NEWS FROM WESTERN AREA POWER ADMINISTRATION
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 1,
2007
CONTACT: Randy Wilkerson, 720-962-7056, wilkerson@wapa.gov
OPEN HOUSE MEETING SET FOR PROPOSED TRANSMISSION LINE
LAKEWOOD, Colo.—An open-house public meeting will be held Wednesday, June 20, in Rush, Colo., from 5 to 8 p.m. in the Miami-Yoder School at 420 South Rush Road. Western Area Power Administration will share information, answer questions and accept comments on primary alternative routes and other alternative routes to build a high-voltage transmission line between Big Sandy Substation (near Limon, Colo.) and Midway Substation (near Fountain, Colo.)
The proposed transmission line would be part of the Eastern Plains Transmission Project. Comments on the scope of the Eastern Plains Transmission Project Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) are also welcome.
Western is preparing an EIS on its proposal to participate with Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, Inc. in the Eastern Plains Transmission Project to construct about 1,000 miles of new high-voltage transmission lines and related facilities in eastern Colorado and western Kansas, expansions at eight existing substations and construction of four new substations, access roads and fiber optic communication facilities. The project would help Western and Tri-State serve their customers while enhancing reliability of the power delivery system in the region, relieving existing constraints, providing opportunities for additional interconnections for other parties, and maximizing use of transmission corridors.
In August and September 2006, Western presented preliminary transmission line corridors and new substation locations at 10 public scoping meetings throughout eastern Colorado and western Kansas, including Aug. 30, 2006, in Limon, and Sept. 5, 2006, in Fountain, Colorado. Based on comments received, Western gathered additional data, made several route refinements, added additional routes and considered alternatives to the preliminary corridors.
The results of this additional analysis and refinement were presented at another series of 10 public meetings in February 2007, including Feb. 13, in Limon, and Feb. 22, in Hanover, Colorado. As a result of the comments received on routes between Big Sandy Substation and Midway Substation, Western determined that additional analysis and public involvement would be beneficial to refining routes in the area.
The open-house meeting will provide you an opportunity
to see how comments have been incorporated into the
primary alternative routes and into other alternative
routes to be evaluated in the EIS. It will also provide
you an opportunity to review and comment on all the
routes. In addition, the public can continue to provide
comments on other issues and concerns related to
the EIS, including the scope of the EIS.
You can provide your comments at the public meeting
by filling out a comment sheet, by visiting with
project staff or by marking your comments on detailed
sheet maps of the primary alternative routes and
other alternative routes. You can also submit comments
on the EPTP Web site at http://www.wapa.gov/transmission/eptp/commentform2.htm
The meeting location is wheelchair accessible. Please contact Western by phone at 888-826-4710 or e-mail eptp@wapa.gov if you need other accommodations to attend the meeting.
Written comments, questions and information on the routes or the scope of the EIS may be mailed, faxed, or e-mailed to Mr. Jim Hartman, Environmental Manager, Western Area Power Administration, Rocky Mountain Region, P.O. Box 3700, Loveland, CO 80539; fax (970) 461-7213; or e-mail eptp@wapa.gov. Comments received by July 5, 2007, will be considered in the Draft EIS.
For more information about the project, including background material and maps, visit the EPTP Web site at http://www.wapa.gov/transmission/eptp.htm
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Western Area Power Administration annually markets and transmits more than 10,000 megawatts of power from hydroelectric powerplants owned and operated by the Bureau of Reclamation and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 15 western and central states. It is part of the Department of Energy.
Serving the West with Federal hydropower
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