[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 166 (Friday, August 26, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53400-53401]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-21712]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Black Hills National Forest, SD; Thunder Basin National 
Grassland, WY; Teckla-Osage-Rapid City Transmission 230 kV Project

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement.

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SUMMARY: The Forest Service will prepare an environmental impact 
statement (EIS) on a proposal by Black Hills Power (BHP) to construct 
and operate a 230 kilovolt (kV) transmission line between the Teckla 
and Osage Substations in northeastern Wyoming to the Lange Substation 
in Rapid City, South Dakota. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will 
be a cooperating agency on this EIS. The Teckla-Osage-Rapid City 
Transmission 230 kV Project would be approximately 150 miles long. It 
would cross portions of the Black Hills National Forest and private 
lands in South Dakota and portions of the Thunder Basin National 
Grasslands, private lands, BLM lands, and state lands in Wyoming. The 
line would be constructed on wood or steel H-frame structures for most 
of its length with possibly some steel monopole structures in the Rapid 
City area. The structures would be 65 to75 feet tall and the line would 
require a right-of-way approximately 125 feet wide.

DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis would be most 
useful if received by 30 days following the date of this notice. The 
draft environmental impact statement is expected to be available for 
public review by November 2012 and the final environmental impact 
statement is expected to be completed by June 2013.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Dave Slepnikoff, Project Manager, 
Black Hills National Forest, 8221 South Highway 16, Rapid City, South 
Dakota 57702; or Geri Proctor, Thunder Basin National Grasslands, 2250 
East Richards Street, Douglas, WY 82633-8922. Send comments via e-mail 
to [email protected] with ``Teckla-
Osage-Rapid City Transmission Project'' as the subject. Electronic 
comments must be readable in Word, Rich Text or PDF formats.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Those with questions or needing 
additional information should contact Dave Slepnikoff, Team Leader and 
Project Manager, at the Mystic Ranger District office in Rapid City at 
(605) 343-1567, or Geri Proctor at the Thunder Basin National 
Grasslands in Douglas, WY at (307) 358-4690. Individuals who use 
telecommunication devices for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal 
Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339 between 8 a.m. and 8 
p.m., Eastern Time, Monday through Friday.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The actions proposed are in direct response 
to an application submitted to the Black Hills National Forest and 
Thunder Basin National Grassland by Black Hills Power (BHP) to 
construct and operate a 230 kilovolt (kV) transmission line between the 
Teckla and Osage Substations in northeast Wyoming and the Lange 
Substation in Rapid City, South Dakota. The project area covers parts 
of Campbell and Weston Counties in Wyoming, and Pennington, Meade, and 
Lawrence Counties in South Dakota.

Purpose and Need for Action

    The purpose of the Teckla-Osage-Rapid City Transmission Project is 
to:
     Strengthen the regional transmission network.
     Improve the reliability of the transmission system.
     Provide additional transmission capacity to help meet the 
growing demand for electricity and economic development in the region.

Proposed Action

    The proposed action is to construct the Teckla-Osage-Rapid City 230 
kV transmission line as described below:
     Approximately 135 miles of transmission line.
     Require a 125 foot right-of-way.
     Construction of wood or steel H-frame structures 65-75 
feet in height.
    This proposal also includes specific actions needed for interim and 
final reclamation.

Lead and Cooperating Agencies

    The Bureau of Land Management will be a cooperating agency on this 
EIS.

Responsible Officials

    Craig Bobzien, Forest Supervisor, Black Hills National Forest, 1019 
N. 5th Street, Custer, SD 57730; and Richard A. Cooksey, Deputy Forest 
Supervisor, Medicine Bow--Routt National Forest and Thunder Basin 
National Grassland, 2250 East Richards Street, Douglas, WY 82633-8922.

Nature of Decision To Be Made

    The Forest Supervisors will decide whether the proposed action will 
proceed as proposed or as modified by an alternative; which recommended 
mitigation measures and monitoring requirements will be applied; and 
whether a Forest Plan Amendment is required.

Preliminary Issues

    Anticipated issues include effects of the project on plants and 
wildlife including sensitive species such as sage grouse, goshawks, and 
other raptors; archaeological sites; hydrology and water quality; and 
scenic integrity and visual resources.

Scoping Process

    This notice of intent initiates the scoping process, which guides 
the development of the environmental impact statement. Comments and 
input regarding the proposal will be received via direct mailing from 
the public, other groups, and agencies during the initial public 
comment period through October 28, 2011. Public meetings are scheduled 
for September 13, 2011 between 4-7 pm at the Hell Canyon Ranger 
District Office, 1225 Washington Boulevard in Newcastle, WY; and 
September 20, 2011 between 6-8 pm at the Mystic Ranger District office, 
8221 South Highway 16

[[Page 53401]]

in Rapid City, SD. Comments submitted based on this NOI will be most 
useful if received within 30 days from the date of this notice. 
Response to the draft EIS is expected to be sought from the interested 
public beginning in November 2012.
    It is important that reviewers provide their comments at such times 
and in such manner that they are useful to the agency's preparation of 
the environmental impact statement. Therefore, comments should be 
provided prior to the close of the comment period and should clearly 
articulate the reviewer's concerns and contentions.
    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. Comments submitted anonymously will be 
accepted and considered, however.

    Dated: August 19, 2011.
Dennis Jaeger,
Deputy Forest Supervisor, Black Hills National Forest.
[FR Doc. 2011-21712 Filed 8-25-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-P