News.bytes Extra, issue 448 

BLM holds meeting, extends comment period on Walker Ridge proposed wind power project

About 40 members of the public attended meetings in Lakeport and Colusa Sept. 9 and 10 to provide comments on issues to be considered in reviewing a proposed wind project on Walker Ridge.

Scoping comments for the Environmental Impact Statement will be accepted until Oct. 13 on the project, located in Lake and Colusa counties. (text continues below)

After the presentations, attendees view posters detailing the project and speak with presenters.

AltaGas Renewable Energy Pacific, Inc. has applied for a right-of-way (ROW) authorization covering 8,157 acres on public lands for a 70-megawatt wind energy project with an interconnection to the Pacific Gas & Electric's 115-kilovolt (kV) distribution system.

As proposed by the company, the wind project could include 29 to 42 wind turbine generators, an underground electrical collection system, a substation, a 115-kV overhead transmission line, an interconnect station, an operations and maintenance building, and access roads.

Information on the status of the proposal at http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/ukiah.html. Additional opportunities for public participation and formal comment will occur when the draft EIS is issued.

For further information and/or to have your name added to the mailing list, contact Bethney Lefebvre, Ukiah Field Office, 2550 North State St., Ukiah, Calif., 95482, phone (707)-468-4000, fax (707) 468-4027, or email ukiahwindeis@ca.blm.gov.

BLM has started a potential list of issues to be addressed in the analysis at a minimum, including social and economic impacts; traffic impacts; ground and surface water quantity and quality impacts; plant and animal species impacts, including special status species; impacts to cultural resources; and visual resource impacts.

BLM Ukiah Field Office Manager Rich Burns gives a project overview at the meeting in Lakeport.

- David Christy, BLM Central California District, 9/14/10

BLM-California News.bytes, issue 448