[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 69 (Monday, April 11, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20006-20007]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-8551]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[L51010000.FX0000.LVRWA11A2990.LLAZP000000; AZA35079]


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for 
the Proposed Sun Valley to Morgan 500/230kV Transmission Line Project 
(Formerly Called TS-5 to TS-9), Maricopa County, Arizona, and Possible 
Land Use Plan Amendment

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Intent.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 
1969 (NEPA), as amended, and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act 
of 1976, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Hassayampa 
Field Office, Phoenix, Arizona, intends to prepare an Environmental 
Impact Statement (EIS) which may include discussion of an amendment to 
the Bradshaw-Harquahala Resource Management Plan (RMP), 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 and 
possible plan amendment. Comments on issues may be submitted in writing 
until May 26, 2011. The date(s) and location(s) of any scoping meetings 
will be

[[Page 20007]]

announced at least 15 days in advance through local media and the BLM 
Web site at: http://www.blm.gov/az/st/en.html. In order to be included 
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. We will provide additional opportunities for public 
participation upon publication of the Draft EIS.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on project issues and planning 
criteria related to the Bradshaw-Harquahala Resource Management Plan by 
any of the following methods:
     Web site: http://www.blm.gov/az/st/en.html.
     E-mail: [email protected].
     Fax: 623-580-5580.
     Mail: BLM, Phoenix District Office, Hassayampa Field 
Office, Attention: Joe Incardine/Sun Valley-Morgan Project, 21605 North 
7th Avenue, Phoenix, Arizona 85207-2929.

Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined at the Hassayampa 
Field Office.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information and/or to have 
your name added to our mailing list, contact Joe Incardine, National 
Project Manager, telephone 801-524-3833; address BLM, Phoenix District 
Office, Hassayampa Field Office, 21605 North 7th Avenue, Phoenix, 
Arizona 85207-2929; e-mail [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The applicant, Arizona Public Service, has 
requested a right-of-way (ROW) authorization to construct, operate, and 
maintain a single-circuit 500-kilovolt (kV) and a single-circuit 230-kV 
overhead transmission line (constructed on the same structures or 
poles). The project area involves about 8 miles of public land along a 
route that is approximate 38 miles long. The proposed 500-kV portion of 
the project would strengthen the reliability of the regional 500-kV 
system and could facilitate delivery of renewable energy resources to 
load centers, such as the Phoenix metropolitan area. The proposed 230-
kV portion of the project would provide a source to serve a future load 
anticipated to emerge within present undeveloped areas within the Town 
of Buckeye, the City of Surprise, the City of Peoria, and 
unincorporated Maricopa County. The transmission line would connect the 
Sun Valley (formerly TS-5) Substation located in the Town of Buckeye 
with the Morgan (formerly TS-9) Substation located in the City of 
Peoria.
    An estimated 190 acres of public land would be necessary to 
accommodate the right-of-way for the transmission line, its associated 
construction areas, and access roads. To the extent possible, existing 
roads would be used for access for construction and maintenance. The 
public land that would be affected is in two separate areas: (1) Near 
the Sun Valley Substation, north of the Central Arizona Project canal 
in Buckeye, and (2) parallel to SR 74 in the City of Peoria and 
unincorporated Maricopa County. The transmission line would also cross 
State Trust land managed by the Arizona State Land Department, as well 
as privately owned lands. The transmission line may include steel 
monopole or lattice structures between 135- and 195-feet tall, with 
spans between structures ranging from 800- to 1,400-feet, depending on 
terrain. The right-of-way would be 200-feet wide. Structure locations 
cannot be determined until a specific right-of-way is identified and 
the final design completed.
    The proposed right-of-way across public land is within a corridor 
for this transmission line certificated by the Arizona Corporation 
Commission in March 2009. However, the BLM's Bradshaw-Harquahala RMP 
(2010) does not have a utility or multi-use corridor designation where 
the proposed transmission line is to be located on the public land 
along SR 74. Generally, BLM land use plans contain corridor 
designations for major right-of-way projects such as electric 
transmission facilities accommodating lines of 115kV or greater 
voltage. The current BLM plan states that ``all major utilities will be 
routed through designated corridors.''
    Authorization of this ROW project may require an amendment of the 
Bradshaw-Harquahala RMP. By this notice, the BLM is complying with 
requirements in 43 CFR 1610.2(c) to notify the public of potential 
amendments to land use plans, predicated on the findings of the EIS. If 
a land use plan amendment is necessary, the BLM will integrate the land 
use planning process with the NEPA process for this project. The BLM 
will comply with Secretarial Order 3310 concerning lands with 
wilderness characteristics. The BLM will also utilize and coordinate 
the NEPA commenting process to satisfy the public involvement process 
for section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) (16 
U.S.C. 470f) as provided for in 36 CFR 800.2(d)(3). Native American 
Tribal consultations will be conducted in accordance with policy, and 
Tribal concerns, including impacts on Indian trust assets, will be 
given due consideration. 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.
    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: 
visual, desert tortoise and other desert wildlife.
    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: 43 CFR 1610.2; 43 CFR 2800.

James G. Kenna,
Arizona State Director.
[FR Doc. 2011-8551 Filed 4-8-11; 8:45 am]
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