RECEIVING COMMENTS • Heather Vance, Nephi resident, Margaret Oler, Rocky Mountain Power News Media Relations, and Don Watts, Central Utah Customer and Community Manger with Rocky Mountain Power discuss the proposed route for the Gateway South project.

By Myrna Trauntvein
Times-News Correspondent

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) released the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and Land Use Plan Amendments (LUPAs) for the Energy Gateway South Transmission Project (Project) on February 21, 2014.
Tamara Gertsch, BLM National Project Manager, Margaret Oler, Rocky Mountain Power News Media Relations, and Don Watts, Central Utah Customer and Community Manger with Rocky Mountain Power, were on hand at the open house March 20, at Juab High School.
The open house was given to provide information about the project and the Draft EIS, and accepted public comments on the Draft EIS that night.
"Western Electricity Coordinating Council (WECC) changed the rules for the separation from 1,500-feet," said Oler. "The new minimum was changed to 250-feet of new minimum and allow the transmission line to keep the same line rating."
Watts explained that several transmission lines, strung by different companies, cannot share the same structure.
One consideration is that, if there were a disaster of any sort, it would take both lines out and would cause a more severe power outage than if only one line were down.
Federal rules would also require that the load be less for each of the companies sharing the structure.
At the open house, large maps and information plaques were posted. Computers were available for those attending to make comments and there were also paper comment forms available which could be submitted on site.
The proposed Gateway South Transmission Project is now being required to consider the new line changes in a special exercise to see what effect the new separation minimums would have on the project.
Issuing the Draft EIS and LUPAs, prepared under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), is an opportunity for the public to learn about the Project, review and comment on the Draft EIS, and be involved in the federal decision-making process.
The Draft EIS and LUPAs will be available for review for a period of 90 days; from February 21 to May 22, 2014. During that 90-day period, the BLM will host public open houses at 12 locations in the project area.
Comments are due by May 22, 2014
BLM Wyoming is preparing the EIS on a right-of-way application for the transmission line proposed by PacifiCorp, doing business as Rocky Mountain Power. The Project is an overhead, 500-kilovolt alternating current transmission line originating near Medicine Bow in south-central Wyoming and terminating near Mona in central Utah.
Through planning studies analyzing the electrical power system, Rocky Mountain Power determined its existing system, last upgraded about 25 years ago, needs to be upgraded to ensure sufficient capacity and reliable power is available to its customers in the region. When completed, the line would transmit up to 1,500 megawatts of electricity.
"We would like all those who have comments to make them," said Gertsch. "All substantive comments will be analyzed."
At times those comments reveal something that has been missed.
"If we missed a data source, it will be analyzed and a recommendation will be made," she said. "Comments can point out omissions and critical information we did not use."
Comments may be submitted to the BLM during the public meetings, by email: GatewaySouth_WYMail@blm.gov, or by mail to: Energy Gateway South Project, Bureau of Land Management, P.O. Box 21150, Cheyenne, WY 82003.
Following the 90-day public comment period, the BLM will analyze the comments and prepare a final EIS, targeted for release in Winter/Spring 2015.
PacifiCorp has agreed to prepare a Sage-grouse Mitigation Plan and is currently developing a Habitat Equivalency Analysis, in cooperation with the BLM and other agencies, which will be included in the Mitigation Plan.
"The Nephi open house has been modestly attended," said Gertsch.
There is still much to be accomplished before the project actually goes into construction, she said.
Once the final EIS is accepted, a record of decision must be made and then right-of-ways must still be acquired.
"Construction may begin in 2017 and the transmission line may be in service by 2020," said Gertsch.
In August 2013, a revised administrative Draft EIS and LUPAs was distributed to the lead and cooperating-agency personnel for a second review. Comments were incorporated and the document (Draft EIS and LUPAs) was approved for release in late January 2014.
The Draft EIS and LUPAs may be viewed and/or a copy downloaded at www.blm.gov/wy/st/en/info/NEPA/ documents/hdd/gateway_south.html; Those interested may also request a copy on DVD from mdunford@epgaz.com.
A copy may also be reviewed at a BLM or USFS office.
In Fall 2013, the BLM, in coordination with the cooperating agencies, identified an agency-preferred route for consideration in the Draft EIS and LUPAs.
"The agency-preferred route presented in the Draft EIS and LUPAs may not be the final route selected for construction of the transmission line," said Gertsch.
The BLM will review and consider comments received on the Draft EIS and LUPAs, and changes made to the route will be published in the Final EIS and proposed LUPAs, anticipated in Winter 2015.
However, the final decision will be published in a Record of Decision, anticipated in late Spring 2015.
"There is no new study about minimum separation, however, the cooperating agencies (led by BLM) are requiring the proposed projects to evaluate the potential impacts of the new WECC guidelines," said Watts. "This requires Rocky Mountain Power to evaluate its ability to implement the new guidelines on the Gateway South project. This information will be used by the agencies as they develop the final EIS."