80 FR 32110 - Record of Decision for the South Mountain Freeway (Loop 202) (DOE-EIS 0417)
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Western Area Power Administration Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 108 (June 5, 2015)
Western Area Power Administration
Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 108 (June 5, 2015)
| Page Range | 32110-32111 | |
| FR Document | 2015-13765 |
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 108 (Friday, June 5, 2015)] [Notices] [Pages 32110-32111] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2015-13765] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Western Area Power Administration Record of Decision for the South Mountain Freeway (Loop 202) (DOE-EIS 0417) AGENCY: Western Area Power Administration, DOE. ACTION: Record of decision. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) prepared an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) (DOE/EIS-0417) for the construction of the proposed South Mountain Freeway (Loop 202) (Project), from the east-west alignment of Interstate 10 (Papago Freeway) to north-south alignment of Interstate 10 (Maricopa Freeway). The Project is located in the Greater Metropolitan Phoenix Area, southwest of the City of Phoenix in Maricopa County, Arizona. Western Area Power Administration (Western) was a cooperating agency in FHWA's EIS process. The FHWA selected a combination of the alternatives W59 and E1 as described in the EIS as their selected alternative in their Record of Decision (ROD). FHWA's selected alternative requires Western to issue letter agreements for two crossings of its transmission rights-of-way, and to modify its transmission system and facilities at these crossing locations to accommodate the construction of the Project. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information regarding Western's role in the project, contact: Ms. Linda Marianito, Environmental Manager, Desert Southwest Region, Western Area Power Administration, 615 S. 43rd Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85009, Telephone: (602) 605-2524, Email: [email protected]. The EIS and related documents may be viewed or downloaded at following Web site: http://azdot.gov/projects/phoenix-metro-area/loop-202-south-mountain-freeway/final-eis. For general information on DOE's National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review process, please contact: Carol M. Borgstrom, Director, Office of NEPA Policy and Compliance, GC-54, U.S. Department of Energy, Washington, DC 20585, Telephone (202) 586-4600 or (800) 472-2756, Email: [email protected]. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: FHWA was the lead Federal agency for the Project EIS (FHWA-AZ-EIS-14-0-F; April 20, 2001; 77 FR 20345). Western was a cooperating agency for the Project EIS. After an independent review of the Final Project EIS, Western concluded that its needs are satisfied and with this notice is adopting the Project EIS for its participation in the Project. The FHWA signed its ROD on the Project on March 10, 2015, and selected a combination of the alternatives W59 and E1 for its selected alternative. Western's Action The Project EIS addresses the effects of the Project, including modification of Western's transmission system. There are two locations on the selected Project alignment that require Western to issue license agreements to Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) for two crossings of Western's transmission rights-of-way: The Lone Butte to Phoenix double-circuit 230-kilovolt (kV) transmission line east of 51st Avenue, and the Liberty to Phoenix double-circuit 230-kV transmission line one-half mile north of Broadway Road. Western will modify its Lone Butte to Phoenix double-circuit 230-kV transmission line east of 51st Avenue to accommodate the Project construction. The modification includes relocation of two spans to the east. Western will work with ADOT to pursue the additional easement necessary for the proposed relocation. Western will also modify the Liberty to Phoenix double-circuit 230- kV transmission line at the crossing one-half mile north of Broadway Road. The lines will need to be raised to clear the proposed elevated freeway and potential noise walls. Cultural Resources Pursuant to Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, the Arizona State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO) has been involved and will continue to be involved in the cultural resources related to the proposed Project. The SHPO concurred with the adequacy of the records search and reports. ADOT, on behalf of FHWA and in conjunction with tribal and local authorities, Western, and the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs executed a final Programmatic Agreement (PA) [[Page 32111]] describing the proper treatment and management of affected cultural resources. Western signed the PA on October 18, 2010. Endangered Species Act Pursuant to Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act, consultation was completed with the USFWS. Two candidate species, the Sonoran desert tortoise, and the Tucson shovel-nosed snake, have been documented in the Eastern Section of the Project area and suitable habitat for these species is present within Western's action area. Subsequent to completion of the Biological Evaluation for the project, the Tucson shovel-nosed snake was removed from the candidate species list. No other Federally-listed, threatened, or endangered species have been documented in the proposed rights-of-way. There is no critical habitat designated in Western's action area. In addition, Western will comply with recommendations found in the Biological Evaluation, South Mountain Transportation Corridor (July 2014), and in recommendations outlined in the USFWS letter dated June 10, 2014. Considering this and Western's limited action in the Project, Western's proposed modifications to its transmission system and facilities is unlikely to affect Sonoran desert tortoises and Tucson shovel-nosed snakes. Alternatives Considered Numerous alternatives were examined during the early EIS process including: Modal alternatives, corridor and alignment alternatives, configuration alternatives, and design alternatives. As the EIS and public and agency scoping process progressed, many of these alternatives were eliminated and six broadly described build alternatives were developed (W59, W71, W101-east, W101-central, W101- west, E1) as well as a no action alternative. These seven alternatives were carried forward for further analysis. FHWA ultimately selected a combination of alternatives W59 and E1 as their preferred alternative. The no action alternative assumed that the Project would not be constructed and no transmission structures or lines would need to be modified. FHWA did not select the no action alternative since it did not meet the purpose and need. Mitigation Western will adhere to its Construction Standard 13 ``Environmental Quality Protection'' during its transmission line modification activities. Long-term operations of the transmission line will follow Western's standard operating procedures and will not be affected by this action. A Mitigation Action Plan is not required for Western's proposed action. Decision Western's decision is to adopt the EIS for its participation in the Project and to modify its transmission system as described above in support of FHWA's decision to construct their Project.\1\ This ROD was prepared pursuant to the requirements of the Council on Environmental Quality Regulations for Implementing the Procedural Provisions of the NEPA (40 CFR parts 1500-1508) and DOE's NEPA Implementing Procedures (10 CFR part 1021). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \1\ ``Restatement of Delegations of Environment Impact Statement Authorities'' from Sean A. Lev, Acting General Counsel, to Timothy J. Meeks dated November 16, 2011. Dated: May 26, 2015. Mark A. Gabriel, Administrator. [FR Doc. 2015-13765 Filed 6-4-15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6450-01-P
![32110 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 108 / Friday, June 5, 2015 / Notices
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Online service, please email (NEPA) review process, please contact:
FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov, or call Carol M. Borgstrom, Director, Office of
Federal Energy Regulatory (866) 208–3676 (toll free). For TTY, call NEPA Policy and Compliance, GC–54,
Commission (202) 502–8659. U.S. Department of Energy, Washington,
[Docket No. EL15–69–000]
Comment Date: 5 p.m. Eastern Time DC 20585, Telephone (202) 586–4600 or
on June 16, 2015. (800) 472–2756, Email: askNEPA@
Acciona Wind Energy USA LLC v. Dated: May 28, 2015. hq.doe.gov.
Midcontinent Independent System Kimberly D. Bose, SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: FHWA
Operator, Inc.; Notice of Complaint Secretary. was the lead Federal agency for the
Take notice that on May 27, 2015, [FR Doc. 2015–13738 Filed 6–4–15; 8:45 am] Project EIS (FHWA–AZ–EIS–14–0–F;
pursuant to section 206 of the Federal BILLING CODE 6717–01–P April 20, 2001; 77 FR 20345). Western
Power Act, U.S.C. 824(e) and Rule 206 was a cooperating agency for the Project
of the Federal Energy Regulatory EIS. After an independent review of the
Commission’s (Commission) Rules of DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Final Project EIS, Western concluded
Practice and Procedure, 18 CFR 385.206, that its needs are satisfied and with this
Western Area Power Administration notice is adopting the Project EIS for its
Acciona Wind Energy USA LLC
(Complainant), filed a formal complaint participation in the Project. The FHWA
Record of Decision for the South
against Midcontinent Independent signed its ROD on the Project on March
Mountain Freeway (Loop 202) (DOE–
System Operator, Inc. (Respondent), 10, 2015, and selected a combination of
EIS 0417)
alleging that the Respondent violated its the alternatives W59 and E1 for its
Open Access and Energy Markets Tariff AGENCY: Western Area Power selected alternative.
in rejecting transmission service Administration, DOE.
Western’s Action
requests submitted on behalf of the ACTION: Record of decision.
Complainant’s affiliate, Tatanka Wind The Project EIS addresses the effects
SUMMARY: The Federal Highway of the Project, including modification of
Power, LLC, as more fully explained in
Administration (FHWA) prepared an Western’s transmission system. There
the complaint.
The Complainant certifies that copies Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) are two locations on the selected Project
of the complaint were served on the (DOE/EIS–0417) for the construction of alignment that require Western to issue
contacts listed for the Respondent in the the proposed South Mountain Freeway license agreements to Arizona
Commission’s list of Corporate Officials. (Loop 202) (Project), from the east-west Department of Transportation (ADOT)
Any person desiring to intervene or to alignment of Interstate 10 (Papago for two crossings of Western’s
protest this filing must file in Freeway) to north-south alignment of transmission rights-of-way: The Lone
accordance with Rules 211 and 214 of Interstate 10 (Maricopa Freeway). The Butte to Phoenix double-circuit 230-
the Commission’s Rules of Practice and Project is located in the Greater kilovolt (kV) transmission line east of
Procedure (18 CFR 385.211, 385.214). Metropolitan Phoenix Area, southwest 51st Avenue, and the Liberty to Phoenix
Protests will be considered by the of the City of Phoenix in Maricopa double-circuit 230-kV transmission line
Commission in determining the County, Arizona. Western Area Power one-half mile north of Broadway Road.
appropriate action to be taken, but will Administration (Western) was a Western will modify its Lone Butte to
not serve to make protestants parties to cooperating agency in FHWA’s EIS Phoenix double-circuit 230-kV
the proceeding. Any person wishing to process. transmission line east of 51st Avenue to
become a party must file a notice of The FHWA selected a combination of accommodate the Project construction.
intervention or motion to intervene, as the alternatives W59 and E1 as The modification includes relocation of
appropriate. The Respondent’s answer described in the EIS as their selected two spans to the east. Western will work
and all interventions, or protests must alternative in their Record of Decision with ADOT to pursue the additional
be filed on or before the comment date. (ROD). FHWA’s selected alternative easement necessary for the proposed
The Respondent’s answer, motions to requires Western to issue letter relocation.
intervene, and protests must be served agreements for two crossings of its Western will also modify the Liberty
on the Complainants. transmission rights-of-way, and to to Phoenix double-circuit 230-kV
The Commission encourages modify its transmission system and transmission line at the crossing one-
electronic submission of protests and facilities at these crossing locations to half mile north of Broadway Road. The
interventions in lieu of paper using the accommodate the construction of the lines will need to be raised to clear the
‘‘eFiling’’ link at http://www.ferc.gov. Project. proposed elevated freeway and potential
Persons unable to file electronically FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For noise walls.
should submit an original and 5 copies further information regarding Western’s Cultural Resources
of the protest or intervention to the role in the project, contact: Ms. Linda
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Marianito, Environmental Manager, Pursuant to Section 106 of the
888 First Street NE., Washington, DC Desert Southwest Region, Western Area National Historic Preservation Act, the
20426. Power Administration, 615 S. 43rd Arizona State Historic Preservation
This filing is accessible on-line at Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85009, Telephone: Officer (SHPO) has been involved and
http://www.ferc.gov, using the will continue to be involved in the
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
(602) 605–2524, Email: Marianito@
‘‘eLibrary’’ link and is available for wapa.gov. cultural resources related to the
electronic review in the Commission’s The EIS and related documents may proposed Project. The SHPO concurred
Public Reference Room in Washington, be viewed or downloaded at following with the adequacy of the records search
DC. There is an ‘‘eSubscription’’ link on Web site: http://azdot.gov/projects/ and reports. ADOT, on behalf of FHWA
the Web site that enables subscribers to phoenix-metro-area/loop-202-south- and in conjunction with tribal and local
receive email notification when a mountain-freeway/final-eis. authorities, Western, and the U.S.
document is added to a subscribed For general information on DOE’s Bureau of Indian Affairs executed a final
docket(s). For assistance with any FERC National Environmental Policy Act Programmatic Agreement (PA)
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![Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 108 / Friday, June 5, 2015 / Notices 32111
describing the proper treatment and operations of the transmission line will ADDRESSES: The October 28 through 30,
management of affected cultural follow Western’s standard operating 2015 public meeting will be held at the
resources. Western signed the PA on procedures and will not be affected by Washington Plaza Hotel, 10 Thomas
October 18, 2010. this action. A Mitigation Action Plan is Circle NW., Washington, DC 20005.
not required for Western’s proposed Teleconference lines also will be
Endangered Species Act
action. available for members of the public
Pursuant to Section 7 of the unable to attend in person.
Endangered Species Act, consultation Decision
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
was completed with the USFWS. Two Western’s decision is to adopt the EIS Members of the public who wish to
candidate species, the Sonoran desert for its participation in the Project and to obtain further information regarding
tortoise, and the Tucson shovel-nosed modify its transmission system as these public meetings may contact
snake, have been documented in the described above in support of FHWA’s Edward Hanlon, Designated Federal
Eastern Section of the Project area and decision to construct their Project.1 This Officer, by telephone: (202) 564–2134 or
suitable habitat for these species is ROD was prepared pursuant to the email at hanlon.edward@epa.gov. The
present within Western’s action area. requirements of the Council on SAB mailing address is: U.S. EPA
Subsequent to completion of the Environmental Quality Regulations for Science Advisory Board (1400R), U.S.
Biological Evaluation for the project, the Implementing the Procedural Provisions Environmental Protection Agency, 1200
Tucson shovel-nosed snake was of the NEPA (40 CFR parts 1500–1508) Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Washington,
removed from the candidate species list. and DOE’s NEPA Implementing DC 20460. General information about
No other Federally-listed, threatened, or Procedures (10 CFR part 1021). the SAB, including information
endangered species have been
Dated: May 26, 2015. concerning the SAB meeting and
documented in the proposed rights-of-
Mark A. Gabriel, teleconferences announced in this
way. There is no critical habitat
Administrator. notice, may be found on the SAB Web
designated in Western’s action area. In
[FR Doc. 2015–13765 Filed 6–4–15; 8:45 am] site at http://www.epa.gov/sab.
addition, Western will comply with Technical Contact for EPA’s Draft
recommendations found in the BILLING CODE 6450–01–P
Report: Any technical questions
Biological Evaluation, South Mountain concerning EPA’s draft report should be
Transportation Corridor (July 2014), and directed to Dr. Jeffrey Frithsen, National
in recommendations outlined in the ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION Center for Environmental Assessment,
USFWS letter dated June 10, 2014. AGENCY Office of Research and Development,
Considering this and Western’s limited U.S. EPA, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue
action in the Project, Western’s [FRL–9928–73–OA]
NW., Mail Code 8601P, Washington, DC
proposed modifications to its Notification of Teleconferences and a 20460, telephone (703) 347–8623 or via
transmission system and facilities is Public Meeting of the Science Advisory email at frithsen.jeff@epa.gov.
unlikely to affect Sonoran desert Board Hydraulic Fracturing Research SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
tortoises and Tucson shovel-nosed Advisory Panel
snakes. Background: The SAB was
established pursuant to the
Alternatives Considered AGENCY: Environmental Protection
Environmental Research, Development,
Agency (EPA).
Numerous alternatives were examined and Demonstration Authorization Act
ACTION: Notice. (ERDDAA), codified at 42 U.S.C. 4365,
during the early EIS process including:
Modal alternatives, corridor and SUMMARY: The EPA Science Advisory to provide independent scientific and
alignment alternatives, configuration Board (SAB) Staff Office announces a technical advice to the Administrator on
alternatives, and design alternatives. As public meeting and three the technical basis for Agency positions
the EIS and public and agency scoping teleconferences of the SAB Hydraulic and regulations. The SAB is a Federal
process progressed, many of these Fracturing Research Advisory Panel to Advisory Committee chartered under
alternatives were eliminated and six conduct a review of the EPA draft the Federal Advisory Committee Act
broadly described build alternatives report, Assessment of the Potential (FACA), 5 U.S.C., App. 2. The SAB will
were developed (W59, W71, W101-east, Impacts of Hydraulic Fracturing for Oil comply with the provisions of FACA
W101-central, W101-west, E1) as well as and Gas on Drinking Water Resources, and all appropriate SAB Staff Office
a no action alternative. These seven (May, 2015 External Review Draft, EPA/ procedural policies. Pursuant to FACA
alternatives were carried forward for 600/R–15/047). and EPA policy, notice is hereby given
further analysis. that the SAB Hydraulic Fracturing
DATES: The public teleconferences will
FHWA ultimately selected a Research Advisory Panel will hold a
be held from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. (Eastern public meeting and three
combination of alternatives W59 and E1
Time) on the following dates: teleconferences to conduct a review of
as their preferred alternative. The no
Wednesday September 30, 2015; the EPA draft report, Assessment of the
action alternative assumed that the
Thursday October 1, 2015; and Monday Potential Impacts of Hydraulic
Project would not be constructed and no
October 19, 2015. The public face-to- Fracturing for Oil and Gas on Drinking
transmission structures or lines would
face meeting will be held on Wednesday Water Resources, (May, 2015 External
need to be modified. FHWA did not
October 28, 2015 from 9 a.m. to 5:30 Review Draft, EPA/600/R–15/047).
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
select the no action alternative since it
p.m., Thursday October 29, 2015 from The EPA’s Office of Research and
did not meet the purpose and need.
8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and Friday Development (ORD) has developed a
Mitigation October 30, 2015 from 8:30 a.m. to 3 draft assessment report concerning the
Western will adhere to its p.m. (Eastern Time). relationship between hydraulic
Construction Standard 13 1 ‘‘Restatement of Delegations of Environment
fracturing and drinking water in the
‘‘Environmental Quality Protection’’ Impact Statement Authorities’’ from Sean A. Lev,
United States. The purpose of the
during its transmission line Acting General Counsel, to Timothy J. Meeks dated report, Assessment of the Potential
modification activities. Long-term November 16, 2011. Impacts of Hydraulic Fracturing for Oil
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Document Created: 2015-12-15 15:21:04
Document Modified: 2015-12-15 15:21:04
| Category | Regulatory Information | |
| Collection | Federal Register | |
| sudoc Class | AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106: | |
| Publisher | Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration | |
| Section | Notices | |
| Action | Record of decision. | |
| Contact | For further information regarding Western's role in the project, contact: Ms. Linda Marianito, Environmental Manager, Desert Southwest Region, Western Area Power Administration, 615 S. 43rd Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85009, Telephone: (602) 605-2524, Email: [email protected] | |
| FR Citation | 80 FR 32110 |
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