[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 135 (Friday, July 15, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42448-42449]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-15146]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army


Public Scoping for Environmental Impact Statement--Real Estate 
Transaction and Related Utilities Infrastructure Upgrade at U.S. Army 
Garrison--West Point and Vicinity

AGENCY: Department of the Army, Department of Defense (DoD).

ACTION: Notice of Intent (NOI).

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 
(NEPA), as implemented by Council on Environmental Quality regulations, 
the Department of the Army announces its intent to prepare an 
environmental impact statement (EIS) to analyze a real estate 
transaction and a related utilities infrastructure upgrade. The real 
estate transaction would alter, where necessary, an existing 
transmission line easement at West Point, NY, and would grant to Orange 
and Rockland Utilities (O&R) a new 150-foot-wide transmission line 
easement at West Point. These measures would allow O&R to upgrade its 
existing 34.5-kilovolt (kV) electrical transmission line and associated 
infrastructure between its Woodbury Transition Station (in the Town of 
Woodbury, NY), West Point, NY, and the neighboring Village of Highland 
Falls, NY. The EIS will evaluate the environmental impact of the 
Proposed Action, to include its impact on adjacent properties.

DATES: Comments must be received by August 29, 2022.

ADDRESSES: Please send any written comments or questions to Mr. 
Christopher Pray via email ([email protected]) or via 
regular mail: U.S. Army Garrison--West Point NEPA Coordinator (Attn: 
AMIM-MLP-E), Building 667A, Ruger Road, West Point, NY 10996.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Christopher Pray at the above 
addresses or at phone number (845) 938-7122.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The purpose of the Proposed Action is to 
allow O&R to expand transmission capacity and ensure system redundancy. 
The Proposed Action is needed because West Point's electric demand is 
nearing total system capacity. There is no backup in case of emergency 
and/or planned outages. The current 34.5kV system consists of two 19-
megawatt (MW) circuits (38MW total). No reserve capacity exists in 
either circuit, resulting in a lack of redundant capabilities for a 
significant number of hours each year. Because the neighboring 
communities of Highland Falls and Fort Montgomery both receive their 
electricity from the same 34.5kV system that supplies West Point, these 
municipalities would also benefit from having a fully redundant 
electrical system. The Proposed Action would increase overall energy 
resiliency. Implementing the Proposed Action would allow U.S. Army 
Garrison--West Point (USAG--West Point) to continue to improve and 
modernize the educational facilities and infrastructure of the U.S. 
Military Academy as part of USAG--West Point's larger master planning 
efforts.
    The Proposed Action includes the following steps:
     USAG--West Point would enter into a real estate 
transaction with O&R to alter, where necessary, the alignment of the 
existing transmission line easement along approximately eight miles of 
West Point property and grant a new, approximately one-mile-long, 150-
foot-wide easement on West Point property to connect the upgraded 
transmission line to a new Wilson Gate Collocated Substation at West 
Point.
     O&R would construct two temporary, overhead (OH), 34.5kV 
transmission lines where necessary to maintain service. O&R would use 
existing transmission lines to the greatest extent possible.
     O&R would install a mobile substation at the O&R Dean 
Substation on Mine Torne Road at West Point.
     O&R would decommission the existing 34.5kV transmission 
line to West Point, Highland Falls, and Fort Montgomery.
     O&R would construct an upgraded 138kV transmission line, 
an upgraded O&R Dean Substation, a new three-way switching station 
along the transmission line easement outside the O&R Dean Substation, 
an upgraded O&R Harriman Substation (in the Town of Woodbury, NY), and 
an upgraded USAG--West Point Delafield Substation. USAG--West Point and 
O&R would then construct a new, co-owned, Wilson Gate Collocated 
Substation at West Point.
     O&R would decommission the temporary, OH, 34.5kV 
transmission line, the O&R Highland Falls Substation, and the existing 
USAG--West Point Wilson Gate Substation.
    The transmission line upgrade would require additional real estate 
transactions between O&R and the State

[[Page 42449]]

of New York and between O&R and private landowners. Such transactions 
are necessary to alter the alignment of--and to build on--those 
portions of the existing transmission line easement not located on West 
Point property.
    The new Wilson Gate Collocated Substation would be built near the 
existing USAG--West Point Wilson Gate Substation. The new Wilson Gate 
Collocated Substation would be divided into two sections, one serving 
West Point and the other serving the surrounding communities. Upon 
completion of the project, the existing USAG--West Point Wilson Gate 
Substation would be decommissioned but maintained for switching 
purposes.
    The EIS will analyze at least two transmission line route 
alternatives and a No-Action Alternative. The route alternatives would 
alter the alignment of the existing easement where necessary. The 
Northern Route to Wilson Gate Collocated Substation Alternative would 
grant an additional easement to O&R from the vicinity of the USAG--West 
Point Delafield Substation to the new Wilson Gate Collocated 
Substation. The Southern Route to Wilson Gate Collocated Substation 
Alternative would grant an additional easement to O&R from where the 
transmission line would split north of the intersection of Stony 
Lonesome Road and Route 9W, to the new Wilson Gate Collocated 
Substation.
    The Proposed Action is expected to impact multiple resources, 
including wildlife, vegetation, threatened and endangered species, 
water resources (including state and federally regulated wetlands, 
surface waters, and floodplains), land use (including the Hudson River 
Coastal Zone), cultural resources, state park lands, the Hudson River 
view shed, topography, and soils. Construction activities would create 
noise and would impact air quality and traffic. Because of the size of 
the affected area, the project could have significant environmental 
impacts. The particular resources that would experience significant 
impacts are unknown at this time.
    Consultation with federal and state agencies is required and will 
include:
     Section 7 consultation under the Endangered Species Act;
     New York State endangered species review;
     Section 106 consultation under the National Historic 
Preservation Act; and
     preparation of a coastal zone consistency determination.
    O&R will need to obtain a number of federal, state, and local 
permits and approvals, including an Article VII Certificate of 
Environmental Compatibility and Public Need from the New York State 
Public Service Commission.
    USAG--West Point developed a tentative schedule for the EIS. Two 
public meetings will occur approximately 20 days after Federal Register 
publication of this NOI. A Draft EIS is expected to be released for 
public review in late spring 2023, with public meetings to follow 
within approximately 20 days. The Final EIS will take into 
consideration all timely comments regarding the Draft EIS and is 
projected to be released in winter 2023-24. A Record of Decision is 
anticipated in late spring 2024.
    Native American Tribes, government agencies, organizations, and 
individuals are invited to participate in the scoping process for this 
EIS by attending public meetings and/or by submitting written comments. 
USAG--West Point requests potential alternatives, information, and 
analyses relevant to the Proposed Action.
    Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the need to maintain social 
distancing, all public meeting materials will be provided online and 
all public meetings will convene by phone. Public meeting materials can 
be accessed at: https://home.army.mil/westpoint/index.php/about/environmental-management-division. Public meeting dates, times, and 
access numbers will be listed on the above website and will be 
published in local newspapers (e.g., The Times Herald Record, News of 
the Highlands, The Pointer View, and The Cornwall Local). If you cannot 
access the materials online, please contact Mr. Christopher Pray at 
phone number (845) 938-7122, via email 
([email protected]), or via regular mail: US Army 
Garrison--West Point NEPA Coordinator (Attn: AMIM-MLP-E), Building 
667A, Ruger Road, West Point, NY 10996. If you send a request for 
public meeting materials via regular mail, your request must be 
postmarked no later than August 1, 2022. Written comments must be 
received within 45 days of the NOI's publication in the Federal 
Register and can be sent to the above addresses.

James W. Satterwhite, Jr.,
Army Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 2022-15146 Filed 7-14-22; 8:45 am]
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