Federal Agencies Seeking Public Comment on Transmission Project

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Wyoming State Office and the National Forests in Utah seek public comment on the draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the 400-mile Energy Gateway South Transmission Project.The proposed project would carry renewable and geothermal power from south-central Wyoming to central Utah.

PacifiCorp, doing business as Rocky Mountain Power, is proposing to construct, maintain, and operate the Energy Gateway South Transmission Project that would result in construction of approximately 412 miles of 500-kilovolt, overhead, alternating-current transmission lines extending from south-central Wyoming to central Utah. When completed, the Project would transmit about 1,500 megawatts of electricity generated from facilities in Wyoming.

According to a news release, the public has until May 22, 2014, to review and comment on the draft EIS. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the BLM and the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) published notices of availability of the document Friday. The EPA notice opened the 90-day comment period.

The BLM is the lead federal agency for the National Environmental Policy Act review process for this project, and is working with cooperating agencies in Wyoming, Colorado, and Utah. Members of the public, government agencies, and Tribes are encouraged to provide comment on the Draft EIS during the 90-day public comment period.

The BLM will host 12 public open house meetings in March and April to provide information about the project and accept public comments on the draft EIS.