### 15970 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 55 / Tuesday, March 22, 2011 / Notices

project are presented in the EIS. Alternative sources of water supply and reasonable alternative routes for linear facilities are addressed as options in the draft EIS.

The draft EIS considers the environmental consequences that may result from the proposed project and describes additional mitigation that might be used to reduce various impacts. Potential impacts identified during the scoping process and analyzed in the draft EIS relate to the following:

Air quality; soils, geology, and mineral resources; ground water; surface water; biological resources; aesthetics; cultural resources; land use; socioeconomics; environmental justice; community services; utility systems; transportation; materials and waste management; human health, safety, and accidents; and noise and vibration. Availability of the Draft EIS

Copies of the draft EIS have been distributed to Members of Congress; Native American tribal governments; Federal, State, and local officials; and agencies, organizations, and individuals who may be interested or affected. The draft EIS will be available on the Internet at: http://nepa.energy.gov/

. Copies of the draft EIS are available for public review at the following location: University of Texas of the Permian Basin, J. Conrad Dunagan Library, Main Floor, 4901 E. University Avenue, Odessa, TX 79762–0001. Additional copies also can be requested ( see **ADDRESSES** ). Public Hearing

DOE will conduct a public hearing on April 5, 2011 at the MCM Elegante Hotel, 5200 E. University Boulevard, Odessa, TX 79762 to obtain comments on the draft EIS. Requests to speak at the public hearing can be made by calling or writing to Mr. Mark L. McKoy ( see **ADDRESSES** ). Requests to speak that have not been submitted prior to the hearing will be accepted in the order in which they are received during the hearing. Speakers are encouraged to provide a written version of their oral comments or supplementary materials for the record. Each speaker will be allowed approximately five minutes to present comments. Those speakers who want more than five minutes should indicate the length of time desired in their request. Depending on the number of speakers, DOE may need to limit all speakers to five minutes initially and provide additional opportunities as time permits. Comments will be recorded by a court reporter and will become part of the public record. Oral and written comments will be given equal consideration.

The hearing will begin at 4 p.m. with an informational session. Formal presentations and a formal comment session will begin at approximately 7 p.m. DOE will begin the hearing’s formal session with overviews of the DOE program, proposed project, and NEPA process, followed by oral statements by the pre-registered speakers. Speakers may be asked questions to help ensure that DOE fully understands the comments. A presiding officer will establish the order of speakers and provide any additional procedures necessary to conduct the meetings.

All meetings will be accessible to people with disabilities. In addition, any individual needing specific assistance, such as a sign language interpreter or a translator, should contact Mr. Mark L. McKoy ( See

**ADDRESSES** ) at least 48 hours in advance of the hearing so that arrangements can be made.

Issued in Washington, DC, on March 17,

2011. Mark J. Matarrese, Director, Office of Environment, Security, Safety & Health, Office of Fossil Energy.
[FR Doc. 2011–6694 Filed 3–21–11; 8:45 am]

**BILLING CODE 6450–01–P**

**DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY**

**Bonneville Power Administration**

**Central Ferry to Lower Monumental 500-kilovolt Transmission Line Project** 

**AGENCY :**  Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), Department of Energy (DOE).

**ACTION :**  Notice of Availability of Record of Decision (ROD).

**SUMMARY :**  This notice announces the availability of the ROD to implement the Central Ferry—Lower Monumental 500- kilovolt (kV) Transmission Line Project in Garfield, Columbia, and Walla Walla counties, Washington. BPA has decided to implement the Combination A Alternative identified in the Central Ferry—Lower Monumental 500-kV Transmission Line Project Final Environmental Impact Statement (DOE/ EIS–0422, February 2011). The Combination A Alternative consists of constructing a new 500-kV single-circuit transmission line from BPA’s new Central Ferry Substation near the Port of Central Ferry in Garfield County generally west through Garfield, Columbia, and Walla Walla counties to BPA’s existing Lower Monumental Substation in Walla Walla County, a distance of about 38 miles. The transmission line route begins at the new Central Ferry Substation along the Snake River, and runs southwest for about 11 miles mostly parallel to and about 1,200 to 2,500 feet (about 1 ⁄ 4 ; mile
to c mile) south of BPA’s two existing Little Goose-Lower Granite 500-kV steel lattice transmission lines. The route then angles away from the existing lines and proceeds southwest for about 6 miles before crossing the Tucannon River directly north of the town of Starbuck. The route then proceeds west for about 20 miles from the Tucannon River crossing to BPA’s existing Lower Monumental Substation. BPA will acquire new 150-foot-wide right-of-way for the entire length of the new line. Approximately 161 new lattice steel transmission towers, ranging in height from about 104 to 189 feet with an average span length between towers of about 1,200 feet, will be constructed in the new right-of-way. The conductor and overhead ground wire for the new transmission line will be placed on these towers, and counterpoise would be buried in the ground at selected towers. Construction of the new line also will include the upgrade of about 5 miles of existing access roads, and the construction of about 38 miles of new access roads. Power circuit breakers, disconnect switches, and other electrical equipment will be installed at Lower Monumental Substation. In the vicinity of the Lower Monumental Substation, six existing steel lattice towers that support existing transmission lines in this area will be relocated to allow entry of the Central Ferry-Lower Monumental transmission line into the substation. Fiber optic cable will be installed along a portion of the new line. All mitigation measures identified in the EIS are adopted.

**ADDRESSES :**  Copies of the ROD and EISmay be obtained by calling BPA’s tollfree document request line, 1–800–622– 4520. The ROD and EIS are also available on our Web site, http:// www.bpa.gov/go/centralferrylomo.

**FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT :**  Tish Eaton, Bonneville Power Administration—KEC–4, P.O. Box 3621, Portland, Oregon 97208–3621; toll-free telephone number 1–800–622–4519; fax number 503–230–5699; or e-mail tkeaton@bpa.gov.

Issued in Portland, Oregon, on March 11,

2011. Stephen J. Wright, Administrator and Chief Executive Officer.
[FR Doc. 2011–6662 Filed 3–21–11; 8:45 am]

**BILLING CODE 6450–01–P**