Notice of Availability of the Proposed Southline Transmission Line Project Draft Environmental Impact Statement and Draft Resource Management Plan Amendment, New Mexico and Arizona, 20224-20227 [2014-08018]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
• Western Area Power Administration
• DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
• Bureau of Land Management

[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 70 (Friday, April 11, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20224-20227]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-08018]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Western Area Power Administration

[LLNM930000 L51010000.ER0000 LVRWG14G0790 14XL5017AP]


Notice of Availability of the Proposed Southline Transmission 
Line Project Draft Environmental Impact Statement and Draft Resource 
Management Plan Amendment, New Mexico and Arizona

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior; Western Area Power 
Administration, Department of Energy.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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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 Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and 
the Western Area Power Administration (Western), have prepared a Draft 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and Draft Resource Management Plan 
(RMP) Amendment for the proposed Southline Transmission Line Project 
(Project), and by this notice are announcing the opening of the comment 
period.

DATES: To ensure that comments will be considered, the BLM must receive 
written comments on the Draft EIS and Draft RMP Amendment within 90 
days following the date the Environmental Protection Agency publishes 
its Notice of Availability in the Federal Register. The BLM and Western 
will hold public hearings on the Draft EIS and Draft RMP Amendment at 
various locations in New Mexico and Arizona during the public comment 
period, and will announce future meetings or hearings and any other 
public involvement activities at least 15 days in advance through 
direct mailings to the Project mailing list, local news media, 
newsletters, and posting on the BLM Web site at https://www.blm.gov/nm/southline.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments related to the Southline 
Transmission Line Project by any of the following methods:
     Web site: https://www.blm.gov/nm/southline.
     Email: BLM_NM_Southline@blm.gov.

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     Fax: 575-525-4412.
     Mail: BLM, Las Cruces District Office, Southline 
Transmission Project, Attention: Frances Martinez, 1800 Marquess 
Street, Las Cruces, NM 88005.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mark Mackiewicz, PMP, BLM Senior 
National Project Manager; telephone 435-636-3616; email: 
mmackiew@blm.gov. For information about Western's involvement contact 
Mark Wieringa, Western NEPA Document Manager; telephone 800-336-7288 or 
720-962-7448; email: wieringa@wapa.gov. For general information on the 
Department of Energy's (DOE) NEPA review procedures or on the status of 
a NEPA review, contact Carol M. Borgstrom, Director of NEPA Policy and 
Compliance, GC-54, U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue 
SW., Washington, DC 20585-0119, telephone 202-586-4600 or toll free at 
800-472-2756, fax 202-586-7031.
    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 individuals 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 individuals. You will receive a reply during normal 
business hours.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Copies of the Southline Draft EIS/Draft RMP 
Amendment are available at the following BLM locations: Las Cruces 
District Office (see ADDRESSES); New Mexico State Office, 301 Dinosaur 
Trail, Santa Fe, NM 87508; Arizona State Office, One North Central 
Avenue Suite 800, Phoenix, AZ 85004; Safford Field Office, 711 14th 
Avenue, Safford, AZ 85546; and Tucson Field Office, 3201 East Universal 
Way, Tucson, AZ 85756. The Draft EIS/Draft RMP Amendment and supporting 
documents will be available electronically on the Project Web site at 
https://www.blm.gov/nm/southline.
    Southline has filed a right-of-way (ROW) application with the BLM 
pursuant to Title V of FLPMA, proposing to construct, operate, 
maintain, and eventually decommission a high-voltage, alternating 
current electric transmission line. The BLM and Western have agreed to 
be joint lead agencies under NEPA, 40 CFR 1501.5(b). Western is a 
power-marketing agency within the DOE, and has been a participant in 
the proposed Project with the applicant, Southline Transmission, LLC 
(Southline). The proposed Project would consist of two sections. The 
first section would entail construction of about 240 miles of new 
double-circuit 345-kV transmission line in a 200-foot ROW between the 
Afton Substation, south of Las Cruces, New Mexico, and Western's Apache 
Substation, south of Willcox, Arizona (Afton-Apache or New Build 
Section). The second section would entail the upgrade of about 120 
miles of Western's existing Saguaro-Tucson and Tucson-Apache 115-kV 
transmission lines in a 100-foot existing ROW to a double-circuit 230-
kV transmission line in a 150-foot ROW, where feasible (Apache-Saguaro 
or Upgrade Section). The Upgrade Section would originate at the Apache 
Substation and terminate at the Saguaro Substation northwest of Tucson, 
Arizona. Both new permanent ROW and temporary construction ROW would be 
required in the New Build Section and in some portions of the Upgrade 
Section for the transmission line, substations, access roads, and other 
permanent and temporary Project components. The proposed Project would 
also include installation of new communications equipment, and connect 
to 14 substations distributed throughout southern New Mexico and 
Arizona, including expanding/upgrading existing substations and 
potentially constructing a new substation in New Mexico.
    The New Build Section (Afton-Apache) would include construction and 
operation of:
     205 miles of 345-kV double-circuit electric transmission 
line in New Mexico and Arizona with a planned bidirectional capacity of 
up to 1,000 MW. This section is defined by endpoints at the existing 
Afton Substation, south of Las Cruces in Do[ntilde]a Ana County, New 
Mexico, and Western's existing Apache Substation, south of Willcox in 
Cochise County, Arizona;
     5 miles of 345-kV single-circuit electric transmission 
line between the existing Afton Substation and the existing Luna-Diablo 
345-kV transmission line;
     30 miles of 345-kV double-circuit electric transmission 
line between New Mexico State Route 9 and Interstate 10 east of Deming 
in Luna County, New Mexico, to provide access for potential renewable 
energy generation sources in southern New Mexico. This segment of the 
proposed Project is included in the analysis, however, development of 
this segment would be determined at a later date; and
     A new substation (proposed Midpoint Substation) in Luna 
County, New Mexico, to provide an intermediate connection point for 
future interconnection requests.
    The Upgrade Section (Apache-Saguaro) would include:
     Replacing 120 miles of Western's existing Saguaro-Tucson 
and Tucson-Apache 115-kV single-circuit electric wood-pole H-frame 
transmission lines with a 230-kV double-circuit electric steel-pole 
transmission line. This section is defined by endpoints at the existing 
Apache Substation, south of Willcox in Cochise County, Arizona, to the 
existing Saguaro Substation, northwest of Tucson in Pima County, 
Arizona; and
     Two miles of new build double-circuit 230-kV electric 
transmission line to interconnect with the existing Tucson Electric 
Power Company Vail Substation, located southeast of Tucson and just 
north of the existing 115-kV Tucson-Apache line.
    Because Southline's proposed Project may involve action in 
floodplains or wetlands, this Notice of Availability also serves as a 
notice of proposed floodplain or wetland action, in accordance with 10 
CFR 1022.12(a). The Draft EIS includes a floodplain/wetland assessment 
and floodplain/wetland statement of findings following DOE regulations 
for compliance with floodplain and wetlands environmental review (10 
CFR 1022).
    As part of its agency mission, Western routinely studies power 
system requirements; plans for transmission line upgrades and 
additions; facilitates and finances transmission projects; and 
constructs, owns, operates, and maintains transmission infrastructure. 
Such projects may be solely Western's projects or may be projects 
undertaken with the participation of others. Southline is proposing to 
upgrade about 120 miles of Western's existing transmission line between 
Saguaro and Apache substations as part of its proposed Project.
    An interdisciplinary approach was used to develop the Draft EIS to 
consider a variety of resource issues and concerns. The issues 
addressed in the Draft EIS that shaped the Project's scope and 
alternatives include, but are not limited to:
     Air and climate;
     Biological resources;
     Cultural resources;
     Health and safety;
     Noise;
     Land use (including farmlands and military operations);
     Recreation;
     Socioeconomics and environmental justice;
     National Conservation Lands or other special designations;
     Wilderness characteristics units;
     National Scenic and Historic Trails and trails under 
study;
     Visual resources; and

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     Transportation.
    In addition to the Proponent-Proposed Action, Southline also 
submitted the Proponent Alternative route for the New Build Section of 
the proposed Project, both of which were the product of extensive 
stakeholder outreach. In addition to the Proponent-Proposed Action, the 
Proponent Alternative and the No Action Alternative, the BLM and 
Western are considering other local alternatives that provide 
additional route options. To simplify the analysis of alternatives, the 
Project area has been divided into four major route groups: (1) Afton 
Substation to Hidalgo Substation; (2) Hidalgo Substation to Apache 
Substation; (3) Apache Substation to Pantano Substation; and (4) 
Pantano Substation to Saguaro Substation.
    Route Group 1: Afton to Hidalgo (New Build Section). Under the 
Proponent-Proposed Action, the agencies considered 4 route segments 
that would cover about 146.9 miles between the Afton and Hidalgo 
substations. Under the Proponent Alternative, a southern alternative 
along the international border, the agencies considered 8 route 
segments that cover about 141.1 miles. A total of five local routing 
alternatives were considered for this route group. The route group 
crosses portions of Do[ntilde]a Ana, Luna, and Hidalgo Counties in New 
Mexico.
    Route Group 2: Hidalgo to Apache (New Build Section). Under the 
Proponent-Proposed Action, the agencies considered nine route segments 
that would cover about 95.5 miles between the Hidalgo and Apache 
substations. Under the Proponent Alternative, the agencies considered 
seven route segments that altogether cover about 95.9 miles. A total of 
eight local routing alternatives were considered for this route group. 
The route group crosses portions of Hidalgo County in New Mexico and 
Cochise, Greenlee, and Graham Counties in Arizona.
    Route Group 3: Apache to Pantano (Upgrade Section). Under the 
Proponent-Proposed Action, the agencies considered four route segments 
that would cover about 70.3 miles of the existing Western transmission 
line between Apache and Pantano substations. One local routing 
alternative was considered for this route group. The route group 
crosses portions of Cochise and Pima Counties in Arizona.
    Route Group 4: Pantano to Saguaro (Upgrade Section). Under the 
Proponent-Proposed Action, the agencies considered 13 route segments 
that would cover about 48.3 miles of the existing Western transmission 
line between Pantano and Saguaro substations. A total of 10 local 
routing alternatives were considered for this route group. The route 
group crosses portions of Pima and Pinal counties in Arizona.
    The Draft EIS also considers two substation alternatives (Midpoint 
North and Midpoint South) proposed by Southline; they are options for 
the location of the proposed Midpoint Substation located within Route 
Group 1. Both alternative locations would be in Luna County, New 
Mexico.
    The BLM and Western Agency-Preferred Alternative for the New Build 
Section consists of a combination of the Proponent-Proposed Action, 
Proponent Alternative, and agency local alternative segments within 
Route Groups 1 and 2. The route was selected by the BLM and Western as 
the Agency-Preferred Alternative because it would maximize use of 
existing and linear ROWs by paralleling existing and proposed 
infrastructure and transmission lines; eliminate the need for plan 
amendments through conformance with existing land use plans; minimize 
impacts to military operations at and near the Willcox Playa; and 
minimize impacts to sensitive resources.
    The Agency-Preferred Alternative for the Upgrade Section consists 
of a combination of Proponent-Proposed Action and local alternatives at 
Tumamoc Hill, and near the Marana Airport, within Route Groups 3 and 4. 
The route was selected because it would maximize the use of the 
existing ROW and facilities currently used for Western's Saguaro-Tucson 
and Tucson-Apache 115-kV transmission lines; minimize impacts to 
sensitive resources at Tumamoc Hill; and minimize impacts to military 
training operations at the Marana Airport.
    The BLM, Western, Southline, and cooperating agencies worked 
together to identify routes that would conform to existing BLM land use 
plans. However, this objective was not reached for all of the routes 
analyzed in the Draft EIS. A plan amendment for the Mimbres RMP may be 
required to bring the proposed Project into conformance, depending on 
the final route selected. The prospective plan amendment will comply 
with applicable Federal laws and regulations, be analyzed in the Final 
EIS, and apply only to Federal land administered by the BLM.
    Potential changes to the Mimbres RMP would include:
     An amendment may be needed to change the visual resource 
management (VRM) Class II to a Class III or IV for segments that 
intersect VRM Class II lands.
     An amendment may be needed for the portion of the 
alternative route segment that parallels an avoidance area designated 
for the Butterfield Trail.
    The BLM and Western will use and coordinate the NEPA comment period 
to assist the agencies in satisfying the public involvement 
requirements under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation 
Act (16 U.S.C. 470(f)), as provided for in 36 CFR 800.2(d)(3). In 
accordance with policy, the BLM will continue to conduct Native 
American tribal consultations on tribal concerns such as impacts on 
Indian trust assets. Federal, State, and local agencies, along with 
other stakeholders that may be interested or affected by the BLM's and 
Western's decisions on this proposed Project, are invited to 
participate in the public comment process.
    The BLM and Western have determined that public hearings to solicit 
comments on the Draft EIS and Draft RMP Amendment are necessary. 
Accordingly, the BLM and Western invite all interested parties to 
participate in the public hearings held throughout southern New Mexico 
and Arizona. Interested parties are invited to present oral statements 
at the hearings. For information on facilities or services for persons 
with disabilities or to request special assistance at the hearing, 
contact Ellen Carr at 480-629-4705 or email ellen.carr@galileoaz.com or 
in writing at 4700 South McClintock Drive, Tempe, AZ 85282, at least 5 
business days before the date of the hearing. The hearings will be 
conducted in accordance with 455 DM 1 and the BLM NEPA Handbook by a 
representative designated by the BLM.
    Please note that public comments and information submitted 
including names, street addresses, and email addresses of persons who 
submit comments will be available for public review and disclosure at 
the above address during regular business hours (8 a.m. to 4 p.m.), 
Monday through Friday, except holidays.
    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.


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    Authority:  40 CFR 1506.6, 40 CFR 1506.10, 43 CFR 1610.2.

Jesse J. Juen,
State Director, New Mexico.
Mark A. Gabriel,
Administrator, Western Area Power Administration.
[FR Doc. 2014-08018 Filed 4-10-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-FB-P