The US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) has issued a draft environmental impact statement for the first phase of the Power Company of Wyoming’s (PCW) 3GW Chokecherry Sierra Madre wind farm.
The agency is evaluating the impact of issuing an eagle take permit for a 500-turbine project planned in Rawlins, Wyoming.
PCW proposes to build the full $5bn, 1000-turbine project on a mix of private and public land in Carbon County, including federal land administered by the US Bureau of Land Management. The Bureau issued an environmental assessment in March.
The company seeks two FWS permits. A standard eagle take permit would cover the construction phase and a five-year programmatic eagle take permit would take effect when the first turbine begins operating. It’s anticipated the developer would reapply every five years during the 30-year project life.
Modeling indicates that an estimated 10 to 14 golden eagles and one to two bald eagles may be killed annually during operation of the 500MW project.
FWS plans to hold open houses 6 and 7 June and has opened a 60-day public comment period on the draft document.
Image: Power Company of Wyoming
