64296 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 201 / Tuesday, October 19, 2010 / Notices 

Educational Agencies or Local 

Educational Agencies. 

Total Estimated Number of Annual 

Responses: 18,503. 

Total Estimated Annual Burden 

Hours: 886. 

Abstract: The Schools and Staffing 

Survey (SASS) is an in-depth, nationally 

representative survey of first through 

twelfth grade public and private school 

teachers, principals, schools, library 

media centers, and school districts. For 

public school districts, principals, 

schools, teachers and school libraries, 

the survey estimates are staterepresentative. For private school 

principals, schools, and teachers, the 

survey estimates are representative of 

private school types. There are two 

additional components within SASS’s 

4-year data collection cycle: The 

Teacher Follow-up Survey and the 

Principal Follow-up Survey, which are 

conducted a year after the SASS main 

collection. SASS respondents include 

public and private school principals, 

teachers, and school and school district 

staff. Topics covered include 

characteristics of teachers, principals, 

schools, school libraries, teacher 

training opportunities, retention, 

retirement, hiring, and shortages. This 

submission for SASS 2011/12 requests 

OMB approval for preliminary field 

activities to take place prior to data 

collection in the fall of 2011, including 

(a) submitting SASS research 

applications to special districts that 

require prior research approval before 

their schools and a coordinator can be 

recruited for the study; (b) conducting a 

calling operation to verify whether a 

subset of districts are one-school 

districts and will require receiving a 

combined school- and district-level 

questionnaire; (c) contacting all of the 

remaining districts, asking whether they 

are willing to provide a Teacher Listing 

Form at a later time and to request email 

addresses for sampled school principals; 

and (d) mailing of a pre-contact letter to 

sample schools to verify the mailing 

address of the school and to notify the 

school about the upcoming data 

collection. 

Requests for copies of the information 

collection submission for OMB review 

may be accessed from the RegInfo.gov 

Web site at http://www.reginfo.gov/ 

public/do/PRAMain or from the 

Department’s Web site at http:// 

edicsweb.ed.gov, by selecting the 

‘‘Browse Pending Collections’’ link and 

by clicking on link number 4376. When 

you access the information collection, 

click on ‘‘Download Attachments’’ to 

view. Written requests for information 

should be addressed to U.S. Department 

of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, 

SW., LBJ, Washington, DC 20202–4537. 

Requests may also be electronically 

mailed to the Internet address 

ICDocketMgr@ed.gov or faxed to 202– 

401–0920. Please specify the complete 

title of the information collection and 

OMB Control Number when making 

your request. 

Individuals who use a 

telecommunications device for the deaf 

(TDD) may call the Federal Information 

Relay Service (FIRS) at 1–800–877– 

8339. 

[FR Doc. 2010–26290 Filed 10–18–10; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4000–01–P 

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). 

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 

dfcorkran@bpa.gov; 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 

Matthew.McMillen@hq.doe.gov. 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 AskNEPA@hq.doe.gov. 

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), 

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Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 201 / Tuesday, October 19, 2010 / Notices 64297 

1 In July 2008, CSF received a Site Certificate 

from EFSC that authorized CSF to construct and 

operate the Wind Project. 

2The BPA July 2008 ROD contains a full 

description of the interconnection and associated 

environmental considerations. 

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

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: 

Facility Original 

turbines 

Change in 

turbines 

Revised total 

turbines 

Nameplate 

rating 

Facility 

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

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; 

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64298 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 201 / Tuesday, October 19, 2010 / Notices 

• 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 

mstockstill on DSKH9S0YB1PROD with NOTICES

Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 201 / Tuesday, October 19, 2010 / Notices 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 urophasianus) ................................. Candidate ....................................... State Sensitive—Vulnerable. 

Bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) .................................................... None ............................................... Threatened. 

Washington ground squirrel (Spermophilus washingtoni) ........................ Candidate ....................................... Endangered. 

Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis) ............................................................... Threatened ..................................... None. 

Gray wolf (Canis lupus) ............................................................................ Endangered .................................... Endangered. 

Grizzly bear (Ursus arctos horribilis) ........................................................ Threatened ..................................... None. 

Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) ........................................ Threatened ..................................... Threatened. 

Steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) ........................................................... Threatened ..................................... State Sensitive—Vulnerable. 

Sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) .................................................. Endangered .................................... None. 

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64300 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 201 / Tuesday, October 19, 2010 / Notices 

3Minnesota 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. 

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 onsite 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 noisecontrol 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. 

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 

mstockstill on DSKH9S0YB1PROD with NOTICES

Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 201 / Tuesday, October 19, 2010 / Notices 64301 

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. 

5Energy Information Administration Report No. 

DOE/EIA 0573 (2007). 

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. 

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. 

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 

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY 

Federal Energy Regulatory 

Commission 

[Docket No. IC11–537–000] 

Commission Information Collection 

Activities (FERC–537); Comment 

Request; Extension 

October 8, 2010. 

AGENCY: Federal Energy Regulatory 

Commission. 

ACTION: Notice of proposed information 

collection and request for comments. 

SUMMARY: In compliance with the 

requirements of section 3506(c)(2)(A) of 

the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 

44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A) (2006), (Pub. L. 

104–13), the Federal Energy Regulatory 

Commission (Commission or FERC) is 

soliciting public comment on the 

proposed information collection 

described below. 

DATES: Comments in consideration of 

the collection of information are due 

December 20, 2010. 

ADDRESSES: Comments may be filed 

either electronically (eFiled) or in paper 

format, and should refer to Docket No. 

IC11–537–000. Documents must be 

prepared in an acceptable filing format 

and in compliance with Commission 

submission guidelines at http:// 

www.ferc.gov/help/submissionguide.asp. eFiling instructions are 

available at: http://www.ferc.gov/docsfiling/efiling.asp. First time users must 

follow eRegister instructions at: http://

www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/ 

eregistration.asp, to establish a user 

name and password before eFiling. The 

Commission will send an automatic 

acknowledgement to the sender’s e-mail 

address upon receipt of eFiled 

comments. Commenters making an 

eFiling should not make a paper filing. 

Commenters that are not able to file 

electronically must send an original of 

their comments to: Federal Energy 

Regulatory Commission, Secretary of the 

Commission, 888 First Street, NE., 

Washington, DC 20426. 

Users interested in receiving 

automatic notification of activity in this 

docket may do so through eSubscription 

at http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/

esubscription.asp. In addition, all 

comments and FERC issuances may be 

viewed, printed or downloaded 

remotely through FERC’s eLibrary at 

http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/ 

elibrary.asp, by searching on Docket No. 

IC11–537. For user assistance, contact 

FERC Online Support by e-mail at 

ferconlinesupport@ferc.gov, or by phone 

at: (866) 208–3676 (toll-free), or (202) 

502–8659 for TTY. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: Ellen Brown 

may be reached by e-mail at 

DataClearance@FERC.gov, telephone at 

(202) 502–8663, and fax at (202) 273– 

0873. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 

information collected under the 

requirements of FERC–537, ‘‘Gas 

Pipeline Certificates: Construction, 

Acquisition, and Abandonment’’ (OMB 

Control No. 1902–0060), is used by the 

Commission to implement the statutory 

provisions of the Natural Gas Policy Act 

of 1978 (NGPA), 15 U.S.C. 3301–3432, 

and the Natural Gas Act (NGA) (15 

U.S.C. 717–717w). Under the NGA, 

natural gas pipeline companies must 

obtain Commission authorization to 

undertake the construction or extension 

of any facilities, or to acquire or operate 

any such facilities or extensions in 

accordance with Section 7(c) of the 

NGA. A natural gas company must also 

obtain Commission approval under 

Section 7(b) of the NGA prior to 

abandoning any jurisdictional facility or 

service. Under the NGA and the NGPA, 

interstate and intrastate pipelines must 

also obtain authorization for certain 

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