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BLM Seeks Public Input on Proposed El Paso Electric Arizona Connection Project

  The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Socorro Field Office and the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) are seeking comments on El Paso Electric’s Arizona Interconnection Project (Project) 345 kV transmission line.  El Paso Electric has authorization from the BLM and USFS for the existing 345 kV transmission line and has applied to amend their right-of-way to include access and structure work locations.  El Paso Electric needs the access routes and structure work locations to facilitate necessary transmission line maintenance activities on public lands Catron, Sierra, Socorro, and Luna Counties.
 
There will be a 30-day public comment period that will begin Wednesday July 27, 2016, and closes on Thursday August 25, 2016.  The public may review the EA on the BLM’s national register for Land Use Planning and National Environmental Policy Act documents (ePlanning): 
https://eplanning.blm.gov/epl-front-office/eplanning/nepa/nepa_register.do.
 
The BLM is the lead agency and has prepared an environmental assessment (EA) in consultation with the USFS.  The EA assesses the potential environmental impacts of maintenance activities requiring access. The existing transmission line extends from a tie-in point just east of the Luna Substation near Deming, New Mexico, to the Red Hill tie-in point in western New Mexico, east of the Arizona-New Mexico border and 12 miles east of the Springerville Switchyard near Springerville, Arizona.  The transmission line crosses lands administered by the BLM, USFS, the State of New Mexico, and private lands.    
 
Comments can be emailed to blm_nm_sfo_epeaip_comments@blm.gov, faxed to 575-835-0223, or mailed to the BLM Socorro Field Office, 901 S Highway 85, Socorro, NM 87801.
 
For additional information about the project, please contact Project Lead Virginia Alguire at 575-838-1290 or visit the website at:http://www.blm.gov/nm/st/en/prog/more/lands_realty/el_paso_electric_access.html.