Abstract
The Grapevine Canyon Wind Project proposed by Foresight Flying M, LLC (Foresight) would include: 1) a wind energy generating facility up to 500 megawatts; 2) a 345-kilovolt (kV) electrical transmission tie-line; and 3) a 345-kV electrical interconnection switchyard that would be owned and operated by Western. The wind energy generating facility would be located on private land and trust land administered by the Arizona State Land Department. The electrical transmission tie-line would be located on private and State trust lands, as well as Federal lands administered by the Forest Service. The interconnection switchyard would be located entirely on Forest Service-managed lands. The project is located about 28 miles south and east of Flagstaff, Arizona in Coconino County, extending from the proposed wind generating facility south of Meteor Crater to the proposed switchyard just east of Mormon Lake, Arizona. Foresight has applied to Western to interconnect the proposed wind energy generating facility to Western’s power transmission system on its Glen Canyon-Pinnacle Peak 345-kV No. 1 and No. 2 transmission lines. Additionally, Foresight has applied to the Forest Service for a special use permit authorizing the use of a 200-foot-wide right-of-way for a minimum period of 50 years to accommodate the construction and operation of the proposed 345-kV electrical transmission tie-line. The EIS includes a description of Western’s and the Forest Service’s proposed Federal actions and a no action alternative and an analysis of their environmental impacts.
The Final EIS is comprised of the previously published Draft EIS with additions and revisions added in response to comments on the Draft EIS and a comment and response chapter. Additions and revisions to the EIS are delineated with a vertical line in the left margin. Western’s Record of Decision will be published no sooner than 30 days from the publication in the Federal Register of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Notice of Availability for this Final EIS. The Forest Service will publish its Record of Decision directly before the 30-day Notice of Availability to coincide with its 45-day administrative review period.
- Executive Summary
- Chapter 1: Purpose and Need
- Chapter 2: Proposed Action and Alternatives
- Chapter 3: Affected Environment and Environmental Consequences
- Chapter 4: Cumulative Effects
- Chapter 5: List of Agencies, Organizations, and Individuals Provided Draft EIS
- Chapter 6: List of Preparers
- Chapter 7: Disclosure Statement
- Chapter 8: References
- Chapter 9: Glossary
- Chapter 10: Public Comments and Responses Attachment A Visual Resources – Photographic Simulations
- Appendix A: Western Area Power Administration’s Standards and Regulations
- A.1 Western Area Power Administration’s Construction Standard 13
- Appendix B: Scoping
- B.1 Scoping Summary Report
- Appendix C: Best Management Practices
- C.1 Forest Service’s Best Management Practices for Watershed Protection
- C.2 Design Features, Best Management Practices, Required Measures, and Mitigation Measures for Invasive Species Control
- Appendix D: Biological Resources
- D.1 Site Characterization Report
- D.2 Wildlife and Botanical Report
- D.3 Avian and Bat Studies for the Grapevine Canyon Wind Energy Project
- D.4 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Correspondence