North Steens Transmission Line Scoping Notice and Comment Form

North Steens Transmission Line Project Environmental Impact StatementScoping ◦ Summer 2009 BLM Seeking Public Input for Environmental Analysis PROJECT OVERVIEW Echanis, LLC. (Echanis), a subsidiary of Columbia Energy Partners, LLC submitted right-of-way (ROW) applications to the U.S. Department of Interior Bureau of Land Management (BLM Burns District Office) and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS Malheur National Wildlife Refuge) for the construction, operation, and maintenance of a new double-circuit 230 kilovolt (kV) overhead electric transmission line and ancillary facilities (referred to as the North Steens Transmission Line Project) on Federal lands located in Harney County, southeastern Oregon. The BLM will be the lead federal agency for the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) compliance process. The BLM Burns District Office intends to complete an environmental analysis and prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) in response to the ROW applications. Separate ROW grants would be issued by BLM and USFWS to authorize Echanis to construct, operate and maintain the transmission line across public lands. Authorization of the proposed action may require the amendment of BLM land use plans. The proposed North Steens Transmission Line Project originates at the Echanis substation and terminates at Diamond Junction in Harney County, Oregon (see preliminary project map). The transmission line would be approximately 29 miles in ...