Notice2024-24879
Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed North Plains Connector Project, Colstrip, Montana to Center/St. Anthony, North Dakota
Primary source
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Published
October 25, 2024
Issuing agencies
Energy Department
Abstract
In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA), the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, as amended, and the Federal Power Act (FPA), as amended, the Grid Deployment Office (GDO), Department of Energy (DOE), in coordination with Federal cooperating agencies--the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Miles City Field Office, Miles City, MT; the United States Forest Service (USFS), an agency of the Department of Agriculture (USDA), Dakota Prairie Grasslands, Bismarck, ND; and the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) Fort Keogh Livestock and Range Research Laboratory, Miles City, MT--intends to prepare jointly, with the Montana Department of Environmental Quality (Montana DEQ), an environmental impact statement (EIS; DOE/EIS-0568) to analyze the potential environmental impacts of granting authorizations to North Plains Connector LLC for siting, constructing, operating, and maintaining the North Plains Connector Project ("the proposed Project"), an up to 525-kilovolt (kV) high- voltage direct-current (HVDC) electrical transmission line connecting the Eastern and Western Interconnections (also referred to as the eastern and western grids). By this notice, GDO is announcing the beginning of the scoping process to solicit public comments and identify issues, impacts, and possible need for mitigation.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 207 (Friday, October 25, 2024)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 207 (Friday, October 25, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 85182-85188]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-24879]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for
the Proposed North Plains Connector Project, Colstrip, Montana to
Center/St. Anthony, North Dakota
AGENCY: Grid Deployment Office, Department of Energy.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement
and request for comments.
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SUMMARY: In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of
1969, as amended (NEPA), the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of
1976, as amended, and the Federal Power Act (FPA), as amended, the Grid
Deployment Office (GDO), Department of Energy (DOE), in coordination
with Federal cooperating agencies--the Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
Miles City Field Office, Miles City, MT; the United States Forest
Service (USFS), an agency of the Department of Agriculture (USDA),
Dakota Prairie Grasslands, Bismarck, ND; and the Agricultural Research
Service (ARS) Fort Keogh Livestock and Range Research Laboratory, Miles
City, MT--intends to prepare jointly, with the Montana Department of
Environmental Quality (Montana DEQ), an environmental impact statement
(EIS; DOE/EIS-0568) to analyze the potential environmental impacts of
granting authorizations to North Plains Connector LLC for siting,
constructing, operating, and maintaining the North Plains Connector
Project (``the proposed Project''), an up to 525-kilovolt (kV) high-
voltage direct-current (HVDC) electrical transmission line connecting
the Eastern and Western Interconnections (also referred to as the
eastern and western grids). By this notice, GDO is announcing the
beginning of the scoping process to solicit public comments and
identify issues, impacts, and possible need for mitigation.
DATES: This notice initiates the public-scoping process for the EIS.
GDO requests that the public submit comments concerning the scope of
the analysis, potential alternatives and impacts, and identification of
relevant information, analyses, and studies by December 9, 2024. GDO
will hold five scoping meetings on the following dates at the following
locations:
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Date Time Location/format
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Wednesday, November 6, 2024............. 4-7 p.m. CT..................... Venue Twenty5, 3796 ND Hwy. 25,
Mandan, ND 58554.
Thursday, November 7, 2024.............. 6-9 p.m. MT..................... Astoria Event Center, 363 15 St. W,
Dickinson, ND 58601.
Tuesday, November 12, 2024.............. 4-7 p.m. MT..................... Custer County Event Center, 42
Garryowen Road RC, Miles City, MT
59301.
Wednesday, November 13, 2024............ 6-9 p.m. MT..................... Colstrip City Hall, 12 Cherry
Street, Colstrip, MT 59323.
Tuesday, November 19, 2024.............. 12-3 p.m. MT.................... VIRTUAL via Webex, register here:
<a href="https://bit.ly/NorthPlainsVirtual">https://bit.ly/NorthPlainsVirtual</a>.
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If any additional scoping meetings are scheduled, the date(s) and
location(s) of those meetings will be announced at least 15 days in
advance through the GDO North Plains Connector Project website: <a href="https://www.energy.gov/nepa/doeeis-0568-north-plains-connector-multiple-locations">https://www.energy.gov/nepa/doeeis-0568-north-plains-connector-multiple-locations</a>.
ADDRESSES: You can comment on the proposed Project by contacting
Rebecca ``RJ'' Boyle, NEPA Document Manager, by any of the following
methods:
<bullet> Email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#751b1a07011d0519141c1b06161a1b1b1016011a07351d045b111a105b121a03"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="f49a9b86809c8498959d9a87979b9a9a9197809b86b49c85da909b91da939b82">[email protected]</span></a>.
<bullet> Mail: Rebecca ``RJ'' Boyle, NPC NEPA Document Manager,
U.S. Department of Energy, Grid Deployment Office, 1000 Independence
Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20585.
Documents pertinent to this NOI may be examined online at <a href="https://www.energy.gov/nepa/doeeis-0568-north-plains-connector-multiple-locations">https://www.energy.gov/nepa/doeeis-0568-north-plains-connector-multiple-locations</a>.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rebecca ``RJ'' Boyle, GDO NEPA
[[Page 85183]]
Document Manager, <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#a2cccdd0d6cad2cec3cbccd1c1cdccccc7c1d6cdd0e2cad38cc6cdc78cc5cdd4"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="2846475a5c4058444941465b4b4746464d4b5c475a684059064c474d064f475e">[email protected]</span></a>; (301) 550-0364.
Contact Ms. Boyle to have your name added to the EIS mailing list.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The proposed Project would traverse both
private and public lands administered by various local, state, and
Federal agencies and would require authorizations for the crossing of
Federal lands managed by BLM, USFS, and ARS, as well as authorizations
from Montana DEQ, North Dakota Public Service Commission (NDPSC), and
six counties in North Dakota.
The proposed Project is currently expected to require a right-of-
way (ROW) authorization from the BLM for the portion of the proposed
Project that crosses approximately ten miles (about 240 acres) of lands
administered by the Miles City Field Office (MCFO) in Montana as well
as a mineral materials sales contract for any Federal minerals access
necessary for the construction of the ROW, whether those minerals occur
in Montana or in North Dakota; a special-use permit (SUP) from USFS for
the portion of the proposed Project that crosses approximately ten
miles (about 250 acres) of lands administered by the Dakota Prairie
Grasslands (DPG) in North Dakota; and an easement from the ARS for the
portion of the proposed Project that crosses approximately eight miles
(about 200 acres) of lands administered by the Fort Keogh Livestock and
Range Research Laboratory in Montana. The developer of the proposed
Project, North Plains Connector LLC (the ``Project Proponent'' or
``North Plains''), a wholly-owned, single-purpose indirect subsidiary
of Grid United, LLC (``Grid United''), has filed applications with the
BLM, the USFS, and ARS proposing to construct, operate, and maintain
the proposed Project.
This proposed Project would also cross state-managed public lands
in both Montana and North Dakota.\1\ North Plains has submitted an
Application for a Certificate of Compliance under the Montana Major
Facility Siting Act (MFSA) with the Montana DEQ. The MFSA review allows
Montana agencies to review the Project, ensure protection of Montana's
environmental resources, consider socioeconomic impacts, provide for
public participation in the siting decisions, and coordinate amongst
agencies and the various required authorizations for the Project. This
process requires compliance with the Montana Environmental Policy Act
(MEPA), which includes an environmental review. The Joint Lead Agencies
will ensure that the EIS meets the requirements of both NEPA and MEPA.
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\1\ North Plains will submit a Consolidated Application for a
Certificate of Corridor Compatibility and Transmission Facility
Route Permit with the North Dakota Public Service Commission
(NDPSC). The NDPSC will conduct its own review process separate from
the coordinated Montana-Federal environmental review.
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Identification of Cooperating and Participating Agencies
While GDO is the Lead Federal Agency for the EIS, GDO does not have
the authority or responsibility to make decisions on North Plains'
applications to BLM, USFS, and ARS. Under Federal law, BLM, USFS, and
ARS each remain responsible for responding to authorization
applications for lands within their respective jurisdictions. Pursuant
to interagency agreements, and in accordance with section 216(h) of the
FPA, GDO is the Lead Federal Agency responsible for coordinating the
various Federal authorizations and related environmental reviews needed
for this proposed Project. GDO and the Montana DEQ are Joint Lead
Agencies for this Project's EIS in accordance with section 107(a)(1)(B)
of NEPA and CEQ regulations (40 CFR 1501.7(b)). The Joint Lead Agencies
will ensure that the EIS meets the requirements of both NEPA and MEPA.
BLM, USFS, and ARS will participate as cooperating agencies as defined
at 40 CFR 1501.8. On November 6, 2023, BLM, USFS, and ARS signed
cooperating agency agreements with GDO outlining the respective roles
and responsibilities of each agency during the proposed Project.
In addition to the Joint Lead Agency (Montana DEQ) and the three
cooperating agencies (BLM, USFS, and ARS) already participating in the
Project, per 40 CFR 1501.8, GDO will invite other Federal agencies with
jurisdiction by law, or those Tribal, State, or local governments with
special expertise related to the relevant environmental issues, to
collaborate as cooperating agencies. GDO will provide cooperating
agencies with a written summary of expectations, including schedules,
milestones, responsibilities, scope, and details of agency expected
contributions. Governmental agencies that are not designated
cooperating or participating agencies will have the opportunity to
provide information, comments, and consultation to GDO during the
public input stages of the NEPA process.
Proposed Project Details
The proposed Project would consist of approximately 420 total miles
of overhead electrical transmission line connecting the eastern and
western grids. The 420-mile route described in this section will be
known as the Proposed Route Alternative. In addition to 420-mile route
described, the Project proposes to include the following:
<bullet> A new 500-kilovolt (kV) extra high voltage (EHV)
alternating current (AC) electrical transmission line in Rosebud
County, Montana (Rosebud Transmission Line). The new line would consist
of two separate, parallel circuits, each approximately 3 miles long
with an associated right-of-way approximately 320 feet wide. The
Rosebud Transmission Line would extend east from the existing Colstrip
Substation owned by a third-party, to a new AC/direct current (DC)
converter station in Rosebud County. The Colstrip Substation would
serve as the interconnection point to the Western Electricity
Coordinating Council (WECC) power system for the western grid.
NorthWestern Energy Group, Inc., a utility company that serves South
Dakota, Nebraska, and Montana, is currently upgrading this substation
to allow for additional interconnections into the region. These
modifications are ongoing independent of the proposed Project, but the
proposed Project would utilize these upgrades for interconnection.
<bullet> One new AC/DC converter station in Rosebud County, Montana
(Rosebud County Converter Station). The converter station would connect
the eastern terminus of the Rosebud Transmission Line to the western
terminus of the new high voltage direct current (HVDC) electrical
transmission line.
<bullet> An approximately 341-mile, up to 525-kV, HVDC transmission
line from Montana into North Dakota with an associated 200-foot-wide
right-of-way (HDVC Transmission Line).
[cir] Montana: North Plains would install approximately 172 miles
of the HVDC Transmission Line in Rosebud, Custer, and Fallon counties.
The line would extend east from the new Rosebud County Converter
Station to the Montana-North Dakota state line in Fallon County.
[cir] North Dakota: North Plains would install approximately 169
miles of the HVDC Transmission Line in Golden Valley, Slope, Hettinger,
Grant, and Morton counties. The line would extend east from the
Montana-North Dakota border in Golden Valley County to the new AC/DC
Converter Station in Morton County, North Dakota.
[[Page 85184]]
<bullet> One new AC/DC converter station in Morton County, North
Dakota (Morton County Converter Station). The converter station would
connect the eastern terminus of the new HVDC Transmission Line to the
western terminus of two new 345-kV EHV AC electric transmission line
segments.
<bullet> Approximately 51 miles of new 345-kV EHV AC transmission
line located in Morton and Oliver counties, North Dakota, within an
associated right-of-way approximately 200 feet wide (Oliver
Transmission Line). The line would extend east and north from the
Morton County Converter Station in Morton County to a separately
planned Oliver County Substation in Oliver County, North Dakota.
Minnesota Power has proposed and would develop the Oliver County
Substation as part of the Minnesota Power HVDC Modernization Project,
which is modernizing the existing Square Butte HVDC System between
North Dakota and Minnesota that was built in the 1970s. The Oliver
County Substation would serve as the interconnection point to the
Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) for the eastern grid.
<bullet> Approximately 22 miles of new 345-kV EHV AC transmission
line near St. Anthony in Morton County, North Dakota (Morton
Transmission Line). The line would extend east and southeast from the
Morton County Converter Station to a new Morton County Switchyard,
which connects or isolates lines for fault clearance and maintenance.
The Morton County Switchyard would serve as the interconnection point
to the Southwest Power Pool (SPP) system for the eastern grid.
The Project would also include associated facilities, including
temporary and permanent access roads, telecommunication systems, and
grounding components.
The Project would require temporary workspaces during the
construction phase to access the construction site, stage equipment and
material, and install the various Project components. (See <a href="https://www.energy.gov/nepa/doeeis-0568-north-plains-connector-multiple-locations">https://www.energy.gov/nepa/doeeis-0568-north-plains-connector-multiple-locations</a> for a map of the proposed Project).
Purpose and Need
While GDO is the Lead Federal Agency for the EIS, GDO does not have
the authority or responsibility to make decisions on North Plains'
applications to BLM, USFS, and ARS. Those Federal agencies retain their
respective decision-making authority and responsibilities with respect
to North Plains' applications on their respectively managed lands.
Accordingly, each of those agencies has provided its own purpose and
need in addition to the general purpose and need and GDO's purpose and
need to establish the basis for their individual decisions to be made
for this Project.
General Purpose and Need
The Joint Lead Agencies, along with BLM, USFS, and ARS, all agree
on the general purpose and need for North Plains' proposed transmission
line Project, which is to enhance the reliability, capacity, and
efficiency between the Eastern and Western Interconnections of the
electric grid. Construction of the proposed Project aims to increase
wholesale energy market access for generation resources; provide
services and technology to help maintain operational flexibility of the
grid; and provide a highly controllable electric transmission pathway
that can quickly and efficiently shift power to meet real-time system
needs, including mitigating weather-driven and system outage conditions
that can otherwise affect the reliable provision of electricity. The
new transmission line would provide a more resilient and flexible
infrastructure, ensuring a stable supply of electricity to residential,
commercial, and industrial consumers.
The proposed transmission line Project seeks to address several
needs found in the project area, including meeting and balancing
increasing demands for electricity found in both the eastern and
western grids, integrating diversified sources of energy, increasing
the reliability and resilience of the electrical grid, and promoting
regional economic development by expanding opportunities for market
access for electricity generators throughout the region. A 2020
National Renewable Energy Laboratory Study ``The Value of Increased
HVDC Capacity Between Eastern and Western U.S. Grids: The
Interconnections Seam Study'' \2\ showed that increased transfer
capability between the eastern and western grids could result in a 35-
year benefit-to-cost ratio as high as 2.89 and net present value
consumer savings of up to $28.8 billion.
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\2\ <a href="http://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy21osti/76850.pdf">www.nrel.gov/docs/fy21osti/76850.pdf</a>.
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GDO Purpose and Need
GDO's purpose is to fulfill its responsibilities under the FPA to
coordinate a single environmental review that follows a standard, two-
year permitting schedule for transmission infrastructure projects that
require Federal permitting. In fulfilling its responsibilities, GDO
seeks to streamline the Federal permitting process for qualifying
electric transmission projects to expand and accelerate development of
electric transmission capacity in the United States and, in turn,
ensure Americans have access to reliable, affordable, and clean energy;
promote grid resilience and reliability; modernize the United States
grid; reduce permitting delays; and promote economic growth.
BLM Purpose and Need
BLM's purpose is to respond to North Plains' request for right-of-
way access across about ten miles of Federal lands administered by the
Miles City Field Office, Montana, for the siting, construction, and
operation of an up to 525-kV-rated, bi-directional HVDC transmission
facility and associated support facilities within a 200-foot right-of-
way which would be part of a system of high voltage AC and DC
facilities over approximately 400 miles between Colstrip, Montana and
Oliver and Morton Counties, North Dakota. This request for a right-of-
way may include necessary access of Federal mineral materials in
Montana and North Dakota for the construction of project-related
infrastructure.
The need for the action is established through BLM's responsibility
under the Federal Land Policy Management Act (FLPMA) to respond to
requests for rights-of-way across BLM-managed lands, as well as the
Surfaces Resources Act of 1955 and the Act of July 31, 1947 (Disposal
of Materials on Public Lands) for any necessary mineral material sales
contracts.
USFS Purpose and Need
The proposed Project would require the issuance of a special use
permit for the crossing of about ten miles of Federal lands managed by
the USFS on the Little Missouri National Grasslands, North Dakota. For
this crossing, the proposed Project would entail siting, construction,
and operation of an up to 525-kV-rated, bi-directional HVDC
transmission facility and associated support facilities within a 200-
foot right-of-way which would be part of a system of high voltage AC
and DC facilities over approximately 10.3 miles (3.1 miles Golden
Valley County; 7.2 miles Slope County) on the Little Missouri National
Grassland.
Section 368(c) of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 directs USFS to
establish procedures for identifying and designating additional energy
corridors on Federal lands and to expedite applications for energy
transmission and distribution facilities within those corridors. USFS
is mandated to
[[Page 85185]]
cooperate and coordinate with other Federal agencies to optimize siting
of rights-of-way for energy corridors on National Forest System lands
(30 U.S.C. 185(p); 43 U.S.C. 1763), and to endeavor to expedite
applications for energy transmission and distribution facilities on
National Forest System lands through coordination with other affected
Federal agencies.
ARS Purpose and Need
ARS's purpose is to respond to North Plains' request for an
easement access across about eight miles of Federal land managed by ARS
in Montana for the siting, construction, and operation of an up to 525-
kV-rated, bi-directional HVDC transmission facility and associated
support facilities within a 200-foot right-of-way. The need for the
action is established through 43 U.S.C. 961, Rights-of-Way for Power
and Communications Facilities.
Alternatives
Several alternatives have been identified for potential analysis in
the forthcoming EIS. These alternatives include different routing
options, as well as variations in routing and transmission technology.
GDO welcomes comments on all preliminary alternatives as well as
suggestions for additional alternatives. The alternatives currently
under consideration for the proposed Project are as follows:
The No Action Alternative
Under the No Action Alternative, the Agency permits and
authorizations would not be granted and the agencies will assume for
purposes of the EIS that the Project would not be constructed. The
existing transmission infrastructure would remain unchanged, and any
associated improvements or upgrades to address current and future
demand, reliability, and rapid changes in generation would not be
implemented. This alternative serves as a baseline against which the
impacts of the other alternatives can be compared.
Proposed Route Alternative
The Proposed Route Alternative for the proposed Project is
currently anticipated to include an approximately 420-mile, up to 525-
kV electrical transmission line connecting the eastern and western
grids, with an associated ROW that would generally be approximately 200
feet wide. According to North Plains, this route attempts to best
balance use of existing road and transmission line corridors while
avoiding national and state parks; national historic landmarks and
National Register of Historic Places-listed or -eligible archaeological
sites; inventoried roadless areas; most major waterbodies; greater sage
grouse (GRSG) \3\ habitat; visually sensitive areas; congested utility
corridors; and urban development. The public is encouraged to provide
other alternatives for consideration along with any information and
analyses they have on such suggested alternatives.
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\3\ The GRSG is a sagebrush species that is in decline across
its range due to habitat loss and has been recognized as threatened
or near threatened by several national and international
organizations Federal agencies manage protection of the species
through several habitat designations, which protect GRSG habitat
based on value.
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Other Alternatives
The following discussion describes the five major route
alternatives considered during Project planning. Subject to comments
received during scoping, these alternatives may either be dismissed
from further analysis or evaluated in detail in the EIS. They are
identified as the following:
<bullet> Northern Route Alternative (Rosebud, Custer, and Fallon
Counties, Montana)
<bullet> Central Route Alternative (Rosebud, Custer, and Fallon
Counties, Montana)
<bullet> Southern Route Alternative (Rosebud, Custer, and Fallon
Counties, Montana)
<bullet> Tongue River Route Alternative (Custer County, Montana)
<bullet> Eastern Route Alternative (Slope, Stark, Morton, and Oliver
Counties, North Dakota)
See <a href="https://www.energy.gov/nepa/doeeis-0568-north-plains-connector-multiple-locations">https://www.energy.gov/nepa/doeeis-0568-north-plains-connector-multiple-locations</a> for a detailed map of these route alternatives.
Northern Route Alternative
This route was developed to maximize co-location with existing
linear utilities near Interstate 94 and to minimize routing within the
GRSG General Habitat Management Area (GHMA) in accordance with the
BLM's MCFO Approved Resource Management Plan (ARMP).
The Northern Route Alternative diverges from the Proposed Route
Alternative by leaving directly north from the Colstrip Substation and
generally running on a more northerly path through Rosebud and Custer
Counties, Montana. From Fallon County, Montana, to the endpoints in
North Dakota, the route is the same as that seen in the Proposed Route
Alternative.
The Northern Route Alternative is 8.5 miles shorter than the
Proposed Route Alternative and crosses 2 fewer perennial waterbodies,
and almost 40 miles less GRSG general habitat. The Northern Route
Alternative also crosses 2.8 miles more of ARS-administered land and
more intermittent or ephemeral waterbodies, and 0.4 mile more BLM-
administered Visual Resources Management (VRM) Class II land. Further,
the Northern Route Alternative is within 1 mile of 59 more identified
cultural resources sites; is within 0.5 mile of the Strawberry Hill
Designated Recreation Area; and crosses 9 more transmission lines than
the Proposed Route Alternative. This route's northern passage out of
Colstrip also crosses several parcels with underlying energy
development easements that would conflict with siting an electric
transmission line. Finally, this alternative nears the Yellowstone
River, contains numerous occurrences of sensitive species, including
bats, fish, and eagles, sensitive riparian habitats, and could present
increased Tribal and cultural concerns.
Central Route Alternative
This route was designed to avoid the challenges associated with the
Yellowstone River valley, congested highway corridors, and urban
development areas near Miles City. It resembles the Northern Route
Alternative but leaves Colstrip, Montana, in a more northeasterly
direction. The Central Route Alternative then maintains a generally
central alignment between the Northern Route Alternative and the
Southern Route Alternative. The Central Route Alternative aims to
strike a balance by incorporating stakeholder feedback associated with
co-location of the transmission line with other infrastructure. The
Central Route Alternative also avoids the easements north of Colstrip
noted in the Northern Alternative.
The Central Route Alternative crosses conservation easements to
conserve, protect, and enhance native wildlife habitat. This
alternative also crosses conservation easements northeast of Colstrip
that include terms that are intended to conserve, protect, and enhance
native wildlife habitat. This alternative also crosses Tongue River
near 12 Mile Dam, which is a heavily used recreational area for fishing
and camping about 0.6 mile to the north, existing residential
development, and more irrigated cropland than the Proposed Route
Alternative.
Southern Route Alternative
This route intends to take advantage of the gentler topography east
of Colstrip compared to the other routes.
[[Page 85186]]
Further, this route is not within 0.5 miles of a designated recreation
area. This route additionally also avoids ARS-administered lands and is
about 25 miles shorter than the Proposed Route.
This route avoids some resources, like perennial and ephemeral
waterbodies, but crosses others, like VRM Class II areas near the
Tongue River, Pumpkin Creek, and east of the Powder River in Custer
County, Montana, as well as sites of Tribal and cultural significance.
There are also accessibility constraints east of the Powder River that
would require engineered roadways and long access roads, which could
increase the Project impacts during construction and operation.
Tongue River Route Alternative
The Tongue River Route Alternative passes through the Tongue River
Valley. The route is not within 0.25 mile of a GRSG no occupancy zone
nor within 0.5 miles of a designated recreation area. The Tongue River
Route is almost 30 miles shorter than the Proposed Route Alternative,
does not cross ARS-administered lands, and avoids almost 50 miles of
GRSG habitat. The Tongue River Route Alternative, however, crosses 5.3
miles more VRM Class II land, is within 1.0 mile of 110 more cultural
resource sites, crosses 2 more conservation lands/easements, and
crosses 40 more county and local roads than the Proposed Route
Alternative.
Several Tribal resources and protected species along the Tongue
River have been previously identified during surveys.
Eastern Route Alternative
The Eastern Route Alternative was designed prior to the addition of
the 22 miles of EHV AC Morton Transmission Line in Morton County, North
Dakota, to the Project scope and objectives. Therefore, this route does
not include the SPP interconnection near St. Anthony as described in
the Proposed Route Alternative.
The Eastern Route Alternative diverges from the Proposed Route
Alternative in Slope County just east of the Montana-North Dakota state
line. To achieve a route that balances all potential impacts from the
proposed Project, the Eastern Route Alternative heads slightly
northeast and east from the North Dakota-Montana state line before it
heads southwest to cross the Little Missouri River and generally east
through the North Dakota badlands.
The primary considerations for the Eastern Route Alternative design
were aligning with existing linear utilities, paralleling Interstate 94
along a more direct route, adhering to the recommendation provided by
the USFS to cross the Little Missouri River on private lands, and
avoidance of GRSG primary range designated by the North Dakota Game and
Fish Department.
Minor Route Variations
During Project planning, North Plains incorporated many minor route
variations into its Proposed Route Alternative. Minor route variations
are different from major route alternatives in that they are usually
shorter and are often designed to accommodate a particular landowner
request or to avoid a site-specific environmental resource or
engineering constraint. Although minor route variations may range from
a few hundred feet long to several miles long, minor route variations
typically remain within the same area as the Proposed Route. Examples
of route variations include realigning the route from a hay field to
pastureland on a ranch to avoid disruption to cultivation; moving a
structure location to avoid placing it in a wetland; and adjusting the
centerline alignment along a slope to improve constructability.
Endpoint Alternatives
As described in the Proposed Project Details, North Plains
determined the proposed Project would connect the existing Colstrip
Substation in Rosebud County, Montana, to the Oliver County Substation
approximately 6 miles southeast of Center, North Dakota, and a new
Morton County Switchyard near St. Anthony, North Dakota. The Project
Proponent considered another facility as a potential Western
interconnection point: the other nearest potential endpoint in Montana,
the existing Broadview Substation in Yellowstone County. This
alternative facility would add about 100 miles of transmission line to
the Project. In North Dakota, the Project Proponent determined the
proposed Project endpoints are the most reasonable connection locations
to existing infrastructure on the Eastern Interconnection grid without
adding considerable length.
Converter Station Alternatives
As described in the Proposed Project Details, North Plains proposes
to use two converter stations near the Project endpoints. The siting of
converter stations is constrained insofar as the stations need to be
located near the Project endpoints and they must occur along the
transmission line route. A converter station site that is not on the
proposed transmission line route necessitates proposing a new
transmission line route. North Plains is in the process of evaluating
alternatives to its proposed converter station sites.
Summary of Expected Impacts
Field investigations, environmental surveys, and other studies are
being conducted for the proposed Project to evaluate anticipated
impacts to air, noise, climate, geologic hazards, mineral and energy
resources, paleontological resources, soils, water, vegetation,
wildlife, threatened and endangered species, cultural resources, visual
resources, Federal projects, recreation activities, wilderness, and
other resources. North Plains is currently conducting field surveys for
wetlands/waterbodies, vegetation, general habitat, threatened and
endangered and special status species, cultural and tribal resources,
architectural history, and paleontological resources. North Plains is
also preparing a Phase 1 bat hibernacula assessment, whooping crane
habitat assessment, impact assessments for bald and golden eagles (to
support Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act compliance), and GRSG (to
support the Montana GRSG mitigation plan), migratory bird habitat
assessment (to support the Migratory Bird Treaty Act compliance plan),
and species and habitat assessments for federally listed and proposed
species to support compliance with section 7 of the Endangered Species
Act.
GDO and the cooperating agencies will identify, analyze, and
consider mitigation to address the reasonably foreseeable impacts to
resources from the proposed Project and all analyzed reasonable
alternatives \4\ and, in accordance with 40 CFR 1502.14(e), include
appropriate mitigation measures not already included in the proposed
route alternative or other alternatives.
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\4\ ``Reasonable alternatives'' means a reasonable range of
alternatives that are technically and economically feasible and meet
the purpose and need for the proposed action.
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Potential impacts on built, human, and natural environments from
the proposed Project will be studied during the Federal, State, and
local environmental review processes. These review processes and
potential impacts will be analyzed in the EIS. The public is invited to
participate in the scoping process to identify potential alternatives
and impacts, information, studies, and analyses relevant to the
proposed Project and Alternatives.
Anticipated Permits and Authorizations
The Project Proponent will need to secure permits and
authorizations from several Federal and state agencies, which include
but are not limited to those listed below.
[[Page 85187]]
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Agency Permit/authorization
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Bureau of Land Management.............. Right-of-way grant, short-term
right-of-way grant, and
mineral materials sales
contract.
Forest Service......................... Special Use Permit.
Agricultural Research Service.......... Easement.
Federal Highway Administration......... Permits to cross Federal Aid
Highway.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers........... General easement, Section 10
permit, and Section 404
permit.
Montana Department of Environmental Certificate of Compliance under
Quality. the Major Facility Siting Act.
North Dakota Public Service Commission. Certificate of Corridor
Compatibility and Transmission
Facility Route Permit.
North Dakota County Governments (Golden Conditional Use Permits.
Valley, Grant, Hettinger, Morton,
Oliver, and Slope Counties).
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Schedule for the Decision-Making Process
This notice of intent initiates the scoping period for the EIS. GDO
will provide additional opportunities for public participation
consistent with DOE NEPA regulations (10 CFR part 1021) and CEQ NEPA
regulations (40 CFR parts 1500-1508), including a 45-day comment period
on the Draft EIS. Please note that, when commenting during either the
scoping or the public comment period, your comment and personal
information, if provided, will be retained as a part of the single,
consolidated, public record for the project. GDO will allow for
anonymous comments.
GDO plans to publish the Draft EIS for public review in Fall 2025
and the Final EIS in Fall 2026. BLM, ARS, and DEQ will release
respective decision documents no sooner than 30 days after release of
the Final EIS. The USFS will release its own Draft Record of Decision
(ROD) alongside the Final EIS, and upon conclusion of the objections
process required under USFS regulations, will release a final ROD.
Following the issuance of each agency's individual RODs, GDO will issue
a determination that the duration for each land-use authorization is
commensurate with the anticipated use of the facility, per FPA Section
216(h)(3).
USFS would not issue a ROD concerning applicable USFS
authorizations until after completion of the objections process in 36
CFR part 218, subparts A and B. Objections will be accepted only from
those who have previously submitted specific written comments regarding
the proposed Project during scoping or other designated opportunity for
public comment in accordance with 36 CFR 218.5(a). Issues raised in
objections must be based on previously submitted timely, specific
written comments regarding the proposed Project unless based on new
information arising after designated opportunities, and objectors must
make a connection between issues raised in comment in their objections.
Objections must be filed within 45 days, after the Final EIS and draft
ROD. The objection must include specific issues related to the proposed
Project; if applicable, how the objector believes the decision violates
law, regulation, or policy; and suggested remedies that would resolve
the objection. USFS reviews objections and may engage in discussions
with objectors to resolve issues. The Reviewing Officer (a USFS
official) will issue a written response to the objections, which may
include instructions to the responsible official must complete before
signing the decision. After the objection process is complete, the
Dakota Prairie Grasslands Forest Supervisor would issue the ROD.
Responsible Official and Nature of Decision To Be Made
While GDO is the Lead Federal Agency for the Project EIS, GDO does
not have authority or responsibility to make decisions on North Plains'
applications to BLM, USFS, and ARS. Those Federal agencies retain their
respective decision-making authorities and responsibilities with
respect to North Plains' applications. Accordingly, each Federal
agency's deciding officials and the scope of decisions to be made are
listed here:
BLM: The Field Manager of the Miles City Field Office (MCFO) is the
Responsible Official. The Field Manager as the Responsible Official
will decide whether to grant the ROW for the portion of the
transmission line and associated infrastructure located on public lands
administered by the MCFO, and if so, under what terms and conditions.
Any necessary mineral materials sales contracts would be granted by
either the Field Manager for the Miles City Field Office or the North
Dakota Field Office, depending on where the mineral materials are
located.
USFS: The Dakota Prairie Grasslands Forest Supervisor is the
Responsible Official. The Forest Supervisor as the Responsible Official
will decide whether to issue a SUP for the proposed Project for the
portion of the project Proposed on USFS-managed land.
ARS: The Plains Area Real Estate Lease Contracting Officer is the
Responsible Official. The Plains Area Real Estate Lease Contracting
Officer as the Responsible Official will decide whether to grant an
easement for the portion of the transmission line and associated
infrastructure the proposed Project proposes to place on Federal lands
under the control of ARS.
Additional Information
GDO and the cooperating agencies will utilize and coordinate the
NEPA process to help support compliance with applicable procedural
requirements under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation
Act (54 U.S.C. 306108) as provided in 36 CFR 800.2(d)(3), including
public involvement requirements of Section 106. GDO and the cooperating
agencies will consult with Indian Tribal Nations on a government-to-
government basis in accordance with relevant Departmental policies.
Tribal concerns, including impacts on Indian trust assets and potential
impacts to cultural resources, will be given due consideration.
Federal, state, and local agencies, along with Indian Tribal Nations
and other stakeholders that may be interested in or affected by the
proposed Project, are invited to participate in the scoping process
and, if eligible, may request or be requested by the GDO to participate
in the development of the EIS as a cooperating agency.
Signing Authority
This document of the Department of Energy was signed on October 21,
2024, by Maria D. Robinson, Director, Grid Deployment Office, pursuant
to delegated authority from the Secretary of Energy. That document
evidencing this delegation of authority with the original signature and
date is maintained by DOE. For administrative purposes only, and in
compliance with requirements of the Office of the Federal Register, the
undersigned DOE Federal
[[Page 85188]]
Register Liaison Officer has been authorized to sign and submit the
document in electronic format for publication, as an official document
of the Department of Energy. This administrative process in no way
alters the legal effect of this document upon publication in the
Federal Register.
Signed in Washington, DC, on October 22, 2024.
Treena V. Garrett,
Federal Register Liaison Officer, U.S. Department of Energy.
[FR Doc. 2024-24879 Filed 10-24-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on October 25, 2024.
This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.