Horse Heaven Wind Project - environmental impact

On May 11, 2021, EFSEC Manager Sonia Bumpus, the SEPA responsible official, issued a determination of significance and scoping notice for the Horse Heaven Wind project. Agencies, affected tribes, and members of the public had 30 days to comment on the scope of the environmental impact statement (EIS).

By June 10, 2021 (the close of the public comment period), EFSEC had received 359 comments from the public, two comments from Tribes (namely, the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation and the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation), and comments from the following federal, state and local government agencies: Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), Department of Ecology, Department of Fish and Wildlife, Department of Natural Resources, Department of Transportation, Benton County Board of Commissioners, and Kennewick Irrigation District.

The determination of significance and request for comments on the scope of environmental impact statement (EIS) identified three environmental elements for discussion: wildlife/habitat, visual/aesthetics, and land use. The 30-day comment period ended June 10, 2021.

EFSEC issued the draft EIS on December 19, 2022, opening a public review and comment period through February 1, 2023. Staff posted the draft EIS on the EFSEC website and provided printed or electronic versions on a USB flash drive or CD upon request. EFSEC also made the draft EIS available for public review at seven public libraries in the Tri-Cities area and at one public library in the state capitol. EFSEC held a formal public hearing on the draft EIS virtually on February 1, 2023, from 5:00-8:00pm.

EFSEC received 2,430 written and 60 verbal comments from the public; written comments from the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation, and the Snoqualmie Indian Tribe; and written comments from the Counsel for the Environment and the Washington state departments of Archaeology and Historic Preservation, Ecology, Fish and Wildlife, and Transportation.

After a thorough review of the comments and after seeking additional information from the applicant, EFSEC released the Final EIS on October 31, 2023, which was presented to the Council at a Special Meeting on November 29, 2023.