Notice2026-18056
Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Silver Rock Transmission Line Project in Millard, Beaver, and Iron Counties, UT and Lincoln and Clark Counties, NV
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Published
September 3, 2026
Issuing agencies
Interior DepartmentLand Management Bureau
Abstract
In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended, and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA) of 1976, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) intends to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to consider the effects of a right-of-way (ROW) application for the proposed Silver Rock Transmission Line Project (Project). By this notice, BLM is initiating the scoping period to solicit public comments and identify issues to be analyzed in the EIS.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 170 (Thursday, September 3, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 170 (Thursday, September 3, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56664-56666]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-18056]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[A2407-014-004-065516, #O2509-014-004-125222; LLUT921000]
Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the
Proposed Silver Rock Transmission Line Project in Millard, Beaver, and
Iron Counties, UT and Lincoln and Clark Counties, NV
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of intent.
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SUMMARY: In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act
(NEPA) of 1969, as amended, and the Federal Land Policy and Management
Act (FLPMA) of 1976, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
intends to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to consider
the effects of a right-of-way (ROW) application for the proposed Silver
Rock Transmission Line Project (Project). By this notice, BLM is
initiating the scoping period to solicit public comments and identify
issues to be analyzed in the EIS.
DATES: This notice initiates the public scoping process for the EIS.
The BLM requests the public submit comments concerning the scope of the
analysis, potential alternatives, and identification of relevant
information and studies by October 5, 2026. To afford the BLM the
opportunity to consider issues raised by commenters, please ensure your
comments are received prior to the close of the 30-day scoping period
or 15 days after the last scoping meeting, whichever is later. The
dates and times of the planned scoping meeting(s) are available on the
Project's website on the BLM National NEPA Register at: <a href="https://eplanning.blm.gov/Project-Home/?id=4e1e1343-925b-f111-bec6-001dd8029ed0">https://eplanning.blm.gov/Project-Home/?id=4e1e1343-925b-f111-bec6-001dd8029ed0</a>.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments related to the Project by any of the
following methods:
<bullet> Website: BLM National NEPA Register: <a href="https://eplanning.blm.gov/Project-Home/?id=4e1e1343-925b-f111-bec6-001dd8029ed0">https://eplanning.blm.gov/Project-Home/?id=4e1e1343-925b-f111-bec6-001dd8029ed0</a>.
<bullet> Mail: Bureau of Land Management, ATTN: Michelle Campeau,
176 East D.L. Sargent Drive, Cedar City, UT 84721.
Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined online on the
BLM National NEPA Register at the link above. Additional information is
available on the Title 41 of the Fixing America's Surface
Transportation Act website at: <a href="https://www.permits.performance.gov/permitting-project/fast-41-covered-projects/silver-rock-transmission-project">https://www.permits.performance.gov/permitting-project/fast-41-covered-projects/silver-rock-transmission-project</a>.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michelle Campeau, Project Manager,
telephone: 435-865-3000; address 176 East D.L. Sargent Drive, Cedar
City, UT 84721; email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#c2808e8f9d97969d91abaeb4a7b090ada1a982a0aeafeca5adb4"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="fbb9b7b6a4aeafa4a892978d9e89a9949890bb999796d59c948d">[email protected]</span></a>. Contact Ms. Campeau
to have your name added to our mailing list. Individuals in the United
States who are deaf, deafblind, hard of hearing, or have a speech
disability may dial 711 (TTY, TDD, or TeleBraille) to access
telecommunications relay services for contacting Ms. Campeau.
Individuals outside the United States should use the relay services
offered within their country to make international calls to the point-
of-contact in the United States.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This document provides notice that the BLM
intends to prepare an EIS for the proposed Silver Rock Transmission
Line Project (Project) and announces the beginning of the scoping
process. The EIS is being prepared to evaluate a right-
[[Page 56665]]
of-way (ROW) application to construct up to two new high-voltage
interstate transmission lines and associated Project facilities with a
nominal voltage of up to 600 kilovolts, extending approximately 330
miles from Millard County, Utah, to Clark County, Nevada. The Project
would be located primarily on BLM-managed lands within the Fillmore and
Cedar City Field Offices in Utah and the Caliente and Las Vegas Field
Offices in Nevada. The Project also includes other Federal (Bureau of
Reclamation (BOR)), private, and state lands, each with their own
permitting requirements.
Purpose and Need for the Proposed Action
The BLM's and the BOR's purpose is to respond to the ROW
application submitted by Silver Rock Transmission, LLC, to site,
permit, and develop the Project on lands administered by the BLM and
the BOR, respectively, in accordance with applicable laws, regulations,
and policies.
The need for this action arises from Title V of FLPMA, which
authorizes the BLM to issue ROW grants on public lands for facilities
that generate, transmit, and distribute electric energy, the
Reclamation Act of 1902, as amended, which authorizes the BOR to issue
ROWs on BOR-administered lands, and Executive Order 14154, Unleashing
American Energy, which aims to improve energy transportation and
distribution and ensure that an abundant supply of reliable energy is
readily accessible across the United States. Through the NEPA process,
the BLM will evaluate the Proposed Action and reasonable alternatives
and will determine whether to approve the application, approve it with
modifications, or deny the application. The BLM's ROW grant for the
Project would include any terms, conditions, and stipulations it
determines to be in the public interest.
Preliminary Proposed Action and Alternatives
Under the Proposed Action, up to two new high-voltage interstate
transmission lines and associated Project facilities with a nominal
voltage of up to 600 kilovolts would be constructed. The transmission
lines would extend approximately 330 miles from Millard County, Utah,
to Clark County, Nevada. The Project would use a variation of
structures within a combined ROW width of 450 to 650 feet and a siting
corridor of up to 2,500 feet (various configurations proposed).
In addition to the Proposed Action, three alternative routes were
assessed by Silver Rock Transmission, LLC, as contingency options. The
BLM plans to assess these, and any other alternative routes identified
in scoping, that meet the purpose and need and are technically and
economically feasible, as part of the NEPA process. The BLM welcomes
comments on all preliminary alternatives as well as suggestions for
additional alternatives.
Summary of Expected Impacts
Preliminary issues for the Project have been identified by the BLM
and in consultation with the appropriate Federal, State, and local
agencies. These preliminary issues include potential impacts to:
<bullet> Biological and Wildlife Resources
<bullet> Cultural Resources and Native American Concerns
<bullet> Geological and Mineral Resources
<bullet> Paleontological Resources
<bullet> Recreation
<bullet> Visual Resources
The public scoping process guides determination of relevant issues
that influence the scope of the EIS, including alternatives and
mitigation measures. The EIS will identify and describe the effects of
the Proposed Action on the human environment. The BLM also requests the
identification of potential impacts that should be analyzed. Impacts
should be a result of the action; therefore, please identify the
activity along with the potential impact. Information that reviewers
have that would assist in the development of alternatives or analysis
of resources issues is also helpful.
Anticipated Permits and Authorizations
In addition to the requested BLM ROW grant under Title V of FLPMA,
Silver Rock Transmission, LLC, anticipates needing additional permits
and authorizations from BOR, state, and local authorities for this
Project. These include, among other things, permits and approvals under
the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act enacted in 1940, the
Endangered Species Act of 1973, the National Historic Preservation Act
of 1966, and other laws and regulations determined to be applicable to
the Project.
Schedule for the Decision-Making Process
The BLM may provide additional opportunities for public
participation consistent with the NEPA process. The BLM anticipates
signing a Record of Decision in the summer of 2028.
Public Scoping Process
This notice of intent initiates the NEPA scoping period, which
guides the development and analysis of the EIS.
The BLM will hold up to three virtual scoping meetings. The
specific dates and instructions for accessing the scoping meetings will
be announced at least 15 days in advance through local media, social
media announcements, and the Project website on the National NEPA
Register (see ADDRESSES).
Responsible Official
The Utah State Director, through delegation of authority, is the
authorized officer for the Project. The Color Country District Manager,
through delegation of authority, is the authorized officer responsible
for Project implementation. The BOR would issue a separate decision for
lands under their jurisdiction based on the analysis contained in the
EIS.
Nature of Decision To Be Made
The BLM and BOR will each use the analysis in the EIS to inform
their respective decisions on whether to grant, grant with conditions,
or deny their separate applications for a ROW. If either agency issues
a grant, the decision maker may include terms, conditions, and
stipulations determined to be in the public interest.
Interdisciplinary Team
The BLM will use an interdisciplinary approach to develop the EIS
to identify and consider various resource issues. Specialists with
expertise in the following disciplines will be involved in the EIS:
biology, cultural resources, geology and minerals, lands and realty,
paleontology, recreation, visual resources, and wildlife.
Additional Information
The BLM will utilize and coordinate the NEPA process to help
support compliance with applicable procedural requirements under the
Endangered Species Act (16 U.S.C. 1536) and section 106 of the National
Historic Preservation Act (54 U.S.C. 306108) as provided in 36 CFR
800.2(d)(3), including the public involvement requirements of section
106. The information about historic and cultural resources and
threatened and endangered species within the area potentially affected
by the proposed Project will assist the BLM in identifying and
evaluating impacts to such resources.
The BLM will consult with Indian Tribal Nations on a government-to-
government basis in accordance with Executive Order 13175, BLM Manual
[[Page 56666]]
Section 1780, and other 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 BLM to participate in the
development of the EIS as a cooperating agency.
Before including your address, phone number, email address, or
other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be
aware that your entire comment--including your personal identifying
information--may be made publicly available at any time. While you can
ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying
information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be
able to do so.
(Authority: 42 U.S.C. 4336a(c))
Christina Price,
Acting State Director, Utah.
[FR Doc. 2026-18056 Filed 9-2-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4331-25-P
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