[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 74 (Tuesday, April 17, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22774-22776]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-9179]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Western Area Power Administration

[DOE/EIS-0483]


Estes to Flatiron Substation Transmission Lines Rebuild Project, 
Larimer County, CO

AGENCY: Western Area Power Administration, DOE.

ACTION: Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement 
and To Conduct Scoping Meetings; Notice of Floodplain and Wetlands 
Involvement.

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SUMMARY: Western Area Power Administration currently owns and operates 
two 115-kilovolt transmission lines on two separate rights-of-way (ROW) 
located between Flatiron Reservoir (near Loveland, Colorado) and the 
town of Estes Park, Colorado. Each transmission line is approximately 
16 miles long. Western is proposing to remove one transmission line and 
abandon the ROW. The remaining transmission line would be rebuilt along 
the existing ROW with taller steel monopoles and would be double-
circuited (i.e., six conductors per pole).
    Western determined that an environmental impact statement (EIS) is 
the appropriate level of NEPA review. Therefore, Western will prepare 
an EIS on its proposal to upgrade and co-locate two existing separate 
transmission lines on a double-circuit transmission line on one ROW in 
accordance with NEPA, the DOE NEPA Implementing Procedures, and the 
Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) regulations for implementing 
NEPA. Portions of Western's proposal may affect floodplains and 
wetlands, so this Notice of Intent (NOI) also serves as a notice of 
proposed floodplain or wetland action in accordance with DOE floodplain 
and wetland environmental review requirements.

DATES: This notice initiates a 90-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. The scoping 
period will end on July 16, 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. 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, Western expects to hold two public meetings: 
One meeting in Estes Park, Colorado and one meeting in Loveland, 
Colorado during the public scoping period. Western will announce the 
dates and locations of the public scoping meetings through local news 
media, newsletters, and posting on the Western Web site at http://ww2.wapa.gov/sites/western/transmission/infrastruct/Pages/Estes-Flatiron.aspx, at least 15 days prior to each meeting. Western will 
consider all comments on the scope of the EIS received or postmarked by 
the end of scoping. The public is invited to submit comments on the 
proposal at any time during the EIS process.

ADDRESSES: Comments related to the proposed Project may be submitted by 
mail to Tim Snowden, Western Area Power Administration, 5555 E. 
Crossroads Blvd., P.O. Box 3700, Loveland, CO 80539-3003, fax (970) 
461-7213, or email, [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For additional information on the 
proposed project, the EIS process, or to receive a copy of the Draft 
EIS when it is published, contact Tim Snowden by the methods noted 
above. For general information on the DOE's NEPA review process, 
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 (800) 472-2756, 
fax (202) 586-7031.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Western is a Federal power marketing agency 
within the DOE that markets and delivers Federal wholesale electric 
power (principally hydroelectric power) to municipalities, rural 
electric cooperatives, public utilities, irrigation districts, Federal 
and State agencies, and Native American tribes in 15 western and 
central states.
    Western initially began preparation of an environmental assessment 
(EA) for the Project. Western's proposal was under a class of actions 
in the DOE NEPA Implementing Procedures (10 CFR part 1021) that 
normally requires the preparation of an EA. Subsequent to the EA 
determination, Western held public meetings and received many written 
and oral comments from the public and agencies on the proposal during 
the scoping period. The public expressed several concerns regarding the 
impacts of the proposal and some of the stakeholders requested 
evaluation of additional alternatives. Based on these factors, Western 
determined that an EIS is the more appropriate level of NEPA review.\1\ 
Therefore, Western will prepare an EIS on its proposal to upgrade and 
co-locate two existing separate transmission lines on a double-circuit 
transmission line on one ROW.
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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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    Western will coordinate with appropriate Federal, State, and local 
agencies and potentially affected Native American tribes during the 
preparation of the EIS. The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest 
Service, Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forest (Forest Service) will be 
a cooperating agency on the EIS since it requires NEPA review to 
support its decision on whether or not to grant a Special Use Permit 
for parts of the transmission line located on National Forest Service 
System lands. Western will invite other Federal, State, local, and 
tribal agencies with

[[Page 22775]]

jurisdiction by law or special expertise, with respect to environmental 
issues, to be cooperating agencies on the EIS, as defined in 40 CFR 
1501.6. Such agencies also may make a request to Western to be a 
cooperating agency. Designated cooperating agencies have certain 
responsibilities to support the NEPA process, as specified in 40 CFR 
1501.6(b).

Purpose and Need for Agency Action

    Western's purpose and need for agency action is to ensure its 
facilities are up to current safety and reliability standards, 
accessible for maintenance and emergencies, protected from wildfire, 
and cost effective for its customers.

Proposed Action

    Presently there are two transmission lines on two separate ROWs 
located between Flatiron Reservoir (near Loveland) and the town of 
Estes Park. The Estes-Lyons line segment is approximately 16 miles long 
and was built in 1938. The Estes-Pole Hill and Flatiron-Pole Hill line 
segments combined are approximately 16 miles long and were built in 
1952 as part of the Colorado-Big Thompson Project. The vast majority of 
wood pole structures on both transmission lines are the original poles 
and are 60 to 72 years old.
    Western's proposed Federal action (proposal) is to combine portions 
of both transmission lines onto a single ROW between Flatiron Reservoir 
and Estes Park, Colorado. Portions of both transmission lines would be 
removed and those portions of the ROWs abandoned. In the remaining ROW, 
the transmission line would be rebuilt with steel monopole structures 
replacing the existing wood H-frame structures, in a double-circuit 
configuration (i.e., six conductors per structure). In some areas, the 
ROW would be slightly wider than it is at present to accommodate the 
double circuit transmission line. There would be two short segments of 
new ROW, located on private land, to connect portions of the existing 
transmission line segments into a single ROW. There are no new 
substations or proposed changes to existing substations.
    Presently, vehicle access is required along the entire 32 miles of 
existing ROW for maintenance and wood pole replacement. Most of the 
existing wood pole structures would need replacement in the near future 
and some are in need of replacement at this time. With Western's 
proposal, approximately 16 miles of the existing ROW would be 
eliminated along with the associated access roads.
    Currently, the two transmission lines cross Roosevelt National 
Forest System lands. Approximately 1.65 miles of transmission line and 
ROW would be removed and 2.16 miles of transmission line would be 
rebuilt on National Forest System lands, under Western's proposal.

Alternatives

    Under the No-Action (i.e., baseline) alternative, the two 
transmission lines would continue to operate on the existing and 
separate ROWs. Records indicate that 70 to 80 percent of the 32 miles 
of transmission lines would require replacement within the near future. 
This would require replacing transmission line structures along both 
existing ROWs. Access to the transmission lines is limited and 
replacement of structures would require additional or improved access 
on both ROWs. The No-Action alternative would require that the existing 
30-foot ROW on the Estes-Lyons section be widened to meet current 
safety standards. Other alternatives may be identified through the EIS 
scoping process. Comments received during the EA scoping process and 
comments provided in response to this NOI and the EIS scoping meetings 
will be considered in defining the scope of the EIS.

Floodplain or Wetland Involvement

    Floodplains and wetlands are in the project area. Since the 
proposal may involve action in floodplains or wetlands, this NOI also 
serves as a notice of proposed floodplain or wetland action. The EIS 
will include an assessment of impacts to floodplains and wetlands, and, 
if required, a floodplain statement of findings following DOE 
regulations for compliance with floodplain and wetlands environmental 
review (10 CFR part 1022).

Environmental Issues

    Western's proposed Project area is located between Flatiron 
Reservoir and Estes Park, Colorado in a fairly mountainous territory 
and crosses open and developed areas. The area is characterized by 
rugged terrain with scattered developments set against the backdrop of 
Rocky Mountain National Park. The EIS will review relevant 
environmental information and will analyze the potential impacts on the 
full range of potentially affected environmental resources.

Public Participation

    Interested parties are invited to participate in the scoping 
process to help define the scope of the EIS, significant resources, and 
issues to be analyzed in depth, and to eliminate from detailed study 
issues that are not pertinent. The EIS scoping process will involve all 
interested agencies (Federal, State, county, and local), Native 
American tribes, public interest groups, businesses, affected 
landowners, and individual members of the public.
    Western has previously consulted with potentially affected or 
interested tribes to jointly evaluate and address the potential effects 
on cultural resources, traditional cultural properties, or other 
resources important to the tribes in the proposed Project area. Western 
will contact previously identified interested tribes and inform them 
that an EIS is planned. Any government-to-government consultations will 
be conducted in accordance with Executive Order 13175, Consultation and 
Coordination with Indian Tribal Governments (65 FR 67249), the 
President's memorandum of April 29, 1994, Government-to-Government 
Relations with Native American Tribal Governments (59 FR 22951), DOE-
specific guidance on tribal interactions, and applicable natural and 
cultural resources laws and regulations.
    Western will announce public EIS scoping meetings through local 
news media, newsletters, and posting on the Western Web site at http://ww2.wapa.gov/sites/western/transmission/infrastruct/Pages/Estes-Flatiron.aspx, at least 15 days prior to each meeting. Attendees will 
be able to speak directly with Western and the Forest Service at the 
EIS scoping meetings about Western's proposal. The public is encouraged 
to provide information and comments on issues it believes Western 
should address in the EIS. Comments may be broad in nature or 
restricted to specific areas of concern. After gathering comments on 
the scope of the EIS, Western will address those issues raised in the 
EIS. In addition, Western will use the results of the EA scoping 
process to help define the scope of the EIS. Comments on Western's 
proposal will be accepted at any time during the EIS process, and may 
be directed to Western as described under ADDRESSES above. Comments 
received outside of the designated comment periods may be addressed in 
the Draft EIS, otherwise they will be addressed later in the process, 
such as in the Final EIS, if practicable.
    The EIS process will include this NOI, local EIS scoping meeting 
notifications,

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public scoping meetings; consultation and coordination with appropriate 
Federal, State, county, and local agencies and tribal governments; 
involvement with affected landowners; distribution of and public review 
and comment on the Draft EIS; a formal public hearing or hearings on 
the Draft EIS; distribution of a published Final EIS; and publication 
of separate Records of Decision in the Federal Register by Western and 
the Forest Service.

    Dated: April 6, 2012.
Timothy J. Meeks,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2012-9179 Filed 4-16-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P