Notice of Availability of the Final Environmental Impact Statement for the SunZia Southwest Transmission Project in New Mexico and Arizona and Proposed Resource Management Plan Amendments, 35954-35956 [2013-14110]
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35954
Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 115 / Friday, June 14, 2013 / Notices
Public Availability of Comments
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
All comments and materials we
receive in response to these requests
will be available for public inspection,
by appointment, during normal business
hours at the address listed in the
ADDRESSES section of this notice.
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.
Bureau of Land Management
Authority
We provide this notice under section
10 of the Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).
Date: June 6, 2013.
Richard R. Hannan,
Acting Regional Director, Pacific Region, U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 2013–14134 Filed 6–13–13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–55–P
[LLNM930000 L51010000.ER0000
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Notice of Availability of the Final
Environmental Impact Statement for
the SunZia Southwest Transmission
Project in New Mexico and Arizona and
Proposed Resource Management Plan
Amendments
Bureau of Land Management,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: In accordance with the
National Environmental Policy Act of
1969, as amended (NEPA), and the
Federal Land Policy and Management
Act of 1976, as amended (FLPMA), the
BLM has prepared a Final
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
and Proposed Resource Management
Plan (RMP) amendments for the SunZia
Southwest Transmission Line Project
(Project), and by this notice is
announcing its availability.
DATES: BLM planning regulations state
that any person who meets the
conditions as described in the
regulations may protest the Proposed
RMP amendments. Protests must be
filed within 30 days of the date that the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
publishes its Notice of Availability in
the Federal Register.
Copies of the Final EIS/
Proposed RMP amendments have been
sent to affected Federal, State, tribal,
and local government agencies, public
libraries in the Project area, and to
interested parties that previously
requested a copy. A list of the locations
where copies of the Final EIS/Proposed
RMP amendments are available for
public inspection can be found in the
‘‘SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION’’ section
below.
A limited number of copies of the
document will be available to those who
request one. To request a copy, contact
Adrian Garcia, BLM Project Manager,
BLM New Mexico State Office, 301
Dinosaur Trail, Santa Fe, NM 87508–
1560. Interested persons may also
review the Final EIS/Proposed RMP
amendments on the Internet at
www.blm.gov/nm/sunzia. All protests of
the proposed RMP amendments must be
in writing and mailed to one of the
following addresses:
ADDRESSES:
Regular mail:
Overnight mail:
BLM Director (210), Attention: Brenda Williams, P.O. Box 71383,
Washington, DC 20024–1383.
BLM Director (210), Attention: Brenda Williams, 20 M Street SE.,
Room 2134LM, Washington, DC 20003.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Adrian Garcia, Project Manager,
telephone 505–954–2000; address BLM,
New Mexico State Office, 301 Dinosaur
Trail, Santa Fe, NM 87508–1560; email
agarcia@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.
The Final
EIS/Proposed RMP amendments analyze
a right-of-way project application by
SunZia Transmission, LLC, (Applicant)
for the location of two parallel overhead
500 kilovolt (kV) electric transmission
lines from the proposed SunZia East
Substation site in Lincoln County, New
Mexico, to the existing Pinal Central
Substation in Pinal County, Arizona.
The proposed Project would include
two new, single-circuit 500 kV
transmission lines located on Federal,
State, and private lands. One of the 500
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kV transmission lines would be
constructed and operated as an
alternating current (AC) facility
transmission line, and SunZia could
construct and operate the other line as
either an AC or direct current (DC)
facility. Once constructed, the Project
would be in operation year-round. The
Applicant has applied for a right-of-way
grant term from the BLM of 50 years and
is evaluating options for a lease term of
50 years or greater on State and private
lands.
The requested right-of-way width
would be typically 400 feet to
accommodate a separation of 200 feet
between the two lines. However, it
could be up to 1,000 feet wide in areas
where terrain poses engineering or
construction constraints. Engineering
studies would determine those
requirements as part of the plan of
development. In addition to the SunZia
East Substation site, up to three new
substations would be constructed and
operated at the following sites on
private or State lands: The proposed
Midpoint Substation site near Deming,
New Mexico, in Luna County; the
proposed Lordsburg Substation site near
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Lordsburg, New Mexico, in Hidalgo
County; and the proposed Willow-500
kV Substation site, near Willcox,
Arizona, in Graham County.
The lengths of the varying Project
alternative routes considered and
evaluated in the Final EIS/Proposed
RMP amendments range between about
460 and 530 miles. The BLM has
identified a preferred alternative route,
the length of which is about 515 miles.
It is estimated that about 185 miles, or
36 percent, of the right-of-way for the
preferred route is located on Federal
lands administered by four BLM Field
Offices in New Mexico (Las Cruces,
Socorro, Rio Puerco, and Roswell), as
well as Federal lands administered by
two BLM Field Offices in Arizona
(Safford and Tucson). The BLM
preferred route would cross about 135
miles of Federal lands in New Mexico
and 50 miles of Federal lands in
Arizona. About 273 miles of the BLM
preferred alternative route would fall
within designated utility corridors. The
BLM’s New Mexico State Office has
been designated the lead office for this
right-of-way application.
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Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 115 / Friday, June 14, 2013 / Notices
In September 2008, the Applicant
submitted a right-of-way application to
the BLM requesting authorization to
construct, operate, maintain, and
commission two electric transmission
lines on public lands.
On May 29, 2009, the BLM published
in the Federal Register (74 FR 25764) a
Notice of Intent (NOI) that initiated the
public scoping process for the Project.
Three scoping periods, including public
meetings, were conducted for the
Project between June 2009 and April
2010.
Issues and potential impacts to
specific resources were identified
during scoping and stakeholder
meetings, including:
• Engineering and construction
restraints;
• Corridor alignments and
alternatives;
• Effects to sedimentation in rivers,
soil erosion, and alteration of
watersheds;
• Effects to wildlife habitats,
migratory birds and waterfowl, other
bird species, bighorn sheep, and deserts
and grasslands;
• Management of invasive plant
species and ensuring effective
reclamation;
• Effects to cultural resources and
archaeological sites;
• Effects to Native American
traditional cultural properties and
respected places;
• Effects to visual resources and
existing viewsheds;
• Conflicts with current land use
plans;
• Impacts on Wilderness areas,
livestock grazing and ranching, property
values, off-highway vehicle use, and
military use;
• Effects to rural lifestyles, tourism,
and socioeconomic conditions; and
• Effects on sensitive areas such as
Wilderness areas, wildlife refuges,
national forests, and military withdrawn
lands and airspace.
On May 25, 2012, the EPA’s Notice of
Availability of the Draft EIS/RMP
amendments for the SunZia Southwest
Transmission Project was published in
the Federal Register (77 FR 31355),
initiating a 90-day public comment
period. The BLM held public meetings
in June and July of 2012 in Corona,
Socorro, Truth or Consequences,
Deming, and Lordsburg, New Mexico;
and in Safford, Benson, Tucson, San
Manuel, and Eloy, Arizona.
Alternative routes for the proposed
transmission lines were divided into
four route groups that contain various
alternative segments, or subroutes.
These are:
Route Group 1: SunZia East
Substation to Midpoint Substation—
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Consists of subroutes 1A, 1A1, 1A2,
1B1, 1B2, 1B2a, and 1B3.
Subroute 1A2 (230.3 miles), the BLM
preferred alternative, proceeds
northwest from the proposed SunZia
East Substation site then continues into
Torrance County, about 4 miles north of
the Gran Quivira Unit of Salinas Pueblo
Missions National Monument, and then
enters Socorro County, east of the
Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge.
Subroute 1A2 crosses the Rio Grande
north of Socorro, and then turns south
along an existing transmission line path
into Sierra County. The route continues
south to the proposed Midpoint
Substation site, near Deming, New
Mexico. Subroute 1A2 parallels about
141 miles of existing or designated
utility right-of-way, and crosses about
108 miles of public land administered
by the BLM.
Route Group 2: SunZia East
Substation to Midpoint Substation—
Generally east of White Sands Missile
Range and through the Fort Bliss Army
˜
Base within Lincoln, Otero, Dona Ana,
and Luna Counties. This group of
alternatives was considered during the
expanded scoping period of 2010, and
then eliminated from detailed study in
the Draft EIS/RMP amendments because
routes under this group of alternatives
would require traversing lands under
the jurisdiction of Fort Bliss. Fort Bliss
has indicated that overhead
transmission lines through its
administered lands would have
substantial impacts to military
operations and would not be compatible
with its mission; therefore, Fort Bliss
would not grant a right-of-way across
lands under its jurisdiction.
Route Group 3: Midpoint Substation
to Willow-500 kV Substation—Consists
of subroutes 3A, 3A2, and 3B. Subroute
3A2 (123.9 miles), the BLM preferred
alternative, is a variation of Subroute
3A. The subroute proceeds west from
the proposed Midpoint Substation site
then crosses a 115 kV transmission line
and U.S. Route 180 about 7.5 miles
north of Deming. From that point,
Subroute 3A2 proceeds southwesterly
then turns northwest to parallel a 345
kV transmission line and pipeline
adjacent to the Hidalgo Substation site.
The subroute then heads west, to cross
the New Mexico-Arizona state line from
Hidalgo County into Greenlee County.
The subroute proceeds west into
Graham County and south of the Hot
Well Dunes Recreation Area, then
continues through the San Simon Valley
to the proposed Willow-500 kV
Substation site. Subroute 3A2 parallels
about 42 miles of existing or designated
utility corridors, and crosses about 62
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35955
miles of public land administered by the
BLM.
Route Group 4: Willow-500 kV
Substation to Pinal Central Substation—
Consists of subroutes 4A, 4B, 4C1, 4C2,
4C2a, 4C2b, 4C2c, and 4C3. Subroute
4C2c (161.2 miles), the BLM preferred
alternative, follows an existing 345 kV
transmission line corridor from the
Willow-500 kV Substation site
southwest, crossing the San Pedro River
about 12 miles north of Benson,
Arizona. The route then continues
northwesterly, crossing the northeast
corner of Pima County, then follows a
westerly path through Pinal County,
north of Oracle toward the Tortolita
Substation, about 25 miles northwest of
Tucson. From that point, Subroute 4C2c
parallels about 90 miles of existing
utilities (including about 72 miles of
existing electrical transmission lines).
Subroute 4C2c parallels about 90 miles
of existing or designated utility
corridors, and crosses about 15 miles of
public land administered by the BLM.
The Final EIS/Proposed RMP
amendments also analyze the
environmental consequences of a no
action alternative. The no action
alternative means that the BLM would
deny the right-of-way application for the
construction and operation of the
proposed SunZia transmission project
and would not amend any land use
plans. Project facilities, including
transmission lines and substations,
would not be built and existing land
uses and present activities in the Project
study area would continue. This
alternative does not consider the
potential for additional actions that
could occur, depending on the decision
for the proposed action or alternatives.
The BLM worked with the applicant
and the cooperating agencies to identify
alternative routes that would conform to
existing land use plans and alter the
impacts to affected resources. Where the
Project does not conform to BLM RMPs,
land use plan amendments are proposed
to bring the proposed Project into
conformance. Proposed plan
amendments would comply with
applicable Federal laws and regulations
and apply only to Federal lands and
mineral estate administered by the BLM.
Plan amendment alternatives were
considered, including multiple-use
corridors of varying widths. The BLM
preferred alternative is to amend
existing RMP visual resource
management (VRM) decisions and rightof-way avoidance areas, as described in
the Final EIS/Proposed RMP
amendments. There are two proposed
plan amendments for the BLM preferred
alternative:
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35956
Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 115 / Friday, June 14, 2013 / Notices
• Socorro RMP (2010), Socorro Field
Office: Modifications to existing VRM
decisions and/or to right-of-way
avoidance area decisions; and
• Mimbres RMP (1993), Las Cruces
District Office: Modifications to existing
VRM decisions and/or to right-of-way
avoidance area decisions.
Comments on the Draft EIS/RMP
amendments received from the public
and internal BLM review were
considered and incorporated as
appropriate into the Final EIS/Proposed
RMP amendments. The BLM received
more than 900 comment submittals
during the Draft EIS/RMP amendments
comment period, which contained more
than 2,000 unique comments. The Final
EIS/Proposed RMP amendments include
responses to all substantive comments
and revisions to the EIS. In response to
comments, modifications, including the
following, were made to alternatives
analyzed in the Draft EIS/RMP
amendments, including the BLM
preferred alternative:
• Route Group 1 (Lincoln, Torrance,
and Socorro counties, New Mexico):
The alternative alignment for Subroute
1A1 was modified to increase the
distance between the proposed
transmission lines and military
operations at the White Sands Missile
Range. This is Subroute 1A2, the BLM
preferred alternative that is described in
the Final EIS.
• Route Group 3 (Hidalgo County,
New Mexico; Greenlee, Graham, and
Cochise counties in Arizona): Sensitive
environmental resources near the
Lordsburg Playa and the Peloncillo
Mountains Wilderness were identified
as issues associated with Subroute 3A1,
which was identified as the BLM
preferred alternative in the Draft EIS.
Subroute 3A2, identified as the BLM
preferred alternative in the Final EIS,
avoids these sensitive environmental
resources. Subroute 3A2 is the same as
Subroute 3A, with a modification to a
segment of the alignment in the vicinity
of the Hot Well Dunes Recreation Area.
• Additional considerations for
National Scenic and Historic Trails were
included. Instructions for filing a protest
with the Director of the BLM regarding
the Proposed RMP amendments may be
found in the ‘‘Dear Reader’’ letter of the
Final EIS/Proposed RMP amendments
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
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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_HudgensWilliams@blm.gov.
All protests, including the follow-up
letter to emails or faxes, must be in
writing and mailed to the appropriate
address, as set forth in the ADDRESSES
section above.
Copies of the Final EIS/Proposed RMP
amendments are available for public
inspection during normal business
hours at the following locations:
• BLM, Las Cruces District Office, 1800
Marquess Street, Las Cruces, NM
88005–3370
• BLM, Roswell Field Office, 2909 West
Second Street, Roswell, NM 88201–
2019
• BLM, Socorro Field Office, 901 South
Highway 85, Socorro, NM 87801–
4168
• BLM, Rio Puerco Field Office, 435
Montano Road NE., Albuquerque, NM
87107–4935
• BLM, New Mexico State Office, 301
Dinosaur Trail, Santa Fe, NM 87508–
1560
• New Mexico State Land Office, 310
Old Santa Fe Trail, Santa Fe, NM
87504–1148
• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers,
Regulatory Division, 4101 Jefferson
Plaza NE., Albuquerque, NM 87109–
3435
• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 500
Gold Avenue SW., Albuquerque, NM
87102–3118
• BLM, Gila District Office, 1763 Paseo
San Luis, Sierra Vista, AZ 85635–
4611
• BLM, Tucson Field Office, 3201 East
Universal Way, Tucson, AZ 85756
• BLM, Safford Field Office, 711 14th
Avenue, Safford, AZ 85546–3337
• BLM, Arizona State Office, One North
Central Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85004–
4427
• Arizona State Land Department, 1616
West Adams, Phoenix, AZ 85007–
2614
• Arizona Game and Fish Department,
5000 West Carefree Highway,
Phoenix, AZ 85086–5000
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 request that your personal
identifying information be withheld
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from public review, we cannot
guarantee that we will be able to do so.
Jesse Juen,
State Director, New Mexico.
[FR Doc. 2013–14110 Filed 6–13–13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–FB–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[LLUT980300–L11200000–PH0000–24–1A]
Utah Resource Advisory Council
Subgroup Conference Call
Bureau of Land Management,
Interior.
ACTION: Conference Call.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: In accordance with the
Federal Land Policy and Management
Act and the Federal Advisory
Committee Act, the Bureau of Land
Management’s (BLM) Utah Resource
Advisory Council (RAC) Subgroup will
host a conference call.
DATES: The Utah RAC Subgroup will
host a conference call on Monday, June
24, 2013, from 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.,
MST.
Those attending in person
must meet at the BLM, Utah State
Office, 440 West 200 South, Salt Lake
City, Utah, in the Monument Conference
Room on the fifth floor. The conference
call will be recorded for purposes of
minute-taking.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If
you wish to listen to the teleconference,
orally present material during the
teleconference, or submit written
material for the Council to consider
during the teleconference, please notify
Sherry Foot, Special Programs
Coordinator, Bureau of Land
Management, Utah State Office, 440
West 200 South, Suite 500, Salt Lake
City, Utah 84101; phone 801–539–4195;
or, sfoot@blm.gov by Friday, June 21,
2013.
ADDRESSES:
The Utah
Resource Advisory Council (RAC)
formed a subgroup to review BLMUtah’s draft three-year National
Conservation Lands Strategy. In May
2013, the RAC provided the BLM-Utah
State Director with recommended
changes to the draft strategy and this
meeting was held to discuss how BLMUtah has incorporated their
recommendations into a revised draft
strategy. A public comment period will
take place immediately following the
presentation. The meeting is open to the
public; however, transportation,
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 115 (Friday, June 14, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35954-35956]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-14110]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[LLNM930000 L51010000.ER0000 LVRWG13G0690]
Notice of Availability of the Final Environmental Impact
Statement for the SunZia Southwest Transmission Project in New Mexico
and Arizona and Proposed Resource Management Plan Amendments
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of
1969, as amended (NEPA), and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act
of 1976, as amended (FLPMA), the BLM has prepared a Final Environmental
Impact Statement (EIS) and Proposed Resource Management Plan (RMP)
amendments for the SunZia Southwest Transmission Line Project
(Project), and by this notice is announcing its availability.
DATES: BLM planning regulations state that any person who meets the
conditions as described in the regulations may protest the Proposed RMP
amendments. Protests must be filed within 30 days of the date that the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) publishes its Notice of
Availability in the Federal Register.
ADDRESSES: Copies of the Final EIS/Proposed RMP amendments have been
sent to affected Federal, State, tribal, and local government agencies,
public libraries in the Project area, and to interested parties that
previously requested a copy. A list of the locations where copies of
the Final EIS/Proposed RMP amendments are available for public
inspection can be found in the ``SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION'' section
below.
A limited number of copies of the document will be available to
those who request one. To request a copy, contact Adrian Garcia, BLM
Project Manager, BLM New Mexico State Office, 301 Dinosaur Trail, Santa
Fe, NM 87508-1560. Interested persons may also review the Final EIS/
Proposed RMP amendments on the Internet at www.blm.gov/nm/sunzia. All
protests of the proposed RMP amendments must be in writing and mailed
to one of the following addresses:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Regular mail: Overnight mail:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
BLM Director (210), Attention: Brenda BLM Director (210), Attention:
Williams, P.O. Box 71383, Washington, Brenda Williams, 20 M Street
DC 20024-1383. SE., Room 2134LM, Washington,
DC 20003.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Adrian Garcia, Project Manager,
telephone 505-954-2000; address BLM, New Mexico State Office, 301
Dinosaur Trail, Santa Fe, NM 87508-1560; email agarcia@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 Final EIS/Proposed RMP amendments
analyze a right-of-way project application by SunZia Transmission, LLC,
(Applicant) for the location of two parallel overhead 500 kilovolt (kV)
electric transmission lines from the proposed SunZia East Substation
site in Lincoln County, New Mexico, to the existing Pinal Central
Substation in Pinal County, Arizona. The proposed Project would include
two new, single-circuit 500 kV transmission lines located on Federal,
State, and private lands. One of the 500 kV transmission lines would be
constructed and operated as an alternating current (AC) facility
transmission line, and SunZia could construct and operate the other
line as either an AC or direct current (DC) facility. Once constructed,
the Project would be in operation year-round. The Applicant has applied
for a right-of-way grant term from the BLM of 50 years and is
evaluating options for a lease term of 50 years or greater on State and
private lands.
The requested right-of-way width would be typically 400 feet to
accommodate a separation of 200 feet between the two lines. However, it
could be up to 1,000 feet wide in areas where terrain poses engineering
or construction constraints. Engineering studies would determine those
requirements as part of the plan of development. In addition to the
SunZia East Substation site, up to three new substations would be
constructed and operated at the following sites on private or State
lands: The proposed Midpoint Substation site near Deming, New Mexico,
in Luna County; the proposed Lordsburg Substation site near Lordsburg,
New Mexico, in Hidalgo County; and the proposed Willow-500 kV
Substation site, near Willcox, Arizona, in Graham County.
The lengths of the varying Project alternative routes considered
and evaluated in the Final EIS/Proposed RMP amendments range between
about 460 and 530 miles. The BLM has identified a preferred alternative
route, the length of which is about 515 miles. It is estimated that
about 185 miles, or 36 percent, of the right-of-way for the preferred
route is located on Federal lands administered by four BLM Field
Offices in New Mexico (Las Cruces, Socorro, Rio Puerco, and Roswell),
as well as Federal lands administered by two BLM Field Offices in
Arizona (Safford and Tucson). The BLM preferred route would cross about
135 miles of Federal lands in New Mexico and 50 miles of Federal lands
in Arizona. About 273 miles of the BLM preferred alternative route
would fall within designated utility corridors. The BLM's New Mexico
State Office has been designated the lead office for this right-of-way
application.
[[Page 35955]]
In September 2008, the Applicant submitted a right-of-way
application to the BLM requesting authorization to construct, operate,
maintain, and commission two electric transmission lines on public
lands.
On May 29, 2009, the BLM published in the Federal Register (74 FR
25764) a Notice of Intent (NOI) that initiated the public scoping
process for the Project. Three scoping periods, including public
meetings, were conducted for the Project between June 2009 and April
2010.
Issues and potential impacts to specific resources were identified
during scoping and stakeholder meetings, including:
Engineering and construction restraints;
Corridor alignments and alternatives;
Effects to sedimentation in rivers, soil erosion, and
alteration of watersheds;
Effects to wildlife habitats, migratory birds and
waterfowl, other bird species, bighorn sheep, and deserts and
grasslands;
Management of invasive plant species and ensuring
effective reclamation;
Effects to cultural resources and archaeological sites;
Effects to Native American traditional cultural properties
and respected places;
Effects to visual resources and existing viewsheds;
Conflicts with current land use plans;
Impacts on Wilderness areas, livestock grazing and
ranching, property values, off-highway vehicle use, and military use;
Effects to rural lifestyles, tourism, and socioeconomic
conditions; and
Effects on sensitive areas such as Wilderness areas,
wildlife refuges, national forests, and military withdrawn lands and
airspace.
On May 25, 2012, the EPA's Notice of Availability of the Draft EIS/
RMP amendments for the SunZia Southwest Transmission Project was
published in the Federal Register (77 FR 31355), initiating a 90-day
public comment period. The BLM held public meetings in June and July of
2012 in Corona, Socorro, Truth or Consequences, Deming, and Lordsburg,
New Mexico; and in Safford, Benson, Tucson, San Manuel, and Eloy,
Arizona.
Alternative routes for the proposed transmission lines were divided
into four route groups that contain various alternative segments, or
subroutes. These are:
Route Group 1: SunZia East Substation to Midpoint Substation--
Consists of subroutes 1A, 1A1, 1A2, 1B1, 1B2, 1B2a, and 1B3.
Subroute 1A2 (230.3 miles), the BLM preferred alternative, proceeds
northwest from the proposed SunZia East Substation site then continues
into Torrance County, about 4 miles north of the Gran Quivira Unit of
Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument, and then enters Socorro
County, east of the Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge. Subroute 1A2
crosses the Rio Grande north of Socorro, and then turns south along an
existing transmission line path into Sierra County. The route continues
south to the proposed Midpoint Substation site, near Deming, New
Mexico. Subroute 1A2 parallels about 141 miles of existing or
designated utility right-of-way, and crosses about 108 miles of public
land administered by the BLM.
Route Group 2: SunZia East Substation to Midpoint Substation--
Generally east of White Sands Missile Range and through the Fort Bliss
Army Base within Lincoln, Otero, Do[ntilde]a Ana, and Luna Counties.
This group of alternatives was considered during the expanded scoping
period of 2010, and then eliminated from detailed study in the Draft
EIS/RMP amendments because routes under this group of alternatives
would require traversing lands under the jurisdiction of Fort Bliss.
Fort Bliss has indicated that overhead transmission lines through its
administered lands would have substantial impacts to military
operations and would not be compatible with its mission; therefore,
Fort Bliss would not grant a right-of-way across lands under its
jurisdiction.
Route Group 3: Midpoint Substation to Willow-500 kV Substation--
Consists of subroutes 3A, 3A2, and 3B. Subroute 3A2 (123.9 miles), the
BLM preferred alternative, is a variation of Subroute 3A. The subroute
proceeds west from the proposed Midpoint Substation site then crosses a
115 kV transmission line and U.S. Route 180 about 7.5 miles north of
Deming. From that point, Subroute 3A2 proceeds southwesterly then turns
northwest to parallel a 345 kV transmission line and pipeline adjacent
to the Hidalgo Substation site. The subroute then heads west, to cross
the New Mexico-Arizona state line from Hidalgo County into Greenlee
County. The subroute proceeds west into Graham County and south of the
Hot Well Dunes Recreation Area, then continues through the San Simon
Valley to the proposed Willow-500 kV Substation site. Subroute 3A2
parallels about 42 miles of existing or designated utility corridors,
and crosses about 62 miles of public land administered by the BLM.
Route Group 4: Willow-500 kV Substation to Pinal Central
Substation--Consists of subroutes 4A, 4B, 4C1, 4C2, 4C2a, 4C2b, 4C2c,
and 4C3. Subroute 4C2c (161.2 miles), the BLM preferred alternative,
follows an existing 345 kV transmission line corridor from the Willow-
500 kV Substation site southwest, crossing the San Pedro River about 12
miles north of Benson, Arizona. The route then continues northwesterly,
crossing the northeast corner of Pima County, then follows a westerly
path through Pinal County, north of Oracle toward the Tortolita
Substation, about 25 miles northwest of Tucson. From that point,
Subroute 4C2c parallels about 90 miles of existing utilities (including
about 72 miles of existing electrical transmission lines). Subroute
4C2c parallels about 90 miles of existing or designated utility
corridors, and crosses about 15 miles of public land administered by
the BLM.
The Final EIS/Proposed RMP amendments also analyze the
environmental consequences of a no action alternative. The no action
alternative means that the BLM would deny the right-of-way application
for the construction and operation of the proposed SunZia transmission
project and would not amend any land use plans. Project facilities,
including transmission lines and substations, would not be built and
existing land uses and present activities in the Project study area
would continue. This alternative does not consider the potential for
additional actions that could occur, depending on the decision for the
proposed action or alternatives.
The BLM worked with the applicant and the cooperating agencies to
identify alternative routes that would conform to existing land use
plans and alter the impacts to affected resources. Where the Project
does not conform to BLM RMPs, land use plan amendments are proposed to
bring the proposed Project into conformance. Proposed plan amendments
would comply with applicable Federal laws and regulations and apply
only to Federal lands and mineral estate administered by the BLM. Plan
amendment alternatives were considered, including multiple-use
corridors of varying widths. The BLM preferred alternative is to amend
existing RMP visual resource management (VRM) decisions and right-of-
way avoidance areas, as described in the Final EIS/Proposed RMP
amendments. There are two proposed plan amendments for the BLM
preferred alternative:
[[Page 35956]]
Socorro RMP (2010), Socorro Field Office: Modifications to
existing VRM decisions and/or to right-of-way avoidance area decisions;
and
Mimbres RMP (1993), Las Cruces District Office:
Modifications to existing VRM decisions and/or to right-of-way
avoidance area decisions.
Comments on the Draft EIS/RMP amendments received from the public
and internal BLM review were considered and incorporated as appropriate
into the Final EIS/Proposed RMP amendments. The BLM received more than
900 comment submittals during the Draft EIS/RMP amendments comment
period, which contained more than 2,000 unique comments. The Final EIS/
Proposed RMP amendments include responses to all substantive comments
and revisions to the EIS. In response to comments, modifications,
including the following, were made to alternatives analyzed in the
Draft EIS/RMP amendments, including the BLM preferred alternative:
Route Group 1 (Lincoln, Torrance, and Socorro counties,
New Mexico): The alternative alignment for Subroute 1A1 was modified to
increase the distance between the proposed transmission lines and
military operations at the White Sands Missile Range. This is Subroute
1A2, the BLM preferred alternative that is described in the Final EIS.
Route Group 3 (Hidalgo County, New Mexico; Greenlee,
Graham, and Cochise counties in Arizona): Sensitive environmental
resources near the Lordsburg Playa and the Peloncillo Mountains
Wilderness were identified as issues associated with Subroute 3A1,
which was identified as the BLM preferred alternative in the Draft EIS.
Subroute 3A2, identified as the BLM preferred alternative in the Final
EIS, avoids these sensitive environmental resources. Subroute 3A2 is
the same as Subroute 3A, with a modification to a segment of the
alignment in the vicinity of the Hot Well Dunes Recreation Area.
Additional considerations for National Scenic and Historic
Trails were included. Instructions for filing a protest with the
Director of the BLM regarding the Proposed RMP amendments may be found
in the ``Dear Reader'' letter of the Final EIS/Proposed RMP amendments
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 the appropriate address, as set forth
in the ADDRESSES section above.
Copies of the Final EIS/Proposed RMP amendments are available for
public inspection during normal business hours at the following
locations:
BLM, Las Cruces District Office, 1800 Marquess Street, Las
Cruces, NM 88005-3370
BLM, Roswell Field Office, 2909 West Second Street, Roswell,
NM 88201-2019
BLM, Socorro Field Office, 901 South Highway 85, Socorro, NM
87801-4168
BLM, Rio Puerco Field Office, 435 Montano Road NE.,
Albuquerque, NM 87107-4935
BLM, New Mexico State Office, 301 Dinosaur Trail, Santa Fe, NM
87508-1560
New Mexico State Land Office, 310 Old Santa Fe Trail, Santa
Fe, NM 87504-1148
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Regulatory Division, 4101
Jefferson Plaza NE., Albuquerque, NM 87109-3435
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 500 Gold Avenue SW.,
Albuquerque, NM 87102-3118
BLM, Gila District Office, 1763 Paseo San Luis, Sierra Vista,
AZ 85635-4611
BLM, Tucson Field Office, 3201 East Universal Way, Tucson, AZ
85756
BLM, Safford Field Office, 711 14th Avenue, Safford, AZ 85546-
3337
BLM, Arizona State Office, One North Central Avenue, Phoenix,
AZ 85004-4427
Arizona State Land Department, 1616 West Adams, Phoenix, AZ
85007-2614
Arizona Game and Fish Department, 5000 West Carefree Highway,
Phoenix, AZ 85086-5000
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
request that your personal identifying information be withheld from
public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.
Jesse Juen,
State Director, New Mexico.
[FR Doc. 2013-14110 Filed 6-13-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-FB-P
