81_FR_5762 81 FR 5740 - Record of Decision for the Windy Gap Firming Project

81 FR 5740 - Record of Decision for the Windy Gap Firming Project

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 22 (February 3, 2016)

Page Range5740-5741
FR Document2016-02031

The U.S. Department of Interior, Bureau of Reclamation, Eastern Colorado Area Office (Reclamation) prepared an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed Windy Gap Firming Project (Project) in North Central Colorado. The Municipal Subdistrict (Subdistrict), Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District, acting by and through the Windy Gap Firming Project Water Activity Enterprise, on behalf of the Project Participants, obtained approval from Reclamation for additional physical connections to Colorado-Big Thompson Project (C-BT) facilities in order to implement the proposed Project. Western Area Power Administration (Western), an agency within the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), participated in the development of the EIS as a cooperating agency. The EIS evaluated a no action alternative, along with four action alternatives each entailing the construction of new reservoirs along with pipelines and operational facilities at different locations. The action alternatives were designed to provide more reliable water deliveries to Front Range and West Slope communities and industry. Reclamation selected Alternative 2--Chimney Hollow Reservoir in its Record of Decision (ROD) dated December 19, 2014. In order to support Reclamation's decision, Western would need to relocate 3.8 miles of its existing Estes-Lyons 115-kilovolt (kV) wood H-frame transmission line away from the proposed Chimney Hollow Reservoir site to avoid its inundation.

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 22 (Wednesday, February 3, 2016)
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 22 (Wednesday, February 3, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5740-5741]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-02031]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Western Area Power Administration

[DOE/EIS-0370]


Record of Decision for the Windy Gap Firming Project

AGENCY: Western Area Power Administration, Department of Energy.

ACTION: Record of decision.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Interior, Bureau of Reclamation, 
Eastern Colorado Area Office (Reclamation) prepared an Environmental 
Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed Windy Gap Firming Project 
(Project) in North Central Colorado. The Municipal Subdistrict 
(Subdistrict), Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District, acting by 
and through the Windy Gap Firming Project Water Activity Enterprise, on 
behalf of the Project Participants, obtained approval from Reclamation 
for additional physical connections to Colorado-Big Thompson Project 
(C-BT) facilities in order to implement the proposed Project. Western 
Area Power Administration (Western), an agency within the U.S. 
Department of Energy (DOE), participated in the development of the EIS 
as a cooperating agency.
    The EIS evaluated a no action alternative, along with four action 
alternatives each entailing the construction of new reservoirs along 
with pipelines and operational facilities at different locations. The 
action alternatives were designed to provide more reliable water 
deliveries to Front Range and West Slope communities and industry. 
Reclamation selected Alternative 2--Chimney Hollow Reservoir in its 
Record of Decision (ROD) dated December 19, 2014. In order to support 
Reclamation's decision, Western would need to relocate 3.8 miles of its 
existing Estes-Lyons 115-kilovolt (kV) wood H-frame transmission line 
away from the proposed Chimney Hollow Reservoir site to avoid its 
inundation.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information, please 
contact Mr. Matt Blevins, Western Area Power Administration, P.O. Box 
281213, Lakewood, CO 80228-8213, telephone (720) 962-7261, or email: 
[email protected]. 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, or email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Reclamation was the lead federal agency for 
the EIS (FES 11-19) and Western was a cooperating agency. The Notice of 
Availability for the Final EIS was published in the Federal Register on 
November 30, 2011 (76 FR 74074). Reclamation signed its ROD on December 
19, 2014, and selected Alternative 2--Chimney Hollow Reservoir as its 
preferred alternative.
    Reclamation's selected alternative directly affects a portion of 
Western's existing Estes-Lyons 115-kV transmission line, which lies 
within the design footprint of the proposed new Chimney Hollow 
Reservoir. In order to support Reclamation's decision, Western would 
need to relocate its transmission line away from the proposed reservoir 
to an area that preserves system reliability, maintenance 
accessibility, and safety. Western's relocation of the transmission 
line at the Chimney Hollow Reservoir site was evaluated in the EIS, 
including acquiring a 100 foot right-of-way, constructing access roads, 
and rebuilding approximately 3.8 miles of transmission line to the west 
of the proposed Chimney Hollow Reservoir. After an independent review 
of the EIS, Western has concluded that its comments have been satisfied 
and with this notice is adopting the EIS for its participation in the 
Project.

Western's Action

    Western's action is to support Reclamation's decision in selecting 
Alternative 2--Chimney Hollow Reservoir and to relocate a 3.8 mile 
portion of Western's existing Estes-Lyons 115-kV transmission line away 
from the proposed Chimney Hollow Reservoir site to avoid its 
inundation. Final transmission line location, pole placement, and 
spacing will be determined by Western during final design.

Cultural Resources

    Reclamation executed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the 
Colorado State Historic Preservation Office regarding the Project on 
April 19, 2012. Reclamation and Western must adhere to the stipulations 
of that MOA. The MOA stipulates that prior to any construction of the 
Project, Reclamation's Eastern Colorado Area Office will inventory the 
remaining 17.2 acres in the Area of Potential Effect and consult with 
the State Historic Preservation Office on eligibility and effects of 
the Project pursuant to 36 CFR part 800, including mitigation that will 
be set forth in an amendment to the MOA.

Endangered Species Act

    Western's action would have no effect on federally listed 
terrestrial wildlife species or plants. However, the Project's Colorado 
River depletions could adversely impact four endangered Colorado River 
fish species. Impacts to the endangered species in the Colorado River 
were originally addressed in the 1981 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 
(Service) Biological Opinion for the original Windy Gap Reservoir based 
on an estimated average annual diversion of 57,300 acre feet (AF) of 
water. A

[[Page 5741]]

Recovery Implementation Program (RIP) for Endangered Fish Species in 
the Upper Colorado River Basin was initiated on January 22, 1988.
    The RIP was intended to be the reasonable and prudent alternative 
for individual projects to avoid the likelihood of jeopardy to the 
endangered fishes from depletions from the Upper Colorado River Basin. 
A Section 7 agreement was implemented on October 15, 1993, by RIP 
participants, and on December 20, 1999, the Service issued a Final 
Programmatic Biological Opinion (PBO), Operation and Depletions, Other 
Depletions, and Funding and Implementation of Recovery Program Actions 
in the Upper Colorado River above the Confluence with the Gunnison 
River. The Service determined that the Project fits under the umbrella 
of the Colorado River RIP and PBO and would avoid the likelihood of 
jeopardy and/or adverse modification of critical habitat for depletion 
impacts. Under the PBO, the Subdistrict will make a monetary 
contribution for the 21,317 AF of Colorado River water depletions to 
support the recovery efforts for these species in accordance with the 
RIP Recovery Action Plan.

Alternatives Considered

    Reclamation considered in detail five alternatives, including 
Alternative 1--the No-action Alternative. This alternative consisted of 
continuation of operations under existing water rights and agreements 
between Reclamation and the Subdistrict for conveyance of the Windy Gap 
Project water through existing C-BT Project facilities and the 
reasonably foreseeable enlargement of Ralph Price Reservoir.
    Alternative 2--Chimney Hollow Reservoir (Proposed Action). 
Alternative 2 included construction of a 90,000 AF Chimney Hollow 
Reservoir on the East Slope, with the ability to store C-BT Project 
water there. Water would be conveyed to Chimney Hollow Reservoir via a 
new pipeline connection to existing East Slope C-BT Project facilities 
but no new West Slope infrastructure would be constructed. This 
alternative would require Western to move its existing Estes-Lyons 115-
kV transmission line away from the proposed Chimney Hollow Reservoir 
site to avoid inundation.
    Alternative 3--Chimney Hollow Reservoir and Jasper East Reservoir. 
Alternative 3 was a combination of constructing a 70,000 AF Chimney 
Hollow Reservoir on the East Slope and a 20,000 AF Jasper East 
Reservoir on the West Slope. A new 1-mile pipeline would connect Jasper 
East Reservoir to the existing Windy Gap pipeline that delivers water 
to Granby Reservoir. The existing C-BT Willow Creek Pump Station, 
forebay, and portions of the canal and pipeline would be relocated. 
This alternative would require Western to move its existing Estes-Lyons 
115-kV transmission line away from the proposed Chimney Hollow 
Reservoir site to avoid inundation.
    Alternative 4--Chimney Hollow Reservoir and Rockwell/Mueller Creek 
Reservoir. This alternative is a combination of a 70,000 AF Chimney 
Hollow Reservoir on the East Slope and a 20,000 AF Rockwell/Mueller 
Creek Reservoir (Rockwell Reservoir) on the West Slope, a new pipeline 
connection to the existing Windy Gap pump station and a new 3.3-mile 
pipeline to Rockwell Reservoir. This alternative would require Western 
to move its existing Estes-Lyons 115-kV transmission line away from the 
proposed Chimney Hollow Reservoir site to avoid inundation.
    Alternative 5--Dry Creek Reservoir and Rockwell/Mueller Creek 
Reservoir. This alternative is a combination of a 60,000 AF Dry Creek 
Reservoir on the East Slope, a 30,000 AF Rockwell Reservoir on the West 
Slope, and a new 3.4-mile pipeline and connection to the existing Windy 
Gap pump station. This alternative would require no action by Western.
    Reclamation considers both the No Action Alternative and 
Alternative 2--Chimney Hollow Reservoir to be the environmentally 
preferable alternatives because of each alternative's relative overall 
effect on natural resources as described in their ROD.

Mitigation

    The EIS analysis includes identification of standard construction 
mitigation measures for transmission line construction. Western will 
adhere to its standard construction mitigation measures described in 
the EIS. 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 modify its transmission system as 
described above in support of Reclamation's decision to select 
Alternative 2--Chimney Hollow Reservoir.\1\ This ROD was prepared 
following 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).
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    \1\ On November 16, 2011, DOE's Acting General Counsel restated 
the delegations to Western's Administrator of all the authorities of 
the General Counsel respecting Environmental Impact Statements.

    Dated: January 14, 2016.
Mark A. Gabriel,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2016-02031 Filed 2-2-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P



                                                  5740                       Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 22 / Wednesday, February 3, 2016 / Notices

                                                  Susquehanna River in York, Dauphin,                     Statement (EIS) for the proposed Windy                design footprint of the proposed new
                                                  and Lancaster counties, Pennsylvania.                   Gap Firming Project (Project) in North                Chimney Hollow Reservoir. In order to
                                                  The project does not occupy federal                     Central Colorado. The Municipal                       support Reclamation’s decision,
                                                  lands.                                                  Subdistrict (Subdistrict), Northern                   Western would need to relocate its
                                                     The applicants seek Commission                       Colorado Water Conservancy District,                  transmission line away from the
                                                  approval to transfer the license for the                acting by and through the Windy Gap                   proposed reservoir to an area that
                                                  Spencer Mountain Hydroelectric Project                  Firming Project Water Activity                        preserves system reliability,
                                                  from the transferor to the transferee.                  Enterprise, on behalf of the Project                  maintenance accessibility, and safety.
                                                     Applicant Contact: For transferor: Mr.               Participants, obtained approval from                  Western’s relocation of the transmission
                                                  Boyce Falls, Manager, Advantage                         Reclamation for additional physical                   line at the Chimney Hollow Reservoir
                                                  Investment Group, LLC, PO Box 458,                      connections to Colorado-Big Thompson                  site was evaluated in the EIS, including
                                                  Dallas, NC 28034, Phone: 704–363–                       Project (C–BT) facilities in order to                 acquiring a 100 foot right-of-way,
                                                  5911, Email: bobbiefalls@aol.com . For                  implement the proposed Project.                       constructing access roads, and
                                                  transferee: Mr. Kevin Edwards,                          Western Area Power Administration                     rebuilding approximately 3.8 miles of
                                                  Manager, Spencer Mountain                               (Western), an agency within the U.S.                  transmission line to the west of the
                                                  Hydropower, LLC, 1000 C&N Smith Mill                    Department of Energy (DOE),                           proposed Chimney Hollow Reservoir.
                                                  Road, Stoneville, NC 27048, Phone:                      participated in the development of the                After an independent review of the EIS,
                                                  336–589–6138, Email: kevin@pht1.com.                    EIS as a cooperating agency.                          Western has concluded that its
                                                     FERC Contact: Patricia W. Gillis, (202)                 The EIS evaluated a no action                      comments have been satisfied and with
                                                  502–8735, patricia.gillis@ferc.gov.                     alternative, along with four action                   this notice is adopting the EIS for its
                                                     Deadline for filing comments, motions                alternatives each entailing the                       participation in the Project.
                                                  to intervene, and protests: 30 days from                construction of new reservoirs along                  Western’s Action
                                                  the date that the Commission issues this                with pipelines and operational facilities
                                                  notice. The Commission strongly                         at different locations. The action                       Western’s action is to support
                                                  encourages electronic filing. Please file               alternatives were designed to provide                 Reclamation’s decision in selecting
                                                  comments, motions to intervene, and                     more reliable water deliveries to Front               Alternative 2—Chimney Hollow
                                                  protests using the Commission’s eFiling                 Range and West Slope communities and                  Reservoir and to relocate a 3.8 mile
                                                  system at http://www.ferc.gov/docs-                     industry. Reclamation selected                        portion of Western’s existing Estes-
                                                  filing/efiling.asp. Commenters can                      Alternative 2—Chimney Hollow                          Lyons 115-kV transmission line away
                                                  submit brief comments up to 6,000                       Reservoir in its Record of Decision                   from the proposed Chimney Hollow
                                                  characters, without prior registration,                 (ROD) dated December 19, 2014. In                     Reservoir site to avoid its inundation.
                                                  using the eComment system at http://                    order to support Reclamation’s decision,              Final transmission line location, pole
                                                  www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/                               Western would need to relocate 3.8                    placement, and spacing will be
                                                  ecomment.asp. You must include your                     miles of its existing Estes-Lyons 115-                determined by Western during final
                                                  name and contact information at the end                 kilovolt (kV) wood H-frame                            design.
                                                  of your comments. For assistance,                       transmission line away from the                       Cultural Resources
                                                  please contact FERC Online Support at                   proposed Chimney Hollow Reservoir
                                                                                                                                                                   Reclamation executed a Memorandum
                                                  FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov, (866)                       site to avoid its inundation.
                                                                                                                                                                of Agreement (MOA) with the Colorado
                                                  208–3676 (toll free), or (202) 502–8659                 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For                  State Historic Preservation Office
                                                  (TTY). In lieu of electronic filing, please             further information, please contact Mr.               regarding the Project on April 19, 2012.
                                                  send a paper copy to: Secretary, Federal                Matt Blevins, Western Area Power                      Reclamation and Western must adhere
                                                  Energy Regulatory Commission, 888                       Administration, P.O. Box 281213,                      to the stipulations of that MOA. The
                                                  First Street, NE., Washington, DC 20426.                Lakewood, CO 80228–8213, telephone                    MOA stipulates that prior to any
                                                  The first page of any filing should                     (720) 962–7261, or email: blevins@                    construction of the Project,
                                                  include docket number P–2607–013.                       wapa.gov. For general information on                  Reclamation’s Eastern Colorado Area
                                                    Dated: January 28, 2016.                              DOE’s National Environmental Policy                   Office will inventory the remaining 17.2
                                                  Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr.,                                Act (NEPA) review process, please                     acres in the Area of Potential Effect and
                                                  Deputy Secretary.
                                                                                                          contact Carol M. Borgstrom, Director,                 consult with the State Historic
                                                                                                          Office of NEPA Policy and Compliance,                 Preservation Office on eligibility and
                                                  [FR Doc. 2016–01958 Filed 2–2–16; 8:45 am]
                                                                                                          GC–54, U.S. Department of Energy,                     effects of the Project pursuant to 36 CFR
                                                  BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
                                                                                                          Washington, DC 20585, telephone (202)                 part 800, including mitigation that will
                                                                                                          586–4600 or (800) 472–2756, or email:                 be set forth in an amendment to the
                                                  DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY                                    askNEPA@hq.doe.gov.                                   MOA.
                                                                                                          SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
                                                                                                          Reclamation was the lead federal agency               Endangered Species Act
                                                  Western Area Power Administration
                                                                                                          for the EIS (FES 11–19) and Western                     Western’s action would have no effect
                                                  [DOE/EIS–0370]                                          was a cooperating agency. The Notice of               on federally listed terrestrial wildlife
                                                                                                          Availability for the Final EIS was                    species or plants. However, the Project’s
                                                  Record of Decision for the Windy Gap
                                                                                                          published in the Federal Register on                  Colorado River depletions could
                                                  Firming Project
                                                                                                          November 30, 2011 (76 FR 74074).                      adversely impact four endangered
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                                                  AGENCY:  Western Area Power                             Reclamation signed its ROD on                         Colorado River fish species. Impacts to
                                                  Administration, Department of Energy.                   December 19, 2014, and selected                       the endangered species in the Colorado
                                                  ACTION: Record of decision.                             Alternative 2—Chimney Hollow                          River were originally addressed in the
                                                                                                          Reservoir as its preferred alternative.               1981 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
                                                  SUMMARY:   The U.S. Department of                          Reclamation’s selected alternative                 (Service) Biological Opinion for the
                                                  Interior, Bureau of Reclamation, Eastern                directly affects a portion of Western’s               original Windy Gap Reservoir based on
                                                  Colorado Area Office (Reclamation)                      existing Estes-Lyons 115-kV                           an estimated average annual diversion
                                                  prepared an Environmental Impact                        transmission line, which lies within the              of 57,300 acre feet (AF) of water. A


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                                                                             Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 22 / Wednesday, February 3, 2016 / Notices                                                  5741

                                                  Recovery Implementation Program (RIP)                   the existing Windy Gap pipeline that                  following the requirements of the
                                                  for Endangered Fish Species in the                      delivers water to Granby Reservoir. The               Council on Environmental Quality
                                                  Upper Colorado River Basin was                          existing C–BT Willow Creek Pump                       Regulations for Implementing the
                                                  initiated on January 22, 1988.                          Station, forebay, and portions of the                 Procedural Provisions of the NEPA (40
                                                     The RIP was intended to be the                       canal and pipeline would be relocated.                CFR parts 1500–1508) and DOE’s NEPA
                                                  reasonable and prudent alternative for                  This alternative would require Western                Implementing Procedures (10 CFR part
                                                  individual projects to avoid the                        to move its existing Estes-Lyons 115-kV               1021).
                                                  likelihood of jeopardy to the endangered                transmission line away from the                        Dated: January 14, 2016.
                                                  fishes from depletions from the Upper                   proposed Chimney Hollow Reservoir                     Mark A. Gabriel,
                                                  Colorado River Basin. A Section 7                       site to avoid inundation.
                                                                                                                                                                Administrator.
                                                  agreement was implemented on October                       Alternative 4—Chimney Hollow
                                                  15, 1993, by RIP participants, and on                   Reservoir and Rockwell/Mueller Creek                  [FR Doc. 2016–02031 Filed 2–2–16; 8:45 am]
                                                  December 20, 1999, the Service issued                   Reservoir. This alternative is a                      BILLING CODE 6450–01–P

                                                  a Final Programmatic Biological                         combination of a 70,000 AF Chimney
                                                  Opinion (PBO), Operation and                            Hollow Reservoir on the East Slope and
                                                  Depletions, Other Depletions, and                       a 20,000 AF Rockwell/Mueller Creek                    DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
                                                  Funding and Implementation of                           Reservoir (Rockwell Reservoir) on the                 Western Area Power Administration
                                                  Recovery Program Actions in the Upper                   West Slope, a new pipeline connection
                                                  Colorado River above the Confluence                     to the existing Windy Gap pump station                Desert Southwest Customer Service
                                                  with the Gunnison River. The Service                    and a new 3.3-mile pipeline to Rockwell               Region Network Integration
                                                  determined that the Project fits under                  Reservoir. This alternative would                     Transmission Service and Ancillary
                                                  the umbrella of the Colorado River RIP                  require Western to move its existing                  Services—Rate Order No. WAPA–175
                                                  and PBO and would avoid the                             Estes-Lyons 115-kV transmission line
                                                  likelihood of jeopardy and/or adverse                   away from the proposed Chimney                        AGENCY:  Western Area Power
                                                  modification of critical habitat for                    Hollow Reservoir site to avoid                        Administration, DOE.
                                                  depletion impacts. Under the PBO, the                   inundation.                                           ACTION: Notice of Proposed Formula
                                                  Subdistrict will make a monetary                           Alternative 5—Dry Creek Reservoir                  Rates for Network Integration
                                                  contribution for the 21,317 AF of                       and Rockwell/Mueller Creek Reservoir.                 Transmission Service and Ancillary
                                                  Colorado River water depletions to                      This alternative is a combination of a                Services.
                                                  support the recovery efforts for these                  60,000 AF Dry Creek Reservoir on the
                                                                                                          East Slope, a 30,000 AF Rockwell                      SUMMARY:   The Western Area Power
                                                  species in accordance with the RIP
                                                                                                          Reservoir on the West Slope, and a new                Administration (Western) Parker-Davis
                                                  Recovery Action Plan.
                                                                                                          3.4-mile pipeline and connection to the               (P–DP) and Pacific Northwest-Pacific
                                                  Alternatives Considered                                 existing Windy Gap pump station. This                 Southwest Intertie (Intertie) Projects’
                                                     Reclamation considered in detail five                alternative would require no action by                Network Integration Transmission
                                                  alternatives, including Alternative 1—                  Western.                                              Service (NITS) formula rates under Rate
                                                  the No-action Alternative. This                            Reclamation considers both the No                  Schedules PD–NTS3, INT–NTS3 and
                                                  alternative consisted of continuation of                Action Alternative and Alternative 2—                 Western Area Lower Colorado Balancing
                                                  operations under existing water rights                  Chimney Hollow Reservoir to be the                    Authority’s (WALC) Ancillary Services
                                                  and agreements between Reclamation                      environmentally preferable alternatives               formula rates under Rate Schedules
                                                  and the Subdistrict for conveyance of                   because of each alternative’s relative                DSW–SD3, DSW–RS3, DSW–FR3,
                                                  the Windy Gap Project water through                     overall effect on natural resources as                DSW–EI3, DSW–GI1, DSW–SPR3, and
                                                  existing C–BT Project facilities and the                described in their ROD.                               DSW–SUR3 expire on September 30,
                                                  reasonably foreseeable enlargement of                                                                         2016. Western is proposing
                                                  Ralph Price Reservoir.                                  Mitigation                                            modifications to the existing formula
                                                     Alternative 2—Chimney Hollow                            The EIS analysis includes                          rate schedules and adding two new rate
                                                  Reservoir (Proposed Action). Alternative                identification of standard construction               schedules, referred to as Transmission
                                                  2 included construction of a 90,000 AF                  mitigation measures for transmission                  Losses Services (DSW–TL1) and Penalty
                                                  Chimney Hollow Reservoir on the East                    line construction. Western will adhere                Rate for Unreserved Use of
                                                  Slope, with the ability to store C–BT                   to its standard construction mitigation               Transmission Service (DSW–UU1).
                                                  Project water there. Water would be                     measures described in the EIS. Long-                  Western will prepare a brochure that
                                                  conveyed to Chimney Hollow Reservoir                    term operations of the transmission line              provides detailed information on the
                                                  via a new pipeline connection to                        will follow Western’s standard                        proposed formula rates. If adopted, the
                                                  existing East Slope C–BT Project                        operating procedures and will not be                  proposed formula rates, under Rate
                                                  facilities but no new West Slope                        affected by this action. A Mitigation                 Schedules PD–NTS4, INT–NTS4, DSW–
                                                  infrastructure would be constructed.                    Action Plan is not required for                       TL1, DSW–UU1, DSW–SD4, DSW–RS4,
                                                  This alternative would require Western                  Western’s proposed action.                            DSW–FR4, DSW–EI4, DSW–GI2, DSW–
                                                  to move its existing Estes-Lyons 115-kV                                                                       SPR4, and DSW–SUR4 will become
                                                                                                          Decision                                              effective October 1, 2016, and will
                                                  transmission line away from the
                                                  proposed Chimney Hollow Reservoir                          Western’s decision is to modify its                remain in effect through September 30,
                                                  site to avoid inundation.                               transmission system as described above                2021, or until superseded. Publication
                                                                                                          in support of Reclamation’s decision to               of this Federal Register notice (FRN)
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                                                     Alternative 3—Chimney Hollow
                                                  Reservoir and Jasper East Reservoir.                    select Alternative 2—Chimney Hollow                   begins the formal process for the
                                                  Alternative 3 was a combination of                      Reservoir.1 This ROD was prepared                     proposed formula rates.
                                                  constructing a 70,000 AF Chimney                                                                              DATES: The consultation and comment
                                                                                                            1 On November 16, 2011, DOE’s Acting General
                                                  Hollow Reservoir on the East Slope and                                                                        period begins today and will end May
                                                                                                          Counsel restated the delegations to Western’s
                                                  a 20,000 AF Jasper East Reservoir on the                Administrator of all the authorities of the General
                                                                                                                                                                3, 2016. Western will present a detailed
                                                  West Slope. A new 1-mile pipeline                       Counsel respecting Environmental Impact               explanation of the proposed formula
                                                  would connect Jasper East Reservoir to                  Statements.                                           rates and other modifications addressed


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Document Created: 2016-02-03 00:40:20
Document Modified: 2016-02-03 00:40:20
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
ActionRecord of decision.
ContactFor further information, please contact Mr. Matt Blevins, Western Area Power Administration, P.O. Box 281213, Lakewood, CO 80228-8213, telephone (720) 962-7261, or email: [email protected] 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, or email: [email protected]
FR Citation81 FR 5740 

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