[Federal Register: January 5, 2010 (Volume 75, Number = 2)] [Notices] =20 [Page 430-431] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr05ja10-100] =20 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [LLUTC00000.L51010000.ER0000.LVRWJ09J4050; UTU-83067] =20 Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for=20 the Sigurd-Red Butte Transmission Line Project (Project) in Utah AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: Notice of intent. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act=20 (NEPA) of 1969, as amended, and the Federal Land Policy and Management=20 Act of 1976, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Cedar City=20 Field Office, Cedar City, Utah, intends to prepare an Environmental=20 Impact Statement (EIS) for a right-of-way (ROW) application for the=20 Sigurd-Red Butte 345 kilovolt (kV) Transmission Line Project and by=20 this notice is announcing the beginning of the scoping process to=20 solicit public comments and identify issues. DATES: This notice initiates the public scoping process for the EIS.=20 Comments on issues may be submitted in writing [[Page 431]] until February 19, 2010. The date(s) and location(s) of any scoping=20 meetings will be announced at least 15 days in advance through local=20 media, newspapers, and the BLM Web site at: http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/leaving.cgi?f= rom=3DleavingFR.html&log=3Dlinklog&to=3Dhttp://www.blm.gov/ut/st/= en/fo/cedar_city/planning.html. In order to be considered in the = Draft=20 EIS, all comments must be received prior to the close of the scoping=20 period or 15 days after the last public meeting, whichever is later.=20 The BLM will provide additional opportunities for public participation=20 upon publication of the Draft EIS. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments related to the Sigurd-Red Butte 345=20 Transmission Line Project by any of the following methods:Web site: http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/leaving.cgi?f= rom=3DleavingFR.html&log=3Dlinklog&to=3Dhttp://www.blm.gov/ut/st/= en/fo/cedar_city/planning.html. Mail: Bureau of Land Management, Cedar City Field Office,=20 176 East D.L. Sargent Drive, Cedar City, Utah 84721, Attention: Lucas=20 Lucero. E-mail: utsrbproj@blm.gov. Documents pertinent to the right-of-way (ROW) application for the=20 transmission line project may be examined at: U.S. Forest Service, Dixie Office, 1789 North Wedgewood=20 Lane, Cedar City, Utah 84721. U.S. Forest Service, Fishlake Office, 115 East 900 North,=20 Richfield, Utah 84701. BLM, Cedar City Field Office, 176 D.L. Sargent Drive,=20 Cedar City, Utah 84721. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information and/or to have=20 your name added to our mailing list, contact Lucas Lucero, BLM Project=20 Manager; telephone (702) 515-5059; e-mail Lucas_Lucero@blm.gov;=20 address BLM, Cedar City Field Office, 176 East D.L. Sargent Drive,=20 Cedar City, Utah 84721. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: PacifiCorp, doing business as Rocky Mountain=20 Power Company, has filed a ROW application seeking authorization to=20 construct, operate, maintain, and decommission a 345 kV single-circuit=20 overhead electric transmission line on Federal lands. The project would=20 provide an additional 600 megawatts of reliable electrical capacity by=20 2014 to respond to anticipated load growth in Southwestern Utah. The=20 proposed project begins at the existing Sigurd Substation near=20 Richfield, Utah, and terminates at the existing Red Butte Substation=20 near the town of Central, Utah. The project area spans approximately=20 160 miles. Rocky Mountain Power Company has identified multiple=20 alternative routes between the two substations. Alternative routes=20 identified so far would affect Federal, State, and private lands. The=20 requested ROW width on Federal lands is 150 feet. Rocky Mountain Power=20 Company proposes to predominantly use steel H-frame towers=20 approximately 80 to 130 feet in height with average spans between=20 towers of 1,000 to 1,200 feet. Permanent access roads approximately 14=20 feet wide would be needed. Temporary work space would be needed during=20 construction for material storage, conductor tensioning sites, and to=20 accommodate vehicles and equipment. Alternative routes currently=20 identified would use portions of utility corridors on Federal lands and=20 parallel portions of existing overhead and underground utilities and=20 roadways. The BLM is the designated lead Federal agency for preparation of=20 the EIS. Other agencies with legal jurisdiction or special expertise=20 have been invited to participate as cooperating agencies in preparation=20 of the EIS. Currently, the U.S. Forest Service (Dixie and Fishlake=20 National Forests), State of Utah, Millard County, Sevier County, Beaver=20 County, Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, City of St. George, and=20 City of Enterprise have agreed to participate as cooperating agencies. The purpose of the public scoping process is to determine relevant=20 issues that will influence the scope of the environmental analysis,=20 including alternatives, and guide the process for developing the EIS.=20 At present, the BLM has identified the following preliminary issues:=20 public health and safety, noise, visual intrusions, migratory bird=20 habitat, crucial deer and elk habitat, Utah Prairie Dog habitat,=20 socioeconomic impacts, cultural and historic sites, National Scenic and=20 Historic Trails, and nearby inventoried roadless areas on National=20 Forests. The BLM will use and coordinate the NEPA commenting process to=20 satisfy the public involvement process for Section 106 of the National=20 Historic Preservation Act (16 U.S.C. 470f) as provided for in 36 CFR=20 800.2(d)(3). Native American Tribal consultations will be conducted and=20 Tribal concerns will be given due consideration, including impacts on=20 Indian trust assets. Federal, State, and local agencies, along with=20 other stakeholders that may be interested or affected by the BLM's=20 decision on this project are invited to participate in the scoping=20 process and, if eligible, may request or be requested by the BLM to=20 participate as a cooperating agency. 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 1501.7. Selma Sierra, State Director. [FR Doc. E9-31239 Filed 1-4-10; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310-DQ-P