[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 2 (Tuesday, January 5, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 430-431]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-31239]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLUTC00000.L51010000.ER0000.LVRWJ09J4050; UTU-83067]


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for 
the Sigurd-Red Butte Transmission Line Project (Project) in Utah

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act 
(NEPA) of 1969, as amended, and the Federal Land Policy and Management 
Act of 1976, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Cedar City 
Field Office, Cedar City, Utah, intends to prepare an Environmental 
Impact Statement (EIS) for a right-of-way (ROW) application for the 
Sigurd-Red Butte 345 kilovolt (kV) Transmission Line Project and by 
this notice is announcing the beginning of the scoping process to 
solicit public comments and identify issues.

DATES: This notice initiates the public scoping process for the EIS. 
Comments on issues may be submitted in writing

[[Page 431]]

until February 19, 2010. The date(s) and location(s) of any scoping 
meetings will be announced at least 15 days in advance through local 
media, newspapers, and the BLM Web site at: http://www.blm.gov/ut/st/en/fo/cedar_city/planning.html. In order to be considered in the Draft 
EIS, all comments must be received prior to the close of the scoping 
period or 15 days after the last public meeting, whichever is later. 
The BLM will provide additional opportunities for public participation 
upon publication of the Draft EIS.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments related to the Sigurd-Red Butte 345 
Transmission Line Project by any of the following methods:
     Web site: http://www.blm.gov/ut/st/en/fo/cedar_city/planning.html.
     Mail: Bureau of Land Management, Cedar City Field Office, 
176 East D.L. Sargent Drive, Cedar City, Utah 84721, Attention: Lucas 
Lucero.
     E-mail: [email protected].
    Documents pertinent to the right-of-way (ROW) application for the 
transmission line project may be examined at:
     U.S. Forest Service, Dixie Office, 1789 North Wedgewood 
Lane, Cedar City, Utah 84721.
     U.S. Forest Service, Fishlake Office, 115 East 900 North, 
Richfield, Utah 84701.
     BLM, Cedar City Field Office, 176 D.L. Sargent Drive, 
Cedar City, Utah 84721.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information and/or to have 
your name added to our mailing list, contact Lucas Lucero, BLM Project 
Manager; telephone (702) 515-5059; e-mail [email protected]; 
address BLM, Cedar City Field Office, 176 East D.L. Sargent Drive, 
Cedar City, Utah 84721.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: PacifiCorp, doing business as Rocky Mountain 
Power Company, has filed a ROW application seeking authorization to 
construct, operate, maintain, and decommission a 345 kV single-circuit 
overhead electric transmission line on Federal lands. The project would 
provide an additional 600 megawatts of reliable electrical capacity by 
2014 to respond to anticipated load growth in Southwestern Utah. The 
proposed project begins at the existing Sigurd Substation near 
Richfield, Utah, and terminates at the existing Red Butte Substation 
near the town of Central, Utah. The project area spans approximately 
160 miles. Rocky Mountain Power Company has identified multiple 
alternative routes between the two substations. Alternative routes 
identified so far would affect Federal, State, and private lands. The 
requested ROW width on Federal lands is 150 feet. Rocky Mountain Power 
Company proposes to predominantly use steel H-frame towers 
approximately 80 to 130 feet in height with average spans between 
towers of 1,000 to 1,200 feet. Permanent access roads approximately 14 
feet wide would be needed. Temporary work space would be needed during 
construction for material storage, conductor tensioning sites, and to 
accommodate vehicles and equipment. Alternative routes currently 
identified would use portions of utility corridors on Federal lands and 
parallel portions of existing overhead and underground utilities and 
roadways.
    The BLM is the designated lead Federal agency for preparation of 
the EIS. Other agencies with legal jurisdiction or special expertise 
have been invited to participate as cooperating agencies in preparation 
of the EIS. Currently, the U.S. Forest Service (Dixie and Fishlake 
National Forests), State of Utah, Millard County, Sevier County, Beaver 
County, Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, City of St. George, and 
City of Enterprise have agreed to participate as cooperating agencies.
    The purpose of the public scoping process is to determine relevant 
issues that will influence the scope of the environmental analysis, 
including alternatives, and guide the process for developing the EIS. 
At present, the BLM has identified the following preliminary issues: 
public health and safety, noise, visual intrusions, migratory bird 
habitat, crucial deer and elk habitat, Utah Prairie Dog habitat, 
socioeconomic impacts, cultural and historic sites, National Scenic and 
Historic Trails, and nearby inventoried roadless areas on National 
Forests.
    The BLM will use and coordinate the NEPA commenting process to 
satisfy the public involvement process for Section 106 of the National 
Historic Preservation Act (16 U.S.C. 470f) as provided for in 36 CFR 
800.2(d)(3). Native American Tribal consultations will be conducted and 
Tribal concerns will be given due consideration, including impacts on 
Indian trust assets. Federal, State, and local agencies, along with 
other stakeholders that may be interested or affected by the BLM's 
decision on this project are invited to participate in the scoping 
process and, if eligible, may request or be requested by the BLM to 
participate as a cooperating agency.
    Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or 
other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be 
aware that your entire comment--including your personal identifying 
information--may be made publicly available at any time. While you can 
ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying 
information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be 
able to do so.

    Authority:  40 CFR 1501.7.

Selma Sierra,
State Director.
[FR Doc. E9-31239 Filed 1-4-10; 8:45 am]
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