[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 103 (Friday, May 27, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30962-30963]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-13009]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[LLUTC00000.L51010000.ER0000.LVRWJ09J4050; UTU-83067]
Notice of Availability of Draft Environmental Impact Statement
for the Sigurd to Red Butte No. 2-345 Kilovolt Transmission Line
Project, Utah
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of
1969, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has prepared a
Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Sigurd to Red Butte
No. 2-345 Kilovolt (kV) Transmission Line Project (Project) and by this
notice is announcing the opening of a 45 day public comment period.
DATES: The BLM must receive written comments on the Draft EIS within 45
days following the date the Environmental Protection Agency publishes
its Notice of Availability in the Federal Register to ensure the
comments will be considered. The BLM will host public meetings/hearings
in St. George, Milford, Enterprise, and Richfield, Utah, to provide an
overview of the Project and take public comments on the proposed
Project and the Draft EIS. The dates of public meetings/hearings or
other public involvement activities will be announced at least 15 days
in advance through public notices, media news releases, and/or
mailings, and the BLM Web site at: http://www.blm.gov/ut/st/en/fo/cedar_city/planning.html.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on the Draft EIS by any of the
following methods:
E-mail: [email protected].
Mail: BLM, Cedar City Field Office, 176 East D.L. Sargent
Drive, Cedar City, Utah, 84721, Attention: Tamara Gertsch.
Web site: http://www.blm.gov/ut/st/en/fo/cedar_city/planning.html.
[[Page 30963]]
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information and/or to have
your name added to our mailing list, contact Tamara Gertsch, Project
Manager; telephone (307) 775-6115; e-mail [email protected]; address
BLM, Cedar City Field Office, 176 East D.L. Sargent Drive, Cedar City,
Utah 84721. Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf
(TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-
877-8339 to contact the above individual during normal business hours.
The FIRS is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to leave a message
or question with the above individual. You will receive a reply during
normal business hours.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: PacifiCorp, doing business as Rocky Mountain
Power, has filed right-of-way applications with the BLM and United
States Forest Service (USFS) proposing to construct, operate, and
maintain the Project, a single-circuit, alternating-current (AC), 345
kV overhead transmission line. The transmission line would be located
to connect the existing Sigurd Substation near Richfield in Sevier
County with the existing Red Butte Substation near the community of
Central in Washington County, Utah, a distance of approximately 160
miles depending on the route selected. The Project also includes
expansion of the existing Sigurd Substation on private land to
accommodate new substation equipment for interconnecting the proposed
transmission line with the existing system. When completed, the Project
would provide about 600 megawatts of electrical capacity to respond to
anticipated load growth in Southwestern Utah. Alternative routes
considered in the Draft EIS cross Federal, state, tribal, and private
lands.
The requested right-of-way width on Federal lands for construction
and operation of the Project is 150 feet. The Proponent proposes to
predominantly use steel-pole H-frame tower structures, from 80 to 140
feet in height, with average spans between structures of 800 to 1,200
feet (5 to 7 structures per mile). Permanent and temporary access
roads, a minimum of 14 feet wide, would be needed for the Project.
Temporary access roads would be needed for construction only. Temporary
work space would be needed during construction for material storage,
conductor tensioning sites, and to accommodate vehicles and equipment.
Under Federal law, the BLM is responsible for responding to
applications for rights-of-way on BLM-administered lands. Similarly,
under Federal law, the USFS is responsible for responding to
applications for rights-of-way on lands they administer. In accordance
with NEPA, the BLM has prepared a Draft EIS for the Project. An
interdisciplinary approach was used to develop the Draft EIS, in order
to consider a variety of resource issues and concerns identified during
internal, interagency, and public scoping. The BLM is the designated
lead Federal agency for preparation of the EIS as defined at 40 CFR
1501.5. Agencies with jurisdiction by law or special expertise were
invited to participate as cooperating agencies in preparation of the
EIS. The following agencies have agreed to participate as cooperating
agencies: USFS (Dixie and Fishlake National Forests); U.S. Army Corps
of Engineers; National Park Service; State of Utah; Millard, Sevier,
Beaver, Iron, and Washington counties, Utah; and the cities of St.
George and Enterprise, Utah.
In response to Section 368 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42
U.S.C. 15926), a Programmatic EIS was prepared by the Department of
Energy and the Department of the Interior for energy corridors in 11
western states including Utah. A Final Programmatic EIS was published
on November 28, 2008 (73 FR 72521). Records of Decision (ROD) on the
Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement, Designation of Energy
Corridors on Federal Land in the 11 Western States (DOE/EIS-0386),
signed January 14, 2009, designated energy corridors and provided
guidance, best management practices, and mitigation measures to be used
where linear facilities are proposed within the corridors. Corridor
designation occurred upon BLM's amendment of its relevant Resource
Management Plans and upon USFS' amendment of its Land Management Plans.
Designation of corridors does not require their use, nor does such
designation exempt the Federal agencies from conducting a site-specific
environmental review on each Project. The BLM has considered the use of
the corridors in preparation of the Draft EIS. Documents pertinent to
the right-of-way application and the Draft EIS for the Project may be
examined at:
BLM, Cedar City Field Office, 176 East D.L. Sargent Drive,
Cedar City, Utah 84721;
BLM, Richfield Field Office, 150 East, 900 North,
Richfield, Utah 84701;
BLM, Fillmore Field Office, 35 East, 500 North, Fillmore,
Utah 84631;
Dixie National Forest Office, 1789 North Wedgewood Lane,
Cedar City, Utah 84721;
Fishlake National Forest Office, 115 East 900 North,
Richfield, Utah 84701.
Please note that public comments may be available for public review
and disclosure at the above address during regular business hours (8
a.m. to 4 p.m.), Monday through Friday, except holidays.
Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or any
other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be
aware that your entire comment--including your personal identifying
information--may be made publicly available at any time. While you can
request in your comment that your personal identifying information be
withheld from public review, the BLM cannot guarantee that they will be
able to do so.
Juan Palma,
State Director.
[FR Doc. 2011-13009 Filed 5-26-11; 8:45 am]
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