Notice of Availability of the Record of Decision for the Gateway West 230/345/500-kV Transmission Line Project and Approved Land Use Plan Amendments in Idaho and Wyoming, 68467-68469 [2013-27261]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
• Bureau of Land Management

[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 220 (Thursday, November 14, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68467-68469]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-27261]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

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


Notice of Availability of the Record of Decision for the Gateway 
West 230/345/500-kV Transmission Line Project and Approved Land Use 
Plan Amendments in Idaho and Wyoming

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Availability.

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announces the availability 
of the Record of Decision (ROD) authorizing a right-of-way (ROW) grant 
to the Proponents' (Idaho Power Company and PacifiCorp, doing business 
as Rocky Mountain Power) to construct, operate, maintain, and 
decommission electric transmission lines on public lands for the 
Gateway

[[Page 68468]]

West 230/345/500-kilovolt (kV) Transmission Line Project (Project) and 
approving Land Use Plan (LUP) Amendments in Idaho and Wyoming. The 
Wyoming State Director's signature on the ROD constitutes the final 
decision of the BLM and makes the approved LUP Amendments effective 
immediately.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the ROD are being sent to Federal, State, and 
local governments, public libraries in the Project area, and interested 
parties who previously requested a copy. The ROD and supporting 
documents will be available electronically on the following Web site: 
https://www.wy.blm.gov/nepa/cfodocs/gateway_west/. To request a copy, 
contact Walt George, Project Manager, BLM Wyoming State Office, P.O. 
Box 20879, Cheyenne, WY 82003.

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 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, February 2012, and August 2013, to reflect changes to the 
proposed Project.
    The Gateway West Transmission Line Project, with a capacity of 
1,500 megawatts, is planned from Glenrock, Wyoming, to the Hemingway 
Substation, approximately 20 miles southwest of Boise, Idaho. The 
Project is approximately 990 miles long and composed of nine 500-kV 
segments, one short 345-kV sub segment, and one segment with two 230-kV 
lines. Approximately 482 miles cross Federal lands, 73 miles cross 
State-managed lands, and 435 miles cross private lands. Of the Federal 
lands crossed, approximately 461 miles cross the National System of 
Public Lands administered by the BLM; 14 miles cross National Forest 
Lands; and 7 miles cross lands administered by the Bureau of 
Reclamation.
    The Proponents' objective for the Project is to improve the 
reliability and efficiency of both utilities' systems and to 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 aid in delivering that 
energy throughout the region.
    The BLM purpose and need for this action is to respond to a ROW 
application, submitted under Section 501 of the Federal Land Policy and 
Management Act (FLPMA) (43 U.S.C. Sec.  1761(a)), to use public lands 
for an electric transmission system and related facilities in 
accordance with FLPMA's multiple use and sustained yield mandates.
    The BLM published a Notice of Intent in the Federal Register on May 
16, 2008 (73 FR 28425), stating its intent to prepare an Environmental 
Impact Statement (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. The Notice of Intent 
initiated the public scoping comment period that concluded on July 3, 
2008. In response to a request from non-Federal cooperating agencies, 
the scoping period was extended to September 4, 2009, to allow time to 
develop additional alternatives. On July 29, 2011, the BLM published 
the Notice of Availability for the Draft EIS in the Federal Register 
(76 FR 45609), starting a 90-day public comment period. On June 29, 
2012, the BLM released the Addendum to the Draft EIS--Effects of 
Proposed Project on Greater Sage-Grouse--for an additional 30-day 
public comment period. The report included the Greater Sage-Grouse 
habitat equivalency analysis, which was not available at the time the 
Draft EIS was released.
    The Final EIS was developed incorporating updated environmental 
analysis as well as the extensive input from public comments, 
stakeholder outreach, interagency collaboration, and government-to-
government consultation with Native American Tribes in the Project 
area. The Final EIS analyzed the environmental consequences of the No 
Action alternative, the proposed action, 36 route alternatives, and 
land use plan amendments. On April 26, 2013, the BLM published the 
Notice of Availability of the Final EIS (78 FR 24771), triggering a 
final 60-day public review period. Printed and electronic copies of the 
Draft EIS, Addendum to the Draft EIS, and Final EIS are available at 
the Wyoming State Office and posted online at https://www.wy.blm.gov/nepa/cfodocs/gateway_west/.
    In response to comments made on the Final EIS, a number of 
adjustments were made to the BLM's Preferred Routes, and several of the 
mitigation measures were revised. All mitigation measures are included 
in the ROD. Three micro-siting reroutes were included in Segment 4 of 
the Project to address concerns raised by Lincoln County and the City 
of Cokeville, as well as to avoid landslide hazards and private lands 
protected under conservation easements. These reroutes were assessed 
based on analysis in the Final EIS that covers the same general areas, 
as well as additional site-specific analysis. A report discussing the 
micro-siting considerations and reroutes in detail is included with the 
ROD. The ROD includes the BLM's response to comments on the Final EIS 
as well as an errata sheet listing corrections to the Final EIS 
document.
    The decision is to authorize Segments 1 through 7 and Segment 10 of 
the Project and to allow the various Federal, State, and local 
permitting agencies additional time to offer input on a routing 
decision in Segments 8 and 9 of the Project in Idaho. The BLM Wyoming 
State Director signed the ROD, which constitutes the final decision of 
the BLM and makes the ROW and LUP amendment decisions effective 
immediately. However, there are additional requirements such as 
completing the Plan of Development, mitigation plans, and other 
informational requirements that the Grant Holders must meet before 
receiving permission to use the authorized area of public lands for the 
project. The BLM will grant permission to use these areas through its 
Notice to Proceed process (43 CFR 2805.10(a)(2)).
    The BLM Decisions--Phased Decision: Due to the substantial interest 
expressed by local stakeholders and government officials in continuing 
to work toward a consensus route in Segments 8 and 9 of the Project, as 
well as questions raised regarding allowable actions under BLM policies 
and regulations for the Morley Nelson Snake River Birds of Prey 
National Conservation Area, the BLM has decided to postpone a decision 
on the routes and land use plan amendments associated with Segments 8 
and 9 until further input can be gathered. The BLM will initiate siting 
discussions with cooperating agencies and stakeholders. At the 
conclusion of these discussions, the BLM will

[[Page 68469]]

determine whether additional environmental analysis is required and 
prepare further environmental documentation, if 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 Segments 8 
and 9 in a second ROD. The Proponents have demonstrated independent 
utility for Segments 1 through 7 of the Project, as well as Segment 10, 
which connects the Cedar Hill and Midpoint Substations just east of 
Segments 8 and 9.
    BLM Decisions--Approved Segments: The ROD approves, with all 
mitigation measures identified in the ROD, a ROW grant for the 
following route alternatives for Segments 1 through 7 and Segment 10:

 Segment 1: Proposed 1W(a) and 1W(c) Routes
 Segment 2: Proposed Route
 Segment 3: Proposed Route, including Route 3A
 Segment 4: Revised Proposed Route, including a reroute east 
and north of the community of Cokeville
 Segment 5: Proposed Route, incorporating Alternatives 5B and 
5E
 Segment 6: The proposed upgrade from 345 kV to 500 kV
 Segment 7: Proposed Route, incorporating Alternatives 7B, 7C, 
7D, and 7G. The Proposed Route in the East Hills and Alternative 7G 
will be micro-sited to avoid Preliminary Priority Habitat for Greater 
Sage-Grouse.
 Segment 10: Proposed Route

    BLM Decisions--Land Use Plan Amendments: The BLM planning 
regulations (43 CFR 1610.5-3) require authorized uses of public lands 
to conform to approved LUPs. The LUP amendments' preferred alternatives 
that were analyzed in the draft EIS associated with Segments 1 through 
7 of the Project, as well as Segment 10, which connects the Cedar Hill 
and Midpoint Substations just east of Segments 8 and 9, were carried 
forward in the final EIS, with minor modifications made in preparing 
the approved LUP Amendments. The BLM received five protest letters on 
the Proposed LUP Amendments/Final EIS. The BLM Director denied all 
protest issues. The Director's Protest Resolution Report can be 
accessed at the following Web site: https://www.blm.gov/wo/st/en/prog/planning/planning_overview/protest_resolution/protestreports.html. To 
bring the Project into conformance, the ROD approves the following 
amendments to BLM resource management plans (RMP) in the Project area:
 Green River RMP: One amendment for visual resource management.
 Kemmerer RMP: Four amendments for visual resource management, 
National Historic Trails, and the Rock Creek/Tunp Special Management 
Area.

    All plan amendments comply with applicable Federal laws and 
regulations and apply only to Federal lands and mineral estates 
administered by the BLM.
    Appeal Information: A party may appeal the BLM's decision before 
the Interior Board of Land Appeals within 30 days of publication of 
this Notice of Availability in the Federal Register in accordance with 
the requirements of 43 CFR part 4, subpart E. BLM decisions issued 
under 43 CFR part 2800 are and remain in effect pending appeal (43 CFR 
2801.10(b)). A party can file a petition for a stay of the decision 
pending appeal before the Interior Board of Land Appeals, but the stay 
petition must accompany the Notice of Appeal (43 CFR 2801.10; 43CFR 
4.21). The appeal must be filed with the BLM Wyoming State Office at 
the above listed address. Please consult the appropriate regulations 
(43 CFR part 4, subpart E) and Appendix N of the ROD for further appeal 
requirements.

    Authority: 40 CFR 1502.2 and 43 CFR 1610.5.

Donald A. Simpson,
Wyoming State Director.
[FR Doc. 2013-27261 Filed 11-13-13; 8:45 am]
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