DENVER – The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), working with Crocker Wind Farm, LLC (Crocker), a wholly owned subsidiary of Geronimo Energy, LLC (Geronimo), released in March 2018 a draft Environmental Assessment (EA) for the proposed Crocker Wind Farm in Clark County, South Dakota. To provide the public with additional time to review and comment, the Service is proposing to extend the comment period for two weeks, closing on May 8, 2018.
The Crocker Wind Farm project (Project) proposal would place 14 turbines, associated infrastructure, and 14 transmission poles on Service grassland easements in South Dakota. Grassland easements are voluntary agreements made with landowners that protect grassland habitats for waterfowl, migratory birds, and other wildlife. South Dakota is home to some of the last native grassland habitats in the Prairie Pothole Region. This area also provides potential for expansion of energy, including wind energy. To balance the needs of wildlife and people, the Service first works with wind energy companies to avoid impacts to Service easement interests. Where that is not practicable, the Service coordinates with wind energy companies to minimize impacts to protected resources and trust species and may consider a land exchange.
The Service is required by law to evaluate projects such as the Crocker Wind Farm under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and to ensure that information on any environmental effects are made available to public officials and citizens before decisions are made and actions taken. The Service opened a 30 day comment period when the draft EA was originally announced. To provide the public with additional time to review and comment the Service is extending the comment period by two weeks. The Service will accept comments until May 8, 2018. Interested parties can submit comments electronically at crocker_comments@fws.gov or by mail to:
Crocker Wind EA comments
Waubay NWR Complex
44401 134 A Street
Waubay, SD 57273
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