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

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Indian Affairs

Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the Proposed El

Rancho Electric Substation, Santa Fe County, New Mexico

AGENY: Bureau of Indian Affairs, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability of DEIS and public comment dates.

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SUMMARY: The Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) is for the

proposed approval by the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) of a one acre

easement on Indian trust land of the Pueblo of San Ildefonso for the

Jemez Mountains Electric Cooperative, Inc. (Cooperative). The parcel is

located in the community of El Rancho, Santa Fe County, New Mexico. The

Cooperative intends to construct, operate and maintain a 69/kV electric

distribution substation and related facilities on the land.

In a related action, the Rural Utilities Service (RUS, Department

of Agriculture, is considering the approval of the advance of loan

funds for construction of the facilities. The BIA is serving as the

lead agency. The RUS is participating as a cooperating 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: Written comments must arrive by May 7, 1996, at the address

given below. We will consider all comments received during this period

in preparing the Final EIS.

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.

If you would like a copy of this DEIS, please write Mr. Tippeconnic

at the above address, or call (505) 766-3374. We have sent copies of

the DEIS to all agencies and individuals who previously asked for them.

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

address, or at (505) 766-3374.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Proposed Action would permit the

Cooperative to construct a new 69/12.47 kV electric distribution

substation and related facilities on 1.0 acre of land. Equipment within

the substation would include terminal and switching equipment for the

69 kV transmission line, a 69-12.47 kV, 10,000 kVA power transformer,

one regulator bank, four electronic vacuum reclosers, a control house

and supports for the bus work and low voltage terminations. The

proposed project would also include the construction of a 69 kV

transmission line and four underground distribution tie lines.

The action is needed in order to meet the increasing demand for

electrical power in the El Rancho service area. Service is now being

supplied by a temporary substation, located approximately one and one

half miles from the proposed project site. That substation is

constantly operating at 100% of its 1500 kVA capacity, which is no

longer sufficient to deliver reliable electric power. Moreover, a

higher capacity substation is needed in the El Rancho area to serve as

a backup source of power for a wider region.

The No Action alternative would deny approval of the easement. This

would not necessarily prohibit the Cooperative from upgrading its

service, but would certainly result in higher consumer costs. The

proposed substation site is optimal for the distribution of power

within its load area. The operating costs increase with distance from

this central point. Other alternatives to the proposed action include

upgrading the existing substation, or constructing a new substation at

one of five alternate locations.

The significant issues identified and analyzed in the DEIS include

cultural resources, aesthetic qualities, and existing and future land

use.

Dated: February 21, 1996.

Ada E. Deer,

Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs.

[FR Doc. 96-5567 Filed 3-7-96; 8:45 am]

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