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Экология ВИЭ / СЭС / Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement for Solar Energy Development.pdf
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1guidance. It would not adopt programmatic environmental guidance with recommended

2 environmental best management practices and mitigation measures that could be applied to all 3 DOE-supported solar projects.

4

5

62.3.2 Action Alternative—DOE’s Proposed Programmatic Environmental Guidance

7

(DOE Preferred Alternative)

8

 

9As described in the Draft Solar PEIS and the Supplement to the Draft, under the proposed

10action (action alternative), DOE would adopt programmatic environmental guidance, which it

11would use to further integrate environmental considerations into its analysis and selection of

12proposed solar projects. In the Final Programmatic EIS, DOE has identified the proposed action

13(action alternative) as its preferred alternative. Early consideration of this guidance, especially

14both in project planning and development, could substantially streamline the project-specific

15NEPA review, permitting processes, and community interactions. DOE application of this

16guidance is limited to those actions where DOE has authority for a federal decision-making role.

17DOE’s proposed programmatic environmental guidance is presented in Sections 2.3.2.1

18through 2.3.2.11.

19

 

 

 

20

 

 

 

21

2.3.2.1 General Mitigation Measures

 

22

 

 

 

23

• Consider siting facilities in predetermined solar development zones (e.g., an

 

24

SEZ designated by the BLM) in order to assist in the sharing of technologies,

25

resources, and data to ensure a more detailed understanding of environmental

26

resources, to facilitate consistency with land use planning and zoning

 

27

designations, and to make use of existing infrastructure (e.g., access to

 

28

transmission equipment and lines).

 

 

29

 

 

 

30

• Include in early correspondence between the applicant and appropriate

 

31

permitting or interested government agencies, preliminary project designs,

 

32

planned use of new technologies, PODs, and related information in sufficient

 

33

detail to allow adequate evaluation of potential impacts.

 

34

 

 

 

35

• Develop a thorough understanding of all applicable federal, state, and local

 

36

environmental regulatory requirements, processes, consultations, and

 

37

interactions.

 

 

38

 

 

 

39

• Make early contact with local officials, regulators, and inspectors to explore

 

40

all applicable regulations and address concerns unique to solar power

 

41

generation projects.

 

 

42

 

 

 

43

• Conduct early project development discussions with potential energy users to

44

identify how energy production can be transmitted to load centers and

 

45

increase the ability to finance projects.

 

46

 

 

 

 

Final Solar PEIS

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July 2012

1• Be aware of possible preand post-construction environmental monitoring

2

through agency and public interactions.

3

 

4

 

5

2.3.2.2 Institutional and Public Outreach

6

 

7• Emphasize early identification of, and communication and coordination with,

8

stakeholders, including, but not limited to, federal, state, and local agencies;

 

9

special interest groups; Native American tribes and organizations; elected

 

10

officials; and concerned citizens.

 

 

11

 

 

 

12

• Consider holding periodic public update meetings and/or hosting a Web site

 

13

with project and contact information.

 

14

 

 

 

15

• Consider providing renewable energy public relations and scientific program

 

16

speaker support and input to community educational programs, other interest

 

17

groups, and the media.

 

 

18

 

 

 

19

 

 

 

20

2.3.2.3 Land Use

 

 

21

 

 

 

22

• Maximize the use of previously disturbed lands.

 

23

 

 

 

24

• Avoid land requiring deforestation/de-shrubbing and/or significant slope

 

25

leveling or grading.

 

 

26

 

 

 

27

• Avoid siting projects on prime or unique farmland and rangelands.

 

28

 

 

 

29

• Avoid impacts on special use lands such as NPS lands, Wilderness Areas,

 

30

National Wildlife Refuge System lands, ACECs, Wildlife Management Areas,

31

National Historic and Scenic Trails, traditional cultural properties and other

 

32

culturally sensitive sites, critical habitat for special status species, and military

33

operations areas and other regulated military lands.

 

34

 

 

 

35

• Consult with local agencies regarding potential impacts of developing within,

36

adjacent, or close to state or local special use areas such as parks.

 

37

 

 

 

38

• Use technologies and facility layouts and designs that will minimize land

 

39

disturbance at a site.

 

 

40

 

 

 

41

• Avoid or minimize the use of lands that would adversely affect high-use

 

42

recreational areas such as hiking, camping, and off-highway vehicle (OHV)

 

43

use locales.

 

 

44

 

 

 

45

• Consider potential direct and indirect impacts on private lands from project

 

46

siting.

 

 

 

Final Solar PEIS

2-59

July 2012

1• Ensure lands considered are appropriately zoned for project development

2

(e.g., industrial or energy development uses). Avoid lands identified as

3

incompatible for renewable energy development by local governments.

4

 

5• Solar development in close proximity to airports will likely trigger the need

6

for consultation with the FAA; development in proximity to military lands

 

7

will likely trigger the need for consultation with the appropriate DoD

 

8

organization(s).

 

 

9

 

 

 

10

 

 

 

11

2.3.2.4 Water Resources and Erosion Control

 

12

 

 

 

13

• Prioritize technologies that minimize water use.

 

14

 

 

 

15

• Promote the sustainable use of water resources through appropriate

 

16

technology selection and implementation of conservation practices that

 

17

protect and preserve the function, acreage, and quality of the existing natural

 

18

water bodies (including streams, wetlands, ephemeral washes, microphyll

 

19

woodlands, and floodplains, as well as groundwater aquifers).

 

20

 

 

 

21

• Consider the use of rain, gray, and/or other recycled water for facility

 

22

operations, including plant cooling, steam generation, irrigation, maintenance,

23

and dust suppression.

 

 

24

 

 

 

25

• Avoid locations that would involve impacts on surface water bodies,

 

26

ephemeral washes, playas, microphyll woodlands, and natural drainage areas

 

27

(including groundwater recharge areas).

 

28

 

 

 

29

• To the extent practicable, minimize the use of and impacts on surface and

 

30

groundwater resources (including sole source aquifers) during construction

 

31

and operations.

 

 

32

 

 

 

33

• Avoid groundwater resource project requirements that would result in

 

34

overappropriation or overdrafting of any groundwater basin.

 

35

 

 

 

36

• Identify source capacity, prior water rights, and adequacy of capacity to serve

37

project requirements and dependent biological resources in the area.

 

38

 

 

 

39

• Avoid or minimize the use of land within an identified 100-year floodplain or

40

identify engineering controls to mitigate potential impacts.

 

41

 

 

 

42

• Avoid locating facilities on steep slopes, in alluvial fans, and in other areas

 

43

prone to landslides or flash floods, or within gullies or washes.

 

44

 

 

 

45

• Compare preliminary site grading, drainage, erosion, and sediment control

 

46

plans with applicable local jurisdiction requirements.

 

 

Final Solar PEIS

2-60

July 2012

1• Consult federal, state, and local “water-wise” guidelines, as applicable, for

2

project development in the arid southwest.

3

 

4• Coordinate with the USACE to discuss the reach and extent of waters of the

5

United States on the proposed project site. As appropriate, present a

 

6

reasonable range of on-site and off-site alternatives and an analysis that

 

7

evaluates alternatives to avoid impacts on waters in compliance with

 

8

Section 404 of the CWA.

 

 

9

 

 

 

10

 

 

 

11

2.3.2.5 Biological Resources

 

 

12

 

 

 

13

• Review federal and state databases and technical reports for regulatory

 

14

requirements for protection of special status animal and plant species and

 

15

habitats.

 

 

16

 

 

 

17

• Begin early consultation processes with the USFWS and state environmental

 

18

and wildlife agencies for identification of potential issues, and ensure ongoing

19

communication in the course of project development.

 

20

 

 

 

21

• Locate project facilities and ancillary components so that environmentally

 

22

sensitive areas (e.g., riparian habitats, streams, wetlands, critical wildlife

 

23

habitats, and migration corridors, and other protected areas) are avoided.

 

24

 

 

 

25

• Consider glint, glare, reflection, and linear characteristics of project

 

26

components on bird and terrestrial animal movements in the project area.

 

27

 

 

 

28

• Develop biological survey protocols and plans in consultation with regulatory

29

agencies to ensure that specific regional and other requirements are met.

 

30

 

 

 

31

• Consider potential impacts on indigenous and special status plant species

 

32

(including State Natural Heritage ranks G1 and G2), while addressing controls

33

for non-native/invasive species and noxious weeds.

 

34

 

 

 

35

• Consider reclamation and conservation initiatives for disturbed lands after

 

36

construction.

 

 

37

 

 

 

38

• Consider developing habitat restoration and management plans and

 

39

compensatory mitigation and monitoring plans.

 

40

 

 

 

41

 

 

 

42

2.3.2.6 Air Quality

 

 

43

 

 

 

44

• Identify applicable federal, state, and local air quality management agencies

 

45

and follow requirements and application procedures.

 

46

 

 

 

 

Final Solar PEIS

2-61

July 2012