nt applications.

I. Development Process - START EARLY!

A. Site
Prospecting

1) Consider
wind resources, transmission, access, environmental, viewsheds (aesthetics),
land use, and permitting.

2) Site
Investigation

Environmental - avian and other wildlife impacts,

endangered/threatened
animal and plant species, biologically

valuable
or critical habitat, viewshed, noise, lighting, erosion.

Cultural
- historic resources, Native American cultural

resources
(Traditional Cultural Properties), archaeology.

3) Permitting

Land Use and Zoning.

B. Coalition
Building

1) Build
support for project early in the process.

2) Educate
public, local and municipal officials.

3) Work with environmental groups; consider site tours; become familiar
with the publics interest.  See http://www.abcbirds.org/policy/windenergy.htm.

4) Local
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Office (Endangered Species, Migratory
Birds) and local State Biologists.

5) Native
American Tribes

C. Responsible
Project Development Mitigation

1) Many
good wind resource areas can be developmentally

challenged
- i.e. topographic features that may concentrate wildlife

(migration
ridgelines, steep slopes with high erosion potential,

mountain
tops with unique vegetation, heavily forested wildlife

cover,
etc.

2) Consider sites with lowest overall environmental impact.

Identify and use areas of low
wildlife habitat quality (already

disturbed
land) for laydowns (equipment storage), parking, and concrete batch
plant sites.  Identify all ground-disturbing activities related
to the proposed project construction and operation.

4) Minimize the amount and intensity of temporarily disturbed areas
during construction, minimize clearcutting of trees and shrubs, post
signs at sensitive areas that are closed to construction activities,
restore native habitat with appropriate vegetation.  Avoid the
use of invasive species.  Use native seed and/or shrub mixes, etc.,
control noxious weeds in restored areas and on gravel pad at turbine
bases.  Consider excluding livestock grazing in revegetated areas
for a year or more until revegetated areas have recovered sufficiently.

5) Consider monitoring direct or indirect affects on birds and bats
during the life of the project to aid the industry and agencies in gaining
further understanding of wildlife interactions and to document impacts. 
Local State and/or federal biologist or wind power biologists (consultants)
can assist in designing plans and may be able to help implement the
monitoring.

6) Overhead transmission lines should have anti-perching devices on
the poles or towers that are near the turbines (dont create new perching
opportunities near turbines).  If above-ground lines are required,
the lines and poles should comply with Avian Power Line Interaction
Committee (APLIC) standards.

D. Good
Neighbor Policy

1) Consider
holding public information meetings and other outreach efforts.

2) Consider
aesthetics, minimize lighting where feasible.  Consult FAA Advisory
Circular 70/7460-1K if proposed project would be located in vicinity
of an airport.  Consider the United States Fish and Wildlife Service's
Interim Guidance on Avoiding and Minimizing Wildlife Impacts from Wind
Turbines (http://fws.gov/r9dhcbfa/windenergy.htm). 
Review types of turbine lights available and select appropriate lights.

3) Collection
and transmission should be underground where possible.

4) Consider
reasonable setbacks from residence and roadways.

II. Environmental Review Process - START EARLY!

USDA Rural Development level of assessment is based
on the size of the turbine:

Small
turbines (100 kW or less and 120 hub height or less) will require a Class I EA.
Large turbines (greater than 100 kW or over 120 high) will require a Class II EA.

In both types of assessments, the
following key items will need to be submitted with your Form RD 1940-20,
Request for Environmental Information.

A
complete project description.  This needs to take a look at the
overall "big picture" of the proposal from construction to
operation.  For example, you must describe how the site will be
accessed (indicate if the road will be new, is existing and will b</span><span
class="Normal--Char" style=" font-family: 'Arial', 'Arial';">e improved,
or if it is existing and not in need of changes).  Also consider
other reasonable site and/or design alternatives in case of any potential
impacts to protected resources that may result from your preferred site
and/or design alternative.


The
l</span><span class="Normal--Char" style=" font-family: 'Arial', 'Arial';
">ocation of the sites must be clearly shown on location maps and USGS
7.5-minute topographical maps.  The precise location of each turbine,
access road, sub-station, and route of power lines must be clearly indicated. 
A generalized location such as within the southeast portion of section XX is not acceptable.  Other activities related to construction
such as new gravel quarries, equipment storage areas, employee parking,
etc. should be identified as well as these could all have temporary
disturbance to th</span><span class="Normal--Char" style=" font-family: 'Arial', 'Arial';
">e environment.


Photos
of the specific site(s) of the turbine location(s) should be submitted. 
Also include a photo standing at the site of each turbine and looking
in all four directions.  Use 50 to 55 mm (normal viewing for the human eye).  You can su</span><span class="Normal--Char" style=" font-family: 'Arial', 'Arial';
">pplement this with wide-angle or zoomed-in images but note it on the
photo.


Section
106 of the National Historic Preservation Act.  It is recommended
that you use the SHPO Project Review Form to assist with Section 106
consultation with your State Histori</span><span class="Normal--Char" style=" font-family: 'Arial', 'Arial';
">c Preservation Officer.  The SHPO review will address historic
buildings, structures, objects, archeological sites, and view-shed impacts. 
The Area of Potential Effect (APE) will vary but is usually identified
by the height of the turbine and the topograp</span><span class="Normal--Char" style=" font-family: 'Arial', 'Arial';
">hy surrounding the turbine site.