[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 69 (Wednesday, April 10, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17426-17427]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-8618]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Western Area Power Administration


Sacramento Valley Right-of-Way Maintenance Project

AGENCY: Western Area Power Administration, DOE.

ACTION: Notice of floodplain/wetlands involvement.

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SUMMARY: The Western Area Power Administration (Western), a power 
marketing administration of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), owns, 
operates, and maintains all or a portion of six 230-kilovolt (kV) 
transmission lines and one 115-kV transmission line in Placer, 
Sacramento, and Sutter counties, California.
    Western's Sierra Nevada Customer Service Region is preparing an 
Environmental Assessment addressing rights-of-way (ROW) maintenance on 
these transmission lines and associated access roads. Western has 
determined that segments of the transmission line

[[Page 17427]]

and access road maintenance on ROWs are located within floodplains and 
wetlands areas. Per DOE's Floodplain/Wetlands Review Requirements, 
Western will prepare a floodplain/wetlands assessment.

DATES: Comments on the proposed floodplain/wetlands action are due to 
the address below no later than April 25, 2002.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be addressed to Mr. Steve Tuggle, 
Environmental Specialist, Sierra Nevada Region, Western Area Power 
Administration, 114 Parkshore Drive, Folsom, CA 95630-4710, fax (916) 
985-1936, e-mail [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Steve Tuggle, Environmental 
Specialist, at the address noted above or telephone (916) 353-4549. 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 owns, operates, and maintains high-
voltage transmission facilities in California and Nevada. As part of 
its mission, Western uses its transmission system to reliably deliver 
Federal power from points of generation to and between delivery points. 
Western's system in California's Sacramento Valley includes all, or a 
portion of, six 230-kV and one 115-kV transmission lines. These 
transmission lines are located in Placer, Sacramento, and Sutter 
counties, California. Most portions of the lines are located in rural, 
agriculturally dominated areas. However, major portions of the 
transmission lines are located in suburban/urban areas in or near the 
cities of Sacramento, Roseville, and Folsom.
    Western needs to maintain its transmission line and access road 
ROWs. Vegetation growing in the ROWs could create a safety hazard to 
line crews and the public, as well as interfere with the reliable 
transmission of electricity. Western proposes to expand its vegetation 
maintenance methods to include expanded use of herbicides in 
combination with manual and mechanical methods. Western plans to adopt 
a more progressive management approach for vegetation and access road 
maintenance that would promote low-growing plant communities. The 
proposed action would be cost effective and ensure that system 
reliability and safety remain at acceptable levels, while extending the 
lifetime of transmission components.
    Based on a review of available Federal Emergency Management Agency 
flood hazard maps for Placer, Sacramento, and Sutter counties, Western 
has determined that the proposed action would be located within several 
100- and 500-year floodplains, including the American River. Also, 
based on a review of national and state wetland inventories and the 
Natural Resource Conservation Service soil maps, Western has determined 
that the proposed action would be located in areas with wetlands.
    Per DOE's Floodplain/Wetlands Review Requirements (10 CFR 1022.12), 
Western will prepare a floodplain/wetlands assessment. Removal of 
vegetation along the ROWs within 100-or 500-year floodplains is not 
expected to influence flow of water during 100-or 500-year flows but 
will be the subject of the floodplain/wetlands assessment. Maps and 
further information are available from the Western contact above.

    Dated: March 25, 2002.
Michael S. Hacskaylo,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 02-8618 Filed 4-9-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P