[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 65 (Tuesday, April 4, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17674-17675]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-8428]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[NV-060-5101-ER-F311; N-63162]


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement To 
Analyze the Proposed Falcon to Gonder 345 kV Transmission Line Project 
and Associated Bureau of Land Management Resource Management Plan 
Amendments for the Shoshone-Eureka, Elko, and Egan Resource Areas in 
Elko, Eureka, Lander, and White Pine Counties, NV

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management.

COOPERATING AGENCIES: Nevada Division of Wildlife and Nevada State 
Historic Preservation Office.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement 
to analyze Sierra Pacific Power Company's (Sierra) Proposed Falcon to 
Gonder 345 kV Transmission Line Project and consider amendments to 
existing Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Resource Management Plans 
(RMP) for the purpose of establishing right-of-way utility corridors in 
Elko, Eureka, Lander, and White Pine Counties, Nevada.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to Section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), 40 Code of Federal Regulations 1500-1508 
Council on Environmental Quality Regulations, 43 Code of Federal 
Regulations 2800, and 43 Code of Federal Regulations 1600 the Bureau of 
Land Management's Battle Mountain, Elko, and Ely Field Offices (BLM) 
will be directing the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement 
(EIS) to analyze a proposed Falcon to Gonder 345 kV transmission line 
project and associated BLM RMP amendments. The EIS will be prepared by 
a third party contractor directed by the BLM. The project will involve 
public and private lands in Elko, Eureka, Lander, and White Pine 
Counties, Nevada.

DATES: There will be three public scoping meetings hosted by the BLM to 
solicit input from the public about the scope of the Falcon to Gonder 
EIS. The meetings will be held from 7-9 pm at the following locations:
    Crescent Valley Town Hall, 5045 Tenabo Avenue, Crescent Valley, 
Nevada on April 18, 2000, Eureka County Opera House, 31 South Main 
Street, Eureka, Nevada on April 19, 2000, and BLM Ely Field Office, 702 
North Industrial Way, Ely, Nevada on April 20, 2000.
    The purpose of these meetings is to identify significant issues to 
be addressed in the EIS, to determine the scope of issues to be 
addressed, to identify viable alternatives, and to encourage public 
participation in the NEPA process. Additional briefings will be 
considered as appropriate.
    Written comments must be post-marked or otherwise delivered by 4:30 
p.m. on May 8, 2000. Comments may also be presented at the public 
scoping meetings.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be addressed to the Bureau of Land 
Management, Battle Mountain Field Office, Attention: Katherine Moses, 
50 Bastian Road, Battle Mountain, Nevada 89820.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary Craggett, Battle Mountain BLM, at 
(775) 635-4168 or Katherine Moses, Battle Mountain BLM, at (775) 635-
4092.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On December 17, 1998, Sierra filed a right-
of-way application with the BLM for the construction, operation, and 
maintenance of an approximately 165-185 mile long 345 kV electric 
transmission line that would connect the Falcon substation (north of 
Dunphy, Nevada) with the Gonder substation (north of Ely, Nevada). The 
project would improve electricity import and export capabilities to 
meet anticipated growth in Sierra's system.
    The project, as currently proposed, identifies several route 
alternatives. The northern portion of any route would head south from 
the Falcon substation to Highway 50 near Eureka along one of several 
possible alignments. The southern portion of any route alternatives 
would then head east along Highway 50 to follow an existing Sierra 230 
kV line to the Gonder substation. The current alternatives are 
identified as the: Crescent Valley A, Crescent Valley B, Pine Valley A, 
Pine Valley B, and Buck Mountain alternatives. The no action 
alternative will also be analyzed.
    As part of the proposed action, the BLM is also considering 
amending the RMPs for the Shoshone-Eureka Resource Area, Elko Resource 
Area, and Egan Resource Area to establish possible right-of-way utility 
corridors in the area of the preferred alignment. Amendments to the 
Shoshone-Eureka RMP may also include deletion of a utility planning 
corridor.
    Initially, it was not determined what level of NEPA analysis would 
be required for the Falcon to Gonder project. In July 1999, the BLM 
determined that an EIS would be necessary to comply with NEPA. In March 
2000, the BLM determined that it would be appropriate to analyze 
possible RMP amendments concurrently with this project. With these 
changes in the scope of the project, BLM felt it was important to 
conduct another round of scoping meetings to address public concerns 
related to the proposed action.
    Previous public involvement opportunities included a 30 day scoping 
period and three public meetings. These meetings were held on the 
following dates and locations:
    Carlin City Hall Court Room, 101 South 8th Street, Carlin, Nevada 
on June 15, 1999, Eureka Opera House, 31 South Main Street, Eureka, 
Nevada on June 16, 1999, and BLM Ely Field Office, 702 North Industrial 
Way, Ely, Nevada on June 17, 1999.
    Public comments from the previous scoping meetings will be compiled 
and incorporated in the EIS, along with comments from the upcoming 
scoping meetings.


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    Dated: March 28, 2000.
Gerald M. Smith,
Field Manager, Battle Mountain Field Office.
[FR Doc. 00-8428 Filed 4-3-00; 10:00 am]
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