E-mail Alert
 
BLM Issues Environmental Assessment for Infrastructure Components for the CCSM Project

August 11, 2014 — The Bureau of Land Management Rawlins Field Office has released the first of two Environmental Assessments for Phase I of the Chokecherry and Sierra Madre Wind Energy Project, which is a 1,000-turbine wind farm being developed by Power Company of Wyoming LLC.

This first document is the Environmental Assessment for Infrastructure Components, along with a draft Finding of No Significant Impact. The EA includes an analysis and evaluation of the site-specific plans of development for the wind project's Phase I Haul Road and Facilities, West Sinclair Rail Facility and Road Rock Quarry. The second EA, which analyzes the site-specific plan of development for Phase I Wind Turbine Development consisting of 500 turbines, is anticipated to be completed later this year.

Below is the text of a BLM news release issued today about the first completed EA and two upcoming public meetings in Carbon County.

 
BLM Rawlins Seeks Public Comment on CCSM
Infrastructure Components EA
Public Meetings Scheduled

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Rawlins Field Office is seeking public comment on the environmental assessment (EA) of infrastructure components for the Chokecherry and Sierra Madre (CCSM) Wind Energy Project and draft finding of no significant impact (FONSI).

This EA is tiered to the 2012 CCSM Wind Energy Project Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and Record of Decision (ROD), which approved the 219,707-acre project site as suitable for wind energy development, subject to additional review of individual plans of development to ensure compliance with overall ROD requirements.

The EA analyzes potential impacts from the site-specific plans of development for the haul road and facilities, road rock quarry and West Sinclair rail facility. Based on the analysis, no new or significant impacts were identified beyond those already disclosed in the EIS.

The CCSM project consists of two wind development areas with 1,000 turbines and ancillary facilities south of Rawlins, Wyo. Each wind turbine will generate up to three megawatts (MW) of electricity, with a total project capacity of up to 3,000 MW — enough energy to power nearly one million homes. Turbines will be constructed in two phases over an estimated eight-year span.

The BLM has scheduled two open houses for the public to ask questions and submit comments about the EA and draft FONSI. They will be held from 4:30 to 7 p.m., Aug. 25, Platte Valley Community Center, 210 W. Elm Ave., Saratoga, Wyo.; and Aug. 26, Jeffrey Center, 315 W. Pine St., Rawlins, Wyo. Each meeting will include a presentation at 5:30 p.m.

Written comments on the EA and draft FONSI will be accepted until Sept. 10. Comments may be emailed to BLM_WY_PCW_windfarm@blm.gov with "Infrastructure EA Comment" in the subject line; faxed to 307-328-4224; or mailed or delivered to BLM Rawlins Field Office, Attn: Heather Schultz, CCSM Infrastructure EA, 1300 N. Third St., P.O. Box 2407, Rawlins WY 82301.

Before including your address, phone number, email address or other personal identifying information in your comment, be advised that your entire comment — including your personal identifying information — may be made publicly available at any time. While you may ask us to withhold from public review your personal identifying information, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.

For more information, please visit https://www.blm.gov/programs/planning-and-nepa/plans-in-development/wyoming/ccsm or contact Heather Schultz at 307-328-4215.

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