[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 83 (Thursday, April 30, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 23716]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-11478]


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 Notices
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
 or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 83 / Thursday, April 30, 1998 / 
Notices  

[[Page 23716]]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests, Colorado; 
Nucla-Telluride Transmission Line Project

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement: 
Nucla-Telluride Transmission Line Project.

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LOCATION: Montrose and San Miguel Counties, Colorado.

SUMMARY: The USDA Forest Service (lead agency) in cooperation with USDI 
Bureau of Land Management and the USDA Rural Utilities Service is 
considering applications to construct a 115kV transmission line in 
southwestern Colorado. The total length of the line is approximately 57 
miles. The objectives of the project are to provide loop transmission 
to the Telluride, Colorado service area; improve the quality of 
electric service to the Norwood, Colorado service area; improve the 
service to the substations between Sunshine and Hesperus; and provide 
another interconnection to the Nucla generation plant. The uncertain 
reliability of the Telluride electric service will pose a health and 
safety hazard in the near future, if not corrected. The severe winter 
conditions of the area require reliable electric service to assure safe 
living conditions. The project is designed to meet this immediate human 
health and safety issue, and provide other benefits to rural electric 
users at the same time.
    Preliminary issues related to potential direct and indirect 
resource effects include: visual resource impacts in a recreational 
setting; cultural resource encounters and accompanying mitigation 
steps; habitat alterations where special status species occur including 
the Gunnison sage grouse Mexican spotted owl, bald eagle and 
southwestern willow flycatcher; and perceived public health and safety 
concerns related to high voltage transmission facilities.
    Three public workshops have been held to gain a perspective on the 
range of issues. Alternatives include: rebuilding an existing 69kV line 
for a large portion of the distance with new construction tieing to the 
Telluride substation; and relocation alternatives which will focus on 
minimizing residence and transmission line intersections, improving 
line location related to resource impacts and combining facility 
corridors.

DATES: Comments in response to this Notice of Intent concerning the 
scope of the analysis should be received in writing by June 30, 1998. 
Scoping meetings are scheduled for May 26, 27, and 28, 1998 in Redvale, 
Norwood and Telluride, Colorado respectively. The draft environmental 
impact statement is scheduled for fall 1998 and the final in winter 
1999.
    The comment period on the draft environmental impact statement will 
be 45 days from the date of the Environmental Protection Agency 
publishes the notice of availability in the Federal Register.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Norwood Ranger District, PO Box 
388, Norwood, Colorado 81423, ATTN: Steve Wells.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steve Wells at (970) 327-4261.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Forest Service believes, at this early 
stage, it is important to give reviewers notice of several court 
rulings related to public participation in the environmental review 
process. First, reviewers of draft environmental impact statements must 
structure their participation in the environmental review of the 
proposal so that it is meaningful and alerts an agency to the 
reviewer's position and contentions. Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corp. 
v. NRDC, 435 U.S. 519, 553 (1978). Also, environmental objections that 
could be raised at the draft environmental impact statement stage but 
that are not raised until after completion of the final environmental 
impact statement may be waived or dismissed by the courts. City of 
Angoon v. Hodel, 803 F.2d 1016, 1022 (9th Cir. 1986) and Wisconsin 
Heritages, Inc. v. Harris, 490 F. Supp. 1334, 1338 (E.D. Wis. 1980). 
Because of these court rulings, it is very important that those 
interested in this proposed action participate by the close of the 45 
day comment period so that substantive comments and objections are made 
available to the Forest Service at a time when it can meaningfully 
consider them and respond to them in the final environmental impact 
statement.
    To assist the Forest Service in identifying and considering issues 
and concerns on the proposed action, comments on the draft 
environmental impact statement should be as specific as possible. It is 
also helpful if comments refer to specific pages or chapters of the 
draft statement. Comments may also address the adequacy of the draft 
environmental impact statement or the merits of the alternatives 
formulated and discussed in the statement. Reviewers may wish to refer 
to the Council on Environmental Quality Regulations for implementing 
the procedural provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act at 
40 CFR 1503.3 in addressing these points.

Other Potential Permits

    USDI Fish & Wildlife Service informal consultation--Section 7 
Threatened and Endangered Species Act; USDOD Army Corps of Engineers--
Nationwide Permit--Section 404 Clean Water Act; Montrose County 
Building Permit; San Miguel County Building Permit; Certificate for 
Public Convenience--PUC, Colorado.

    Dated: April 24, 1998.
Robert L. Storch,
Forest Supervisor, Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National 
Forests.
[FR Doc. 98-11478 Filed 4-29-98; 8:45 am]
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