Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement; Energia Sierra Juarez U.S. Transmission, LLC, 8517-8519 [E9-4049]
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Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 36 / Wednesday, February 25, 2009 / Notices
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[FR Doc. E9–3994 Filed 2–24–09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
[OE Docket No. EA–349]
Application To Export Electric Energy;
Bruce Power Inc.
Office of Electricity Delivery
and Energy Reliability, DOE.
ACTION: Notice of application.
pwalker on PROD1PC71 with NOTICES
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: Bruce Power Inc. has applied
for authority to transmit electric energy
from the United States to Canada
pursuant to section 202(e) of the Federal
Power Act.
DATES: Comments, protests, or requests
to intervene must be submitted on or
before March 27, 2009.
ADDRESSES: Comments, protests, or
requests to intervene should be
addressed as follows: Office of
Electricity Delivery and Energy
Reliability, Mail Code: OE–20, U.S.
Department of Energy, 1000
Independence Avenue, SW.,
VerDate Nov<24>2008
18:09 Feb 24, 2009
Jkt 217001
Washington, DC 20585–0350 (FAX 202–
586–8008).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Ellen Russell (Program Office) 202–586–
9624 or Michael Skinker (Program
Attorney) 202–586–2793.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Exports of
electricity from the United States to a
foreign country are regulated by the
Department of Energy (DOE) pursuant to
sections 301(b) and 402(f) of the
Department of Energy Organization Act
(42 U.S.C. 7151(b), 7172(f)) and require
authorization under section 202(e) of
the FPA (16 U.S.C. 824a(e)).
On February 3, 2009, DOE received an
application from Bruce Power Inc. for
authority to transmit electric energy
from the United States to Canada as a
power marketer using international
transmission facilities located at the
United States border with Canada.
Bruce Power Inc. is incorporated under
the Business Corporations Act (Ontario)
and has its principal place of business
in Tiverton, Ontario, Canada. Bruce
Power Inc. does not own any electric
transmission facilities nor does it hold
a franchised service area. The electric
energy which Bruce Power Inc.
proposes to export to Canada would be
surplus energy purchased from electric
utilities, Federal power marketing
agencies, and other entities within the
United States. Bruce Power Inc. has
requested an electricity export
authorization with a 5-year term.
Bruce Power Inc. will arrange for the
delivery of exports to Canada over the
international transmission facilities
owned by Bangor Hydro-Electric
Company, Basin Electric Power
Cooperative, Bonneville Power
Administration, Eastern Maine Electric
Cooperative, International Transmission
Co., Joint Owners of the Highgate
Project, Long Sault, Inc., Maine Electric
Power Company, Maine Public Service
Company, Minnesota Power, Inc.,
Minnkota Power Cooperative, Inc., New
York Power Authority, Niagara Mohawk
Power Corp., Northern States Power
Company, Vermont Electric Power
Company, and Vermont Electric
Transmission Co.
The construction, operation,
maintenance, and connection of each of
the international transmission facilities
to be utilized by Bruce Power Inc. have
previously been authorized by a
Presidential permit issued pursuant to
Executive Order 10485, as amended.
Procedural Matters: Any person
desiring to become a party to these
proceedings or to be heard by filing
comments or protests to this application
should file a petition to intervene,
comment, or protest at the address
PO 00000
Frm 00022
Fmt 4703
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8517
provided above in accordance with
§§ 385.211 or 385.214 of the Federal
Energy Regulatory Commission’s Rules
of Practice and Procedure (18 CFR
385.211, 385.214). Fifteen copies of each
petition and protest should be filed with
DOE on or before the date listed above.
Comments on the Bruce Power Inc.
application to export electric energy to
Canada should be clearly marked with
Docket No. EA–349. Additional copies
are to be filed directly with Richard
Horrobin, Vice President of Power
Marketing, Bruce Power L.P., 177 Tie
Road, R.R. #2, P.O. Box 1540, Building
B10, Tiverton, ON N0G 2T0 AND Brian
Armstrong, Executive Vice President &
General Counsel, Bruce Power L.P., 177
Tie Road, R.R. #2, P.O. Box 1540,
Building B10, Tiverton, ON N0G 2T0. A
final decision will be made on this
application after the environmental
impacts have been evaluated pursuant
to the National Environmental Policy
Act of 1969, and a determination is
made by DOE that the proposed action
will not adversely impact on the
reliability of the U.S. electric power
supply system.
Copies of this application will be
made available, upon request, for public
inspection and copying at the address
provided above, by accessing the
program Web site at https://
www.oe.energy.gov/
permits_pending.htm, or by e-mailing
Odessa Hopkins at
Odessa.hopkins@hq.doe.gov.
Issued in Washington, DC, on February 18,
2009.
Anthony J. Como,
Director, Permitting and Siting, Office of
Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability.
[FR Doc. E9–4051 Filed 2–24–09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
[OE Docket No. PP–334]
Notice of Intent To Prepare an
Environmental Impact Statement;
Energia Sierra Juarez U.S.
Transmission, LLC
Department of Energy (DOE).
Notice of Intent to Prepare an
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).
AGENCY:
ACTION:
SUMMARY: The Department of Energy
(DOE) announces its intention to
prepare an EIS on the proposed Federal
action of granting a Presidential permit
to construct a new electric transmission
line across the U.S.-Mexico border in
southeastern California. DOE has
determined that issuance of a
Presidential permit for the proposed
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25FEN1
pwalker on PROD1PC71 with NOTICES
8518
Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 36 / Wednesday, February 25, 2009 / Notices
project would constitute a major Federal
action that may have a significant effect
upon the environment within the
meaning of the National Environmental
Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA). For this
reason, DOE intends to prepare an EIS
entitled Energia Sierra Juarez
Transmission Line Environmental
Impact Statement (DOE/EIS–0414) to
address potential environmental
impacts from the proposed action and
reasonable alternatives. The EIS will be
prepared in compliance with NEPA and
applicable regulations, including DOE
NEPA implementing regulations at 10
CFR Part 1021. Because of previous
public participation activities, DOE does
not plan to conduct additional scoping
meetings for this EIS. However, any
timely written comments submitted will
be considered by DOE in determining
the scope of the EIS.
DATES: As discussed below, the public
participation process that DOE
conducted following publication of a
notice of intent to prepare an
environmental assessment will serve as
the scoping for this EIS. DOE will
consider any additional comments
received or postmarked by March 27,
2009 in defining the scope of the EIS.
Comments received or postmarked after
that date will be considered to the
extent practicable.
ADDRESSES: Comments on the scope of
the EIS and requests to be added to the
document mailing list should be
addressed to: Dr. Jerry Pell, Office of
Electricity Delivery and Energy
Reliability (OE–20), U.S. Department of
Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue,
SW., Washington, DC 20585; by
electronic mail to Jerry.Pell@hq.doe.gov;
or by facsimile to 202–318–7761.
For general information on the DOE
NEPA process contact: Ms. Carol M.
Borgstrom, Director, Office of NEPA
Policy and Compliance (GC–20), U.S.
Department of Energy, 1000
Independence Avenue, SW.,
Washington, DC 20585; or by facsimile
at 202–586–7031.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr.
Jerry Pell, 202–586–3362, or
Jerry.Pell@hq.doe.gov. For general
information on the DOE NEPA process,
contact Ms. Carol M. Borgstrom at 202–
586–4600 or leave a message at 800–
472–2756.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Executive
Order (EO) 10485, as amended by EO
12038, requires that a Presidential
permit be issued by DOE before electric
transmission facilities may be
constructed, operated, maintained, or
connected at the U.S. international
border. The EO provides that a
Presidential permit may be issued after
VerDate Nov<24>2008
18:09 Feb 24, 2009
Jkt 217001
a finding that the proposed project is
consistent with the public interest and
after favorable recommendations from
the U.S. Departments of State and
Defense. In determining consistency
with the public interest, DOE considers
the environmental impacts of the
proposed project under NEPA,
determines the project’s impact on
electric reliability (including whether
the proposed project would adversely
affect the operation of the U.S. electric
power supply system under normal and
contingency conditions), and considers
any other factors that DOE may find
relevant to the public interest. The
regulations implementing the EO have
been codified at 10 CFR 205.320–
205.329. DOE’s issuance of a
Presidential permit indicates that there
is no Federal objection to the project,
but does not mandate that the project be
undertaken.
Energia Sierra Juarez U.S.
Transmission, LLC (ESJ, formerly Baja
Wind U.S. Transmission, LLC), has
applied to DOE’s Office of Electricity
Delivery and Energy Reliability (OE) for
a Presidential permit to construct either
a double-circuit 230,000-volt (230-kV)
or a single-circuit 500-kV transmission
line on either lattice towers or steel
monopoles. ESJ’s proposed transmission
line would connect wind turbines (the
La Rumorosa Project) to be located in
the vicinity of La Rumorosa, Baja
California, Mexico, to the existing
Southwest Powerlink (SWPL) 500-kV
transmission line. The ESJ Presidential
permit application, including associated
maps and drawings, can be downloaded
in its entirety from the DOE program
Web site at https://www.oe.energy.gov/
permits_pending.htm (see PP–334).
One portion of the proposed
transmission project would consist of
two miles of transmission located in
Mexico that would be constructed,
owned, operated, and maintained by a
subsidiary of Sempra Energy Mexico
and would be subject to the permitting
requirements of the Mexican
Government. The remaining portion of
the proposed transmission project
would consist of a one-mile
transmission line constructed by ESJ
within the United States on private
land. The entire electrical output of the
La Rumorosa Project (1250 megawatts)
would be dedicated to the U.S. market
and delivered using the proposed
international transmission line. For
reasons discussed below, the EIS will
consider only impacts that occur inside
the United States.
ESJ’s proposed transmission line
would connect to a substation to be
constructed by the San Diego Gas &
Electric Company in response to
PO 00000
Frm 00023
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
requests by power suppliers to connect
to the SWPL. The substation, to be
known as the East County Substation,
would be located just south of the SWPL
right-of-way near the community of
Jacumba, California, and would contain
equipment for accepting
interconnections at both the 230-kV and
the 500-kV level. The 230-kV
connection equipment would be located
just to the west of the 500-kV
connection equipment, both within the
confines of the substation boundary.
Accordingly, ESJ has identified two
routing/voltage alternatives to coincide
with interconnection at the 230-kV or at
the 500-kV level.
Agency Purpose and Need, Proposed
Action, and Alternatives
The purpose and need for DOE’s
action is to decide whether to grant
ESJ’s application for a Presidential
permit for the proposed international
electric transmission line. DOE’s
proposed action is to issue a
Presidential permit for the construction,
operation, maintenance, and connection
of the proposed international electric
transmission line. If granted, the
Presidential permit would authorize
only the one-mile portion of the
applicant’s proposal that would be
constructed and operated wholly within
the United States.
Both of ESJ’s proposed route
alternatives would cross the U.S.Mexico border at the same location.
However, the route alternative
identified as A1 in the Presidential
permit application would be
constructed at 500-kV and would be the
eastern alternative; the other route
alternative, identified as A2, would be
constructed at 230-kV and be located to
the west of the A1 alternative. Both
alternatives would be located wholly
within private property in eastern San
Diego County near the unincorporated
community of Jacumba. In addition to
the alternatives proposed by ESJ, DOE
will also consider the environmental
impacts of a ‘‘No Action’’ alternative.
DOE originally considered an
environmental assessment (EA) (to be
titled Baja Wind U.S. Transmission
Environmental Assessment) to be the
appropriate level of review under
NEPA. DOE published a Notice of Intent
to Prepare an Environmental
Assessment and to Conduct Public
Scoping Meetings in the Federal
Register on August 4, 2008 (73 FR
45218). In that notice DOE stated ‘‘if at
any time during preparation of the EA
DOE determines that an environmental
impact statement (EIS) is needed * * *
DOE will consider any comments on the
scope of the EA received during [the EA
E:\FR\FM\25FEN1.SGM
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Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 36 / Wednesday, February 25, 2009 / Notices
scoping process] in preparing such an
EIS.’’
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Identification of Environmental Issues
When publishing its notice of intent
to prepare an EA on August 4, 2008,
DOE opened a 30-day scoping period
during which the public was invited to
participate in the identification of
potential environmental impacts that
may result from construction of the ESJ
transmission line project and reasonable
alternatives. DOE conducted two
scoping meetings in Jacumba. Nine
issues and concerns were identified as
a result of the scoping opportunity.
These issues and concerns are (1) visual
impacts, (2) avian mortality, (3) impacts
to protected, threatened, endangered, or
sensitive species of animals or plants, or
their critical habitats, (4) impacts to
cultural or historic resources, (6)
impacts to human health and safety, (6)
impacts to air, soil, and water, (7) land
use impacts, (8) impacts of seismic
activity, and (9) impacts from
development of wind generation. In the
EIS DOE will analyze these issues and
others it finds appropriate to address,
such as greenhouse gas emissions and
global climate change and also
intentional destructive acts, such as
terrorism. No additional construction or
routing alternatives were proposed as a
result of the scoping process.
Several commenters in this
proceeding have asked DOE to evaluate
the impacts associated with activities
that will occur inside Mexico (e.g., from
the construction and operation in
Mexico of the wind generators). NEPA
does not require an analysis of
environmental impacts that occur
within another sovereign nation that
result from approved actions by that
nation. The EIS, however, will evaluate
all relevant environmental impacts
within the U.S. related to or caused by
project-related activities in Mexico.
Based on comments received during
the initial EA process, and the potential
for public controversy, DOE has
determined an EIS to be the proper
NEPA compliance document.
EIS Preparation and Schedule
In preparing the Draft EIS, DOE will
consider comments received during the
scoping period. Because of previous
public participation activities, DOE does
not plan to conduct additional scoping
meetings for this EIS. However, any
timely additional written comments
submitted will be considered by DOE in
determining the scope of the EIS.
DOE anticipates issuing a Draft EIS in
the fall of 2009. DOE will provide a
public comment period of at least 45
days from the Environmental Protection
VerDate Nov<24>2008
18:09 Feb 24, 2009
Jkt 217001
Agency’s (EPA’s) Notice of Availability
(NOA) of the Draft EIS and will hold at
least one public hearing during the
public comment period.
DOE will include all comments
received on the Draft EIS, and responses
to those comments, in the Final EIS.
DOE will issue a Record of Decision no
sooner than 30 days from EPA’s NOA of
the Final EIS.
Persons who submitted comments
during the scoping process will receive
a copy of the Draft EIS. Other persons
who would like to receive a copy of the
document for review when it is issued
should notify Dr. Jerry Pell at the
address provided above.
Issued in Washington, DC, on February 18,
2009.
Patricia A. Hoffman,
Acting Assistant Secretary, Office of
Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability.
[FR Doc. E9–4049 Filed 2–24–09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission
[Project No. 12619–002; Project No. 13363–
000; Project No. 13364–000; Project No.
13366–000]
Cascade Creek, LLC; City and Borough
of Wrangell, AK; Petersburg Municipal
Power and Light; City of Angoon, AK;
Notice of Competing Preliminary
Permit Applications Accepted for
Filing and Soliciting Comment,
Motions To Intervene, and Competing
Applications
February 18, 2009.
Cascade Creek, LLC (Cascade), City
and Borough of Wrangell, Alaska
(Wrangell), Petersburg Municipal Power
and Light (Petersburg) and the City of
Angoon, Alaska filed applications,
pursuant to section 4(f) of the Federal
Power Act, proposing to study the
feasibility of the Ruth Lake Project, to be
located on Ruth Lake and Delta Creek,
in an unorganized Borough near
Petersburg, Alaska. There are no
existing facilities. The project would be
located in the Tongass National Forest.
All of these applications were filed
electronically and given the filing date
of February 3, 2009, at 8:30 a.m.
The proposed Ruth Lake Projects:
The proposed Ruth Lake Project by
Cascade Creek, LLC for Project No.
12619–002 filed on February 3, 2009 at
8:30 a.m. would consist of: (1) A
proposed 170-foot-high concrete arch
dam at the exit of the natural Ruth Lake;
(2) an existing reservoir having a surface
area of 130 acres and a storage capacity
PO 00000
Frm 00024
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
8519
of 17,000 acre-feet and normal water
surface elevation of 1,527 feet mean sea
level (msl); (3) a proposed 12,600-footlong, 6 to 12-inch diameter combination
bored tunnel and steel penstock; (4) a
proposed powerhouse containing three
new generating units having an installed
capacity of 20 megawatts; (5) an existing
20-mile-long, 138 kilovolt transmission
line; and (6) appurtenant facilities. The
proposed Ruth Lake Project would have
an average annual generation of 70
gigawatt-hours. Cascade is also
exploring alternatives that would
connect this project to their Cascade
Creek Project, which they have
preliminary permit for FERC No. 12495.
The proposed Ruth Lake Project by
City and Borough of Wrangell, Alaska
for Project No. 13363–000 filed on
February 3, 2009 at 8:30 a.m. would
consist of: (1) A proposed 170-foot-high
concrete arch dam at the exit of the
natural Ruth Lake; (2) an existing
reservoir having a surface area of 130
acres and a storage capacity of 17,000
acre-feet and normal water surface
elevation of 1,527 feet mean sea level
(msl); (3) a proposed 12,600-foot-long, 6
to 12-foot diameter combination bored
tunnel and steel penstock; (4) a
proposed powerhouse containing three
new generating units having an installed
capacity of 20 megawatts; (5) an existing
20-mile-long, 138 kilovolt transmission
line; and (6) appurtenant facilities. The
proposed Ruth Lake Project would have
an average annual generation of 70
gigawatt-hours.
The proposed Ruth Lake Project by
Petersburg Municipal Power and Light
for Project No. 13363–000 filed on
February 3, 2009 at 8:30 a.m. would
consist of: (1) A proposed 200-foot-high
concrete faced rockfill dam at the exit of
the natural Ruth Lake; (2) an existing
reservoir having a surface area of 190
acres and a storage capacity of 17,000
acre-feet and normal water surface
elevation of 1,560 feet mean sea level
(msl); (3) a proposed 3,500-foot-long, 10foot diameter tunnel and a 7,800-footlong, 6-foot-diameter steel penstock; (4)
a proposed powerhouse containing
three new generating units having an
installed capacity of 20 megawatts; (5)
would connect directly to their
distribution system; and (6) appurtenant
facilities. The proposed Ruth Lake
Project would have an average annual
generation of 70 gigawatt-hours.
The proposed Ruth Lake Project by
City of Angoon, Alaska for Project No.
13366–000 filed on February 3, 2009 at
8:30 a.m. would consist of: (1) A
proposed 170-foot-high concrete arched
dam at the exit of the natural Ruth Lake;
(2) an existing reservoir having a surface
area of 130 acres and a storage capacity
E:\FR\FM\25FEN1.SGM
25FEN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 36 (Wednesday, February 25, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8517-8519]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-4049]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
[OE Docket No. PP-334]
Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement;
Energia Sierra Juarez U.S. Transmission, LLC
AGENCY: Department of Energy (DOE).
ACTION: Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement
(EIS).
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Department of Energy (DOE) announces its intention to
prepare an EIS on the proposed Federal action of granting a
Presidential permit to construct a new electric transmission line
across the U.S.-Mexico border in southeastern California. DOE has
determined that issuance of a Presidential permit for the proposed
[[Page 8518]]
project would constitute a major Federal action that may have a
significant effect upon the environment within the meaning of the
National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA). For this reason, DOE
intends to prepare an EIS entitled Energia Sierra Juarez Transmission
Line Environmental Impact Statement (DOE/EIS-0414) to address potential
environmental impacts from the proposed action and reasonable
alternatives. The EIS will be prepared in compliance with NEPA and
applicable regulations, including DOE NEPA implementing regulations at
10 CFR Part 1021. Because of previous public participation activities,
DOE does not plan to conduct additional scoping meetings for this EIS.
However, any timely written comments submitted will be considered by
DOE in determining the scope of the EIS.
DATES: As discussed below, the public participation process that DOE
conducted following publication of a notice of intent to prepare an
environmental assessment will serve as the scoping for this EIS. DOE
will consider any additional comments received or postmarked by March
27, 2009 in defining the scope of the EIS. Comments received or
postmarked after that date will be considered to the extent
practicable.
ADDRESSES: Comments on the scope of the EIS and requests to be added to
the document mailing list should be addressed to: Dr. Jerry Pell,
Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability (OE-20), U.S.
Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC
20585; by electronic mail to Jerry.Pell@hq.doe.gov; or by facsimile to
202-318-7761.
For general information on the DOE NEPA process contact: Ms. Carol
M. Borgstrom, Director, Office of NEPA Policy and Compliance (GC-20),
U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington,
DC 20585; or by facsimile at 202-586-7031.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Jerry Pell, 202-586-3362, or
Jerry.Pell@hq.doe.gov. For general information on the DOE NEPA process,
contact Ms. Carol M. Borgstrom at 202-586-4600 or leave a message at
800-472-2756.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Executive Order (EO) 10485, as amended by EO
12038, requires that a Presidential permit be issued by DOE before
electric transmission facilities may be constructed, operated,
maintained, or connected at the U.S. international border. The EO
provides that a Presidential permit may be issued after a finding that
the proposed project is consistent with the public interest and after
favorable recommendations from the U.S. Departments of State and
Defense. In determining consistency with the public interest, DOE
considers the environmental impacts of the proposed project under NEPA,
determines the project's impact on electric reliability (including
whether the proposed project would adversely affect the operation of
the U.S. electric power supply system under normal and contingency
conditions), and considers any other factors that DOE may find relevant
to the public interest. The regulations implementing the EO have been
codified at 10 CFR 205.320-205.329. DOE's issuance of a Presidential
permit indicates that there is no Federal objection to the project, but
does not mandate that the project be undertaken.
Energia Sierra Juarez U.S. Transmission, LLC (ESJ, formerly Baja
Wind U.S. Transmission, LLC), has applied to DOE's Office of
Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability (OE) for a Presidential
permit to construct either a double-circuit 230,000-volt (230-kV) or a
single-circuit 500-kV transmission line on either lattice towers or
steel monopoles. ESJ's proposed transmission line would connect wind
turbines (the La Rumorosa Project) to be located in the vicinity of La
Rumorosa, Baja California, Mexico, to the existing Southwest Powerlink
(SWPL) 500-kV transmission line. The ESJ Presidential permit
application, including associated maps and drawings, can be downloaded
in its entirety from the DOE program Web site at https://
www.oe.energy.gov/permits_pending.htm (see PP-334).
One portion of the proposed transmission project would consist of
two miles of transmission located in Mexico that would be constructed,
owned, operated, and maintained by a subsidiary of Sempra Energy Mexico
and would be subject to the permitting requirements of the Mexican
Government. The remaining portion of the proposed transmission project
would consist of a one-mile transmission line constructed by ESJ within
the United States on private land. The entire electrical output of the
La Rumorosa Project (1250 megawatts) would be dedicated to the U.S.
market and delivered using the proposed international transmission
line. For reasons discussed below, the EIS will consider only impacts
that occur inside the United States.
ESJ's proposed transmission line would connect to a substation to
be constructed by the San Diego Gas & Electric Company in response to
requests by power suppliers to connect to the SWPL. The substation, to
be known as the East County Substation, would be located just south of
the SWPL right-of-way near the community of Jacumba, California, and
would contain equipment for accepting interconnections at both the 230-
kV and the 500-kV level. The 230-kV connection equipment would be
located just to the west of the 500-kV connection equipment, both
within the confines of the substation boundary. Accordingly, ESJ has
identified two routing/voltage alternatives to coincide with
interconnection at the 230-kV or at the 500-kV level.
Agency Purpose and Need, Proposed Action, and Alternatives
The purpose and need for DOE's action is to decide whether to grant
ESJ's application for a Presidential permit for the proposed
international electric transmission line. DOE's proposed action is to
issue a Presidential permit for the construction, operation,
maintenance, and connection of the proposed international electric
transmission line. If granted, the Presidential permit would authorize
only the one-mile portion of the applicant's proposal that would be
constructed and operated wholly within the United States.
Both of ESJ's proposed route alternatives would cross the U.S.-
Mexico border at the same location. However, the route alternative
identified as A1 in the Presidential permit application would be
constructed at 500-kV and would be the eastern alternative; the other
route alternative, identified as A2, would be constructed at 230-kV and
be located to the west of the A1 alternative. Both alternatives would
be located wholly within private property in eastern San Diego County
near the unincorporated community of Jacumba. In addition to the
alternatives proposed by ESJ, DOE will also consider the environmental
impacts of a ``No Action'' alternative.
DOE originally considered an environmental assessment (EA) (to be
titled Baja Wind U.S. Transmission Environmental Assessment) to be the
appropriate level of review under NEPA. DOE published a Notice of
Intent to Prepare an Environmental Assessment and to Conduct Public
Scoping Meetings in the Federal Register on August 4, 2008 (73 FR
45218). In that notice DOE stated ``if at any time during preparation
of the EA DOE determines that an environmental impact statement (EIS)
is needed * * * DOE will consider any comments on the scope of the EA
received during [the EA
[[Page 8519]]
scoping process] in preparing such an EIS.''
Identification of Environmental Issues
When publishing its notice of intent to prepare an EA on August 4,
2008, DOE opened a 30-day scoping period during which the public was
invited to participate in the identification of potential environmental
impacts that may result from construction of the ESJ transmission line
project and reasonable alternatives. DOE conducted two scoping meetings
in Jacumba. Nine issues and concerns were identified as a result of the
scoping opportunity. These issues and concerns are (1) visual impacts,
(2) avian mortality, (3) impacts to protected, threatened, endangered,
or sensitive species of animals or plants, or their critical habitats,
(4) impacts to cultural or historic resources, (6) impacts to human
health and safety, (6) impacts to air, soil, and water, (7) land use
impacts, (8) impacts of seismic activity, and (9) impacts from
development of wind generation. In the EIS DOE will analyze these
issues and others it finds appropriate to address, such as greenhouse
gas emissions and global climate change and also intentional
destructive acts, such as terrorism. No additional construction or
routing alternatives were proposed as a result of the scoping process.
Several commenters in this proceeding have asked DOE to evaluate
the impacts associated with activities that will occur inside Mexico
(e.g., from the construction and operation in Mexico of the wind
generators). NEPA does not require an analysis of environmental impacts
that occur within another sovereign nation that result from approved
actions by that nation. The EIS, however, will evaluate all relevant
environmental impacts within the U.S. related to or caused by project-
related activities in Mexico.
Based on comments received during the initial EA process, and the
potential for public controversy, DOE has determined an EIS to be the
proper NEPA compliance document.
EIS Preparation and Schedule
In preparing the Draft EIS, DOE will consider comments received
during the scoping period. Because of previous public participation
activities, DOE does not plan to conduct additional scoping meetings
for this EIS. However, any timely additional written comments submitted
will be considered by DOE in determining the scope of the EIS.
DOE anticipates issuing a Draft EIS in the fall of 2009. DOE will
provide a public comment period of at least 45 days from the
Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) Notice of Availability (NOA)
of the Draft EIS and will hold at least one public hearing during the
public comment period.
DOE will include all comments received on the Draft EIS, and
responses to those comments, in the Final EIS. DOE will issue a Record
of Decision no sooner than 30 days from EPA's NOA of the Final EIS.
Persons who submitted comments during the scoping process will
receive a copy of the Draft EIS. Other persons who would like to
receive a copy of the document for review when it is issued should
notify Dr. Jerry Pell at the address provided above.
Issued in Washington, DC, on February 18, 2009.
Patricia A. Hoffman,
Acting Assistant Secretary, Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy
Reliability.
[FR Doc. E9-4049 Filed 2-24-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P
