Las Cruces, N.M. - On July 17, 2017, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Las Cruces District will conduct a public scoping meeting to gather input on an environmental assessment (EA) on right-of-way (ROW) applications submitted by El Paso Electric (EPE). The meeting will be held at the Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum’s Ventura Room from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., with a formal presentation at 6:00 p.m. The Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum is located at 4100 Dripping Springs Road in Las Cruces, New Mexico.
The BLM is committed to supporting improved transmission development that stabilizes the grid and otherwise strengthens America’s energy infrastructure. EPE has identified a need to add an additional permanent substation to the electrical grid that supports the city of Las Cruces and surrounding communities in southern New Mexico. The meeting will outline EPE’s Plan of Development and associated new and amended ROW applications for a proposed new permanent substation and the maintenance of 10.4 miles of existing distribution lines on BLM-administered public lands in Doña Ana County.
The EA will analyze five alternatives for locating the permanent substation and line maintenance, including EPE’s proposed site, which is adjacent to an existing temporary substation located off Dripping Springs Road. The additional four alternatives are based on public feedback provided during the initial BLM scoping period in March 2017.
If you are unable to attend the meeting, you can provide comments by August 17, 2017through one of the following methods:
· File your comments electronically by sending them to: BLM_NM_LCDO_Comments@blm.gov. Include “Talavera Substation EA” in the subject line of your email.
· Mail your comments to: BLM Las Cruces District Office, ATTN: Talavera Substation EA, 1800 Marquess Street, Las Cruces, NM 88005.
· Comments will be accepted at the public meeting on the designated comment forms, which will be provided.
For more information on the proposed project, the EA, and how to submit comments, please contact Paula Montez, BLM Reality Specialist and Project Lead, at 575-525-4387 or via email at pmontez@blm.gov.