80_FR_36918 80 FR 36795 - Notice of Availability (NOA) for the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and Announcement of Public Hearings for the Proposed Great Northern Transmission Line (GNTL) Project

80 FR 36795 - Notice of Availability (NOA) for the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and Announcement of Public Hearings for the Proposed Great Northern Transmission Line (GNTL) Project

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 123 (June 26, 2015)

Page Range36795-36796
FR Document2015-15625

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announces the availability of the ``Great Northern Transmission Line Project Draft Environmental Impact Statement'' (DOE/EIS-0499) for public review and comment. DOE is also announcing eight public hearings to receive comments on the Draft EIS. The Draft EIS evaluates the environmental impacts of DOE's proposed Federal action of issuing a Presidential permit to the Applicant: Minnesota Power, a regulated utility division of ALLETE, Inc., to construct, operate, maintain, and connect a new electric transmission line across the U.S./Canada border in northern Minnesota. It also addresses the potential human and environmental impacts of the project, and possible mitigation measures, including route, alignment, and site alternatives required for a transmission line route permit from the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission under the Minnesota Power Plant Siting Act. The EIS was jointly prepared by DOE with the Minnesota Department of Commerce--Environmental Energy Review and Analysis (MN DOC-EERA) acting as state co-lead in order to avoid duplication, and to comply with the environmental review requirements under both federal and state regulations. Region 5 of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), the St. Paul District Office of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), and the Twin Cities Ecology Field Office of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) are cooperating agencies in preparing the GNTL Project EIS.

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 123 (Friday, June 26, 2015) 
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 123 (Friday, June 26, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36795-36796]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-15625]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

[OE Docket No. PP-398]


Notice of Availability (NOA) for the Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement (EIS) and Announcement of Public Hearings for the Proposed 
Great Northern Transmission Line (GNTL) Project

AGENCY: U.S. Department of Energy.

ACTION: Notice of availability and public hearings.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announces the availability 
of the ``Great Northern Transmission Line Project Draft Environmental 
Impact Statement'' (DOE/EIS-0499) for public review and comment. DOE is 
also announcing eight public hearings to receive comments on the Draft 
EIS. The Draft EIS evaluates the environmental impacts of DOE's 
proposed Federal action of issuing a Presidential permit to the 
Applicant: Minnesota Power, a regulated utility division of ALLETE, 
Inc., to construct, operate, maintain, and connect a new electric 
transmission line across the U.S./Canada border in northern Minnesota. 
It also addresses the potential human and environmental impacts of the 
project, and possible mitigation measures, including route, alignment, 
and site alternatives required for a transmission line route permit 
from the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission under the Minnesota 
Power Plant Siting Act.
    The EIS was jointly prepared by DOE with the Minnesota Department 
of Commerce--Environmental Energy Review and Analysis (MN DOC-EERA) 
acting as state co-lead in order to avoid duplication, and to comply 
with the environmental review requirements under both federal and state 
regulations. Region 5 of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 
(USEPA), the St. Paul District Office of the U.S. Army Corps of 
Engineers (USACE), and the Twin Cities Ecology Field Office of the U.S. 
Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) are cooperating agencies in preparing 
the GNTL Project EIS.

DATES: DOE invites interested Members of Congress, state and local 
governments, other Federal agencies, American Indian tribal 
governments, organizations, and members of the public to provide 
comments on the Draft EIS during the 45-day public comment period. The 
public comment period starts on June 26, 2015, with the publication in 
the Federal Register by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency of its 
Notice of Availability of the Draft EIS, and will continue until August 
10, 2015. Written and oral comments will be given equal weight and all 
comments received or postmarked by that date will be considered by DOE 
in preparing the Final EIS. Comments received or postmarked after that 
date will be considered to the extent practicable.
    Locations, dates, and start time for the public hearings are listed 
in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this NOA.

ADDRESSES: Requests to provide oral comments at the public hearings may 
be made at the time of the hearing(s).
    Written comments on the Draft EIS may be provided on the GNTL EIS 
Web site at http://www.greatnortherneis.org/ (preferred) or addressed 
to Dr. Julie A. Smith, Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy 
Reliability (OE-20), U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 Independence 
Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20585; by electronic mail to 
[email protected]; or by facsimile to 202-318-7761.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Julie A. Smith at the addresses 
above, or at 202-586-7668.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Joint federal-state public hearings and 
information meetings will consist of the formal taking of comments with 
transcription by a court reporter. The hearings will provide interested 
parties the opportunity to make comments for consideration by DOE and 
MN DOC-EERA in the preparation of the Final EIS.
    The locations, dates, and starting times of the public hearings are 
listed in the table below:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
          Location                Date and time            Address
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Roseau Civic Center.........  July 15, 2015, 11:00  121 Center Street
                               a.m.-3:00 p.m..       E., Roseau, MN.
Lake of the Woods School....  July 15, 2015, 6:00   236 15th Ave. SW.,
                               p.m.-10:00 p.m..      Baudette, MN.
Littlefork Community Center.  July 16, 2015, 11:00  220 Main Street,
                               a.m.-3:00 p.m..       Littlefork, MN.

[[Page 36796]]

 
AmericInn...................  July 16, 2015, 6:00   1500 Hwy. 71,
                               p.m.-10:00 p.m..      International
                                                     Falls, MN.
Kelliher Old School Center..  July 21, 2015, 11:00  243 Clark Ave. N.
                               a.m.-3:00 p.m..       (Hwy 72), Kelliher,
                                                     MN.
Bigfork School..............  July 21, 2015, 6:00   100 Huskie Blvd.,
                               p.m.-10:00 p.m..      Bigfork, MN.
Timber Lake Lodge...........  July 22, 2015, 11:00  144 SE. 17th Street,
                               a.m.-3:00 p.m..       Grand Rapids, MN.
Timber Lake Lodge...........  July 22, 2015, 6:00   144 SE. 17th Street,
                               p.m.-10:00 p.m..      Grand Rapids, MN.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Availability of the Draft EIS Copies of the Draft EIS have been 
distributed to appropriate members of Congress, state and local 
government officials, American Indian tribal governments, and other 
Federal agencies, groups, and interested parties. Printed copies of the 
document may be obtained by contacting Dr. Smith at the above address. 
Copies of the Draft EIS and supporting documents are also available for 
inspection at the following locations:

 Baudette Library, 110 1st Street SW., Baudette, MN
 Blackduck Public Library, 72 1st Street SE., Blackduck, MN
 Bovey Public Library, 402 2nd Street, Bovey, MN
 Calumet Library, 932 Gary Street, Calumet, MN
 Coleraine Public Library, 203 Cole Street, Coleraine
 Duluth Public Library, 520 W Superior Street, Duluth, MN
 Grand Rapids Public Library, 140 NE 2nd Street, Grand Rapids, 
MN
 Greenbush Public Library, P.O. Box 9, Greenbush, MN
 International Falls Public Library, 750 4th Street, 
International Falls, MN
 Marble Public Library, 302 Alice Avenue, Marble, MN
 Northome Public Library, 12064 Main Street, Northome, MN
 Roseau Public Library, 121 Center Street E., Suite 100, 
Roseau, MN
 Warroad Public Library, 202 Main Avenue NE., Warroad, MN
 Williams Public Library, 350 Main Street, Williams, MN
    The Draft EIS is also available on the EIS Web site at http://www.greatnortherneis.org/ and on the DOE NEPA Web site at http://nepa.energy.gov/.

    Issued in Washington, DC on June 18, 2015.
Eli Massey,
Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary, National Electricity Delivery 
Division, Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability.
[FR Doc. 2015-15625 Filed 6-25-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6450-01-P

Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 123 / Friday, June 26, 2015 / Notices 36795 approved application and budget; and, Delegation of Authority: The Secretary District Office of the U.S. Army Corps if the Secretary has established of Education has delegated authority to of Engineers (USACE), and the Twin performance measurement Jamienne S. Studley, Deputy Under Cities Ecology Field Office of the U.S. requirements, the performance targets in Secretary, to perform the functions and Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) are the grantee’s approved application. In duties of the Assistant Secretary for cooperating agencies in preparing the making a continuation grant, the Postsecondary Education. GNTL Project EIS. Secretary also considers whether the Dated: June 23, 2015. DATES: DOE invites interested Members grantee is operating in compliance with Jamienne S. Studley, of Congress, state and local the assurances in its approved Deputy Under Secretary. governments, other Federal agencies, application, including those applicable American Indian tribal governments, [FR Doc. 2015–15784 Filed 6–25–15; 8:45 am] to Federal civil rights laws that prohibit organizations, and members of the BILLING CODE 4000–01–P discrimination in programs or activities public to provide comments on the Draft receiving Federal financial assistance EIS during the 45-day public comment from the Department (34 CFR 100.4, period. The public comment period 104.5, 106.4, 108.8, and 110.23). DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY starts on June 26, 2015, with the [OE Docket No. PP–398] publication in the Federal Register by VII. Agency Contact the U.S. Environmental Protection Notice of Availability (NOA) for the Agency of its Notice of Availability of FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Draft Environmental Impact Statement the Draft EIS, and will continue until Shedita Alston, U.S. Department of (EIS) and Announcement of Public August 10, 2015. Written and oral Education, Model Comprehensive and Hearings for the Proposed Great comments will be given equal weight Transition Programs for Students with Northern Transmission Line (GNTL) and all comments received or Intellectual Disabilities, 1990 K Street Project postmarked by that date will be NW., Room 6131, Washington, DC 20006–8524. Telephone: (202) 502– AGENCY: U.S. Department of Energy. considered by DOE in preparing the 7808, or by email: shedita.alston@ ACTION: Notice of availability and public Final EIS. Comments received or ed.gov. hearings. postmarked after that date will be If you use a TDD or a TTY, call the considered to the extent practicable. SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Locations, dates, and start time for the FRS, toll free, at 1–800–877–8339. Energy (DOE) announces the availability public hearings are listed in the VIII. Other Information of the ‘‘Great Northern Transmission SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of Line Project Draft Environmental Impact this NOA. Accessible Format: Individuals with Statement’’ (DOE/EIS–0499) for public disabilities can obtain this document ADDRESSES: Requests to provide oral review and comment. DOE is also comments at the public hearings may be and a copy of the application package in announcing eight public hearings to an accessible format (e.g., braille, large made at the time of the hearing(s). receive comments on the Draft EIS. The print, audiotape, or compact disc) on Written comments on the Draft EIS Draft EIS evaluates the environmental request to the program contact person may be provided on the GNTL EIS Web impacts of DOE’s proposed Federal listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION site at http://www.greatnortherneis.org/ action of issuing a Presidential permit to CONTACT in section VII of this notice. (preferred) or addressed to Dr. Julie A. the Applicant: Minnesota Power, a Smith, Office of Electricity Delivery and Electronic Access to This Document: regulated utility division of ALLETE, Energy Reliability (OE–20), U.S. The official version of this document is Inc., to construct, operate, maintain, and Department of Energy, 1000 the document published in the Federal connect a new electric transmission line Independence Avenue SW., Register. Free Internet access to the across the U.S./Canada border in Washington, DC 20585; by electronic official edition of the Federal Register northern Minnesota. It also addresses mail to Juliea.Smith@hq.doe.gov; or by and the Code of Federal Regulations is the potential human and environmental facsimile to 202–318–7761. available via the Federal Digital System impacts of the project, and possible at: www.gpo.gov/fdsys. At this site you mitigation measures, including route, FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. can view this document, as well as all alignment, and site alternatives required Julie A. Smith at the addresses above, or other documents of this Department for a transmission line route permit at 202–586–7668. published in the Federal Register, in from the Minnesota Public Utilities SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Joint text or Adobe Portable Document Commission under the Minnesota federal-state public hearings and Format (PDF). To use PDF, you must Power Plant Siting Act. information meetings will consist of the have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is The EIS was jointly prepared by DOE formal taking of comments with available free at the site. You may also with the Minnesota Department of transcription by a court reporter. The access documents of the Department Commerce—Environmental Energy hearings will provide interested parties published in the Federal Register by Review and Analysis (MN DOC–EERA) the opportunity to make comments for using the article search feature at: acting as state co-lead in order to avoid consideration by DOE and MN DOC– www.federalregister.gov. Specifically, duplication, and to comply with the EERA in the preparation of the Final through the advanced search feature at environmental review requirements EIS. this site, you can limit your search to under both federal and state regulations. The locations, dates, and starting documents published by the Region 5 of the U.S. Environmental times of the public hearings are listed in Department. Protection Agency (USEPA), the St. Paul the table below: tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Location Date and time Address Roseau Civic Center ............ July 15, 2015, 11:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. .............................. 121 Center Street E., Roseau, MN. Lake of the Woods School .. July 15, 2015, 6:00 p.m.–10:00 p.m. .............................. 236 15th Ave. SW., Baudette, MN. Littlefork Community Center July 16, 2015, 11:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. .............................. 220 Main Street, Littlefork, MN. VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:15 Jun 25, 2015 Jkt 235001 PO 00000 Frm 00039 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\26JNN1.SGM 26JNN1

36796 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 123 / Friday, June 26, 2015 / Notices Location Date and time Address AmericInn ............................. July 16, 2015, 6:00 p.m.–10:00 p.m. .............................. 1500 Hwy. 71, International Falls, MN. Kelliher Old School Center .. July 21, 2015, 11:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. .............................. 243 Clark Ave. N. (Hwy 72), Kelliher, MN. Bigfork School ...................... July 21, 2015, 6:00 p.m.–10:00 p.m. .............................. 100 Huskie Blvd., Bigfork, MN. Timber Lake Lodge .............. July 22, 2015, 11:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. .............................. 144 SE. 17th Street, Grand Rapids, MN. Timber Lake Lodge .............. July 22, 2015, 6:00 p.m.–10:00 p.m. .............................. 144 SE. 17th Street, Grand Rapids, MN. Availability of the Draft EIS Copies of DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Applicants: PacifiCorp. the Draft EIS have been distributed to Description: Tariff Cancellation: appropriate members of Congress, state Federal Energy Regulatory Termination of West Valley A&R EIM and local government officials, Commission Participation Construction Agmt Rev 1 American Indian tribal governments, to be effective 9/10/2015. and other Federal agencies, groups, and Combined Notice of Filings #1 Filed Date: 6/18/15. interested parties. Printed copies of the Accession Number: 20150618–5078. Take notice that the Commission document may be obtained by Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 7/9/15. received the following electric rate contacting Dr. Smith at the above filings: Docket Numbers: ER15–1946–000. address. Copies of the Draft EIS and Applicants: Public Service Company Docket Numbers: ER10–1852–008; of New Mexico. supporting documents are also available ER11–4462–009; ER10–1971–016. for inspection at the following locations: Description: Section 205(d) Rate Applicants: Florida Power & Light Filing: Certificate of Concurrence to • Baudette Library, 110 1st Street SW., Company, NextEra Energy Power APS Rate Schedule No. 279 to be Baudette, MN Marketing, LLC, NEPM II, LLC. effective 5/21/2015. Description: Amendment to June 30, Filed Date: 6/18/15. • Blackduck Public Library, 72 1st 2014 NextEra Companies’ Triennial Street SE., Blackduck, MN Accession Number: 20150618–5084. Market Power Update for the Southeast Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 7/9/15. • Bovey Public Library, 402 2nd Street, Region. Docket Numbers: ER15–1947–000. Bovey, MN Filed Date: 6/18/15. Applicants: Deseret Generation & • Calumet Library, 932 Gary Street, Accession Number: 20150618–5173. Transmission Co-operative, Inc. Calumet, MN Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 7/9/15. Description: Initial rate filing: Docket Numbers: ER14–2866–002. WestConnect Regional PTP Tariff Filing • Coleraine Public Library, 203 Cole Applicants: Louisville Gas and to be effective 7/1/2015. Street, Coleraine Electric Company. Filed Date: 6/18/15. • Duluth Public Library, 520 W Description: Compliance filing: Errata Accession Number: 20150618–5085. Superior Street, Duluth, MN to Compliance Filing Attach O Rate Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 7/9/15. • Grand Rapids Public Library, 140 NE Formula Protocols to be effective Docket Numbers: ER15–1948–000. 2nd Street, Grand Rapids, MN 1/1/2015. Applicants: Midcontinent Filed Date: 6/18/15. Independent System Operator, Inc. • Greenbush Public Library, P.O. Box 9, Accession Number: 20150618–5126. Description: Section 205(d) Rate Greenbush, MN Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 7/9/15. Filing: 2015–06–18_SA 2809 ITC • International Falls Public Library, 750 Docket Numbers: ER15–1668–001. Transmission-Deerfield Wind Energy 4th Street, International Falls, MN Applicants: Phoenix Energy Group, GIA (J327) to be effective 6/19/2015. • Marble Public Library, 302 Alice LLC. Filed Date: 6/18/15. Avenue, Marble, MN Description: Tariff Amendment: Accession Number: 20150618–5140. Amended MBR Filing to be effective Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 7/9/15. • Northome Public Library, 12064 Main 6/5/2015. Docket Numbers: ER15–1949–000. Street, Northome, MN Applicants: Midcontinent Filed Date: 6/18/15. • Roseau Public Library, 121 Center Accession Number: 20150618–5081. Independent System Operator, Inc., Street E., Suite 100, Roseau, MN Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 7/9/15. Ameren Illinois Company. • Warroad Public Library, 202 Main Docket Numbers: ER15–1943–000. Description: Section 205(d) Rate Avenue NE., Warroad, MN Applicants: Southwest Power Pool, Filing: 2015–06–18_SA 2685 Attachment A Project Specs (Ameren- • Williams Public Library, 350 Main Inc. SIPC UCA) to be effective 5/18/2015. Street, Williams, MN Description: Section 205(d) Rate Filed Date: 6/18/15. Filing: Missouri River Energy Services The Draft EIS is also available on the Accession Number: 20150618–5170. Formula Rate to be effective 10/1/2015. Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 7/9/15. EIS Web site at http:// Filed Date: 6/18/15. www.greatnortherneis.org/ and on the Accession Number: 20150618–5036. Docket Numbers: ER15–1950–000. DOE NEPA Web site at http:// Applicants: Southern Power Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 7/9/15. nepa.energy.gov/. Company. Docket Numbers: ER15–1944–000. Description: Section 205(d) Rate Issued in Washington, DC on June 18, Applicants: ISO New England Inc. Filing: Pawpaw PPA Filing to be 2015. Description: ISO New England Inc. tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES effective 8/18/2015. Eli Massey, Resource Termination—Enerwise Global Filed Date: 6/18/15. Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary, National Technologies, Inc. Accession Number: 20150618–5172. Electricity Delivery Division, Office of Filed Date: 6/18/15. Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 7/9/15. Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability. Accession Number: 20150618–5058. Docket Numbers: ER15–1951–000. [FR Doc. 2015–15625 Filed 6–25–15; 8:45 am] Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 7/9/15. Applicants: New York Power BILLING CODE 6450–01–P Docket Numbers: ER15–1945–000. Authority. VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:15 Jun 25, 2015 Jkt 235001 PO 00000 Frm 00040 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\26JNN1.SGM 26JNN1


Document Created: 2015-12-15 14:15:42
Document Modified: 2015-12-15 14:15:42
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionNotices
ActionNotice of availability and public hearings.
DatesDOE invites interested Members of Congress, state and local governments, other Federal agencies, American Indian tribal governments, organizations, and members of the public to provide comments on the Draft EIS during the 45-day public comment period. The public comment period starts on June 26, 2015, with the publication in the Federal Register by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency of its Notice of Availability of the Draft EIS, and will continue until August 10, 2015. Written and oral comments will be given equal weight and all comments received or postmarked by that date will be considered by DOE in preparing the Final EIS. Comments received or postmarked after that date will be considered to the extent practicable.
FR Citation80 FR 36795 
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