Introduction

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in Wyoming 

received an application for right-of-way across federal 

land from TransWest Express, LLC (the company). The 

company proposes to construct and operate a 

600-kilovolt (kV) direct current transmission line from 

south-central Wyoming to southern Nevada (the project). 

The BLM has determined that this is a major federal 

action that requires an environmental impact statement 

(EIS) in accordance with the National Environmental 

Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) and Council on Environmental 

Quality regulations (40 CFR 1500-1508).

The company and Western Area Power Administration 

(Western) have entered into a non-binding term sheet 

through which they are evaluating each holding a 50% 

joint ownership in the project. The company and Western 

are developing the terms of their joint ownership, such as 

construction, operation, and maintenance of the project. 

Under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), Western was granted authority to borrow funds from 

the U.S. Treasury to (among other things) plan, finance, and construct new or upgraded transmission facilities that 

deliver renewable energy. Western would use this authority for its participation in the project. 

The BLM and Western are serving as joint-lead agencies in preparing the EIS.

Working with other government entities

BLM in Wyoming is designated the lead agency for EIS preparation for the BLM. Fifty federal, state, and county 

governments were invited to participate as cooperating agencies. To date, 33 agencies have accepted the 

invitation. BLM and Western also notified 45 tribes and pueblos. A list of cooperating agencies is shown below.

Western

 January 2011

TRANSWEST EXPRESS

TRANSMISSION PROJECT

TRANSWEST EXPRESS

TRANSMISSION PROJECT

Cooperating Agencies

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Federal

Intermountain Forest Service Region, 

Ogden, Utah 

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service representing:

 - Mountain Prairie Region, Lakewood

 - Pacific Southwest Region, Sacramento

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

 - South Pacific Division 

 - Northwestern Division

Navy Region Southwest, San Diego

Bureau of Reclamation Lower 

Colorado Region

U.S. Army Environmental Center, 

Western Region

BIA Western Region, Phoenix, representing:

- Rocky Mountain Region, Billings

 - Southwest Region, Albuquerque

Other

Little Snake River Conservation District

Medicine Bow Conservation District

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Saratoga-Encampment-Rawlins Conservation District

Sweetwater County Conservation District 

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State

State of Wyoming

State of Colorado

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State of Utah

State of Nevada

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County

Carbon County, WY 

Garfield County, CO 

Mesa County, CO

Moffat County, CO

Rio Blanco County, CO

Beaver County, UT

Duchesne County, UT

Emery County, UT

Iron County, UT

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Juab County, UT

Millard County, UT

Piute County, UT

Sevier County, UT

Uintah County, UT

Wasatch County, UT

Washington County, UT

Clark County, NV

Lincoln County, NV

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BLM
January 2011

The joint-lead agencies also will lead consultations with:

American Indian tribes (Government-to-Government)

State Historic Preservation Officers in Wyoming, 

Colorado, Utah, and Nevada in compliance with 

Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act 

of 1966; and

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in compliance with 

Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973.

AECOM is the third-party environmental consultant 

helping the BLM and Western with their responsibilities.

Where would the project be located?

The transmission line would be approximately 

725 miles long and may cross 4 states and 24 counties, 

depending on the alternative route selected (see map, 

page 1). The line would originate in south-central 

Wyoming, cross northwestern Colorado, traverse Utah 

with the potential to connect to the Intermountain 

Power Plant near Delta, Utah, and terminate in southern 

Nevada near the existing Marketplace substation. 

As part of the project, substation/converter stations, 

a fiber optic network communications system, two 

ground electrode facilities, and access roads would be 

constructed. When complete, the project would provide 

capacity of up to 3,000 megawatts of electricity. 

What would the transmission line look like?

The type of transmission line structure to be used 

depends on the engineering design and on constraints 

posed by land uses. Typical structures are illustrated in 

the diagrams below. The transmission line may range 

in height from 120 to 180 feet, transmission line spans 

average between 900 and 1,500 feet; a right-of-way 

width of 250 feet; and construction and maintenance 

access roads approximately 30 feet wide.

How were the alternative corridors 

developed?

The company identified potential alternative corridors 

for the transmission line. Corridors were submitted to 

the BLM in a right-of-way application. BLM, Western 

and U.S. Forest Service reviewed the corridors, which 

were identified based on:

Following existing linear features such as lowervoltage transmission lines, roads, railroads, and 

pipelines;

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Using utility corridors designated by federal land 

management agencies and identified in local 

planning documents;

Using approved corridors identified in the West-wide 

Energy Corridor Programmatic EIS; and

Avoiding specially designated areas such as 

Wilderness Management/Study Areas, critical habitat, 

urban areas, irrigated farm land, and others.

Public comments gathered from scoping meetings will 

further refine the alternative routes prior to BLM and 

Western selecting a preferred alternative.

What is the purpose for preparing an EIS?

An EIS is prepared for major federal actions that may 

have a significant effect on the environment. The 

effects of a proposed project are analyzed in an EIS 

to determine potential environmental impacts and 

methods needed for mitigation. Along with the EIS, 

existing agency land use plans may need to be amended. 

Plan amendments will be completed in compliance with 

the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 

and regulations, policies, and guidelines of the land 

management agencies requiring the plan amendments.

What is the process for preparing an 

EIS and plan amendments?

Preparing an EIS has a number of steps, as shown in the 

diagram to the right. The EIS begins with publishing 

a Federal Register Notice of Intent to prepare an EIS, 

which commences a 90-day public scoping period. BLM 

and Western will complete data collection for each 

of the resources and their uses potentially affected in 

the project area. In coordination with the cooperating 

agencies, BLM and Western will assess the impacts 

that the project may have on each of the resources 

and their uses and apply measures to mitigate the 

impacts. Alternatives will be compared and a preferred 

alternative(s) will be selected. The process will be 

documented and the impacts disclosed in the Draft EIS 

and plan amendments when a 90-day public review 

and comment period will be held. Comments will 

be analyzed and responses to the comments will be 

included in a Final EIS and proposed plan amendments.

How can you participate in the EIS 

process?

BLM and Western encourage you to attend a scoping 

meeting to learn about the project and submit your 

comments, questions, and concerns. In addition to 

scoping, you are encouraged to stay informed by using 

the following information tools:

BLM’s project website (http://www.blm.gov/wy/st/en/

info/NEPA/documents/hdd/transwest.html); and 

Western’s project website (www.wapa.gov/

transmission/TranWestExpress.htm). 

An extensive mailing list to send newsletters and 

updated information.

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An email address and post office box to receive your 

comments and concerns:

TransWest_WYMail@blm.gov 

TransWest Express Project 

Bureau of Land Management 

P.O. Box 20678 

Cheyenne, WY 82003

BLM and Western also will keep you informed through 

regional and local newspapers, radio and television 

stations, and conduct open house meetings at key 

milestones during the EIS process.

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January 2011

Tips for Providing Effective Comments 

Your participation is an important part of the 

decision-making process!

Submit your comments on potential impacts and 

ideas for project alternatives.

Review the BLM and Western websites, monitor 

local newspapers, attend public meetings, and 

become familiar with the proposed project 

development.

Provide substantive and concise written 

comments.

Learn about the NEPA process and when in the 

process agencies will receive comments.

Keep your comments focused on the proposed 

project being analyzed.

Submit your comments within the timeframes 

announced. This helps the agencies include all 

concerns in the NEPA document.

Make sure that you are on the EIS mailing list to 

receive notification of public meetings or project 

information, or both.

How to Submit Comments

Written comments may be submitted at the 

public scoping meetings, or

You may mail your comments to:

Bureau of Land Management 

TransWest Express Project 

P.O. Box 20678 

Cheyenne, WY 82003, or

You may email your comments to: 

TransWest_WYMail@blm.gov

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Issue ROW Grant Issue ROW Grant

Environmental Impact 

Statement Process

(NEPA Process)

90-Day Scoping Period

Prepare Draft EIS

12-24 Months

90-Day Public Review 

of Draft EIS

Prepare Final EIS

12-24 Months

30-Day Availability Period

Record of Decision

30-Day Wait Period

Publish Notice of Intent

Publish Draft EIS

Publish Final EIS

Public Involvement

Opportunities
Bureau of Land Management

P.O. Box 20678

Cheyenne, WY 82003

Please join us at any of TransWest Express Scoping Meetings. 

Date Location Address Date Location Address

January 25, 2011 Uintah High School 1880 West 500 North,

Vernal, UT February 17, 2011

St. George Branch 

Washington County 

Library

88 West 100 South, St. George, UT

January 26, 2011

Moffat County School 

District Administrative 

Building

775 Yampa Avenue,

Craig, CO February 22, 2011 Pine Valley Fire Station 860 East Main, Pine Valley, UT

January 27, 2011

Northwestern 

Community College 

Weiss Activity Center

500 Kennedy Drive, Rangely, CO February 23, 2011 Central Fire 

Station 155 East Center Street, Central, UT

January 31, 2011 Central High School 

Library 550 Warrior Way, Grand Junction, CO February 24, 2011 Enterprise High School 565 South 200 East, Enterprise, UT

February 1, 2011 Helen M. Knight 

Elementary 505 N. Mi Vida, Moab, UT February 28, 2011 Caliente 

Elementary School 300 Lincoln Street, Caliente, NV

February 2, 2011 Castle Dale Elementary 195 East 600 North, Castle Dale, UT March 1, 20111 Clark County 

Community Center

320 N. Moapa Valley Blvd., Overton NV 

(Moapa Valley)

February 7, 2011 Duchesne High School 155 West Main Street,

Duchesne, UT March 2, 2011 Heritage Park Senior 

Facility 300 S. Racetrack Road, Henderson, NV

February 8, 2011 Juab County Courthouse Cultural Hall

160 North Main,

Nephi UT March 3, 2011 Desert Breeze 

Community Center

8275 Spring Mountain, Las Vegas, NV 

(Spring Valley)

February 9, 2011 Millard School District 

Office

285 East 450 North,

Delta, UT March 8, 2011 Jeffrey Center 315 West Pine, Rawlins, WY

February 14, 2011 Richfield High School 510 West 100 South, Richfield, UT March 9, 2011 Rock Springs High School 1375 James Drive, Rock Springs, WY

February 15, 2o11 Milford 

Elementary School 450 South 700 West, Milford, UT March 10, 2011 LSRV Higher Education 

Center 360 Whippoorwill, Baggs, WY

February 16, 2011 Cedar City High School 703 West 600 South, Cedar City, UT All Scoping meetings will be held from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.