Grapevine Canyon Wind Project

Foresight Flying M, LLC,  proposes to construct a wind energy generation project up to 500 megawatts. The project would be located on privately owned ranch lands and trust lands administered by the Arizona State Land Department. The project location is approximately 22 miles southeast of Flagstaff and about 18 miles south of the I-40 Twin Arrows interchange. To support delivery of the power generated by the project, Foresight proposes to build a new transmission tie-line to interconnect with Western’s existing Glen Canyon-Pinnacle Peak transmission line. The transmission tie-line would cross lands administered by Coconino National Forest. The project area would be accessed by the existing F.S. 126 road, south of the Twin Arrows I-40 exit.

Foresight has applied to interconnect the proposed project to Western's power transmission system. Western will prepare an environmental impact statement to address the proposed interconnection and any necessary modifications to Western facilities to accommodate the interconnection. The EIS will also review the potential environmental impacts of constructing, operating and maintaining Foresight's wind generation facility and associated facilities. The U.S. Forest Service is a cooperating agency in the preparation of the EIS.

Public hearings on Draft Environmental Impact Statement scheduled for Aug. 17 and 18

Oral and written comments will be accepted at two public hearings:

• Tuesday, Aug. 17 - Kachina Room behind Mormon Lake Steakhouse, Mormon Lake, Ariz. (Seven miles west of Mary's Lake Road from the Mormon Lake Village turnoff)
• Wednesday, Aug. 18 - NACET Conference Room, 2225 N. Gemini Drive, Flagstaff, Ariz.

The formal hearings will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. An open house will precede the public hearings from 5:30 to 7 p.m. to provide reviewers an opportunity to discuss the Draft EIS results with Western, Forest Service and Arizona State Land Department representatives. 

Draft Environmental Impact Statement available

Western and the Coconino National Forest have prepared the Grapevine Canyon Wind Project Draft Environmental Impact Statement. The Draft EIS is available for a 45-day public review. 

You can download the Draft EIS in its entirety, or in sections, below or from the Coconino National Forest website.

Western Area Power Administration
Desert Southwest Regional Office
615 South 43rd Avenue
Phoenix, AZ  85009

Coconino National Forest Supervisor's Office
1824 South Thompson Street
Flagstaff, AZ  86001

Flagstaff Public Library
300 West Aspen Avenue
Flagstaff, AZ  86001

Winslow Public Library
420 West Gilmore
Winslow, AZ  86047

We need your input by Sept. 7, 2010

Your comments will help ensure we've addressed all relevant issues and alternatives in the Draft EIS.  Please submit comments on the Draft EIS by Sept. 7, 2010.  You may submit comments online, by e-mail to GrapevineWindEIS@wapa.gov, or in writing to

Mr. Matt Blevins
Western Area Power Administration
P.O. Box 281213
Lakewood, CO  80228

Written comments may also be hand delivered to

Mr. Mike Dunbar
Coconino National Forest Supervisor's Office
1824 South Thompson Street
Flagstaff, AZ  86001 

Draft Environmental Impact Statement - Volume I (complete) (7.2 MB pdf)
Draft Environmental Impact Statement - Volume II (complete) (22.2 MB pdf)

• Cover - Volume I (1.2 MB pdf)
• Executive Summary (396 kb pdf)
• Table of Contents (132 kb pdf)
• Chapter 1 - Purpose and Need (397 kb pdf)
• Chapter 2 - Proposed Action and Alternatives (1.9 MB pdf)
• Chapter 3 - Affected Environment and Environmental Consequences (3.4 MB pdf)
• Chapter 4 - Cumulative Effects (156 kb pdf)
• Chapter 5 - List of Agencies, Organizations, and Individuals Provided EIS (101 kb pdf)
• Chapter 6 - List of Preparers (103 kb pdf)
• Chapter 7 - Disclosure Statement (100 kb pdf)
• Chapter 8 - References (134 kb pdf)
• Chapter 9 - Glossary (134 kb pdf)
• Cover - Volume II (1.2 MB pdf)
• Appendix A - Western Area Power Administration’s Standards and Regulations (547 kb pdf)
• Appendix B - Scoping (7.0 MB pdf)
• Appendix C - Best Management Practices (1.4 MB pdf)
• Appendix D - Biological Resources (6.8 MB pdf)
• Appendix E - Visual Resources (5.7 MB pdf)
  

Project Updates

Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (55 kb pdf)
Project area map) (173 kb pdf
Project area land ownership map (311 kb pdf)
Scoping comment form (90 kb pdf)
Scoping meeting announcement (75 kb pdf)
Scoping meeting news release
Online scoping comment form
EPA' Federal Register DEIS Notice of Availablility (56 kb pdf)
Draft EIS comment form

Contact information

Matt Blevins
Western Area Power Administration
Mail: P.O. Box 281213, Lakewood, CO 80228
Telephone: 720-962-7261
Fax: 720-962-7263
E-mail: GrapevineWindEIS@wapa.gov

Links

Foresight's Grapevine Canyon Wind Project website