Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the San Luis Transmission Project, Alameda, Merced, San Joaquin and Stanislaus Counties, California (DOE/EIS-0496), 70035-70037 [2013-28043]
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emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Western Area Power Administration
Notice of Intent To Prepare an
Environmental Impact Statement for
the San Luis Transmission Project,
Alameda, Merced, San Joaquin and
Stanislaus Counties, California (DOE/
EIS–0496)
Western Area Power
Administration, DOE.
ACTION: Notice of Intent to Prepare an
Environmental Impact Statement and to
Conduct Scoping Meetings; Notice of
Floodplain and Wetlands Involvement.
AGENCY:
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16:47 Nov 21, 2013
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Western Area Power
Administration (Western) is a power
marketing administration within the
U.S. Department of Energy. Western has
a statutory responsibility to make the
necessary arrangements to deliver
federal power to federally authorized
projects including the San Luis Unit
(SLU), a part of the Central Valley
Project (CVP). The U.S. Bureau of
Reclamation (Reclamation) submitted a
transmission request to Western to
interconnect several key SLU facilities
to Western’s CVP transmission system.
Reclamation requested Western to
consider various transmission service
arrangements so Reclamation can
continue to economically deliver federal
water when the current transmission
service contract with the Pacific Gas and
Electric Company (PG&E) expires.
Western must respond to Reclamation’s
transmission request consistent with
Western’s Open Access Transmission
Tariff and existing laws. The San Luis
& Delta-Mendota Water Authority
(Authority), a Reclamation contractor
that operates and maintains a part of the
SLU, has a direct interest in this
requested transmission service between
Western’s Tracy Substation and several
key pumping and generating facilities of
the SLU.
Western determined an
environmental impact statement (EIS) is
the appropriate level of review under
the National Environmental Policy Act
(NEPA). Western will prepare the EIS in
accordance with NEPA, the DOE NEPA
Implementing Procedures, and the
Council on Environmental Quality
regulations for implementing NEPA.
Western will be the lead federal agency
for the NEPA EIS review process, and
Reclamation will be a cooperating
agency. Western intends to prepare a
joint EIS/environmental impact report
(EIR) for the proposed San Luis
Transmission Project (SLTP) in
coordination with the Authority. The
Authority will be the lead agency for the
California Environmental Quality Act
(CEQA) EIR review process. Portions of
the proposed action may affect
floodplains and wetlands, so this Notice
of Intent (NOI) also serves as a notice of
proposed floodplain or wetland action
in accordance with DOE floodplain and
wetland environmental review
requirements.
SUMMARY:
Western invites public
comments on the scope of the SLTP EIS
during a 60-day public scoping period
beginning with publication of this
notice and ending on January 21, 2014.
See Public Participation in the
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for
DATES:
PO 00000
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Sfmt 4703
70035
the public scoping meeting dates and
locations.
Written comments on the
scope of the EIS/EIR and requests to be
added to the EIS/EIR distribution list
may be submitted by any of the
following methods:
• Electronic comments via the project
Web site at www.sltpeis-eir.com.
• Email to: SLTPEIS–EIR@wapa.gov.
• U.S. Mail to: Mr. Donald Lash,
NEPA Document Manager, Western
Area Power Administration, 114
Parkshore Drive, Folsom, CA 95630.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
additional information or to have your
name added to our mailing list, contact
Mr. Donald Lash, NEPA Document
Manager, Western Area Power
Administration, 114 Parkshore Drive,
Folsom, CA 95630, telephone (916) 353–
4048, facsimile (916) 353–4772, email at
SLTPEIS–EIR@wapa.gov.
For general information on the DOE
NEPA process, contact Ms. Carol M.
Borgstrom, Director, Office of NEPA
Policy and Compliance (GC–54), U.S.
Department of Energy, 1000
Independence Avenue SW.,
Washington, DC 20585, telephone (202)
586–4600, voicemail at (800) 472–2756,
or email at askNEPA@hq.doe.gov.
For information related to
Reclamation’s participation, contact Mr.
Russell Grimes, Chief, Environmental
Compliance and Conservation, Bureau
of Reclamation, Mid-Pacific Region,
2800 Cottage Way, Sacramento, CA
95818, telephone (916) 978–5051, email
at rwgrimes@usbr.gov.
For information related to the
Authority’s participation and the CEQA
process, contact Ms. Frances Mizuno,
General Manager, San Luis & DeltaMendota Water Authority, 15990 Kelso
Road, Byron, CA 94514, telephone (209)
832–6200.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
ADDRESSES:
1. Background
Western is a federal power marketing
administration within the DOE that
markets and delivers federal electric
power (mostly hydroelectric power) to
federal preference customers defined to
include municipalities, rural electric
cooperatives, public utilities, irrigation
districts, federal and state agencies, and
Native American tribes in 15 western
and central states, including California.
Western is responsible for making the
necessary arrangements to deliver
federal power to federally authorized
projects.
Reclamation is the largest wholesaler
of water in the country, supplying more
than 31 million people, and providing
one out of five Western farmers
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70036
Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 226 / Friday, November 22, 2013 / Notices
(140,000) with irrigation water for 10
million acres of farmland. Reclamation
is also the second largest producer of
hydroelectric power in the western
United States with 53 power plants that
provide more than 40 billion kilowatt
hours annually and generate nearly a
billion dollars in power revenues.
Reclamation’s mission is to assist in
meeting the increasing water demands
of the West while protecting the
environment and the public’s
investment in these structures.
Reclamation emphasizes fulfilling its
water delivery obligations, water
conservation, water recycling, and reuse
goals; developing partnerships with
customers, states, and Native American
tribes; and finding ways to address the
competing needs for limited water
resources.
The Authority is a California joint
powers agency, comprised of water
agencies representing approximately 28
federal and exchange water service
contractors within the western San
Joaquin Valley, San Benito and Santa
Clara counties. One of the primary
purposes of establishing the Authority
was to assume the operation and
maintenance responsibilities of certain
Reclamation CVP facilities, and to do so
at an optimum level and at a lower cost
than Reclamation. The Authority also
has the mission of pursuing additional
reliable water supply for its member
districts and delivering the water with
a reliable system in a cost efficient
manner.
In 1960, Congress authorized
construction of the SLU as part of the
CVP and also as part of the State of
California Water Project. Reclamation
owns the SLU and the State of
California, Department of Water
Resources operates the Gianelli Pump/
Generation and the Dos Amigos
Pumping Plant portion of the SLU under
contract with Reclamation for use by
both agencies. Some features are jointuse facilities of the federal and the state
governments. The principal purpose of
the federal portion of the SLU facilities
is to furnish approximately 1.25 million
acre-feet of water as a supplemental
irrigation supply to some 600,000 acres
located in the western portion of Fresno,
Kings, and Merced counties.
Reclamation is the federal agency
responsible for executing and managing
water contracts with state water
authority agencies. Since 1965, PG&E
has provided transmission service
between the Tracy Substation and the
SLU over PG&E’s transmission lines.
The PG&E contract expires on March 31,
2016. PG&E has stated it will not renew
the existing contract under the same
terms and conditions; however, PG&E
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16:47 Nov 21, 2013
Jkt 232001
has indicated service is available from
the California Independent System
Operator (CAISO). Such service is
expected to increase Reclamation’s costs
the first year by at least $8,000,000. In
anticipation of PG&E’s termination of
the contract, Reclamation submitted a
transmission service request to Western.
Reclamation requested Western to
consider various transmission service
arrangements so Reclamation can
continue to economically deliver federal
water when the PG&E contract expires.
2. Purpose and Need for Agency Action
Western must respond to
Reclamation’s request for transmission
service consistent with Western’s Open
Access Transmission Tariff and existing
laws. Reclamation must evaluate
options to economically pump, store,
convey, and deliver federal water
through the SLU. The Authority must
continue to deliver water with a reliable
system in a cost efficient manner.
3. Proposed Action and Alternatives
Western proposes at a minimum to
construct, own, operate, and maintain a
new 230-kilovolt (kV) transmission line
about 62 miles in length between
Western’s Tracy Substation and
Western’s San Luis Substation and a
new 70-kV transmission line about 5
miles in length between the San Luis
and O’Neill Substations. Western also
will consider other transmission
construction options including: A new
500-kV transmission line about 62 miles
in length operated at 230-kV between
Western’s Tracy and San Luis
Substations; a new 500-kV transmission
line operated at 500-kV about 62 miles
in length between the Tracy Substation
and PG&E’s Los Banos Substation; and
a new 230-kV transmission line about
18 miles in length between San Luis
Substation and Dos Amigos Substation.
Western proposes to parallel existing
transmission facilities whenever
practicable.
Additional components of the
proposed project would include
constructing new 230-kV breaker
terminal bays at Western’s Tracy 230-kV
Substation or new 500-kV breaker
terminal bays at the Tracy 500-kV
Substation; new 230-kV breaker
terminal bays at Western’s San Luis 230kV Substation or new 500-kV breaker
terminal bays at PG&E’s Los Banos
Substation. Western also may build new
230-kV breaker terminal bays at
Western’s Dos Amigos 230-kV
Substation and a new 230/70-kV
transformer bank and interconnection
facilities at San Luis Substation.
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
The proposed project would include
the following facilities and
improvements:
• Right-of-way easements for the
transmission lines with a typical width
of about 125 to 175 feet for 230-kV lines
and 200 to 250 feet for the 500-kV line.
• Tubular or lattice steel structures
used to support the transmission lines.
For the 230-kV line, structures typically
would be between 100 and 200 feet tall
depending on site-specific conditions
while a few taller structures may be
required in some locations to address
engineering constraints. The 500-kV
structures would be larger.
• Access roads, including
improvements to existing roads, new
overland access, and new unpaved
temporary roads to access the proposed
project facilities and work areas during
construction and operation phases.
• Ancillary facilities, such as
communications facilities (e.g.,
overhead fiber optic ground wires,
regeneration facilities) for access control
and protection.
Western will evaluate other potential
alternatives, including obtaining
transmission service from a local public
utility or private agency, such as PG&E
or the CAISO.
Western will consider a no action
alternative. Under the no action/no
project alternative, Western will
continue to receive transmission service
for the SLU under contract with PG&E.
Under NEPA, the no action/no project
alternative would serve as a baseline
against which to measure the
environmental effects of the proposed
action alternatives. For purposes of
impact analysis under NEPA, the
environmental baseline consists of the
existing physical conditions in the
vicinity of the project at the time of
issuance of this NOI. Other alternatives
may be identified through the EIS
scoping process.
4. Notice of Floodplain or Wetlands
Involvement
Floodplains and wetlands may be in
the project area. Since the proposal may
involve action in floodplains or
wetlands, Western is providing this
notice of proposed floodplain or
wetland action. The EIS will include an
assessment of impacts to floodplains
and wetlands. If needed, Western would
prepare a floodplain statement of
findings following DOE regulations for
compliance with floodplains and
wetlands environmental review
requirements.
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Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 226 / Friday, November 22, 2013 / Notices
5. Preliminary Identification of
Environmental Issues
Western proposes to analyze potential
short-term environmental impacts, such
as those from construction, and
potential long-term environmental
impacts of operating and maintaining
the transmission line. DOE’s guidance
for the preparation of an EIS
recommends the use of a sliding-scale
approach when evaluating
environmental impacts. This approach
would focus the analysis and discussion
of impacts on significant environmental
issues in proportion to the level of the
potential impacts. Western identified
the following preliminary list of impact
areas for evaluation in the EIS:
• Land Use, Recreation, and Visual
Resources
• Water Use and Water Quality
• Surface Water Features including
Rivers, Floodplains, and Wetlands
• Fish, Wildlife, and Vegetation,
including Critical Habitat
• Socioeconomics
• Environmental Justice
• Historic and Cultural Resources
• Geology, Soil, and Mineral Resources
• Human Health and Electric and
Magnetic Fields
• Construction-Related Impacts,
including Access, Traffic, and Noise
This list is not intended to be allinclusive or to imply a predetermination
of impacts. Western invites interested
stakeholders to suggest specific issues,
including possible mitigation measures,
within these general categories, or other
categories not included above, to be
considered in the EIS.
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with NOTICES
6. Public Participation
The purpose of the scoping process is
to identify alternatives and potential
environmental impacts that Western
should analyze in the EIS. Western will
hold two public scoping meetings at the
following dates, locations, and times to
provide the public with an opportunity
to present comments, ask questions, and
discuss the scope of the San Luis
Transmission Project EIS/EIR with
Western, Reclamation, and the
Authority.
• Wednesday, January 8, 2014, 5:00
p.m.–8:00 p.m. at Tracy Transit Center,
50 East Sixth Street, Tracy, CA 95376.
• Thursday, January 9, 2014, 5:00
p.m.–8:00 p.m. at Hotel Mission De Oro,
13070 South Highway 33, Santa Nella,
CA 95322.
Western also will announce the
public scoping meetings in local news
media and by posting on the project
environmental Web site at www.sltpeiseir.com and on the DOE NEPA Web site
at https://energy.gov/nepa/Public-
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16:47 Nov 21, 2013
Jkt 232001
comment-opportunities at least 15 days
before the meeting.
The scoping meetings will be
conducted as informal open house
meetings to facilitate discussions
between project officials and the public,
and to allow interested people to attend
as their schedules allow. The public
will have the opportunity to view maps
and project information and present
comments on the scope of the SLTP EIS.
Representatives from Western,
Reclamation, and the Authority will be
available to answer questions and
provide additional information to
meeting attendees.
In addition to providing comments at
the public scoping meetings,
stakeholders may submit written
comments as described in the
ADDRESSES section. Western will
consider all comments postmarked or
received during the public scoping
period identified in the DATES section.
Western will coordinate with
appropriate federal, state, and local
agencies, and potentially affected Native
American tribes during the preparation
of the EIS/EIR. Agencies with legal
jurisdiction or special expertise are
invited to participate as cooperating
agencies in preparation of the EIS, as
defined in 40 CFR 1501.6. Designated
cooperating agencies have
responsibilities to support the NEPA
process, as specified in 40 CFR
1501.6(b). Western will contact tribes
and inform them of the planned EIS.
Government-to-government
consultations will be conducted in
accordance with Executive Order 13175,
Consultation and Coordination with
Indian Tribal Governments (65 FR
67249); the President’s memorandum of
April 29, 1994, Government-toGovernment Relations with Native
American Tribal Governments (59 FR
22951); DOE-specific guidance on tribal
interactions; and applicable natural and
cultural resources laws and regulations.
Western expects to publish the draft
EIS by the end of 2014. The U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency will
publish a Notice of Availability of the
Draft EIS in the Federal Register, which
will begin a minimum 45-day public
comment period. Western will
announce how to comment on the Draft
EIS and will hold at least one public
hearing during the comment period.
People who would like to receive a copy
of the Draft EIS should submit a request
as provided in the ADDRESSES section.
For those requesting to be added to the
distribution list, you are encouraged to
download the EIS and other documents
from the above Web site; however, if
you prefer to be mailed a copy, please
specify the format of the EIS that you
PO 00000
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70037
would like to receive (CD or printed)
and a preference for either the complete
EIS or the Summary only.
Western will maintain information
about the process including documents,
meeting information, and important
dates on the project Web site given
above. The EIS and other project
information will be available for
download from the project Web site.
Please visit the project Web site for
current information.
Dated: November 7, 2013.
Mark A. Gabriel,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2013–28043 Filed 11–21–13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450–01–P
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
[EPA–HQ–OPPT–2013–0458; FRL–9395–7]
Agency Information Collection
Activities; Proposed Collection;
Comment Request
Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
In compliance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA), this
document announces that EPA is
planning to submit an Information
Collection Request (ICR) to the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB). The
ICR, titled: ‘‘Chemical-Specific Rules,
TSCA Section 8(a)’’ and identified by
EPA ICR No. 1198.10 and OMB Control
No. 2070–0067, represents the renewal
of an existing ICR that is scheduled to
expire on June 30, 2014. Before
submitting the ICR to OMB for review
and approval, EPA is soliciting
comments on specific aspects of the
proposed information collection that is
summarized in this document. The ICR
and accompanying material are
available in the docket for public review
and comment.
DATES: Comments must be received on
or before January 21, 2014.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments,
identified by docket identification (ID)
number EPA–HQ–OPPT–2013–0458, by
one of the following methods:
• Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://
www.regulations.gov. Follow the online
instructions for submitting comments.
• Mail: Document Control Office
(7407M), Office of Pollution Prevention
and Toxics (OPPT), Environmental
Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania
Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20460–0001.
• Hand Delivery: OPPT Document
Control Office (DCO), WJC East Bldg.,
SUMMARY:
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 226 (Friday, November 22, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70035-70037]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-28043]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Western Area Power Administration
Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for
the San Luis Transmission Project, Alameda, Merced, San Joaquin and
Stanislaus Counties, California (DOE/EIS-0496)
AGENCY: Western Area Power Administration, DOE.
ACTION: Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement
and to Conduct Scoping Meetings; Notice of Floodplain and Wetlands
Involvement.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: Western Area Power Administration (Western) is a power
marketing administration within the U.S. Department of Energy. Western
has a statutory responsibility to make the necessary arrangements to
deliver federal power to federally authorized projects including the
San Luis Unit (SLU), a part of the Central Valley Project (CVP). The
U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) submitted a transmission
request to Western to interconnect several key SLU facilities to
Western's CVP transmission system. Reclamation requested Western to
consider various transmission service arrangements so Reclamation can
continue to economically deliver federal water when the current
transmission service contract with the Pacific Gas and Electric Company
(PG&E) expires. Western must respond to Reclamation's transmission
request consistent with Western's Open Access Transmission Tariff and
existing laws. The San Luis & Delta-Mendota Water Authority
(Authority), a Reclamation contractor that operates and maintains a
part of the SLU, has a direct interest in this requested transmission
service between Western's Tracy Substation and several key pumping and
generating facilities of the SLU.
Western determined an environmental impact statement (EIS) is the
appropriate level of review under the National Environmental Policy Act
(NEPA). Western will prepare the EIS in accordance with NEPA, the DOE
NEPA Implementing Procedures, and the Council on Environmental Quality
regulations for implementing NEPA. Western will be the lead federal
agency for the NEPA EIS review process, and Reclamation will be a
cooperating agency. Western intends to prepare a joint EIS/
environmental impact report (EIR) for the proposed San Luis
Transmission Project (SLTP) in coordination with the Authority. The
Authority will be the lead agency for the California Environmental
Quality Act (CEQA) EIR review process. Portions of the proposed action
may affect floodplains and wetlands, so this Notice of Intent (NOI)
also serves as a notice of proposed floodplain or wetland action in
accordance with DOE floodplain and wetland environmental review
requirements.
DATES: Western invites public comments on the scope of the SLTP EIS
during a 60-day public scoping period beginning with publication of
this notice and ending on January 21, 2014. See Public Participation in
the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for the public scoping meeting
dates and locations.
ADDRESSES: Written comments on the scope of the EIS/EIR and requests to
be added to the EIS/EIR distribution list may be submitted by any of
the following methods:
Electronic comments via the project Web site at
www.sltpeis-eir.com.
Email to: SLTPEIS-EIR@wapa.gov.
U.S. Mail to: Mr. Donald Lash, NEPA Document Manager,
Western Area Power Administration, 114 Parkshore Drive, Folsom, CA
95630.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For additional information or to have
your name added to our mailing list, contact Mr. Donald Lash, NEPA
Document Manager, Western Area Power Administration, 114 Parkshore
Drive, Folsom, CA 95630, telephone (916) 353-4048, facsimile (916) 353-
4772, email at SLTPEIS-EIR@wapa.gov.
For general information on the DOE NEPA process, contact Ms. Carol
M. Borgstrom, Director, Office of NEPA Policy and Compliance (GC-54),
U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC
20585, telephone (202) 586-4600, voicemail at (800) 472-2756, or email
at askNEPA@hq.doe.gov.
For information related to Reclamation's participation, contact Mr.
Russell Grimes, Chief, Environmental Compliance and Conservation,
Bureau of Reclamation, Mid-Pacific Region, 2800 Cottage Way,
Sacramento, CA 95818, telephone (916) 978-5051, email at
rwgrimes@usbr.gov.
For information related to the Authority's participation and the
CEQA process, contact Ms. Frances Mizuno, General Manager, San Luis &
Delta-Mendota Water Authority, 15990 Kelso Road, Byron, CA 94514,
telephone (209) 832-6200.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
1. Background
Western is a federal power marketing administration within the DOE
that markets and delivers federal electric power (mostly hydroelectric
power) to federal preference customers defined to include
municipalities, rural electric cooperatives, public utilities,
irrigation districts, federal and state agencies, and Native American
tribes in 15 western and central states, including California. Western
is responsible for making the necessary arrangements to deliver federal
power to federally authorized projects.
Reclamation is the largest wholesaler of water in the country,
supplying more than 31 million people, and providing one out of five
Western farmers
[[Page 70036]]
(140,000) with irrigation water for 10 million acres of farmland.
Reclamation is also the second largest producer of hydroelectric power
in the western United States with 53 power plants that provide more
than 40 billion kilowatt hours annually and generate nearly a billion
dollars in power revenues. Reclamation's mission is to assist in
meeting the increasing water demands of the West while protecting the
environment and the public's investment in these structures.
Reclamation emphasizes fulfilling its water delivery obligations, water
conservation, water recycling, and reuse goals; developing partnerships
with customers, states, and Native American tribes; and finding ways to
address the competing needs for limited water resources.
The Authority is a California joint powers agency, comprised of
water agencies representing approximately 28 federal and exchange water
service contractors within the western San Joaquin Valley, San Benito
and Santa Clara counties. One of the primary purposes of establishing
the Authority was to assume the operation and maintenance
responsibilities of certain Reclamation CVP facilities, and to do so at
an optimum level and at a lower cost than Reclamation. The Authority
also has the mission of pursuing additional reliable water supply for
its member districts and delivering the water with a reliable system in
a cost efficient manner.
In 1960, Congress authorized construction of the SLU as part of the
CVP and also as part of the State of California Water Project.
Reclamation owns the SLU and the State of California, Department of
Water Resources operates the Gianelli Pump/Generation and the Dos
Amigos Pumping Plant portion of the SLU under contract with Reclamation
for use by both agencies. Some features are joint-use facilities of the
federal and the state governments. The principal purpose of the federal
portion of the SLU facilities is to furnish approximately 1.25 million
acre-feet of water as a supplemental irrigation supply to some 600,000
acres located in the western portion of Fresno, Kings, and Merced
counties. Reclamation is the federal agency responsible for executing
and managing water contracts with state water authority agencies. Since
1965, PG&E has provided transmission service between the Tracy
Substation and the SLU over PG&E's transmission lines. The PG&E
contract expires on March 31, 2016. PG&E has stated it will not renew
the existing contract under the same terms and conditions; however,
PG&E has indicated service is available from the California Independent
System Operator (CAISO). Such service is expected to increase
Reclamation's costs the first year by at least $8,000,000. In
anticipation of PG&E's termination of the contract, Reclamation
submitted a transmission service request to Western. Reclamation
requested Western to consider various transmission service arrangements
so Reclamation can continue to economically deliver federal water when
the PG&E contract expires.
2. Purpose and Need for Agency Action
Western must respond to Reclamation's request for transmission
service consistent with Western's Open Access Transmission Tariff and
existing laws. Reclamation must evaluate options to economically pump,
store, convey, and deliver federal water through the SLU. The Authority
must continue to deliver water with a reliable system in a cost
efficient manner.
3. Proposed Action and Alternatives
Western proposes at a minimum to construct, own, operate, and
maintain a new 230-kilovolt (kV) transmission line about 62 miles in
length between Western's Tracy Substation and Western's San Luis
Substation and a new 70-kV transmission line about 5 miles in length
between the San Luis and O'Neill Substations. Western also will
consider other transmission construction options including: A new 500-
kV transmission line about 62 miles in length operated at 230-kV
between Western's Tracy and San Luis Substations; a new 500-kV
transmission line operated at 500-kV about 62 miles in length between
the Tracy Substation and PG&E's Los Banos Substation; and a new 230-kV
transmission line about 18 miles in length between San Luis Substation
and Dos Amigos Substation. Western proposes to parallel existing
transmission facilities whenever practicable.
Additional components of the proposed project would include
constructing new 230-kV breaker terminal bays at Western's Tracy 230-kV
Substation or new 500-kV breaker terminal bays at the Tracy 500-kV
Substation; new 230-kV breaker terminal bays at Western's San Luis 230-
kV Substation or new 500-kV breaker terminal bays at PG&E's Los Banos
Substation. Western also may build new 230-kV breaker terminal bays at
Western's Dos Amigos 230-kV Substation and a new 230/70-kV transformer
bank and interconnection facilities at San Luis Substation.
The proposed project would include the following facilities and
improvements:
Right-of-way easements for the transmission lines with a
typical width of about 125 to 175 feet for 230-kV lines and 200 to 250
feet for the 500-kV line.
Tubular or lattice steel structures used to support the
transmission lines. For the 230-kV line, structures typically would be
between 100 and 200 feet tall depending on site-specific conditions
while a few taller structures may be required in some locations to
address engineering constraints. The 500-kV structures would be larger.
Access roads, including improvements to existing roads,
new overland access, and new unpaved temporary roads to access the
proposed project facilities and work areas during construction and
operation phases.
Ancillary facilities, such as communications facilities
(e.g., overhead fiber optic ground wires, regeneration facilities) for
access control and protection.
Western will evaluate other potential alternatives, including obtaining
transmission service from a local public utility or private agency,
such as PG&E or the CAISO.
Western will consider a no action alternative. Under the no action/
no project alternative, Western will continue to receive transmission
service for the SLU under contract with PG&E. Under NEPA, the no
action/no project alternative would serve as a baseline against which
to measure the environmental effects of the proposed action
alternatives. For purposes of impact analysis under NEPA, the
environmental baseline consists of the existing physical conditions in
the vicinity of the project at the time of issuance of this NOI. Other
alternatives may be identified through the EIS scoping process.
4. Notice of Floodplain or Wetlands Involvement
Floodplains and wetlands may be in the project area. Since the
proposal may involve action in floodplains or wetlands, Western is
providing this notice of proposed floodplain or wetland action. The EIS
will include an assessment of impacts to floodplains and wetlands. If
needed, Western would prepare a floodplain statement of findings
following DOE regulations for compliance with floodplains and wetlands
environmental review requirements.
[[Page 70037]]
5. Preliminary Identification of Environmental Issues
Western proposes to analyze potential short-term environmental
impacts, such as those from construction, and potential long-term
environmental impacts of operating and maintaining the transmission
line. DOE's guidance for the preparation of an EIS recommends the use
of a sliding-scale approach when evaluating environmental impacts. This
approach would focus the analysis and discussion of impacts on
significant environmental issues in proportion to the level of the
potential impacts. Western identified the following preliminary list of
impact areas for evaluation in the EIS:
Land Use, Recreation, and Visual Resources
Water Use and Water Quality
Surface Water Features including Rivers, Floodplains, and
Wetlands
Fish, Wildlife, and Vegetation, including Critical Habitat
Socioeconomics
Environmental Justice
Historic and Cultural Resources
Geology, Soil, and Mineral Resources
Human Health and Electric and Magnetic Fields
Construction-Related Impacts, including Access, Traffic, and
Noise
This list is not intended to be all-inclusive or to imply a
predetermination of impacts. Western invites interested stakeholders to
suggest specific issues, including possible mitigation measures, within
these general categories, or other categories not included above, to be
considered in the EIS.
6. Public Participation
The purpose of the scoping process is to identify alternatives and
potential environmental impacts that Western should analyze in the EIS.
Western will hold two public scoping meetings at the following dates,
locations, and times to provide the public with an opportunity to
present comments, ask questions, and discuss the scope of the San Luis
Transmission Project EIS/EIR with Western, Reclamation, and the
Authority.
Wednesday, January 8, 2014, 5:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. at Tracy
Transit Center, 50 East Sixth Street, Tracy, CA 95376.
Thursday, January 9, 2014, 5:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. at Hotel
Mission De Oro, 13070 South Highway 33, Santa Nella, CA 95322.
Western also will announce the public scoping meetings in local
news media and by posting on the project environmental Web site at
www.sltpeis-eir.com and on the DOE NEPA Web site at https://energy.gov/nepa/Public-comment-opportunities at least 15 days before the meeting.
The scoping meetings will be conducted as informal open house
meetings to facilitate discussions between project officials and the
public, and to allow interested people to attend as their schedules
allow. The public will have the opportunity to view maps and project
information and present comments on the scope of the SLTP EIS.
Representatives from Western, Reclamation, and the Authority will be
available to answer questions and provide additional information to
meeting attendees.
In addition to providing comments at the public scoping meetings,
stakeholders may submit written comments as described in the ADDRESSES
section. Western will consider all comments postmarked or received
during the public scoping period identified in the DATES section.
Western will coordinate with appropriate federal, state, and local
agencies, and potentially affected Native American tribes during the
preparation of the EIS/EIR. Agencies with legal jurisdiction or special
expertise are invited to participate as cooperating agencies in
preparation of the EIS, as defined in 40 CFR 1501.6. Designated
cooperating agencies have responsibilities to support the NEPA process,
as specified in 40 CFR 1501.6(b). Western will contact tribes and
inform them of the planned EIS. Government-to-government consultations
will be conducted in accordance with Executive Order 13175,
Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribal Governments (65 FR
67249); the President's memorandum of April 29, 1994, Government-to-
Government Relations with Native American Tribal Governments (59 FR
22951); DOE-specific guidance on tribal interactions; and applicable
natural and cultural resources laws and regulations.
Western expects to publish the draft EIS by the end of 2014. The
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will publish a Notice of
Availability of the Draft EIS in the Federal Register, which will begin
a minimum 45-day public comment period. Western will announce how to
comment on the Draft EIS and will hold at least one public hearing
during the comment period. People who would like to receive a copy of
the Draft EIS should submit a request as provided in the ADDRESSES
section. For those requesting to be added to the distribution list, you
are encouraged to download the EIS and other documents from the above
Web site; however, if you prefer to be mailed a copy, please specify
the format of the EIS that you would like to receive (CD or printed)
and a preference for either the complete EIS or the Summary only.
Western will maintain information about the process including
documents, meeting information, and important dates on the project Web
site given above. The EIS and other project information will be
available for download from the project Web site. Please visit the
project Web site for current information.
Dated: November 7, 2013.
Mark A. Gabriel,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2013-28043 Filed 11-21-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P
