[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 220 (Thursday, November 14, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68467-68469]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-27261]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[LLWY920000/51010000.ER0000/LVRWK09K0990/241A; WYW-174598; IDI-35849]
Notice of Availability of the Record of Decision for the Gateway
West 230/345/500-kV Transmission Line Project and Approved Land Use
Plan Amendments in Idaho and Wyoming
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of Availability.
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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announces the availability
of the Record of Decision (ROD) authorizing a right-of-way (ROW) grant
to the Proponents' (Idaho Power Company and PacifiCorp, doing business
as Rocky Mountain Power) to construct, operate, maintain, and
decommission electric transmission lines on public lands for the
Gateway
[[Page 68468]]
West 230/345/500-kilovolt (kV) Transmission Line Project (Project) and
approving Land Use Plan (LUP) Amendments in Idaho and Wyoming. The
Wyoming State Director's signature on the ROD constitutes the final
decision of the BLM and makes the approved LUP Amendments effective
immediately.
ADDRESSES: Copies of the ROD are being sent to Federal, State, and
local governments, public libraries in the Project area, and interested
parties who previously requested a copy. The ROD and supporting
documents will be available electronically on the following Web site:
http://www.wy.blm.gov/nepa/cfodocs/gateway_west/. To request a copy,
contact Walt George, Project Manager, BLM Wyoming State Office, P.O.
Box 20879, Cheyenne, WY 82003.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Walt George, Project Manager, Bureau
of Land Management, Wyoming State Office, P.O. Box 20879, Cheyenne, WY
82003, or by telephone at 307-775-6116. Any persons wishing to be added
to a mailing list of interested parties may write or call the Project
Manager at this address or phone number. 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: In May 2007, the Proponents submitted a ROW
application to the BLM requesting authorization to construct, operate,
maintain, and decommission electric transmission lines on public lands.
The application was revised in October 2007, August 2008, May 2009,
January 2010, February 2012, and August 2013, to reflect changes to the
proposed Project.
The Gateway West Transmission Line Project, with a capacity of
1,500 megawatts, is planned from Glenrock, Wyoming, to the Hemingway
Substation, approximately 20 miles southwest of Boise, Idaho. The
Project is approximately 990 miles long and composed of nine 500-kV
segments, one short 345-kV sub segment, and one segment with two 230-kV
lines. Approximately 482 miles cross Federal lands, 73 miles cross
State-managed lands, and 435 miles cross private lands. Of the Federal
lands crossed, approximately 461 miles cross the National System of
Public Lands administered by the BLM; 14 miles cross National Forest
Lands; and 7 miles cross lands administered by the Bureau of
Reclamation.
The Proponents' objective for the Project is to improve the
reliability and efficiency of both utilities' systems and to address
congestion problems with the western electrical grid. The Project is
needed to meet projected load growth in the Proponents' service areas.
The Project would also tap the developing renewable energy market,
especially wind energy in Idaho and Wyoming, and aid in delivering that
energy throughout the region.
The BLM purpose and need for this action is to respond to a ROW
application, submitted under Section 501 of the Federal Land Policy and
Management Act (FLPMA) (43 U.S.C. Sec. 1761(a)), to use public lands
for an electric transmission system and related facilities in
accordance with FLPMA's multiple use and sustained yield mandates.
The BLM published a Notice of Intent in the Federal Register on May
16, 2008 (73 FR 28425), stating its intent to prepare an Environmental
Impact Statement (EIS) pursuant to the National Environmental Policy
Act (NEPA) (40 CFR 1501.7). The BLM is the lead Federal agency for the
NEPA analysis process and preparation of the EIS. The Notice of Intent
initiated the public scoping comment period that concluded on July 3,
2008. In response to a request from non-Federal cooperating agencies,
the scoping period was extended to September 4, 2009, to allow time to
develop additional alternatives. On July 29, 2011, the BLM published
the Notice of Availability for the Draft EIS in the Federal Register
(76 FR 45609), starting a 90-day public comment period. On June 29,
2012, the BLM released the Addendum to the Draft EIS--Effects of
Proposed Project on Greater Sage-Grouse--for an additional 30-day
public comment period. The report included the Greater Sage-Grouse
habitat equivalency analysis, which was not available at the time the
Draft EIS was released.
The Final EIS was developed incorporating updated environmental
analysis as well as the extensive input from public comments,
stakeholder outreach, interagency collaboration, and government-to-
government consultation with Native American Tribes in the Project
area. The Final EIS analyzed the environmental consequences of the No
Action alternative, the proposed action, 36 route alternatives, and
land use plan amendments. On April 26, 2013, the BLM published the
Notice of Availability of the Final EIS (78 FR 24771), triggering a
final 60-day public review period. Printed and electronic copies of the
Draft EIS, Addendum to the Draft EIS, and Final EIS are available at
the Wyoming State Office and posted online at http://www.wy.blm.gov/nepa/cfodocs/gateway_west/.
In response to comments made on the Final EIS, a number of
adjustments were made to the BLM's Preferred Routes, and several of the
mitigation measures were revised. All mitigation measures are included
in the ROD. Three micro-siting reroutes were included in Segment 4 of
the Project to address concerns raised by Lincoln County and the City
of Cokeville, as well as to avoid landslide hazards and private lands
protected under conservation easements. These reroutes were assessed
based on analysis in the Final EIS that covers the same general areas,
as well as additional site-specific analysis. A report discussing the
micro-siting considerations and reroutes in detail is included with the
ROD. The ROD includes the BLM's response to comments on the Final EIS
as well as an errata sheet listing corrections to the Final EIS
document.
The decision is to authorize Segments 1 through 7 and Segment 10 of
the Project and to allow the various Federal, State, and local
permitting agencies additional time to offer input on a routing
decision in Segments 8 and 9 of the Project in Idaho. The BLM Wyoming
State Director signed the ROD, which constitutes the final decision of
the BLM and makes the ROW and LUP amendment decisions effective
immediately. However, there are additional requirements such as
completing the Plan of Development, mitigation plans, and other
informational requirements that the Grant Holders must meet before
receiving permission to use the authorized area of public lands for the
project. The BLM will grant permission to use these areas through its
Notice to Proceed process (43 CFR 2805.10(a)(2)).
The BLM Decisions--Phased Decision: Due to the substantial interest
expressed by local stakeholders and government officials in continuing
to work toward a consensus route in Segments 8 and 9 of the Project, as
well as questions raised regarding allowable actions under BLM policies
and regulations for the Morley Nelson Snake River Birds of Prey
National Conservation Area, the BLM has decided to postpone a decision
on the routes and land use plan amendments associated with Segments 8
and 9 until further input can be gathered. The BLM will initiate siting
discussions with cooperating agencies and stakeholders. At the
conclusion of these discussions, the BLM will
[[Page 68469]]
determine whether additional environmental analysis is required and
prepare further environmental documentation, if needed. The public
would be afforded an opportunity to review and comment on any potential
supplemental environmental review document. The BLM would respond to
public comments and provide its rationale on a decision for Segments 8
and 9 in a second ROD. The Proponents have demonstrated independent
utility for Segments 1 through 7 of the Project, as well as Segment 10,
which connects the Cedar Hill and Midpoint Substations just east of
Segments 8 and 9.
BLM Decisions--Approved Segments: The ROD approves, with all
mitigation measures identified in the ROD, a ROW grant for the
following route alternatives for Segments 1 through 7 and Segment 10:
Segment 1: Proposed 1W(a) and 1W(c) Routes
Segment 2: Proposed Route
Segment 3: Proposed Route, including Route 3A
Segment 4: Revised Proposed Route, including a reroute east
and north of the community of Cokeville
Segment 5: Proposed Route, incorporating Alternatives 5B and
5E
Segment 6: The proposed upgrade from 345 kV to 500 kV
Segment 7: Proposed Route, incorporating Alternatives 7B, 7C,
7D, and 7G. The Proposed Route in the East Hills and Alternative 7G
will be micro-sited to avoid Preliminary Priority Habitat for Greater
Sage-Grouse.
Segment 10: Proposed Route
BLM Decisions--Land Use Plan Amendments: The BLM planning
regulations (43 CFR 1610.5-3) require authorized uses of public lands
to conform to approved LUPs. The LUP amendments' preferred alternatives
that were analyzed in the draft EIS associated with Segments 1 through
7 of the Project, as well as Segment 10, which connects the Cedar Hill
and Midpoint Substations just east of Segments 8 and 9, were carried
forward in the final EIS, with minor modifications made in preparing
the approved LUP Amendments. The BLM received five protest letters on
the Proposed LUP Amendments/Final EIS. The BLM Director denied all
protest issues. The Director's Protest Resolution Report can be
accessed at the following Web site: http://www.blm.gov/wo/st/en/prog/planning/planning_overview/protest_resolution/protestreports.html. To
bring the Project into conformance, the ROD approves the following
amendments to BLM resource management plans (RMP) in the Project area:
Green River RMP: One amendment for visual resource management.
Kemmerer RMP: Four amendments for visual resource management,
National Historic Trails, and the Rock Creek/Tunp Special Management
Area.
All plan amendments comply with applicable Federal laws and
regulations and apply only to Federal lands and mineral estates
administered by the BLM.
Appeal Information: A party may appeal the BLM's decision before
the Interior Board of Land Appeals within 30 days of publication of
this Notice of Availability in the Federal Register in accordance with
the requirements of 43 CFR part 4, subpart E. BLM decisions issued
under 43 CFR part 2800 are and remain in effect pending appeal (43 CFR
2801.10(b)). A party can file a petition for a stay of the decision
pending appeal before the Interior Board of Land Appeals, but the stay
petition must accompany the Notice of Appeal (43 CFR 2801.10; 43CFR
4.21). The appeal must be filed with the BLM Wyoming State Office at
the above listed address. Please consult the appropriate regulations
(43 CFR part 4, subpart E) and Appendix N of the ROD for further appeal
requirements.
Authority: 40 CFR 1502.2 and 43 CFR 1610.5.
Donald A. Simpson,
Wyoming State Director.
[FR Doc. 2013-27261 Filed 11-13-13; 8:45 am]
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