Grapevine Canyon Wind

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 lines. 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 WAPA’s power transmission system. WAPA prepared a draft environmental impact statement to address the proposed interconnection and any necessary modifications to WAPA facilities to accommodate the interconnection. The EIS also addressed the potential environmental impacts of constructing, operating and maintaining Foresight’s wind generation facility and associated facilities. The Coconino National Forest and the ASLD are cooperating agencies in the preparation of the EIS.

Record of Decision Issued for Project, Sept. 11, 2012

After considering the environmental impacts, WAPA decided to allow Foresight’s request for interconnection to WAPA’s transmission system on its Glen Canyon-Pinnacle Peak transmission lines and to construct, own, and operate a new switchyard to accommodate the interconnection. The record of decision (PDF)  was published in the Federal Register (77 FR 55829) Sept. 11, 2012.

Project Documents

Final Environmental Impact Statement Available

• Notice of Availability for the Grapevine Canyon Wind Project Final EIS (PDF), June 8, 2012
• Final Environmental Impact Statement Volume I (PDF 47.2 MB)
  Final Environmental Impact Statement Volume II – Appendices (PDF 61.6 MB)

• Volume I

  • Executive Summary and Table of Contents (PDF 1.25 MB)
  • Chapter 1 – Purpose and Need (PDF 511 KB)
  • Chapter 2 – Proposed Action and Alternatives (PDF 2.25 MB)
  • Chapter 3 – Affected Environment and Environment l Consequences (PDF 5.86 MB)
  • Chapter 4 – Cumulative Effects (PDF 283 KB)
  • Chapter 5 – List of Agencies, Organizations, a d Individuals Provided Draft EIS (PDF 33.4 KB)
  • Chapter 6 – List of Preparers (PDF 51 KB)
  • Chapter 7 – Disclosure Statement (PDF 26.9 KB)
  • Chapter 8 – References (PDF 143 KB)
  • Chapter 9 – Glossary (PDF 90.9 KB)
  • Chapter 10 – Public Comment and Response (PDF 32 MB) Attachment A – Visual Resources — Photographic Simulations

• Volume II

  • Table of Contents  (PDF 539 KB)
  • Appendix A – Standards and Regulations (PDF 192 KB)
  • Appendix B – Scoping (PDF 51.5 MB)
  • Appendix C – Best Management Practices (PDF 765 KB)
  • Appendix D – Biological Resources (PDF 8.51 MB)

Draft Environmental Impact Statement

• Draft Environmental Impact Statement – Volume I (complete) (PDF 7.2 MB)
• Draft Environmental Impact Statement – Volume II (complete) (PDF 22.2 MB)
• Environmental Protection Agency’s comments: http://www.epa.gov/region9/nepa/otherindex.html#wapa [external site].

Other Documents

• Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (PDF 55 KB)
• Project area map  (PDF 173 KB)
• Project area land ownership map (PDF 311 KB)
• Scoping comment form (PDF 90 KB)
• Scoping meeting announcement (PDF 75 KB)
• Scoping meeting news release
• EPA’s Federal Register DEIS Notice of Availability (PDF 56 KB)

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