[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 175 (Friday, September 8, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54478-54479]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-23020]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Southwestern Region, Arizona, New Mexico, West Texas and Oklahoma 
Proposed 69KV Transmission Line Project on the Camino Real Ranger 
District, Carson National Forest, Taos County, NM

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement.

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SUMMARY: Based on a request made by the Kit Carson Electric 
Cooperative, the Carson National Forest is preparing an environmental 
impact statement (EIS) to analyze the effects of a proposal to 
authorize Kit Carson Cooperative to construct, operate and maintain a 
new 69 KV transmission line and fiber optic system on National Forest 
Lands from the Talpa substation to Penoasco, New Mexico. The proposal 
also includes construction, operation and maintenance of a substation 
in Penoasco and the relocation of a distribution line between Talpa and 
the Pot Creek

[[Page 54479]]

residential area. The proposal has several parts, some of which pertain 
directly to National Forest lands and for which the USDA Forest Service 
will make the decision. Other portions pertain to private lands, such 
as the proposed substation in Penoasco, portions of the proposed line 
on the Picuris Pueblo and the State Highway Department, for which Kit 
Carson Electric Cooperative will negotiate for approval. The purpose of 
the project is to improve existing service by reducing voltage 
fluctuations and the number of outages. It is also to provide fiber 
optic capabilities to a number of small communities in the Penoasco 
area.

DATES: The proposed action is currently available for review and 
comment. It is estimated that the draft environmental impact statement 
(DEIS) will be completed and distributed for comments by the end of 
November, 2000. A 45 day comment period will follow. The final 
environmental impact statement and a record of decision is estimated to 
be released by the end of July 2001.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the proposed action and DEIS will be available 
upon request from the Carson Forest Supervisor's Office, 208 Cruz Alta 
Road, Taos, NM 87571, Attn: Power Line Analysis Team. Comments related 
to the DEIS can be sent to the same address.

RESPONSIBLE OFFICIAL: The Forest Supervisor, Carson National Forest, is 
the responsible official and will decide whether or not the project 
will be implemented on Forest Service lands. If so, the Forest 
Supervisor will decide where, how and when they will be implemented.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Power Line Team Leader, Carson Forest 
Supervisor's Office (505) 758-6200.

40 CFR 1501.7

    Dated: August 23, 2000.
Gilbert Vigil,
Forest Supervisor, Carson National Forest.
[FR Doc. 00-23020 Filed 9-7-00; 8:45 am]
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