Notice2022-15146
Public Scoping for Environmental Impact Statement-Real Estate Transaction and Related Utilities Infrastructure Upgrade at U.S. Army Garrison-West Point and Vicinity
Primary source
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Published
July 15, 2022
Issuing agencies
Defense DepartmentArmy Department
Abstract
Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), as implemented by Council on Environmental Quality regulations, the Department of the Army announces its intent to prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) to analyze a real estate transaction and a related utilities infrastructure upgrade. The real estate transaction would alter, where necessary, an existing transmission line easement at West Point, NY, and would grant to Orange and Rockland Utilities (O&R) a new 150-foot-wide transmission line easement at West Point. These measures would allow O&R to upgrade its existing 34.5-kilovolt (kV) electrical transmission line and associated infrastructure between its Woodbury Transition Station (in the Town of Woodbury, NY), West Point, NY, and the neighboring Village of Highland Falls, NY. The EIS will evaluate the environmental impact of the Proposed Action, to include its impact on adjacent properties.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 87 Issue 135 (Friday, July 15, 2022)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 135 (Friday, July 15, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42448-42449]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2022-15146]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army
Public Scoping for Environmental Impact Statement--Real Estate
Transaction and Related Utilities Infrastructure Upgrade at U.S. Army
Garrison--West Point and Vicinity
AGENCY: Department of the Army, Department of Defense (DoD).
ACTION: Notice of Intent (NOI).
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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969
(NEPA), as implemented by Council on Environmental Quality regulations,
the Department of the Army announces its intent to prepare an
environmental impact statement (EIS) to analyze a real estate
transaction and a related utilities infrastructure upgrade. The real
estate transaction would alter, where necessary, an existing
transmission line easement at West Point, NY, and would grant to Orange
and Rockland Utilities (O&R) a new 150-foot-wide transmission line
easement at West Point. These measures would allow O&R to upgrade its
existing 34.5-kilovolt (kV) electrical transmission line and associated
infrastructure between its Woodbury Transition Station (in the Town of
Woodbury, NY), West Point, NY, and the neighboring Village of Highland
Falls, NY. The EIS will evaluate the environmental impact of the
Proposed Action, to include its impact on adjacent properties.
DATES: Comments must be received by August 29, 2022.
ADDRESSES: Please send any written comments or questions to Mr.
Christopher Pray via email (<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#15767d677c66617a657d70673b763b6567746c3b767c63557467786c3b787c79"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="0f6c677d667c7b607f676a7d216c217f7d6e76216c66794f6e7d627621626663">[email protected]</span></a>) or via
regular mail: U.S. Army Garrison--West Point NEPA Coordinator (Attn:
AMIM-MLP-E), Building 667A, Ruger Road, West Point, NY 10996.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Christopher Pray at the above
addresses or at phone number (845) 938-7122.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The purpose of the Proposed Action is to
allow O&R to expand transmission capacity and ensure system redundancy.
The Proposed Action is needed because West Point's electric demand is
nearing total system capacity. There is no backup in case of emergency
and/or planned outages. The current 34.5kV system consists of two 19-
megawatt (MW) circuits (38MW total). No reserve capacity exists in
either circuit, resulting in a lack of redundant capabilities for a
significant number of hours each year. Because the neighboring
communities of Highland Falls and Fort Montgomery both receive their
electricity from the same 34.5kV system that supplies West Point, these
municipalities would also benefit from having a fully redundant
electrical system. The Proposed Action would increase overall energy
resiliency. Implementing the Proposed Action would allow U.S. Army
Garrison--West Point (USAG--West Point) to continue to improve and
modernize the educational facilities and infrastructure of the U.S.
Military Academy as part of USAG--West Point's larger master planning
efforts.
The Proposed Action includes the following steps:
<bullet> USAG--West Point would enter into a real estate
transaction with O&R to alter, where necessary, the alignment of the
existing transmission line easement along approximately eight miles of
West Point property and grant a new, approximately one-mile-long, 150-
foot-wide easement on West Point property to connect the upgraded
transmission line to a new Wilson Gate Collocated Substation at West
Point.
<bullet> O&R would construct two temporary, overhead (OH), 34.5kV
transmission lines where necessary to maintain service. O&R would use
existing transmission lines to the greatest extent possible.
<bullet> O&R would install a mobile substation at the O&R Dean
Substation on Mine Torne Road at West Point.
<bullet> O&R would decommission the existing 34.5kV transmission
line to West Point, Highland Falls, and Fort Montgomery.
<bullet> O&R would construct an upgraded 138kV transmission line,
an upgraded O&R Dean Substation, a new three-way switching station
along the transmission line easement outside the O&R Dean Substation,
an upgraded O&R Harriman Substation (in the Town of Woodbury, NY), and
an upgraded USAG--West Point Delafield Substation. USAG--West Point and
O&R would then construct a new, co-owned, Wilson Gate Collocated
Substation at West Point.
<bullet> O&R would decommission the temporary, OH, 34.5kV
transmission line, the O&R Highland Falls Substation, and the existing
USAG--West Point Wilson Gate Substation.
The transmission line upgrade would require additional real estate
transactions between O&R and the State
[[Page 42449]]
of New York and between O&R and private landowners. Such transactions
are necessary to alter the alignment of--and to build on--those
portions of the existing transmission line easement not located on West
Point property.
The new Wilson Gate Collocated Substation would be built near the
existing USAG--West Point Wilson Gate Substation. The new Wilson Gate
Collocated Substation would be divided into two sections, one serving
West Point and the other serving the surrounding communities. Upon
completion of the project, the existing USAG--West Point Wilson Gate
Substation would be decommissioned but maintained for switching
purposes.
The EIS will analyze at least two transmission line route
alternatives and a No-Action Alternative. The route alternatives would
alter the alignment of the existing easement where necessary. The
Northern Route to Wilson Gate Collocated Substation Alternative would
grant an additional easement to O&R from the vicinity of the USAG--West
Point Delafield Substation to the new Wilson Gate Collocated
Substation. The Southern Route to Wilson Gate Collocated Substation
Alternative would grant an additional easement to O&R from where the
transmission line would split north of the intersection of Stony
Lonesome Road and Route 9W, to the new Wilson Gate Collocated
Substation.
The Proposed Action is expected to impact multiple resources,
including wildlife, vegetation, threatened and endangered species,
water resources (including state and federally regulated wetlands,
surface waters, and floodplains), land use (including the Hudson River
Coastal Zone), cultural resources, state park lands, the Hudson River
view shed, topography, and soils. Construction activities would create
noise and would impact air quality and traffic. Because of the size of
the affected area, the project could have significant environmental
impacts. The particular resources that would experience significant
impacts are unknown at this time.
Consultation with federal and state agencies is required and will
include:
<bullet> Section 7 consultation under the Endangered Species Act;
<bullet> New York State endangered species review;
<bullet> Section 106 consultation under the National Historic
Preservation Act; and
<bullet> preparation of a coastal zone consistency determination.
O&R will need to obtain a number of federal, state, and local
permits and approvals, including an Article VII Certificate of
Environmental Compatibility and Public Need from the New York State
Public Service Commission.
USAG--West Point developed a tentative schedule for the EIS. Two
public meetings will occur approximately 20 days after Federal Register
publication of this NOI. A Draft EIS is expected to be released for
public review in late spring 2023, with public meetings to follow
within approximately 20 days. The Final EIS will take into
consideration all timely comments regarding the Draft EIS and is
projected to be released in winter 2023-24. A Record of Decision is
anticipated in late spring 2024.
Native American Tribes, government agencies, organizations, and
individuals are invited to participate in the scoping process for this
EIS by attending public meetings and/or by submitting written comments.
USAG--West Point requests potential alternatives, information, and
analyses relevant to the Proposed Action.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the need to maintain social
distancing, all public meeting materials will be provided online and
all public meetings will convene by phone. Public meeting materials can
be accessed at: <a href="https://home.army.mil/westpoint/index.php/about/environmental-management-division">https://home.army.mil/westpoint/index.php/about/environmental-management-division</a>. Public meeting dates, times, and
access numbers will be listed on the above website and will be
published in local newspapers (e.g., The Times Herald Record, News of
the Highlands, The Pointer View, and The Cornwall Local). If you cannot
access the materials online, please contact Mr. Christopher Pray at
phone number (845) 938-7122, via email
(<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#95f6fde7fce6e1fae5fdf0e7bbf6bbe5e7f4ecbbf6fce3d5f4e7f8ecbbf8fcf9"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="17747f657e646378677f72653974396765766e39747e615776657a6e397a7e7b">[email protected]</span></a>), or via regular mail: US Army
Garrison--West Point NEPA Coordinator (Attn: AMIM-MLP-E), Building
667A, Ruger Road, West Point, NY 10996. If you send a request for
public meeting materials via regular mail, your request must be
postmarked no later than August 1, 2022. Written comments must be
received within 45 days of the NOI's publication in the Federal
Register and can be sent to the above addresses.
James W. Satterwhite, Jr.,
Army Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 2022-15146 Filed 7-14-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3711-02-P
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