Comments are now being accepted on the Draft EIS until September 17th. See  suggested talking points and a comment form HERE.

The Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service have released the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (Draft EIS) for the North Steens Transmission Line. The Project is a 29-mile, 230-kilovolt (kV) transmission line that would convey power generated by industrial-scale wind energy turbines proposed on private land on the north side of Steens Mountain. This transmission line would carry power from the proposed wind turbines to connect to the existing grid. The developer already has a contract to sell electricity produced on Steens to Southern California Edison

A project description and the full Draft EIS can be found at http://www.blm.gov/or/districts/burns/plans/steen_trans/index.php

The proposed line (Proposed Action, West Route-Alternative B) would cross approximately 19 miles of private land, 9 miles of BLM-administered public land, and 1.3 miles of land on the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, including a span over the Blitzen Valley. Another alternative would run north from the mountain. See a map HERE.

ONDA and its allies in the environmental community support the “No Action” Alternative, Alternative A. The BLM and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service should not grant a Right of Way for the Proposed North Steens Transmission Line. The likely harm to the ecological integrity of Steens Mountain from the proposed wind turbines and transmission line is too great for the federal agencies to sign off on the project. 

Please take the time to submit comments on the North Steens Transmission Line Draft EIS. We have provided a comment form HERE, alternatively write your own comments. Recommended talking points include:

•  The proposed transmission route crosses through the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, an oasis for native bird populations. The presence of 70-120 ft poles with associated tiered power lines poses flight hazards to large birds, such as pelicans, sandhill cranes, white-faced ibis, snow geese, Ross' geese and Golden eagles, through strikes against the new infrastructure. 

•    The transmission line, turbines, associated roads and substations will fragment dozens of square miles of sage grouse, elk, and mule deer habitat. Disturbance to sagebrush habitat in this area will greatly impact sage grouse populations associated with four known sage grouse leks in the area. Greater sage grouse are the most sensitive species of grouse and avoid tall structures, noise, roads and other disturbed areas. There is also the potential for increased predation on sage grouse as the transmission towers and lines provide perches and nesting sites for raptors and ravens.

•  Part of the transmission line and most of the turbines planned for the four generating sites lie within areas that the Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife has deemed “Category 1” sage grouse habitat off-limits to any industrial development. See the attached map showing the proposed development on Steens.

•  The BLM and the developers are responsible for thoroughly evaluating the potential for Golden eagle deaths or nest abandonment likely to result from the construction of this project. Both of these activities are considered “take” under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service cannot issue a permit for this project because of the danger of take of Golden eagles.

•  The draft EIS has not adequately analyzed impacts to sage grouse, Golden eagles, and other birds and wildlife from three of the four generating sites that are planned to connect to the new line. The current draft EIS only analyzes the impacts of one turbine site, while the developer, Columbia Energy Partners, has made it clear that it intends to develop four wind energy generation sites on or near Steens, all of which will use the proposed transmission line.  This represents over 100 turbines within 5 miles of sage grouse leks, the minimum distance prescribed by U.S. Fish & Wildlife and the Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife. BLM must prepare a supplemental draft EIS to adequately analyze the impacts from all four proposed wind energy generation sites.

•  425-foot tall turbines associated with this project would be visible along the Steens Loop Road at Fishlake Campground, Whorehouse Meadows, the Kiger Gorge overlook, and along the ridgeline above Mann Lake and the Alvord Desert.

•  The BLM must not issue a Right of Way for the proposed transmission line based on the unacceptable impacts to federally-protected lands in the Steens Cooperative Management and Protection Area, other federal lands, and the wildlife that live there.

•  The draft EIS was prepared by a third party consultant with little apparent input from the land management agencies. Call on BLM and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to conduct their own, independent studies of the dangers to sage grouse, Golden eagles, waterfowl, and other wildlife from this ill-conceived industrial development on Steens Mountain.

Submit comments HERE.

Written comments can be mailed to:

North Steens Transmission Line Project Lead

BLM Burns District Office

28910 Hwy 20

West

Hines, OR 97738