Notice of Availability of the Southline Transmission Line Project Final Environmental Impact Statement (DOE/EIS-0474), New Mexico and Arizona, 69693-69695 [2015-28676]
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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 217 / Tuesday, November 10, 2015 / Notices
monitor individual Indian land leases
and other types of leases not covered
under the tribal regulations according to
the Part 162 regulations.
Accordingly, the Federal and tribal
interests weigh heavily in favor of
preemption of State and local taxes on
lease-related activities and interests,
regardless of whether the lease is
governed by tribal leasing regulations or
Part 162. Improvements, activities, and
leasehold or possessory interests may be
subject to taxation by the Navajo Nation.
Dated: November 2, 2015.
Kevin K. Washburn,
Assistant Secretary, Indian Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2015–28476 Filed 11–9–15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4337–15–P
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 Southline
Transmission Line Project Final
Environmental Impact Statement (DOE/
EIS–0474), New Mexico and Arizona
Bureau of Land Management,
Interior; Western Area Power
Administration, DOE.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
AGENCY:
In accordance with the
National Environmental Policy Act of
1969 (NEPA), as amended, and the
Federal Land Policy and Management
Act of 1976 (FLPMA), as amended, the
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and
the Western Area Power Administration
(Western) have prepared a Final
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
for the proposed Southline
Transmission Line Project (Project), and
by this notice are announcing its
availability.
DATES: Neither the BLM nor Western
will issue a final decision on the
proposed Project for a minimum of 30
days after the date that the
Environmental Protection Agency
publishes its Notice of Availability in
the Federal Register.
ADDRESSES: Copies of the Southline
Transmission Line Project Final EIS
have been sent to affected Federal, State,
and local government agencies as well
as to other stakeholders. Copies of the
Final EIS are available for public
inspection at the BLM Las Cruces
District Office, 1800 Marquess Street,
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
SUMMARY:
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Las Cruces, New Mexico 88005; the
BLM New Mexico State Office, 301
Dinosaur Trail, Santa Fe, New Mexico
87508; the BLM Arizona State Office,
One North Central Avenue, Suite 800,
Phoenix, Arizona 85004; the BLM
Safford Field Office, 711 14th Avenue,
Safford, Arizona 85546; and the BLM
Tucson Field Office, 3201 East
Universal Way, Tucson, Arizona 85756.
The Final EIS and supporting
documents are available electronically
on the Project Web site at: https://
www.blm.gov/nm/southline.
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 (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,
email askNEPA@hq.doe.gov.
Persons who use a
telecommunications device for the deaf
(TDD) may call the Federal Information
Relay Service (FIRS) at (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: Southline
Transmission, LLC (Southline), the
proponent, 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 agreed to be joint lead agencies
in accordance with 40 CFR 1501.5(b).
Western is a power-marketing agency
within the DOE and is also a participant
in the proposed Project with Southline.
The proposed Project would consist of
two sections. The first section would
entail construction of approximately
240 miles of new double-circuit 345kilovolt (kV) transmission line in a 200foot ROW between the Afton Substation,
south of Las Cruces, New Mexico, and
Apache Substation, south of Willcox,
Arizona (Afton-Apache or New Build
Section). The second section would
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69693
entail the upgrade of approximately 120
miles of Western’s existing SaguaroTucson and Tucson-Apache 115-kV
transmission line in a 100-foot existing
ROW to a double-circuit 230-kV
transmission line in a 100 to 150-foot
ROW (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 ROWs and temporary
construction ROWs would be required
in the New Build Section and in some
portions of the Upgrade Section for the
transmission line, access roads, and
other permanent and temporary Project
components.
The proposed Project would involve
the interconnection with and expansion
and upgrade of 14 existing substations
in southern Arizona and New Mexico,
as well as the potential construction of
a new 345-kV substation facility in New
Mexico. The Project would also include
installation of a fiber optic network
communications system. Fee ownership
would only be considered for
substations or substation expansions; all
other land rights acquired on nonfederal lands would be through
easements or leases. The New Build
Section (Afton-Apache) would include
construction and operation of:
• 205 miles of 345-kV double-circuit
electric transmission line as well as
associated roads and ancillary facilities
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 Dona
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;
• One potential new substation on
approximately 25 acres of land in Luna
County, New Mexico (proposed
Midpoint Substation), to provide an
intermediate connection point for future
interconnection requests; and
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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 217 / Tuesday, November 10, 2015 / Notices
The Upgrade Section (ApacheSaguaro) would include:
• Replacing 120 miles of Western’s
existing Saguaro-Tucson and TucsonApache 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,
and the existing Saguaro Substation,
northwest of Tucson in Pima County,
Arizona;
• 2 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; and
• Interconnection with and upgrade
of 12 existing substations along
Western’s existing Saguaro-Tucson and
Tucson-Apache 115-kV lines in
Arizona. Substation expansions would
be required for installation of new
communications equipment, new 230kV bays with transformers, breakers,
switches, and ancillary equipment. In
some cases expansion may require a
separate yard.
Environmental and social concerns
and issues were identified through both
the initial public scoping and Draft EIS
comment periods. The issues addressed
in the Final 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
• Special designations
• Wilderness characteristics units
• Trails
• Visual
• Transportation
In addition to the Proponent Preferred
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 Preferred
Action, the Proponent Alternative and
the No Action Alternative, the BLM and
Western are considering local
alternatives and route variations. To
simplify the analysis of alternatives, the
Project area has been divided into four
major route groups: (1) Afton Substation
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to Hidalgo Substation (New Build
Section); (2) Hidalgo Substation to
Apache Substation (New Build Section);
(3) Apache Substation to Pantano
Substation (Upgrade Section); and (4)
Pantano Substation to Saguaro
Substation (Upgrade Section).
Route Group 1: Afton to Hidalgo (New
Build Section). This route group
includes two sub-routes and five local
alternatives. Both sub-routes are
approximately 140 miles long. Local
alternatives range between
approximately 9 and 43 miles long. The
˜
route group crosses portions of Dona
Ana, Grant, and Hidalgo counties in
New Mexico. Three of the four local
alternatives were identified by
Southline and represent routing options
developed to avoid localized
environmental conflicts along the
international border. The fourth local
alternative provides a co-location option
with the proposed SunZia Southwest
Transmission Line Project.
Route Group 2: Hidalgo to Apache
(New Build Section). This route group
includes two sub-routes, four route
variations and eight local alternatives.
Both sub-routes are approximately 95
miles long. Route variations and local
alternatives range between
approximately 1 and 54 miles long. The
alternatives in this group cross portions
of Hidalgo County in New Mexico and
portions of Cochise, Greenlee, and
Graham counties in Arizona. The four
route variations and eight local
alternatives were identified by the BLM
and Western and represent routing
options developed to avoid localized
environmental conflicts around
Lordsburg and Willcox Playas.
Route Group 3: Apache to Pantano
(Upgrade Section). This route group
includes the upgrade of the existing
Western 115-kV line between the
Apache and Pantano substations; the
line measures about 70 miles between
these two substations. There is one local
alternative identified by Southline that
represents routing options designed to
avoid residential development in the
Benson area. Route Group 3 crosses
portions of Cochise and Pima counties
in Arizona.
Route Group 4: Pantano to Saguaro
(Upgrade Section). This group includes
the upgrade of the existing Western 115kV line between the Pantano and
Saguaro substations; the line measures
about 50 miles between these two
substations. There are one route
variation and ten local alternatives in
Route Group 4. The alternatives in this
group cross portions of Pima and Pinal
counties in Arizona. Nine of the ten
local alternatives proposed by the BLM
and Western in this route group are
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options for replacing the portion of the
existing Western line that crosses over
Tumamoc Hill in Tucson. The route
variation and the tenth local alternative
are routing options near the Tucson
International Airport and Marana
Regional Airport, and were proposed by
the lead agencies to address potential
conflicts with future airport expansion
and economic development plans as
well as removing the existing line from
a dense residential development with
encroachments.
The Final 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.
For the New Build Section, the
Agency Preferred Alternative consists of
a combination of the ProponentProposed 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. Public and agency
comments on the Draft EIS expressed
concern that portions of the Agency
Preferred Alternative in the New Build
Section would parallel the SunZia
Southwest Transmission Line project, a
project not yet constructed. Additional
comments expressed concern about
potential avian conflicts along the
southeastern side of the Willcox Playa.
The Agency Preferred Alternative for
the Final EIS takes all comments
received on the Draft EIS into
consideration and suggests appropriate
mitigation to be used to avoid sensitive
resources as well as residential and
economic development conflicts in the
area.
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 TucsonApache 115-kV transmission lines;
minimize impacts to sensitive resources
at Tumamoc Hill; and minimize impacts
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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 217 / Tuesday, November 10, 2015 / Notices
to military training operations at the
Marana Airport.
The BLM requires mitigation
measures and conservation actions to
achieve land use plan goals and
objectives. The sequence of mitigation
action would be the mitigation
hierarchy (avoid, minimize, rectify,
reduce or eliminate over time, or
compensate) identified by the CEQ (40
CFR 1508.20), BLM’s Draft Regional
Mitigation Manual, section 1794, and as
described in the Final EIS. Certain
alternatives, if selected, may require
compensatory mitigation for those
implementation-level activities that
result in impacts the agencies cannot
adequately avoid, minimize, rectify,
reduce, or eliminate over time (i.e.,
residual impacts).
The BLM, Western, Southline, and
cooperating agencies worked together to
develop routes that would conform to
existing Federal land use plans. No plan
amendments are required for the
Upgrade portion of the proposed Project
in Arizona or the Agency Preferred
Alternative for the New Build Section in
New Mexico, as described in the Final
EIS.
The BLM and Western have utilized
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). The
agencies have also consulted with
Indian tribes on a government-togovernment basis in accordance with
Executive Order 13175 and other
policies. Ongoing Native American
tribal consultations will continue to be
conducted in accordance with law and
policy, and tribal concerns, including
impacts on Indian trust assets, will be
given due consideration. The BLM has
also completed, with Western input,
formal consultation under Section 7 of
the Endangered Species Act with the
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Based on the environmental analysis
in this Final EIS, the BLM will decide
whether to authorize the Proponent
Preferred Action, Agency Preferred
Alternative, alternatives, or any
combination thereof on Public Lands.
The Administrator will decide whether
Western would use its borrowing
authority to partially finance and/or
hold partial ownership in the resulting
transmission facilities and capacity.
Western will consider the
environmental analysis as the Project
Development and Finance Phases are
completed, as outlined in the
Transmission Infrastructure Program
Federal Register Notice of Procedures
(79 FR 19065–19077, April 7, 2014)
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Comments on the Draft EIS received
from the public and internal agency
review were considered, and document
revisions were incorporated as
appropriate into the Final EIS. Public
comments resulted in the addition of
clarifying text, but did not result in
substantial changes to the proposed
Project or the impact analysis between
the Draft and Final EIS.
Authority: 40 CFR 1506.6, 40 CFR
1506.10, 43 CFR 1610.2.
Mark A. Gabriel,
Administrator, Western Area Power
Administration.
Aden Seidlitz,
Acting State Director, Bureau of Land
Management, New Mexico.
[FR Doc. 2015–28676 Filed 11–9–15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–FB–P
69695
BLM, on a variety of planning and
management issues associated with
public land management in New
Mexico. Planned agenda items include a
welcome by the Chair, and
presentations and discussions related to
the New Mexico Copper Project Draft
Environmental Impact Statement; the
Prehistoric Trackways National
Monument Record of Decision and
planning process; lands with wilderness
characteristics; Restore New Mexico;
and grazing permit renewals. A halfhour public comment period, during
which the public may address the RAC,
will begin at 11:30 a.m. All RAC
meetings are open to the public.
Depending on the number of
individuals wishing to comment and
time available, the time for individual
oral comments may be limited.
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Melanie Barnes,
Acting Deputy State Director, Lands and
Resources.
Bureau of Land Management
[FR Doc. 2015–28541 Filed 11–9–15; 8:45 am]
[LLNML00000 L12200000.DF0000
16XL1109AF]
BILLING CODE 4310–FB–P
Notice of Public Meeting, Las Cruces
District Resource Advisory Council
Meeting, New Mexico
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of public meeting.
[NPS–WASO–BSD–COMM–19682;
PPWOBSADC0, PPMVSCS1Y.Y00000 (166)]
AGENCY:
In accordance with the
Federal Land Policy and Management
Act and the Federal Advisory
Committee Act, the Bureau of Land
Management’s (BLM), Las Cruces
District Resource Advisory Council
(RAC) will meet as indicated below.
DATES: The RAC will meet on December
8, 2015, at the BLM Las Cruces District
Office, 1800 Marquess Street, Las
Cruces, New Mexico from 8:30 a.m.–12
p.m. The public may send written
comments to the RAC at the BLM Las
Cruces District Office, 1800 Marquess
Street, Las Cruces, NM 88005.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Deborah Stevens, BLM Las Cruces
District, 1800 Marquess Street, Las
Cruces, NM 88005, 575–525–4421.
Persons who use a telecommunications
device for the deaf (TDD) may call the
Federal Information Relay Service
(FIRS) at 1–800–877–8229 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 10member Las Cruces District RAC advises
the Secretary of the Interior, through the
SUMMARY:
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National Park Service
Proposed Information Collection;
National Park Service Concessions
National Park Service, Interior.
Notice; request for comments.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
We (National Park Service,
NPS) will ask the Office of Management
and Budget (OMB) to approve the
information collection (IC) described
below. As required by the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995 and as part of our
continuing efforts to reduce paperwork
and respondent burden, we invite the
general public and other Federal
agencies to take this opportunity to
comment on this IC. This IC is
scheduled to expire on November 30,
2016. We may not conduct or sponsor
and a person is not required to respond
to a collection of information unless it
displays a currently valid OMB control
number.
DATES: To ensure that we are able to
consider your comments on this IC, we
must receive them by January 11, 2016.
ADDRESSES: Send your comments on the
IC to Madonna L. Baucum, Information
Collection Clearance Officer, National
Park Service, 12201 Sunrise Valley
Drive, Room 2C114, Mail Stop 242,
Reston, VA 20192 (mail); or
madonna_baucum@nps.gov (email).
Please include ‘‘1024–0029’’ in the
SUMMARY:
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 217 (Tuesday, November 10, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 69693-69695]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-28676]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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 Southline Transmission Line Project
Final Environmental Impact Statement (DOE/EIS-0474), New Mexico and
Arizona
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior; Western Area Power
Administration, DOE.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of
1969 (NEPA), as amended, and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act
of 1976 (FLPMA), as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and
the Western Area Power Administration (Western) have prepared a Final
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed Southline
Transmission Line Project (Project), and by this notice are announcing
its availability.
DATES: Neither the BLM nor Western will issue a final decision on the
proposed Project for a minimum of 30 days after the date that the
Environmental Protection Agency publishes its Notice of Availability in
the Federal Register.
ADDRESSES: Copies of the Southline Transmission Line Project Final EIS
have been sent to affected Federal, State, and local government
agencies as well as to other stakeholders. Copies of the Final EIS are
available for public inspection at the BLM Las Cruces District Office,
1800 Marquess Street, Las Cruces, New Mexico 88005; the BLM New Mexico
State Office, 301 Dinosaur Trail, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87508; the BLM
Arizona State Office, One North Central Avenue, Suite 800, Phoenix,
Arizona 85004; the BLM Safford Field Office, 711 14th Avenue, Safford,
Arizona 85546; and the BLM Tucson Field Office, 3201 East Universal
Way, Tucson, Arizona 85756. The Final EIS and supporting documents are
available electronically on the Project Web site at: https://www.blm.gov/nm/southline.
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 (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, email askNEPA@hq.doe.gov.
Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may
call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at (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: Southline Transmission, LLC (Southline), the
proponent, 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 agreed to be
joint lead agencies in accordance with 40 CFR 1501.5(b). Western is a
power-marketing agency within the DOE and is also a participant in the
proposed Project with Southline.
The proposed Project would consist of two sections. The first
section would entail construction of approximately 240 miles of new
double-circuit 345-kilovolt (kV) transmission line in a 200-foot ROW
between the Afton Substation, south of Las Cruces, New Mexico, and
Apache Substation, south of Willcox, Arizona (Afton-Apache or New Build
Section). The second section would entail the upgrade of approximately
120 miles of Western's existing Saguaro-Tucson and Tucson-Apache 115-kV
transmission line in a 100-foot existing ROW to a double-circuit 230-kV
transmission line in a 100 to 150-foot ROW (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 ROWs and temporary construction ROWs would be
required in the New Build Section and in some portions of the Upgrade
Section for the transmission line, access roads, and other permanent
and temporary Project components.
The proposed Project would involve the interconnection with and
expansion and upgrade of 14 existing substations in southern Arizona
and New Mexico, as well as the potential construction of a new 345-kV
substation facility in New Mexico. The Project would also include
installation of a fiber optic network communications system. Fee
ownership would only be considered for substations or substation
expansions; all other land rights acquired on non-federal lands would
be through easements or leases. The New Build Section (Afton-Apache)
would include construction and operation of:
205 miles of 345-kV double-circuit electric transmission
line as well as associated roads and ancillary facilities 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;
One potential new substation on approximately 25 acres of
land in Luna County, New Mexico (proposed Midpoint Substation), to
provide an intermediate connection point for future interconnection
requests; and
[[Page 69694]]
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, and the
existing Saguaro Substation, northwest of Tucson in Pima County,
Arizona;
2 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; and
Interconnection with and upgrade of 12 existing
substations along Western's existing Saguaro-Tucson and Tucson-Apache
115-kV lines in Arizona. Substation expansions would be required for
installation of new communications equipment, new 230-kV bays with
transformers, breakers, switches, and ancillary equipment. In some
cases expansion may require a separate yard.
Environmental and social concerns and issues were identified
through both the initial public scoping and Draft EIS comment periods.
The issues addressed in the Final 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
Special designations
Wilderness characteristics units
Trails
Visual
Transportation
In addition to the Proponent Preferred 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 Preferred Action,
the Proponent Alternative and the No Action Alternative, the BLM and
Western are considering local alternatives and route variations. To
simplify the analysis of alternatives, the Project area has been
divided into four major route groups: (1) Afton Substation to Hidalgo
Substation (New Build Section); (2) Hidalgo Substation to Apache
Substation (New Build Section); (3) Apache Substation to Pantano
Substation (Upgrade Section); and (4) Pantano Substation to Saguaro
Substation (Upgrade Section).
Route Group 1: Afton to Hidalgo (New Build Section). This route
group includes two sub-routes and five local alternatives. Both sub-
routes are approximately 140 miles long. Local alternatives range
between approximately 9 and 43 miles long. The route group crosses
portions of Do[ntilde]a Ana, Grant, and Hidalgo counties in New Mexico.
Three of the four local alternatives were identified by Southline and
represent routing options developed to avoid localized environmental
conflicts along the international border. The fourth local alternative
provides a co-location option with the proposed SunZia Southwest
Transmission Line Project.
Route Group 2: Hidalgo to Apache (New Build Section). This route
group includes two sub-routes, four route variations and eight local
alternatives. Both sub-routes are approximately 95 miles long. Route
variations and local alternatives range between approximately 1 and 54
miles long. The alternatives in this group cross portions of Hidalgo
County in New Mexico and portions of Cochise, Greenlee, and Graham
counties in Arizona. The four route variations and eight local
alternatives were identified by the BLM and Western and represent
routing options developed to avoid localized environmental conflicts
around Lordsburg and Willcox Playas.
Route Group 3: Apache to Pantano (Upgrade Section). This route
group includes the upgrade of the existing Western 115-kV line between
the Apache and Pantano substations; the line measures about 70 miles
between these two substations. There is one local alternative
identified by Southline that represents routing options designed to
avoid residential development in the Benson area. Route Group 3 crosses
portions of Cochise and Pima counties in Arizona.
Route Group 4: Pantano to Saguaro (Upgrade Section). This group
includes the upgrade of the existing Western 115-kV line between the
Pantano and Saguaro substations; the line measures about 50 miles
between these two substations. There are one route variation and ten
local alternatives in Route Group 4. The alternatives in this group
cross portions of Pima and Pinal counties in Arizona. Nine of the ten
local alternatives proposed by the BLM and Western in this route group
are options for replacing the portion of the existing Western line that
crosses over Tumamoc Hill in Tucson. The route variation and the tenth
local alternative are routing options near the Tucson International
Airport and Marana Regional Airport, and were proposed by the lead
agencies to address potential conflicts with future airport expansion
and economic development plans as well as removing the existing line
from a dense residential development with encroachments.
The Final 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.
For the New Build Section, the Agency Preferred Alternative
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. Public and agency comments on the Draft EIS
expressed concern that portions of the Agency Preferred Alternative in
the New Build Section would parallel the SunZia Southwest Transmission
Line project, a project not yet constructed. Additional comments
expressed concern about potential avian conflicts along the
southeastern side of the Willcox Playa. The Agency Preferred
Alternative for the Final EIS takes all comments received on the Draft
EIS into consideration and suggests appropriate mitigation to be used
to avoid sensitive resources as well as residential and economic
development conflicts in the area.
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
[[Page 69695]]
to military training operations at the Marana Airport.
The BLM requires mitigation measures and conservation actions to
achieve land use plan goals and objectives. The sequence of mitigation
action would be the mitigation hierarchy (avoid, minimize, rectify,
reduce or eliminate over time, or compensate) identified by the CEQ (40
CFR 1508.20), BLM's Draft Regional Mitigation Manual, section 1794, and
as described in the Final EIS. Certain alternatives, if selected, may
require compensatory mitigation for those implementation-level
activities that result in impacts the agencies cannot adequately avoid,
minimize, rectify, reduce, or eliminate over time (i.e., residual
impacts).
The BLM, Western, Southline, and cooperating agencies worked
together to develop routes that would conform to existing Federal land
use plans. No plan amendments are required for the Upgrade portion of
the proposed Project in Arizona or the Agency Preferred Alternative for
the New Build Section in New Mexico, as described in the Final EIS.
The BLM and Western have utilized 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). The agencies have also
consulted with Indian tribes on a government-to-government basis in
accordance with Executive Order 13175 and other policies. Ongoing
Native American tribal consultations will continue to be conducted in
accordance with law and policy, and tribal concerns, including impacts
on Indian trust assets, will be given due consideration. The BLM has
also completed, with Western input, formal consultation under Section 7
of the Endangered Species Act with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Based on the environmental analysis in this Final EIS, the BLM will
decide whether to authorize the Proponent Preferred Action, Agency
Preferred Alternative, alternatives, or any combination thereof on
Public Lands. The Administrator will decide whether Western would use
its borrowing authority to partially finance and/or hold partial
ownership in the resulting transmission facilities and capacity.
Western will consider the environmental analysis as the Project
Development and Finance Phases are completed, as outlined in the
Transmission Infrastructure Program Federal Register Notice of
Procedures (79 FR 19065-19077, April 7, 2014)
Comments on the Draft EIS received from the public and internal
agency review were considered, and document revisions were incorporated
as appropriate into the Final EIS. Public comments resulted in the
addition of clarifying text, but did not result in substantial changes
to the proposed Project or the impact analysis between the Draft and
Final EIS.
Authority: 40 CFR 1506.6, 40 CFR 1506.10, 43 CFR 1610.2.
Mark A. Gabriel,
Administrator, Western Area Power Administration.
Aden Seidlitz,
Acting State Director, Bureau of Land Management, New Mexico.
[FR Doc. 2015-28676 Filed 11-9-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-FB-P
