# Notice of Availability of the Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement for the Designation of Energy Corridors on Federal Land in the 11 Western States, Including Proposed Amendments to Selected Land Use Plans LLW0350000.L14300000.PN0000 > Briefs, arguments, decisions, and more. URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/fr%3AE8-28279 ## Record - **Collection:** Federal Register - **Document type:** Notice - **Published:** November 28, 2008 - **Citation:** 73 FR 72521 ## Text DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management Notice of Availability of the Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement for the Designation of Energy Corridors on Federal Land in the 11 Western States, Including Proposed Amendments to Selected Land Use Plans LLW0350000.L14300000.PN0000 AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: Notice of availability. SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the Department of Energy (DOE) as co-lead agencies, and the U.S. Forest Service (FS) of the Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Department of Defense (DOD), and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) of the Department of the Interior (DOI) as cooperating Federal Agencies (the Agencies) announce the availability of the Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement for the Designation of Energy Corridors on Federal Land in the 11 Western States (Final PEIS) (DOE/EIS-0386) that also proposes to amend 138 land use plans. The Coeur d'Alene Tribe, the California Energy Commission (CEC), the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), the State of Wyoming, and the Lincoln, Sweetwater, and Uinta counties and conservation districts in Wyoming are also cooperating agencies. The Department of Commerce (DOC) and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) are consulting agencies. The Agencies prepared the Final PEIS pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), as amended, 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq. ; the Council on Environmental Quality NEPA regulations, 40 CFR Parts 1500-1508; the DOE NEPA regulations, 10 CFR Part 1021; Compliance with Floodplain and Wetland Environmental Review Requirements, 10 CFR Part 1022; the BLM planning regulations, 43 CFR subpart 1610; and applicable FS planning regulations. Section 368 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct 2005), Public Law 109-58, directs the Secretaries of Agriculture, Commerce, Defense, Energy, and the Interior, in consultation with FERC, states, tribal or local units of governments, as appropriate; affected utility industries; and other interested persons to designate, under their respective authorities, corridors on Federal land in the 11 Western States for oil, gas, and hydrogen pipelines as well as electricity transmission and distribution facilities; perform any environmental reviews that may be required to complete the designation of such corridors; and incorporate the designated corridors into relevant agency land use and resource management plans or equivalent plans. The 11 Western States are Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. DATES: Copies of the Final PEIS were distributed beginning November 20, 2008 to Members of Congress, American Indian Tribal governments, state and local governments, other Federal agencies, and organizations and individuals who are known to have an interest in the Final PEIS. The DOI, USDA and DOD would issue separate Records of Decision (ROD) to amend selected land use plans for the purpose of designating EPAct 2005 Section 368 corridors no sooner than 30 days after the Environmental Protection Agency publishes the Notice of Availability of the Final PEIS. BLM's ROD must also await a 60-day Governors' Consistency Review in accordance with 43 CFR 1610.3-2. ADDRESSES: Send written requests for compact discs (CD) or printed copies of the Final PEIS to: West-wide Energy Corridor Final PEIS, Argonne National Laboratory, 9700 S. Cass Avenue, Bldg. 900, Mailstop 4, Argonne, IL 60439; by toll-free fax: 1-866-542-5904; or order online at http://corridoreis.anl.gov . The Final PEIS consists of a stand alone Summary, the PEIS Chapters (Volume 1-648 pages), the Appendices (Volume 2-564 pages), Maps (Volume 3-148 pages), and Comments and Responses (Volume 4-174 pages). The Final PEIS Volume 3 map atlas is printed on 11x17-inch paper. The CD version of the Final PEIS includes the map atlas in PDF format. The most powerful and flexible version of the map data is available on the project Web site ( http://corridoreis.anl.gov ). The Web site maps are available within a geographic information system (GIS) database that allows users to merge, enlarge, and view multiple map-data layers. Software and instructions to use the GIS data are user-friendly and available for free download on the Web site. The Final PEIS is available on the project Web site at http://corridoreis.anl.gov , on the DOE NEPA Web site at http://www.gc.energy.gov/nepa , and at the following reading room locations: • The BLM state and field offices and FS regional offices in the 11 Western States, and • The DOE Freedom of Information Act Office and Reading Room, Room 1E-190, 1000 Independence Ave., SW., Washington, DC 20585; phone 202-586-3142. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information on the Final PEIS, please contact Kate Winthrop, BLM, WO-350, MS 1000 LS, 1849 C Street, NW., Washington, DC 20240; by phone: 202-452-5051; or by e-mail: kate_winthrop@blm.gov . SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Agencies prepared the Final PEIS to implement Section 368 of EPAct to designate preferred locations for future oil, gas, and hydrogen pipelines as well as electricity transmission and distribution facilities and to incorporate the designated corridors into the relevant agencies' land use and resource management plans or equivalent plans. Section 368 directs the Agencies to take into account the need for upgraded and new infrastructure and to take actions to improve reliability, relieve congestion, and enhance the capability of the national grid to deliver energy. This action only pertains to the designation of corridors for potential facilities on Federal lands located within the 11 Western States. In addition, Section 368 is intended to improve coordination among the Agencies to increase the efficiency of using designated corridors. In many areas of the United States, including the West, the infrastructure required to deliver energy has not always kept pace with growth in energy demand. The Agencies hope to improve the delivery of energy, while enhancing the electric transmission grid for the future, by establishing a coordinated network of Federal energy corridors on Federal lands in the West. The Final PEIS analyzes the environmental impacts of designating Federal energy corridors in 11 Western States and incorporating those designations into relevant agency land use and resource management plans or equivalent plans. The Agencies are preparing this PEIS at the designation stage because they believe it is an appropriate time to examine environmental concerns at the programmatic level. Impacts that affect the quality of the environment will only occur after specific proposals are submitted, analyzed through the NEPA process, and approved by the land management agency. The Agencies expect that the PEIS will greatly assist subsequent site-specific analyses for individual project proposals by allowing the Agencies to incorporate this PEIS into those later analyses. The Final PEIS analyzes a No Action Alternative and a Proposed Action. Under the No Action Alternative, Federal energy corridors would not be designated on Federal lands in the 11 Western States. The siting and development of future energy transport projects would continue under current agency procedures for granting rights-of-way (ROW). Under the Proposed Action, the Agencies would designate and incorporate identified Federal energy corridors that would consist of existing, locally designated Federal energy corridors together with additional, newly designated energy corridors located on Federal land into relevant land use and resource management plans. The Proposed Action is the Agencies' preferred alternative. These energy corridors would comprise a comprehensive, coordinated network of preferred locations for future energy projects that could be developed to satisfy demand for energy. Under the Proposed Action, approximately 6,120 miles of Federal energy corridors would be designated on Federal lands within the 11 Western States as the preferred location for oil, natural gas, and hydrogen pipelines as well as electricity transmission and distribution lines. Environmental, engineering, and land use screening criteria were applied during the development of the Proposed Action to reduce potential environmental and land use conflicts. The energy corridors would typically be 3,500 feet wide, although the width may vary in certain areas due to environmental, topographic, or management constraints. The DOI, USDA and DOD would amend their respective land use or equivalent plans to incorporate the designated energy corridors; the amendments would be effective upon signing of the relevant agency's ROD. The policies and Interagency Operating Procedures (IOPs) developed under the Proposed Action would establish minimum requirements for the management of future individual energy transport projects. The proposed policies identify management objectives and address the administration of energy transport development activities. The proposed IOPs identify required management procedures that would need to be incorporated into future project-specific energy transport development proposals. The Proposed Action would amend a total of 138 (93 BLM, 38 FS, 4 DOD, and 3 NPS) land use and equivalent plans in the 11 Western States. The proposed land use plan amendments would incorporate the programmatic energy transport development policies and IOPs set forth in the Final PEIS. The proposed land use plan amendments would facilitate preparation and consideration of future energy transport development ROW applications on DOI-, USDA-, and DOD-administered lands in these states, but would not eliminate the need for site-specific NEPA analysis of individual development proposals. The Agencies propose to amend the following land use management plans, itemized in appendix A of the Final PEIS: Land Use or Equivalent Plans Proposed for Amendment to Incorporate Epact Section 368 Energy Corridors on Federal Lands in the 11 Western States State land use plan Agency office(s) Arizona Apache-Sitgreaves NS LRMP FS, Apache-Sitgreaves NF Arizona Strip RMP BLM, Arizona Strip FO Coronado NF LRMP FS, Coronado NF Glen Canyon NRA GMP NPS, Glen Canyon NRA Kaibab NF LRMP FS, Kaibab NF Kingman RMP BLM, Kingman FO Lake Havasu RMP BLM, Lake Havasu FO Lower Gila North MFP BLM, Hassayampa FO Lower Gila South RMP BLM, Hassayampa FO Lower Sonoran RMP BLM, Lower Sonoran FO Phoenix RMP BLM, Hassayampa FO Prescott NF LRMP FS, Prescott NF Safford RMP BLM, Safford FO Tonto NF LRMP FS, Tonto NF Yuma Proving Ground INRMP DOD, U.S. Army, Yuma Proving Ground Yuma RMP BLM, Yuma FO California Alturas RMP BLM, Alturas FO Angeles NF LRMP FS, Angeles NF Bishop RMP BLM, Bishop FO California Desert Conservation Area Plan BLM, Barstow FO, El Centro FO, Lake Havasu FO, Needles FO, Ridgecrest FO, Palm Springs-South Coast FO China Lake Naval Air Weapons Station INRMP DOD, U.S. Navy, China Lake Naval Air Weapons Station Cleveland NF LRMP FS, Cleveland NF Eagle Lake RMP BLM, Eagle Lake FO Inyo NF LRMP FS, Inyo NF Klamath NF LRMP FS, Klamath NF Lassen NF LRMP FS, Lassen NF Modoc NF LRMP FS, Modoc NF Redding RMP BLM, Redding FO San Bernadino NF LRMP FS, San Bernadino NF Shasta-Trinity NF LRMP FS, Shasta-Trinity NF Sierra RMP BLM, Folsom FO Six Rivers NF LRMP FS, Six Rivers NF South Coast RMP BLM, Palm Springs-South Coast FO Surprise RMP BLM, Surprise FO Tahoe NF LRMP FS, Tahoe NF Toiyabe NF LRMP FS,Toiyabe NF Colorado Arapaho-Roosevelt NF and Pawnee NG LRMP FS, Arapaho-Roosevelt NF and Pawnee NG Curecanti NCA GMP NPS, Curecanti NRA Glenwood Springs RMP BLM, Glenwood Springs FO Grand Junction RMP BLM, Grand Junction FO Grand Mesa-Uncompahgre-Gunnison NF LRMP FS, Grand Mesa-Uncompahgre-Gunnison NF Gunnison RMP BLM, Gunnison FO Kremmling RMP BLM, Kremmling FO Little Snake RMP BLM, Little Snake FO Routt NF LRMP FS, Routt-Medicine Bow NF, Thunder Basin NG Royal Gorge RMP BLM, Royal Gorge FO Pike-San Isabel NF LRMP FS, Pike-San Isabel NF San Juan NF LRMP FS, San Juan NF San Juan/San Miguel RMP BLM, Dolores FO, Uncompahgre FO Uncompahgre Basin RMP BLM, Uncompahgre FO White River RMP BLM, White River FO Idaho Big Desert MFP BLM, Upper Snake FO Bruneau MFP BLM, Bruneau FO Caribou-Targhee NF LRMP FS, Caribou-Targhee NF Cassia RMP BLM, Burley FO Coeur d'Alene RMP BLM, Coeur d'Alene FO Idaho Panhandle NF LRMP FS, Idaho Panhandle NF Jarbidge RMP BLM, Bruneau FO, Four Rivers FO, Jarbridge FO Kuna MFP BLM, Four Rivers FO Medicine Lodge RMP BLM, Upper Snake FO Monument RMP BLM, Burley FO, Shoshone FO Pocatello RMP BLM, Pocatello FO Owyhee RMP BLM, Four Rivers FO, Owyhee FO Twin Falls MFP BLM, Burley FO Montana Beaverhead-Deerlodge NF LRMP FS, Beaverhead-Deerlodge NF Billings RMP BLM, Billings FO Dillon RMP BLM, Dillon FO Garnet RMP BLM, Missoula FO Headwaters RMP BLM, Butte FO Lolo NF LRMP FS, Lolo NF Nevada Black Rock-High Rock Emigrant Trail NCA RMP BLM, Winnemucca FO Carson City FO Consolidated RMP BLM, Carson City FO Elko RMP BLM, Elko FO Ely RMP BLM, Ely FO Hawthorne Army Depot INRMP DOD, U.S. Army, Hawthorne AD Humboldt NF LRMP FS, Humboldt-Toiyabe NF Lake Mead NRA GMP NPS, Lake Mead NRA Las Vegas RMP BLM, Las Vegas FO Nellis AFB Plan 126-4 INRMP DOD, U.S. Air Force, Nellis AFB Paradise-Denio MFP BLM, Winnemucca FO Sonoma Gerlach MFP BLM, Winnemucca FO Surprise RMP BLM, Surprise FO Toiyabe NF LRMP FS, Humboldt-Toiyabe NF Tonopah RMP BLM, Battle Mountain FO Wells RMP BLM, Elko FO New Mexico Carlsbad RMP BLM, Carlsbad FO Farmington RMP BLM, Farmington FO Mimbres RMP BLM, Las Cruces DO Rio Puerco RMP BLM, Rio Puerco FO Roswell RMP BLM, Roswell FO Socorro RMP BLM, Socorro FO White Sands RMP BLM, Las Cruces DO Oregon Andrews-Steens RMP BLM, Andrews FO Baker RMP BLM, Baker FO Brothers-Lapine RMP BLM, Central Oregon FO, Deschutes FO Deschutes NF LRMP FS, Deschutes NF Eugene RMP BLM, Upper Willamette FO Fremont NF LRMP FS, Fremont-Winema NFs Klamath Falls RMP BLM, Klamath Falls FO Lakeview RMP BLM, Lakeview FO Medford RMP BLM, Ashland FO, Butte Falls FO, Glendale FO Mt. Hood NF LRMP FS, Mt. Hood NF Roseburg RMP BLM, South River FO, Swiftwater FO, Upper Willamette FO Salem RMP BLM, Cascades FO, Tillamook FO Southeastern Oregon RMP BLM, Jordan FO, Malheur FO Three Rivers RMP BLM, Three Rivers FO Two Rivers RMP BLM, Deschutes FO Upper Deschutes RMP BLM, Deschutes FO Winema NF LRMP FS, Fremont-Winema NF Utah Cedar-Beaver-Garfield-Antimony RMP BLM, Cedar City FO Dixie NF LRMP FS, Dixie NF Fishlake NF LRMP FS, Fishlake NF Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument Management Plan BLM, Grand Staircase-Escalante NM FO House Range RMP BLM, Fillmore FO Kanab RMP BLM, Kanab FO Moab RMP BLM, Moab FO Pinyon MFP BLM, Cedar City FO Pony Express RMP BLM, Salt Lake FO Price RMP BLM, Price FO Richfield RMP BLM, Richfield FO St. George (Dixie) RMP BLM, St. George FO San Juan RMP BLM, Monticello FO Uinta NF LRMP FS, Uinta-Wasatch-Cache NF Vernal RMP BLM, Vernal FO Warm Springs RMP BLM, Fillmore FO Wasatch-Cache NF LRMP FS, Uinta-Wasatch-Cache NF Washington Mount Baker-Snoqualmie NF LRMP FS, Mount Baker-Snoqualmie NF Spokane RMP BLM, Wenatchee FO Wenatchee NF LRMP FS, Wenatchee NF Wyoming Ashley NF LRMP FS, Ashley NF Casper RMP BLM, Casper FO Cody RMP BLM, Cody FO Grass Creek RMP BLM, Worland FO Great Divide RMP BLM, Rawlins FO Green River RMP BLM, Rock Springs FO Kemmerer RMP BLM, Kemmerer FO Lander RMP BLM, Lander FO. Medicine Bow NF LRMP FS, Routt-Medicine Bow NF, Thunder Basin NG Washakie RMP BLM, Worland FO AFB = Air Force Base; BLM = Bureau of Land Management; CBGA = Cedar-Beaver-Garfield-Antimony; CCCP = Complex Comprehensive Conservation Plan; DO = district office; DOD = Department of Defense; FO = field office; FS = Forest Service; GMP = General Management Plan; INRMP = Integrated Natural Resources Management Plan; LMP = Land Management Plan; LRMP = Land and Resource Management Plan; MFP = Management Framework Plan; NCA = National Conservation Area; NF = National Forest; NM = National Monument; NG = National Grassland; NPS = National Park Service; NRA = National Recreation Area; RAMP= Recreation Area Management Plan; RFP= Revised Forest Plan, RMP = Resource Management Plan. This list represents the most current plans. This list differs in some particulars from the list in the Draft PEIS, Vol. 2. Since planning is dynamic and there may also be further changes in the locations of specific corridors, the individual agency Records of Decision may also include changes in this list. The Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement for the Designation of Energy Corridors on Federal Land in the 11 Western States (Draft PEIS) was made available for public review and comment from November 16, 2007, to February 14, 2008. The Draft PEIS was posted on the project Web site at http://corridoreis.anl.gov, the DOE NEPA Web site at http://www.gc.energy.gov/nepa, and provided, on request, as a CD or printed document. Notice was provided to more than 2,200 individuals and organizations who registered on the project Web site to receive information about the PEIS. Approximately 14,000 individuals and organizations commented on the Draft PEIS, providing more than 3,500 substantive comments. About 57 percent of the comment documents were received via the project Web site, 21 percent were submitted by regular mail, and 22 percent were submitted at the public hearings, as oral statements, written submissions, or both. Volume IV of the Final PEIS contains the public comments on the Draft PEIS and the agencies' responses. Public comments addressed a broad range of issues. Nearly 35 percent of the comments addressed various topics related to the alternatives presented in the PEIS, 20 percent commented on the purpose and need, and 17 percent commented on corridor location. Nearly 5 percent of the comments were concerned with ecological issues, approximately 4 percent raised concerns about multiple impact areas, 4 percent addressed cumulative impacts, and slightly more than 2 percent dealt with tribal issues. The remaining comments were divided among a number of topics, each comprising less than 2 percent of the total. The topics (listed in decreasing order) include general impacts, land use, water resources, health and safety, cultural resources, maps, visual resources, socioeconomics, regulations, air quality, environmental justice, and noise. Public and internal agency review comments on the Draft PEIS were incorporated into the Final PEIS. Public comments resulted in changes to the text and modifications to corridor segments. These changes have improved the analysis and clarified the discussion of important issues but did not significantly modify the Proposed Action or proposed land use plan amendments. The Final PEIS contains a number of modifications to corridor segments in response to public and agency comments. These changes are detailed in appendix K of the Final PEIS. Government-to-government consultation regarding potential energy transport development and land use plan amendments on DOI-, USDA-, and DOD-administered lands was conducted with federally recognized Tribes whose interests might be directly and substantially affected. The Tribes contacted are listed in appendix C of the Final PEIS. In addition, the Agencies have initiated activities to coordinate and consult with the governors of each of the 11 Western States addressed in the PEIS and with State agencies. Prior to the Agencies' issuance of their respective RODs, the governor of each state has the opportunity to identify any inconsistencies between the proposed land use plan amendments and State or local plans and to provide recommendations, in writing, during the 60-day consistency review period required by the BLM land use planning regulations (43 CFR 1610.3-2). The DOI Assistant Secretary, Land and Minerals Management (AS/LM) is the responsible official for publishing the proposed plan amendments affecting public lands. The Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 and its implementing regulations provide land use planning authority to the Secretary, which has been delegated to this Assistant Secretary. Because any decision regarding these plan amendments is being made by the AS/LM, it is the final decision for the DOI. This decision is not subject to administrative review (protest) under the BLM (DOI) land use planning regulations (43 CFR 1610.5-2). The USDA Under Secretary of Natural Resources and Environment is the responsible official for publishing the proposed plan amendments on National Forest System lands. The Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 as amended by the National Forest Management Act of 1976, and their implementing regulations provide land use planning authority to the Secretary, as delegated to this Under Secretary. Because any decision regarding these plan amendments is being made by the Under Secretary, Natural Resources and Environment, it is the final decision for the Department of Agriculture. This decision is not subject to administrative review (objection) under the FS or Departmental regulations (36 CFR 219.13(a)(2)). Copies of the Final PEIS have been sent to the Environmental Protection Agency, DOI Office of Environmental Policy and Compliance, DOI Library, and the governors' offices in each of the 11 Western States covered by this PEIS. Copies of the Final PEIS are available at the BLM state offices and FS regional offices in the 11 Western States, DOE Headquarters Reading Room, the BLM Washington, DC, Public Affairs office and the FS Washington, DC, offices. Those interested may also review the Final PEIS and proposed land use plan amendments online at http://corridoreis.anl.gov. Michael D. Nedd, Assistant Director, Minerals and Realty Management, Bureau of Land Management, Department of the Interior. [FR Doc. E8-28279 Filed 11-26-08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310-84-P --- Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/fr%3AE8-28279. Public record. Not legal advice.