Swan Lake North pumped storage project--FERC project no. 13318-003, Oregon : final environmental impact statement for hydropower license

2019·9.4 MB·English

by  United States. Division of Hydropower Licensing

FERC/EIS-0282

FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT
FOR HYDROPOWER LICENSE

Swan Lake North Pumped Storage Project—FERC Project No. 13318-003
Oregon

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
Office of Energy Projects
Division of Hydropower Licensing
888 First Street, NE
Washington, D.C. 20426

January 2019

FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20426
OFFICE OF ENERGY PROJECTS
To the Agency or Individual Addressed:
Reference: Final Environmental Impact Statement
Attached is the final environmental impact statement (final EIS) for the proposed
Swan Lake North Pumped Storage Project (No. 13318-003), that would be located about
11 miles northeast of Klamath Falls in Klamath County, Oregon.
This final EIS documents the view of governmental agencies, non-governmental
organizations, affected Indian tribes, the public, the license applicant, and Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission (Commission) staff. It contains staff evaluations of the
applicant’s proposal and alternatives for licensing the project.
Before the Commission makes a licensing decision, it will take into account all
concerns relevant to the public interest. The final EIS will be part of the record from
which the Commission will make its decision. The final EIS was sent to the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency and made available to the public on or about January
25, 2019.
Copies of the final EIS are available for review in the Commission’s Public
Reference Branch, Room 2A, located at 888 First Street, N.E., Washington D.C. 20426.
The final EIS also may be viewed on the Internet at www.ferc.gov/docs-
filing/elibrary.asp. Please call [phone] for assistance.

Attachment: Final Environmental Impact Statement
COVER SHEET
a. Title: Licensing the Swan Lake North Pumped Storage Project, FERC
Project No. 13318-003.
b. Subject: Final Environmental Impact Statement
c. Lead Agency: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
d. Abstract: The proposed 393.3-megawatt Swan Lake North Pumped Storage
Project (FERC No. 13318) would be located about 11 miles
northeast of the city of Klamath Falls, Klamath County, Oregon.
The project would occupy 730 acres of federal land administered
by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Bureau of
Reclamation, state lands, and private lands. The project would be a
closed-loop system, meaning it would not be connected to or use
any existing surface body of water for project operations. Initial fill
water and long-term refill due to evaporative losses would come
from groundwater which would be supplied by the local
groundwater agricultural pumping system and delivered to the
lower reservoir via an existing underground agricultural irrigation
network.
Swan Lake North Hydro LLC (applicant) proposes to develop or
finalize plans to protect and mitigate the environmental effects of
project construction and operation on the following: soils, water
quality, wildlife and wildlife habitat, public safety, traffic,
aesthetics, and cultural resources.
Staff’s recommendation is to license the project as proposed, with
certain modifications and additional measures recommended by the
agencies.
e. Contact: Dianne Rodman
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
Office of Energy Projects
888 First Street, N.E.
Washington, D.C. 20426
[phone]

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f. Transmittal: This final environmental impact statement on an application to
construct and operate the Swan Lake North Pumped Storage
Project is being made available for public comment on or about
January 25, 2019, as required by the National Environmental
Policy Act of 19691 and the Commission’s Regulations
Implementing the National Environmental Policy Act (18 CFR
Part 380).

1 National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, amended (Pub. L. 91-190, 42 U.S.C.
4321–4347, January 1, 1970, as amended by Pub. L. 94-52, July 3, 1975, Pub. L. 94-83,
August 9, 1975, and Pub. L. 97-258, §4(b), September 13, 1982).
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FOREWORD
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission), pursuant to the
Federal Power Act (FPA)2 and the U.S. Department of Energy Organization Act3 is
authorized to issue licenses for up to 50 years for the construction and operation of non-
federal hydroelectric development subject to its jurisdiction, on the necessary conditions:
That the project adopted…shall be such as in the judgment of the Commission will
be best adapted to a comprehensive plan for improving or developing a waterway or
waterways for the use or benefit of interstate or foreign commerce, for the improvement
and utilization of water-power development, for the adequate protection, mitigation, and
enhancement of fish and wildlife (including related spawning grounds and habitat), and
for other beneficial public uses, including irrigation, flood control, water supply, and
recreational and other purposes referred to in section 4(e)…4
The Commission may require such other conditions not inconsistent with the FPA
as may be found necessary to provide for the various public interests to be served by the
project.5 Compliance with such conditions during the licensing period is required. The
Commission’s Rules of Practice and Procedure allow any person objecting to a licensee’s
compliance or noncompliance with such conditions to file a complaint noting the basis
for such objection for the Commission’s consideration.6

2 16 U.S.C. §791(a)-825r (2012), as amended by the Electric Consumers Protection
Act of 1986, Pub. L. 99-495 (1986), the Energy Policy Act of 1992, Pub. L. 102-486
(1992), and the Energy Policy Act of 2005, Pub. L. 109-58 (2005).
3 Pub. L. 95-91, 91 Stat. 556 (1977).
4 16 U.S.C. § 803(a) (2012).
5 16 U.S.C. § 803(g) (2012).
6 18 C.F.R. §385.206 (2018).
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
COVER SHEET .......................................................................................................................... iii
FOREWORD ................................................................................................................................. v
LIST OF FIGURES..................................................................................................................... ix
LIST OF TABLES ...................................................................................................................... xi
ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS............................................................................... xiii
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ........................................................................................................ xv
1.0 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................ 1
1.1 APPLICATION .................................................................................................... 1
1.2 PURPOSE OF ACTION AND NEED FOR POWER..................................... 1
1.2.1 Purpose of Action .................................................................................. 1
1.2.2 Need for Power ...................................................................................... 3
1.3 STATUTORY AND REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS ........................... 4
1.3.1 Federal Power Act ................................................................................. 4
1.3.1.1 Section 4(e) Conditions ...................................................... 4
1.3.1.2 10(j) Recommendations ...................................................... 4
1.3.2 Clean Water Act .................................................................................... 5
1.3.3 Endangered Species Act ....................................................................... 5
1.3.4 Coastal Zone Management Act............................................................ 6
1.3.5 National Historic Preservation Act...................................................... 6
1.3.6 Pacific Northwest Power Planning and Conservation Act ............... 7
1.3.7 Wild and Scenic Rivers Act ................................................................. 7
1.3.8 Federal Land Policy and Management Act ........................................ 8
1.4 PUBLIC REVIEW AND COMMENT.............................................................. 8
1.4.1 Scoping ................................................................................................... 8
1.4.2 Interventions........................................................................................... 9
1.4.3 Comments on the Application ........................................................... 10
1.4.4 Comments on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement ............ 10
1.5 TRIBAL CONSULTATION ............................................................................ 10
2.0 PROPOSED ACTION AND ALTERNATIVES ....................................................... 12
2.1 NO-ACTION ALTERNATIVE ....................................................................... 12
2.2 APPLICANT’S PROPOSAL............................................................................ 12
2.2.1 Project Facilities .................................................................................. 12
2.2.2 Project Safety ....................................................................................... 14
2.2.3 Project Operation ................................................................................. 14
2.2.4 Environmental Measures .................................................................... 15
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2.3 STAFF ALTERNATIVE .................................................................................. 18
2.4 ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED BUT ELIMINATED FROM
DETAILED ANALYSIS................................................................................... 21
2.4.1 Alternative Project Feature Design ................................................... 22
2.4.2 Alternative Transmission Line Configuration ................................. 22
3.0 ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS............................................................................... 27
3.1 GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE RIVER BASIN ................................. 27
3.2 SCOPE OF CUMULATIVE EFFECTS ANALYSIS ................................... 28
3.2.1 Geographic Scope................................................................................ 28
3.2.2 Temporal Scope ................................................................................... 29
3.3 PROPOSED ACTION AND ACTION ALTERNATIVES ......................... 29
3.3.1 Geologic and Soil Resources ............................................................. 29
3.3.1.1 Affected Environment....................................................... 29
3.3.1.2 Environmental Effects....................................................... 34
3.3.2 Water Resources .................................................................................. 39
3.3.2.1 Affected Environment....................................................... 39
3.3.2.2 Environmental Effects....................................................... 44
3.3.3 Fisheries Resources ............................................................................. 51
3.3.3.1 Affected Environment....................................................... 51
3.3.3.2 Environmental Effects....................................................... 52
3.3.3.3 Cumulative Effects ............................................................ 53
3.3.4 Terrestrial Resources........................................................................... 54
3.3.4.1 Affected Environment....................................................... 54
3.3.4.2 Environmental Effects....................................................... 66
3.3.4.3 Cumulative Effects ............................................................ 98
3.3.5 Threatened and Endangered Species............................................... 100
3.3.5.1 Affected Environment..................................................... 100
3.3.5.2 Environment Effects........................................................ 106
3.3.6 Recreation and Land Use.................................................................. 110
3.3.6.1 Affected Environment..................................................... 110
3.3.6.2 Environmental Effects..................................................... 115
3.3.7 Aesthetic Resources .......................................................................... 128
3.3.7.1 Affected Environment..................................................... 128
3.3.7.2 Environmental Effects..................................................... 142
3.3.7.3 Cumulative Effects .......................................................... 156
3.3.8 Cultural Resources............................................................................. 157
3.3.8.1 Affected Environment..................................................... 157
3.3.8.2 Environmental Effects..................................................... 168
3.3.8.3 Cumulative Effects .......................................................... 178
3.3.9 Socioeconomics ................................................................................. 178
3.3.9.1 Affected Environment..................................................... 178
3.3.9.2 Environmental Effects..................................................... 182
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3.3.10 Environmental Justice ....................................................................... 188
3.3.10.1 Affected Environment..................................................... 188
3.3.10.2 Environmental Effects..................................................... 189
3.3.11 Air Quality and Noise ....................................................................... 190
3.3.11.1 Affected Environment..................................................... 190
3.3.11.2 Environmental Effects..................................................... 195
3.4 NO-ACTION ALTERNATIVE ..................................................................... 203
4.0 DEVELOPMENTAL ANALYSIS ............................................................................ 204
4.1 POWER AND DEVELOPMENTAL BENEFITS OF THE PROJECT ... 204
4.2 COMPARISON OF ALTERNATIVES ........................................................ 207
4.2.1 No-action Alternative........................................................................ 208
4.2.2 Applicant’s Proposal ......................................................................... 208
4.2.3 Staff Alternative................................................................................. 208
4.3 COST OF ENVIRONMENTAL MEASURES ............................................ 209
5.0 CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS................................................... 224
5.1 COMPREHENSIVE DEVELOPMENT AND RECOMMENDED
ALTERNATIVE............................................................................................... 224
5.1.1 Measures Proposed by Swan Lake North Hydro........................... 224
5.1.2 Additional Measures Recommended by Staff ............................... 227
5.1.3 Measures Not Recommended by Staff ........................................... 242
5.2 UNAVOIDABLE ADVERSE EFFECTS ..................................................... 247
5.3 FISH AND WILDLIFE AGENCY RECOMMENDATIONS ................... 249
5.4 CONSISTENCY WITH COMPREHENSIVE PLANS .............................. 259
6.0 LITERATURE CITED ................................................................................................ 262
7.0 LIST OF PREPARERS ............................................................................................... 273
8.0 LIST OF RECIPIENTS ............................................................................................... 274

APPENDIX A COMMENTS ON THE DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
STATEMENT
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LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 1-1. Location of Swan Lake North Pumped Storage Hydroelectric
Project ........................................................................................................... 2
Figure 2-1. Configuration of proposed project facilities for the Swan Lake
North Pumped Storage Hydroelectric Project........................................ 13
Figure 2-2. Configuration of proposed transmission line route alternatives .......... 26
Figure 3-1. Important geologic features in the project vicinity ............................... 31
Figure 3-2. Locations of Harpold Dam and quarry ................................................... 32
Figure 3-3. Location of the proposed WHREP measures......................................... 76
Figure 3-4. Location of proposed administrative access and road
improvements ............................................................................................. 78
Figure 3-5. Project vicinity recreation....................................................................... 112
Figure 3-6. Land use designations in the vicinity of the project............................ 116
Figure 3-7. Key Observation Points for the Swan Lake North Pumped Storage
Project ....................................................................................................... 130
Figure 3-8. Mountain views characteristic of what can be seen from KOPs 2,
3, 5, 7, 22, 24, 25, and 26 ....................................................................... 131
Figure 3-9. Foothill Views of what can be seen from KOPs 1, 6, 8, and 21........ 131
Figure 3-10. Valley views characteristic of what can be seen from KOPs 4, 9,
11, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 20, and 22 .......................................................... 132
Figure 3-11. Waterbody/wetland views characteristic of what can be seen from
KOPs 10 and 16 ....................................................................................... 132
Figure 3-12. Views of developed areas characteristic of what can be seen from
KOPs 15 and 19 ....................................................................................... 133
Figure 3-13. Photo-simulation of the lower reservoir on Grizzly Butte as seen
from KOP 5 .............................................................................................. 145
Figure 3-14. Photo-simulation of the transmission line along Horton Rim as
seen from the Dairy-Bonanza Highway from KOP 1 ......................... 147
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