Thursday, July 29, 2010

BLM announces schedule change for release of D-EIS on Gateway West Transmission Line

July 28 2010 http://www.littlechicagoreview.com/pages/full_story/full_story?content_instance_id=8916902

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announced today that the draft environmental impact statement (EIS) for the proposed Gateway West Transmission Line Project will be released during the last quarter of this year.

The draftEISwas originally scheduled to be released in the summer of 2010.BLMdelayed release of the document in order to address comments received during the internal administrative review process as well as to clarify management objectives related to sage grouse, visual and other public resources.

Walt George, BLMProject Manager, stated “We continue to work to ensure that the draftEISaddresses the key issues throughout the project area and want to ensure adequate time to prepare this important document.” George continued, “Once the draftEISis released, theBLMwill host a 90-day comment period and public hearings to formally gather comments. The BLM encourages the public’s continued participation in this project.”

The BLM is the lead federal agency for the National Environmental Policy Act process for this project, and is working with cooperating agencies including theUSDAForest Service; National Park Service; US Fish and Wildlife Service; US Army Corps of Engineers; Bureau of Indian Affairs; States of Idaho and Wyoming; Cassia, Power, and Twin Falls counties in Idaho; Carbon, Lincoln, and Sweetwater counties in Wyoming; the Saratoga, Encampment, Riverside and Medicine Bow Conservation Districts in Wyoming; and the City of Kuna, Idaho.

This project is jointly proposed by Idaho Power and Rocky Mountain Power, and would result in construction of nearly 1,150 miles of high voltage transmission lines across southern Wyoming and southern Idaho. The project proponents have applied to theBLMandUSFSfor right of way grants to construct, operate and maintain transmission lines from the proposed Windstar substation near Glenrock, Wyoming to the proposed Hemingway substation near Melba, Idaho, approximately 20 miles southwest of Boise.

To view the proposed and alternate routes that are being analyzed in the draftEIS, visit the interactive map on the BLM’s website detailing these routes: www.wy.blm. gov/nepa/cfodocs/gateway_west.

Friday, July 16, 2010

BLM, USFS and ODOE Joint Scoping and Public Information Meetings

ODOE, BLM and USFS have reopened the public comment period for the Boardman to Hemingway Transmission Line Project. These agencies will host additional public scoping and information meetings on Idaho Power’s new routes and related documents in August 2010.

08/02/10

3:30 - 8 p.m.

Blue Mountain Conference Center
404 Twelfth St.
La Grande, OR
map location

08/03/10

3:30 - 8 p.m.

Best Western Sunridge Inn and Conference Center
1 Sunridge Ln,

Baker City, OR
map location

08/04/10

3:30 - 8 p.m.

Pendleton Convention Center
1601 Westgate
Pendleton, OR
map location

08/05/10

3:30 - 8 p.m.

Mt. Vernon Community Hall
640 Ingle St.
Mt. Vernon, OR
map location

08/09/10

3:30 - 8 p.m.

American Legion Hall
126 N. Bruneau Hwy.
Marsing, ID
map location

08/10/10

3:30 - 8 p.m.

Four Rivers Cultural Center
676 S.W. 5th Ave.
Ontario, OR
map location

08/11/10

3:30 - 8 p.m.

Port of Morrow Convention Center
2 Marine Dr.
Boardman, OR
map location

08/12/10

3:30 - 8 p.m.

Harney County Community Services Center
17 S. Alder Ave

Burns, OR
map location

During each meeting the state and federal agencies will give presentations about their respective review processes. In addition, Idaho Power has been invited to give a brief presentation about the project. Following the presentations, the agencies will hold a question-and-answer session.


The open house meetings will provide the opportunity for attendees to learn more about the project, review maps, provide written comments and discuss the project with agency staff and consultants, as well as Idaho Power representatives.

For more meeting information, go to http://boardmantohemingway.com/scoping2010.aspx