[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 103 (Tuesday, May 29, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31637-31640]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-12978]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[NM-114438; AZA-35058; L51010000 ER0000 LVRWG09G0690 LLNM930000]


Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement for the SunZia Southwest 500 kV Transmission Line Project in 
New Mexico and Arizona, and Prospective Draft Land Use Plan Amendments

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 (NEPA), and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act 
of 1976, as amended (FLPMA), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has 
prepared a Draft Resource Management Plan (Draft RMP) Amendment and a 
Draft Environmental Impact Statement (Draft EIS) for the SunZia 
Southwest Transmission Line Project and by this notice is announcing 
the opening of the comment period.

DATES: To ensure that comments will be considered, the BLM must receive 
written comments on the Draft RMP Amendment and Draft EIS within 90 
days following the date the Environmental Protection Agency publishes 
its Notice of Availability in the Federal Register. The BLM will 
announce future meetings or hearings and any other public involvement 
activities at least 15 days in advance through public notices, media 
releases, and/or mailings.

[[Page 31638]]


ADDRESSES: You may submit comments related to the SunZia Southwest 
Transmission Line Project by any of the following methods:
     Web site: www.blm.gov/nm/sunzia.
     Email: [email protected].
     Mail: Bureau of Land Management, New Mexico State Office, 
Attention: SunZia Southwest Transmission Project, P.O. Box 27115, Santa 
Fe, NM 87502-0115.
     Courier or hand delivery: Bureau of Land Management, New 
Mexico State Office, 301 Dinosaur Trail, Santa Fe, NM 87508-1560.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Adrian Garcia, Project Manager, c/o 
Bureau of Land Management, New Mexico State Office, 301 Dinosaur Trail, 
Santa Fe, NM 87508-1560, or by telephone at 505-954-2000. Any persons 
wishing to be added to our mailing list of interested parties may write 
or call the BLM Project Manager, at the address or phone number above. 
Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TTD) may call 
the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339 to 
contact the above individuals during normal business hours. 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: In September 2008, SunZia Transmission LLC, 
submitted a right-of-way (ROW) application to the BLM requesting 
authorization to construct, operate, maintain, and commission two 
electric transmission lines on public lands. The Applicant's objective 
for the Project is to improve the reliability and efficiency of the 
western electrical grid and aid in delivering electrical energy 
throughout the region. The BLM's purpose and need for the EIS is to 
respond to the Applicant's ROW application.
    On May 29, 2009, the BLM published in the Federal Register (74 FR 
25764) a Notice of Intent (NOI) to Prepare an EIS pursuant to NEPA, as 
required by Federal regulations promulgated for FLPMA found at 43 CFR 
part 2800. The BLM is the lead Federal agency for the NEPA analysis 
process and preparation of the EIS. Cooperating agencies include: 
Arizona Department of Transportation, Arizona State Land Department, 
Arizona Game and Fish Department, National Park Service, New Mexico 
Space Authority, New Mexico State Land Office, Holloman Air Force Base, 
Ft. Bliss (U.S. Army), White Sands Missile Range (U.S. Army), Ft. 
Huachuca (U.S. Army), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), and the 
Department of Defense Siting Clearinghouse.
    To allow the public an opportunity to review the proposal and 
Project information, the BLM held public scoping meetings in June 2009 
in Eloy, Oracle, Safford, and Willcox, Arizona, and Lordsburg, New 
Mexico. In July 2009, public scoping meetings were held in Deming, 
Socorro, Carrizo, and Elephant Butte, New Mexico.
    Based on the BLM's evaluation of comments received during the 
initial scoping period, the study area was expanded to include 
alternative routes east of the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico. 
Three scoping meetings were held in October 2009, in Las Cruces, 
Chaparral, and Alamogordo, New Mexico.
    The Draft EIS analyzes the consequences of granting a ROW to SunZia 
Transmission, LLC (SunZia or Applicant) for locating two parallel 
overhead 500 kilovolt (kV) electric transmission lines from the 
proposed SunZia East substation in Lincoln County, New Mexico, to the 
existing Pinal Central Substation in Pinal County, Arizona. The 
proposed SunZia Transmission Project (Project) would include two new, 
single circuit 500 kV transmission lines located adjacent to one 
another and would be located on Federal, State, and private lands. One 
of the 500 kV transmission lines would be constructed and operated as 
an alternating current (AC) facility transmission line, and SunZia may 
construct and operate one of the proposed transmission lines as either 
AC or direct current (DC). The requested ROW width would be about 400 
feet, in order to accommodate a separation of 200 feet between the two 
lines, but could be up to 1,000 feet wide in areas where terrain poses 
engineering or construction constraints. Engineering studies would 
determine those requirements as part of the Project. In addition to the 
SunZia East Substation, three new substations would be constructed and 
operated at the following intermediate sites: the proposed Midpoint 
Substation near Deming, New Mexico, in Luna County; the proposed 
Lordsburg Substation near Lordsburg, New Mexico, in Hidalgo County; and 
the proposed Willow Substation, near Willcox, Arizona, in Graham 
County.
    The lengths of the varying Project alternative routes considered 
and evaluated in the Draft EIS range between about 460 miles to 530 
miles. The BLM has identified in the Draft EIS a preferred alternative 
route. The BLM seeks comments on all the alternatives considered in the 
Draft EIS.
    The length of the BLM preferred route would be about 530 miles. It 
is estimated that approximately 191 miles, or 36 percent, of the ROW 
for the preferred route would be located on Federal lands in New Mexico 
and Arizona. Once constructed, the Project would be in operation year-
round. In New Mexico, about 137 miles of the BLM preferred route would 
cross public lands administered by four BLM Field Offices: Las Cruces, 
Socorro, Rio Puerco, and Roswell. In Arizona, about 54 miles of the BLM 
preferred route would cross public lands administered by two Field 
Offices: the Safford and Tucson BLM Field Offices. The BLM's New Mexico 
State Office has been designated the lead office for this ROW 
application.
    This Project includes prospective amendments of the BLM Socorro 
RMP, the Mimbres RMP, and possibly the Safford Field Office RMP. By 
this notice, and the NOI to Prepare an EIS published in May 2009, the 
BLM is complying with requirements in 43 CFR 1610.2(c). The BLM is 
integrating the land use planning process with the NEPA analysis 
process for this Project.
    Alternative routes were added to the study area based on the BLM's 
evaluation of comments received during the second scoping period, which 
ended on November 27, 2009. These alternative routes were located 
within Lincoln, Torrance, Valencia, and Socorro Counties in New Mexico 
and within Pima, Cochise, and Pinal Counties in Arizona. A third set of 
public meetings was held in April 2010 in Socorro, New Mexico, and 
Tucson, Arizona.
    Issues and potential impacts to specific resources were identified 
during scoping and in coordinating agency meetings. These issues and 
potential impacts include:
     Engineering and construction restraints;
     Corridor alignments and alternatives;
     Effects to sedimentation in rivers, soil erosion, and 
alteration of watersheds;
     Effects to wildlife habitats, migratory birds and 
waterfowl, other bird species impacts, bighorn sheep, deserts and 
grasslands, management of invasive plant species, and ensuring 
effective reclamation;
     Effects to cultural resources and archaeological sites;
     Effects to Native American traditional cultural properties 
and respected places;
     Effects to visual resources and existing view sheds;
     Conflicts with current land use plans;

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     Impacts on wilderness areas, livestock grazing and 
ranching, property values, off-highway vehicle use, and military use;
     Effects to rural lifestyles, tourism, and socioeconomic 
conditions; and
     Avoidance of sensitive areas such as wilderness areas, 
wildlife refuges, national forests, and military airspace.
    Alternative routes for the proposed transmission lines were divided 
into four route groups containing various alternative segments, or 
subroutes. The BLM has identified in the Draft EIS a preferred 
alternative route. The BLM seeks comments on the preferred route, all 
other routes, and the no action alternative, considered in the Draft 
EIS.
    Route Group 1: SunZia East Substation to Midpoint Substation--
Consists of Subroutes 1A1, 1A, 1B, 1B1, 1B2, 1B2a, and 1B3.
    Subroute 1A1 (228.8 miles), the BLM preferred alternative, proceeds 
northwest from the proposed SunZia East substation then continues into 
Torrance County, about 4.3 miles north of the Gran Quivira Unit of the 
Salinas Pueblo Mission National Monument, and then enters Socorro 
County, east of the Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge. Subroute 1A1 
crosses the Rio Grande River north of Socorro, and then turns south 
along an existing transmission line path into Sierra County. The route 
continues south to the proposed Midpoint Substation, near Deming, New 
Mexico. The ROW for Subroute 1A1 would parallel about 130 miles of 
existing utility ROW and crosses about 110 miles of public land 
administered by the BLM.
    Subroutes 1A, 1B, 1B1, 1B2, 1B2a and 1B3 were all considered and 
evaluated. For discussion of analysis on these routes, refer to the 
Draft EIS.
    Route Group 2: SunZia East Substation to Midpoint Substation--
Generally east of White Sands Missile Range and through Ft. Bliss Army 
Base (Ft. Bliss) within Lincoln, Otero, Do[ntilde]a Ana, and Luna 
Counties. This group of alternatives was considered during the expanded 
scoping period of 2010, and then eliminated from detailed study in the 
Draft EIS because routes under this group of alternatives would require 
traversing lands under the jurisdiction of Ft. Bliss. Ft. Bliss has 
indicated that overhead transmission lines through Ft. Bliss-
administered lands would have substantial impacts to its military 
operations and would be incompatible with their military mission.
    Route Group 3: Midpoint Substation to Willow-500 kV Substation--
Consists of Subroutes 3A1, 3A, and 3B.
    Subroute 3A1 (140.3 miles), the BLM preferred alternative, proceeds 
west from the Midpoint Substation to a point about 9 miles west of the 
proposed Lordsburg Substation in Hidalgo County, New Mexico. From that 
point the subroute crosses to the south and continues along a portion 
of an existing pipeline corridor into Cochise County, Arizona, then 
northwest to the proposed Willow-500kV substation in Graham County. The 
ROW for Subroute 3A1 would parallel about 33 miles of existing utility 
ROW and cross about 66 miles of Federal lands administered by the BLM.
    Subroutes 3A and 3B were considered and evaluated. For discussion 
of analysis on these routes refer to the Draft EIS.
    Route Group 4: Willow-500kV Substation to Pinal Central 
Substation--Consists of Subroutes 4A, 4B, 4C1, 4C2, 4C2a, 4C2b, 4C2c, 
and 4C3.
    The amount of BLM land subject to ROW for the various alternatives 
in this group would be about 2 miles (Subroute 4C2a or 4C2b) to 15 
miles (sub-route 4C2 or 4C2c). Subroute 4C2c (161.2 miles), the BLM 
preferred alternative, follows an existing 345 kV transmission line 
corridor from the Willow 500 kV Substation southwest, crossing the San 
Pedro River about 12 miles north of Benson, Arizona. The route then 
continues northwesterly, crossing the northeast corner of Pima County, 
then follows a westerly path through Pinal County, north of Oracle, 
Arizona toward the Tortolita Substation, approximately 25 miles 
northwest of Tucson. From that point, Subroute 4C2c would parallel 
approximately 90 miles of existing utilities (including about 72 miles 
of existing electrical transmission lines).
    Subroutes 4A, 4B, 4C1, 4C2, 4C2a, 4C2b and 4C3 were considered and 
evaluated. For discussion of analysis on these routes, refer to the 
Draft EIS.
    In addition to the sub-routes described above, various local 
alternatives and crossover segments within Route Group 4 were also 
included in detailed study in the Draft EIS. The BLM, SunZia, and 
cooperating agencies worked together to identify alternative routes 
that would conform to existing land use plans. However, in locations 
where conformance is not likely, the BLM identified draft plan 
amendments that would bring any of the alternatives routes into 
conformance with the respective land use plans, as described below. The 
BLM will identify those plan amendments it intends to implement (as 
proposed plan amendments) in the Final EIS.
    The following land use plan amendments may be necessary to bring 
the SunZia Southwest Transmission Line Project into conformance with 
applicable BLM RMPs. Prospective plan amendments will comply with 
applicable Federal laws and regulations and apply only to Federal lands 
and mineral estate administered by the BLM. Plan amendment alternatives 
were considered, which included multiple-use corridors of varying 
widths. The BLM preferred alternative is to amend the RMPs' existing 
visual resource management (VRM) decisions as well as ROW avoidance 
areas as described in the Draft EIS. The affected RMPs include:
     Socorro RMP (2010), Socorro Field Office: Amendments may 
be needed for modifications to existing VRM decisions and/or to ROW 
avoidance area decisions (BLM preferred alternative and other 
alternatives in Route Group 1).
     Mimbres RMP (1993), Las Cruces District Office: Amendments 
may be needed for modifications to existing VRM decisions and/or to ROW 
avoidance area decisions (BLM preferred alternative in Route group 3).
     Safford District RMP (1991), Safford Field Office (Gila 
District): An amendment may be needed for modifications to existing VRM 
decisions and/or ROW avoidance area decisions (only alternative 
Subroute 4C1 in Route Group 4 would require a plan amendment, although 
this alternative is not the BLM preferred alternative).
    The Draft EIS analyzes the environmental consequences of a no 
action alternative, the proposed action, segment and design 
alternatives, and land use plan amendments. For this EIS, the no action 
alternative means that the BLM would not grant SunZia a ROW for the 
construction and operation of the proposed Project and would not amend 
any land use plans. The Project facilities, including transmission 
lines and substations, would not be built and existing land uses and 
present activities in the Project study area would continue. This 
alternative does not consider the potential for additional actions that 
could occur depending on the denial of the proposed action or 
alternatives.
    The BLM will use and coordinate the NEPA commenting process to 
satisfy the public involvement process for Section 106 of the National 
Historic Preservation Act (16 U.S.C. 470f) as provided for in 36 CFR 
800.2(d)(3). Ongoing tribal consultations will continue to be conducted 
in accordance with policy and tribal concerns, and any 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

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Project, are invited to comment on the draft.
    Copies of the Draft EIS have been sent to affected Federal, State, 
and local governments, public libraries in the Project area, and to 
interested parties that previously requested a copy. The Draft EIS and 
supporting documents will be available electronically on the following 
BLM Project Web site: www.blm.gov/nm/sunzia.
    Copies of the Draft EIS are available for public inspection during 
normal business hours at the following locations:
     Bureau of Land Management, Las Cruces District Office, 
1800 Marquess Street, Las Cruces, NM 88005-3370
     Bureau of Land Management, Roswell Field Office, 2909 West 
Second Street, Roswell, NM 88201-2019
     Bureau of Land Management, Socorro Field Office, 901 South 
Highway 85, Socorro, NM 87801-4168
     Bureau of Land Management, Rio Puerco Field Office, 435 
Montano Road NE., Albuquerque, NM 87107-4935
     Bureau of Land Management, Tucson Field Office, 3201 East 
Universal Way, Tucson, AZ 85756
     Bureau of Land Management, Safford Field Office, 711 14th 
Avenue, Safford, AZ 85546-3337
     Bureau of Land Management, Gila District Office, 1763 
Paseo San Luis, Sierra Vista, AZ 85635-4611
     Bureau of Land Management, New Mexico State Office, 301 
Dinosaur Trail, Santa Fe, NM 87508-1560
     Bureau of Land Management, Arizona State Office, One North 
Central Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85004-4427
     Arizona State Land Department (ASLD), 1616 West Adams, 
Phoenix, AZ 85007-2614
     Arizona Game & Fish Department (AZGFD), 5000 West Carefree 
Highway, Phoenix, AZ 85086-5000
     New Mexico State Land Office (NMSLO), 310 Old Santa Fe 
Trail, Santa Fe, NM 87504-1148
     U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Regulatory Division, 
4101 Jefferson Plaza NE., Albuquerque, NM 87109-3435
     U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS), 500 Gold Avenue SW., 
Albuquerque, NM 87102-3118
    A limited number of copies of the document will be available. To 
request a copy, contact Adrian Garcia, BLM Project Manager, BLM New 
Mexico State Office, 301 Dinosaur Trail, Santa Fe, NM 87508-1560.
    Please note that public comments and information submitted 
including names, street addresses, and email addresses of persons who 
submit comments will 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, email address, or any 
other personal identifying information in your comment, please be 
advised that your entire comment, including your personal identifying 
information, may be publically available at any time. While you may ask 
us to withhold this information from public review, we cannot guarantee 
that we will be able to do so.

Felicia J. Probert,
Acting State Director, New Mexico.
[FR Doc. 2012-12978 Filed 5-25-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-FB-P