HomeMy WebLinkAboutDelta Junction Area Wind Turbines Draft Environmental Assessment - Oct 2006 - REF Grant 2195370Draft Environmental Assessment
Proposed Wind Energy ROW
in the
Delta River Area, Alaska
T13S R9E, T14S R10E, and T15S R10E Fairbanks Meridian
for
Wind Energy Development
October 19, 2006
by
LAPP Resources, Inc.
10600 Prospect Drive
Anchorage, AK 99507
Phone. 1907 346-2745
Mobile: 1907 248-7188
e-mail: lapres@gci.net
Table of Contents
1)
Introduction..............................................................................................................3
i)
Purpose and Need for Proposed Action........................................................
3
ii)
Land Status......................................................................................................
5
iii)
Conformance with Land Use Plan...............................................................
8
2)
Alternative Actions..................................................................................................
9
i)
Alternative # 1 - Proposed Action at Project Site # 1..................................
9
ii)
Alternative # 2 - Proposed Action at Project Site # 2................................
10
iii)
Alternative # 3 - No Action Alternative......................................................
11
3)
Affected Environment...........................................................................................
11
i)
Critical Elements...........................................................................................
11
(a) Cultural Resources...............................................................................
11
(b) Threatened and Endangered Species .................................................
13
ii)
Soils.................................................................................................................13
iii)
Vegetation......................................................................................................
14
iv)
Wildlife...........................................................................................................14
v)
Visual Resources...........................................................................................
16
vi)
Aviation and Radar Environment...............................................................
16
4)
Environmental Consequences - Impacts of Proposed Action ............................
16
i)
Critical Elements...........................................................................................
16
(a) Cultural Resources...............................................................................
18
(b) Threatened and Endangered Species .................................................
18
ii)
Soils.................................................................................................................18
iii)
Vegetation......................................................................................................
18
iv)
Wildlife...........................................................................................................19
v)
Visual Resources...........................................................................................
19
vi)
Aviation and Radar Environment...............................................................
20
5)
Cumulative Impacts to the Area..........................................................................
20
i)
Transportation..............................................................................................
21
ii)
The Town of Delta Junction.........................................................................
21
iii)
Fort Greely — Donnelly Training Area .......................................................
21
iv)
Gold Mining...................................................................................................
22
v)
Coal Mining...................................................................................................
22
vi)
Subsistence Hunting and Gathering...........................................................
22
vii)
Recreational Activities..................................................................................
22
viii)
Potential Wind Farm Development.............................................................
23
6)
Consultation and Coordination............................................................................
23
i)
Persons and Agencies Consulted.................................................................
23
ii)
List of Preparers...........................................................................................
23
7)
Bibliography...........................................................................................................
24
2
1) Introduction
i) Purpose and Need for Proposed Action
LAPP Resources, Inc. has researched potential wind energy sites near the rail belt
electric energy grid and has found the Delta River area south of Delta Junction to be
suitable for wind energy development. It has good sustained winds from weather
systems crossing the Alaska Range into Interior Alaska, and from katabatic winds
resulting from winter cold air masses moving down valley from the higher
elevations in the Alaska Range into the lower elevations of Interior Alaska. These
winds are concentrated by the north -south -trending Delta River valley resulting in
an area rated an extremely favorable "7" on the 1-7 scale commonly used in the
wind industry to rate potential wind sites in the United States.
Although the above map is not sufficiently detailed to show the Delta River area,
it shows that although Alaska is well endowed with excellent wind resources,
most of those resources are not close to the rail belt electrical grid. The Delta
River area is one of the only places near the existing Alaska electrical
transmission grid where such favorable winds are found at relatively low
elevation.
The above map (wind power at 50 meters) for the Delta River valley shows the
north -south -trending Richardson Highway bisecting the area, the Alaska Highway
trending toward the southeast in the northeast corner of the map, and very good
wind resources within the north -south -trending Delta River valley (brown areas
are Class 7 on this map). The wind map of the Lower-48 shows no Class 7 sites.
4
The proposed wind energy development will supply "green" energy to customers
near the wind farm, and into the Alaska rail belt electric energy grid where energy
prices have risen dramatically, and may continue to rise as Alaska re -negotiates
its petroleum taxation policies. Petroleum tax increases may be passed on to
consumers through higher prices for oil, natural gas, and electricity. Wind energy
development may result in some stabilization of the price of electricity for rail
belt electricity consumers since a portion of the electrical supply will no longer be
tied to the price of fossil fuels (natural gas, coal, and oil). Golden Valley Electric,
the Fairbanks electrical utility, is currently buying oil -generated electricity during
peak demand times. At today's oil prices, their avoided cost is very high, at about
$0.09 per kWh. Electricity from this wind project could be used to replace some
of this peak demand energy.
The development of alternative energy systems feeding into the rail belt grid will
also reduce the need to inefficiently burn natural gas to generate electricity
(perhaps 40% thermal efficiency in gas turbines) in South Central Alaska, leaving
this natural gas to be more efficiently consumed for space heating (greater than
90% thermal efficiency in modern furnaces) by individuals, businesses, and
government in southcentral Alaska. Natural gas will be in short supply in
southcentral Alaska in coming years if new sources of energy are not developed.
Installation of modern wind energy turbines will reduce the need to replace some
older generation capacity on the rail -belt energy grid, a substantial portion of
which is nearing the end of its useful life.
Concerns about man-made greenhouse gasses causing global warming are causing
local, state, federal, and international governments to set targets for the purchase
of green energy. This project can provide some of that energy. The US National
Energy Policy Act of 2005 established goals for federal purchases of renewable
energy; 3% by 2009, 5% by 2012, and 7% thereafter. The same Act also
encourages the Department of Interior to approve 10,000 MW of non -hydro
renewable facilities on federal lands within the next ten years.
ii) Land Status
The proposed action is located on BLM-administered military lands or federal
public lands that have been (in part) top -file selected by the State of Alaska. The
State top -filed lands will be administered by BLM until they are conveyed
(tentatively -approved) to the State. BLM may be required to consult with the
State on this Proposed Action even though top -filed lands are unlikely to be
conveyed in even the intermediate future, and may remain under BLM
management indefinitely. The area falls within the State's Tanana Basin Area
Plan.
�J Legend Delta Wind Project - 50m Wind Power
Q Project Site Aft # c - 4Miles IAPP Resources. Inc.
April 26, 2006
iii) Conformance with Land Use Plan
Land use in the area is covered by the Tanana Basin Area Plan adopted in 1985
and updated in 1991. The plan shows the area is available for energy production
purposes. The subject area lies near, but north of, the boundary between the
Delta-Salcha Region 7 and the East Alaska Range Region 5. The Delta River is
the boundary between these two regions in the upper reaches of the Delta River.
Delta-Salcha Subunit 7M1 (Delta Wildlands) management plan covers the
proposed wind energy development area and it is open to mineral development,
public recreation, and wildlife habitat with the primary emphasis on mineral
development. The following quote comes from the Tanana Basin Area Plan (page
3-229).
Minerals. Mining has been designated a primary
use of Subunit 7ML Mineral development should
minimize impacts on wildlife resources and the
visual impact on the recreation resources.
The following table and map shows the various designations of Subunit 7M.
LAND -USE DESIGNATION SUMMARY
MANAGEMENT UNIT 7M: Delta WiIdlands
j Subunit Primary Secondary Subsurface' Prohibited Comments i
Surface Uses Surface Uses Surface Use
7M1 Minerals Open Land disposals l
Public recreation Remote cabins ;
Wildlife habitat
7M2 Wildlife habitat Open Land disposals Mineral licks
through Remote cabins See text for
leasehold guidelines i
location
$ 7M3 Settlement Closed prior Past Project: `
to sale Donnelly S
j 1 Subsurface designations refer to locatable minerals. All areas are available for leasing for
( leasable minerals, except as noted for coal. f
E
2 Other uses such as material sales, land leases, or permits that are not spedhcally prohibited maybe
allowed. Such uses will be allowed if consistent with the management -intent statement, the management
guidelines of this unit, and the relevant management guidelines listed in Chapter 2. f
jw �
2) Alternative Actions
i) Alternative # 1 - Proposed Action at Project Site # 1
Project Site # 1 as shown on the Land Status and Wind Maps in this EA occupies
approximately seven square miles on the higher portions of a hill with good wind
resources in the Donnelly Training Area (DTA) just south and east of the
Washington Range portion of the DTA and just west of Donnelly Dome and the
Trans Alaska Pipeline. The proposed ROW area is at least one-fourth mile from
public lands for vandalism control. If the Washington Range area is available, the
portions with good wind resources should be included in preference to selected
areas close to and visible from the highway. The Army has proposed a new Battle
Area Complex training facility (U.S. Army March 2006) within the Donnelly
Training Area. None of the proposed alternative sites for this facility conflicts
with this proposed wind ROW.
E
LAPP Resources proposes a twelve to eighteen month wind resource assessment
program (2006 to 2008) consisting of up to five temporary, portable, guyed
tubular steel towers up to eight inches in diameter and up to164 feet (50 meters)
tall. These meteorological towers will support wind, air temperature, pressure,
and humidity monitoring and logging equipment. The electronics will be powered
by a combination of batteries and solar panels. No fossil fuel generators are
required for operation of the wind monitoring equipment. The towers are
assembled by hand and no heavy equipment is required for their installation. No
road building is required, and no work pads or foundations will be built.
Temporary, removable screw -in earth anchors will secure the guy lines. The sites
will be visited quarterly through the year for preventive maintenance and radio
frequency (GSM cell) equipment will be used for automatic data retrieval.
If the wind resource assessment proves that the resource is suitable for wind
energy generation, final sites for wind turbines can be selected at optimal
locations and detailed project planning and turbine selection and procurement can
proceed. Available wind turbines of optimal size, design, and cost for this
specific site will be selected, based on wind characteristics, wind power available,
and installation factors such as visual aesthetics, wildlife protection, and
construction crane availability. We plan to install of up to twenty wind turbines
of at least 1.0 MW each between 2008 and 2009.
The proposed Right of Way (ROW) is required to secure the wind monitoring
locations and turbine locations while project planning, engineering, and financing
occur, and to provide secure long-term land tenure for the life of the project,
initially thirty years (with opportunity for extension). A large ROW area is
required to enable the wind resource assessment program to identify optimal wind
turbine sites within the ROW area.
The crews who carry out work at the site will commute daily from Delta Junction
and it is envisaged that most of the long-term workers on this project will reside
in Delta Junction or nearby areas. This project will provide a few good permanent
jobs for residents of the area, and more if the project is expanded in future years.
If markets are found for increased wind -generated electricity, proposals to expand
the number of turbines sited could be submitted in fixture years.
ii) Alternative # 2 - Proposed Action at Project Site # 2
The Proposed Action at Project Site # 2 occupies six square miles of vacant public
land (T14S RI OE S 21, 28, 33, SE4S32, S2S16 , and T15S RI OE S4, N2S9,
NE4S8, E2S7) east of the Pipeline and the Richardson Highway, and south of
Donnelly Dome. One benefit of this site is that it is largely hidden from the public
view from the Richardson Highway, resulting in a very low visual impact for
most visitors to the area. It is also located adjacent to the Jarvis Creek Coal Mine,
10
which, if developed with a mine -mouth power plant, could share road access and
transmission infrastructure with the wind farm.
The proposed action at site # 2 mirrors the preferred alternative at Site # 1, except
this site is approximately six miles further from the electric power infrastructure.
This means that new power transmission lines will cost an additional $2.4 million
to build ($400,000 per mile for six additional miles). This site will also require
better security for vandalism protection, since it is on open lands accessible to the
general public. Site # 2 is partially covered by mining claims staked along Ober
Creek. Mining activities are unlikely to interfere with wind power activities.
iii) Alternative # 3 - No Action Alternative
Under this no -action alternative, BLM would continue its current management of
the land and Alaska residents would be denied use of this land uniquely suited to
wind power development. Alaskans on the rail belt would continue to burn
natural gas and coal to generate a majority of their electricity.
3) Affected Environment
i) Critical Elements
The following critical elements are considered in either the Proposed Action or
the No Action Alternative.
ACECs (Areas of Critical Environmental Concern)
Air Quality
Environmental Justice
Farmlands, Prime/Unique
Floodplains
Invasive, non-native species
Subsistence
Waste, Hazardous and Solid
Water Quality
Wetlands, Riparian Zones
Wild and Scenic Rivers
Wilderness
(a) Cultural Resources
A recent coal exploration permit application at the nearby Jarvis Creek
Coal Field reported the following:
Human habitation of central Alaska began as a result of the opening
of the Bering Land Bridge from Asia that experts say opened as
early as 70,000 years ago but definitely by 30,000 years ago.
11
Butchered faunal remains from the Yukon -Tanana Uplands, adjacent
to the Jarvis Creek area, indicate that people hunted over this area.
Evidence by Alaska glaciologists shows that the coal field was
uninhabited due to an overlying ice sheet that did not retreat until
approximately 10,000 years ago. Archeological sites near Donnelly
Dome, just northwest of the coal field, dated near this time, suggest
that the area was used by ancient peoples as soon as it was
accessible. The Denali complex cultural tradition persisted in the
interior Alaska region from between 11,000 to 9,000 years ago to
approximately 2,000 to 1,500 years ago. No archeological sites from
this period, however, have been found within the coal field area.
The BLM in 1982 reported that the Jarvis Creek area is part of a
larger complex that is ethnographically a sort of "no-man's land".
Linguistically, the area lies between the Tanacross and Tanana
groups of Athapaskan. The Salcha River band used the upper Delta
Creek for sheep hunting, but the eastern limits of their hunting
territory appears to have been the Delta River to the west of the coal
field. Members of the groups living in the Goodpaster River and
Healy Lake area are reported to have used the region occasionally
for caribou and sheep harvesting.
In 1906-1907, a trail was completed from Valdez to Fairbanks and
became passable for wheeled vehicles its entire length by 1911. This
early trail was part of a major transportation route between these two
towns and the gold fields near Fairbanks and in the Fortymile River
area. There is some evidence that in the early 1900's, this trail
brought in prospectors who began gold prospecting on Ober Creek.
This creek's name was taken from one of these early prospectors.
These prospectors undoubtedly found the Jarvis Creek coal,
however, there is no record that any coal was actually produced and
transported to the gold fields. The trail would eventually be
upgraded to become the Richardson Highway, at least the part
between Valdez and Delta Junction.
It was noted in the environmental assessment studies prior to
issuance of the federal coal lease in 1983 that in the summer of 1981,
a week-long survey of cultural and historic resources was undertaken
in the vicinity of the proposed coal lease and along Coal Mine Road.
The survey found a single worked flake (not kept) along the road
near the boundary of the four -section coal lease area. No other
findings of cultural/historic/archeological value were reported. In
addition, no significant paleontological 'resources are known to be
present within the coal -bearing formation or overlying glacial
outwash and till deposits.
12
(b) Threatened and Endangered Species
No threatened or endangered species are known to exist in the area.
ii) Soils
Soils within the area of the Proposed Action have not been studied in connection with
this Proposed Action. Soils will generally be typical of recently -glaciated areas.
Soils were studied in connection with a proposal to mine coal at Jarvis Creek in
the mid-1980s. The following is quoted from Alaska Power and Telephone's
recent coal exploration permit application for the Jarvis Creek Coalfield.
A cursory soil study of the four proposed coal lease sections in the center of
the coal field was conducted in 1981 as part of the environmental
assessment that ultimately resulted in the issuance of the BLM Preference
Rights Coal Lease of these sections to Owen and Loveless in 1983. This
study was part of a four -day field study (June 16, August 5-7) that also
targeted coal lease area vegetation (Gough et.al, 1981). Three soil profiles
were examined on undisturbed ground on the broad plain north and east of
Ober Creek where the prospective mine pit was to be located. All three
profiles are uniform in morphology of the various horizons and depth to
frozen ground. A typical soil profile and general soils description of it
follows:
01 horizon, 15-25 cm thick, highly organic silt loam, dark brown moist,
color (7.5YR 3/2)
02 horizon, 2 cm thick, root mat with very little inorganic material, dark
reddish brown (5YR 3/3)
Al horizon, 2-5 cm thick, silt loam with low to moderate organic matter
content, dark reddish brown (5YR 3/3)
Cg horizon, 35-60 cm before frozen ground was encountered, silt loam,
mottled with mainly gray (5YR 5/1) and yellowish red (5YR 4/6)
indicating a gleyed horizon
Soil classifications since this soil study was conducted indicate that the 01
and 02 horizons appear to correlate with the newer "0" horizon which
consists of root mat and partly decomposed organic accumulations. The Al
horizon appears to correlate to the "A" horizon where organic matter and
mineral detritus are intermixed. The Cg horizon, from its description, better
defines the new nomenclature `B" horizon which is more clay rich and
organic free.
The above horizons in the coal lease area are developed in a veneer of loess
that is seen throughout the Jarvis Creek Coal Field mantling the underlying
glacial gravels and coal -bearing formation. Beneath this loess soil is
13
discontinuously to continuously frozen glacial gavels which range from 5
feet to 20 feet thick in the proposed mining area. Below these unsorted to
poorly sorted unconsolidated gravels lies the Tertiary coal -bearing
formation.
iii) Vegetation
The Proposed Action would likely occur on higher, exposed ground and ridge tops
where vegetation is dominated by low alpine shrubs, low brush, lichens, grasses,
and mosses. The climate of the area is relatively dry, being on the lee interior side
of the Alaska Range and therefore vegetation has adapted to lower amounts of
rainfall and is more sparse than in higher -rainfall areas. Access roads to turbine
sites would cross a variety of vegetation types.
iv) Wildlife
There have been no wildlife surveys done in the Delta area with wind power
development in mind, however several studies have been conducted on game
species in Game Management Unit 20D (central Tanana Valley near Delta
Junction) and adjacent GMUs to assist wildlife managers.
Bison are one notable unique introduced species (the last native Alaska bison
became extinct 450 to 500 years ago). Under ADF&G's management plan, bison
numbers have declined from 407 animals in 2003 to 360 animals in 2005. The
map below is from the State's Tanana Valley Land Use Plan.
TANANA N
rANANA RIV�R
� _ -T, LN�E
DELTA - ��� t •...`
' JUNCTION
i`-rr ac.� • 1_ � I _: � _ it :...�riii� ma':'
....... >>�,
Il y
A4�1,,��
.. .. ... ..RANGE • i CY
. ... nr�ON n, DOME .s �
.
,MIGRATION ROUTES �Y
' CAINN.G AREA'���' �.' MAJOR ROADS
' 1 3
_ ^/ MINOR ROADS
J RIVERS
p } DELTA JUNCTION BISON RANGE
NO -:j Ff. GR£ELY
PRIVATE AG. LAND
a Z _en LAKES
CALVING AREA
1 �
sTT.P&URY TO BLACK RAPIDS GLACIER
Figure 1 Primary landownership patterns and bison migration routes
14
The following history of the Delta herd is taken from the Alaska Department of
Fish & Game's (ADF&G) web site.
In 1928, 23 bison from the National Bison Range in Moiese, Montana were
transplanted to their historic range along the Delta River. By 1947 the herd
of plains bison had increased to 400 animals. Beginning in 1951, hunting
was allowed and is currently used to limit the herd to a pre -calving
population of 275-300 bison.
The herd is maintained at this level to reduce the potential for damage to
agricultural crops and to keep the herd within the carrying capacity of its
summer range. About 6,000-11,000 people apply each year for an average
of 40 permits to hunt Delta bison. Delta bison have been used to start three
other herds in Alaska.
Caribou — Three caribou herds are present within the area: the Fortymile Herd,
the Macomb Herd, and the Delta Herd.
The Fortymile Caribou Herd's range is generally north of the Alaska
Range as far east as the Yukon Territory and it is estimated to number
about 22,000 animals. It is ADF&G's goal to increase the herd to 50,000
to 100,000 animals with a sustainable harvest of 10,000 to 15,000 caribou.
The Macomb Herd ranges eastward toward the Tok area and is estimated
to have 650 animals. It is the goal of ADF&G for the herd to grow to 600
to 800 animals and have a sustained annual harvest of 30 to 50 animals.
The Delta Herd ranges westwards through the central Alaska Range to the
Parks Highway and is estimated at less than 4,000 animals. ADF&Gs goal
is for the herd to grow to 6,000 to 8,000 animals with a sustained annual
harvest of 300 to 500 animals.
Moose — In 2003 ADF&G estimated 5,493 moose within GMU 20D and their
objective is to have between 8,000 and 10,000 moose within the unit with an
annual harvest of 500 to 700 animals. Predator control has been used to increase
moose numbers.
Black Bear — In mid-2001 ADF&G estimated that 750 adult black bears were
present in GMU 20D, with 225 of those being south of the Tanana River.
Brown Bear — For 2003 ADF&G estimates brown bear populations for southern
GMU20D as 51 to 58 bears two years or older, and 76 to 86 total bears. This
estimate remains unchanged from 1993.
Wolf — In 2003 the ADF&G estimated between 200 and 250 wolves were present
in Game Management Unit 20D during the 1960s when wolf and prey populations
15
were high. Prey species began to decline and both lethal and non -lethal wolf
control programs were implemented with a goal of reducing wolf populations to
between 15 and 150. This was largely successful and wolf control efforts in this
GMU ended in 2002.
Small Furbearers — Wolverine, Coyote, Fox, Lynx, Martin,Weasel. These animals
are found throughout the region and their population numbers generally follow
the numbers of prey species such as snowshoe hare and ground squirrel.
Birds — Eagle, Falcon, Sand Hill Crane, Goose, Duck, Ptarmigan, Grouse. These
birds are found throughout the region with birds of prey and ptarmigan being
attracted to higher, open ground, and crane, goose and duck preferring lowlands
adjacent to water. Grouse are attracted to wooded areas.
v) Visual Resources
The visual resources of the area are good. In the immediate area of the Proposed
Action the terrain is dominated by low rolling hills characteristic of recently -
glaciated terrain in the lower reaches of large valley glaciers. Views from the
Richardson Highway include the mountains of the east -central Alaska Range, and
Donnelly Dome, a low hill that appears dominant because it is close to the
highway.
vi) Aviation and Radar Environment
Visual Flight Rule (VFR) aviation is carried out at low levels throughout Alaska.
Civil aviation pilots routinely use the road systems for dead -reckoning navigation
and as an emergency runway in the unlikely event of an engine failure. Increasing
use of GPS navigation systems in aircraft may reduce their use for navigation
purposes and thus reduce some air traffic near the roads. Wind turbine towers and
rotors located on high ground may be near the flight path of some low -flying
aircraft.
Spinning wind turbine blades have, in some cases, caused spurious returns with
aircraft and ground -based aircraft flight control radar. This is caused by the
design of radar filtering which tries to filter out stationary objects (like ground -
based reflections from buildings, ...) and enhance moving ones (like other
aircraft). Research is being conducted in the USA and overseas to characterize the
problem and find solutions if required.
4) Environmental Consequences - Impacts of Proposed Action
i) Critical Elements
The following critical elements are either not present or would not be negatively
affected by either the Proposed Action or the No Action Alternative.
16
ACECs (Areas of Critical Environmental Concern) - A geographical area
within lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management that
require special measure to protect sensitive resources such as
scenic, cultural or wildlife resource values. No ACECs are known
by this writer to be present within the area of interest.
Air Quality - Local air quality will improve since wind speeds (and
therefore airborne dust from the Delta River gravel bars) will be
reduced. Air quality for Alaskans generally would improve to the
extent that electricity from this project displaces fossil fuels now
being burned to generate electricity in Anchorage, Fairbanks,
Healy, Eielson AFB, and at the Beluga power plant.
Environmental Justice - Environmental justice will be enhanced by
reducing America's dependence on imported fossil fuels, and
diversifying our sources of energy domestically. No negative
impacts are expected on Alaska Native, low-income, or minority
communities in the region.
Farmlands, Prime/Unique - No farmlands are present in this area.
Floodplains — Floodplains not present at this site.
Invasive, non-native species - No impact on plants if precautions are taken
to avoid introduction of non-native species during construction.
Subsistence - No impact on subsistence if game species are not impacted.
Waste, Hazardous and Solid (No waste generation except during minor
amounts of packaging and shipping materials during construction.
This waste will be disposed of at permitted, approved facilities.
Water Quality, Surface and Groundwater - No impact on surface water or
groundwater is expected.
Wetlands, Riparian Zones - No impact on wetlands or riparian zones.
Wild and Scenic Rivers - No impact on the Delta Wild and Scenic River
designation that ends south of Black Rapids Glacier at the northern
edge of T17S, about 15 miles south of the area of interest.
Wilderness - No designated wilderness is present in the area.
17
(a) Cultural Resources
Few studies of the archaeological resources of the area have been carried
out, however those that have been conducted have found little evidence of
pre -historic use of the area by man. Certainly 10,000 years ago, and
possibly as little as a thousand years ago, the entire area was covered by
glacial ice.
Nevertheless, ground disturbance for the wind energy project will be
minimized both prior to and during construction. No known
archaeological sites are present in areas likely to be the site of turbine
installations (i.e., high, relatively flat areas with little vegetation and with
easy access routes for heavy cranes).
(b) Threatened and Endangered Species
No threatened or endangered species are known to exist in the area.
ii) Soils
Placement of wind turbines and access roads will tend to avoid low-lying areas
and will generally be in higher, more exposed locations where soils will be thin
and well -drained. Construction and operation of the wind farm is expected to
have little impact on local soils outside the construction zone. If soil stability is a
problem, construction can be carried out when these soils are frozen.
iii) Vegetation
Turbine sites are relatively small areas, perhaps 100 by 100 feet, where the natural
vegetation will be replaced with tower foundations and parking for occasional
service trucks. The impact of access roads would be minimized by scheduling
construction during periods when the soils are frozen (if soil stability is
questionable) and minimizing the width to a single lane.
Construction sites will be reclaimed to minimize their footprint on the landscape.
Where possible, topsoil from construction areas and access roads will be
stockpiled and replaced in appropriate locations after construction to encourage
native plants to re -grow. Seed mixtures that are not attractive to birds, and
fertilizer, and mulch appropriate for the area will be used to prevent aeolian
erosion of fine soils. Once soils are stabilized, native plants will be encouraged to
re -grow in reclaimed areas.
If public access is considered a problem for vegetation or creates dust, access
roads could be gated and locked to prevent unauthorized vehicular traffic.
Hunting with firearms should not be conducted near wind turbines.
18
iv) Wildlife
Of all the animals present in the area, only birds have the potential for lethal
interactions with operating wind turbines. Careful site selection can minimize this
risk, but the risk cannot be eliminated. The area is not a known flyway for
waterfowl although an estimated two million waterfowl pass through Delta
Junction area on their way north and an estimated nine million pass on their way
south. Most birds follow the Fairbanks -Delta Junction-Tok flyway. The American
peregrine falcon has been known to nest in the bluffs on the east bank of the Delta
River (US Army, 2006). It was taken off the endangered species list in1999.
Sandhill cranes are known to nest in the lowlands west of the Delta River within
the DTA. Locating turbines in relatively high dry areas without attractive
wetlands will minimize bird -turbine interaction. Recent studies have found that
taller turbine towers tend to decrease bird mortality, since most birds fly close to
the ground.
Most wild game animals are thought to be relatively tolerant of new low -speed
(15 to 20 RPM) turbine designs (based on experience at other wind farms) and we
do not expect adverse impacts to terrestrial animals. Operation of the wind
turbines will have minimal impact on terrestrial flora and fauna, and is likely to
have a low impact on avian species.
v) Visual Resources
The impact of the wind turbines on the visual resources of the area is perhaps the
largest impact the project will have. This can be minimized to some extent by
locating turbines at some distance from the Richardson Highway and in areas
where (the few) local residents are unlikely to see them regularly. The towers,
turbine blades and generators will all be painted flat white (shiny white blades
would flash in the sunlight), which, in Alaska, makes good sense. During the
majority of the year, the landscape is snow covered, and flat white wind turbines
will tend to blend into the background.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder however and many people like to see wind
farms in operation. We expect that the operating wind farm will be an additional
tourist attraction in the area and a low -impact business opportunity will be to
conduct tours of the wind farm for groups of students, local residents, and tourists.
The wind farm ROW should contain a provision to enable these activities to occur.
BLM's Visual Resources web site (http://www.blm.gov/nste/VRM) shows that
there are numerous design techniques that can be used to reduce the visual
impacts from surface -disturbing projects. The techniques described here should be
used in conjunction with BLM's visual resource contrast rating process wherein
both the existing landscape and the proposed development or activity are analyzed
for their basic elements of form, line, color, and texture (FLCT). Design
fundamentals are general design principles that can be used for all forms of
ILI
activity or development, regardless of the resource value being addressed.
Applying these three fundamentals will help solve most visual design problems:
Proper siting or location
Reducing unnecessary disturbance
Repeating the elements of form, line, color, and texture
Design strategies are more specific activities that can be applied to address visual
design problems. Not all of these strategies will be applicable to every proposed
project or activity:
Color selection
Earthwork
Vegetative manipulation
Structures
Reclamation/restoration
Linear alignment design considerations
vi) Aviation and Radar Environment
Visual Flight Rule (VFR) aviation should be practiced only when pilots can see
the terrain they are flying through. The Army's March 2006 SDEIS (Figure 3k)
shows a north -south VFR civil aviation corridor traverses military airspace along
the Richardson Highway between Black Rapids Training Camp in the south and
Delta Junction in the north. Donnelly Dome sits in the middle of this corridor.
The western two-thirds of Project Site # 1 and substantially all of Project Site # 2
lie outside the VFR aviation corridor. At night and in bad weather, the required
collision avoidance lights will be illuminated at the tops of all towers to warn
aircraft of the presence of the towers. The permanent tower locations and height
data will be added to aircraft flight navigation maps and electronic databases in
due course.
Radar interference may be caused by spinning wind turbine blades. In the case of
this Proposed Action, the area is not heavily used by commercial aircraft flying at
low levels, and light aircraft do not commonly carry radar. Radars are being
designed to eliminate this source of interference since it will only become for
common in the future. Military aircraft may already have sufficiently
sophisticated radar to filter this source of returns. They may even use the wind
farm for radar training purposes. In addition, blades may designed to better absorb
radar waves and they may also be painted with radar -absorbent coatings (Johnson,
R.N., 2004).
5) Cumulative Impacts to the Area
The cumulative impact of man's activities in the area includes the following:
i) Transportation
A major transportation corridor down the Delta River valley contains the all-
weather Richardson Highway and the Trans -Alaska Oil Pipeline. Light aircraft
transiting the Delta River valley are a common sight overhead. Part of the old
Richardson Highway ROW runs through Project Site # 1 west of Donnelly Dome.
Proposed additions to this transportation corridor are natural gas piplines that
would run from Alaska's North Slope through Delta Junction along the Alaska
Highway to Canada and the US mid -western states, or along the Richardson
Highway to a liquefied natural gas plant at Valdez, or both. An extension to the
Alaska Railroad from the Fairbanks area has been proposed to link Fort Greely
with the Alaska rail system. Another proposal is to extend the Alaska rail system
from the Fairbanks area, through Delta Junction, to link to the Canadian rail
system, and thereby to the Lower-48 rail system.
ii) The Town of Delta Junction
Delta Junction is a town of about 850 people nearly 30 miles north of the area of
interest. Some of the cumulative impacts outlined below directly result from the
close proximity of this population center.
iii) Fort Greely — Donnelly Training Area
The following description of the Donnelly Training Area is taken from their web
site:
Today's Donnelly Training Area was formerly part of Ft. Greely, an Arctic
training and testing installation south of Delta Junction. Ft. Greely's
predecessor was Allen Army Airfield, a World War II airfield built in 1942
to support the Lend -Lease operation along the Northwest Staging Route.
After the war, the Army began to use the installation and surrounding lands
for much -needed Arctic testing and training. In 1955, the airfield and
678,000 acres of training lands became part of the new post of Ft. Greely.
As the home of the Northern Warfare Training Center and the Army's Cold
Regions Test Center, Ft. Greely continued to support Arctic training and
testing missions. With the closure of Ft. Greely in 2001, the training lands
were transferred to the control of Ft. Wainwright and are presently known as
the Donnelly Training Area. The DTA is no longer affiliated with the re-
established Ft. Greely, which is now a small area under assigned to the
Space and Missile Defense Command.
Fort Greely and Donnelly Training Area includes several live -fire aerial bombing,
artillery, and small -arms ranges, a decommissioned atomic power plant, a new
anti -continental -ballistic missile base, an airfield, and various support facilities.
Both Fort Greely and Delta Junction are connected to the rail belt electrical grid
by transmission lines from the Fairbanks area. The Donnelly Training Area is an
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active military training and weapons testing area and operations are conducted by
both airborne and ground -based forces.
iv) Gold Mining
Mining has been a traditional activity in the area since gold rush days. Several
placer gold claims exist on Ober Creek and other claims exist in the Jarvis Creek
drainage. The placer gold claims on Ober Creek are unlikely to be a competitive
land use with the proposed wind power development. A major new hardrock gold
mine northeast of Delta Junction at Pogo began operation recently, and Delta
Junction serves as a supply and accommodation base for some of the mine
personnel, increasing the population of the general area. The mine is also
connected to the rail belt electrical grid by a new transmission line. South of this
area exploration is continuing on a copper -gold -nickel -platinum district in the
central Alaska Range north of Summit Lake and west of Paxon.
v) Coal Mining
The Jarvis Creek Coalfield has been intermittently mined informally and on a
small scale for many years. A eight -mile -long road, Coal Mine Road, exists to
connect the mining area to the Richardson Highway. A permit has been granted
to Alaska Power & Telephone Co. to conduct exploration on its existing coal
lease at the nearby Jarvis Creek Coalfield. If sufficient reserves are discovered,
they are contemplating a new coal mining operation to feed coal to a mine -mouth
power plant. A new transmission line would be built within the transportation
corridor to supply the rail belt grid with electricity. The coal mine project may be
a synergistic land use with this proposal (especially at Project Site # 2) since both
will need new transmission lines to access the rail belt grid and good access roads.
If the mine project proceeds it may lag this project by several years due to the
complexities of permitting both a mine and coal-fired power plant.
vi) Subsistence Hunting and Gathering
Hunting, fishing, and berry picking are important subsistence activities for many
Alaskans, both native and non-native. Organically grown caribou, moose, and
bison are preferred food for many local residents, and the raising of these foods
involved no fossil fuel use and no changes to the natural landscape were required
(e.g., conversion to farmland). Although hunting with firearms is not a use
compatible with the operation of the wind farm (stray bullets could cause serious
damage), berry picking certainly could be. Fishing opportunities are unlikely to
exist near the wind farm but would not be affected in any case.
vii) Recreational Activities
Recreational outdoor activities such as camping, hiking, mountain climbing,
sightseeing, and bicycling are popular attractions in the general area of the eastern
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Alaska Range along the Richardson Highway. Others enjoy driving snow
machines cross-country in the winter and using all -terrain vehicles during the
summer.
viii) Potential Wind Farm Development
Meteorological investigations, wind turbine construction, and operation of the
wind farm would add to man's cumulative impact in the area. However, the
overall environmental, social, national, and international benefits from the
operation of this wind farm (reduced fossil fuel consumption, cleaner air, local job
creation, and reducing America's dependence on foreign oil and gas, reduced
greenhouse gas emissions) should more than justify the local impact from its
operation.
Operation of the wind turbines will require periodic access to the towers for
routine preventive maintenance, and for specific repairs.
6) Consultation and Coordination
i) Persons and Agencies Consulted
Bureau of Land Management, Anchorage Field Office
Jeff D. Johnson — Realty Specialist i05iohnsgak.bhn.gov
Rodney Huffman —Group Manager rdney huffmanbak.blm. gov
Bureau of Land Management, Glenallen Field Office
Brenda Becker, Realty Specialist Lead bbeckergak.blm.gov
Kari Rogers, Biologist k05rogergak.blm.gov
Randy Wagner, Realty Specialist rwagner@ak.blm.gov
Joseph Hart, Realty Specialist Joseph_ Hart@ak.blm.gov
Ramone Baccus McCoy, Field Manager rmccoy@ak.blm.gov
Bureau of Land Management, Fairbanks District Office
Nancy Whicker, Realty Specialist Nancy Whicker(agak.blm.gov
Ft Wainwright Realty Office — Cathi Moody, Point of Contact — Interior Bases
Eielson AFB Realty Office — Barb Larweth, Point of Contact — Ft Greely MDA
ii) List of Preparers
David W. Lappi, LAPP Resources, Inc.
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') Bibliography
AWS TrueWind, March 2006, Wind Resource Map of Alaska at:
http://www.awstruewind.coin/
Alaska Department of Fish and Game web site: various technical publications.
Alaska Department of Natural Resources, 1985, revised 1991, Tanana Basin Area Plan
for State Lands, 239 pages, at:
http://www.dnr.state.ak.us/mlw/plannin /g areaplans/tanana/index.cfm
Alaska Department of Natural Resources, March 16, 2006 Land Ownership GIS Layer.
Belowich, M.A., and Lappi, D.W., February 2006, Coal Exploration Permit Application
for Coal Lease ADL 539639 Jarvis Creek Coal Mine, Alaska Earth Sciences, Inc. report
for Alaska Power & Telephone Company, 69 pages.
Johnson, Richard N., Radar -Absorbing Material: A Passive Role in An Active Scenario,
The International Countermeasure Handbook, 1 lth Edition at:
htti)://www.randf com/ramapriaas.html.
U.S. Army Alaska - Department of the Army, March 2006, Supplemental Draft
Environmental Impact Statement for the Construction and Operation of a Battle Area
Complex and Combined Arms Collective Training Facility within U.S. Army Training
Lands in Alaska, at:
http://www.usarak.anny.mil/conservation/BAX CACTF SDEIS.htm
US Army Alaska Web site at:
http://www.usarak.gl:My.mil/conservation/files/DTA%20draftl.pdf
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