Department of Energy February 11, 2011 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Department of Energy (DOE) announces its intention to prepare an EIS pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 to assess the potential environmental impacts from its proposed Federal action of granting a Presidential permit to Northern Pass Transmission LLC (Northern Pass or Applicant) to construct, operate, maintain, and connect a new electric transmission line across the U.S.- Canada border in northern New Hampshire (NH). The EIS, Northern Pass Transmission Line Project Environmental Impact Statement (DOE/EIS- 0463), will address potential environmental impacts from the proposed action and the range of reasonable alternatives. The U.S. Forest Service, White Mountain National Forest, and the Army Corps of Engineers, New England District, are cooperating agencies. The EIS will provide the analysis to support a Forest Service decision on whether to issue a special use permit within the White Mountain National Forest. The Responsible Official for the Forest Service decision is the Forest Supervisor for the White Mountain National Forest. The purpose of this Notice of Intent (NOI) is to inform the public about the proposed action, announce plans to conduct public scoping meetings in the vicinity of the proposed transmission line, and solicit public comments for consideration in establishing the scope of the EIS. Because the proposed project may involve actions in floodplains and wetlands, the draft EIS will include a floodplain and wetland assessment as appropriate, and the final EIS or Record of Decision will include a floodplain statement of findings.

The Department of Energy (DOE) is amending the Department of Energy Acquisition Regulation (DEAR) regulations on Acquisition Planning, and Contracting Methods and Contract Types to make changes to conform to the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), remove out-of-date coverage, and update references. Today's rule does not alter substantive rights or obligations under current law.