25472 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 83 / Monday, April 30, 2012 / Notices

Accessible Format: Individuals with maintenance, and connection of the Naomi J. Handell by electronic mail at disabilities can obtain this document in proposed new electric transmission line [email protected]; or by an accessible format (e.g., braille, large across the U.S.-Canada border in mail at 696 Virginia Road, Concord, MA print, audiotape, or computer diskette) northeastern State. Public 01742. on request to the program contact scoping originally closed on August 2, For information on the EPA’s role as person listed under FOR FURTHER 2010. On February 28, 2012, TDI a cooperating agency, contact Lingard INFORMATION CONTACT. submitted an amendment to the Knutson by electronic mail at Electronic Access to This Document: application for a Presidential permit to [email protected]; by The official version of this document is DOE that reflects proposed changes to phone at 212–637–3747; or by mail at the document published in the Federal the route of the Champlain Hudson 290 Broadway, Mail Code: 25th Floor, Register. Free Internet access to the project, and DOE now intends to revise New York, NY 10007–1866. official edition of the Federal Register the scope of the EIS to address these For information on the New York and the Code of Federal Regulations is proposed changes. The proposed State Department of Environmental available via the Federal Digital System changes are the result of settlement Conservation’s role as a cooperating at: www.gpo.gov/fdsys. At this site you negotiations among New York (NY) agency, contact Patricia Desnoyers by can view this document, as well as all State agencies, Champlain Hudson electronic mail to other documents of this Department Power Express, Inc., CHPE Properties, [email protected]; or by mail published in the Federal Register, in Inc. and other stakeholders as part of the at 625 Broadway, Albany, NY 12233. text or Adobe Portable Document project review under Article VII of the For information on the New York Format (PDF). To use PDF you must New York State Public Service Law, and State Department of Public Service’s have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is are reflected in a February 24, 2012, role as a cooperating agency, contact available free at the site. James Austin by electronic mail at ‘‘Joint Proposal’’ submitted to the New _ You may also access documents of the York Public Service Commission. james [email protected]; or by Department published in the Federal The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, New mail at 3 Empire State Plaza, Albany, Register by using the article search York Field Office (USFWS Region 5), NY 12223. feature at: www.federalregister.gov. the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Specifically, through the advanced (USACE), the U.S. Environmental Background search feature at this site, you can limit Protection Agency (EPA Region 2), the Executive Order (E.O.) 10485, your search to documents published by New York State Department of Providing for the performance of certain the Department. Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC), functions heretofore performed by the Dated: April 25, 2012. and the New York State Department of President with respect to electric power Michael Yudin, Public Service (NYSDPS) are and natural gas facilities located on the cooperating agencies in the preparation Acting Assistant Secretary for Elementary and borders of the United States, as Secondary Education. of the EIS. amended by E.O. 12038 Relating to [FR Doc. 2012–10357 Filed 4–27–12; 8:45 am] DATES: DOE is accepting public certain Functions transferred to the BILLING CODE 4000–01–P comments on the revised scope of the Secretary of Energy by the Department CHPE EIS until June 14, 2012. DOE will of Energy Organization Act, requires consider comments submitted after this issuance of a Presidential permit by DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY date to the extent practicable. DOE before electric transmission ADDRESSES: Please direct written facilities may be constructed, operated, Amended Notice of Intent To Modify comments on the scope of the EIS and maintained, or connected at the U.S. the Scope of the Environmental Impact requests to be added to the document international border. The E.O. provides Statement for the Champlain Hudson mailing list to: Brian Mills, Office of that a Presidential permit may be issued Power Express Transmission Line Electricity Delivery and Energy after a finding that the proposed project Project in New York State Reliability (OE–20), U.S. Department of is consistent with the public interest AGENCY: Department of Energy. Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue and after favorable recommendations ACTION: Amended Notice of Intent. SW., Washington, DC 20585; by from the U.S. Departments of State and electronic mail to Defense. In determining consistency SUMMARY: The United States (U.S.) [email protected]; or by facsimile with the public interest, DOE considers Department of Energy (DOE) intends to to 202–586–8008. For general the potential environmental impacts of modify the scope of the Champlain information on the DOE NEPA process the proposed project under NEPA, Hudson Power Express Transmission contact: Ms. Carol M. Borgstrom, determines the project’s impact on Line Project Environmental Impact Director, Office of NEPA Policy and electric reliability (including whether Statement (CHPE EIS; DOE/EIS–0447) Compliance (GC–54), U.S. Department the proposed project would adversely and to conduct additional public of Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue affect the operation of the U.S. electric scoping. As described in the original SW., Washington, DC 20585; telephone power supply system under normal and Notice of Intent (NOI) (75 FR 34720; 202–586–4600, or leave a message at 1– contingency conditions), and considers June 18, 2010), in January 2010, 800–472–2756; by facsimile at 202–586– any other factors that DOE may find Transmission Developers Inc. (TDI) 7031; or send an email to relevant to the public interest. The submitted, on behalf of Champlain [email protected]. regulations implementing the E.O. have Hudson Power Express, Inc. For information on the USFWS’s role been codified at 10 CFR 205.320– (Applicant), an application to DOE for a as a cooperating agency, contact Tim R. 205.329. DOE’s issuance of a Presidential permit for the Champlain Sullivan by electronic mail at Presidential permit would indicate that Hudson Power Express (Champlain [email protected]; by phone at there is no Federal objection to the Hudson) project. As explained in the 602–753–9334; or by mail at 3817 Luker project, but would not mandate that the NOI, DOE will assess the potential Road, Cortland, NY 13045. project be constructed. environmental impacts associated with For information on the Army Corps of On January 25, 2010, TDI submitted the construction, operation, Engineers’ permit process, contact an application, on behalf of Champlain

VerDate Mar<15>2010 17:59 Apr 27, 2012 Jkt 226001 PO 00000 Frm 00073 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\30APN1.SGM 30APN1 mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 83 / Monday, April 30, 2012 / Notices 25473

Hudson Power Express, Inc., to DOE’s 29, 2010, and held public statement Champlain at the Village of Whitehall, Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy hearings on the original application in NY, as originally proposed, the cables Reliability for a Presidential permit to 2010. would now exit at the construct, operate, maintain, and Subsequently, the Applicant entered Town of Dresden and run underground connect a 2,000-megawatt (MW) high- into settlement negotiations with several along New York State Route 22 to voltage direct current (HVDC) Voltage parties regarding the proposed facility Whitehall. Source Converter (VSC) controllable need and benefits, alternate locations, The Upper Hudson River portion of transmission system from the Canadian environmental impacts, and mitigation the Hudson River polychlorinated Province of Quebec to the New York measures. These negotiations resulted in biphenyl (PCB) site (USEPA City and southwestern a ‘‘Joint Proposal’’ which includes a Identification Number NYD980763841) regions. After due consideration of the proposed project alignment and stretches from Hudson Falls, NY, to the nature and extent of the proposed configuration that is different from the Federal Dam at Troy, NY. To avoid project, including evaluation of the original proposal for the Champlain installing and burying HVDC cables ‘‘Information Regarding Potential Hudson project. The Joint Proposal also within this area and in certain sensitive Environmental Impacts’’ section of the contains provisions regarding areas of the lower Hudson River, the Presidential permit application, DOE construction methods, environmental cables would now be buried along an determined that the appropriate level of controls and mitigation measures, overland route. From Whitehall, the NEPA review for this project is an EIS. including the creation of a trust to study cables would transition from the Route DOE issued its original NOI for this EIS and mitigate possible impacts of the 22 right-of-way (ROW) to enter the on June 18, 2010 (75 FR 34720). Champlain Hudson project’s underwater originally proposed route in existing On August 5, 2010, TDI submitted an cables on habitat in the Hudson River railroad ROW owned by Canadian amendment to the application that Estuary, the Harlem and East Rivers, Pacific Railway (CP) and would remain eliminated a portion of the proposed Lake Champlain, and their tributaries. A buried for approximately 65 miles in transmission line consisting of a bipole copy of the Joint Proposal and other and along the railroad ROW from (two cables) that would have extended related documents can be viewed at Whitehall to Schenectady, NY. The into Connecticut (the Connecticut http://chpexpresseis.org. proposed route would enter Erie Circuit). This change in the project’s Boulevard just north of the railroad Applicant’s Proposal design resulted in a proposed HVDC crossing at Nott Street and continue transmission line that would consist of As set forth in the Joint Proposal, the along Erie Boulevard to a point south of a bipole with a capacity of 1,000-MW. Applicant’s preferred alternative now State Street where it would again enter The amendment also proposed consists of a single 1,000-MW HVDC the railroad ROW. Along this portion of extending the route using existing bipole. The bipole is comprised of two the route there are various alternative railroad easements to Whitehall, NY, connected submarine or underground routings that include both the railroad and connecting to the Consolidated cables, one of which is positively ROW and public ways for transitioning Edison (Con Edison) system at a new charged, and the other negatively from the railroad to city streets. The substation in Astoria, Queens, NY. On charged. In total, two cables would be public ways include Nott Street, North July 7, 2011, TDI submitted an laid between the Province of Quebec, Jay Street, Green Street, North Center amendment to the application that Canada, and a proposed converter Street, Pine Street, Union Street, Liberty addressed five conditions required by station in Astoria, Queens, NY. The Street and State Street as well as private the New York State Department of State converter station would change the property (a parking lot) located at (NYSDOS). A copy of these electrical power from direct current to approximately 160 Erie Boulevard. The amendments can be found at http:// alternating current (AC). The converter route would follow the railroad ROW chpexpresseis.org. station would be connected to the New for a short distance, and would then On February 28, 2012, TDI submitted York Power Authority gas insulated deviate west of the railroad property, another amendment to the Champlain switchgear substation via an pass under Interstate 890 then turn Hudson project Presidential permit underground HVAC line, and the south, running approximately parallel application to reflect changes to the substation would be connected to Con with the CSX Transportation (CSX) proposed route that resulted from a Edison’s Rainey Substation, located in railroad ROW, and would re-enter the project review process under Article VII Astoria, via HVAC cables installed CP railroad ROW just north of Delaware of the New York State Public Service under streets. The Avenue. Law. A copy of the February 28, 2012, proposed transmission line would From this point in Schenectady, the permit application amendment letter connect renewable sources of power proposed route would follow the CP and other project-related documents can generation in Canada with load centers railroad ROW to the Town of Rotterdam, be viewed at http://chpexpresseis.org. in and around New York City. NY. In Rotterdam, the route would The Champlain Hudson project would transfer from the CP railroad ROW to New York State Certification Review still originate at an HVDC converter the CSX railroad ROW and would Process station near Hydro-Que´bec proceed southeast for approximately 24 Article VII of the New York State TransE´ nergie’s 765/315-kilovolt (kV) miles before entering the Town of Public Service Law establishes the Hertel substation, located southeast of Selkirk, NY. The cables would then review process for consideration of any , and continue approximately travel south for approximately 29 miles application to construct and operate a 35 miles to the international border generally in and along CSX railroad major electric transmission system. As between the United States and Canada ROW through the municipalities of part of this process, the New York State where the HVDC cables would originate Ravena, New Baltimore, Coxsackie, the Public Service Commission underwater at the Town of Champlain, Town of Athens, and the Town of (Commission) received the application NY and extend south through Lake Catskill, NY. As originally proposed the for a Certificate of Environmental Champlain for approximately 101 miles, cables would have entered the Hudson Compatibility and Public Need from entirely within the jurisdictional waters River at the Town of Coeymans, NY. Champlain Hudson Power Express, Inc. of New York State. However, instead of Now, the cables would enter the in a series of documents dated March exiting the southern end of Lake Hudson River at the Town of Catskill

VerDate Mar<15>2010 17:59 Apr 27, 2012 Jkt 226001 PO 00000 Frm 00074 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\30APN1.SGM 30APN1 mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES 25474 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 83 / Monday, April 30, 2012 / Notices

(hamlet of Cementon), via horizontal their comments were transcribed by The proposed Federal action is the direction drilling (HDD). The HVDC court stenographers. granting of the Presidential permit for underwater cables would be located Commenters requested that the EIS the construction, operation, within the Hudson River for establish evidence that the Champlain maintenance, and connection of the approximately 67 miles until reaching a Hudson project is necessary to meet proposed new electric transmission line point north of Haverstraw Bay. As part electricity demands (either current or across the U.S.-Canada border in of the revised project route, the cables future) in the project region, as well as northeastern New York State. The EIS would then exit the Hudson River at the address concerns over the impact of will analyze potential environmental Town of Stony Point in Rockland construction on existing transmission impacts from the proposed action and County, NY, to allow for a 7.7 mile infrastructure. Commenters expressed the No Action Alternative. Because the bypass of Haverstraw Bay; this portion concerns with regard to sediment proposed action may involve actions in of the route would include three HDD disturbance and the potential impacts of floodplains and wetlands, and in installations under the Stony Point State contaminants in the water column on accordance with 10 CFR part 1022, Historic Park Site and Rockland Lake humans and wildlife from burying the Compliance with Floodplain and State Park. After the HDD under the transmission line in Lake Champlain Wetland Environmental Review parks, the cables would enter the and the Hudson River. Commenters also Requirements, the draft EIS will include requested that the EIS specifically Hudson River via HDD and be buried in a floodplain and wetland assessment as analyze potential thermal effects and the river for approximately 20.7 miles to appropriate, and the final EIS or record effects of electromagnetic fields on the Spuyten Duyvil, where it would of decision will include a floodplain aquatic ecosystems, and noted concern now extend south-easterly within the statement of findings. If granted, the over impacts to visually important for approximately 6.6 Presidential permit would authorize resources from construction of the only that portion of the line that would miles before exiting the water to a transmission line. Commenters noted location along an existing railway ROW be constructed, operated and potential environmental and maintained wholly within the U.S. in the borough of , NY. The socioeconomic impacts from a proposed DOE is seeking comment on the scope cables would then continue along that electric converter station in Yonkers, of the alternatives proposed and ROW for approximately 1.1 miles. NY. Finally, commenters identified potential environmental impacts for At this point, the revised route would additional alternatives that they analyses in the EIS and currently enter the East River via HDD, cross the believed should be analyzed in the EIS. proposes to analyze the following East River and make land-fall at Astoria, A copy of the Scoping Summary Report alternatives in detail: (1) the Champlain Queens, NY. The cables would (December 2010) is available at http:// Hudson project, as proposed by the terminate at a new converter station chpexpresseis.org. DOE will address Applicant in the Joint Proposal filed proposed to be located near Luyster these comments, to the extent they are with the New York Public Service Creek, north of 20th Avenue, for a total still relevant, as well as those submitted Commission on February 24, 2012 and length of approximately 330 miles from during the public comment period for submitted to DOE on February 28, 2012 the U.S. border with Canada. The this Amended NOI, in the CHPE EIS. as an amended application for a converter station would be installed on Public Scoping for the Revised Presidential permit, and (2) the No properties owned by Con Edison located Applicant Proposal Action Alternative, which assumes that in an industrial zone in Astoria and is DOE would not grant a Presidential proposed to have a total footprint of Pursuant to the submittal of the Joint permit for the Champlain Hudson approximately five acres. The converter Proposal, the NY State Public Service Commission is holding six public project and that the proposed line and station would interconnect via associated facilities would not be underground circuit with the NYPA statement hearings in April 2012 in a variety of locations along the revised constructed. substation near the site of the Charles Champlain Hudson project route, Poletti Power Project in Queens, NY. Issued in Washington, DC, on April 24, including the municipalities of The substation would be connected to 2012. Whitehall, Catskill, Ravena, Con Edison’s Rainey Substation, located Brian Mills, Schenectady, Garnerville, and Astoria, in Astoria, via HVAC cables installed Deputy Assistant Secretary, Permitting, Siting NY. While DOE does not currently under New York City streets. A map of and Analysis, Office of Electricity Delivery intend to hold further public scoping the proposed Champlain Hudson and Energy Reliability. meetings, it recognizes that comments transmission line project route can be [FR Doc. 2012–10304 Filed 4–27–12; 8:45 am] provided by the public during the found at http://chpexpresseis.org. BILLING CODE 6450–01–P Commission’s public statement hearings Previous Public Scoping may be relevant to DOE’s NEPA process. Therefore, DOE intends to review the A public scoping period for the CHPE April public statement hearing ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION EIS began with the publication of DOE’s transcripts, in addition to scoping AGENCY NOI in the Federal Register on June 18, comments submitted directly to DOE, 2010. The 45-day public scoping period and will consider them, to the extent [FRL–9665–2] closed on August 2, 2010. DOE received matters relevant to the federal scoping comments in the form of 22 environmental review process arise, as Cross-Media Electronic Reporting: written letters or emails from private scoping comments for purposes of the Authorized Program Revision citizens, government agencies, and EIS. Approval, State of Florida nongovernmental organizations. DOE held public scoping meetings from July Agency Purpose and Need, Proposed AGENCY: Environmental Protection 8, through July 16, 2010, in Bridgeport, Action, and Alternatives Agency (EPA). Connecticut and , Yonkers, The purpose and need for DOE’s ACTION: Notice. Kingston, Albany, Queensbury, and action is to decide whether to grant a Plattsburg, NY. A total of 33 people gave Presidential permit for the Champlain SUMMARY: This notice announces EPA’s verbal comments at the meetings, and Hudson project. approval of the State of Florida’s request

VerDate Mar<15>2010 18:50 Apr 27, 2012 Jkt 226001 PO 00000 Frm 00075 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\30APN1.SGM 30APN1 mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES