Department of Agriculture February 21, 2008 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Forest Supervisor of the Dixie National Forest gives notice of intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement to address potential effects of a proposed project by Garkane Energy Cooperative (Garkane) to construct, operate and maintain a 138 kilovolt (kV) electric transmission line requiring a Special Use Authorization, Grant of Right-of-Way, and/or Special Use Permit for a Right-of-Way. The proposed project will include the construction of a 138kV transmission line, associated substations, access roads and the removal and reclamation of a portion of the existing transmission line. The proposed action would cross lands administered by the Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, State and private. If approved, the proposed project would require amending the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument Management Plan to allow a utility right-of-way in the primitive management zone adjacent to an existing utility right-of-way. Dependant upon the final location of the transmission line alignment, the Dixie National Forest Plan may need amending to adjust or modify the scenic integrity objectives. The Dixie National Forest will serve as the lead agency. The National Park Service and the Bureau of Land Management Kanab Field Office and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument will participate as cooperating agencies, and each agency will issue separate decisions based on the analysis. The Utah State Institutional Trust Lands have been invited as a cooperating agency.