Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the Proposed El Rancho Electric Substation, Santa Fe County, NM

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Indian Affairs

Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the Proposed El

Rancho Electric Substation, Santa Fe County, NM

AGENCY: Bureau of Indian Affairs, Interior.

ACTION: Extension of public comment period on DEIS.

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SUMMARY: On March 8, 1996, the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) published

in the Federal Register a Notice of Availability and public comment

dates for the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the

Proposed El Rancho Electric Substation, Santa Fe County, New Mexico.

The BIA now wishes to extend the public comment period for this DEIS.

The proposed BIA action is the approval of a one acre easement on

Indian trust land of the Pueblo of San Ildefonso for the Jemez

Mountains Electric Cooperative, Inc. to construct a 69/kV electric

distribution substation. The Department of Agriculture's Rural

Utilities Service (RUS), in turn, is considering the approval of the

advance of loan funds for construction of the facilities. The BIA is

serving as the lead agency.

This notice is published pursuant to Sec. 1503.1 of the Council on

Environmental Quality Regulations (40 CFR, Parts 1500 through 1508)

implementing the procedural requirements of the National Environmental

Policy Act of 1969, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), the Department

of Interior Manual (516 DM 1-6), and the environmental policies and

procedures of the RUS; and is in the exercise of authority delegated to

the Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs by 209 DM 8.

DATES: The date by which written comments must arrive at the address

given below is extended from May 7, 1996 to May 31, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Mr. Charles Tippeconnic, Bureau of

Indian Affairs, Albuquerque Area Office, Branch of Natural Resources,

P.O. Box 26567, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87125-6567. Copies of the DEIS

may also be obtained from this address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Charles Tippeconnic at the above

address, or at (505) 766-3374.

Dated: April 29, 1996.

Ada E. Deer,

Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs.

[FR Doc. 96-11015 Filed 5-2-96; 8:45 am]

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