[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 201 (Tuesday, October 19, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64296-64301]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-26229]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY


Revised Record of Decision for Offer of Conditional Commitment 
for a Loan Guarantee for, and Electrical Interconnection of, the 
Shepherds Flat Wind Project

AGENCY: U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Loan Programs Office (LP) and 
Bonneville Power Administration (BPA).

ACTION: Revised Record of Decision (ROD).

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Energy announces its decisions to 
provide a conditional loan guarantee for, and interconnection to the 
Federal Columbia River Transmission System (FCRTS) of, the 846-megawatt 
(MW) Shepherds Flat Wind Project (Wind Project) in Gilliam and Morrow 
counties, Oregon. This ROD revises a previous BPA ROD approving the 
interconnection of the Wind Project to the FCRTS that was issued on 
July 18, 2008. The Revised ROD reflects the decisions with regard to 
the Wind Project for: The issuance by BPA of modified Large Generator 
Interconnection Agreements (LGIAs); and the offer by LP of a 
conditional commitment for a loan guarantee to Caithness Shepherds 
Flat, LLC (CSF) for construction of the Wind Project. The Revised ROD 
also addresses the division of the previously approved Wind Project 
into three separate projects, and the transfer of these projects to 
three separate subsidiaries of CSF that will result in additional 
turbines, adjustments of site boundaries and additional acreage.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Doug Corkran, Bonneville Power 
Administration, KEC-4, P.O. Box 3621, Portland, Oregon 97208-3621; 
toll-free telephone number 1-800-622-4519; fax number 503-230-5699; or 
e-mail [email protected]; and Matthew McMillen, Director, Environmental 
Compliance Division, Loan Programs Office (LP-1), U.S. Department of 
Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585; telephone 
202-586-7248; or e-mail [email protected]. For general 
information about the DOE National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) 
process contact Carol Borgstrom, Director, Office of NEPA Policy and 
Compliance (GC-54), U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 Independence 
Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585; telephone 202-586-4600; leave a 
message at 800-472-2756; or e-mail [email protected]. Information 
about DOE NEPA activities and access to many DOE NEPA documents are 
available through the DOE NEPA Web site at http://www.nepa.energy.gov.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the Revised ROD, the July 2008 ROD for the 
Electrical Interconnection of the Shepherds Flat Wind Project, the 
Business Plan Environmental Impact Statement and Business Plan ROD may 
be obtained by: (1) Calling the BPA toll-free document request line, 1-
800-622-4520, (2) submitting a request to the BPA Public Information 
Center, P.O. Box 12999, Portland, Oregon 97212, or (3) accessing these 
documents on the BPA NEPA document Web site at http://www.efw.bpa.gov/environmental_services/nepadocs.aspx. The Revised ROD will also be 
posted on the DOE LP Web site at http://www.lgprogram.energy.gov and 
the DOE NEPA Web site at http://www.nepa.energy.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Introduction

    On July 18, 2008, the BPA issued a ROD to interconnect the proposed 
Wind Project to the FCRTS (73 FR 43730, July 28, 2008). DOE, through 
its Loan Programs Office, and BPA, are issuing this Revised ROD to 
address actions by the project developers subsequent to the 2008 ROD: A 
loan guarantee application submitted to LP, and applications to BPA for 
Large Generator Interconnection Agreements related to the transfer of 
ownership of the Wind Project to three wholly owned subsidiaries. The 
Wind Project, as modified, has been approved by the Oregon Energy 
Facility Siting Council (EFSC).
    As with the decision made by BPA for the originally proposed Wind 
Project, BPA and LP decisions concerning the revised Wind Project are 
consistent with and tiered to the BPA Business Plan Final Environmental 
Impact Statement (BP EIS) (DOE/EIS-0183, June 1995),

[[Page 64297]]

and the Business Plan Record of Decision (BP ROD, August 1995).

Background

    The BPA, a power marketing administration within DOE, owns and 
operates most of the high-voltage electric transmission system in the 
Pacific Northwest. This system is known as the FCRTS. In 2004, CSF 
submitted a generator interconnection request to BPA to interconnect 
the proposed Wind Project to the FCRTS. In its July 2008 ROD, BPA 
decided to offer contract terms (called a Large Generator 
Interconnection Agreement [LGIA]) to CSF for interconnection of the 
Wind Project to the FCRTS.\1\ Under this LGIA, up to 846 megawatts (MW) 
of power from the Wind Project will be interconnected at the existing 
Slatt Substation in Gilliam County, Oregon. To provide the 
interconnection, BPA is in the process of expanding its Slatt 
Substation to accommodate a 230-kilovolt (kV) yard and will provide 
transmission access for up to 846 MW from the Wind Project to the BPA 
500-kV transmission system.\2\
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    \1\ In July 2008, CSF received a Site Certificate from EFSC that 
authorized CSF to construct and operate the Wind Project.
    \2\ The BPA July 2008 ROD contains a full description of the 
interconnection and associated environmental considerations.
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    In November 2009, CSF applied to DOE LP for a loan guarantee for 
the Wind Project. DOE established the LP in response to Title XVII of 
the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16511-16514), which authorizes 
the Secretary of Energy to make loan guarantees for projects that (1) 
avoid, reduce, or sequester air pollutants or anthropogenic emissions 
of greenhouse gases, and (2) employ new or significantly improved 
technologies as compared to commercial technologies in service in the 
United States at the time the guarantee is issued. Section 406 of the 
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (42 U.S.C. 16516; 
Recovery Act) amended Title XVII to create Section 1705 authorizing a 
new program for rapid deployment of renewable energy projects and 
related manufacturing facilities, and electric power transmission 
projects that commence construction no later than September 30, 2011. 
Section 1705 is designed to address national economic conditions, in 
part, through the advancement of renewable energy and transmission. CSF 
submitted its application for a loan guarantee in response to LP's 
solicitation, Financial Institution Partnership Program--Commercial 
Technology Renewable Energy Generation Projects, issued October 7, 
2009.
    Subsequent to issuance of the BPA July 2008 ROD originally 
approving the interconnection, CSF initiated certain changes to the 
originally proposed Wind Project. In May 2009, CSF transferred 
ownership and control of its Wind Project to three wholly owned 
subsidiaries of CSF--Horseshoe Bend Wind, LLC, South Hurlburt Wind, 
LLC, and North Hurlburt Wind, LLC. In June 2009, these CSF subsidiaries 
submitted a joint request to the Oregon Department of Energy (ODOE), 
which serves as the primary staff for the EFSC, to transfer the Site 
Certificate for the Wind Project to the subsidiaries under three 
separate site certificates and to divide the Wind Project into three 
separate facilities, as follows:
     Shepherds Flat South (SFS), to be constructed, owned, and 
operated by Horseshoe Bend Wind LLC
     Shepherds Flat Central (SFC), to be constructed, owned, 
and operated by South Hurlburt Wind LLC
     Shepherds Flat North (SFN), to be constructed, owned, and 
operated by North Hurlburt Wind LLC
    In September 2009, the EFSC approved this request and issued three 
new site certificates to the three CSF subsidiaries. See Final Order on 
Amendment #1--In the Matter of the Request for Amendment #1 of the Site 
Certificate for the Shepherds Flat Wind Farm (available on the Web at 
http://www.oregon.gov/ENERGY/SITING/decisions.shtml#SFWF091109).
    In November 2009, each of the CSF subsidiaries submitted a separate 
Request for Amendment of their respective Site Certificates to the ODOE 
to, among other things, incorporate their turbine selections, conform 
the overall project MW capacity to the authorized interconnection 
capacity, and revise the project boundaries for each of their wind 
projects. The ODOE and the EFSC evaluated and considered these 
requests, and the EFSC issued Final Orders approving the requests on 
March 12, 2010. See Final Order on Amendment #1--In the Matter of the 
Request for Amendment #1 of the Site Certificate for Shepherds Flat 
South, Final Order on Amendment #1--In the Matter of the Request for 
Amendment #1 of the Site Certificate for Shepherds Flat Central, and 
Final Order on Amendment #1--In the Matter of the Request for Amendment 
#1 of the Site Certificate for Shepherds Flat North (available at 
http://www.oregon.gov/ENERGY/SITING/decisions.shtml#SFN031210). The DOE 
has utilized the extensive project record developed by the EFSC to 
support these Final Orders and associated Amended Site Certificates in 
describing the environmental impacts presented in this Revised ROD.
    The modifications to the Wind Project that have resulted from the 
changes in ownership and site certification, including the number of 
turbines and boundary changes, collectively referred to as the Modified 
Wind Project, are summarized below.
    Concerning turbine selection, each CSF subsidiary has selected a 
2.5-MW nameplate wind turbine generator for its portion of the Wind 
Project. The original Site Certificate contemplated a larger nameplate 
turbine (up to 3 MW), with up to 303 turbines installed. Based on the 
selected 2.5-MW turbine and the overall 846 MW of interconnect 
capacity, the EFSC Final Orders authorized an increase in the number of 
wind turbines to 338, which will be distributed among the three wind 
projects as follows:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 Original        Change in     Revised total      Nameplate         Facility
          Facility               turbines        turbines        turbines          rating           capacity
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SFS.........................             120              -4             116  2.5 MW..........  290 MW
SFC.........................              77            + 39             116  2.5 MW..........  290 MW
SFN.........................             106               0             106  2.5 MW..........  265 MW
    Totals..................             303            + 35             338  ................  845 MW
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    The three CSF subsidiaries also have adjusted their respective site 
boundaries and turbine layouts to better accommodate each of their 
projects, as follows:
     Transferring approximately 2,413 acres originally approved 
for facility development from SFS to SFC;

[[Page 64298]]

     Assigning a 1,290-acre transmission line corridor to be 
shared by the SFS and SFC facilities to SFS;
     Expanding the SFS facility to include an additional 4,855 
acres not previously considered for development to better site the SFS 
facility's approved number of turbines and reducing the amount of 
access roads by 9.7 miles;
     Expanding the SFC facility to include an additional 2,421 
acres not previously considered for development to better site the SFC 
facility's approved number of turbines and increasing the amount of 
access roads by 8 miles;
     Transferring approximately 1,152 acres originally approved 
for facility development from SFC to SFN and expanding the SFN facility 
to include an additional 15 acres not previously considered for 
development. The combined 1,167 acres added to SFN are intended to 
accommodate an alternative transmission line corridor (to the one 
considered in the 2008 ROD) that extends from the SFS substation to the 
SFC substation and then to the BPA substation, bypassing the SFN 
substation. Use of the alternative corridor would result in shorter 
transmission line runs and eliminate one crossing of an existing high-
voltage power line and county road. SFN access roads would be decreased 
by 4 miles under the alternative corridor.
    With these adjustments, the overall size of the project area has 
increased from approximately 22,390 acres to about 28,170 acres. 
However, only a very small portion of this expanded project area will 
actually be impacted by the increased project footprint resulting from 
the Modified Wind Project. As documented in the Amended Site 
Certificates, the area that will actually be occupied by permanent 
project facilities has increased from about 179.4 acres to 183.4 
acres--an increase of about 4.0 acres in total. The rest of the 
expanded project area will remain in its current agricultural use and 
will not be affected by project facilities. Access roads for the 
Modified Wind Project will be reduced by 5.7 miles from the original 
project.

Public Process and Consideration of Comments

    A public process conducted by the ODOE for the requested Site 
Certificate amendments provided opportunities for public comment. After 
the ODOE received these amendment requests from the three CSF 
subsidiaries, copies of the amendment requests were sent to a list of 
reviewing agencies on November 12, 2009, along with a memorandum from 
ODOE that requested submittal of any agency comments to the ODOE by 
December 11, 2009. On November 17, 2009, the ODOE sent notice of the 
amendment requests to all persons on the Oregon EFSC general mailing 
list, to persons on a mailing list specifically established for the 
proposed projects, and to an updated list of property owners supplied 
by the three CSF subsidiaries. This notice also requested submittal of 
any public comments to the ODOE by December 11, 2009.
    On February 4, 2010, the ODOE issued Proposed Orders for each of 
the three projects that included recommended findings and the 
conclusion for each project. The ODOE mailed notice of the Proposed 
Orders to the same mailing lists described above and also posted this 
notice on the ODOE Web site. The notice invited public comments and set 
a deadline of March 8, 2010, for public comments or contested case 
requests. Comments were received on the SFS Proposed Order and on the 
SFC Proposed Order. No comments were received on the SFN Proposed 
Order.
    The ODOE and EFSC considered public comments in preparing the Final 
Order approving the Site Certificate amendments. Comments included 
concerns about cumulative effects to wildlife, impacts to Washington 
ground squirrels, and the appropriate designation of habitat types 
within the new wind project boundaries; groundwater use and impacts to 
aquifers; impacts to scenic values; impacts from turbine noise; 
facility lighting concerns; and impacts to the Oregon Trail. A summary 
of all comments received and the ODOE responses are included in the 
appendices of the Final Orders for each of the three projects (see 
http://www.oregon.gov/ENERGY/SITING/decisions.shtml#SFN031210).

Discussion of Environmental Effects

    As discussed in the BPA July 2008 ROD, BPA reviewed the BP EIS and 
BP ROD to determine whether offering terms to interconnect the Wind 
Project was adequately covered in the scope of the previous 
programmatic review. The BP EIS supports a number of BPA decisions 
concerning, among other things, the interconnection of proposed 
generation to the FCRTS. BPA determined that its decision clearly fell 
within the scope of the BP EIS and BP ROD. The BPA July 2008 ROD 
described the environmental impacts that would result from the BPA 
interconnection facilities, and summarized the environmental impacts 
resulting from the Wind Project. BPA also based its July 2008 ROD on 
project and environmental information that was considered by EFSC as 
part of its Site Certificate application process, and on EFSC's 
findings in its June 11, 2008 Proposed Order and Final Order dated July 
25, 2008). EFSC, as the siting authority for the Wind Project, fully 
analyzes potential environmental impacts of its siting decisions, and 
specifies mitigation measures to minimize impacts to natural resources. 
BPA's July 2008 ROD used these findings and other information to assess 
the Wind Project's environmental impacts.
    Through this Revised ROD, BPA and LP jointly determine that the BP 
EIS and BP ROD adequately cover additional BPA and LP actions and 
decisions related to the Modified Wind Project, and that these actions 
and decisions do not represent a significant change relevant to 
environmental considerations from the July 2008 ROD. BPA and LP 
reviewed the additional project and environmental information 
considered by EFSC for the Modified Wind Project, as well as the EFSC 
findings in the Final Orders for the new site certificates. The 
environmental analyses and findings by EFSC indicate that no 
significant impacts to natural resources (when compared to those 
already considered in the July 2008 ROD) will occur as a result of the 
Modified Wind Project. This Revised ROD has been developed by BPA and 
LP, in part, on the basis of the findings and the project record 
developed by EFSC.
    BPA and LP also reviewed the BP EIS to ensure that the Modified 
Wind Project still fits within the environmentally preferred 
alternatives. In addition, BPA and LP considered the environmental 
benefits of energy from wind power, as opposed to fossil-fuel 
alternatives, and have determined those benefits to be substantial, 
particularly the avoidance of 1,215,991 tons of CO2 emissions per year. 
Finally, in the process of developing this Revised ROD, BPA and LP 
reviewed the extensive environmentally protective measures included in 
the Wind Project Site Certificate as a result of the EFSC process. 
These protective measures apply to the Modified Wind Project and will 
reduce potential environmental impacts considerably. Based on this 
review, DOE believes the proposed Modified Wind Project is an 
environmentally preferable alternative to generation of the equal 
amount of electricity generated by conventional fossil-fuel sources.
    Because the Wind Project is now divided into three separate wind 
facilities and owned by three separate

[[Page 64299]]

entities (the three CSF subsidiaries), BPA will modify its LGIA for the 
Wind Project by issuing three new LGIAs to replace the single LGIA it 
had previously issued. BPA issuance of three new LGIAs is strictly an 
administrative contract action to bring BPA agreements in alignment 
with the change in Wind Project parties that has been authorized by 
EFSC. BPA is not undertaking any activities beyond those considered in 
the July 2008 ROD, with the exception of placing some metering 
equipment at one additional customer substation. However, because this 
equipment will be placed within the boundaries of the substation, this 
activity will not cause a significant change in environmental effects 
already considered in the July 2008 ROD.
    The LP offer of a conditional commitment for a loan guarantee to 
the developers of the Wind Project will not result in significant 
environmental impacts beyond those considered in the July 2008 ROD. The 
potential environmental impacts from development of the Wind Project by 
the CSF subsidiaries are considered to be a consequence of providing 
the loan guarantee, and these impacts have already been evaluated and 
considered through the July 2008 ROD, as modified by this Revised ROD.
    The following section describes the environmental impacts 
associated with changes to the Wind Project that the CSF subsidiaries 
initiated after EFSC issued Wind Project Site Certificate in July 2008. 
EFSC approved these changes in its March 2010 Final Orders for the 
Modified Wind Project. This description of impacts is based on the EFSC 
environmental considerations and findings for the Modified Wind 
Project, as contained in the March 2010 Final Orders, associated 
Amended Site Certificates, and other parts of the EFSC project record.

Land Use and Recreation

    While the overall size of the project area will increase from 
approximately 22,390 acres to about 28,170 acres, only a very small 
portion of the expanded project area will be affected by increased 
project footprint (i.e., the land area that will be occupied by 
permanent structures) from the Modified Wind Project. The revised 
footprint areas that will be used for siting the Modified Wind Project 
facilities are currently in the same type of land use (i.e., 
agricultural) as previously approved for the original Wind Project. 
About 136.5 acres in Gilliam County (up from 135.9 acres) and about 
46.8 acres in Morrow County (up from 43.5 acres), for a total of 183.3 
acres (originally 179.4 acres), will be removed from agricultural 
production for the wind turbines and associated facilities. This small 
increase (4.0 acres) in affected agricultural uses does not represent a 
significant change in impacts to land use. There are no designated 
recreational facilities or activities on the project site. The land is 
posted to prevent trespass and hunting. There will be no impacts to 
recreation from the project.

Transportation

    The Modified Wind Project will reduce new access roads by 5.7 miles 
as compared with the original Wind Project. Because the type of access 
road will be the same as proposed originally and there is no change in 
the amount or mix of vehicles related to the Modified Wind Project, 
impacts to existing transportation infrastructure and traffic patterns 
are expected to be the same as considered in the July 2008 ROD.

Geology and Soils

    The area of temporary and permanent disturbance to soils will 
increase with the Modified Wind Project. However, given the small 
change in disturbed area (4.0 acres), impacts to geology and soils will 
be similar to those of the originally proposed Wind Project.

Vegetation

    Impacts to vegetation will increase with the construction of up to 
35 additional turbines. However, impacts will be similar to those of 
the originally proposed Wind Project. After construction, all disturbed 
areas, except the areas needed for permanent facilities, will be 
restored with native grasses and shrubs or will be managed as cropland 
or rangeland.

Wetlands and Water Resources

    Wetlands surveys were performed for the areas that have been added 
to the Modified Wind Project. No wetlands or water resources were 
documented that will be affected by any of the changes in the Wind 
Project.

Fish and Wildlife

    Impacts to fish and wildlife will be similar to those of the 
originally proposed Wind Project. The new areas proposed for the 
alternative transmission line route and the boundary expansion of SFS 
and SFC contain wildlife habitat that is similar to the habitat in 
areas already considered. Surveys for sensitive species in the new 
lands did not identify any new populations. No new risks to sensitive 
species are anticipated from the changes in facility design.
    The avian and bat cumulative impacts analysis in the July 2008 ROD 
was based on the siting of up to 303 turbines with a capacity up to 909 
MW within the Wind Project area. The EFSC has authorized the CSF 
subsidiaries to increase the number of turbines to 338, but the maximum 
project capacity has been reduced to 845 MW. Mortality risk to bats and 
birds has been correlated to total MW, not to total numbers of 
turbines; thus, the impact analysis was based on regional potential new 
generation in MW. Because the Modified Wind Project will result in a 
decrease in installed MW, a proportional decrease in the cumulative 
risks to birds and bats from the Wind Project is expected.

State and Federal Threatened and Endangered Species

    The following species with federal or state status are listed for 
Gilliam and Morrow counties:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Species                      Federal Status                        State status
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus      Candidate..............  State Sensitive--Vulnerable.
 urophasianus).
Bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)  None...................  Threatened.
Washington ground squirrel             Candidate..............  Endangered.
 (Spermophilus washingtoni).
Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis)........  Threatened.............  None.
Gray wolf (Canis lupus)..............  Endangered.............  Endangered.
Grizzly bear (Ursus arctos             Threatened.............  None.
 horribilis).
Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus           Threatened.............  Threatened.
 tshawytscha).
Steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss)......  Threatened.............  State Sensitive--Vulnerable.
Sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka)..  Endangered.............  None.
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[[Page 64300]]

    Sage-grouse--The historic distribution of the greater sage-grouse 
includes Gilliam County; however there are no records of current 
detections in either Morrow or Gilliam county and there were no 
observations of this species recorded during the on-site wildlife 
surveys in the new areas. There is little suitable sage-grouse habitat 
within the site boundaries. The Modified Wind Project will not cause 
any impacts to sage-grouse, because habitat for the species is lacking 
in the project areas and no sage-grouse have been observed in or near 
the project areas.
    Bald Eagle--Bald eagles winter along the Columbia River north of 
the project area. Based on the limited use of the facility site by bald 
eagles and the mitigation measures included in the Site Certificate for 
the Modified Wind Project, changes to the project are not likely to 
result in greater risk to bald eagles than originally analyzed.
    Washington Ground Squirrel--No active Washington ground squirrel 
colonies were found within the areas that have been added to the 
Modified Wind Project. Three potential use sites might have previously 
been occupied but were not at the time of the surveys. These sites are 
in ravines where wind turbines will not be placed. Accordingly, project 
changes will not result in impacts not already considered to Washington 
ground squirrels.
    Canada Lynx, Gray Wolf, and Grizzly Bear--Although the historic 
distribution of these three species includes Gilliam and Morrow 
counties, they are now extremely rare or non-existent in Oregon. There 
are no recent recorded detections of these species in either Morrow or 
Gilliam county, and these species were not observed during on-site 
wildlife surveys. No designated critical habitat for these species is 
present in or near the project area. Because these species are not 
present in or near the project areas, the Modified Wind Project will 
have no effect on Canada lynx, gray wolf, or grizzly bear.
    Fish--The three listed fish species in the analysis area are 
anadromous species that travel the Columbia River north of the facility 
site. The fish might be present in Morrow and Gilliam counties, but 
there are no perennial streams within the site boundaries that can 
support these species. Facility construction will not consume water 
from any streams that function as habitat for these species.

Historic/Archaeological Resources

    Modified Wind Project developers will complete cultural resource 
surveys on all new areas of disturbance not included as part of the 
originally proposed Wind Project, and any cultural resources will be 
avoided or mitigated as described in the EFSC Site Certificate. ODOE 
staff contacted the Oregon State Historic Preservation Officer about 
the most recent EFSC amendments, but the Officer did not respond with 
any supplemental comments.

Visual Quality

    The revision to lands authorized for wind turbine siting and the 
addition of 35 turbines to the SFS area will change the configuration 
of turbines from that originally considered, but will not change the 
overall visual impacts associated with the original facility layout.

Noise

    Overall, impacts from construction noise are not expected to change 
from the originally proposed Wind Project, because roughly the same 
number of wind turbines will be constructed in approximately the same 
area. However, the reconfiguration of turbine locations could 
temporarily increase noise levels during construction in areas with a 
greater concentration of turbines than previously expected. Due to the 
lack of sensitive noise receptors and the temporary nature of this type 
of noise, impacts will be the same as described for the original Wind 
Project even with this change. Operation of the additional wind 
turbines will comply with applicable state and county noise-control 
regulations; therefore, impacts from operations noise will be similar 
to those of the originally proposed Wind Project.

Public Health and Safety

    Impacts to public health and safety, such as fire risk and 
hazardous materials, will not change from those described for the 
originally proposed wind farm. Electromagnetic fields (EMF) will 
increase in certain areas where new turbines will be constructed. There 
have been numerous studies on the potential health effects from EMF; 
however these studies remain inconclusive, showing no or weak 
associations with effects on health.\3\ Therefore, the Modified Wind 
Project is not expected to result in any different public health and 
safety impacts from the originally proposed Wind Project.
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    \3\ Minnesota Department of Health, [undated]. Electric and 
Magnetic Fields, Frequently Asked Questions, Web site: http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/radiation/emf/#risks, accessed 
December 5, 2005.
    National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and National 
Institutes of Health, 2002. EMF Electric and Magnetic Fields 
Associated with the Use of Electric Power. June. Web site: http://www.doh.wa.gov/ehp/rp/xray/emf202.pdf, assessed December 5, 2005.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In April 2010, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the 
Department of Defense (DoD) raised the potential impact of Wind Project 
turbines on a nearby radar installation in Oregon. DoD objected to a 
Determination of No Hazard proposed by FAA pursuant to Federal Aviation 
Regulations (FAR) 14 CFR part 77, Objects Affecting Navigable Airspace. 
DoD subsequently analyzed this issue and DoD removed its objection. 
Consequently, the FAA issued a Determination of No Hazard for Modified 
Wind Project turbines on April 30, 2010.

Socioeconomics and Public Services

    Because the Modified Wind Project will largely consist of the same 
types of facilities in the same general area as originally proposed, 
potential impacts to socioeconomics and public services are expected to 
be similar. However, the additional turbines included in the Modified 
Wind Project will provide additional lease payments and other local 
revenues compared to the originally proposed Wind Project. In addition, 
the additional turbines that will be constructed likely would lengthen 
the construction period. Although this increase in the construction 
period is expected to be very slight, there could be a corresponding 
increase in indirect economic benefits to area businesses from 
construction workers purchasing more goods and services in Gilliam and 
Morrow counties. However, this increase will not be substantially more 
than the impacts from the originally proposed Wind Project.

Air Quality

    By increasing the number of wind turbines, the Modified Wind 
Project could result in a temporary increase in the amount of fugitive 
dust emissions associated with construction activities. This increase 
will be minor and short term. The mitigation included in the EFSC Site 
Certificate will minimize these temporary impacts to levels similar to 
the originally proposed Wind Project. Other air quality impacts will be 
the same as those described in the original Site Certificate for the 
Wind Project.

Greenhouse Gases

    While the scientific understanding of climate change continues to 
evolve, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Fourth 
Assessment Report stated that warming of Earth's

[[Page 64301]]

climate is unequivocal, and that warming is very likely attributable to 
increases in atmospheric greenhouse gases (GHGs) caused by human 
activities (anthropogenic).\4\ The release of anthropogenic GHGs and 
their potential contribution to global warming are inherently 
cumulative phenomena. The Fourth Assessment Report indicates that 
changes in many physical and biological systems, such as increases in 
global temperatures, more frequent heat waves, rising sea levels, 
coastal flooding, loss of wildlife habitat, spread of infectious 
disease, and other potential environmental impacts are linked to 
changes in the climate system, and that some changes could be 
irreversible. GHGs, which include carbon dioxide (CO2), 
methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O), are 
chemical compounds in the Earth's atmosphere that trap heat. Of these 
gases, CO2 is recognized by the IPCC as the primary GHG 
affecting climate change. Present atmospheric concentrations of 
CO2 are believed to be higher than at any time in at least 
the last 650,000 years, primarily as a result of combustion of fossil 
fuels. It is also very likely that observed increases in CH4 
are partially due to fossil fuel use, according to the IPCC Report.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \4\ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Fourth Assessment 
Report, Climate Change 2007: Synthesis Report, Summary for Policy 
Makers, released in Valencia, Spain, November 17,2007.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The energy produced by the Modified Wind Project facilities would 
be free of both GHG emissions and other air pollutants. The project 
would generate electrical power from a renewable source of energy 
(wind) representing an alternative to carbon-emitting fossil fuels. 
Accordingly, as compared with regional electrical generation mix, the 
project will avoid 1,215,991 tons of CO2 per year, 
equivalent to the annual greenhouse gas emissions of 212,141 passenger 
vehicles. Nonetheless, the project would unavoidably produce some 
greenhouse gas emissions through activities such as project 
construction and transportation. These emissions would be extremely 
small compared to the 8,026 million tons of CO2-equivalent 
greenhouse gases emitted in the U.S. in 2007,\5\ and the 54 billion 
tons of CO2-equivalent anthropogenic greenhouse gases 
emitted globally in 2004. However, emissions from the proposed action 
in combination with past and future emissions from all other sources 
would contribute incrementally to the climate change impacts described 
above.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \5\ Energy Information Administration Report No. DOE/EIA 0573 
(2007).
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Conclusion

    The DOE LP has decided to offer a conditional commitment/term sheet 
for a loan guarantee to CSF for the Modified Wind Project, consisting 
of the SFN, SFC, and SFS wind farms. When and if all of the terms and 
conditions specified in the conditional commitment have been met, DOE 
and the Applicant may enter into a Loan Guarantee Agreement for the 
Modified Wind Project. To conform with the changes to the Wind Project 
Site Certificate authorized by the EFSC, the BPA will issue three 
separate LGIAs for the SFN, SFC, and SFS wind farms to replace the 
single LGIA it had previously issued for the Wind Project. As relevant 
to environmental concerns, these decisions are consistent with the BP 
EIS and BP ROD. The July 2008 ROD for the Wind Project thus is revised 
by this ROD to include these additional decisions concerning the 
Modified Wind Project.

    Issued in Portland, Oregon; Issued in Washington, DC.

    Dated: September 24, 2010.
Stephen J. Wright,
Administrator and Chief Executive Officer, Bonneville Power 
Administration.
    Dated: October 12, 2010.
Jonathan M. Silver,
Executive Director, Loan Programs Office.
[FR Doc. 2010-26229 Filed 10-18-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P