[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 103 (Friday, May 27, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30962-30963]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-13009]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

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


Notice of Availability of Draft Environmental Impact Statement 
for the Sigurd to Red Butte No. 2-345 Kilovolt Transmission Line 
Project, Utah

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 
1969, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has prepared a 
Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Sigurd to Red Butte 
No. 2-345 Kilovolt (kV) Transmission Line Project (Project) and by this 
notice is announcing the opening of a 45 day public comment period.

DATES: The BLM must receive written comments on the Draft EIS within 45 
days following the date the Environmental Protection Agency publishes 
its Notice of Availability in the Federal Register to ensure the 
comments will be considered. The BLM will host public meetings/hearings 
in St. George, Milford, Enterprise, and Richfield, Utah, to provide an 
overview of the Project and take public comments on the proposed 
Project and the Draft EIS. The dates of public meetings/hearings or 
other public involvement activities will be announced at least 15 days 
in advance through public notices, media news releases, and/or 
mailings, and the BLM Web site at: http://www.blm.gov/ut/st/en/fo/cedar_city/planning.html.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on the Draft EIS by any of the 
following methods:
     E-mail: [email protected].
     Mail: BLM, Cedar City Field Office, 176 East D.L. Sargent 
Drive, Cedar City, Utah, 84721, Attention: Tamara Gertsch.
     Web site: http://www.blm.gov/ut/st/en/fo/cedar_city/planning.html.

[[Page 30963]]


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information and/or to have 
your name added to our mailing list, contact Tamara Gertsch, Project 
Manager; telephone (307) 775-6115; e-mail [email protected]; address 
BLM, Cedar City Field Office, 176 East D.L. Sargent Drive, Cedar City, 
Utah 84721. Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf 
(TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-
877-8339 to contact the above individual during normal business hours. 
The FIRS is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to leave a message 
or question with the above individual. You will receive a reply during 
normal business hours.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: PacifiCorp, doing business as Rocky Mountain 
Power, has filed right-of-way applications with the BLM and United 
States Forest Service (USFS) proposing to construct, operate, and 
maintain the Project, a single-circuit, alternating-current (AC), 345 
kV overhead transmission line. The transmission line would be located 
to connect the existing Sigurd Substation near Richfield in Sevier 
County with the existing Red Butte Substation near the community of 
Central in Washington County, Utah, a distance of approximately 160 
miles depending on the route selected. The Project also includes 
expansion of the existing Sigurd Substation on private land to 
accommodate new substation equipment for interconnecting the proposed 
transmission line with the existing system. When completed, the Project 
would provide about 600 megawatts of electrical capacity to respond to 
anticipated load growth in Southwestern Utah. Alternative routes 
considered in the Draft EIS cross Federal, state, tribal, and private 
lands.
    The requested right-of-way width on Federal lands for construction 
and operation of the Project is 150 feet. The Proponent proposes to 
predominantly use steel-pole H-frame tower structures, from 80 to 140 
feet in height, with average spans between structures of 800 to 1,200 
feet (5 to 7 structures per mile). Permanent and temporary access 
roads, a minimum of 14 feet wide, would be needed for the Project. 
Temporary access roads would be needed for construction only. Temporary 
work space would be needed during construction for material storage, 
conductor tensioning sites, and to accommodate vehicles and equipment.
    Under Federal law, the BLM is responsible for responding to 
applications for rights-of-way on BLM-administered lands. Similarly, 
under Federal law, the USFS is responsible for responding to 
applications for rights-of-way on lands they administer. In accordance 
with NEPA, the BLM has prepared a Draft EIS for the Project. An 
interdisciplinary approach was used to develop the Draft EIS, in order 
to consider a variety of resource issues and concerns identified during 
internal, interagency, and public scoping. The BLM is the designated 
lead Federal agency for preparation of the EIS as defined at 40 CFR 
1501.5. Agencies with jurisdiction by law or special expertise were 
invited to participate as cooperating agencies in preparation of the 
EIS. The following agencies have agreed to participate as cooperating 
agencies: USFS (Dixie and Fishlake National Forests); U.S. Army Corps 
of Engineers; National Park Service; State of Utah; Millard, Sevier, 
Beaver, Iron, and Washington counties, Utah; and the cities of St. 
George and Enterprise, Utah.
    In response to Section 368 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 
U.S.C. 15926), a Programmatic EIS was prepared by the Department of 
Energy and the Department of the Interior for energy corridors in 11 
western states including Utah. A Final Programmatic EIS was published 
on November 28, 2008 (73 FR 72521). Records of Decision (ROD) on the 
Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement, Designation of Energy 
Corridors on Federal Land in the 11 Western States (DOE/EIS-0386), 
signed January 14, 2009, designated energy corridors and provided 
guidance, best management practices, and mitigation measures to be used 
where linear facilities are proposed within the corridors. Corridor 
designation occurred upon BLM's amendment of its relevant Resource 
Management Plans and upon USFS' amendment of its Land Management Plans. 
Designation of corridors does not require their use, nor does such 
designation exempt the Federal agencies from conducting a site-specific 
environmental review on each Project. The BLM has considered the use of 
the corridors in preparation of the Draft EIS. Documents pertinent to 
the right-of-way application and the Draft EIS for the Project may be 
examined at:
     BLM, Cedar City Field Office, 176 East D.L. Sargent Drive, 
Cedar City, Utah 84721;
     BLM, Richfield Field Office, 150 East, 900 North, 
Richfield, Utah 84701;
     BLM, Fillmore Field Office, 35 East, 500 North, Fillmore, 
Utah 84631;
     Dixie National Forest Office, 1789 North Wedgewood Lane, 
Cedar City, Utah 84721;
     Fishlake National Forest Office, 115 East 900 North, 
Richfield, Utah 84701.
    Please note that public comments may be available for public review 
and disclosure at the above address during regular business hours (8 
a.m. to 4 p.m.), Monday through Friday, except holidays.
    Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or any 
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 
request in your comment that your personal identifying information be 
withheld from public review, the BLM cannot guarantee that they will be 
able to do so.

Juan Palma,
State Director.
[FR Doc. 2011-13009 Filed 5-26-11; 8:45 am]
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