From: Subject: FR Doc 2010-17239 Date: Sat, 21 Aug 2010 09:47:12 -0700 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/html; charset="utf-8" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Location: http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/2010-17239.htm X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2900.5931 =EF=BB=BF FR Doc 2010-17239 
[Federal Register: July 16, 2010 (Volume 75, Number =
136)]
[Notices]              =20
[Page 41514]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr16jy10-79]                        =20

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[OR-65891, LLORB00000-L51010000-ER0000-LVRWH09H0560; HAG-10-0189]

=20
Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact=20
Statement for the Proposed North Steens Transmission Line Project in=20
Harney County, OR

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Availability.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of=20
1969, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has prepared a=20
Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the North Steens=20
Transmission Line Project and by this notice is announcing the opening=20
of the comment period.

DATES: To ensure comments will be considered, the BLM must receive=20
written comments on the Draft EIS within 45 days following the date the=20
Environmental Protection Agency publishes its Notice of Availability in=20
the Federal Register. The BLM will announce future meetings or hearings=20
and any other public involvement activities at least 15 days in advance=20
through public notices, media releases, and/or mailings.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments related to the North Steens=20
Transmission Line Project by any of the following methods:
     E-mail: OR_Burns_NS_Tra=
nsmission_Line_EIS@blm.gov.
     Mail: North Steens Transmission Line Project Lead, BLM=20
Burns District Office, 28910 Highway 20 West, Hines, Oregon 97738.
     Fax: (541) 573-4411, Attention North Steens Transmission=20
Line Project Lead.
     Written comments may also be hand-delivered to the BLM=20
Burns District Office at the address shown above.

Copies of the Draft EIS are available at the Burns District Office at=20
the address listed above and electronically at the following Web site:=20
http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/leaving.cgi?fro=
m=3DleavingFR.html&log=3Dlinklog&to=3Dhttp://www.blm.gov/or/distr=
icts/burns/plans/index.php.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information contact Robert=20
Renchler, North Steens Transmission Line Project Lead, telephone (541)=20
573-4400; address 28910 Highway 20 West, Hines, Oregon 97738; or e-
mail: OR_Burns_NS_Tra=
nsmission_Line_EIS@blm.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The applicant, Echanis, LLC, has filed=20
applications for rights-of-way with the BLM and the U.S. Fish and=20
Wildlife Service (FWS) for construction, operation, maintenance, and=20
termination of a 29-mile long 230-kilovolt (kV) transmission line that=20
would connect the proposed Echanis Wind Energy Project, located on=20
private land on the north end of Steens Mountain, with Harney Electric=20
Cooperative's existing transmission system near Diamond Junction,=20
Oregon. The proposed line (Proposed Action, West Route-Alternative B)=20
would cross approximately 19 miles of private land, 9 miles of BLM-
administered public land, and 1.3 miles of land on the Malheur National=20
Wildlife Refuge that is managed by the FWS, including a span over the=20
Blitzen Valley. The Draft EIS analyzes impacts of six alternatives: the=20
Proposed Action, two deviations of the proposed route, a north route=20
alternative, a 115-kV construction option, and the No Action=20
Alternative. The Draft EIS also identifies and analyzes measures to=20
mitigate adverse impacts for each alternative. The private wind energy=20
facilities and associated features are also analyzed in the Draft EIS.=20
Major issues brought forward during the public scoping process and=20
addressed in the Draft EIS include:
    (1) Vegetation;
    (2) Wildlife;
    (3) Visual and aesthetic values;
    (4) Lands with special designations;
    (5) Cultural and tribal resources;
    (6) Public services and transportation;
    (7) Recreation and tourism;
    (8) Social and economic effects; and
    (9) Public safety.
    A Notice of Intent to Prepare an EIS for the North Steens=20
Transmission Line Project was published in the Federal Register on July=20
27, 2009 (74 FR 37052). Public participation was solicited through the=20
media, mailings, and the BLM Web site. Public meetings were held in=20
Burns, Bend, Frenchglen, and Diamond, Oregon.
    Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or=20
other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be=20
aware that your entire comment--including your personal identifying=20
information--may be made publicly available at any time. While you can=20
ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying=20
information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be=20
able to do so.

    Authority:  40 CFR 1506.6 and 1506.10.

Kenny McDaniel,
Burns District Manager.
[FR Doc. 2010-17239 Filed 7-15-10; 8:45 am]
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