Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 108 / Monday, June 5, 2000 / Notices 35625

‘‘strings,’’ with generally approximately

200 to 300 feet between turbines in each

string. FPL Energy is considering using

either 660-kilowatt (kW) turbines

similar to those used at the existing

Vansycle Wind Project, or larger, up to

1,300-kW (1.3 MW) turbines if needed

to meet the demand for power. If the

660-kW turbines are used, the turbines

will be about 165 feet tall at the turbine

hub, and about 245 feet tall including

the turbine blades. The diameter of the

circle covered by the rotors will be

about 154 feet. Each turbine will be

mounted on a tubular steel tower

installed on a concrete foundation

approximately 20 feet in diameter. The

pad will be buried up to 15 feet

underground. If the 1,300-kW turbines

are needed, all these dimensions will be

somewhat greater. Agricultural activities

generally can take place directly

adjacent to the turbine pads.

The turbine towers will be tubular

steel structures. The turbines will be

linked to each other using underground

electrical cables. Power from all

turbines in the project will be

transmitted by a combination of

underground and overhead cables to

similar strings and then to a proposed

substation to be located in Washington.

The fenced substation site will occupy

approximately one to two acres. From

the substation site, power from the

project will be transmitted by new

above-ground lines (likely H-frame

wood towers) to interconnect with one

or more existing transmission lines:

about eight to ten miles to a 115-kilovolt

(kV) BPA transmission line located

north of the Walla Walla River and/or a

230-kV PacifiCorp transmission line

located two miles to the west of the

project (south of the Walla Walla River).

Other facilities required as part of the

project are access roads, an operations

and maintenance (O&M) building, and a

water tank. Most of the access roads will

consist of improved, graveled, existing

farm roads, with some construction of

new graveled roads in areas where

usable farm roads do not exist. The

O&M building will probably be located

near Hatchgrade Road to provide good

visibility of the turbines.

FPL Energy proposes to begin

construction in late 2000 or early 2001.

The Stateline Wind Project is scheduled

to begin commercial operation late in

2001, and would operate for at least 25

years.

Process to Date

FPL Energy has filed an application

for a Conditional Use Permit from Walla

Walla County, Washington, Regional

Planning. Oregon Department of Energy

has received and approved FPL Energy’s

request for Expedited Review of FPL

Energy’s Application for a Site

Certificate. In addition, the Oregon

Department of Energy and the Oregon

Department of Fish and Wildlife have

suggested that the EIS address both the

Stateline Wind Project (at a site-specific

level) and a broader Potential Wind

Development Area (at a broad,

programmatic level). This Area was the

subject of a baseline avian study

conducted in the mid-1990’s. Some

environmental analyses have already

been conducted by FPL Energy for the

Stateline Wind Project. Surveys for

sensitive plant and animal species were

conducted in the spring of 1999 and

surveys for sensitive animal species and

cultural resources were conducted in

the spring of 2000. Scoping will help

identify what additional studies will be

required.

Alternatives Proposed for

Consideration

The alternatives include the proposed

action (executing a power purchase

agreement with FPL Energy for up to

300 MW of electrical energy from the

proposed Stateline Wind Project) and

the No Action alternative. In addition, at

least two transmission alternatives will

be examined in the EIS.

Identification of Environmental Issues

For other wind projects, noise, visual

impacts, cultural resources, and impacts

to sensitive plant and animal species

have been identified as potential

environmental issues. The scoping

process will help identify the range of

environmental issues that should be

addressed in this EIS. Maps and further

information are available from BPA at

the address above.

When completed, the Draft EIS will be

circulated for review and comment, and

BPA will hold public comment

meetings for the Draft EIS. BPA will

consider and respond to comments

received on the Draft EIS in the Final

EIS, expected to be published in late

2000 or early 2001. BPA’s subsequent

decision will be documented in a

Record of Decision (ROD).

The EIS will satisfy the requirements

of the NEPA and the Washington State

Environmental Policy Act (SEPA). The

State of Oregon will coordinate its

Energy Facility Siting process with the

NEPA/SEPA process.

Issued in Portland, Oregon, on May 25,

2000.

Terence G. Esvelt,

Acting Administrator and Chief Executive

Officer.

[FR Doc. 00–13965 Filed 6–2–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6450–01–P

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Bonneville Power Administration

Coeur d’Alene Tribal Trout Production

Facility

AGENCY: Bonneville Power

Administration (BPA), Department of

Energy (DOE).

ACTION: Notice of floodplain and

wetlands involvement.

SUMMARY: This notice announces BPA’s

proposal to fund construction of a

supplementation hatchery facility for

the Coeur d’Alene Tribe in floodplain

and wetlands located in Kootenai and

Benewah Counties, Idaho. In accordance

with DOE regulations for compliance

with floodplain and wetlands

environmental review requirements,

BPA will prepare a floodplain and

wetlands assessment. The assessment

will be included in the environmental

assessment being prepared for the

proposed project in accordance with the

requirements of the National

Environmental Policy Act. A floodplain

statement of findings will be included

in any finding of no significant impact

that may be issued following the

completion of the environmental

assessment.

DATES: Comments are due to the address

below no later than June 20, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments to

Communications, Bonneville Power

Administration—KC–7, P.O. Box 12999,

Portland, Oregon 97212. Internet

address: comment@bpa.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Eric

N. Powers—KECN–4, Bonneville Power

Administration, P.O. Box 3621,

Portland, Oregon, 97208–3621, phone

number 503–230–5823, fax number

503–230–5699.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The

project would involve construction of a

fish hatchery and two acclimation

ponds. The hatchery would be located

within the 100-year floodplain of Rock

Creek (T47N, R4W, Section 31); the

acclimation sites would affect wetlands

associated with the tributaries of

Benewah Creek (T45N, R3W, Section

17) and Alder Creek (T45N, R3W,

Section 33).

Maps and further information are

available from BPA at the address

above.

Issued in Portland, Oregon, on May 25,

2000.

Thomas C. McKinney,

NEPA Compliance Officer.

[FR Doc. 00–13968 Filed 6–2–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6450–01–U