BLM resumes work on siting powerline segments, seeks public comment on issues for further analysis
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The Bureau of Land Management will continue processing the application to locate the proposed Gateway West transmission line on public lands in southwestern Idaho with a supplemental environmental impact statement (EIS). The supplemental EIS will focus on new information contained in the revised right of way (ROW) application and the mitigation and enhancement portfolio submitted by Rocky Mountain Power and Idaho Power, the companies proposing the Gateway West project."This project is a crucial part of the effort to bring renewable electric power to the Western grid and fuel the nation's clean energy economy," said BLM Idaho State Director Tim Murphy. "Thorough, timely review of related issues is a top priority for the BLM in Idaho."Publication of a notice of intent in today's Federal Register begins a scoping period during which the BLM will take public comments on new issues, potential impacts, mitigation measures, alternatives, and resource information related to segments 8 and 9 that were not addressed in the original EIS for the project. Comments on issues may be submitted in writing until October 24, 2014.The BLM will hold open house-style public meetings in the communities of Boise, Kuna, Murphy and Gooding to provide information, answer questions, and gather comments about the project. Details on meeting dates, times and locations are available on the BLM-Idaho website.Idaho Power and Rocky Mountain Power have submitted an ROW application to locate 500-kilovolt (kV) electric transmission lines on Federal lands as part of the Gateway Transmission Line Project. The initial application proposed to construct electric transmission lines from the proposed Windstar Substation near the Dave Johnston Power Plant at Glenrock, Wyoming, to the proposed Hemingway Substation near Melba, Idaho, approximately 20 miles southwest of Boise, Idaho. The original project comprised 10 transmission line segments with a total length of approximately 1,000 miles.The BLM issued a Record of Decision (ROD) for the project on November 12, 2013. In that ROD, the BLM decided to defer offering a ROW grant for two of the 10 segments, Segments 8 and 9, in order to allow Federal, State, and local permitting agencies to examine additional options for siting routes for these segments. A final supplemental EIS will support a decision on whether to authorize, authorize with modifications, or deny a right of way for segments 8 and 9 on BLM-managed public lands, including any required mitigation.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.