Notice of Availability of Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Sigurd to Red Butte No. 2-345-Kilovolt Transmission Line Project; Utah, 61020-61021 [2012-24521]

Download as PDF 61020 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 194 / Friday, October 5, 2012 / Notices Simultaneous with this notice, the BLM Wyoming State Office will issue a press release providing additional information for submitting nominations. Nomination forms may also be downloaded from https://www.blm.gov/ wy/st/en/advcom/rac.html. Certification Statement: I hereby certify that the BLM Wyoming Resource Advisory Council is necessary and in the public interest in connection with the Secretary’s responsibilities to manage the lands, resources, and facilities administered by the BLM. Authority: 43 subpart 1784. Donald A. Simpson, State Director. [FR Doc. 2012–24625 Filed 10–4–12; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–22–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [LLUTC00000–L51010000–ER0000– LVRWJ09J4050; UTU–83067] Notice of Availability of Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Sigurd to Red Butte No. 2—345Kilovolt Transmission Line Project; Utah Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: Notice of availability. AGENCY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) as amended and the Council on Environmental Quality regulations, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has prepared a Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Sigurd to Red Butte No. 2— 345-Kilovolt (kV) Transmission Line Project (Project) and by this notice announces the availability of the Final EIS for public review. DATES: The document will be available for public review for 30 days following the publication of a Notice of Availability (NOA) in the Federal Register by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ADDRESSES: Copies of the Final EIS have been sent to affected Federal, State, and local government agencies and to other stakeholders. Copies are available for public review at the following offices: • BLM Cedar City Field Office, 176 East D.L. Sargent Drive, Cedar City, Utah 84721 • BLM Richfield Field Office, 150 East, 900 North, Richfield, Utah 84701 • BLM Fillmore Field Office, 35 East, 500 North, Fillmore, Utah 84631 pmangrum on DSK3VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Mar<15>2010 15:25 Oct 04, 2012 Jkt 229001 • Dixie National Forest Office, 1789 North Wedgewood Lane, Cedar City, Utah 84721 • Fishlake National Forest Office, 115 East 900 North, Richfield, Utah 84701 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information, contact Tamara Gertsch, National Project Manager; telephone 307–775–6115; email utsrbproj@blm.gov; address BLM Cedar City Field Office, 176 East D.L. Sargent Drive, Cedar City, Utah 84721. Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1– 800–877–8339 to contact the above individual. The FIRS is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to leave a message or question with the above individual. You will receive a reply during normal business hours. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: PacifiCorp, doing business as Rocky Mountain Power (Proponent), has filed applications for a right-of-way across lands administered by the BLM and a special use permit across lands administered by the United States Forest Service (USFS) and is proposing to construct, operate, and maintain the Project, a single-circuit, alternating current 345-kV, overhead transmission line. If approved, the BLM would issue a right-of-way grant and the USFS would issue a special-use permit authorization for the transmission line and associated facilities. The transmission line would be located between the existing Sigurd Substation near Richfield in Sevier County, Utah, and the existing Red Butte Substation near the community of Central in Washington County, Utah, a distance of approximately 170 miles, depending on the route selected. The Project also includes the addition of new substation equipment for interconnecting the transmission line at the existing Sigurd Substation. When completed, the Project would provide about 600 megawatts of electrical capacity to respond to anticipated load growth in southwestern Utah. Alternative routes considered in the Final EIS cross Federal, State, tribal, and private lands. The requested right-of-way width on Federal lands for construction and operation of the Project is 150 feet. The Proponent plans to use predominantly steel-pole H-frame tower structures from 80 to 140 feet in height with average spans between structures of 800 to 1,200 feet (5 to 7 structures per mile). Permanent and temporary access roads, a minimum of 14-feet wide, would be needed for the majority of the Project. Temporary access roads would be needed for construction only. PO 00000 Frm 00056 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Temporary work space would be needed during construction for material storage, conductor tensioning sites, and to accommodate vehicles and equipment. Under Federal law, the BLM is responsible for responding to applications for rights-of-way on BLMadministered lands. Similarly, under Federal law, the USFS is responsible for responding to applications for specialuse permits on lands they administer. In accordance with NEPA, the BLM prepared a Draft EIS using an interdisciplinary approach in order to consider a variety of resource issues and concerns identified during internal, interagency, and public scoping. An updated inventory of lands with wilderness characteristics was used for this project and lands with wilderness characteristics were analyzed in the Draft EIS and Final EIS. An NOA for the Draft EIS for the Project was published by the EPA in the Federal Register on June 3, 2011 (ER–FRL–8997–3), initiating a 45-day public comment period. In addition, the BLM conducted four open-house meetings in June 2011. Comments received on the Draft EIS were incorporated, where appropriate, to clarify the analysis presented and are included in the Final EIS. The Final EIS analyzes 13 alternative routes and 2 route variations on Federal lands, including the Agency Preferred Alternative. BLM is the designated lead Federal agency for preparation of the EIS as defined at 40 CFR 1501.5. Agencies with legal jurisdiction or special expertise participating as cooperating agencies in preparation of the EIS include: USFS (Dixie and Fishlake National Forests); United States Army Corps of Engineers; National Park Service; the State of Utah; Utah School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration; Millard, Sevier, Beaver, Iron, and Washington Counties, Utah; and the cities of St. George and Enterprise, Utah. In response to Section 368 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 15926), a Programmatic EIS was prepared by the Department of the Interior and Department of Energy for energy corridors in the 11 Western states (including Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, California, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico). An NOA of the Final Programmatic EIS was published in the Federal Register on November 28, 2008 (73 FR 72521). Records of Decision (ROD) on the Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement, Designation of Energy Corridors on Federal Land in the 11 Western States (DOE/EIS–0386), signed January 14, 2009, designate energy corridors and E:\FR\FM\05OCN1.SGM 05OCN1 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 194 / Friday, October 5, 2012 / Notices provide guidance, best management practices, and mitigation measures to be used where linear facilities are proposed crossing Federal lands. Where the Programmatic EIS identifies new corridors for the managing agencies, the RODs also amend relevant BLM Resource Management Plans and USFS Land and Resource Management Plans to include the new corridors. Designation of corridors does not require their use, nor does such designation exempt the Federal agencies from conducting an environmental review on each project. The BLM has considered the use of the corridors in preparation of the Sigurd to Red Butte EIS and has incorporated best management practices and mitigation measures. Documents pertinent to the right-ofway application and the Final EIS for the Project may be viewed on the BLM’s project Web site at: https://www.blm.gov/ ut/st/en/fo/cedar_city/planning/ sigurd_to_red_butte.html or examined at the addresses listed in this notice. Authority: 40 CFR 1502.19. Juan Palma, State Director. [FR Doc. 2012–24521 Filed 10–4–12; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–DQ–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [LLNVSO2000–L12320000–DA0000– LVRDNV010000 241A; 12–08807; MO# 4500033317; TAS: 14X5413] Notice of Intent To Prepare a Resource Management Plan Amendment and Associated Environmental Assessment To Address Use of Permanent Fixed Anchors for BLM Wilderness in Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, Clark County, NV Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: Notice of Intent. AGENCY: In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended, and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Southern Nevada District, the BLM Red Rock/Sloan Field Office, Las Vegas, Nevada, intends to prepare a Resource Management Plan (RMP) amendment with an associated Environmental Assessment (EA) to consider new management decisions for permanent fixed anchors for recreational rock climbing within the pmangrum on DSK3VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Mar<15>2010 15:25 Oct 04, 2012 Jkt 229001 BLM portions of the La Madre Mountain Wilderness and Rainbow Mountain Wilderness Areas for the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. This notice marks the beginning of the scoping process to solicit input on issues and the proposed planning criteria. DATES: This notice initiates a 45-day public scoping period for the RMP amendment with associated EA. Comments on issues may be submitted in writing until November 19, 2012. The date(s) and location(s) of any scoping meetings will be announced at least 15 days in advance through local media, newspapers, and the BLM Web site at: https://www.blm.gov/nv/st/en/fo/ lvfo.html. In order to be included in the EA, all comments should be submitted prior to the close of the 45-day scoping period. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on issues and planning criteria related to the RMP amendment and associated EA for the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area by any of the following methods: • Web site: https://www.blm.gov/nv/st/ en/fo/lvfo.html. • Email: rrc_fixedanchors@blm.gov. • Fax: 702–363–6779, attention Nick Walendziak. • Mail: 4701 N. Torrey Pines Dr., Las Vegas, NV 89130. Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined at the Red Rock/Sloan Field Office, 4701 N. Torrey Pines Dr., Las Vegas, Nevada. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information and/or to have your name added to our mailing list, contact Nick Walendziak, Outdoor Recreation Planner, Climbing Lead, telephone: 702–515–5358; address: 4701 N. Torrey Pines Dr., Las Vegas, NV 89130; email: nwalendziak@blm.gov. 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 BLM is proposing to amend the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area RMP/Record of Decision signed in 2005, which set forth management decisions on the use of fixed anchors for the La Madre Mountain and Rainbow Mountain Wilderness Areas. At the time of that planning decision, these areas were Wilderness Study Areas (WSAs) governed by the 1995 Interim PO 00000 Frm 00057 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 61021 Management Policy (IMP) and Guidance for Lands Under Wilderness Review. There is a need to amend this RMP since these areas are now congressionally designated as wilderness and are no longer WSAs governed by the IMP. The planning area is located in Clark County, Nevada, and encompasses approximately 48,340 acres of public land (28,115 acres within the La Madre Mountain Wilderness and 20,225 acres within the Rainbow Mountain Wilderness). The purpose of the public scoping process is to identify relevant issues for the environmental analysis, including alternatives, and to identify criteria to guide the planning process. Preliminary issues identified by the BLM and other stakeholders include: • Protecting public health and safety • Increasing demand for more recreation opportunities • Addressing the appropriateness of fixed anchors in Wilderness • Compliance with BLM Manual 6340, Management of Designated Wilderness Areas • Proximity of wilderness areas to major urban interface • Protection of cultural and sensitive species • Protection of visual and scenic objectives Planning criteria are constraints or ground rules that guide and direct the development of the RMP amendment. The criteria ensure that the RMP amendment is tailored to the identified issues while avoiding unnecessary data collection and analyses. The following criteria may be adjusted during the RMP amendment development based on management concerns and the results of the overall public scoping process: • The RMP amendment assessment, analysis, and proposed decisions will focus on whether permanent fixed anchors should be considered for rock climbing within the designated Wilderness Areas. • The RMP amendment process will comply with the BLM’s policies in the Land Use Planning Handbook, H–1601, the National Environmental Policy Act Handbook H–1790–1, Manual 6340, Management of Designated Wilderness Areas and all other applicable laws, regulations, and policies. • The RMP amendment will incorporate, where applicable, management decisions brought forward from existing planning documents. • Geographic Information System (GIS) data and metadata will meet Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) standards, as required by Executive Order 12906. All other E:\FR\FM\05OCN1.SGM 05OCN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 194 (Friday, October 5, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61020-61021]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-24521]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLUTC00000-L51010000-ER0000-LVRWJ09J4050; UTU-83067]


Notice of Availability of Final Environmental Impact Statement 
for the Sigurd to Red Butte No. 2--345-Kilovolt Transmission Line 
Project; Utah

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 
1969 (NEPA) as amended and the Council on Environmental Quality 
regulations, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has prepared a Final 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Sigurd to Red Butte No. 
2--345-Kilovolt (kV) Transmission Line Project (Project) and by this 
notice announces the availability of the Final EIS for public review.

DATES: The document will be available for public review for 30 days 
following the publication of a Notice of Availability (NOA) in the 
Federal Register by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ADDRESSES: Copies of the Final EIS have been sent to affected Federal, 
State, and local government agencies and to other stakeholders. Copies 
are available for public review at the following offices:

 BLM Cedar City Field Office, 176 East D.L. Sargent Drive, 
Cedar City, Utah 84721
 BLM Richfield Field Office, 150 East, 900 North, Richfield, 
Utah 84701
 BLM Fillmore Field Office, 35 East, 500 North, Fillmore, Utah 
84631
 Dixie National Forest Office, 1789 North Wedgewood Lane, Cedar 
City, Utah 84721
 Fishlake National Forest Office, 115 East 900 North, 
Richfield, Utah 84701

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information, contact 
Tamara Gertsch, National Project Manager; telephone 307-775-6115; email 
utsrbproj@blm.gov; address BLM Cedar City Field Office, 176 East D.L. 
Sargent Drive, Cedar City, Utah 84721. Persons who use a 
telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal 
Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339 to contact the above 
individual. The FIRS is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to 
leave a message or question with the above individual. You will receive 
a reply during normal business hours.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: PacifiCorp, doing business as Rocky Mountain 
Power (Proponent), has filed applications for a right-of-way across 
lands administered by the BLM and a special use permit across lands 
administered by the United States Forest Service (USFS) and is 
proposing to construct, operate, and maintain the Project, a single-
circuit, alternating current 345-kV, overhead transmission line. If 
approved, the BLM would issue a right-of-way grant and the USFS would 
issue a special-use permit authorization for the transmission line and 
associated facilities. The transmission line would be located between 
the existing Sigurd Substation near Richfield in Sevier County, Utah, 
and the existing Red Butte Substation near the community of Central in 
Washington County, Utah, a distance of approximately 170 miles, 
depending on the route selected. The Project also includes the addition 
of new substation equipment for interconnecting the transmission line 
at the existing Sigurd Substation. When completed, the Project would 
provide about 600 megawatts of electrical capacity to respond to 
anticipated load growth in southwestern Utah. Alternative routes 
considered in the Final EIS cross Federal, State, tribal, and private 
lands. The requested right-of-way width on Federal lands for 
construction and operation of the Project is 150 feet. The Proponent 
plans to use predominantly steel-pole H-frame tower structures from 80 
to 140 feet in height with average spans between structures of 800 to 
1,200 feet (5 to 7 structures per mile). Permanent and temporary access 
roads, a minimum of 14-feet wide, would be needed for the majority of 
the Project. Temporary access roads would be needed for construction 
only. Temporary work space would be needed during construction for 
material storage, conductor tensioning sites, and to accommodate 
vehicles and equipment.
    Under Federal law, the BLM is responsible for responding to 
applications for rights-of-way on BLM-administered lands. Similarly, 
under Federal law, the USFS is responsible for responding to 
applications for special-use permits on lands they administer. In 
accordance with NEPA, the BLM prepared a Draft EIS using an 
interdisciplinary approach in order to consider a variety of resource 
issues and concerns identified during internal, interagency, and public 
scoping. An updated inventory of lands with wilderness characteristics 
was used for this project and lands with wilderness characteristics 
were analyzed in the Draft EIS and Final EIS. An NOA for the Draft EIS 
for the Project was published by the EPA in the Federal Register on 
June 3, 2011 (ER-FRL-8997-3), initiating a 45-day public comment 
period. In addition, the BLM conducted four open-house meetings in June 
2011. Comments received on the Draft EIS were incorporated, where 
appropriate, to clarify the analysis presented and are included in the 
Final EIS. The Final EIS analyzes 13 alternative routes and 2 route 
variations on Federal lands, including the Agency Preferred 
Alternative.
    BLM is the designated lead Federal agency for preparation of the 
EIS as defined at 40 CFR 1501.5. Agencies with legal jurisdiction or 
special expertise participating as cooperating agencies in preparation 
of the EIS include: USFS (Dixie and Fishlake National Forests); United 
States Army Corps of Engineers; National Park Service; the State of 
Utah; Utah School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration; 
Millard, Sevier, Beaver, Iron, and Washington Counties, Utah; and the 
cities of St. George and Enterprise, Utah.
    In response to Section 368 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 
U.S.C. 15926), a Programmatic EIS was prepared by the Department of the 
Interior and Department of Energy for energy corridors in the 11 
Western states (including Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, 
California, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico). An NOA of 
the Final Programmatic EIS was published in the Federal Register on 
November 28, 2008 (73 FR 72521). Records of Decision (ROD) on the 
Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement, Designation of Energy 
Corridors on Federal Land in the 11 Western States (DOE/EIS-0386), 
signed January 14, 2009, designate energy corridors and

[[Page 61021]]

provide guidance, best management practices, and mitigation measures to 
be used where linear facilities are proposed crossing Federal lands. 
Where the Programmatic EIS identifies new corridors for the managing 
agencies, the RODs also amend relevant BLM Resource Management Plans 
and USFS Land and Resource Management Plans to include the new 
corridors. Designation of corridors does not require their use, nor 
does such designation exempt the Federal agencies from conducting an 
environmental review on each project. The BLM has considered the use of 
the corridors in preparation of the Sigurd to Red Butte EIS and has 
incorporated best management practices and mitigation measures.
    Documents pertinent to the right-of-way application and the Final 
EIS for the Project may be viewed on the BLM's project Web site at: 
https://www.blm.gov/ut/st/en/fo/cedar_city/planning/sigurd_to_red_butte.html or examined at the addresses listed in this notice.

    Authority:  40 CFR 1502.19.

Juan Palma,
State Director.
[FR Doc. 2012-24521 Filed 10-4-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-DQ-P
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.