[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 169 (Thursday, August 31, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51848-51849]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-14502]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[CACA-47658, CA-670-5101-ER-B204]


Notice of Intent To Prepare a Joint Environmental Impact 
Statement/Report and Proposed Land Use Plan Amendment for the Proposed 
Sunrise Powerlink Project, San Diego and Imperial Counties, CA

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), as amended, notice is hereby given that the 
Bureau of Land Management (BLM), together with the California Public 
Utilities Commission (CPUC), intend to prepare a joint Environmental 
Impact Statement and Environmental Impact Report (EIS/EIR), and a 
proposed land use plan amendment to the 1980 California Desert 
Conservation Area Plan, (CDCA Plan), as amended for the Sunrise 
Powerlink Project (Project) proposed by San Diego Gas & Electric 
Company (SDG&E). The project would consist of the construction and 
operation of one new 500 kilovolt (kV) and three new 230 kV 
transmission lines in Imperial and San Diego Counties. BLM is the lead 
Federal agency for the preparation of this EIS in compliance with the 
requirements of NEPA. CPUC is the lead State of California agency for 
the preparation of this EIR in compliance with the requirements of the 
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).

DATES: This notice initiates the public participation and scoping 
processes for the EIS/EIR. A public scoping period of at least 30 days 
will commence on the date this notice is published in the Federal 
Register. To provide the public an opportunity to review the proposal 
and project information, BLM and CPUC expects to hold at least three 
public meetings, held at locations in Imperial and San Diego Counties. 
All public meetings will be announced through the local news media, 
mailings, and the BLM Web site (http://www.ca.blm.gov) at least 15 days 
prior to the event. Comments on issues, potential impacts, or 
suggestions for additional alternatives can be submitted in writing to 
the address listed below. In order to be included in the Draft EIS/EIR 
all comments must be received within 30 days of this publication or 15 
days after the last public meeting is held, whichever is the later.

ADDRESSES: Comments and other correspondence should be sent to the BLM 
El Centro Field Office, attention Field Manager, 1661 S. 4th Street, El 
Centro, CA 92243; or by fax: (760) 337-4490. Documents pertinent to 
this proposal, including comments with the names and addresses of 
respondents, will be available for public review at the BLM El Centro 
Field Office, during regular business hours of 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, except holidays, and may be published as part of 
the Draft EIS/EIR. Individual respondents may request confidentiality. 
If you wish to withhold your name or street address from public review 
or from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act, you must state 
this prominently at the beginning of your written comment. Such 
requests will be honored to the extent allowed by law. BLM will not 
consider anonymous comments. All submissions from organizations and 
businesses, and from individuals identifying themselves as 
representatives or officials of organizations or businesses, will be 
available for public inspection in their entirety.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information and/or to have 
your name added to our mailing list, contact Lynda Kastoll, Realty 
Specialist, at the BLM El Centro Field Office, same address as listed 
above; Phone: (760) 337-4421; e-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: SDG&E is proposing a new 500 kV transmission

[[Page 51849]]

line from the existing Imperial Valley Substation near the community of 
El Centro, to a new ``Central'' substation to be located somewhere in 
central San Diego County. SDG&E also proposes to build two new 230 kV 
lines connecting the Central substation to the existing Sycamore Canyon 
substation and one new 230 kV line between the Sycamore Canyon 
substation and the existing Peasquitos Substation. The 
total length of the Project is estimated to be approximately 130 to 150 
miles, of which roughly 40 to 60 miles would be located in Imperial 
County. The proposed 500 kV line transmission line would be constructed 
in part on BLM administered lands within the California Desert 
Conservation Area, as managed by the El Centro Field Office, and within 
San Diego County, as managed by the Palm Springs/South Coast Field 
Office. The remainder of the line would cross lands in various 
ownership, including private, State, and local agencies.
    The proposed transmission line(s) will utilize 120-170 foot tall 
structures, spaced approximately 700-1,600 feet apart. It would occupy 
a right-of-way of approximately 200-300 feet in width. Existing 
disturbed corridors would be utilized to the extent feasible, to 
minimize potential environmental impacts. Where possible, SDG&E 
anticipates locating new facilities within or along existing rights-of-
way. The 500 kV transmission line would traverse approximately 30 to 35 
miles of BLM administered lands in Imperial County, and approximately 
one mile in San Diego County. A plan amendment to the CDCA Plan (1980) 
will be required because the Project would deviate from BLM designated 
utility corridors within the California Desert Conservation Area 
(Imperial County).
    Through public scoping, BLM expects to identify various issues, 
potential impacts and mitigation measures, and alternatives to the 
proposed action. At present, BLM has identified a preliminary list of 
issues that will need to be addressed in this analysis, including the 
impacts of the proposed project on visual resources, agricultural 
lands, air quality, plant and animal species including special status 
species, cultural resources, and watersheds. Other issues identified by 
BLM are impacts to the public in the form of noise, traffic, accidental 
release of hazardous materials, and impacts to urban, residential, and 
recreational areas. Members of the public are invited to identify 
additional issues and concerns to be addressed.
    BLM will analyze the proposed action and no action alternatives, as 
well as other possible alternatives to the project. Your comments 
concerning the proposed project and feasible alternative locations, 
possible mitigation measures, and any other information relevant to the 
proposed action are encouraged. Additional informational meetings may 
be conducted throughout the process to keep the public informed of the 
progress of the EIS/EIR.

    Dated: July 20, 2006.
J. Anthony Danna,
Deputy State Director, Natural Resources (CA-930).
 [FR Doc. E6-14502 Filed 8-30-06; 8:45 am]
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