[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 65 (Wednesday, April 4, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20411-20413]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-8094]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Western Area Power Administration

[LLNM930000 L51010000.ER0000 LVRWG11G0790 NMNM124104]


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for 
the Proposed Southline Transmission Line Project in New Mexico and 
Arizona (DOE/EIS-0474) and Possible Land Use Plan Amendments

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Department of the Interior; 
Western Area Power Administration, U.S. Department of Energy.

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 (FLPMA), as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Las 
Cruces District Office, Las Cruces, New Mexico, intends to prepare an 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) analyzing the impacts of the 
proposed Southline Transmission Line Project (Project), a 345-kilovolt 
(kV) and 230-kV transmission line, and addressing associated potential 
land use plan amendments. This notice announces the beginning of the 
scoping process to solicit public comments and identify issues. Western 
Area Power Administration (Western) is a joint lead agency with BLM for 
preparing the EIS. Western is a power-marketing agency within the 
Department of Energy (DOE) and is proposing to participate in the 
Project with the applicant, Southline Transmission, LLC (Southline).

DATES: This notice initiates a 60-day public scoping process to solicit 
public comments and identify issues, opportunities, and concerns that 
should be considered in the preparation of a Draft EIS. During the 
scoping process, the BLM will also evaluate the need for any land use 
plan amendments to any of the affected Resource Management Plans 
(RMPs). The scoping period will end on June 4, 2012, or 15 days after 
the date of the last public scoping meeting, whichever is later. In 
order to ensure consideration in the Draft EIS, all comments must be 
received prior to the close of the scoping period. The BLM and Western 
will provide additional opportunities for public participation upon 
publication of the Draft EIS. The public will be notified in advance of 
future opportunities for participation as the EIS is prepared.
    To provide the public with an opportunity to review the proposal 
and project information, the BLM and Western expect to hold six public 
meetings at various locations in New Mexico and Arizona during the 
public scoping period. The BLM will announce public scoping meetings 
through local news media, newsletters, and posting on the BLM Web site 
at http://www.blm.gov/nm/southline at least 15 days prior to each 
meeting.

ADDRESSES: Comments related to the proposed Project may be submitted by 
any of the following methods:
    Web site: http://www.blm.gov/nm/southline.
    Fax: (575) 525-4412.
    Mail: BLM, Las Cruces District Office, Southline Transmission 
Project, Attention: Frances Martinez, Realty Specialist, 1800 Marquess 
Street, Las Cruces, New Mexico 88005.
    Email: [email protected].
    Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined at the Las 
Cruces District Office or on the above Web site.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tom Hurshman, BLM National Project 
Manager; telephone (970) 240-5345; email: [email protected].
    For information about Western's involvement, contact Mark Wieringa, 
Western NEPA Document Manager; telephone (800) 336-7288 or (720) 962-
7448; email: [email protected]. For general information on DOE NEPA (42 
U.S.C. 4321-4347) review procedures or on the status of a NEPA review, 
contact Carol M. Borgstrom, Director of NEPA Policy and Compliance, GC-
54, U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue SW., 
Washington, DC 20585-0119, telephone (202) 586-4600 or toll free at 
(800) 472-2756, fax (202) 586-7031.
    People who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may 
call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at (800) 877-8339 
during normal business hours to contact the BLM Project Manager listed 
above. The FIRS is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to leave a 
message or question for the above individual. You will receive a reply 
during normal business hours.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Southline has filed a right-of-way (ROW) 
application with the BLM pursuant to Title V of FLPMA proposing to 
construct, operate, maintain, and eventually decommission a high-
voltage, alternating current electric transmission line. The proposed 
Project would consist of two segments. The first segment would be the 
construction of a

[[Page 20412]]

new double-circuit 345-kV transmission line linking existing 
substations at Afton (located south of Las Cruces, New Mexico) and 
Apache (located south of Willcox, Arizona). This segment is 
approximately 225 miles long and would enable up to 1,500 megawatts 
(MW) of transmission capacity. The second segment is an upgrade and 
rebuild of approximately 130 miles of existing transmission line, 
providing up to 1,000 MW of increased transmission capacity between the 
Apache Substation and the Saguaro Substation (located northwest of 
Tucson, Arizona). New permanent and temporary ROW would be required for 
this segment. Existing transmission lines that have been identified as 
feasible for upgrades in this area include a Western 115-kV line and a 
Southwest Transmission Cooperative, Inc. 115-kV line. Approximately 40 
percent of the proposed transmission line would be on public land, 30 
percent would be on State land, and the remaining 30 percent would be 
on private land. A 0.5-mile-long portion of the rebuild segment crosses 
land administered by the U.S. Forest Service and 2 miles of the rebuild 
segment cross tribal lands of the Tohono O'odham Nation.
    The transmission lines may be supported by lattice steel structures 
or tubular steel pole structures. Any final decision on a specific type 
of structure will be based on topography, structural requirements, 
economics, the environment, and other applicable considerations. The 
structures are anticipated to be constructed of galvanized steel with a 
height ranging from 110 to 170 feet, with an average height of 130 to 
140 feet. The width of the span at the top will be approximately 40 to 
60 feet. The distance between each structure would depend on site-
specific characteristics but is expected to be approximately 800 to 
1,500 feet, with an average of 1,000 feet for lattice steel structures 
and 1,200 feet for tubular steel structures. Each structure would be 
set on concrete foundations set into the ground. The expected permanent 
disturbed area per structure would be approximately 200 square feet.
    The proposed Project would involve additional facilities, including 
the construction of one new substation in the vicinity of Columbus, New 
Mexico, to facilitate anticipated renewable energy generation in the 
area. Access roads, including improvements to existing roads, new 
overland access, and new unpaved roads, would be developed during 
construction of the line and then used for inspection and maintenance 
during operation. A fiber-optic telecommunication system would be 
included in the transmission design. Additional temporary work sites, 
including wire splicing and pulling sites as well as construction 
yards, will also be analyzed. The requested ROW width on public lands 
is 250 feet.
    As part of its agency mission, Western routinely studies power 
system requirements, plans for transmission line upgrades and 
additions, facilitates and finances transmission projects, and 
constructs, owns, operates, and maintains transmission infrastructure. 
Such projects may be solely Western projects, or may be projects 
undertaken with the participation of others. Southline is proposing to 
upgrade approximately 130 miles of Western's existing transmission line 
between Saguaro and Apache substations as part of its proposed Project. 
Western is evaluating to what extent it will participate in the 
proposed Project.
    Actions that result in a change in the scope of resource uses, 
terms and conditions, and decisions of Federal agency land use plans 
may require an amendment to those plans. Approval of this proposal may 
result in the amendment(s) of three BLM RMPs. As required by 43 CFR 
1610.2(c), the BLM notifies the public of potential amendments to the 
following RMPs: Phoenix RMP, 1988, Safford District RMP, 1991, and 
Mimbres RMP, 1993. Any authorizations and actions proposed for approval 
in the EIS will be evaluated to determine if they conform to the 
decisions in the referenced land use plans. If amendments are needed, 
the BLM would integrate the land-use planning process as described in 
43 CFR 1610 into the EIS as they proceed with NEPA review of the 
proposed Project. If the BLM determines that plan amendments are 
necessary, compliance with NEPA for any land use plan amendments would 
occur simultaneously with the consideration of the proposed Project.
    In accordance with NEPA, DOE NEPA Implementing Procedures (10 CFR 
part 1021), and Council on Environmental Quality regulations for 
implementing NEPA (40 CFR parts 1500-1508),\1\ the BLM and Western will 
prepare an EIS on their Federal actions and the proposed project. The 
BLM and Western are joint lead agencies for this EIS as defined in 40 
CFR 1501.5. Agencies with jurisdiction by law or special expertise will 
be invited to participate as cooperating agencies in preparation of the 
EIS. Federal, State, and local agencies, and Indian tribes, along with 
other stakeholders that may be interested or affected by the BLM's and 
Western's decisions on this Project, are invited to participate in the 
scoping process and, if eligible, may request or be requested by the 
BLM and Western to participate as a cooperating agency.
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    \1\ On November 16, 2011, DOE's Acting General Counsel delegated 
to Western's Administrator all EIS authorities.
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    During the public scoping period, the BLM and Western will solicit 
public comments on behalf of all cooperating agencies regarding issues, 
concerns, and opportunities that should be considered in the analysis 
of the proposed action. Comments on issues and potential impacts, or 
suggestions for additional or different alternatives may be submitted 
to the addresses listed in the ADDRESSES section.
    Public scoping will help determine relevant issues that can 
influence the scope of the environmental analysis, alternatives, and 
the process for developing the EIS. The BLM and Western, along with 
other agencies, cooperators, and individuals, have preliminarily 
identified the following issues that will be addressed in the EIS:
     Social and economic effects of the Project on local 
communities and infrastructure;
     Potential public health and safety impacts resulting from 
construction-related traffic and electromagnetic fields;
     Potential interference with the Fort Huachuca Electronic 
Proving Ground;
     Loss of habitat and direct disturbance to plant and animal 
species (including special and sensitive status species);
     Impacts to cultural resources, lands that contain places 
of traditional cultural or religious importance, and historic sites;
     New visual intrusions on the landscape that would degrade 
the scenic and visual quality of the area;
     Proximity of the Project to lands with wilderness 
characteristics;
     Impacts to National Scenic or Historic Trails, and;
     Potential impacts to military flight paths and areas used 
for military maneuvers.
    This list is not intended to be all-inclusive or imply any 
predetermination of impacts.
    Public meetings will be held during the scoping period. BLM, 
Western, and Southline staff will be available at the public meetings 
to explain the details of the proposed Project and to gather 
information from interested individuals or groups. The BLM, Western, 
and cooperating agencies will also provide additional opportunities for 
public participation upon publication of the Draft EIS.

[[Page 20413]]

    The BLM and Western will use and coordinate the Draft EIS public 
review and comment period to assist the agencies in satisfying the 
public involvement requirements under Section 106 of the National 
Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) (16 U.S.C. 470(f)), as provided for in 
36 CFR 800.2(d)(3). Information about historic and cultural resources 
within the area potentially affected by the proposed project will 
assist the BLM and Western in identifying and evaluating impacts to 
such resources in the context of both NEPA and Section 106 of the NHPA. 
Consultation with American Indian tribes will be conducted in 
accordance with applicable policies; tribal concerns, including impacts 
on Indian trust assets, will be given due consideration.
    Before including addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, or 
other personal identifying information in comments, commenters should 
be aware that entire comments--including personal identifying 
information--may be made publicly available at any time. Requests may 
be made that personal identifying information be withheld from public 
review; however, the BLM and Western cannot guarantee that they will be 
able to do so.

    Authority:  40 CFR 1501.7; 43 CFR 1610.2.

William W. Merhege,
Deputy State Director, Resources, Bureau of Land Management, New 
Mexico.
Timothy J. Meeks,
Administrator, Western Area Power Administration.
[FR Doc. 2012-8094 Filed 4-3-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-FB-P