[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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