[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 237 (Friday, December 10, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 69265-69266]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-32052]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Western Area Power Administration
Floodplain Statement of Findings for the Miracle Mile-Cheyenne
No. 1 Transmission Line
AGENCY: Western Area Power Administration, DOE.
ACTION: Floodplain Statement of Findings.
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SUMMARY: This Floodplain Statement of Findings for the Miracle Mile-
Cheyenne No. 1 Transmission Line was prepared in accordance with the
U.S. Department of Energy's Floodplain/Wetland Review Requirements (10
CFR part 1022). Western Area Power Administration (Western) proposes to
redirect the flow of the Little Laramie River to prevent a transmission
line structure on the Miracle Mile-Cheyenne No. 1 transmission line
from being washed out. The activity is within the Little Laramie River
floodplain located approximately 9 miles northwest of Laramie, Albany
County, Wyoming. Western prepared a floodplain assessment describing
the effects, alternatives, and measures designed to avoid or minimize
potential harm to or within the affected floodplain. This action is
categorically excluded under the Department of Energy's (DOE) National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Implementing Procedures (10 CFR part
1021). Due to the need to redirect the river's flow before the onset of
winter weather and maintain project effectiveness, the 15-day public
review period following the publication of the Statement of Findings
has been waived per 10 CFR 1022.18(c).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Rodney Jones, Environmental
Specialist, Rocky Mountain Customer Service Region, Western Area Power
Administration, P.O. Box 3700, Loveland, CO 80539-3003, telephone (970)
490-7371, email [email protected].
For further information on DOE Floodplain/Wetlands Environmental
Review Requirements, contact: Ms. Carol M. Borgstrom, Director, NEPA
Policy and Assistance, EH-42, U.S. Department of Energy, 1000
Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20585, telephone (202) 586-4600
or (800) 472-2756.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This Statement of Findings for the Miracle
Mile-Cheyenne No. 1 transmission line was prepared in accordance with
10 CFR part 1022. A notice of floodplain involvement was published in
the Federal Register (FR) on October 28, 1999 (64 FR 58057). The
Wyoming
[[Page 69266]]
Game and Fish Department (WGFD) responded to Western's Notice of
Floodplain Involvement expressing concerns over increased water
velocity in the immediate vicinity of the work, as well as upstream and
downstream. Western is planning to undertake a transmission line
structure protection measure that includes redirecting approximately 60
feet of the Little Laramie River, located northwest of Laramie, Albany
County, Wyoming. Structure 82/2 of the Miracle Mile-Cheyenne No. 1 115-
kilovolt (kV) transmission line is located within a small ox bow bend
of the Little Laramie River. The river has eroded the stream bank to
within 3 feet of the base of the structure. The structure is at risk of
failure due to ongoing stream bank erosion. If the current rate of
erosion continues, the structure could potentially fail during the year
2000 spring runoff, or sooner. Western needs to correct the situation
immediately to avoid interruption of electrical service, maintain
system reliability, and avoid potential harmful effects that could
result from the failure of the electrical transmission line. Per a
review of the flood hazard maps for Albany County, Western determined
that redirecting the flow of the river around the transmission line
structure involves the 100-year floodplain of the Little Laramie River.
The transmission line consists of wood pole, H-frame structures
carrying three-phase electric power. The Miracle Mile-Cheyenne No. 1
transmission line was put into service in 1960 as part of the Pick-
Sloan Missouri Basin Program.
Western is proposing to cut a channel between the two arms of the
ox bow, which will divert the stream flow behind and south of Structure
82/2. A back hoe will be used to cut the new channel, which will be
approximately 60 feet in length. All spoil dirt will be removed and
placed away from the stream. The channel will be cut from the
downstream side to the upstream side to prevent any spoil material from
entering the stream. At this location, the stream is approximately 8
feet wide and a few inches to a foot in depth during low flow
conditions.
Western considered alternatives to its proposed action, including
no action, installing new structures to span the Little Laramie River,
and the installation of rip-rap to stabilize the river banks of the ox
bow at structure 82/2. The installation of new structures and/or rip-
rap would not have avoided impacts to the floodplain. The no action
alternative would not have resolved the risk to structure 82/2.
In response to WGFD concerns, a qualified hydrologist has conducted
a field review of Western's proposal and alternatives, and determined
that diverting the stream is not expected to increase water velocity at
the work site, or water velocity upstream or downstream of the work
site. Diverting the stream into the new channel is not expected to have
any measurable effect on flood storage volume or impact floodplain
characteristics down stream. There will be no new structures placed in
the floodplain. The proposed activity would occur during annual minimum
flow conditions. The action would conform with applicable State or
local floodplain protection standards. This action is categorically
excluded under the DOE's NEPA Implementing Procedures (10 CFR part
1021).
Dated: November 29, 1999.
Michael S. Hacskaylo,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 99-32052 Filed 12-9-99; 8:45 am]
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