[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 148 (Wednesday, August 1, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39753-39754]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-19128]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Western Area Power Administration


Wolf Point-Williston Transmission Lines Rebuild Project

AGENCY: Western Area Power Administration, DOE.

ACTION: Notice of Floodplain/Wetlands Involvement.

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SUMMARY: The Western Area Power Administration (Western) intends to 
rebuild an existing transmission line in northeastern Montana and 
western North Dakota. This project will involve the replacement of the 
existing wood pole H-frame structures along the entire route of the 
Wolf Point-Williston 115-kilovolt (kV) Transmission Line. The 
transmission line runs near the Missouri River and crosses Wolf Creek, 
Big Muddy Creek, and the Poplar River.
    Following the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Floodplain/Wetland 
Review Requirements (10 CFR part 1022), Western will prepare a 
floodplain assessment for this project and will perform the proposed 
action in ways that avoid or minimize potential harm to or within the 
affected floodplain. The floodplain assessment will be included in the 
Environmental Assessment being prepared by Western, under the 
provisions of the DOE National Environmental Policy Act Implementing 
Procedures (10 CFR part 1021).

DATES: Comments on the proposed floodplain action are due to the 
address below by August 15, 2001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Comments should be addressed to Mr. 
Theodore Anderson, Environmental Specialist, Upper Great Plains 
Customer Service Region, Western Area Power Administration, P.O. Box 
35800, Billings, Montana 59107-5800, e-mail [email protected]. For 
further information on DOE Floodplain/Wetlands Environmental Review 
Requirements, contact: Ms. Carol M. Borgstrom, Director, NEPA Policy 
and Compliance, EH-42, U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 Independence 
Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20585, telephone (202) 586-4600 or (800) 
472-2756.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Western intends to rebuild the Wolf Point-
Williston 115-kV Transmission Line that runs between the Wolf Point 
Substation west of Wolf Point, Montana, to the Williston Substation, 
west of Williston, North Dakota. The line is approximately 50 years old 
and approximately 94 miles long.
    Western does not intend to operate the transmission line at 230-kV 
but only complete necessary improvements to the transmission line 
structures and conductor. Western proposes to replace the existing wood 
H-frame structures with either wood or steel 230-kV H-frame structures 
and intends to place these new structures in the same locations, as 
much as it is practicable. The line would have new conductor installed 
at this time. A 24-count fiber optic overhead ground wire is scheduled 
to be strung on the line in 2004. The fiber optic cable would replace 
one of the existing overhead ground wires.
    The transmission line rebuild project will affect lands within the 
exterior boundaries of the Fort Peck Indian Reservation and pass near 
the towns of Wolf Point, Poplar, and Brockton. It will also affect 
private lands east of the Reservation and pass near the towns of 
Culbertson and Bainville in Roosevelt County, Montana, and terminate 
approximately 4 miles west of Williston in Williams County, North 
Dakota. There may be lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management and 
lands belonging to the State of Montana along this route.
    The transmission line lies north of, but does not cross the 
Missouri River. The line crosses the floodplains of the Poplar River at 
Poplar, Montana; Wolf Creek near Wolf Point, Montana; and Big Muddy 
Creek west of Culbertson, Montana; all near their confluences with the 
Missouri River.
    The action will entail removing of the existing structures and 
installing the new structures and equipment. Most ground disturbances 
will take place where the structures are replaced and at the pulling 
sites where new conductor is installed and where the fiber optic 
overhead groundwire will be installed in 2004. As part of the 
environmental review, Western will consider installing of new wood pole 
and new steel pole structures within the floodplains. The analysis will 
also consider the impacts from reconductoring the transmission line. 
Placing new structures in the existing right-of-way may result in 
changes in the maximum span length between structures. Span lengths 
changes would require some structure relocations. The analysis will 
consider a minimum right-of-way width of 125 feet to accommodate 
construction activities. A few specific routing alternatives to

[[Page 39754]]

alleviate existing problems have been identified along the Wolf Point-
Williston line. Access routes exist, but there may be additional access 
trails or roads to individual structure locations.

    Dated: July 24, 2001.
Michael S. Hacskaylo,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 01-19128 Filed 7-31-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P