[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 203 (Friday, October 19, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64333-64334]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-25783]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Western Area Power Administration


Relocation of Transmission Lines for the U.S. 93 Boulder City 
Bypass Project, Boulder County, NV, Record of Decision (DOE/EIS-0490)

AGENCY: Western Area Power Administration, DOE.

ACTION: Record of Decision.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) prepared an 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for a proposal to improve the 
United States Highway 93 (U.S. 93) corridor through Henderson and 
Boulder City, Nevada, from the Foothills Road grade separation on U.S. 
93/95 in Henderson to the western end of the Hoover Dam Bypass project 
near the Hacienda Hotel and Casino. Western Area Power Administration 
(Western), an agency within the Department of Energy (DOE), needs to 
modify its transmission system and facilities to accommodate the 
construction of the Boulder City Bypass Project (Project). Western was 
a cooperating agency for the EIS. Western will ensure that its 
responsibilities under the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) 
and the Endangered Species Act (ESA) are met before the modifications 
are implemented.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information regarding 
Western's role in the project, contact Ms. Linda Hughes, Environmental 
Division Manager, Desert Southwest Customer Service Region, Western 
Area Power Administration, P.O. Box 6457, Phoenix, AZ 85005, telephone 
(602) 605-2524, email [email protected]. Copies of the EIS are available 
on the following Web site at: http://www.nevadadot.com/Micro-Sites/BoulderCityBypass/Final_Environmental_Impact_Statement.aspx. For 
general information on DOE's National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 
(NEPA) review process, please contact Carol M. Borgstrom, Director, 
Office of NEPA Policy and Compliance, GC-54, U.S. Department of Energy, 
Washington, DC 20585, telephone (202) 586-4600 or (800) 472-2756.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: FHWA was the lead agency for the Project EIS 
(FHWA-NV-EIS-00-02-F; April 2005; 76 FR 34073). Western was a 
cooperating agency for the Project EIS. After an independent review of 
the Final Project EIS, Western concluded that its needs are satisfied 
and, with this notice, is adopting the Project EIS for its 
participation in the Project. The FHWA signed its Record of Decision 
(ROD), on the Project on December 8, 2005, and selected Alternative D 
as its preferred alternative. Subsequent to publication of the ROD, 
FHWA, in conjunction with the Nevada Department of Transportation 
(NDOT), broke the Project into two phases. Phase One incorporates the 
Project's eastern edge, from the Foothills Grade Separation to the 
intersection with U.S. 95. Phase Two includes the area from U.S. 95 to 
the connection with U.S. 93.
    The Project EIS addresses the effects of the Project, including 
modification of Western's transmission system. Modifications to 
Western's transmission system will occur in two phases. The 
modifications for Phase One include relocating and rebuilding 
approximately one mile of the Henderson-Mead 230-kilovolt (kV) 
transmission lines. Western's action will consist of removing existing 
structures, conductors, and overhead ground wires, and installing new 
structures, conductors, overhead ground wire, insulators, and 
transmission line hardware. The relocated and rebuilt line will be 
within 500 feet of the existing line. Phase One is expected to be 
complete by Spring 2013. The modifications for Phase Two include 
relocation of various structures to accommodate the Project, similar to 
Phase One. In 2009, FHWA, in conjunction with the Nevada Department of 
Transportation (NDOT), completed a re-evaluation of the Final Project 
EIS and determined that there are neither substantial changes to the 
project nor significant new information to warrant a new EIS or 
supplemental analysis and that the current environmental document and 
decision document remain valid.
    The EIS impact analysis and the re-evaluation study concluded that, 
with mitigation measures, most impacts from the Project would not be 
significant. There would be significant unavoidable visual impacts to 
several historic properties and Traditional Cultural Properties (TCPs). 
Other historic sites or features would be affected or potentially 
affected by the Project, including some elements of the transmission 
system not owned by Western. The FHWA and NDOT consulted with the 
Nevada State Historic Preservation Office, the Advisory Council on 
Historic Preservation and Native American tribes. A Programmatic 
Agreement (PA) and treatment plan was developed for avoidance, 
minimization, and mitigation of adverse effects to historical and 
cultural properties. Western is a signatory to the PA. The FHWA is 
required to complete historic documentation of facilities affected by 
the Project as described in the PA. Western will ensure that its 
responsibilities under the NHPA, as outlined in the Programmatic 
Agreement, are met before its action is implemented.
    FHWA filed a Biological Assessment with the U.S Fish and Wildlife 
Service for Phase One of the Project on July 17, 2012. Consultation 
with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for Phase Two will be completed 
prior to ground disturbance for that part of the Project. Western will 
comply with the terms and conditions identified in the FHWA Biological 
Opinion for reducing impacts to these species as it applies to

[[Page 64334]]

Western's action. Western's action does not affect floodplains or 
wetlands.

Alternatives Considered

    FHWA examined several road alignment alternatives, ultimately 
selecting Alternative D as their preferred alternative. Western had to 
wait for FHWA to decide on its course of action before determining 
which transmission structures and lines would be affected and need to 
be modified. The no action alternative assumed that the Project would 
not be constructed and no transmission structures or lines would need 
to be modified. FHWA did not select the no action alternative since it 
did not meet their purpose and need.

Mitigation Measures

    Western will adhere to its Construction Standard 13 ``Environmental 
Quality Protection.'' Long-term operations of the transmission line 
will follow Western's standard operating procedures and will not be 
affected by this action. In addition to Construction Standard 13, the 
following measures apply to the modifications that will be made to 
Western's transmission system:
    1. Protection of the desert tortoise through compliance with the 
FHWA Biological Opinion.
    2. Protection of cultural and historical resources as signatories 
to the Programmatic Agreement.

Decision

    Western's decision is to modify its transmission system as 
described above in support of FHWA's decision to construct Alternative 
D.\1\ This ROD was prepared following the requirements of the Council 
on Environmental Quality Regulations for Implementing NEPA (40 CFR 
parts 1500-1508) and DOE's Procedures for Implementing NEPA (10 CFR 
part 1021).
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    \1\ On November 16, 2011, DOE's Acting General Counsel delegated 
to Western's Administrator all the authorities of the General 
Counsel respecting environmental impact statements.

    Dated: September 19, 2012.
Anita J. Decker,
Acting Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2012-25783 Filed 10-18-12; 8:45 am]
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