Construction and Operation of the Sacramento Area Voltage Support Project, Sacramento, Sutter, and Placer Counties, CA, 26961-26963 [E6-7036]
Download as PDF
<![CDATA[
Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 89 / Tuesday, May 9, 2006 / Notices
link. Enter the docket number,
excluding the last three digits, in the
docket number field to access the
document. For assistance, please contact
FERC, Online Support at
FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov or toll
Docket Number
free at (866) 208–3676, or for TTY,
contact (202) 502–8659.
Date received
Prohibited:
1. EL05–102–002 ..............................................................................................
Exempt:
1. CP95–35–000 ................................................................................................
2. CP95–35–000 ................................................................................................
3. CP05–130–000 ..............................................................................................
4. EL03–180–000 ..............................................................................................
5. ER00–2268–011, EL05–10–003, ER99–4124–009, EL05–11–003, ER00–
3312–010, EL05–12–003 ER99–4122–012, EL05–13–003.
6. Same docket nos. as (5.) above ...................................................................
7. Same as (5.) above .......................................................................................
8. Same as (5.) above .......................................................................................
9. Same as (5.) above .......................................................................................
10 Same as (5.) above ........................................................................................
11. Same as (5.) above .......................................................................................
12. Same as (5.) above .......................................................................................
13. Project No. 459–128 .....................................................................................
14. Project No. 459–128 .....................................................................................
15. Project No. 1971–079 ...................................................................................
26961
Presenter or requester
4–24–06
Undisclosed.1
4–24–06
4–24–06
4–20–06
4–10–06
4–26–06
Carlos Reyes.
Ernesto Cordova.
J. C. Burton, John S. Kenyon.
Hon. Maria Cantwell.
Stanley H. Ashby.
4–26–06
4–26–06
4–26–06
4–26–06
4–26–06
4–26–06
4–25–06
3–20–06
4–19–06
4–24–06
William D. Baker.
James D. Downing.2
R.D. Justice.
Jackie Meck.
Elizabeth Story.
James R. Sweeney.
Jeffery J. Woner.3
Terry & Carol Welch.
Charles Clark.
Steve R. Brink, James A. Chandler.
1 E-mail
communication sent to FERC staff member, Bryan Lee, from undisclosed source.
Downing submitted two filings in these dockets on behalf of the Electrical District Number Eight and McMullen Valley Water Conservation
& Drainage District.
3 Mr. Woner submitted two filings in these dockets on behalf of Harquahala Valley Power District and Aquila Irrigation District on 4–25–06 and
4–26–06, respectively.
2 Mr.
Magalie R. Salas,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E6–6953 Filed 5–8–06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Western Area Power Administration
Construction and Operation of the
Sacramento Area Voltage Support
Project, Sacramento, Sutter, and
Placer Counties, CA
Western Area Power
Administration, DOE.
ACTION: Notice of Intent to prepare a
Supplemental Environmental Impact
Statement (SEIS), and conduct scoping
meetings; Notice of Floodplain and
Wetlands Involvement.
mstockstill on PROD1PC68 with NOTICES
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: The Western Area Power
Administration (Western), Department
of Energy (DOE), intends to prepare a
Supplemental Environmental Impact
Statement (SEIS) to construct and
operate a transmission line for the
Sacramento Area Voltage Support (SVS)
Project (Project) in California. The
Sacramento Municipal Utility District
(SMUD) and the City of Roseville
(Roseville) will participate in a joint
SEIS and Environmental Impact Report
(EIR) to address the proposed
construction and operation of about 38
miles of 230-kilovolt (kV), new doublecircuit transmission line in the
Sacramento, California, area.
VerDate Aug<31>2005
15:42 May 08, 2006
Jkt 208001
Western prepared a Draft
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
for the SVS in November 2002 and a
final EIS in September 2003. A Record
of Decision (ROD) was signed on
January 12, 2004. In the ROD, Western
made commitments to conduct air,
biological, and cultural surveys after
funding was secured. SMUD and
Roseville have since committed to share
in conducting more detailed Project
studies and are negotiating funding a
voltage support project. Additional
alternatives will be analyzed in this SVS
SEIS and EIR.
DATES: Open-house public scoping
meetings will be held June 5 and 7,
2006, from 4 to 7 p.m. Western invites
interested agencies, tribes,
organizations, and members of the
public to submit comments or
suggestions to assist in identifying
environmental issues and in
determining the appropriate scope of
the SEIS and EIR. The public scoping
period starts with the publication of this
notice in the Federal Register and will
continue until June 16, 2006. To be
assured consideration, all comments or
suggestions regarding the appropriate
scope must be received by the end of the
scoping period.
ADDRESSES: Open-house public scoping
meetings will be held June 5, 2006 (4 to
7 p.m.), at the South Natomas Library,
2901 Truxel Road, Sacramento,
California, and June 7, 2006 (4 to 7
p.m.), at the Pleasant Grove School,
3075 Howsley Road, Pleasant Grove,
PO 00000
Frm 00042
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
California. Written comments regarding
the scoping process should be addressed
to Ms. Loreen McMahon, Project
Manager, Western Area Power
Administration, 114 Parkshore Drive,
Folsom, CA 95630–4710; toll-free
telephone (866) 859–5126; fax (916)
985–1935, or e-mail svs-seis@wapa.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms.
Loreen McMahon, Project Manager,
Western Area Power Administration,
telephone (866) 859–5126; fax (916)
985–1935, or e-mail svs-seis@wapa.gov.
For general information on DOE’s NEPA
review procedures or status of a NEPA
review, contact Ms. Carol M. Borgstrom,
Director of NEPA Policy and
Compliance, EH–42, U.S. Department of
Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue
SW., Washington, DC 20585, telephone
(202) 586–4600 or (800) 472–2756.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Western is
a power marketing agency of DOE that
markets Federal electric power to
statutorily defined customers, including
project use, municipalities, irrigation
districts, and Native American tribes.
Western prepared a Draft EIS on the
SVS in November 2002 and a final EIS
in September 2003. The ROD was
signed on January 12, 2004, for the
proposed project (69 FR 1721). The EIS
and ROD are available upon request by
contacting Ms. McMahon as described
above. The ROD can also be found on
the World Wide Web at https://
www.wapa.gov/fedreg/fedreg04.htm.
The previous EIS analyzed
environmental impacts of alternatives to
E:\FR\FM\09MYN1.SGM
09MYN1
mstockstill on PROD1PC68 with NOTICES
26962
Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 89 / Tuesday, May 9, 2006 / Notices
improve electric system reliability and
provide voltage support for the
Sacramento area. The ROD was based
upon the analysis in the previous SVS
EIS. It stated, ‘‘ * * * should the SVS
project proceed, it should follow the
configuration of the preferred
alternative described in the SVS Final
EIS.’’ This alternative is identified as
Proposed Action Option B and would
consist of (1) reconductoring the doublecircuit, 230-kV transmission line from
Elverta Substation to Tracy Substation,
(2) constructing a new double-circuit,
230-kV transmission line from O’Banion
Substation to Elverta Substation, and (3)
realigning the transmission line near
Pleasant Grove Cemetery between
O’Banion and Elverta Substations and
Option B of the Cottonwood-Roseville
single-circuit, 230-kV transmission line.
In the ROD, Western committed to
completing more detailed analyses on
air, biological, and cultural resources
and consultations for Section 7 of the
Endangered Species Act and Section
106 of the National Historic
Preservation Act.
Since the ROD was issued, SMUD and
Roseville have provided funding for
environmental studies. Western, SMUD,
and Roseville identified additional
routing alternatives from O’Banion
Substation to Elverta and/or Natomas
Substations. The National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
applies to Western, a Federal agency.
The California Environmental Quality
Act (CEQA) requirements apply to both
SMUD and Roseville. A joint NEPA/
CEQA document will be developed,
with SMUD as the CEQA lead agency.
The SEIS and EIR will analyze the
environmental impacts from the
construction and operation of a
proposed new transmission line
between O’Banion Substation and
Elverta and/or Natomas Substations for
the SVS Project near Sacramento,
California. While some of the routing
alternatives were already analyzed in
the original EIS, Western plans to
include them in the SEIS and EIR.
The SEIS and EIR will address the
environmental impacts of the
construction and operation of about 38
miles of new double-circuit, 230-kV
transmission line within portions of
Sacramento, Sutter, and Placer
Counties. The SVS SEIS and EIR will
evaluate alternative transmission line
routes between O’Banion Substation
and Elverta and/or Natomas
Substations, based on scoping results.
Western’s SEIS process will comply
with NEPA (42 U.S.C. 4321–4347, as
amended), Council on Environmental
Quality regulations for implementing
NEPA (40 Code of Federal Regulations
VerDate Aug<31>2005
15:42 May 08, 2006
Jkt 208001
[CFR] parts 1500–1508) and DOE NEPA
implementing procedures (10 CFR part
1021). SMUD and Roseville’s EIR
process will comply with § 21000 to
§ 21006 of the California Public
Resources Code, as amended. Because
the proposed Project may involve action
in floodplains, the SEIS will include a
floodplain assessment and floodplain
statement of findings following DOE
regulations for compliance with
floodplain and wetlands environmental
review (10 CFR part 1022).
Description
The proposed Project would include
(1) building a new transmission line
from O’Banion Substation to an area
near Cross Canal, (2) building from
Cross Canal to the Elverta Substation
area, and (3) rebuilding an existing
transmission line from the Elverta
Substation area to Natomas Substation.
Three possible routes have been
identified for the second segment.
Western will use the scoping process to
further explore and refine alternatives.
Additional details follow:
Segment 1—O’Banion Substation to
Cross Canal
Segment 1 was analyzed and selected
as part of the Preferred Alternative in
the previous EIS and ROD. Segment 1
would consist of constructing about 17
miles of new 230-kV, double-circuit
transmission line adjacent to an existing
transmission Right-of-Way (ROW) from
O’Banion Substation to an area near
Cross Canal. It would parallel the Sutter
Bypass and cross the Feather River.
Segment 1 would require about 82 new
structures and 9 pulling sites resulting
in about 28 acres of short-term
disturbance and 8 acres of long-term
disturbance.
Segment 2A—Cross Canal to Elverta
Substation, Western Alignment
Segment 2A would consist of
constructing up to about 13 miles of
new 230-kV, double-circuit
transmission line within a new ROW.
This alignment would begin at the
termination of Segment 1 and proceed
along Cross Canal to Highway 99, then
south along Highway 99. At some point
between Riego Road and Elkhorn
Boulevard the route would go east to a
point near East Levee Road then
extending south to intercept SMUD’s
existing Elverta-Natomas Transmission
Line south of Elverta Substation.
Segment 2A would require about 61
new structures, 7 pulling sites, and 9
miles of access road resulting in about
38 acres of short-term disturbance and
23 acres of long-term disturbance.
PO 00000
Frm 00043
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Segment 2B—Cross Canal to Elverta
Substation, Abandoned Railroad ROW
Alignment
Segment 2B would consist of
constructing about 10 miles of new 230kV, double-circuit transmission line
along the alignment of an abandoned
railroad ROW from the termination of
Segment 1 and proceed southeast to an
area north of Rio Linda Boulevard. From
there, it would continue southwest
along the existing ROW and tie into
SMUD’s existing Elverta-Natomas
Transmission Line south of Elverta
Substation. Small areas near Rio Linda
Boulevard and Elverta Road also would
require new transmission line
easements. Segment 2B would require
about 45 new structures, 5 pulling sites,
and 10 miles of access roads resulting in
about 35 acres of short-term disturbance
and 22 acres of long-term disturbance.
Segment 2C—Cross Canal to Elverta
Substation, Eastern Alignment
Segment 2C was analyzed and
selected as part of the Preferred
Alternative in the previous EIS and
ROD. In the previous EIS, this alignment
was identified as Option B and was
comprised of line segments A/ A1, B, F,
G, H, I, and J. The first element of this
alignment would reroute the existing
Cottonwood-Roseville 230-kV
Transmission Line to the east. This
reroute would originate at Tower 143/3
and proceed east with construction of
new 230-kV transmission line about 4
miles and then south for about 2 miles
to rejoin the existing CottonwoodRoseville Transmission Line between
Towers 152/2 and 152/3.
The second element would consist of
constructing about 9 miles of new 230kV, double-circuit transmission line
adjacent to an existing transmission
ROW from the termination of Segment
1 near Cross Canal, south to
approximately Locust Road. It would
then continue south, using the vacated
Cottonwood-Roseville easement/ROW
(from element 1 above) and the other
existing ROW to tie into SMUD’s
existing Elverta-Natomas Transmission
Line south of Elverta Substation. Small
areas around Elverta Road would
require new transmission line
easements. Both elements of Segment
2C would include constructing about 15
miles of new transmission line and
abandoning 6 miles of existing
transmission line. This would require
building about 74 new structures, 8
pulling sites, and 7 miles of access road
resulting in about 37 acres of short-term
disturbance and 19 acres of long-term
disturbance.
E:\FR\FM\09MYN1.SGM
09MYN1
Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 89 / Tuesday, May 9, 2006 / Notices
Segment 3—Elverta Substation to
Natomas Substation
Segment 3 would consist of
rebuilding about 5 miles of an existing
115/230-kV, double-circuit transmission
line within an existing ROW between
Elverta and Natomas Substations. This
would require about 23 new structures
and 3 pulling sites resulting in about 7
acres of short-term disturbance and
about 3 acres of long-term disturbance.
No Action
The No Action alternative was
analyzed in the previous EIS and is
comprised of continued operation and
maintenance of existing facilities. If
Western determines a need for
additional analysis, it will be included
in the SEIS.
mstockstill on PROD1PC68 with NOTICES
Agency Responsibilities
Western has determined that an SEIS
is required under DOE NEPA
Implementing Procedures, 10 CFR
1021.314(a), regarding supplemental
EISs. Western will be the lead Federal
agency for preparing the SEIS, as
defined in 40 CFR 1501.5. In addition,
SMUD and Roseville have been
designated cooperating agencies.
Western will invite other Federal, state,
local, and tribal agencies with
jurisdiction by law or special expertise,
with respect to environmental issues, to
be cooperating agencies on the SEIS, as
defined in 40 CFR 1501.6. Such
agencies also may make a request to
Western to be a cooperating agency.
Designated cooperating agencies have
certain responsibilities to support the
NEPA process, as specified in 40 CFR
1501.6(b). As a Federal agency, CEQA
does not apply to Western. SMUD is the
lead state agency in the CEQA EIR
process.
Environmental Issues
This notice is to inform agencies and
the public of the proposed Project and
solicit comments and suggestions for
consideration in preparing the SEIS and
EIR. To help the public frame its
comments, this notice contains a list of
potential environmental issues Western
has tentatively identified for analysis.
These issues include:
1. Impacts on protected, threatened,
endangered, or sensitive species of
animals or plants or their critical
habitats;
2. Impacts on other biological
resources;
3. Impacts on land use, recreation,
and transportation;
4. Impacts on floodplains and
wetlands;
5. Impacts on cultural or historic
resources and tribal values;
VerDate Aug<31>2005
15:42 May 08, 2006
Jkt 208001
6. Impacts on human health and
safety;
7. Impacts on air, soil, and water
resources (including air quality, surface
water impacts, and ground water
impacts);
8. Visual impacts; and
9. Socioeconomic impacts and
disproportionately high and adverse
impacts to minority and low-income
populations.
This list is not intended to be allinclusive or to imply any
predetermination of impacts. Western
invites interested parties to suggest
specific issues within these general
categories, or other issues not included
above, to be considered in the SEIS.
Public Participation
Opportunities for public participation
are planned for the entire SEIS process.
Western anticipates the SEIS process
will take about 15 months and will
include open-house public scoping
meetings; consultation and involvement
with appropriate Federal, state, local,
and tribal governmental agencies; public
review and hearings on the published
Draft SEIS and EIR; a review and
comment period; a published Final SEIS
and EIR; and publication of a ROD.
Additional informal public meetings
may be held in the proposed Project
area if public interest and issues
indicate a need. Western also will mail
newsletters to the proposed Project
mailing list to communicate Project
status and developments.
Western will hold a scoping period of
at least 30 days to ensure that interested
members of the public, representatives
of groups, and Federal, state, local, and
tribal agencies have an opportunity to
provide input on the scope of
alternatives and issues that will be
addressed in the SEIS and EIR. As part
of the scoping period, Western will hold
public open-house scoping meetings in
the Project area. Interested individuals
and groups are invited to attend anytime
between 4 and 7 p.m., according to the
dates and locations noted above. The
open-house scoping meetings will be
informal, with Western and Project
representatives available for one-on-one
discussions with attendees. Attendees
will have the opportunity to view maps
of the transmission line alternative
routes, learn about the NEPA process,
the proposed schedule, and additional
information. Written comments
regarding environmental issues,
alternatives, and other scoping issues
may be turned in at the scoping
meetings or may be provided by fax, email, U.S. Postal Service, or other
carrier to Western. To be assured
consideration, all written comments
PO 00000
Frm 00044
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
26963
must be received before the close of the
SVS SEIS and EIR scoping period.
Dated: May 1, 2006.
Michael S. Hacskaylo,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. E6–7036 Filed 5–8–06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450–01–P
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
[EPA–HQ–ORD–2006–0423; FRL–8168–1]
Board of Scientific Counselors,
Executive Committee Meeting—June
2006
Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice of meeting.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: Pursuant to the Federal
Advisory Committee Act, Public Law
92–463, the Environmental Protection
Agency, Office of Research and
Development (ORD), gives notice of one
meeting of the Board of Scientific
Counselors (BOSC) Executive
Committee.
The meeting will be held on
Thursday June 1, 2006 from 9 a.m. to
5:30 p.m. The meeting will continue on
Friday, June 2, 2006 from 8:30 a.m. to
1:45 p.m. All times noted are eastern
time. The meeting may adjourn early if
all business is finished. Requests for the
draft agenda or for making oral
presentations at the meeting will be
accepted up to 1 business day before the
meeting.
ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at
the Monte Carlo Hotel and Casino, 3770
Las Vegas Boulevard South, Las Vegas,
Nevada 89109. Submit your comments,
identified by Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–
ORD–2006–0423, by one of the
following methods:
• https://www.regulations.gov: Follow
the on-line instructions for submitting
comments.
• E-mail: Send comments by
electronic mail (e-mail) to:
ORD.Docket@epa.gov, Attention Docket
ID No. EPA-HQ-ORD–2006–0423.
• Fax: Fax comments to: (202) 566–
0224, Attention Docket ID No. EPA-HQORD–2006–0423.
• Mail: Send comments by mail to:
Board of Scientific Counselors,
Executive Committee Meeting—June
2006 Docket, Mailcode: 28221T, 1200
Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington,
DC 20460, Attention Docket ID No.
EPA–HQ–ORD–2006–0423.
• Hand Delivery or Courier. Deliver
comments to: EPA Docket Center (EPA/
DC), Room B102, EPA West Building,
DATES:
E:\FR\FM\09MYN1.SGM
09MYN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 89 (Tuesday, May 9, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26961-26963]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-7036]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Western Area Power Administration
Construction and Operation of the Sacramento Area Voltage Support
Project, Sacramento, Sutter, and Placer Counties, CA
AGENCY: Western Area Power Administration, DOE.
ACTION: Notice of Intent to prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact
Statement (SEIS), and conduct scoping meetings; Notice of Floodplain
and Wetlands Involvement.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Western Area Power Administration (Western), Department of
Energy (DOE), intends to prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact
Statement (SEIS) to construct and operate a transmission line for the
Sacramento Area Voltage Support (SVS) Project (Project) in California.
The Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) and the City of
Roseville (Roseville) will participate in a joint SEIS and
Environmental Impact Report (EIR) to address the proposed construction
and operation of about 38 miles of 230-kilovolt (kV), new double-
circuit transmission line in the Sacramento, California, area.
Western prepared a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for
the SVS in November 2002 and a final EIS in September 2003. A Record of
Decision (ROD) was signed on January 12, 2004. In the ROD, Western made
commitments to conduct air, biological, and cultural surveys after
funding was secured. SMUD and Roseville have since committed to share
in conducting more detailed Project studies and are negotiating funding
a voltage support project. Additional alternatives will be analyzed in
this SVS SEIS and EIR.
DATES: Open-house public scoping meetings will be held June 5 and 7,
2006, from 4 to 7 p.m. Western invites interested agencies, tribes,
organizations, and members of the public to submit comments or
suggestions to assist in identifying environmental issues and in
determining the appropriate scope of the SEIS and EIR. The public
scoping period starts with the publication of this notice in the
Federal Register and will continue until June 16, 2006. To be assured
consideration, all comments or suggestions regarding the appropriate
scope must be received by the end of the scoping period.
ADDRESSES: Open-house public scoping meetings will be held June 5, 2006
(4 to 7 p.m.), at the South Natomas Library, 2901 Truxel Road,
Sacramento, California, and June 7, 2006 (4 to 7 p.m.), at the Pleasant
Grove School, 3075 Howsley Road, Pleasant Grove, California. Written
comments regarding the scoping process should be addressed to Ms.
Loreen McMahon, Project Manager, Western Area Power Administration, 114
Parkshore Drive, Folsom, CA 95630-4710; toll-free telephone (866) 859-
5126; fax (916) 985-1935, or e-mail svs-seis@wapa.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Loreen McMahon, Project Manager,
Western Area Power Administration, telephone (866) 859-5126; fax (916)
985-1935, or e-mail svs-seis@wapa.gov. For general information on DOE's
NEPA review procedures or status of a NEPA review, contact Ms. Carol M.
Borgstrom, Director of NEPA Policy and Compliance, EH-42, U.S.
Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC
20585, telephone (202) 586-4600 or (800) 472-2756.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Western is a power marketing agency of DOE
that markets Federal electric power to statutorily defined customers,
including project use, municipalities, irrigation districts, and Native
American tribes. Western prepared a Draft EIS on the SVS in November
2002 and a final EIS in September 2003. The ROD was signed on January
12, 2004, for the proposed project (69 FR 1721). The EIS and ROD are
available upon request by contacting Ms. McMahon as described above.
The ROD can also be found on the World Wide Web at https://www.wapa.gov/
fedreg/fedreg04.htm.
The previous EIS analyzed environmental impacts of alternatives to
[[Page 26962]]
improve electric system reliability and provide voltage support for the
Sacramento area. The ROD was based upon the analysis in the previous
SVS EIS. It stated, `` * * * should the SVS project proceed, it should
follow the configuration of the preferred alternative described in the
SVS Final EIS.'' This alternative is identified as Proposed Action
Option B and would consist of (1) reconductoring the double-circuit,
230-kV transmission line from Elverta Substation to Tracy Substation,
(2) constructing a new double-circuit, 230-kV transmission line from
O'Banion Substation to Elverta Substation, and (3) realigning the
transmission line near Pleasant Grove Cemetery between O'Banion and
Elverta Substations and Option B of the Cottonwood-Roseville single-
circuit, 230-kV transmission line. In the ROD, Western committed to
completing more detailed analyses on air, biological, and cultural
resources and consultations for Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act
and Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act.
Since the ROD was issued, SMUD and Roseville have provided funding
for environmental studies. Western, SMUD, and Roseville identified
additional routing alternatives from O'Banion Substation to Elverta
and/or Natomas Substations. The National Environmental Policy Act
(NEPA) applies to Western, a Federal agency. The California
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requirements apply to both SMUD and
Roseville. A joint NEPA/CEQA document will be developed, with SMUD as
the CEQA lead agency. The SEIS and EIR will analyze the environmental
impacts from the construction and operation of a proposed new
transmission line between O'Banion Substation and Elverta and/or
Natomas Substations for the SVS Project near Sacramento, California.
While some of the routing alternatives were already analyzed in the
original EIS, Western plans to include them in the SEIS and EIR.
The SEIS and EIR will address the environmental impacts of the
construction and operation of about 38 miles of new double-circuit,
230-kV transmission line within portions of Sacramento, Sutter, and
Placer Counties. The SVS SEIS and EIR will evaluate alternative
transmission line routes between O'Banion Substation and Elverta and/or
Natomas Substations, based on scoping results. Western's SEIS process
will comply with NEPA (42 U.S.C. 4321-4347, as amended), Council on
Environmental Quality regulations for implementing NEPA (40 Code of
Federal Regulations [CFR] parts 1500-1508) and DOE NEPA implementing
procedures (10 CFR part 1021). SMUD and Roseville's EIR process will
comply with Sec. 21000 to Sec. 21006 of the California Public
Resources Code, as amended. Because the proposed Project may involve
action in floodplains, the SEIS will include a floodplain assessment
and floodplain statement of findings following DOE regulations for
compliance with floodplain and wetlands environmental review (10 CFR
part 1022).
Description
The proposed Project would include (1) building a new transmission
line from O'Banion Substation to an area near Cross Canal, (2) building
from Cross Canal to the Elverta Substation area, and (3) rebuilding an
existing transmission line from the Elverta Substation area to Natomas
Substation. Three possible routes have been identified for the second
segment. Western will use the scoping process to further explore and
refine alternatives. Additional details follow:
Segment 1--O'Banion Substation to Cross Canal
Segment 1 was analyzed and selected as part of the Preferred
Alternative in the previous EIS and ROD. Segment 1 would consist of
constructing about 17 miles of new 230-kV, double-circuit transmission
line adjacent to an existing transmission Right-of-Way (ROW) from
O'Banion Substation to an area near Cross Canal. It would parallel the
Sutter Bypass and cross the Feather River. Segment 1 would require
about 82 new structures and 9 pulling sites resulting in about 28 acres
of short-term disturbance and 8 acres of long-term disturbance.
Segment 2A--Cross Canal to Elverta Substation, Western Alignment
Segment 2A would consist of constructing up to about 13 miles of
new 230-kV, double-circuit transmission line within a new ROW. This
alignment would begin at the termination of Segment 1 and proceed along
Cross Canal to Highway 99, then south along Highway 99. At some point
between Riego Road and Elkhorn Boulevard the route would go east to a
point near East Levee Road then extending south to intercept SMUD's
existing Elverta-Natomas Transmission Line south of Elverta Substation.
Segment 2A would require about 61 new structures, 7 pulling sites, and
9 miles of access road resulting in about 38 acres of short-term
disturbance and 23 acres of long-term disturbance.
Segment 2B--Cross Canal to Elverta Substation, Abandoned Railroad ROW
Alignment
Segment 2B would consist of constructing about 10 miles of new 230-
kV, double-circuit transmission line along the alignment of an
abandoned railroad ROW from the termination of Segment 1 and proceed
southeast to an area north of Rio Linda Boulevard. From there, it would
continue southwest along the existing ROW and tie into SMUD's existing
Elverta-Natomas Transmission Line south of Elverta Substation. Small
areas near Rio Linda Boulevard and Elverta Road also would require new
transmission line easements. Segment 2B would require about 45 new
structures, 5 pulling sites, and 10 miles of access roads resulting in
about 35 acres of short-term disturbance and 22 acres of long-term
disturbance.
Segment 2C--Cross Canal to Elverta Substation, Eastern Alignment
Segment 2C was analyzed and selected as part of the Preferred
Alternative in the previous EIS and ROD. In the previous EIS, this
alignment was identified as Option B and was comprised of line segments
A/ A1, B, F, G, H, I, and J. The first element of this alignment would
reroute the existing Cottonwood-Roseville 230-kV Transmission Line to
the east. This reroute would originate at Tower 143/3 and proceed east
with construction of new 230-kV transmission line about 4 miles and
then south for about 2 miles to rejoin the existing Cottonwood-
Roseville Transmission Line between Towers 152/2 and 152/3.
The second element would consist of constructing about 9 miles of
new 230-kV, double-circuit transmission line adjacent to an existing
transmission ROW from the termination of Segment 1 near Cross Canal,
south to approximately Locust Road. It would then continue south, using
the vacated Cottonwood-Roseville easement/ROW (from element 1 above)
and the other existing ROW to tie into SMUD's existing Elverta-Natomas
Transmission Line south of Elverta Substation. Small areas around
Elverta Road would require new transmission line easements. Both
elements of Segment 2C would include constructing about 15 miles of new
transmission line and abandoning 6 miles of existing transmission line.
This would require building about 74 new structures, 8 pulling sites,
and 7 miles of access road resulting in about 37 acres of short-term
disturbance and 19 acres of long-term disturbance.
[[Page 26963]]
Segment 3--Elverta Substation to Natomas Substation
Segment 3 would consist of rebuilding about 5 miles of an existing
115/230-kV, double-circuit transmission line within an existing ROW
between Elverta and Natomas Substations. This would require about 23
new structures and 3 pulling sites resulting in about 7 acres of short-
term disturbance and about 3 acres of long-term disturbance.
No Action
The No Action alternative was analyzed in the previous EIS and is
comprised of continued operation and maintenance of existing
facilities. If Western determines a need for additional analysis, it
will be included in the SEIS.
Agency Responsibilities
Western has determined that an SEIS is required under DOE NEPA
Implementing Procedures, 10 CFR 1021.314(a), regarding supplemental
EISs. Western will be the lead Federal agency for preparing the SEIS,
as defined in 40 CFR 1501.5. In addition, SMUD and Roseville have been
designated cooperating agencies. Western will invite other Federal,
state, local, and tribal agencies with jurisdiction by law or special
expertise, with respect to environmental issues, to be cooperating
agencies on the SEIS, as defined in 40 CFR 1501.6. Such agencies also
may make a request to Western to be a cooperating agency. Designated
cooperating agencies have certain responsibilities to support the NEPA
process, as specified in 40 CFR 1501.6(b). As a Federal agency, CEQA
does not apply to Western. SMUD is the lead state agency in the CEQA
EIR process.
Environmental Issues
This notice is to inform agencies and the public of the proposed
Project and solicit comments and suggestions for consideration in
preparing the SEIS and EIR. To help the public frame its comments, this
notice contains a list of potential environmental issues Western has
tentatively identified for analysis. These issues include:
1. Impacts on protected, threatened, endangered, or sensitive
species of animals or plants or their critical habitats;
2. Impacts on other biological resources;
3. Impacts on land use, recreation, and transportation;
4. Impacts on floodplains and wetlands;
5. Impacts on cultural or historic resources and tribal values;
6. Impacts on human health and safety;
7. Impacts on air, soil, and water resources (including air
quality, surface water impacts, and ground water impacts);
8. Visual impacts; and
9. Socioeconomic impacts and disproportionately high and adverse
impacts to minority and low-income populations.
This list is not intended to be all-inclusive or to imply any
predetermination of impacts. Western invites interested parties to
suggest specific issues within these general categories, or other
issues not included above, to be considered in the SEIS.
Public Participation
Opportunities for public participation are planned for the entire
SEIS process. Western anticipates the SEIS process will take about 15
months and will include open-house public scoping meetings;
consultation and involvement with appropriate Federal, state, local,
and tribal governmental agencies; public review and hearings on the
published Draft SEIS and EIR; a review and comment period; a published
Final SEIS and EIR; and publication of a ROD. Additional informal
public meetings may be held in the proposed Project area if public
interest and issues indicate a need. Western also will mail newsletters
to the proposed Project mailing list to communicate Project status and
developments.
Western will hold a scoping period of at least 30 days to ensure
that interested members of the public, representatives of groups, and
Federal, state, local, and tribal agencies have an opportunity to
provide input on the scope of alternatives and issues that will be
addressed in the SEIS and EIR. As part of the scoping period, Western
will hold public open-house scoping meetings in the Project area.
Interested individuals and groups are invited to attend anytime between
4 and 7 p.m., according to the dates and locations noted above. The
open-house scoping meetings will be informal, with Western and Project
representatives available for one-on-one discussions with attendees.
Attendees will have the opportunity to view maps of the transmission
line alternative routes, learn about the NEPA process, the proposed
schedule, and additional information. Written comments regarding
environmental issues, alternatives, and other scoping issues may be
turned in at the scoping meetings or may be provided by fax, e-mail,
U.S. Postal Service, or other carrier to Western. To be assured
consideration, all written comments must be received before the close
of the SVS SEIS and EIR scoping period.
Dated: May 1, 2006.
Michael S. Hacskaylo,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. E6-7036 Filed 5-8-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P
