The Power Company of Wyoming LLC (PCW) has proposed to build the Chokecherry and Sierra Madre Wind Energy Project (CCSM) in south-central Wyoming. When fully constructed, the CCSM Project may be the largest wind farm in the United States, with up to 1,000 turbines and the capacity to generate enough electricity for up to 1 million homes.
There may be eagle mor-tality due to the operation of the CCSM Project. Take, including killing, of eagles is prohibited by the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act. However, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) has been delegated the authority to issue eagle take permits, including programmatic permits such as for a wind farm. A programmatic take permit authorizes the
take of eagles where the take is compatible with the preservation of eagles. The USFWS will issue programmatic permits for such take only after an applicant has committed to undertake all practical measures to avoid and minimize such take and mitigate anticipated take to the maximum extent achievable. We expect to receive an application for a programmatic eagle take permit from PCW for Phase I Wind Turbine Development (500 turbines).
In 2012, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) signed the Record of Decision for the CCSM Project in which the BLM determined that more than 200,000 acres within the CCSM Project site are suitable for wind energy development subject to the requirements described under the Selected Alter-native. The USFWS has an independent statutory responsibility under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to evaluate its own actions related to the CCSM Project,
Fact SheetEnvironmental Impact
Statement (EIS) Process
Publish Notice of IntentDecember 2013
60-Day Scoping PeriodDecember 2013-February 2014
Publish Draft EISJune 2014
45-Day Public Comment on Draft EIS
June-August 2014
Publish Final EISDecember 2014
30-Day Public Review of Final EIS
December 2014-January 2015
Record of Decision SignedFebruary 2015
Sinclair
Saratoga
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RawlinsExit 221
Chokecherry
Sierra Madre
North Platte River
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SageCreek
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Wyoming
Cheyenne
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RockSprings
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Casper±0 25
Miles
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R 89 W R 88 W R 86 W R 85 W
R 89 W R 88 W R 86 W R 85 W
Surface OwnershipBureau of LandManagement
No warranty is made by the Bureau of Land Management for use of the data for purposes not intended by the BLM
Private
State
U.S. Forest Service
T 17 N T 16 N
Note: Wind turbine pad locations shown on this map have not been finalized. Final wind turbine locations will be determined based on coordination with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Wind Turbine FacilitiesInitial Disturbance
Road Rock Quarry
West Sinclair Rail Facility
Haul Road and Facilities for Phase I(Haul Road for Phase II not shown)
CCSM Wind Energy Project 2012Record of Decision Boundary
CCSM Wind Energy Project Phase I Wind Development Area
CCSM Wind Energy Project Phase II Wind Development Area
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Chokecherry and Sierra MadreWind Energy Project
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Chokecherry and Sierra Madre Wind Energy ProjectU.S. Fish & Wildlife ServiceMigratory Birds ProgramP.O. Box 25486, DFCDenver, CO 80225
RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
namely the possible issuance of an eagle take permit. We will review BLM’s 2012 FEIS and may incorporate by reference the applicable portions of it as part of our EIS.
We would like your input as we conduct scoping for our NEPA review. After reviewing the BLM FEIS, are there additional topics that you would like us to consider related to the issuance of an eagle take permit? We will use your input to help craft our draft EIS. We will be holding two scoping meetings (see right) to provide you an opportunity to learn about the project, provide comments, and help us identify potential issues. We encourage you to submit your ideas and concerns to us at one of the scoping meetings or through emails or letters to:
U.S. Fish & Wildlife ServiceMigratory Birds ProgramDr. Michael Dixon, Assistant NEPA Project ManagerP.O. Box 25486, DFCDenver, CO 80225Email: [email protected]: http://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/wind/
ChokecherrySierraMadre/index.html
Before including your address, phone number, email, or other personal identifying information in your comment, please be aware that your entire comment including that information may be publicly available. While you may request that we withhold your personal information from public view, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.
Public Scoping Meetings
Monday December 16, 2013
Jeffrey Center315 W. Pine St.Rawlins, WY
Tuesday December 17, 2013
Platte Valley Community Center
210 W. Elm Ave.Saratoga, WY
Meetings will be held from 4-6:30 p.m.
with presentations at 4:30 and 5:30 p.m.
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