[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 106 (Thursday, June 2, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31975-31976]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-13618]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Indian Affairs


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for 
the Proposed Wheatgrass Ridge Wind Project, Fort Hall Indian 
Reservation, Idaho

AGENCY: Bureau of Indian Affairs, Department of the Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This notice advises the public that the Bureau of Indian 
Affairs (BIA), as Lead Agency, intends to prepare an Environmental 
Impact Statement (EIS) for the Wheatgrass Ridge Wind Project, Fort Hall 
Indian Reservation, Idaho. It also announces the beginning of the 
scoping process to identify potential issues and content for inclusion 
in the EIS. Construction of the Wheatgrass Ridge Wind Project within 
the Fort Hall Reservation is subject to BIA approval of a lease and, as 
proposed, is a major Federal action under the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), as amended. The information in the EIS will 
be used to support a decision whether or not to lease Shoshone-Bannock 
Tribal lands to Wheatgrass Ridge Wind, LLC, for construction, 
operation, and maintenance of a wind energy facility up to 160 megawatt 
(MW). The EIS will describe and analyze potential environmental impacts 
from the proposed action and a range of reasonable alternatives.

DATES: Written comments on the scope and implementation of this 
proposal must arrive by August 1, 2011. The date(s) and location(s) of 
any scoping meetings will be announced at least 15 days in advance 
through local news media, newspapers and the Wheatgrass Ridge Wind EIS 
Project Web site at: http://www.wheatgrassridgewindeis.info.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments related to the Wheatgrass Ridge Wind 
Project EIS by any of the following methods:
     E-mail: [email protected].
     Fax: (208) 288-6199 (attention: Steve Linhart, POWER 
Engineers-Wheatgrass Ridge Wind EIS).
     Mail: Wheatgrass Ridge Wind EIS, c/o Steve Linhart, POWER 
Engineers, 2041 South Cobalt Point Way, Meridian, Idaho 83642.
     In person: At any EIS public scoping meeting.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bureau of Indian Affairs, Northwest 
Regional Office, Attention Dr. BJ Howerton, Environmental Services, 911 
NE. 11th Avenue, Portland, Oregon 97232-4169 Telephone: (503) 231-6749.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The EIS will assess the potential 
environmental impacts of BIA approval of leasing Tribally-owned lands 
on Fort Hall Indian Reservation near Pocatello, Idaho, to Wheatgrass 
Ridge Wind, LLC, to construct, operate, and maintain a wind energy 
facility up to 160 megawatt (MW). Wheatgrass Ridge Wind, LLC, is a 
company co-owned by Shoshone-Bannock Renewable Energy Development 
Company (SBRED) and Boreas Wind, LLC. SBRED (a corporation created 
under Section 17 of the Indian Reorganization Act) is wholly owned by 
the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes of the Fort Hall Indian Reservation, a 
Federally recognized Indian Tribe organized under the Indian 
Reorganization Act of 1934 located in the State of Idaho. Boreas is 
wholly owned by Southern Ute Alternative Energy, LLC (SUAE), a Colorado 
limited liability company, and was formed for the purpose of pursuing 
and developing wind power projects. The SUAE is wholly owned by the 
Southern Ute Indian Tribe and was created to invest in and develop 
alternative and renewable energy.
    The wind energy facility would be located on 100 percent Tribally 
owned lands in the Bannock Creek District located in the southwestern 
part of the Fort Hall Indian Reservation. The proposed facility is 
anticipated to be comprised of between 53 and 106 wind turbines with a 
hub height of up to 330 feet and a tip height from 300 to 525 feet (tip 
height is measured from the ground to the tip of the rotor blade when 
it is perpendicular to the ground), depending on type and model of wind 
turbine). The facility would include: turbines anchored to concrete 
foundations approximately 20 feet in diameter surrounded by a gravel 
area around the exposed turbine foundation of approximately 60 feet; 
overhead and underground transmission lines; interconnection to 
adjacent transmission lines (138kV to 345 kV depending on the 
interconnection point) owned and operation by Idaho Power or 
PacifiCorp; up to three substations approximately two to five acres 
each; eight to 10 temporary and two to four permanent meteorological 
towers, approximately 200 to 315 feet in height, depending on the 
meteorological data collected; new all-weather gravel access roads 
approximately 16 feet wide to each turbine location; widening and 
improvements to existing two-track roads to achieve an approximate 16 
to 22 foot wide all-weather gravel access road; temporary lay down 
yards and hardened crane pads used for erecting turbines; and an 
operations and maintenance building built on approximately five acres 
of land within the project area. Wind turbine models in the 1.5-3 MW 
range from various manufacturers are being considered. The wind project 
would be located in an area up to approximately 21,355 acres on a land 
feature known as Wheatgrass Ridge. However, the actual wind turbines, 
roads, transmission lines, substation(s), and other infrastructure 
would have a footprint of approximately 250 to 500 acres of land.
    The purpose of this project is to: (1) Increase electrical 
generation to meet existing and future energy demands in the western 
United States; (2) provide new opportunities for economic development 
and economic diversification for the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes; (3) 
provide renewable energy resources for the western United States; (4) 
promote the self-governance

[[Page 31976]]

and self-determination of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes; and (5) develop 
the project in an environmentally sound manner that addresses and 
preserves traditional and cultural practices of the Shoshone-Bannock 
Tribes. The purpose of the public scoping process is to determine 
relevant issues that will influence the scope of the environmental 
analysis, including alternatives, and guide the process for developing 
the EIS. At present, the BIA has identified the following preliminary 
issues (in no particular order of importance): (1) Visual resources--
The wind turbines and other project components would be new features on 
the landscape and visible from various distances, and would be a long-
term change to the rural view shed. (2) Traditional uses--The proposed 
project may affect traditional, cultural practices and spiritual uses 
in the Bannock Creek area by the Shoshone-Bannock Tribal members. (3) 
Wildlife--Projects of this magnitude may have an effect on wildlife. 
Focal species studies will include migrating and resident raptors, 
waterfowl, upland game birds and large game species. (4) Soils--Project 
transportation required for the project are located in an area with 
highly erodible soils. (5) Wildland Fire--The project area is subject 
to repeated wildland fires. (6) Socioeconomics--The EIS will evaluate 
potential impacts on socioeconomic resources, including impacts to 
range uses, increases and diversification of Tribal revenues and 
employment opportunities.
    The proposed project is expected to create a new revenue source and 
new employment opportunities on the Tribal lands as well as diversify 
the economic base for the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes and the Fort Hall 
Indian Reservation. Local communities such as American Falls, 
Pocatello, Power County, and the State of Idaho will also likely 
experience economic benefit. As a new economic opportunity for the 
Shoshone-Bannock Tribes, there are questions regarding the local 
economic benefits of the project and overall community support for the 
project.

Directions for Submitting Public Comments

    Please include your name, return address, and the caption ``EIS, 
Wheatgrass Ridge Wind Project'' on the first page of any written 
comments you submit. You may also submit comments at the public scoping 
meetings.

Public Comment Availability

    Comments, including names and addresses of respondents, will be 
available for public review at the mailing address shown in the 
ADDRESSES Section of this notice during regular business hours, 8 a.m. 
to 4.30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays. Before including 
your address, telephone number, e-mail address, or other personal 
identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your 
entire comment--including your personal identifying information--may be 
made publicly available at any time. While you may ask us in your 
comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public 
review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.

    Authority:  This notice is published in accordance with sections 
1503.1 and 1506.6 of the Council on Environmental Quality 
Regulations (40 CFR parts 1500 through 1508), and section 46.305 of 
the Department of the Interior Regulations (42 CFR part 46) 
implementing the procedural requirements of the NEPA, as amended (42 
U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), and is in the exercise of authority delegated 
to the Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs by 209 DM 8.1.

    Dated: May 17, 2011.
Paul Tsosie,
Chief of Staff, Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2011-13618 Filed 6-1-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-W7-P