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Grand Canyon Sierra Club Alert! 07-27-01SAVE THE BIG SANDY RIVER!Caithness Big Sandy, L.L.C. (yes, another limited liability company) is proposing to build the Big Sandy Energy Project, a 750-megawatt gas fired power plant. The proposed location for the facility is about 4 miles southeast of Wikieup, about 2 miles east of where Highway 93 crosses the Big Sandy River. The project includes the power plant and associated facilities, a 500kV substation with transmission lines, a water supply system including a field of deep groundwater wells, a natural gas supply pipeline, and development of land for agricultural purposes. Don't let Arizona become the power farm for California. This plant is unnecessary and would cause significant cultural and environmental harm. It would:
The proposed natural gas pipeline will cross Bureau of Land Management lands, including the Carrow Stephens Ranches Area of Critical Concern and southwestern willow flycatcher habitat. The project will use up to 3,000 gallons of water per minute and produce 3,000 tons of air pollutants a year. Part of the project includes development of agricultural lands consisting of about 107 acres located near the well field. Twenty new power plants are under construction or in the planning stages in Arizona currently with a combined capacity of over 17,000 megawatts -- well beyond Arizona's projected energy needs. By 2003, Arizona will produce enough power for more than 20 million people. In fact, the stated purpose of the Big Sandy plant is to provide "competitively priced electrical energy to short- and mid-term markets in electric markets in the western United States in response to market demands..." This plant is not needed to provide power for Arizona. According to the draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for this project, "The presence of the power plant, pipeline, and associated facilities in the Big Sandy Valley represent an irreversible commitment of the traditional cultural landscape of the area." The Hualapai Tribe considers the impacts from this proposed project on their traditional cultural landscape to be significant and adverse. The Big Sandy Valley contained at least four Hualapai villages during the 1880s. The proposed project would destroy part of one archaeological site and has potential to disturb or destroy several others during the construction of the natural gas pipeline. A wonderful wetland and riparian area along the Big Sandy River are also at risk from the groundwater pumping for the project and disturbance by the construction of the natural gas pipeline. That also puts at risk the already endangered southwestern willow flycatcher. The perennial stretches of the Big Sandy are suitable and potential habitat for the southwestern willow flycatcher. Surveys conducted along a two-mile stretch near the I-93 bridge found 77 willow flycatchers in five separate surveys and fifteen confirmed pairs were found in the area. According to the draft EIS, "This may be one of the densest populations [of southwestern willow flycatchers] in Arizona." Agriculture associated with this project could also provide enhanced habitat for the brown-headed cowbirds, a species that parasitizes the willow flycatcher. Clean renewable solar and wind energy, energy efficiency and conservation are alternatives to this damaging proposal. Arizona does not need this plant. PLEASE ATTEND THIS HEARING IF YOU CAN (Public comments will begin on Monday after preliminary issues addressed):
IF YOU CAN'T ATTEND, PLEASE SEND COMMENTS TO:
The Comment Deadline for the draft Environmental Impact Statement is August 6, 2001. Comments should be sent to:
For more information, contact: Jack Ehrhardt (pager) 1-888-299-4533 email: cerbatnp@citlink.net Michelle Harrington 602-462-9460 email: michelletharrington@excite.com Interesting background articles:http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/issues/2001-02-22/sidebar.html http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/issues/2001-02-22/feature.html/page1.html Page updated: 07/27/01 Return to Press Releases and Action Alerts page Sierra Club, Grand Canyon Chapter, 202 E. McDowell Rd, Suite 277, Phoenix, AZ 85004, (602) 253-8633 |