[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 116 (Thursday, June 17, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34477-34479]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-14581]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

U.S. Forest Service


Potomac-Appalachian Transmission Highline (PATH) Environmental 
Impact Statement, Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, Appalachian 
National Scenic Trail, Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail, 
Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park, and Monongahela 
National Forest, Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior and U.S. Forest Service, 
Agriculture.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement 
(EIS) for construction and right-of-way permits requested from Harpers 
Ferry National Historical Park (NHP), Appalachian National Scenic Trail 
(NST), Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail, Chesapeake and Ohio 
Canal National Historical Park, and Monongahela National Forest, in 
connection with the proposed Potomac-Appalachian Transmission Highline 
(PATH) project.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, 42 
U.S.C. 4332(2)(C), the National Park Service (NPS), lead agency, along 
with cooperating agencies, the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) and U.S. Army 
Corps of Engineers, are preparing an Environmental Impact Statement 
(EIS) and conducting public scoping meetings for construction and 
right-of-way permits requested from the agencies by PATH Allegheny 
Transmission Company, LLC; PATH Allegheny Virginia Transmission 
Corporation; Potomac Edison Company; and PATH West Virginia 
Transmission Company, LLC, collectively referred to herein as 
Applicants. The Applicants are seeking permits for proposed 
construction of a new 765kV electric transmission line that would cross 
federal lands within Maryland, West Virginia, and Virginia. In May 
2009, the Applicants submitted

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right-of-way applications (Form 299) for those portions of the PATH 
project proposed to traverse Harpers Ferry NHP, Chesapeake and Ohio 
Canal NHP, Appalachian NST, Potomac Heritage NST, all managed by the 
National Park Service; and Monongahela National Forest managed by the 
U.S. Forest Service. These applications also serve as the application 
for Special Use Permits for construction of the proposed project.
    The Applicants' proposed project would modify and expand existing 
rights-of-way across Harpers Ferry NHP and Appalachian NST. In 
particular, the Applicants propose modification and expansion of 
existing right-of-way agreements held by Potomac Edison Company over 
Harpers Ferry NHP and Appalachian NST to allow for placement of the 138 
kV Millville-Doubs transmission line as an underbuild on the PATH 
transmission structures; and also the grant of a new 200-feet-wide 
right-of-way for the PATH transmission line. While the PATH Project 
would require a 200-feet right-of-way, it would only require an 
expansion of the existing right-of-way corridor across Harpers Ferry 
NHP and Appalachian NST by approximately 105 feet.
    The Applicants seek a new right-of-way authorization across 
Chesapeake and Ohio Canal NHP and Potomac Heritage NST. The requested 
right-of-way would be approximately 200 feet wide, with a distance over 
the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal NHP and Potomac Heritage NST properties 
of approximately 400 feet. The proposed crossing route will be adjacent 
to (on the north side) existing transmission rights-of-way for the 138 
kV Millville-Doubs transmission facility operated by Potomac Edison 
Company and the 500 kV Mt. Storm-Doubs transmission facility operated 
by Dominion Virginia Power. The Applicants' proposed crossing of the 
Monongahela National Forest would require USFS authorization for a new 
200-feet-wide right-of-way.
    The Applicants' stated purpose for the PATH project is to 
strengthen the electrical transmission grid for reliability purposes at 
the direction of PJM Interconnection, LLC (PJM), the regional 
transmission organization. PJM oversees the overall movement of 
wholesale electricity throughout a region comprising all or parts of 13 
states and the District of Columbia. PJM has a duty to maintain 
reliability of the transmission grid according to standards set by the 
North American Electric Reliability Corporation and approved by the 
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. PJM's Regional Transmission 
Expansion Plan has identified numerous projected reliability criteria 
violations that the proposed PATH project is designed to alleviate and 
has directed construction of a line of sufficient capacity to address 
these violations by connecting the existing Amos Substation in Putnam 
County, West Virginia, with two existing 500 kV transmission lines that 
are in close proximity to each other at a point approximately three 
miles southeast of New Market, Maryland.
    The federal action under consideration in this EIS is the 
Applicants' proposal that the National Park Service and U.S. Forest 
Service grant the requested permits. The agencies' purpose in taking 
action is to respond to the application for permits in consideration of 
the needs expressed therein and the public interest, and in light of 
the missions, purposes and resource management of the affected NPS and 
USFS units, as expressed in statutes, regulations, and policies.
    Federal action is needed because the Applicants have submitted the 
required applications to the National Park Service in accordance with 
36 CFR part 14 and applicable NPS management policies and to the U.S. 
Forest Service in accordance with 36 CFR part 251.54 and Special Uses 
Handbook (FSH 2709.11). The National Park Service and U.S. Forest 
Service therefore have a responsibility to consider whether, and with 
what conditions, if any, to issue the requested permits.
    The National Park Service and U.S. Forest Service will analyze no-
action and proposed action alternatives and possibly other alternatives 
or mitigation strategies that respond to the purpose, need, and 
objectives of this proposal. The goal of the National Park Service and 
U.S. Forest Service is to identify issues and concerns with the 
proposed action, additional alternatives, and alternative mitigation 
strategies through the public scoping process.
    This notice initiates the public participation and scoping process 
for the EIS. The public is invited to comment on the purpose, need and 
objectives for federal action, the proposed action and alternatives to 
the proposed action to be analyzed in the EIS, the appropriate scope of 
analysis, or any issues associated with the proposal. More information 
about the purpose of and need for federal action, and issues identified 
to date is available from the NPS planning Web site at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/appa/. It is important that reviewers provide 
their comments at such times and in such a manner that they are useful 
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 reviewers concerns and comments. The submission of 
timely and specific comments can affect a reviewer's ability to 
participate in subsequent administrative appeal or judicial review.

Dates and Meeting Notices: The public scoping period will commence on 
the date this notice is published in the Federal Register and last for 
at least 30 days or until 15 days after the last public scoping 
meeting. The National Park Service and U.S. Forest Service will hold 
public meetings near the parks and forest to provide the public an 
opportunity to review the proposal and project information, and provide 
comments. All public meetings will be announced through local media, 
mailings, and the NPS planning Web site at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/appa/, at least 15 days prior to each meeting. The meetings will be 
concluded at least 15 days prior to the close of comment.

ADDRESSES: Comments on issues, potential impacts, or suggestions for 
additional alternatives can be submitted using any one of the following 
methods. You may submit comments through the NPS planning Web site at 
http://parkplanning.nps.gov/appa/, which is the preferred method. You 
may mail your comments to the National Park Service, Attention: PATH 
EIS Planning Team, Denver Service Center--Planning, P.O. Box 25287, 
Denver, CO 80225. Comments may also be submitted at any of the three 
public meetings to be announced.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Morgan Elmer, Project Manager, Denver 
Service Center--Planning, P.O. Box 25287, Denver, Co 80225, telephone 
303-969-2317.
    Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address or 
other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be 
aware 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 identifying information from public 
review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. 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. The National Park Service and U.S. Forest Service will not 
consider anonymous comments. All others will be included in the 
administrative record

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upon which the National Park Service and U.S. Forest Service will 
ultimately reach a decision.

Margaret O'Dell,
Regional Director, National Capital Region, National Park Service.

Pam Underhill,
Superintendent, Appalachian National Scenic Trail, National Park 
Service.

Jason Reed,
District Ranger, Monongahela National Forest, U.S. Forest Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-14581 Filed 6-16-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-P