Appendix A Notice of Intent to Prepare an EIS This page intentionally left blank 22774 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 74 / Tuesday, April 17, 2012 / Notices The Commission encourages remove one transmission line and Loveland, CO 80539–3003, fax (970) electronic submission of protests and abandon the ROW. The remaining 461–7213, or email, interventions in lieu of paper, using the transmission line would be rebuilt along [email protected]. FERC Online links at http:// the existing ROW with taller steel FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For www.ferc.gov. To facilitate electronic monopoles and would be double- additional information on the proposed service, persons with Internet access circuited (i.e., six conductors per pole). project, the EIS process, or to receive a who will eFile a document and/or be Western determined that an copy of the Draft EIS when it is listed as a contact for an intervenor environmental impact statement (EIS) is published, contact Tim Snowden by the must create and validate an the appropriate level of NEPA review. methods noted above. For general eRegistration account using the Therefore, Western will prepare an EIS information on the DOE’s NEPA review eRegistration link. Select the eFiling on its proposal to upgrade and co-locate process, contact Carol M. Borgstrom, link to log on and submit the two existing separate transmission lines Director of NEPA Policy and intervention or protests. on a double-circuit transmission line on Compliance, GC–54, U.S. Department of Persons unable to file electronically one ROW in accordance with NEPA, the Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue should submit an original and 14 copies DOE NEPA Implementing Procedures, SW., Washington, DC 20585–0119, of the intervention or protest to the and the Council on Environmental telephone (202) 586–4600 or (800) 472– Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Quality (CEQ) regulations for 2756, fax (202) 586–7031. implementing NEPA. Portions of 888 First St. NE., Washington, DC SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Western is 20426. Western’s proposal may affect a Federal power marketing agency The filings in the above proceedings floodplains and wetlands, so this Notice within the DOE that markets and are accessible in the Commission’s of Intent (NOI) also serves as a notice of delivers Federal wholesale electric eLibrary system by clicking on the proposed floodplain or wetland action power (principally hydroelectric power) appropriate link in the above list. They in accordance with DOE floodplain and to municipalities, rural electric are also available for review in the wetland environmental review cooperatives, public utilities, irrigation Commission’s Public Reference Room in requirements. districts, Federal and State agencies, Washington, DC. There is an DATES: This notice initiates a 90-day and Native American tribes in 15 eSubscription link on the web site that public scoping process to solicit public western and central states. enables subscribers to receive email comments and identify issues, Western initially began preparation of notification when a document is added opportunities, and concerns that should an environmental assessment (EA) for to a subscribed docket(s). For assistance be considered in the preparation of a the Project. Western’s proposal was with any FERC Online service, please Draft EIS. The scoping period will end under a class of actions in the DOE email [email protected]. or on July 16, 2012, or 15 days after the NEPA Implementing Procedures (10 call (866) 208–3676 (toll free). For TTY, date of the last public scoping meeting, CFR part 1021) that normally requires call (202) 502–8659. whichever is later. In order to ensure the preparation of an EA. Subsequent to Comment Date: 5 p.m. Eastern time consideration in the Draft EIS, all the EA determination, Western held on Wednesday, April 18, 2012. comments must be received prior to the public meetings and received many Dated: April 10, 2012. close of the scoping period. Western written and oral comments from the Kimberly D. Bose, will provide additional opportunities public and agencies on the proposal during the scoping period. The public Secretary. for public participation upon publication of the Draft EIS. The public expressed several concerns regarding [FR Doc. 2012–9121 Filed 4–16–12; 8:45 am] will be notified in advance of future the impacts of the proposal and some of BILLING CODE 6717–01–P opportunities for participation as the the stakeholders requested evaluation of EIS is prepared. additional alternatives. Based on these factors, Western determined that an EIS DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY To provide the public with an opportunity to review the proposal and is the more appropriate level of NEPA 1 Western Area Power Administration project information, Western expects to review. Therefore, Western will hold two public meetings: One meeting prepare an EIS on its proposal to [DOE/EIS–0483] in Estes Park, Colorado and one meeting upgrade and co-locate two existing in Loveland, Colorado during the public separate transmission lines on a double- Estes to Flatiron Substation scoping period. Western will announce circuit transmission line on one ROW. Transmission Lines Rebuild Project, the dates and locations of the public Western will coordinate with Larimer County, CO scoping meetings through local news appropriate Federal, State, and local agencies and potentially affected Native AGENCY: Western Area Power media, newsletters, and posting on the American tribes during the preparation Administration, DOE. Western Web site at http:// ww2.wapa.gov/sites/western/ of the EIS. The U.S. Department of ACTION: Notice of Intent To Prepare an Agriculture, Forest Service, Arapaho Environmental Impact Statement and To transmission/infrastruct/Pages/Estes- Flatiron.aspx, at least 15 days prior to and Roosevelt National Forest (Forest Conduct Scoping Meetings; Notice of Service) will be a cooperating agency on Floodplain and Wetlands Involvement. each meeting. Western will consider all comments on the scope of the EIS the EIS since it requires NEPA review to support its decision on whether or not SUMMARY: Western Area Power received or postmarked by the end of to grant a Special Use Permit for parts Administration currently owns and scoping. The public is invited to submit of the transmission line located on operates two 115-kilovolt transmission comments on the proposal at any time National Forest Service System lands. lines on two separate rights-of-way during the EIS process. Western will invite other Federal, State, (ROW) located between Flatiron ADDRESSES: Comments related to the local, and tribal agencies with Reservoir (near Loveland, Colorado) and proposed Project may be submitted by the town of Estes Park, Colorado. Each mail to Tim Snowden, Western Area 1 On November 16, 2011, DOE’s Acting General transmission line is approximately 16 Power Administration, 5555 E. Counsel delegated to Western’s Administrator all miles long. Western is proposing to Crossroads Blvd., P.O. Box 3700, EIS authorities. VerDate Mar<15>2010 14:27 Apr 16, 2012 Jkt 226001 PO 00000 Frm 00020 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\17APN1.SGM 17APN1 wreier-aviles on DSK5TPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 74 / Tuesday, April 17, 2012 / Notices 22775 jurisdiction by law or special expertise, eliminated along with the associated Public Participation with respect to environmental issues, to access roads. Interested parties are invited to be cooperating agencies on the EIS, as Currently, the two transmission lines participate in the scoping process to defined in 40 CFR 1501.6. Such cross Roosevelt National Forest System help define the scope of the EIS, agencies also may make a request to lands. Approximately 1.65 miles of significant resources, and issues to be Western to be a cooperating agency. transmission line and ROW would be analyzed in depth, and to eliminate Designated cooperating agencies have removed and 2.16 miles of transmission from detailed study issues that are not certain responsibilities to support the line would be rebuilt on National Forest pertinent. The EIS scoping process will NEPA process, as specified in 40 CFR System lands, under Western’s involve all interested agencies (Federal, 1501.6(b). proposal. State, county, and local), Native Purpose and Need for Agency Action American tribes, public interest groups, Alternatives businesses, affected landowners, and Western’s purpose and need for Under the No-Action (i.e., baseline) individual members of the public. agency action is to ensure its facilities Western has previously consulted alternative, the two transmission lines are up to current safety and reliability with potentially affected or interested would continue to operate on the standards, accessible for maintenance tribes to jointly evaluate and address the and emergencies, protected from existing and separate ROWs. Records potential effects on cultural resources, wildfire, and cost effective for its indicate that 70 to 80 percent of the 32 traditional cultural properties, or other customers. miles of transmission lines would resources important to the tribes in the require replacement within the near Proposed Action proposed Project area. Western will future. This would require replacing contact previously identified interested Presently there are two transmission transmission line structures along both tribes and inform them that an EIS is lines on two separate ROWs located existing ROWs. Access to the planned. Any government-to- between Flatiron Reservoir (near transmission lines is limited and government consultations will be Loveland) and the town of Estes Park. replacement of structures would require conducted in accordance with Executive The Estes-Lyons line segment is additional or improved access on both Order 13175, Consultation and approximately 16 miles long and was ROWs. The No-Action alternative would Coordination with Indian Tribal built in 1938. The Estes-Pole Hill and require that the existing 30-foot ROW on Governments (65 FR 67249), the Flatiron-Pole Hill line segments the Estes-Lyons section be widened to President’s memorandum of April 29, combined are approximately 16 miles meet current safety standards.