[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 88 (Friday, May 7, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25195-25197]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-10702]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Kake to Petersburg Transmission Line Intertie Project

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, will prepare an 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on a proposal to construct and 
operate a new electric transmission line intertie that would extend 
west across the Tongass National Forest from the Petersburg area to the 
community of Kake. The proposed action is to build a new transmission 
line that would transmit power at either 69 or 138 kilovolt (kV) and 
consist of single wood pole structures with horizontal post insulators, 
with average span lengths between pole structures of 350 to 400 feet. 
Two primary alternative routes are currently under consideration. These 
routes generally follow two routes previously identified as 
Transportation and Utility System (TUS) corridors in the Tongass 
National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (Forest Plan). Both 
alternative routes follow existing logging roads for the majority of 
their lengths. In addition, one of the routes follows the proposed 
route identified by the Alaska Department of Transportation & Public 
Facilities (DOTPF) for the permanent road between Kake and Petersburg. 
Both routes would use existing roads for construction and long-term 
maintenance access where possible. New road segments would be built in 
locations where access is not currently available.

DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received 
by June 7, 2010. Public information and scoping meetings will be held 
in Petersburg on May 12, 2010 and in Kake on May 13, 2010. The Draft 
EIS is projected to be filed with the Environmental Protection Agency 
(EPA) in December 2010 and will begin a 45-day public comment period. 
The Final EIS and Record of Decision are scheduled to be published in 
Summer/Fall 2011.

ADDRESSES: You may comment on the project in the following ways: Send 
written comments to the Petersburg Ranger District, Tongass National 
Forest, Attn: Kake-Petersburg Intertie Project, P.O. Box 1328, 
Petersburg, AK 99833, or hand deliver them to the Petersburg Ranger 
District, 12 N Nordic Drive, Petersburg, Alaska. The FAX number is 
(907) 772-5995. Send e-mail comments to: [email protected] with ``Kake-Petersburg Intertie Project'' in the 
subject line. Include your name, address and organization name if you 
are commenting as a representative.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions about the proposal and EIS 
should be directed to Chris Savage, District Ranger, Petersburg Ranger 
District, Tongass National Forest, P.O. Box 1328, Petersburg, AK 99833, 
telephone (907) 772-3871.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Background: An Intertie transmission line from Kake to Petersburg 
has been discussed for many years and has been the subject of a number 
of studies dating back to the 1970s, with more than 10 alternative 
routes discussed over the years. Recent studies include the Southeast 
Alaska Intertie Study prepared in 2003 and a follow-on study of the 
Kake-Petersburg Intertie completed in 2005 and updated in 2009. These 
recent studies identified two

[[Page 25196]]

primary route alternatives, a southern route that crosses the Wrangell 
Narrows near the Tonka log transfer facility and proceeds west across 
Duncan Canal (the ``Center-South'' route), and a northern route 
generally located on the north end of Kupreanof Island (the 
``Northern'' route). These alternatives generally correspond with two 
TUS corridors identified in the 2008 Forest Plan.
    Purpose and Need for Action: The community of Kake on Kupreanof 
Island is presently served by an isolated electric system operated by 
the Inside Passage Electric Cooperative (IPEC). This system currently 
depends upon high-cost diesel generation, and the resulting high cost 
of electricity in Kake is a major burden on the economic and social 
well-being of the community and a significant disincentive to economic 
development. The proposed Kake-Petersburg Intertie would connect this 
isolated electric system to the interconnected electric systems of 
Petersburg, Wrangell and Ketchikan. Petersburg, Wrangell, and Ketchikan 
are currently interconnected to and obtain most of their power supplies 
from the Tyee Lake and Swan Lake hydroelectric projects owned by the 
Southeast Alaska Power Agency (SEAPA) (formerly the Four Dam Pool Power 
Agency). The Kake-Petersburg Intertie would be used to transmit surplus 
hydroelectric power from SEAPA to the IPEC electric system in Kake, 
thereby offsetting the existing diesel generation while lowering and 
stabilizing the cost of electricity in Kake.
    Proposed Action: The proposed transmission line would extend west 
from the Petersburg area to the community of Kake and be approximately 
46.8 miles or 56.5 miles in length. The line would be built to transmit 
power at either 69 or 138 kV and consist of single wood pole structures 
with horizontal post insulators, with average span lengths between pole 
structures of 350 to 400 feet. This design would be able to take 
advantage of existing roads for construction and maintenance and has 
been used successfully for other transmission applications elsewhere in 
Alaska.
    The two primary routes identified in the 2005 feasibility study and 
evaluated further in the 2009 update--the Center-South and Northern 
routes--are currently under consideration. Both proposed routes follow 
existing logging roads for the majority of their lengths. In addition, 
the Northern route follows the proposed route identified by the Alaska 
DOTPF for the permanent road between Kake and Petersburg. Both routes 
would use existing roads for construction and long-term maintenance 
access where possible. New road segments would be built in locations 
where access is not currently available. The two alternative routes may 
be summarized as follows:
    Center-South Route--(46.8 miles total length, two marine 
crossings). This route would connect to the existing Tyee transmission 
line approximately 8 miles south of Petersburg and require a tap or a 
small switch yard. From this connection, the route crosses Wrangell 
Narrows, proceeds west across the Lindenberg Peninsula (10.6 miles), 
crosses Duncan Canal, and continues northwest to Kake (33.7 miles), 
where it would terminate at a new substation located approximately 4.8 
miles south of the existing Kake substation. A new distribution line 
(12.45 kV) would extend from the new substation to Kake. The majority 
of this route (43.6 miles) would cross National Forest System (NFS) 
lands. The route would also cross lands owned and managed by the town 
of Petersburg, Sealaska, Kake Tribal Corporation, and the city of Kake.
    Northern Route--(56.5 miles total length, one marine crossing). 
This route would originate at the existing SEAPA substation near 
Petersburg, cross Wrangell Narrows from Mitkof Island to Kupreanof 
Island, and follow the proposed route of the Alaska DOTPF road north 
along Frederick Sound (18.5 miles), and then west (37.9 miles) to Kake, 
where, like the Center-South route, it would terminate at a new 
substation with a new distribution line extending to Kake. The majority 
of this route (47.1 miles) would cross NFS lands. The route would also 
cross lands owned and managed by Alaska Department of Natural 
Resources, Sealaska, Kake Tribal Corporation, and the cities of Kake, 
Kupreanof, and Petersburg.
    Two alternative route options from the SEAPA substation to the 
proposed Alaska DOTPF road corridor are currently being considered:
    Option 1: Under this option the line would start at the SEAPA 
substation, and staying south of Petersburg, follow an existing gravel 
road for 3.5 miles east-northeast to Frederick Sound. At Frederick 
Sound, a submarine cable termination facility would connect the 
overhead line to a 3.1 mile long underwater cable, which would come 
ashore near Prolewy Point on Kupreanof Island, where it would connect 
to an overhead line that would then follow the proposed road corridor.
    Option 2: Under this option the line would proceed from the SEAPA 
substation north along Mitkof Highway to near the narrowest point of 
the Wrangell Narrows. At that point, the line would turn west and cross 
Wrangell Narrows via a horizontal directional bore or buried cable that 
would extend approximately 1,400 feet. West of the Narrows the line 
would return to overhead construction, turn and go north approximately 
1.7 miles where it would cross Petersburg Creek (a distance of 
approximately 800 feet) either via directional bore or overhead 
construction. The route would then continue overhead approximately 2.5 
miles northeast to the proposed DOTPF road corridor.
    Subsistence hearings, as provided for in Title VIII, Section 810 of 
the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA), will be 
conducted, if necessary, during the comment period on the Draft EIS.
    Public Participation: This notice of intent initiates the scoping 
process which guides the development of the EIS. Public participation 
will be especially important at several points during the analysis. The 
Forest Service will be seeking information, comments, and assistance 
from Tribal Governments and corporations, Federal, State, and local 
agencies, individuals and organizations that may be interested in, or 
affected by, the proposed activities.
    The public scoping period for this project extends from May 7, 2010 
to June 7, 2010. Interested parties are encouraged to provide written 
input on the proposed project and submit their comments via email, 
regular mail, or fax to the addresses identified above under Addresses.
    Public scoping meetings will be held from 5 to 7 pm in Petersburg 
on May 12, 2010 and in Kake on May 13, 2010. Both meetings will follow 
an open house format. Interested parties may drop in until 7 p.m. to 
obtain information about the project, speak with project team members, 
and provide scoping comments to the team.
    Tentative Issues: Tentative issues identified for analysis in the 
EIS to date include the proposed crossings of Wrangell Narrows and 
Duncan Canal, as well as anadromous and resident fish-bearing streams, 
potential impacts to wildlife species listed under the Endangered 
Species Act, and potential impacts to Inventoried Roadless Areas.
    Early Notice of Importance of Public Participation in Subsequent 
Environmental Review: A Draft EIS will be prepared for comment. The 
comment period on the Draft EIS will be 45 days from the date the EPA 
publishes the notice of availability in the Federal Register. It is 
important that reviewers provide their comments at such times and in 
such a way that they are useful

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to the Agency's preparation of the EIS. Therefore, comments should be 
provided prior to the close of the comment period and should clearly 
articulate the reviewer's concerns and contentions. The submission of 
timely and specific comments can affect a reviewer's ability to 
participate in subsequent administrative review or judicial review.
    Comments received in response to this solicitation, including names 
and addresses of those who comment, will be part of the public record 
for this proposed action and will be available for public inspection. 
(Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7 and 1508.22; Forest Service Handbook 1909.15, 
Section 21). Comments submitted anonymously will be accepted and 
considered; however, those who submit anonymous comments will not have 
standing to appeal the subsequent decision under 36 CFR parts 215 or 
217. Additionally, pursuant to 7 CFR 1.27(d), any person may request 
that the agency withhold a submission from the public record by showing 
how the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) permits such confidentiality. 
Requesters should be aware that, under FOIA, confidentiality may be 
granted in only very limited circumstances, such as to protect trade 
secrets. The Forest Service will inform the requester of the agency's 
decision regarding the request for confidentiality, and where the 
request is denied, the agency will return the submission and notify the 
requester that the comments may be resubmitted with or without name and 
address within 7 days.
    To assist the Forest Service in identifying and considering issues 
and concerns of the proposed action, comments during scoping and 
comments on the Draft EIS should be as specific as possible. It is also 
helpful if comments refer to specific pages or chapters of the Draft 
EIS. Comments may also address the adequacy of the Draft EIS or the 
merits of the alternatives formulated and discussed in the document. 
Reviewers may wish to refer to the Council on Environmental Quality 
Regulations for implementing the procedural provisions of the National 
Environmental Policy Act at 40 CFR 1503.3 in addressing these points.
    Responsible Official: Forrest Cole, Forest Supervisor, Tongass 
National Forest, Federal Building, Ketchikan, Alaska 99901.
    Nature of Decision To Be Made: The Forest Supervisor is the 
Responsible Official for this action and will decide whether or not to 
permit the construction of the proposed electric transmission line 
across NFS lands, along with the alternative route that will be 
followed, as well as mitigation measures and/or monitoring, as 
appropriate. The decision will be based on the information that is 
disclosed in the EIS. The responsible official will consider comments, 
responses, the disclosure of environmental consequences, and applicable 
laws, regulations, and policies in making the decision and will state 
that rationale in the Record of Decision.

(Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7 and 1508.22; Forest Service Handbook 
1909.15, Section 21)

    Dated: April 29, 2010.
Forrest Cole,
Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 2010-10702 Filed 5-6-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-P