[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 116 (Thursday, June 17, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34477-34479]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-14581]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
U.S. Forest Service
Potomac-Appalachian Transmission Highline (PATH) Environmental
Impact Statement, Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, Appalachian
National Scenic Trail, Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail,
Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park, and Monongahela
National Forest, Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia
AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior and U.S. Forest Service,
Agriculture.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement
(EIS) for construction and right-of-way permits requested from Harpers
Ferry National Historical Park (NHP), Appalachian National Scenic Trail
(NST), Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail, Chesapeake and Ohio
Canal National Historical Park, and Monongahela National Forest, in
connection with the proposed Potomac-Appalachian Transmission Highline
(PATH) project.
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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, 42
U.S.C. 4332(2)(C), the National Park Service (NPS), lead agency, along
with cooperating agencies, the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) and U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers, are preparing an Environmental Impact Statement
(EIS) and conducting public scoping meetings for construction and
right-of-way permits requested from the agencies by PATH Allegheny
Transmission Company, LLC; PATH Allegheny Virginia Transmission
Corporation; Potomac Edison Company; and PATH West Virginia
Transmission Company, LLC, collectively referred to herein as
Applicants. The Applicants are seeking permits for proposed
construction of a new 765kV electric transmission line that would cross
federal lands within Maryland, West Virginia, and Virginia. In May
2009, the Applicants submitted
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right-of-way applications (Form 299) for those portions of the PATH
project proposed to traverse Harpers Ferry NHP, Chesapeake and Ohio
Canal NHP, Appalachian NST, Potomac Heritage NST, all managed by the
National Park Service; and Monongahela National Forest managed by the
U.S. Forest Service. These applications also serve as the application
for Special Use Permits for construction of the proposed project.
The Applicants' proposed project would modify and expand existing
rights-of-way across Harpers Ferry NHP and Appalachian NST. In
particular, the Applicants propose modification and expansion of
existing right-of-way agreements held by Potomac Edison Company over
Harpers Ferry NHP and Appalachian NST to allow for placement of the 138
kV Millville-Doubs transmission line as an underbuild on the PATH
transmission structures; and also the grant of a new 200-feet-wide
right-of-way for the PATH transmission line. While the PATH Project
would require a 200-feet right-of-way, it would only require an
expansion of the existing right-of-way corridor across Harpers Ferry
NHP and Appalachian NST by approximately 105 feet.
The Applicants seek a new right-of-way authorization across
Chesapeake and Ohio Canal NHP and Potomac Heritage NST. The requested
right-of-way would be approximately 200 feet wide, with a distance over
the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal NHP and Potomac Heritage NST properties
of approximately 400 feet. The proposed crossing route will be adjacent
to (on the north side) existing transmission rights-of-way for the 138
kV Millville-Doubs transmission facility operated by Potomac Edison
Company and the 500 kV Mt. Storm-Doubs transmission facility operated
by Dominion Virginia Power. The Applicants' proposed crossing of the
Monongahela National Forest would require USFS authorization for a new
200-feet-wide right-of-way.
The Applicants' stated purpose for the PATH project is to
strengthen the electrical transmission grid for reliability purposes at
the direction of PJM Interconnection, LLC (PJM), the regional
transmission organization. PJM oversees the overall movement of
wholesale electricity throughout a region comprising all or parts of 13
states and the District of Columbia. PJM has a duty to maintain
reliability of the transmission grid according to standards set by the
North American Electric Reliability Corporation and approved by the
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. PJM's Regional Transmission
Expansion Plan has identified numerous projected reliability criteria
violations that the proposed PATH project is designed to alleviate and
has directed construction of a line of sufficient capacity to address
these violations by connecting the existing Amos Substation in Putnam
County, West Virginia, with two existing 500 kV transmission lines that
are in close proximity to each other at a point approximately three
miles southeast of New Market, Maryland.
The federal action under consideration in this EIS is the
Applicants' proposal that the National Park Service and U.S. Forest
Service grant the requested permits. The agencies' purpose in taking
action is to respond to the application for permits in consideration of
the needs expressed therein and the public interest, and in light of
the missions, purposes and resource management of the affected NPS and
USFS units, as expressed in statutes, regulations, and policies.
Federal action is needed because the Applicants have submitted the
required applications to the National Park Service in accordance with
36 CFR part 14 and applicable NPS management policies and to the U.S.
Forest Service in accordance with 36 CFR part 251.54 and Special Uses
Handbook (FSH 2709.11). The National Park Service and U.S. Forest
Service therefore have a responsibility to consider whether, and with
what conditions, if any, to issue the requested permits.
The National Park Service and U.S. Forest Service will analyze no-
action and proposed action alternatives and possibly other alternatives
or mitigation strategies that respond to the purpose, need, and
objectives of this proposal. The goal of the National Park Service and
U.S. Forest Service is to identify issues and concerns with the
proposed action, additional alternatives, and alternative mitigation
strategies through the public scoping process.
This notice initiates the public participation and scoping process
for the EIS. The public is invited to comment on the purpose, need and
objectives for federal action, the proposed action and alternatives to
the proposed action to be analyzed in the EIS, the appropriate scope of
analysis, or any issues associated with the proposal. More information
about the purpose of and need for federal action, and issues identified
to date is available from the NPS planning Web site at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/appa/. It is important that reviewers provide
their comments at such times and in such a manner that they are useful
to the agency's preparation of the EIS. Therefore, comments should be
provided prior to the close of the comment period and should clearly
articulate the reviewers concerns and comments. The submission of
timely and specific comments can affect a reviewer's ability to
participate in subsequent administrative appeal or judicial review.
Dates and Meeting Notices: The public scoping period will commence on
the date this notice is published in the Federal Register and last for
at least 30 days or until 15 days after the last public scoping
meeting. The National Park Service and U.S. Forest Service will hold
public meetings near the parks and forest to provide the public an
opportunity to review the proposal and project information, and provide
comments. All public meetings will be announced through local media,
mailings, and the NPS planning Web site at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/appa/, at least 15 days prior to each meeting. The meetings will be
concluded at least 15 days prior to the close of comment.
ADDRESSES: Comments on issues, potential impacts, or suggestions for
additional alternatives can be submitted using any one of the following
methods. You may submit comments through the NPS planning Web site at
http://parkplanning.nps.gov/appa/, which is the preferred method. You
may mail your comments to the National Park Service, Attention: PATH
EIS Planning Team, Denver Service Center--Planning, P.O. Box 25287,
Denver, CO 80225. Comments may also be submitted at any of the three
public meetings to be announced.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Morgan Elmer, Project Manager, Denver
Service Center--Planning, P.O. Box 25287, Denver, Co 80225, telephone
303-969-2317.
Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address or
other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be
aware your entire comment--including your personal identifying
information--may be made publicly available at any time. While you can
ask us in your comment to withhold identifying information from public
review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. All
submissions from organizations and businesses, and from individuals
identifying themselves as representatives or officials of organizations
or businesses, will be available for public inspection in their
entirety. The National Park Service and U.S. Forest Service will not
consider anonymous comments. All others will be included in the
administrative record
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upon which the National Park Service and U.S. Forest Service will
ultimately reach a decision.
Margaret O'Dell,
Regional Director, National Capital Region, National Park Service.
Pam Underhill,
Superintendent, Appalachian National Scenic Trail, National Park
Service.
Jason Reed,
District Ranger, Monongahela National Forest, U.S. Forest Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-14581 Filed 6-16-10; 8:45 am]
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