Estes-Flatiron Transmission Line Rebuild Project
Western Area Power Administration proposes to rebuild approximately 32 miles of double wood-pole structure 115-kilovolt transmission line that exists between Estes Park and Flatiron Reservoir in Larimer County, Colo. The proposal would remove 16 miles of transmission line, and modernize 16 miles to steel-pole double-circuit 115-kV transmission line. The present proposal will use existing transmission line routes and reduce the number of miles of existing transmission lines by half. The reduction and modernizing of transmission lines will occur on Federal, state and private lands. The public parcels are administered by the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forest, which is a cooperating agency in the project.
The proposed project would:
- Rebuild aging and deteriorating transmission lines
- Reduce the number of linear miles of transmission corridors and the associated environmental footprint
- Ensure that the transmission lines comply with applicable codes and requirements
- Reduce potential for disruption of customer service due to wildfire hazards
- Improve access for maintenance and emergencies
Scoping period
- Interested parties can submit comments at the addresses below between April 17 and July 16, 2012
- Public scoping meetings will be announced at least 15 days before they are held
Documents
Project map
Environmental Impact Statement Press Release, March 29, 2012
Notice of Intent to Conduct an EIS, April 17, 2012
Project background
On Aug. 23, 2011, Western's Rocky Mountain Regional Manager signed a determination to prepare an environmental assessment (EA) for the Estes-Flatiron Transmission Lines Rebuild. Western's proposal was under a class of actions in the Department of Energy National Environmental Policy Act Implementing Procedures that normally requires the preparation of an EA: "Reconstructing (upgrading or rebuilding) existing electric power lines more than approximately 20 miles in length or constructing new electric power lines more than approximately 10 miles in length" (10 CFR Part 1021, Appendix C to Subpart D, under C4 [in link: page 6, 3rd column]). The U.S. Forest Service, a cooperating agency on the EA, also required NEPA review to grant Special Use Permits for parts of the transmission line located on Forest Service lands in Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forest.
After the EA determination, Western held public workshops at two locations: Loveland and Estes Park, Colo. Western received many written and oral comments from the public and agencies on the project during the scoping period, expressing several concerns regarding the impacts of the proposal. Some of the stakeholders requested evaluation of additional alternatives. Therefore, Western determined that an environmental impact statement (EIS) is the more appropriate level of NEPA review, with the U.S. Forest Service acting as a cooperating agency in the EIS.
Similar to the EA, Western initiated another public scoping process starting April 17, 2012, to give the public and other agencies a chance to express new issues or route alternatives; the scoping period will end July 16, 2012. Comments received during the EA scoping period were carried over into this EIS process.
Currently, Western has not announced the dates for the EIS scoping meetings. EIS scoping meetings will be announced at least 15 days prior to each meeting through local news media, newsletters and posting on this Western webpage.
Contact:
Tim Snowden
Natural Resources
Western Area Power Administration
5555 E Crossroads Blvd
PO Box 3700
Loveland, CO 80539-3003
Email: RMR_EstesFlatironEIS@wapa.gov