Preparing the Draft EIS

The BLM and Western (Lead Agencies) 

are currently preparing the Draft EIS 

for the TransWest Express Transmission 

(TWE) Project. The first step in the process 

was to develop a reasonable range of 

alternatives to TWE’s proposed action.

How are the alternatives 

developed?

Following public scoping, the BLM and 

Western began the process of identifying 

the alternative corridors and ancillary 

facilities to be analyzed in the Draft EIS. 

The Draft EIS must consider a reasonable 

range of alternatives that meet the 

applicant’s purpose and need. The 

process considers comments received 

from the public and consultation with 

the cooperating agencies including federal, state and local agencies, as well as the Tribes. Some alternative 

corridors were eliminated from consideration; the reasons for their elimination will be described in the Draft 

EIS. Additional alternative corridors emerged as reasonable considerations for analysis. The map above 

identifies the alternative corridors resulting from the alternative analysis that will be evaluated in the Draft EIS. 

What are the next steps for preparing the Draft EIS?

Once the alternative corridors were identified, BLM and Western 

began collecting data for the resources that could be affected in 

the project area. These data will be used to prepare the affected 

environment section of the Draft EIS. In coordination with the 

cooperating agencies, BLM and Western will assess the impacts that 

the proposed project and potential resource management plan 

amendments could have on each resource. Environmental impacts 

within the proposed corridor and the alternative corridors will 

be compared and presented in the Draft EIS. The process will be 

documented and all impacts disclosed in the Draft EIS. 

BLM and Western anticipate the Draft EIS will be available for a public 

review in late spring 2013. The NEPA process chart to the right shows 

opportunities to provide comments and to participate in the NEPA 

process. You are encouraged to participate and comment on the Draft 

EIS during the 90-day public review period. 

Please visit the BLM’s project website at: 

www.blm.gov/wy/st/en/info/NEPA/hdd/transwest.htm

or Western’s project website: 

http://go.usa.gov/YCeC

to stay informed about project activities.

This issue of the TransWest Express Transmission Project (TWE Project) newsletter provides 

an update to project activities and the next steps in preparing the Environmental Impact 

Statement (EIS). The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and Western Area Power 

Administration (Western) are joint-lead agencies preparing the EIS. 

Western

 October 2012

Issue 3

TRANSWEST EXPRESS

TRANSMISSION PROJECT

TRANSWEST EXPRESS

TRANSMISSION PROJECT

BLM

Issue ROW Grant

Environmental Impact Statement

Process

(NEPA Process)

Prepare Draft EIS

12-24 Months

90-Day Public Review

of Draft EIS

Prepare Final EIS

12-18 Months

Publish Notice of Intent

Public 

Involvement 

Opportunities

We are 

here

90-Day Scoping Period

Publish Draft EIS

Publish Final EIS

30-Day Availability Period

Record of Decision

30-Day Public Protest/Appeal
Bureau of Land Management

P.O. Box 20678

Cheyenne, WY 82003

October 2012

How does the BLM and Forest Service plan amendment process work with the NEPA 

process?

BLM and Western consulted the individual BLM Field Offices and Forest Service Regional Offices to identify 

the potential plan amendments that would be required for TWE routes that cross their lands. Multiple plan 

amendments may be required for portions of the TWE project that do not fully conform to the administering 

federal agency’s land use plan. The plan amendment NEPA process is occurring concurrently with the Project 

NEPA process. The plan amendments will be completed in compliance with the Federal Land Policy and 

Management Act of 1975, National Forest Management Act of 1976, and associated regulations, policies, and 

guidelines of the agencies requiring the plan amendments. Potential plan amendments will be identified and 

analyzed in the Draft EIS. Through the EIS process, the BLM and USFS will decide whether to amend portions of 

their resource management plans as a prerequisite to approval of the TWE project.

TWE Project one of seven projects selected as a pilot for the Interagency RRTT

Last year, the Obama Administration established the Rapid Response Team for Transmission (RRTT). The 

interagency initiative focuses on the proposed transmission projects that will enhance infrastructure reliability, 

promote greater integration of renewable electricity sources to the grid, and reduce the need for additional 

power plants. The purpose of the RRTT is to improve the quality and timeliness for permitting, review, and 

consultation for these infrastructure projects. 

The TWE Project was one of seven projects selected throughout the country. In January 2012, representatives 

from the RRTT met with project participants in Cheyenne, WY; Denver, CO; Las Vegas, NV; and Salt Lake City, UT 

to learn more about the project and to identify where the RRTT could assist in the permitting process. The RRTT 

will support the BLM and Western on the TWE Project through coordination of the permitting review among the 

numerous Federal and state agencies involved, providing consistent consultation with the tribal governments, and 

assisting in resolving interagency conflicts.