# Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the Proposed El Rancho Electric Substation, Santa Fe County, New Mexico > Briefs, arguments, decisions, and more. URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/fr%3A96-5567 ## Record - **Collection:** Federal Register - **Document type:** Notice - **Published:** March 8, 1996 - **Citation:** 61 FR 9483 ## Text 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. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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] BILLING CODE 4310-02-P --- Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/fr%3A96-5567. Public record. Not legal advice.