Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Southline Transmission Line Project in New Mexico and Arizona (DOE/EIS-0474) and Possible Land Use Plan Amendments, 20411-20413 [2012-8094]
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Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 65 / Wednesday, April 4, 2012 / Notices
state, and local agencies, along with
tribes and other stakeholders that may
be interested or affected by the BLM’s
decision on this project are invited to
participate in the scoping process and,
if eligible, may request or be requested
by the BLM to participate as a
cooperating agency. Before including
your address, phone number, email
address, or 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 ask us in your comment to
withhold your personal identifying
information from public review, we
cannot guarantee that we will be able to
do so.
The minutes and list of attendees for
each scoping meeting will be available
to the public and open for 30 days after
the meeting to any participant who
wishes to clarify the views he or she
expressed. The BLM will evaluate
identified issues to be addressed in the
plan, and will place them into one of
three categories:
1. Issues to be resolved in the plan
amendment;
2. Issues to be resolved through policy
or administrative action; or
3. Issues beyond the scope of this plan
amendment.
The BLM will provide an explanation
in the Draft RMP/Draft EIS as to why an
issue was placed in category two or
three. The public is also encouraged to
help identify any management questions
and concerns that should be addressed
in the plan. The BLM will work
collaboratively with interested parties to
identify the management decisions that
are best suited to local, regional, and
national needs and concerns.
The BLM will use an interdisciplinary
approach to develop the plan
amendment in order to consider the
variety of resource issues and concerns
identified. Specialists with expertise in
the following disciplines will be
involved in the planning process:
rangeland management, minerals and
geology, outdoor recreation,
paleontology, archaeology, wildlife,
lands and realty, hydrology, soils,
sociology and economics.
Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7 and 43 CFR
1610.2.
Thomas Pogacnik,
Deputy State Director.
[FR Doc. 2012–8101 Filed 4–3–12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–40–P
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Western Area Power Administration
[LLNM930000 L51010000.ER0000
LVRWG11G0790 NMNM124104]
Notice of Intent To Prepare an
Environmental Impact Statement for
the Proposed Southline Transmission
Line Project in New Mexico and
Arizona (DOE/EIS–0474) and Possible
Land Use Plan Amendments
Bureau of Land Management,
U.S. Department of the Interior; Western
Area Power Administration, U.S.
Department of Energy.
ACTION: Notice of intent.
AGENCY:
In compliance with the
National Environmental Policy Act of
1969 (NEPA), as amended, and the
Federal Land Policy and Management
Act of 1976 (FLPMA), as amended, the
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Las
Cruces District Office, Las Cruces, New
Mexico, intends to prepare an
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
analyzing the impacts of the proposed
Southline Transmission Line Project
(Project), a 345-kilovolt (kV) and 230-kV
transmission line, and addressing
associated potential land use plan
amendments. This notice announces the
beginning of the scoping process to
solicit public comments and identify
issues. Western Area Power
Administration (Western) is a joint lead
agency with BLM for preparing the EIS.
Western is a power-marketing agency
within the Department of Energy (DOE)
and is proposing to participate in the
Project with the applicant, Southline
Transmission, LLC (Southline).
DATES: This notice initiates a 60-day
public scoping process to solicit public
comments and identify issues,
opportunities, and concerns that should
be considered in the preparation of a
Draft EIS. During the scoping process,
the BLM will also evaluate the need for
any land use plan amendments to any
of the affected Resource Management
Plans (RMPs). The scoping period will
end on June 4, 2012, or 15 days after the
date of the last public scoping meeting,
whichever is later. In order to ensure
consideration in the Draft EIS, all
comments must be received prior to the
close of the scoping period. The BLM
and Western will provide additional
opportunities for public participation
upon publication of the Draft EIS. The
public will be notified in advance of
SUMMARY:
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20411
future opportunities for participation as
the EIS is prepared.
To provide the public with an
opportunity to review the proposal and
project information, the BLM and
Western expect to hold six public
meetings at various locations in New
Mexico and Arizona during the public
scoping period. The BLM will announce
public scoping meetings through local
news media, newsletters, and posting on
the BLM Web site at https://
www.blm.gov/nm/southline at least 15
days prior to each meeting.
ADDRESSES: Comments related to the
proposed Project may be submitted by
any of the following methods:
Web site: https://www.blm.gov/nm/
southline.
Fax: (575) 525–4412.
Mail: BLM, Las Cruces District Office,
Southline Transmission Project,
Attention: Frances Martinez, Realty
Specialist, 1800 Marquess Street, Las
Cruces, New Mexico 88005.
Email: fmartine@blm.gov.
Documents pertinent to this proposal
may be examined at the Las Cruces
District Office or on the above Web site.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tom
Hurshman, BLM National Project
Manager; telephone (970) 240–5345;
email: thurshma@blm.gov.
For information about Western’s
involvement, contact Mark Wieringa,
Western NEPA Document Manager;
telephone (800) 336–7288 or (720) 962–
7448; email: wieringa@wapa.gov. For
general information on DOE NEPA
(42 U.S.C. 4321–4347) review
procedures or on the status of a NEPA
review, contact Carol M. Borgstrom,
Director of NEPA Policy and
Compliance, GC–54, U.S. Department of
Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue
SW., Washington, DC 20585–0119,
telephone (202) 586–4600 or toll free at
(800) 472–2756, fax (202) 586–7031.
People who use a telecommunications
device for the deaf (TDD) may call the
Federal Information Relay Service
(FIRS) at (800) 877–8339 during normal
business hours to contact the BLM
Project Manager listed above. The FIRS
is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a
week, to leave a message or question for
the above individual. You will receive
a reply during normal business hours.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Southline
has filed a right-of-way (ROW)
application with the BLM pursuant to
Title V of FLPMA proposing to
construct, operate, maintain, and
eventually decommission a highvoltage, alternating current electric
transmission line. The proposed Project
would consist of two segments. The first
segment would be the construction of a
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Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 65 / Wednesday, April 4, 2012 / Notices
new double-circuit 345-kV transmission
line linking existing substations at Afton
(located south of Las Cruces, New
Mexico) and Apache (located south of
Willcox, Arizona). This segment is
approximately 225 miles long and
would enable up to 1,500 megawatts
(MW) of transmission capacity. The
second segment is an upgrade and
rebuild of approximately 130 miles of
existing transmission line, providing up
to 1,000 MW of increased transmission
capacity between the Apache Substation
and the Saguaro Substation (located
northwest of Tucson, Arizona). New
permanent and temporary ROW would
be required for this segment. Existing
transmission lines that have been
identified as feasible for upgrades in
this area include a Western 115-kV line
and a Southwest Transmission
Cooperative, Inc. 115-kV line.
Approximately 40 percent of the
proposed transmission line would be on
public land, 30 percent would be on
State land, and the remaining 30 percent
would be on private land. A 0.5-milelong portion of the rebuild segment
crosses land administered by the U.S.
Forest Service and 2 miles of the rebuild
segment cross tribal lands of the Tohono
O’odham Nation.
The transmission lines may be
supported by lattice steel structures or
tubular steel pole structures. Any final
decision on a specific type of structure
will be based on topography, structural
requirements, economics, the
environment, and other applicable
considerations. The structures are
anticipated to be constructed of
galvanized steel with a height ranging
from 110 to 170 feet, with an average
height of 130 to 140 feet. The width of
the span at the top will be
approximately 40 to 60 feet. The
distance between each structure would
depend on site-specific characteristics
but is expected to be approximately 800
to 1,500 feet, with an average of 1,000
feet for lattice steel structures and 1,200
feet for tubular steel structures. Each
structure would be set on concrete
foundations set into the ground. The
expected permanent disturbed area per
structure would be approximately 200
square feet.
The proposed Project would involve
additional facilities, including the
construction of one new substation in
the vicinity of Columbus, New Mexico,
to facilitate anticipated renewable
energy generation in the area. Access
roads, including improvements to
existing roads, new overland access, and
new unpaved roads, would be
developed during construction of the
line and then used for inspection and
maintenance during operation. A fiber-
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optic telecommunication system would
be included in the transmission design.
Additional temporary work sites,
including wire splicing and pulling sites
as well as construction yards, will also
be analyzed. The requested ROW width
on public lands is 250 feet.
As part of its agency mission, Western
routinely studies power system
requirements, plans for transmission
line upgrades and additions, facilitates
and finances transmission projects, and
constructs, owns, operates, and
maintains transmission infrastructure.
Such projects may be solely Western
projects, or may be projects undertaken
with the participation of others.
Southline is proposing to upgrade
approximately 130 miles of Western’s
existing transmission line between
Saguaro and Apache substations as part
of its proposed Project. Western is
evaluating to what extent it will
participate in the proposed Project.
Actions that result in a change in the
scope of resource uses, terms and
conditions, and decisions of Federal
agency land use plans may require an
amendment to those plans. Approval of
this proposal may result in the
amendment(s) of three BLM RMPs. As
required by 43 CFR 1610.2(c), the BLM
notifies the public of potential
amendments to the following RMPs:
Phoenix RMP, 1988, Safford District
RMP, 1991, and Mimbres RMP, 1993.
Any authorizations and actions
proposed for approval in the EIS will be
evaluated to determine if they conform
to the decisions in the referenced land
use plans. If amendments are needed,
the BLM would integrate the land-use
planning process as described in 43 CFR
1610 into the EIS as they proceed with
NEPA review of the proposed Project. If
the BLM determines that plan
amendments are necessary, compliance
with NEPA for any land use plan
amendments would occur
simultaneously with the consideration
of the proposed Project.
In accordance with NEPA, DOE NEPA
Implementing Procedures (10 CFR part
1021), and Council on Environmental
Quality regulations for implementing
NEPA (40 CFR parts 1500–1508),1 the
BLM and Western will prepare an EIS
on their Federal actions and the
proposed project. The BLM and Western
are joint lead agencies for this EIS as
defined in 40 CFR 1501.5. Agencies
with jurisdiction by law or special
expertise will be invited to participate
as cooperating agencies in preparation
of the EIS. Federal, State, and local
1 On November 16, 2011, DOE’s Acting General
Counsel delegated to Western’s Administrator all
EIS authorities.
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agencies, and Indian tribes, along with
other stakeholders that may be
interested or affected by the BLM’s and
Western’s decisions on this Project, are
invited to participate in the scoping
process and, if eligible, may request or
be requested by the BLM and Western
to participate as a cooperating agency.
During the public scoping period, the
BLM and Western will solicit public
comments on behalf of all cooperating
agencies regarding issues, concerns, and
opportunities that should be considered
in the analysis of the proposed action.
Comments on issues and potential
impacts, or suggestions for additional or
different alternatives may be submitted
to the addresses listed in the ADDRESSES
section.
Public scoping will help determine
relevant issues that can influence the
scope of the environmental analysis,
alternatives, and the process for
developing the EIS. The BLM and
Western, along with other agencies,
cooperators, and individuals, have
preliminarily identified the following
issues that will be addressed in the EIS:
• Social and economic effects of the
Project on local communities and
infrastructure;
• Potential public health and safety
impacts resulting from constructionrelated traffic and electromagnetic
fields;
• Potential interference with the Fort
Huachuca Electronic Proving Ground;
• Loss of habitat and direct
disturbance to plant and animal species
(including special and sensitive status
species);
• Impacts to cultural resources, lands
that contain places of traditional
cultural or religious importance, and
historic sites;
• New visual intrusions on the
landscape that would degrade the scenic
and visual quality of the area;
• Proximity of the Project to lands
with wilderness characteristics;
• Impacts to National Scenic or
Historic Trails, and;
• Potential impacts to military flight
paths and areas used for military
maneuvers.
This list is not intended to be allinclusive or imply any predetermination
of impacts.
Public meetings will be held during
the scoping period. BLM, Western, and
Southline staff will be available at the
public meetings to explain the details of
the proposed Project and to gather
information from interested individuals
or groups. The BLM, Western, and
cooperating agencies will also provide
additional opportunities for public
participation upon publication of the
Draft EIS.
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Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 65 / Wednesday, April 4, 2012 / Notices
The BLM and Western will use and
coordinate the Draft EIS public review
and comment period to assist the
agencies in satisfying the public
involvement requirements under
Section 106 of the National Historic
Preservation Act (NHPA) (16 U.S.C.
470(f)), as provided for in 36 CFR
800.2(d)(3). Information about historic
and cultural resources within the area
potentially affected by the proposed
project will assist the BLM and Western
in identifying and evaluating impacts to
such resources in the context of both
NEPA and Section 106 of the NHPA.
Consultation with American Indian
tribes will be conducted in accordance
with applicable policies; tribal
concerns, including impacts on Indian
trust assets, will be given due
consideration.
Before including addresses, phone
numbers, email addresses, or other
personal identifying information in
comments, commenters should be aware
that entire comments—including
personal identifying information—may
be made publicly available at any time.
Requests may be made that personal
identifying information be withheld
from public review; however, the BLM
and Western cannot guarantee that they
will be able to do so.
Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7; 43 CFR 1610.2.
William W. Merhege,
Deputy State Director, Resources, Bureau of
Land Management, New Mexico.
Timothy J. Meeks,
Administrator, Western Area Power
Administration.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Bureau of Land Management, Julie L.
Weaver, Chief, Fluid Minerals
Adjudication, at (307) 775–6176.
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: The lessee
has agreed to the amended lease terms
for rentals and royalties at rates of $10
per acre or fraction thereof, per year and
162⁄3 percent, respectively. The lessee
has paid the required $500
administrative fee and $159 to
reimburse the Department for the cost of
this Federal Register notice. The lessee
has met all the requirements for
reinstatement of the lease as set out in
Sections 31(d) and (e) of the Mineral
Lands Leasing Act of 1920 (30 U.S.C.
188), and the BLM is proposing to
reinstate lease WYW164675 effective
December 1, 2009, under the original
terms and conditions of the lease and
the increased rental and royalty rates
cited above. The BLM has not issued a
valid lease to any other interest affecting
the lands.
Julie L. Weaver,
Chief, Branch of Fluid Minerals Adjudication.
[FR Doc. 2012–8102 Filed 4–3–12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–22–P
[FR Doc. 2012–8094 Filed 4–3–12; 8:45 am]
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
BILLING CODE 4310–FB–P
Bureau of Land Management
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
[LLNVS00560 L58530000 EU0000 241A; N–
90450; 12–08807; MO# 4500032437; TAS:
14X5232]
Bureau of Land Management
[WY–923–1310–FI; WYW164675]
Notice of Proposed Reinstatement of
Terminated Oil and Gas Lease
WYW164675, Wyoming
Bureau of Land Management,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
Under the provisions of the
Mineral Leasing Act of 1920, as
amended, the Bureau of Land
Management (BLM) received a petition
for reinstatement from Equus Energy
Corporation for competitive oil and gas
lease WYW164675 for land in Converse
County, Wyoming. The petition was
filed on time and was accompanied by
all the rentals due since the date the
lease terminated under the law.
emcdonald on DSK29S0YB1PROD with NOTICES
SUMMARY:
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Notice of Realty Action: Modified
Competitive, Sealed-Bid Sale of Public
Land in Clark County, NV
AGENCY:
Bureau of Land Management,
Interior.
Notice of Realty Action.
ACTION:
The Bureau of Land
Management (BLM) proposes to offer by
modified competitive, sealed-bid sale,
one parcel of public land totaling
approximately 480 acres in the Las
Vegas Valley at not less than the
appraised fair market value (FMV) of
$10,560,000. The parcel will be offered
in a sale pursuant to the Southern
Nevada Public Land Management Act of
1998 (SNPLMA), Public Law 105–263,
112 Stat. 2343, as amended. The sale
SUMMARY:
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20413
will be subject to the applicable
provisions of Sections 203 of the
Federal Land Policy and Management
Act of 1976 (FLPMA), 43 U.S.C 1713,
and BLM land sale regulations at
43 CFR 2710.
DATES: Interested parties may submit
written comments regarding the
proposed sale and the environmental
assessment (EA) until May 21, 2012.
Sealed bids may be mailed or
delivered to the BLM Las Vegas Field
Office, at the address below, beginning
May 21, 2012. Sealed bids must be
received by the BLM Las Vegas Field
Office no later than 4:30 p.m. Pacific
Time, June 4, 2012 in accordance with
the sale procedures. The BLM will open
the sealed bids on June 4, 2012 at the
BLM Las Vegas Field Office at 10 a.m.,
Pacific Time.
ADDRESSES: Mail written comments to,
refer questions about, or submit sealed
bids to the BLM, Las Vegas Field Office
Assistant Field Manager, 4701 N. Torrey
Pines Drive, Las Vegas, NV 89130.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Manuela Johnson at email:
manuela_johnson@blm.gov or
telephone: 702–515–5224. 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: The parcel
proposed for sale is located in the
southwestern area of the City of
Henderson, Nevada. It is currently
encumbered by an authorized road,
water pipeline, flood control facilities,
and relinquished Nevada Department of
Transportation mineral material site
right-of-way. The subject public land is
described as:
Mount Diablo Meridian
T. 23 S., R. 61 E.,
Sec. 21, N1⁄2;
Sec. 22, NW1⁄4.
The area described contains 480 acres,
more or less, in Clark County.
The map delineating the proposed
sale parcel is available for public review
at the BLM Las Vegas Field Office at the
address above.
The general area of which
encompasses this parcel was analyzed
for future sale in the Las Vegas Valley
Disposal Boundary Environmental
Impact Statement (EIS), approved by
Record of Decision on December 23,
2004. The proposed sale parcel N–
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 65 (Wednesday, April 4, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20411-20413]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-8094]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Western Area Power Administration
[LLNM930000 L51010000.ER0000 LVRWG11G0790 NMNM124104]
Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for
the Proposed Southline Transmission Line Project in New Mexico and
Arizona (DOE/EIS-0474) and Possible Land Use Plan Amendments
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Department of the Interior;
Western Area Power Administration, U.S. Department of Energy.
ACTION: Notice of intent.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of
1969 (NEPA), as amended, and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act
of 1976 (FLPMA), as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Las
Cruces District Office, Las Cruces, New Mexico, intends to prepare an
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) analyzing the impacts of the
proposed Southline Transmission Line Project (Project), a 345-kilovolt
(kV) and 230-kV transmission line, and addressing associated potential
land use plan amendments. This notice announces the beginning of the
scoping process to solicit public comments and identify issues. Western
Area Power Administration (Western) is a joint lead agency with BLM for
preparing the EIS. Western is a power-marketing agency within the
Department of Energy (DOE) and is proposing to participate in the
Project with the applicant, Southline Transmission, LLC (Southline).
DATES: This notice initiates a 60-day public scoping process to solicit
public comments and identify issues, opportunities, and concerns that
should be considered in the preparation of a Draft EIS. During the
scoping process, the BLM will also evaluate the need for any land use
plan amendments to any of the affected Resource Management Plans
(RMPs). The scoping period will end on June 4, 2012, or 15 days after
the date of the last public scoping meeting, whichever is later. In
order to ensure consideration in the Draft EIS, all comments must be
received prior to the close of the scoping period. The BLM and Western
will provide additional opportunities for public participation upon
publication of the Draft EIS. The public will be notified in advance of
future opportunities for participation as the EIS is prepared.
To provide the public with an opportunity to review the proposal
and project information, the BLM and Western expect to hold six public
meetings at various locations in New Mexico and Arizona during the
public scoping period. The BLM will announce public scoping meetings
through local news media, newsletters, and posting on the BLM Web site
at https://www.blm.gov/nm/southline at least 15 days prior to each
meeting.
ADDRESSES: Comments related to the proposed Project may be submitted by
any of the following methods:
Web site: https://www.blm.gov/nm/southline.
Fax: (575) 525-4412.
Mail: BLM, Las Cruces District Office, Southline Transmission
Project, Attention: Frances Martinez, Realty Specialist, 1800 Marquess
Street, Las Cruces, New Mexico 88005.
Email: fmartine@blm.gov.
Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined at the Las
Cruces District Office or on the above Web site.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tom Hurshman, BLM National Project
Manager; telephone (970) 240-5345; email: thurshma@blm.gov.
For information about Western's involvement, contact Mark Wieringa,
Western NEPA Document Manager; telephone (800) 336-7288 or (720) 962-
7448; email: wieringa@wapa.gov. For general information on DOE NEPA (42
U.S.C. 4321-4347) review procedures or on the status of a NEPA review,
contact Carol M. Borgstrom, Director of NEPA Policy and Compliance, GC-
54, U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue SW.,
Washington, DC 20585-0119, telephone (202) 586-4600 or toll free at
(800) 472-2756, fax (202) 586-7031.
People who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may
call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at (800) 877-8339
during normal business hours to contact the BLM Project Manager listed
above. The FIRS is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to leave a
message or question for the above individual. You will receive a reply
during normal business hours.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Southline has filed a right-of-way (ROW)
application with the BLM pursuant to Title V of FLPMA proposing to
construct, operate, maintain, and eventually decommission a high-
voltage, alternating current electric transmission line. The proposed
Project would consist of two segments. The first segment would be the
construction of a
[[Page 20412]]
new double-circuit 345-kV transmission line linking existing
substations at Afton (located south of Las Cruces, New Mexico) and
Apache (located south of Willcox, Arizona). This segment is
approximately 225 miles long and would enable up to 1,500 megawatts
(MW) of transmission capacity. The second segment is an upgrade and
rebuild of approximately 130 miles of existing transmission line,
providing up to 1,000 MW of increased transmission capacity between the
Apache Substation and the Saguaro Substation (located northwest of
Tucson, Arizona). New permanent and temporary ROW would be required for
this segment. Existing transmission lines that have been identified as
feasible for upgrades in this area include a Western 115-kV line and a
Southwest Transmission Cooperative, Inc. 115-kV line. Approximately 40
percent of the proposed transmission line would be on public land, 30
percent would be on State land, and the remaining 30 percent would be
on private land. A 0.5-mile-long portion of the rebuild segment crosses
land administered by the U.S. Forest Service and 2 miles of the rebuild
segment cross tribal lands of the Tohono O'odham Nation.
The transmission lines may be supported by lattice steel structures
or tubular steel pole structures. Any final decision on a specific type
of structure will be based on topography, structural requirements,
economics, the environment, and other applicable considerations. The
structures are anticipated to be constructed of galvanized steel with a
height ranging from 110 to 170 feet, with an average height of 130 to
140 feet. The width of the span at the top will be approximately 40 to
60 feet. The distance between each structure would depend on site-
specific characteristics but is expected to be approximately 800 to
1,500 feet, with an average of 1,000 feet for lattice steel structures
and 1,200 feet for tubular steel structures. Each structure would be
set on concrete foundations set into the ground. The expected permanent
disturbed area per structure would be approximately 200 square feet.
The proposed Project would involve additional facilities, including
the construction of one new substation in the vicinity of Columbus, New
Mexico, to facilitate anticipated renewable energy generation in the
area. Access roads, including improvements to existing roads, new
overland access, and new unpaved roads, would be developed during
construction of the line and then used for inspection and maintenance
during operation. A fiber-optic telecommunication system would be
included in the transmission design. Additional temporary work sites,
including wire splicing and pulling sites as well as construction
yards, will also be analyzed. The requested ROW width on public lands
is 250 feet.
As part of its agency mission, Western routinely studies power
system requirements, plans for transmission line upgrades and
additions, facilitates and finances transmission projects, and
constructs, owns, operates, and maintains transmission infrastructure.
Such projects may be solely Western projects, or may be projects
undertaken with the participation of others. Southline is proposing to
upgrade approximately 130 miles of Western's existing transmission line
between Saguaro and Apache substations as part of its proposed Project.
Western is evaluating to what extent it will participate in the
proposed Project.
Actions that result in a change in the scope of resource uses,
terms and conditions, and decisions of Federal agency land use plans
may require an amendment to those plans. Approval of this proposal may
result in the amendment(s) of three BLM RMPs. As required by 43 CFR
1610.2(c), the BLM notifies the public of potential amendments to the
following RMPs: Phoenix RMP, 1988, Safford District RMP, 1991, and
Mimbres RMP, 1993. Any authorizations and actions proposed for approval
in the EIS will be evaluated to determine if they conform to the
decisions in the referenced land use plans. If amendments are needed,
the BLM would integrate the land-use planning process as described in
43 CFR 1610 into the EIS as they proceed with NEPA review of the
proposed Project. If the BLM determines that plan amendments are
necessary, compliance with NEPA for any land use plan amendments would
occur simultaneously with the consideration of the proposed Project.
In accordance with NEPA, DOE NEPA Implementing Procedures (10 CFR
part 1021), and Council on Environmental Quality regulations for
implementing NEPA (40 CFR parts 1500-1508),\1\ the BLM and Western will
prepare an EIS on their Federal actions and the proposed project. The
BLM and Western are joint lead agencies for this EIS as defined in 40
CFR 1501.5. Agencies with jurisdiction by law or special expertise will
be invited to participate as cooperating agencies in preparation of the
EIS. Federal, State, and local agencies, and Indian tribes, along with
other stakeholders that may be interested or affected by the BLM's and
Western's decisions on this Project, are invited to participate in the
scoping process and, if eligible, may request or be requested by the
BLM and Western to participate as a cooperating agency.
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\1\ On November 16, 2011, DOE's Acting General Counsel delegated
to Western's Administrator all EIS authorities.
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During the public scoping period, the BLM and Western will solicit
public comments on behalf of all cooperating agencies regarding issues,
concerns, and opportunities that should be considered in the analysis
of the proposed action. Comments on issues and potential impacts, or
suggestions for additional or different alternatives may be submitted
to the addresses listed in the ADDRESSES section.
Public scoping will help determine relevant issues that can
influence the scope of the environmental analysis, alternatives, and
the process for developing the EIS. The BLM and Western, along with
other agencies, cooperators, and individuals, have preliminarily
identified the following issues that will be addressed in the EIS:
Social and economic effects of the Project on local
communities and infrastructure;
Potential public health and safety impacts resulting from
construction-related traffic and electromagnetic fields;
Potential interference with the Fort Huachuca Electronic
Proving Ground;
Loss of habitat and direct disturbance to plant and animal
species (including special and sensitive status species);
Impacts to cultural resources, lands that contain places
of traditional cultural or religious importance, and historic sites;
New visual intrusions on the landscape that would degrade
the scenic and visual quality of the area;
Proximity of the Project to lands with wilderness
characteristics;
Impacts to National Scenic or Historic Trails, and;
Potential impacts to military flight paths and areas used
for military maneuvers.
This list is not intended to be all-inclusive or imply any
predetermination of impacts.
Public meetings will be held during the scoping period. BLM,
Western, and Southline staff will be available at the public meetings
to explain the details of the proposed Project and to gather
information from interested individuals or groups. The BLM, Western,
and cooperating agencies will also provide additional opportunities for
public participation upon publication of the Draft EIS.
[[Page 20413]]
The BLM and Western will use and coordinate the Draft EIS public
review and comment period to assist the agencies in satisfying the
public involvement requirements under Section 106 of the National
Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) (16 U.S.C. 470(f)), as provided for in
36 CFR 800.2(d)(3). Information about historic and cultural resources
within the area potentially affected by the proposed project will
assist the BLM and Western in identifying and evaluating impacts to
such resources in the context of both NEPA and Section 106 of the NHPA.
Consultation with American Indian tribes will be conducted in
accordance with applicable policies; tribal concerns, including impacts
on Indian trust assets, will be given due consideration.
Before including addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, or
other personal identifying information in comments, commenters should
be aware that entire comments--including personal identifying
information--may be made publicly available at any time. Requests may
be made that personal identifying information be withheld from public
review; however, the BLM and Western cannot guarantee that they will be
able to do so.
Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7; 43 CFR 1610.2.
William W. Merhege,
Deputy State Director, Resources, Bureau of Land Management, New
Mexico.
Timothy J. Meeks,
Administrator, Western Area Power Administration.
[FR Doc. 2012-8094 Filed 4-3-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-FB-P
