Western Area Power Administration (Western) proposes to improve the way it manages vegetation along its rights-of-way (ROW) on National Forest System lands in the states of Colorado, Utah, and Nebraska.

1. Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 67 / Thursday, April 8, 2010 / Notices 17913
Signed: PERSON TO CONTACT FOR INFORMATION: designed to ensure the safe and reliable
Gracia Hillman, Bryan Whitener, Telephone: (202) 566– operation of the transmission system.
Commissioner, U.S. Election Assistance 3100. Portions of the proposed Project may
Commission. affect floodplains and wetlands, so this
Gineen Bresso Beach,
[FR Doc. 2010–8171 Filed 4–6–10; 4:15 pm] Notice of Intent (NOI) also serves as a
Commissioner, U.S. Election Assistance notice of proposed floodplain or
BILLING CODE 6820–KF–P
Commission.
wetland action, in accordance with DOE
[FR Doc. 2010–8174 Filed 4–6–10; 4:15 pm] floodplain and wetland environmental
BILLING CODE 6820–KF–P review requirements.
ELECTION ASSISTANCE COMMISSION
DATES: This NOI begins the public
Sunshine Act; Notice of Virtual Public scoping period. The public scoping
Forum for EAC Standards Board DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY period will close May 26, 2010. Western
and the Forest Service will consider all
DATE & TIME: Monday, May 3, 2010, 9 Western Area Power Administration
electronic and written scoping
a.m. EDT through Friday, May 14, 2010,
comments that are received or
9 p.m. EDT. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
postmarked by midnight May 26, 2010.
PLACE: EAC Standards Board Virtual
ADDRESSES: Western and the Forest
Meeting Room at http://www.eac.gov. Forest Service
Once at the main page of EAC’s Web Service will host public scoping
site, viewers should click the link to the Maintenance and Vegetation meetings on Thursday, April 22, 2010,
Standards Board Virtual Meeting Room. Management Along Existing Western at the Ramada Plaza Denver North, 10
The virtual meeting room will open on Area Power Administration East 120th Avenue, Denver, CO 80233;
Monday, May 3, 2010, at 9 a.m. EDT and Transmission Line Rights of Way on Friday, April 23, 2010, at the Museum
will close on Friday, May 14, 2010, at National Forest System Lands, of Western Colorado, Whitman
9 p.m. EDT. The site will be available Colorado, Utah, and Nebraska (DOE/ Educational Center, 248 S. 4th (4th and
24 hours per day during that 12-day EIS–0442) Ute), Grand Junction, CO 81501; and
period. Monday, April 26, 2010, at the Uintah
AGENCIES: Western Area Power Basin Applied Technology College, 450
PURPOSE: The EAC Standards Board will Administration, DOE; Forest Service, N. 2000 W., Vernal, UT 84078. Scoping
review and provide comment on a draft USDA. meetings will be from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.
version of the EAC Research ACTION: Notice of Intent to Prepare an The meetings will provide information
Department’s Recounts and Contests Environmental Impact Statement and to to the public and gather comments from
study. The draft version contains Conduct Scoping Meetings; Notice of the public. The meetings will be
information about the laws and Floodplain and Wetlands Involvement. informal, and attendees will be able to
procedures each States uses to govern speak directly with Western and FS
recounts, contests, and standards for SUMMARY: Western Area Power
representatives about the proposal.
what constitutes a valid vote. The study Administration (Western) proposes to
Attendees may provide written
includes best practices that States use improve the way it manages vegetation
comments at the public scoping
with respect to recounts and contests. along its rights-of-way (ROW) on
meetings, or send them to James
The EAC Standards Board Virtual National Forest System lands in the
Hartman, Environmental Manager,
Meeting Room was established to enable states of Colorado, Utah, and Nebraska.
Rocky Mountain Regional Office,
the Standards Board to conduct Implementing the proposal would
Western Area Power Administration,
business in an efficient manner in a include modifying existing United
P.O. Box 3700, Loveland, CO 80539–
public forum, including being able to States Forest Service (Forest Service)
3003, e-mail: Western-FS-
review and discuss draft documents, authorizations or issuing new
EIS@wapa.gov.
when it is not feasible for an in-person authorizations to accommodate
board meeting. The Standards Board Western’s vegetation management FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
will not take any votes or propose any proposal and maintenance of the information on the proposal and the
resolutions during the 12-day forum of electrical transmission facilities. environmental review process, contact
May 3–May 14, 2010. Members will post Western and the FS will be joint lead James Hartman at the above address. For
comments about the draft version of the agencies in the preparation of an general information on DOE’s NEPA
Recounts and Contests study. environmental impact statement (EIS) review process, contact Carol M.
This activity is open to the public. on the proposal in accordance with the Borgstrom, Director, Office of NEPA
The public may view the proceedings of National Environmental Policy Act of Policy and Compliance, GC–54, U.S.
this special forum by visiting the EAC 1969 (NEPA), U.S. Department of Department of Energy, 1000
standards board virtual meeting room at Energy (DOE) NEPA Implementing Independence Avenue, SW.,
http://www.eac.gov at any time between Procedures, and the Council on Washington, DC 20585–0119, telephone
Monday, May 3, 2010, 9 a.m. EDT and Environmental Quality (CEQ) (202) 586–4600 or (800) 472–2756,
Friday, May 14, 2010, 9 p.m. EDT. The regulations for implementing NEPA. facsimile (202) 586–7031. For
public also may view recounts and Western’s need for agency action is to information on the Forest Service role in
contests, which will be posted on EAC’s ensure that it can safely and reliably this effort, please contact David Loomis,
Web site beginning April 26, 2010. The operate and maintain its existing Regional Environmental Planner, Rocky
public may file written statements to the electrical transmission facilities. Mountain Regional Office, U.S. Forest
sroberts on DSKD5P82C1PROD with NOTICES
EAC standards board at Western must meet North American Service, 740 Simms St., Golden, CO
standardsboard@eac.gov and by Electric Reliability Corporation’s 80401 (303) 275–5008.
copying Sharmili Edwards at mandatory vegetation management and SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Western is
sedwards@eac.gov. Data on EAC’s Web maintenance standards (FAC–003–1) in a Federal power marketing agency
site is accessible to visitors with accordance with section 1211 of the within the DOE that markets and
disabilities and meets the requirements Energy Policy Act of 2005 and industry delivers Federal wholesale electric
of Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act. standards. These industry standards are power (principally hydroelectric power)
VerDate Nov<24>2008 16:26 Apr 07, 2010 Jkt 220001 PO 00000 Frm 00018 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:FRFM08APN1.SGM 08APN1

2. 17914 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 67 / Thursday, April 8, 2010 / Notices
to municipalities, rural electric • Reduce the risk of wildfires caused maintenance according to past and
cooperatives, public utilities and by vegetation growing into or falling current practices. Danger trees would be
irrigation districts, Federal and State onto transmission lines managed as they are now using a
agencies, and Native American tribes in • Reduce the risks to facilities from reactive approach with annual re-entry
15 western and central States. The fires cycle to locate and cut danger trees.
proposal covers existing transmission • Control the spread of noxious Other alternatives may be identified
lines located on National Forest System weeds based on public and agency comments.
lands in Colorado, Utah, and Nebraska • Ensure that Western’s transmission
facilities remain operational for the Floodplain or Wetland Involvement
and operated and maintained by
Western’s Rocky Mountain Region. useful life of the facility Since the proposed Project may
Western proposes to improve the way it • Maintain flexibility to involve action in floodplains or
manages vegetation on FS lands in part accommodate changes in transmission wetlands, this NOI also serves as a
to ensure compliance with section 1211 system operation and maintenance notice of proposed floodplain or
of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 and the requirements wetland action, in accordance with 10
subsequent changes in industry CFR 1022.12 (a). The EIS will include a
Proposed Action
standards for vegetation management to floodplain/wetland assessment and
Western proposes to improve the way floodplain statement of findings
control the costs of vegetation
it manages vegetation along its ROW on following DOE regulations for
management, to reduce the risk of
National Forest System lands in the compliance with floodplain and
wildfires caused by vegetation
states of Colorado, Utah, and Nebraska. wetlands environmental review (10 CFR
interacting with energized transmission
Not all areas of Western’s ROW would 1022).
lines, and to reduce the potential impact
require the proposed changes to
of wildfires on the transmission lines. Environmental Issues
vegetation management. Vegetation
Forest Service authorizations, issued
management approaches would vary The location of the proposal is on
under 36 CFR 251.54, for Western’s use
along the ROW depending on site National Forest System lands in
of National Forest System lands would
conditions and identified risks to the Colorado, Utah, and Nebraska. National
need to be modified to accommodate
transmission lines, and other factors. Forests in Colorado include the
this proposal.
Over the life of Western’s facilities, Arapaho-Roosevelt, Grand Mesa-
Purpose and Need for Agency Action proposed vegetation management Uncompahgre-Gunnison, White River,
changes would be implemented in Routt, San Juan, and Pike-San Isabel.
Western must ensure that it can safely
locations along its ROW where The project also includes the Nebraska
and reliably operate and maintain its
vegetation could interfere with National Forest in Nebraska and the
existing electrical transmission facilities
Western’s ability to reliably operate and Ashley National Forest in Utah. Western
to deliver electrical power. Western
maintain the facilities. In general, maintains approximately 300 miles of
must ensure access to its transmission
Western proposes to change its ROW in these forests. The ROWs cross
facilities for maintenance and
vegetation management practices in the through a variety of vegetation
emergency response. Western must also
following manner: communities at elevations ranging from
ensure that the costs associated with
• Implement and then maintain approximately 6,000 to 11,000 feet. The
maintaining the transmission system
vegetation conditions along the ROW widths of the transmission line ROW
can be controlled in accordance with
that reduce the risk to the transmission depend on the voltage of the line and
sound business principles. Western
lines from vegetation-caused typically range from 75 to 175 feet. The
must meet mandatory vegetation
interference with the maintenance and EIS will evaluate impacts on a variety of
management standards in accordance
operation of the transmission line. This environmental resources that may occur
with section 1211 of the Energy Policy
could include establishing relatively along the approximately 4,000 total
Act of 2005 and industry standards. The
stable native vegetation that, at mature acres of ROW. The EIS will include
vegetation management standards are
height, would not grow into conductors, design criteria and other actions to
designed to ensure the safe and reliable
fall onto conductors or structures, or avoid or minimize impacts. The EIS will
operation of the transmission system.
contribute to high fuel loads. also present the results of compliance
To ensure that Western can safely, • Change from a largely reactive with other environmental regulations
reliably, and cost-effectively operate, approach of cutting danger trees with including the Endangered Species Act,
maintain, and access its transmission annual ROW re-entry cycles to a National Historic Preservation Act,
system and implement required proactive approach that incorporates Clean Water Act, Clean Air Act and
vegetation management practices on integrated vegetation management. The others.
lands managed by the FS, Western objectives would be to control
needs to participate with the FS to Public Participation
vegetation that, at mature height,
evaluate options to renew or modify presents a risk to transmission line Interested parties are invited to
Western’s current authorizations. maintenance and operation, and allow participate in the scoping process to
Western’s objectives for this proposal for longer ROW re-entry intervals. identify important issues to be analyzed
are to maintain its transmission lines, • Reduce as necessary and manage in depth, and to eliminate from detailed
ROW and access roads to: the amount of fuel-loading on the ROW study issues that are not pertinent. The
• Protect public and worker safety to reduce the risk of transmission line- scoping process will involve all
• Ensure power system reliability caused wildfires and to reduce the interested agencies (Federal, State,
sroberts on DSKD5P82C1PROD with NOTICES
• Comply with current industry potential impacts of wildfires to county, and local), Native American
standards and mandatory reliability transmission lines and structures. tribes, public interest groups,
standards businesses, affected landowners, and
• Achieve technical and economic Alternatives individual members of the public.
efficiencies to minimize impacts on Alternatives to Western’s proposal Western and the FS will consult with
transmission line tariff costs and include the no action alternative. In this affected tribes to evaluate and address
electrical power rates alternative, Western would continue its the potential effects on cultural
VerDate Nov<24>2008 16:26 Apr 07, 2010 Jkt 220001 PO 00000 Frm 00019 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:FRFM08APN1.SGM 08APN1

3. Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 67 / Thursday, April 8, 2010 / Notices 17915
resources, traditional cultural ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION Information (CBI) or other information
properties, or other resources important AGENCY whose disclosure is restricted by statute.
to the tribes. These consultations will be Do not submit information that you
[EPA–HQ–OAR–2003–0079: FRL–9135–2]
conducted in accordance with Executive consider to be CBI or otherwise
Order 13175, Consultation and Agency Information Collection protected through www.regulations.gov
Coordination with Indian Tribal Activities; Proposed Collection; or e-mail. The http://
Governments (65 FR 67429), the Comment Request; 8–Hour Ozone www.regulations.gov Web site is an
President’s memorandum of April 29, National Ambient Air Quality Standard, ‘‘anonymous access’’ system, which
1994, Government-to-Government EPA ICR No. 2236.03, OMB Control No. means EPA will not know your identity
Relations with Native American Tribal 2060–0594 or contact information unless you
Governments (59 FR 22961), DOE- provide it in the body of your comment.
AGENCY: Environmental Protection If you send an e-mail comment directly
specific guidance on tribal interactions,
Agency (EPA). to EPA without going through http://
and applicable natural and cultural
ACTION: Notice. www.regulations.gov, your e-mail
resources laws and regulations.
address will be automatically captured
The public is encouraged to provide SUMMARY: In compliance with the and included as part of the comment
information and comments on issues it Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) (44 that is placed in the public docket and
believes should be addressed in the EIS. U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this document made available on the Internet. If you
Comments on the scope of the EIS will announces that EPA is planning to submit an electronic comment, EPA
be addressed by Western and the Forest submit a request to renew an existing recommends that you include your
Service. Comments will be accepted at approved Information Collection name and other contact information in
any time during the EIS process. Request (ICR) 2236.03—8–Hour Ozone the body of your comment and with any
Comments received outside of the National Ambient Air Quality Standard disk or CD–ROM you submit. If EPA
scoping period may be addressed in the to the Office of Management and Budget cannot read your comment due to
draft EIS if practicable, otherwise they (OMB). This ICR is scheduled to expire technical difficulties and cannot contact
will be addressed later in the process, on July 31, 2010. Before submitting the you for clarification, EPA may not be
such as in the final EIS. ICR to OMB for review and approval, able to consider your comment.
EPA is soliciting comments on specific Electronic files should avoid the use of
Western has set up a Web site at aspects of the proposed information special characters, any form of
http://www.wapa.gov/transmission/ collection as described below. encryption, and be free of any defects or
Western-FS-EIS.htm to facilitate the DATES: Comments must be submitted on viruses. For additional information
distribution of project information or before June 7, 2010. about EPA’s public docket, visit the EPA
including meeting notices, project Docket Center homepage at http://
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments,
documents, schedules and other identified by Docket ID No. EPA–HQ– www.epa.gov/epahome/dockets.htm.
information. The public will be able to OAR–2003–0079, by one of the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr.
obtain documents for review from this following methods: H. Lynn Dail, Air Quality Policy
Web site or request digital or hardcopies • http://www.regulations.gov: Follow Division, Office of Air Quality Planning
of documents for review. the on-line instructions for submitting and Standards, Mail Code C539–01,
Western anticipates that the EIS comments. Environmental Protection Agency, T.W.
process will take about 15 months, and • E-mail: a-and-r-docket@epa.gov. Alexander Drive, Research Triangle
will include public scoping meetings; • Fax: (202) 564–9744. Park, NC 27711; telephone number:
consultation and coordination with • Mail: Environmental Protection (919) 541–2363; fax number: (919) 541–
appropriate Federal, State, county, and Agency, Air and Radiation Docket, 0824; e-mail address: dail.lynn@epa.gov.
local agencies and tribes; distribution of Mailcode 2822T, 1200 Pennsylvania SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
and public review and comment on the Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460. Such
deliveries are only accepted during the How Can I Access the Docket and/or
Draft EIS; a formal public hearing on the Submit Comments?
Draft EIS; distribution of a Final EIS; Docket’s normal hours of operation, and
and publication of the Record of special arrangements should be made EPA has established a public docket
for deliveries of boxed information. for this ICR under Docket ID No. EPA–
Decision in the Federal Register.
Please include a total of two copies. HQ–OAR–2003–0079, which is
Responsible Officials • Hand Delivery: EPA Docket Center, available for online viewing at http://
Public Reading Room, EPA West, Room www.regulations.gov, or in person
Western: Administrator; Forest 3334, 1301 Constitution Ave., NW., viewing at the Air Docket in the EPA
Service: Rocky Mountain Regional Washington, DC 20004. Such deliveries Docket Center (EPA/DC), EPA West,
Forester. are only accepted during the Docket’s Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Ave.,
Dated: March 24, 2010. normal hours of operation, and special NW., Washington, DC. The EPA/DC
Timothy J. Meeks,
arrangements should be made for Public Reading Room is open from 8:30
deliveries of boxed information. a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through
Administrator. Instructions: Direct your comments to Friday, excluding legal holidays. The
Dated: March 24, 2010. Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–OAR–2003– telephone number for the Reading Room
Randall Karstaedt, 0079. EPA’s policy is that all comments is 202–566–1744, and the telephone
sroberts on DSKD5P82C1PROD with NOTICES
Acting Deputy Regional Forester. received will be included in the public number for the Air Docket is 202–566–
[FR Doc. 2010–7724 Filed 4–7–10; 8:45 am] docket without change and may be 1742.
BILLING CODE 6450–01–P
made available online at http:// Use http://www.regulations.gov to
www.regulations.gov, including any obtain a copy of the draft collection of
personal information provided, unless information, submit or view public
the comment includes information comments, access the index listing of
claimed to be Confidential Business the contents of the docket, and to access
VerDate Nov<24>2008 16:26 Apr 07, 2010 Jkt 220001 PO 00000 Frm 00020 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:FRFM08APN1.SGM 08APN1