Notice of Availability of the Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Gateway West 230/345/500-kV Transmission Line Project in Idaho and Wyoming and Proposed Land Use Plan Amendments, 24771-24774 [2013-09664]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
• Forest Service
• DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
• Bureau of Land Management

[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 81 (Friday, April 26, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24771-24774]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-09664]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service

[LLWY920000/51010000.ER0000/LVRWK09K0990/241A; WYW-174598; IDI-35849]


Notice of Availability of the Final Environmental Impact 
Statement for the Gateway West 230/345/500-kV Transmission Line Project 
in Idaho and Wyoming and Proposed Land Use Plan Amendments

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior; Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 
1969, as amended, and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 
1976, as amended, the Department of the Interior Bureau of Land 
Management (BLM) and the United States Department of Agriculture Forest 
Service (Forest Service) have prepared the Gateway West Transmission 
Line Project Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and proposed 
Land Use Plan Amendments, and by this notice are announcing its 
availability.

DATES: BLM planning regulations state that any person who meets the 
conditions as described in the regulations (43 CFR 1610.5-2) may 
protest the BLM's proposed land use plan Amendment. A person who meets 
the conditions and files a protest must file the protest within 30 days 
of the date that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) publishes 
its notice of availability of this Final EIS in the Federal Register. 
The BLM and Forest Service are also requesting comments on the Final 
EIS. In order to be considered, written comments on the Final EIS must 
be received within 60 days after the EPA publishes its notice of 
availability in the Federal Register. The Forest Service appeal process 
will be initiated with the publication of the Record of Decision (ROD). 
Any additional public meetings or other public involvement activities 
for the Gateway West Transmission Line Project will be announced to the 
public by the BLM at least 15 days in advance through news releases, 
Web site announcements, or mailings.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the Final EIS have been sent to Federal, State, 
and local governments, and public libraries in the Project area, and to 
interested parties that previously requested a copy. The Final EIS and 
supporting documents will be available electronically on the following 
Web site: https://www.wy.blm.gov/nepa/cfodocs/gateway_west/. Copies of 
the Final EIS are available for public inspection during normal 
business hours at BLM and Forest Service office locations listed in the 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section below.
    Written comments on the Final EIS may be submitted by the following 
methods:
     Web site: https://www.wy.blm.gov/nepa/cfodocs/gateway_west.
     Email: Gateway_West_WYMail@blm.gov.
     Mail: Bureau of Land Management, Gateway West Project, 
P.O. Box 20879, Cheyenne, WY 82003.
     Courier or Hand Deliver: Bureau of Land Management, 
Gateway West Project, 5353 Yellowstone Road, Cheyenne, WY 82009.
    All protests must be in writing and mailed to one of the following 
addresses:

Regular Mail: BLM Director (210), Attention: Brenda Williams, P.O. Box 
71383, Washington, DC 20024-1383.
Overnight Mail: BLM Director (210), Attention: Brenda Williams, 20 M 
Street SE., Room 2134LM, Washington, DC 20003.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Walt George, Project Manager, Bureau 
of Land Management, Wyoming State Office, P.O. Box 20879, Cheyenne, WY 
82003, or by telephone at 307-775-6116. Any persons wishing to be added 
to a mailing list of interested parties may write or call the Project 
Manager at this address or phone number. Persons who use a 
telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal 
Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339, to contact the 
above individual during normal business hours. The FIRS is available 24 
hours a day, 7 days a week, to leave a message or question with the 
above individual. You will receive a reply during normal business 
hours.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In May 2007, the Proponents (Idaho Power and 
Rocky Mountain Power) submitted a ROW application to the BLM requesting 
authorization to construct, operate, maintain, and decommission 
electric transmission lines on public lands. The application was 
revised in October 2007, August 2008, May 2009, January 2010, and 
February 2012 to reflect changes to the proposed Project. The purpose 
and need for the EIS is for the BLM and Forest Service to respond to 
the Proponents' ROW application for the Gateway West Transmission 
Project. Each agency will decide whether to grant, grant with 
modification, or deny the application.
    The Gateway West Transmission Project with a capacity of 1,500 MW 
is planned from Glenrock, Wyoming to the Hemingway Substation, 
approximately 20 miles southwest of Boise, Idaho. The Project is 
approximately 1,000 miles long and composed of nine 500 kV segments and 
one 230 kV segment. The BLM is the lead Federal agency. Approximately 
475 miles cross Federal lands, 75 miles cross State-owned lands, and 
450 miles cross private lands.
    The Proponents' objective for the Project is to improve the 
reliability and efficiency of both utilities' systems and address 
congestion problems with the western electrical grid. The Project is 
needed to meet projected load growth in the Proponents' Service Areas. 
The Project would also tap the developing renewable energy market, 
especially wind energy, in Idaho and Wyoming and would aid in 
delivering that energy throughout the region.
    Project Scoping: On May 16, 2008, the BLM published in the Federal 
Register (73 FR 28425) its Notice of Intent to prepare an EIS pursuant 
to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) (40 CFR 1501.7). The 
BLM is the lead Federal agency for the NEPA analysis process and 
preparation of the EIS. Cooperating agencies include the Forest 
Service, National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau 
of Indian Affairs, and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; the States of 
Idaho and Wyoming; Idaho Army National Guard; Cassia, Power, and Twin 
Falls Counties, Idaho; Lincoln, Sweetwater, and Carbon Counties, 
Wyoming; the Medicine Bow and Saratoga-Encampment-Rawlins Conservation 
Districts in Wyoming; and the city of Kuna in Idaho.
    To allow the public an opportunity to review the proposal and 
Project information, the BLM held public meetings in June 2008 in: Twin 
Falls, Murphy, Pocatello, Boise, and Montpelier, Idaho; and Casper, 
Rawlins, Rock Springs, and Kemmerer, Wyoming. Issues and potential 
impacts to specific resources were identified during

[[Page 24772]]

scoping and the course of the NEPA process.
    The following Project issues were identified in the scoping process 
and are addressed in the EIS analysis:
     Siting on private lands versus public lands;
     Land use conflicts and consistency with land use plans;
     Electric grid reliability and separation distances of 
transmission lines;
     Effects on wildlife habitat, plants, and animals including 
threatened, endangered, and sensitive species (especially sage-grouse);
     Effects to visual resources and existing viewsheds;
     Effects to National Scenic and Historic Trails and their 
resources, qualities, values, and associated settings, and the primary 
use or uses;
     Effects to Native American traditional cultural properties 
and respected places;
     Effects to paleontological resources in southwest Wyoming;
     Avoiding sensitive areas such as National Monuments, 
National Conservation Areas, Wildlife Refuges, Areas of Critical 
Environmental Concern (ACECs), and State Parks;
     Effects to soils and water from surface-disturbing 
activities;
     Effect of the Project on local and regional socioeconomic 
conditions; and
     Management of invasive plant species and ensuring 
effective reclamation.
    The Draft EIS: On July 29, 2011, the BLM and the Forest Service 
published in the Federal Register (76 FR 45609) their Notice of 
Availability (NOA) of the Draft EIS (EIS). The EPA's NOA published on 
the same day (76 FR 45555), which triggered a 90-day public comment 
period. To allow the public an opportunity to review and comment on the 
Draft EIS, the BLM held public meetings in September and October of 
2011 in: Boise, Kuna, Mountain Home, Melba, Murphy, Twin Falls, Burley, 
Almo, American Falls, Pocatello, Fort Hall, and Montpelier, Idaho; 
Jackpot, Nevada; and Douglas, Rawlins, Rock Springs, and Kemmerer, 
Wyoming. Additional public meetings were held in February 2012 in 
Boise, Idaho, and Cheyenne, Wyoming, and a 30-day comment period was 
held in July 2012 to gather public comments on the sage-grouse impact 
analysis.
    The BLM received over 2,600 comments, contained in 375 submissions, 
during the Draft EIS comment period. All comments are addressed in the 
Final EIS. In response to comments on the Draft EIS, the Proponents 
made changes to their proposal. These changes include:
     Dropped Segment 1E from the proposal;
     Realigned proposed routes in Wyoming to conform to the 
Governor's utility corridors through sage-grouse core areas (involves 
Segments 2 and 4);
     Eliminated one of the two circuits and associated tower 
and construction alternatives proposed for Segments 2-4;
     Eliminated the Creston and Bridger Substations;
     Adjusted to the construction timeline; and
     Made various alignment changes in all Segments. These 
changes range from less than 100 feet to several miles.
    In consultation among the BLM, Cooperating Agencies, the 
Proponents, and local land owners, the following changes were made to 
alternatives analyzed in the Draft EIS:
     Alternative 5D was adjusted to avoid springs and 
a recreation area near the East Fork of Rock Creek in Idaho;
     Alternative 7I was shortened and routed west of 
Goose Creek in Cassia County, Idaho and re-labeled Alternative 
7K. Alternatives 7H, 7J, and the portions of 
Alternative 7I not overlapping with Alternative 7K 
were dropped from further consideration;
     Design components of Alternatives 8D and 
9D/F/G/H, near the Idaho National Guard Orchard Training Area, 
were modified to meet safety concerns for aircraft using the range;
     Alternative 9D/G was rerouted to reduce impacts 
to the Cove Non-motorized Vehicle Area; and
     Alternative 9E was rerouted to avoid preliminary 
priority sage-grouse habitat and a new subdivision near Murphy, Idaho.
    The routes analyzed in the Final EIS reflect these revisions. The 
Final EIS analyzes the environmental consequences of the No Action 
alternative, the proposed action, 36 route alternatives, and land use 
plan amendments.
    Preferred Alternative: In accordance with Department of the 
Interior regulations (43 CFR 46.425) the BLM has identified and 
analyzed its preferred route for each segment in the Final EIS. The 
BLM's preferred routes are:
    Segment 1W: Revised Proposed 1W(a) and 1W(c) Routes.
    Segment 2: Revised Proposed Route.
    Segment 3: Proposed Route, including route 3A (a 345-kV connector 
line between substations).
    Segment 4: Revised Proposed Route.
    Segment 5: Proposed Route with the following variations: 
Alternatives 5B and 5E.
    Segment 6: The proposal to upgrade the line voltage from 345-kV to 
500-kV.
    Segment 7: Proposed Route with the following variations: 
Alternatives 7B, 7C, 7D, and 7G. The Proposed Route in the East Hills 
and Alternative 7G will be micro-sited to avoid Preliminary Priority 
Sage-grouse Habitat (PPH).
    Segment 8: Proposed Route with the following variation: Alternative 
8B.
    Segment 9: Revised Proposed Route with the following variation: 
Alternative 9E, revised to avoid PPH and the town of Murphy, Idaho.
    Segment 10: Proposed Route.
    The Forest Service's preferred route in the Medicine Bow-Routt 
(Segment 1W) is the Proposed Route. Its preferred route in the Caribou-
Targhee National Forest (Segment 4) is the Proposed Route plus 
Alternative 4G. The Final EIS also identifies the route(s) 
preferred by cooperating agencies, where applicable.
    BLM Land Use Plan Amendments and Protest Procedures: The BLM 
planning regulations (43 CFR 1610.5-3) require authorized uses of 
public lands to conform to approved land use plans. The BLM is 
proposing 18 land use plan amendments where the BLM preferred routes 
for the Project are not in conformance with the existing land use 
plans.
    All proposed plan amendments comply with applicable Federal laws 
and regulations and apply only to Federal lands and mineral estate 
administered by the BLM.
    Green River Resource Management Plan (RMP): One amendment for 
visual resource management.
    Kemmerer RMP: Four amendments for visual resource management, 
National Historic Trails (the Oregon, California, Mormon Pioneer, and 
Pony Express National Historic Trails), and the Rock Creek/Tunp area.
    Twin Falls Management Framework Plan (MFP): Two amendments for 
visual resource management and to allow a linear facility outside of 
existing corridors.
    Jarbidge RMP: Six amendments for visual resource management, 
paleontological sites, the Oregon National Historic Trail, to adjust 
management objectives in an ACEC, and to allow a linear facility 
outside of existing corridors.
    Morley Nelson Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area 
RMP: One amendment to allow a linear facility outside of existing 
corridors.
    Bennett Hills/Timmerman Hills MFP: Two amendments for visual 
resource management and archeological sites.

[[Page 24773]]

    Kuna MFP: Two amendments for a historic site and to designate a new 
utility corridor.
    Pursuant to BLM's planning regulations at 43 CFR 1610.5-2, any 
person who participated in the planning process for this Project and 
has an interest which is or may be adversely affected by the planning 
decisions may protest approval of the planning decisions within 30 days 
from date the EPA publishes its Notice of Availability in the Federal 
Register. Complete instructions for filing a protest with the Director 
of the BLM regarding any of these proposed land use plan amendments may 
be found in the ``Dear Reader'' Letter of the Gateway West Final EIS 
and at 43 CFR 1610.5-2.
    Email and faxed protests will not be accepted as valid protests 
unless the protesting party also provides the original letter by either 
regular or overnight mail postmarked by the close of the protest 
period. Under these conditions, the BLM will consider the email or 
faxed protest as an advance copy and it will receive full 
consideration. If you wish to provide the BLM with such advance 
notification, please direct faxed protests to the attention of the BLM 
protest coordinator at 202-245-0028, and emails to Brenda_Hudgens-Williams@blm.gov.
    All protests, including the follow-up letter to emails or faxes, 
must be in writing and mailed to one of the addresses listed in the 
ADDRESSES section of this notice.
    Before including your phone number, email address, or other 
personal identifying information in your protest, you should be aware 
that your entire protest--including your personal identifying 
information--may be made publicly available at any time. While you can 
ask us in your protest to withhold your personal identifying 
information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be 
able to do so.
    Forest Service Land Use Plan Amendments and the Appeal Process: The 
following land use plan amendments are proposed by the Forest Service 
in order for the Preferred Route crossing National Forest Lands to 
conform to the respective Forest Plans:
    Medicine Bow Forest Plan: Amendments for management of visual 
resources, goshawk and amphibian habitat, and recreation.
    Caribou Forest Plan: Amendments to designate a new utility 
corridor, goshawk habitat, snag/nesting habitat, scenery, and 
recreation.
    There is no provision in Forest Service regulations to protest land 
use planning decisions. Following the Final EIS comment period, the 
Forest Service will issue a separate ROD for activities under its 
jurisdiction. Copies of the ROD will be mailed to interested parties on 
the Gateway West Transmission Project mailing list. Notice of this 
decision will be published in local newspapers and the respective 
papers of record. The ROD will have an appeal period before the 
decision becomes effective. The Forest Service ROD will contain the 
appropriate instructions for appeal.
    The BLM Decision on the Project: Based on the environmental 
analysis in the Final EIS, the BLM Wyoming State Director will decide 
whether to grant, grant with modifications, or deny the Proposed 
Action, an Action Alternative, or any portion thereof on Public Lands 
and, if the Project is approved, how to approve all or a portion of 
this Project. This decision will be documented in the ROD and may 
include a phased or bifurcated decision on the Project.
    A phased or bifurcated decision could be chosen to give additional 
time for further input from the various Federal, State, and local 
permitting agencies on one or more Project segments. Analysis in the 
Final EIS covers the entire Project, and Project-wide effects have been 
disclosed. The BLM is considering several factors, including the 
proposed construction schedule, other authorizing entities' preferred 
routes, environmental effects of analyzed routes, and opportunities to 
reach complementary siting decisions with other authorizing entities in 
making a decision on whether or not to authorize the entire Project on 
public land or if only a portion of the Project should be authorized at 
this time.
    If the BLM pursues a phased or bifurcated decision, the initial 
decision would be made for a portion of the Project that has 
demonstrated independent utility. Rationale for a phased decision would 
be included in an initial ROD.
    For the portion of the proposal not approved in the initial ROD, 
the BLM would initiate siting discussions with cooperating agencies and 
stakeholders. At the conclusion of those discussions, the BLM would 
determine whether additional environmental analysis is required and 
prepare further environmental documentation, as needed. The public 
would be afforded an opportunity to review and comment on any potential 
supplemental environmental review document. The BLM would respond to 
public comments and provide its rationale on a decision for the second 
segment with independent utility in a second ROD.
    National Historic Preservation Act Conformance and Native American 
Consultation: The BLM will utilize and coordinate the NEPA commenting 
process to satisfy the public involvement process for Section 106 of 
the National Historic Preservation Act (16 U.S.C. 470f), as provided 
for in 36 CFR 800.2(d)(3). In coordination with consulting parties, the 
BLM has prepared and is in the process of finalizing a Programmatic 
Agreement pursuant to the requirements of 36 CFR 800.14(b)(1). Ongoing 
Native American Tribal consultations will continue to be conducted in 
accordance with policy, and Tribal concerns, including impacts on 
Indian trust assets, will be given due consideration. Federal, State, 
and local agencies, along with other stakeholders that may be 
interested or affected by the BLM's decision on this Project, are 
invited to participate.
    Copies of the Final EIS are available for public inspection during 
normal business hours at the following locations:
     Bureau of Land Management, Wyoming State Office, Public 
Room, 5353 Yellowstone Road, Cheyenne, WY 82009;
     Bureau of Land Management, Casper Field Office, 2987 
Prospector Drive, Casper, WY 82604;
     Bureau of Land Management, Rawlins Field Office, 1300 
North Third Street, Rawlins, WY 82301;
     Bureau of Land Management, Rock Springs Field Office, 280 
Highway 191 North, Rock Springs, WY 82901;
     Bureau of Land Management, Kemmerer Field Office, 312 
Highway 189 North, Kemmerer, WY 83101;
     Bureau of Land Management, Idaho State Office, Public 
Room, 1387 South Vinnell Way, Boise, ID 83709;
     Bureau of Land Management, Pocatello Field Office, 4350 
Cliffs Drive, Pocatello, ID 83204;
     Bureau of Land Management, Idaho Falls District Office, 
1405 Hollipark Drive, Idaho Falls, ID 83401;
     Bureau of Land Management, Burley Field Office, 15 East 
200 South, Burley, ID 83318;
     Bureau of Land Management, Twin Falls District Office, 
2536 Kimberly Road, Twin Falls, ID 83301;
     Bureau of Land Management, Shoshone Field Office, 400 West 
F Street, Shoshone, ID 83325;
     Bureau of Land Management, Boise District Office, 3948 
Development Avenue, Boise, ID 83705;
     Bureau of Land Management, Owyhee Field Office, 20 First 
Avenue West, Marsing, ID 83639;
     U.S. Department of Agriculture, Medicine Bow-Routt 
National Forest,

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2468 Jackson Street, Laramie, WY 82070;
     U.S. Department of Agriculture, Medicine Bow-Routt 
National Forest, Douglas Ranger District, 2250 East Richards Street, 
Douglas, WY 82633;
     U.S. Department of Agriculture, Caribou-Targhee National 
Forest, Montpelier Ranger District, 322 North 4th Street, Montpelier, 
ID 83254; and
     U.S. Department of Agriculture, Sawtooth National Forest, 
Minidoka Ranger District, 3650 Overland Avenue, Burley, ID 83318.
    A limited number of copies of the document will be available as 
supplies last. To request a copy, contact Walt George, Project Manager, 
BLM Wyoming State Office, P.O. Box 20879, Cheyenne, WY 82003.

Donald A. Simpson,
Wyoming State Director,
Brent L. Larson,
Forest Supervisor, Caribou-Targhee National Forest.
[FR Doc. 2013-09664 Filed 4-25-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-22-P