[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 221 (Friday, November 16, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64591-64596]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 07-5716]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management


Notice of Availability of the Draft Programmatic Environmental 
Impact Statement for the Designation of Energy Corridors in Eleven 
Western States and Notice of Public Hearings

AGENCIES: Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability (OE), 
Department of Energy (DOE) and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), 
Department of the Interior (DOI).

ACTION: Notice of Availability of the Draft Programmatic Environmental 
Impact Statement for the Designation of Energy Corridors in Eleven 
Western States and Notice of Public Hearings.

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SUMMARY: DOE and BLM of the DOI as co-lead agencies, and the U.S. 
Forest Service (FS) of the Department of Agriculture, the Department of 
Defense (DOD), and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) of the 
DOI as cooperating Federal Agencies (the Agencies) announce the 
availability of the Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement 
for the Designation of Energy Corridors in the 11 Western States (Draft 
PEIS) (DOE/EIS--0386) and the dates and locations for the public 
hearings to receive comments on the Draft PEIS.
    The Coeur d'Alene Tribe, the California Energy Commission (CEC), 
the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), the State of 
Wyoming, and the Lincoln, Sweetwater, and Uinta counties and 
conservation districts in Wyoming are also cooperating agencies. The 
Department of Commerce (DOC) and the Federal Energy Regulatory 
Commission (FERC) are consulting agencies.
    The Agencies prepared the Draft PEIS pursuant to the National 
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), as amended, 42 U.S.C. 4321 et 
seq., the Council on Environmental Quality NEPA regulations, 40 CFR 
Parts 1500-1508, the DOE NEPA regulations, 10 CFR part 1021, and 10 CFR 
part 1022, Compliance with Floodplain and Wetland Environmental Review 
Requirements, the BLM planning regulations, 43 CFR part 1600, and 
applicable FS planning regulations.
    Section 368 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct 2005), Public 
Law 109-58, directs the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of 
Commerce, the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Energy and the 
Secretary of the Interior, in consultation with FERC, States, tribal

[[Page 64592]]

or local units of governments, as appropriate, affected utility 
industries, and other interested persons, to designate, under their 
respective authorities, corridors for oil, gas, and hydrogen pipelines 
and electricity transmission and distribution facilities on Federal 
land in the 11 contiguous Western States (as defined in section 103(o) 
of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 
1702(o)), perform any environmental reviews that may be required to 
complete the designation of such corridors, and incorporate the 
designated corridors into relevant agency land use and resource 
management plans or equivalent plans.
    The 11 Western States are Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, 
Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.

DATES: The 90-day public comment period begins with the publication of 
the Notice of Availability of the Draft PEIS in the Federal Register by 
the Environmental Protection Agency and continues until February 14, 
2008. See Supplementary Information section for meeting dates.

ADDRESSES: See Supplementary Information section for meeting addresses. 
Submit electronic comments and requests to speak at one of the public 
meetings on-line at http://corridoreis.anl.gov. Mail comments to: West-
wide Energy Corridor Draft PEIS, Argonne National Laboratory, 9700 S. 
Cass Avenue, Bldg. 900, Mailstop 4, Argonne, IL 60439; or fax comments 
toll-free to: 1-866-542-5904. Requests to speak at one of the meetings 
or for more information about the Draft PEIS may also be addressed to: 
Ms. LaVerne Kyriss, Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy 
Reliability (OE-20), U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 Independence 
Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585, phone: 202-586-1056, facsimile: 202-
586-8008, or electronic mail at [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information on the proposed 
project contact Ms. LaVerne Kyriss as indicated in the ADDRESSES 
section of this notice.
    For general information on the DOE NEPA process, contact: Carol M. 
Borgstrom, Director, Office of NEPA Policy and Compliance (GC-20), U.S. 
Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 
20585; phone: 202-586-4600 or leave a message at 800-472-2756; 
facsimile: 202-586-7031.
    For general information on the BLM's NEPA process, contact: Ron 
Montagna, (202) 452-7782, or KateWinthrop, (202) 452-5051, at: BLM, WO-
350, MS 1000 LS, 1849 C Street, NW., Washington, DC 20240.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Agencies invite interested Members of 
Congress, state and local governments, other Federal agencies, American 
Indian tribal governments, organizations, and members of the public to 
provide comments on the Draft PEIS. Written and oral comments will be 
given equal weight, and the agencies will consider all comments 
received or postmarked by February 14, 2008 in preparing the Final 
PEIS. Comments received or postmarked after that date will be 
considered to the extent practicable.

Public Meetings

    Public meeting dates and addresses are:
    1. January 8, 2008, 2 to 5 and 6 to 8 p.m., Portland, OR: 
Doubletree Portland Lloyd Center, 1000 North West Multnomah and 
Sacramento, CA: California Energy Commission, 1516 Ninth Street.
    2. January 10, 2008, 2 to 5 and 6 to 8 p.m., Seattle, WA: 
Renaissance Hotel Seattle, 515 Madison Street and Ontario, CA: Ayres 
Hotel and Suites, Ontario Airport/Convention Center, 1945 East Holt 
Boulevard.
    3. January 15, 2008, 2 to 5 and 6 to 8 p.m., Phoenix, AZ: BLM 
Training Center, 9828 North 31st Avenue and Grand Junction, CO: 
Marriott Courtyard, 765 Horizon Drive.
    4. January 17, 2008, 2 to 5 and 6 to 8 p.m., Las Vegas, NV: The 
Atomic Testing Museum, 1755 E. Flamingo Road and Salt Lake City, UT: 
Airport Hilton Hotel, 5151 Wiley Post Way.
    5. January 23, 2008, 2 to 5 p.m., Window Rock, AZ: Navajo Education 
Center, Morgan Boulevard.
    6. January 24, 2008, 2 to 5 and 6 to 8 p.m., Albuquerque, NM: 
Holiday Inn and Suites, 5050 Jefferson Street.
    7. January 29, 2008, 2 to 5 and 6 to 8 p.m., Helena, MT: Best 
Western Helena Great Northern Hotel, 835 Great Northern Boulevard and 
Cheyenne, WY: Best Western Hitching Post Inn and Conference Center, 
1700 West Lincoln Way.
    8. January 31, 2008, 2 to 5 and 6 to 8 p.m., Boise, ID: Best 
Western Vista Inn and Conference Center, 2645 Airport Way and Denver, 
CO: Holiday Inn Cherry Creek, 455 South Colorado Boulevard.
    9. February 5, 2008, 2 to 4 p.m., Washington, DC: Embassy Suites 
Washington Convention Center, 900 10th Street, NW.
    Requests to speak at a specific public hearing should be received 
by DOE as indicated in the ADDRESSES section no later than two business 
days before that hearing. Requests to speak may also be made at the 
time of registration for the hearing(s). However, persons who have 
submitted advance requests to speak will be given priority if time 
should be limited during the hearing. Please be aware that anthrax 
screening delays conventional mail delivery to DOE.
    The Draft PEIS consists of a stand alone Summary, the PEIS Chapters 
(Volume 1, 567 pages), the PEIS Appendices (Volume 2, 400 pages), and 
Maps (Volume 3, 131 pages). The entire Draft PEIS is available online 
at http://corridoreis.anl.gov or on a CD-ROM. Requests for paper copies 
of the Draft PEIS, or additional copies in either format should be 
addressed to West-wide Energy Corridor Draft PEIS, 9700 South Cass 
Avenue, Building 900, Mailstop 4, Argonne, IL 60439. The Draft PEIS is 
also available on the DOE NEPA Web site at http://www.eh.doe.gov/nepa/docs/deis/deis.html.
    The Draft PEIS Volume 3 map atlas is printed on ledger-sized paper. 
The CD version of the Draft PEIS includes the map atlas in PDF format. 
The most powerful and flexible version of the map data is available on 
the project Web site (http://corridoreis.anl.gov). The Web site maps 
are available within a geographic information system (GIS) database 
that allows users to merge, enlarge, and view multiple map data layers. 
Software and instructions to use the GIS data are user friendly and 
available for free download from the public Web site.
    The purpose and need for the Agencies' action is to implement EPAct 
Section 368 by designating corridors for the preferred locations of 
future oil, gas, and hydrogen pipelines and electricity transmission 
and distribution facilities and to incorporate the designated corridors 
into the relevant agency land use and resource management plans or 
equivalent plans.
    Section 368 directs the Agencies to take into account the need for 
upgraded and new infrastructure and to take actions to improve 
reliability, relieve congestion, and enhance the capability of the 
national grid to deliver energy. This action only pertains to the 
designation of corridors for potential facilities on Federal lands 
located within the 11 Western States. In addition, this action is 
intended to improve coordination among the Agencies to increase the 
efficiency of using designated corridors.
    In many areas of the United States, including the West, the 
infrastructure required to deliver energy has not always kept pace with 
growth in energy

[[Page 64593]]

demand. The Agencies hope to improve the delivery of energy in the 
West, while enhancing the western electric transmission grid for the 
future, by establishing a coordinated network of Federal energy 
corridors on Federal lands in the West. The Draft PEIS analyzes the 
environmental impacts of designating Federal energy corridors in 11 
Western States, and incorporating those designations into relevant 
agency land use and resource management plans or equivalent plans.
    The Draft PEIS analyzes two alternatives: A No Action Alternative 
and the Proposed Action to designate new and locally approved energy 
corridors (Proposed Action). Under the No Action Alternative, Federal 
energy corridors mandated by EPAct Section 368 would not be designated 
on Federal lands in the 11 Western States; the siting and development 
of energy transport projects would continue under current agency 
procedures for granting rights-of-way (ROW), for which energy transport 
project applicants must satisfy the often disparate requirements of 
multiple agencies for the same project. There would be relatively 
little West-wide coordination for siting and permitting these projects 
to meet current and future energy needs in the 11 Western States.
    Under the Proposed Action, the Agencies would designate and 
incorporate through relevant land use and resource management plans 
certain Federal energy corridors that would consist of existing, 
locally designated Federal energy corridors together with additional, 
newly designated energy corridors located on Federal land. These energy 
corridors would comprise a comprehensive, coordinated network of 
preferred locations for future energy projects that could be developed 
to satisfy demand for energy. Under the Proposed Action, approximately 
6,055 miles of Federal energy corridors would be designated for 
multimodal energy transmission and transportation in the 11 Western 
States. The energy corridors would typically be 3,500 feet wide, though 
the width may vary in certain areas because of environmental, 
topographic or management constraints. BLM, DOD, FS and USFWS would 
amend their respective land use or equivalent plans to incorporate the 
designated energy corridors; the amendments would be effective upon 
signing of a Record(s) of Decision. The designation of energy corridors 
under the Proposed Action would require the amendment of the following 
land management or equivalent plans.

Land Use or Equivalent Plans Proposed for Amendment by Designating EPAct
 Section 368 Energy Corridors on Federal Lands in the 11 Western States
                               \a\ \b\ \c\
------------------------------------------------------------------------
         State                Land use plan          Agency office(s)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Arizona................  Arizona Strip RMP......  BLM, Arizona Strip FO.
                         Coronado NF LRMP.......  FS, Coronado NF.
                         Glen Canyon NRA GMP....  NPS, Glen Canyon NRA.
                         Havasu NWR               USFWS, Lake Havasu
                          Comprehensive            NWR.
                          Conservation Plan.
                         Kaibab NF LRMP.........  FS, Kaibab NF.
                         Kingman RMP............  BLM, Kingman FO, Lake
                                                   Havasu FO.
                         Lake Havasu RMP........  BLM, Lake Havasu FO.
                         Lake Mead NRA GMP......  NPS, Lake Mead NRA.
                         Lower Gila North MFP...  BLM, Hassayampa FO.
                         Lower Gila South RMP...  BLM, Hassayampa FO,
                                                   Lower Sonoran FO.
                         Phoenix RMP............  BLM, Tucson FO,
                                                   Hassayampa FO, Lower
                                                   Sonoran FO.
                         Prescott NF LRMP.......  FS, Prescott NF.
                         Safford RMP............  BLM, Safford FO,
                                                   Tucson FO.
                         Apache-Sitgreaves NF     FS, Apache-Sitgreaves
                          LRMP.                    NF.
                         Tonto NF LRMP..........  FS, Tonto NF.
                         Yuma Proving Ground      DOD, U.S. Army, Yuma
                          INRMP.                   Proving Ground.
                         Yuma RMP...............  BLM, Yuma FO.
California.............  Alturas RMP............  BLM, Alturas FO.
                         Angeles NF LRMP........  FS, Angeles NF.
                         Arcata RMP.............  BLM, Arcata FO.
                         Bishop RMP.............  BLM, Bishop FO.
                         Caliente RMP...........  BLM, Bakersfield FO,
                                                   Bishop FO, Ridgecrest
                                                   FO.
                         California Desert        BLM, Barstow FO, El
                          Conservation Area Plan.  Centro FO, Lake
                                                   Havasu FO, Needles
                                                   FO, Ridgecrest FO,
                                                   Palm Springs-South
                                                   Coast FO.
                         Proposed Eagle Lake RMP  BLM, Eagle Lake FO.
                         China Lake Naval Air     DOD, U.S. Navy, China
                          Weapons Station INRMP.   Lake Naval Air
                                                   Weapons Station.
                         Cleveland NF LRMP......  FS, Cleveland NF.
                         Eastern San Diego RMP..  BLM, El Centro FO.
                         Havasu NWR               USFWS, Lake Havasu
                          Comprehensive            NWR.
                          Conservation Plan.
                         Imperial Sand Dunes      BLM, El Centro FO.
                          RAMP.
                         Inyo NF LRMP...........  FS, Inyo NF.
                         Klamath NF LRMP........  FS, Klamath NF.
                         Lassen NF LRMP.........  FS, Lassen NF.
                         Modoc NF LRMP..........  FS, Modoc NF.
                         Proposed Alturas RMP...  BLM, Alturas FO.
                         Redding RMP............  BLM, Redding FO.
                         San Bernadino NF LRMP..  FS, San Bernadino NF.
                         Shasta-Trinity NF LRMP.  FS, Shasta-Trinity NF.
                         Proposed Sierra RMP....  BLM, Folsom FO.
                         Six Rivers NF LRMP.....  FS, Six Rivers NF.
                         South Coast RMP........  BLM, Palm Springs-
                                                   South Coast FO.
                         Tahoe NF LRMP..........  FS, Tahoe NF.
                         Proposed Surprise RMP..  BLM, Surprise FO.
                         Ukiah RMP..............  BLM, Ukiah FO.
Colorado...............  Arapaho-Roosevelt NF     FS, Arapaho-Roosevelt
                          LRMP.                    NF.

[[Page 64594]]

 
                         Glenwood Springs RMP...  BLM, Glenwood Springs
                                                   FO.
                         Grand Junction RMP.....  BLM, Grand Junction
                                                   FO.
                         Grand Mesa-Uncompahgre-  FS, Grand Mesa-
                          Gunnison NF LRMP.        Uncompahgre-Gunnison
                                                   NF.
                         Gunnison RMP...........  BLM, Gunnison FO.
                         Kremmling RMP..........  BLM, Kremmling FO.
                         Little Snake RMP.......  BLM, Little Snake FO.
                         Curecanti NCA GMP......  NPS, Curecanti NRA.
                         Routt NF LRMP..........  FS, Medicine Bow and
                                                   Routt NF, Thunder
                                                   Basin NG.
                         Royal Gorge RMP........  BLM, Royal Gorge FO.
                         Pike-San Isabel NF LRMP  FS, Pike-San Isabel
                                                   NF.
                         San Juan NF LRMP.......  FS, San Juan NF.
                         San Juan/San Miguel RMP  BLM, Dolores FO,
                                                   Uncompahgre FO.
                         Uncompahgre Basin RMP..  BLM, Uncompahgre FO.
                         White River RMP........  BLM, White River FO.
Idaho..................  Big Desert MFP.........  BLM, Upper Snake FO.
                         Bruneau MFP............  BLM, Bruneau FO.
                         Cassia RMP.............  BLM, Burley FO.
                         Coeur d'Alene RMP......  BLM, Coeur d'Alene FO.
                         Idaho Panhandle NF LRMP  FS, Idaho Panhandle
                                                   NF.
                         Jarbidge RMP...........  BLM, Bruneau FO, Four
                                                   Rivers FO, Jarbridge
                                                   FO.
                         Kuna MFP...............  BLM, Four Rivers FO.
                         Little Lost-Birch Creek  BLM, Upper Snake FO.
                          MFP.
                         Malad MFP..............  BLM, Pocatello FO.
                         Medicine Lodge RMP.....  BLM, Upper Snake FO.
                         Monument RMP...........  BLM, Burley FO,
                                                   Shoshone FO.
                         Pocatello RMP..........  BLM, Pocatello FO.
                         Owyhee RMP.............  BLM, Four Rivers FO,
                                                   Owyhee FO.
                         Caribou-Targhee NF LRMP  FS, Caribou-Targhee
                                                   NF.
                         Twin Falls MFP.........  BLM, Burley FO.
Montana................  Beaverhead-Deerlodge NF  FS, Beaverhead-
                          LRMP.                    Deerlodge NF.
                         Billings RMP...........  BLM, Billings FO.
                         Dillon RMP.............  BLM, Dillon FO.
                         Garnet RMP.............  BLM, Missoula FO.
                         Headwaters RMP.........  BLM, Butte FO.
                         Lolo NF LRMP...........  FS, Lolo NF.
Nevada.................  Black Rock-High Rock     BLM, Winnemucca FO.
                          NCA RMP.
                         Caliente MFP...........  BLM, Ely FO.
                         Desert NWR CC            USFWS, Desert NWR.
                          Conservation Plan.
                         Egan RMP...............  BLM, Ely FO.
                         Elko RMP...............  BLM, Elko FO.
                         Hawthorne Army Depot     DOD, U.S. Army,
                          INRMP.                   Hawthorne AD.
                         Humboldt-Toiyabe NF      FS, Humboldt-Toiyabe
                          LRMP.                    NF.
                         Carson City Field        BLM, Carson City FO.
                          Office Consolidated
                          Resource Management
                          Plan.
                         Lake Mead NRA GMP......  NPS, Lake Mead NRA.
                         Las Vegas RMP..........  BLM, Las Vegas FO.
                         Nellis AFB Plan 126-4    DOD, U.S. Air Force,
                          INRMP.                   Nellis AFB.
                         Paradise-Denio MFP.....  BLM, Winnemucca FO.
                         Schell MFP.............  BLM, Ely FO.
                         Sonoma Gerlach MFP.....  BLM, Winnemucca FO.
                         Tonopah RMP............  BLM, Battle Mountain
                                                   FO.
                         Tuledad/Homecamp MFP...  BLM, Surprise FO.
                         Wells RMP..............  BLM, Elko FO.
New Mexico.............  Carlsbad RMP...........  BLM, Carlsbad FO.
                         Farmington RMP.........  BLM, Farmington FO.
                         Fort Bliss INRMP.......  DOD, U.S. Army, Fort
                                                   Bliss.
                         Mimbres RMP............  BLM, Las Cruces DO.
                         Rio Puerco RMP.........  BLM, Rio Puerco FO.
                         Roswell RMP............  BLM, Roswell FO.
                         Sevilleta NWR            USFWS, Sevilletta NWR.
                          Comprehensive
                          Conservation Plan.
                         Socorro RMP............  BLM, Socoro FO.
                         White Sands RMP........  BLM, Las Cruces DO.
Oregon.................  Andrews-Steens RMP.....  BLM, Andrews FO.
                         Baker RMP..............  BLM, Baker FO.
                         Brothers-Lapine RMP....  BLM, Central Oregon
                                                   FO, Deschutes FO.
                         Ochocco NF LRMP........  FS, Ochocco NF.
                         Deschutes NF LRMP......  FS, Deschutes NF.
                         Eugene RMP.............  BLM, Upper Willamette
                                                   FO.
                         Fremont NF LRMP........  FS, Winema-Fremont
                                                   NFs.
                         Klamath Falls RMP......  BLM, Klamath Falls FO.
                         Klamath NF LRMP........  FS, Klamath NF.

[[Page 64595]]

 
                         Lakeview RMP...........  BLM, Lakeview FO.
                         Medford RMP............  BLM, Ashland FO, Butte
                                                   Falls FO, Glendale
                                                   FO.
                         Mt. Hood NF LRMP.......  FS, Mt. Hood NF.
                         Roseburg RMP...........  BLM, South River FO,
                                                   Swiftwater FO, Upper
                                                   Willamette FO.
                         Salem RMP..............  BLM, Cascades FO,
                                                   Tillamook FO.
                         Southeastern Oregon RMP  BLM, Jordan FO,
                                                   Malheur FO.
                         Three Rivers RMP.......  BLM, Three Rivers FO.
                         Two Rivers RMP.........  BLM, Deschutes FO.
                         Umatilla NF LRMP.......  FS, Umatilla NF.
                         Upper Deschutes RMP....  BLM, Deschutes FO.
                         Winema NF LRMP.........  FS, Winema-Fremont
                                                   NFs.
Utah...................  Ashley NF LRMP.........  FS, Ashley NF.
                         Beaver RMP.............  BLM, Kanab FO.
                         CBGA...................  BLM, Cedar City FO.
                         Book Cliffs RMP........  BLM, Vernal FO.
                         Wasatch-Cache NF LRMP..  FS, Wasatch-Cache NF.
                         Diamond Mountain RMP...  BLM, Vernal FO.
                         Dixie NF LRMP..........  FS, Dixie NF.
                         Fishlake NF LRMP.......  FS, Fishlake NF.
                         Grand RMP..............  BLM, Moab FO.
                         Grand Staircase-         BLM, Grand Staircase-
                          Escalante National       Escalante NM FO.
                          Monument Management
                          Plan.
                         House Range RMP........  BLM, Fillmore FO.
                         Mountain Valley MFP....  BLM, Richfield FO.
                         Paria MFP..............  BLM, Kanab FO.
                         Pinyon MFP.............  BLM, Cedar City FO.
                         Pony Express RMP.......  BLM, Salt Lake FO.
                         Price River RMP........  BLM, Price FO.
                         San Juan RMP...........  BLM, Moab FO,
                                                   Monticello FO.
                         St. George (Dixie) RMP.  BLM, St. George FO.
                         Uinta NF LRMP..........  FS, Uinta NF.
                         Vermillion MFP.........  BLM, Kanab FO.
                         Warm Springs RMP.......  BLM, Fillmore FO.
                         Zion MFP...............  BLM, Kanab FO.
Washington.............  Mount Baker-Snoqualmie   FS, Mount Baker-
                          NF LRMP.                 Snoqualmie NF.
                         Spokane RMP............  BLM, Wenatchee FO.
                         Wenatchee NF LRMP......  FS, Wenatchee NF.
Wyoming................  Ashley NF LRMP.........  FS, Ashley NF.
                         Cody RMP...............  BLM, Cody FO.
                         Grass Creek RMP........  BLM, Worland FO.
                         Great Divide RMP.......  BLM, Rawlins FO.
                         Green River RMP........  BLM, Rock Springs FO.
                         Kemmerer RMP...........  BLM, Kemmerer FO.
                         Lander RMP.............  BLM, Lander FO.
                         Thunder Basin National   FS, Medicine Bow and
                          Grassland LRMP.          Routt NF, Thunder
                                                   Basin NG.
                         Platte River RMP.......  BLM, Casper FO.
                         Washakie RMP...........  BLM, Worland FO.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\a\ AFB = Air Force Base; BLM = Bureau of Land Management; CBGA = Cedar-
  Beaver-Garfield-Antimony; CCCP = Complex Comprehensive Conservation
  Plan; DO = district office; DOD = Department of Defense; FO = field
  office; FS = Forest Service; GMP = General Management Plan; INRMP =
  Integrated Natural Resources Management Plan; LMP = Land Management
  Plan; LRMP = Land and Resource Management Plan; MFP = Management
  Framework Plan; NCA = National Conservation Area; NF = National
  Forest; NM = National Monument; NG = National Grassland; NPS =
  National Park Service; NRA = National Recreation Area; NWR = National
  Wildlife Refuge; RAMP= Recreation Area Management Plan; RFP= Revised
  Forest Plan, RMP = Resource Management Plan; USFWS = U.S. Fish and
  Wildlife Service.
\b\ This list represents the most current plans. This list differs in
  some particulars from the list in the Draft PEIS, Vol. 2, which went
  to print prior to these changes. Since planning is dynamic and there
  may also be further changes in the locations of specific corridors,
  the Final PEIS may also include changes in this list.
\c\ The PEIS identifies corridors through three national wildlife
  refuges, administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS).
  Development on these refuges may only occur if the specific proposed
  project is determined to be compatible with refuge purposes and the
  mission of the National Wildlife Refuge System. Existing refuge
  Comprehensive Conservation Plan(s) may require amendment should a
  specific project be found compatible, and subsequent right-of-way
  permitting by the USFWS occur.

    In addition to designating Federal energy corridors through these 
amendments, the Agencies would establish cooperative procedures to 
expedite the application process for energy projects proposed to be 
sited within these corridors.
    Under the No Action Alternative, no Federal energy corridors would 
be designated pursuant to Section 368. The No Action alternative 
represents the status quo. Siting and development would continue, 
likely without coordination among the Agencies, under each agency's 
procedures for granting ROW. It would be incorrect to assume that the 
No Action Alternative signifies that there will be no groundbreaking 
for energy projects at some point in the future.
    Neither alternative authorizes site-specific energy transport 
projects. The Draft PEIS does not examine the

[[Page 64596]]

environmental impacts of specific projects or related ROW that may or 
may not at some point be proposed for the Federal energy corridors. 
These projects would be subject to individual, project-specific NEPA 
review at the siting stage.
    Although actual environmental impacts must inevitably await 
proposals before being analyzed, the Agencies are preparing a PEIS at 
the designation stage because they believe it is an appropriate time to 
examine the region-wide environmental concerns. The Agencies expect 
that the PEIS will greatly assist subsequent, site-specific analyses 
for individual project proposals by allowing the Agencies to 
incorporate this PEIS into those later analyses.

Availability of the Draft PEIS

    The Agencies distributed copies of the Draft PEIS to appropriate 
members of Congress, state and local government officials in the 11 
Western States, American Indian tribal governments, and other Federal 
agencies, groups, and interested parties. Copies of the document may be 
obtained online at the project Web site or by contacting DOE as 
provided in the ADDRESSES section of this notice. Copies of the Draft 
PEIS are also available for inspection at the Agencies' affected field 
office locations (see list above) within the 11 Western States and at 
public libraries near public meeting locations. A list of these 
libraries is available on the project Web site.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on October 24, 2007.
Michael D. Nedd,
Assistant Director, Minerals, Realty and Resource Protection, Bureau of 
Land Management, Department of the Interior.
    Issued in Washington, DC, on October 30, 2007.
Kevin M. Kolevar,
Assistant Secretary, Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy 
Reliability, Department of Energy.
[FR Doc. 07-5716 Filed 11-15-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P