional demand for 
electricity produced from wind resources.
    The Federal action associated with the proposed Project is approval 
or denial of the Applicant's interconnection request. Western needs to 
respond to the interconnection request, provide transmission service 
under its Notice of Final Open Access Transmission Service Tariff, 
protect transmission system reliability and service to its customers, 
ensure compliance with applicable environmental laws, and consider the 
Applicant's objective.
    A Notice of Intent to prepare an environmental impact statement 
(EIS) was published in the Federal Register on February 18, 2005. 
Western held a scoping meeting to solicit public comments on the 
proposed Project in Hendricks, Minnesota, on March 1, 2005. In 
addition, the Applicant has been communicating and meeting with area 
landowners throughout development of the proposed Project, as part of 
lease negotiations. On August 18, 2006, the U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency published a notice in the Federal Register, 
announcing the availability of the Draft EIS. Western held an Open 
House and Public Hearing on September 14, 2006, to solicit public 
comments on the Draft EIS. For both the initial scoping meeting and 
subsequent Open House/Public Hearing, Western provided notice of the 
meetings to Federal, State, and local agencies, Tribes, and the public, 
with print media, local newspapers announcements, and direct mailings. 
Western accepted public comments on the Draft EIS August 18 through 
October 2, 2006. The Notice of Availability of the Final EIS was 
published in the Federal Register on April 13, 2007.
    Western decided to grant the Applicant's request to interconnect to 
its transmission system at the White Substation. This decision is based 
on a review of the potential environmental impacts of the Project. 
Western considered proposed mitigation measures as part of the proposed 
Project to determine impacts.

Alternatives

    Western analyzed the Proposed Action and No Action alternatives in 
the EIS. Western considered alternative sites for the Project but 
dismissed them from consideration, as no viable alternative locations 
were identified. Therefore, Western limited its analysis to the 
proposal the Applicant submitted for approval.

Proposed Action

    Under the Proposed Action, the Applicant would construct up to 103 
2-MW WTGs with a net capacity of 200 MW. The Applicant would also 
construct underground and overhead electrical collector lines; a new 
Project substation; a line interconnecting its Project substation to 
Western's White Substation; and associated facilities. The Applicant 
proposes to construct or improve approximately 22 miles of roads for 
access to the WTGs and electrical collector lines.
    The Project would temporarily disturb approximately 626 acres of 
land during construction of the proposed Project. It would permanently 
disturb about 93 acres for installation of Project components (access 
roads, turbine and crane pads, overhead poles, and new substation). The 
disturbed areas would be dispersed throughout the Project Area.
    The Applicant would mount each WTG on a single steel self-
supporting tower, approximately 255 feet high. The towers would be 
approximately 16 feet in diameter at the base and secured to concrete 
foundations. The housing, mounted at the top of each tower, would 
enclose the electric generator, a voltage step-up transformer, and a 
gearbox. Each WTG rotor would have three blades made of laminated glass 
and carbon fiber. The full WTG height at its tallest point would be 
approximately 400 feet from the ground to the tip of the turbine blade. 
The Applicant would paint the towers a flat neutral color to blend into 
the natural environment.
    The Applicant proposes to construct the new Project substation 
adjacent to Western's existing White Substation. The substation would 
have a footprint of no more than 1 acre. The Applicant would construct 
the substation on private land immediately north of White Substation.
    The network of underground and overhead 34.5-kV collector lines 
would interconnect the WTGs. Approximately 45 miles of underground 
34.5-kV sub-

[[Page 37526]]

transmission collection line and approximately nine miles of overhead 
34.5-kV collector line would be needed. The Applicant would bury the 
underground electric collection line at least four feet below grade. 
The underground collection line would link each turbine to the next one 
or to the overhead lines, which would in turn, connect to the 
substation. The Applicant would construct the overhead lines within 
public road rights-of-way. The overhead lines would be supported on 
wooden single-pole structures, approximately 25 to 30 feet tall and 
spaced approximately 150 feet apart along road rights of way.
    A temporary staging area would be developed on approximately eight 
acres of tilled farmland. While the location of the staging area is not 
final, the Applicant expects that it would be located near the proposed 
Project substation. This staging area would be used by the Applicant 
for construction safety meetings, office trailers, parking for 
equipment and vehicles, and staging for some project components.
    To accommodate interconnection of the proposed Project to Western's 
substation, the Applicant would construct a 345-kV overhead connection 
line from the proposed Project substation to the White Substation. The 
new overhead line would terminate on a steel structure inside the White 
Substation. Western would install a sulfur hexafluoride (SF6), gas-
insulated power circuit breaker; two high-voltage disconnect switches; 
and other miscellaneous equipment at the White Substation. Western 
would monitor the use, storage, and replacement of SF6 to minimize 
releases to the environment.
    The Applicant anticipates an 8-month construction schedule. This 
schedule is subject to negotiations with regulatory agencies and 
utilities and may change. With the exception of the overhead lines 
within public road right of way, the Applicant would construct the 
proposed Project on privately-owned lands, according to landowner 
agreements and in compliance with county, State, and Federal 
requirements. The Applicant has obtained all necessary leases from 
private landowners to construct and operate the proposed Project up to 
20 years. The Applicant would have the option to renew leases at the 
end of the 20-year agreements. Depending on wind turbine technology and 
market conditions at the end of the lease period, the Applicant may 
decommission the project or update it with more efficient components 
and renew lease agreements.
    Following construction, the Applicant would reclaim areas not 
maintained as permanent facilities to their prior land use. The 
Applicant would reseed disturbed vegetation in non-agricultural areas 
in accordance with landowner agreements or local county extension 
service protocols.
    During operation and maintenance, the Applicant would continuously 
monitor the WTGs for any abnormalities. If required, maintenance staff 
would be dispatched to repair WTGs. The Applicant would conduct routine 
maintenance of the WTGs every six months. Maintenance activities 
include lubrication and inspection of WTG components and fasteners. The 
WTGs have a design life of 20 years. Occasionally, a crane may be 
necessary to remove and replace turbine components. In this event, the 
Applicant would conduct all construction activity within previously 
disturbed areas.
    During operation of the proposed Project substation, authorized 
personnel would conduct periodic inspections and service and repair 
equipment as needed. Substation equipment would include a step-up 
transformer, SF6 circuit breakers, switchgears, and other 
electrical equipment. Project personnel would monitor the use, storage, 
and replacement of SF6 to minimize releases to the 
environment.
    Within 120 days of the completion of Project construction, the 
Applicant would submit a Decommissioning Plan to the Brookings County 
Planning and Zoning Department. The Decommissioning Plan would outline 
the manner in which decommissioning activities would be conducted. Upon 
termination of operations, and if the WTGs are not updated, the 
Applicant would be obligated to dismantle and remove all Project 
components. Unless written approval is given by the affected landowner, 
all Project components would be removed to a depth of 48 inches below 
grade and the soil would be restored to a condition reasonably similar 
to the condition of the surrounding soil.
    Western completed wetland surveys to determine the presence of 
jurisdictional and non-jurisdictional wetlands in the Project Area. The 
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has determined that the majority of 
streams and wetlands in the Project Area are jurisdictional waters of 
the United States. The Applicant's final site design would avoid all 
wetlands, both jurisdictional and non-jurisdictional. The Applicant 
would apply for appropriate permits for utility line activities, 
including access roads administered under section 404 of the Clean 
Water Act. These would contain general and permit-specific mitigation 
conditions for areas where the proposed access roads and utility lines 
would impact jurisdictional waters of the United States. The Applicant 
would employ directional boring techniques where underground collector 
systems would require a stream or wetland crossing. The use of 
directional boring would reduce erosion and/or sedimentation impacts. 
The Applicant would use Best Management Practices such as installing 
silt fencing to ensure that sediment or fill material does not impact 
adjacent waterways.

No Action Alternative

    Under the No Action Alternative, Western would not grant the 
Applicant's request to interconnect to Western's transmission system, 
and the Applicant would not build the Project. Without the Project, 
existing environmental conditions would remain unchanged.

Environmentally Preferred Alternative

    Western evaluated the alternatives to determine which is 
environmentally preferred, as required under 40 CFR 1505.2(b). The No 
Action Alternative is the environmentally preferred alternative, 
because no new disturbance would result. No impacts to environmental or 
social resources would occur. The No Action Alternative would not, 
however, meet the Applicant's objective.

Mitigation Measures

    The Applicant has committed to minimize potential short-term and 
long-term environmental and social impacts of the Proposed Action 
through project design, which includes implementation of mitigation 
measures. These measures are consolidated in Appendix B of the Final 
EIS.
    The Applicant, in consultation with Western, developed a monitoring 
plan to collect data on avian collisions with WTGs. Western and the 
Applicant would continue to coordinate with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service (USFWS) to ensure adequacy of the plan. Through such 
monitoring, the Applicant and Western would be able to identify and 
implement reasonable operational changes or additional mitigation 
measures to further reduce avian and bat mortality. Western and the 
Applicant are working with the USFWS to identify thresholds for making 
appropriate changes. Surveys associated with the monitoring plan 
include 1 year prior to construction to establish baseline data and 2 
years following operational start-up. The Applicant would develop 
additional mitigation

[[Page 37527]]

measures in consultation with the appropriate regulatory agency, if 
needed.
    Western will develop a Mitigation Action Plan (MAP) to provide 
additional information on how mitigation measures, associated with the 
proposed Project, would be implemented. The MAP would be developed and 
made available prior to any project activities directed by this Record 
of Decision (ROD) that are subject to a mitigation commitment.

Consultation

    Western is the lead Federal agency for compliance with Section 106 
of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) and Tribal 
consultation for all components of the Project. The Applicant would 
avoid all archaeological and traditional cultural properties determined 
significant in consultation with the South Dakota State Historic 
Preservation Officer (SHPO) and interested Tribes. Western prepared a 
Programmatic Agreement (PA) in coordination with the South Dakota SHPO. 
The PA was executed on December 18, 2006. It establishes the Area of 
Potential Effect for the proposed Project, proposes a treatment plan 
for identified resources, describes procedures for unanticipated 
discoveries, sets forth procedures for Tribal consultation, and 
suggests general mitigation measures. The PA ensures that there would 
be no ``unmitigatable'' adverse effects on historic properties as 
defined under the NHPA. The Applicant would avoid areas containing 
identified resources.
    Western is also the lead for compliance with Section 7 of the 
Endangered Species Act. Western prepared a biological assessment and 
submitted it to the USFWS. Western determined that the project may 
affect but is not likely to adversely affect the western prairie 
fringed orchid, the Topeka shiner, and the bald eagle and is not likely 
to affect the Dakota skipper. The USFWS responded with a letter of 
concurrence on May 30, 2006, and an e-mail on May 31, 2007. Western 
reviewed additional literature and conducted field reconnaissance to 
supplement this analysis. Western may conduct further field studies 
prior to construction as a component of the Applicant's monitoring 
study. Western will continue to consult informally with the USFWS.

Floodplain Statement of Findings

    Western prepared a floodplain assessment in the EIS according to 10 
CFR part 1022. The assessment can be found in the Draft EIS along with 
project maps. The Federal Emergency Management Agency has not updated 
the Flood Insurance Rate Maps for this portion of South Dakota to 
reflect 500-year floodplains. One-hundred-year floodplains occur along 
Deer Creek and along several unnamed streams in the Project Area. The 
floodplains are generally confined to the streambed and immediately 
adjacent, low-lying areas. The floodplains associated with the 
ephemeral streams generally range from 200 to 500 feet in width. The 
Deer Creek floodplain ranges from approximately 400 to 1,500 feet in 
width. On-site or off-site flooding would not result from construction 
and operation of the proposed Project. The Applicant would not 
construct WTGs in floodplains. Implementation of county-approved design 
standards for areas of concentrated flow would ensure that on-site or 
off-site flooding does not occur.

Decision

    Western decided to grant the Applicant's request to interconnect 
with Western's transmission system at the White Substation. The 
Proposed Action would meet the Applicant's objectives for the Project. 
Construction, operation, and maintenance of the proposed Project would 
not result in significant, short-or long-term environmental impacts. 
The Applicant would employ all practical means to avoid or minimize 
environmental harm as a result of the proposed Project.
    This ROD meets the requirements of NEPA as well as the Council on 
Environmental Quality and DOE's NEPA implementing regulations. 
Additional analyses may affect this decision and result in subsequent 
analysis or decisions. Western will notify the public of any additional 
activities necessary to meet Western's NEPA and other public 
involvement requirements.

    Dated: June 22, 2007.
Timothy J. Meeks,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. E7-13328 Filed 7-9-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P