Environmental Assessment

Abstract

The proposed adtions are to grant a right-of-way to Southwestern Public Service (SPS) for the construction of an overhead powerfine. and f o r SPS to construct a new replacement substation o f Department of Energy (DOE) managed lands at the Waste Isolation,Pilot Plant (WIPP). The W E proposes to fund both of these actions. (BLM), in accordance with the Memorandum of Understandins Between the U. S. Debarment of Enerw and the U. S. Denartment of the Interior, dated July 19, 1994, is preparing this EA to analyze these related actions, since the majority of the impacts of these actions would be experienced on ELM managed lands. and Lea Counties, New Mexico. The legal land description is: The poles wou1,d be spaced approximately 700 feet apart. Some of the structures will also include guy wires. The line will be used year round f o r a 30 year period. Length of the line will be 19.8 miles (104,544 feet) and will have a right-of-way width of 60 feet'. The majority of the line would parallel an existing powerfine and road right-of-way corridor (see attached map). The proposed new ring-bus substation would measure approximately 300 feet north to south and 160 feet east to west. The substation would be The powerfine would not traverse any A line. The structure for this line will be a 2-pole H frame wood poles. designed and constructed for 115,000 volt operation. The design would allow.for power to be supplied to the WIPP from either or both transmission lines (new line from Sand Dunes/Ochoa and existing line from No. 1/Potash JNC) and substation transformers. Two 13,800 volt underground feeders will be routed from the ring-bus substation-100 feet north, then west-150 feet, then south-100 feet to the WIPP'S existing SPS plant substation. The new substation would be enclosed by a chain link fence: 7 feet in height with 3-strand barbed wire, 45 degree security top slanted outward from the substation proper. If the new electrical facilities were approved and became operational, WIPP's existing temporary substation would then be demolished. Demolition would include removal of all equipment, concrete slabs, structures, fences, overhead 69,000 volt transmission lines, utility poles, and underground cable. Construction of the line and substation would be e pected to sometime in January of 1996 and would be completed by March of 1996. No temporary work areas would be required for this powerline project. The proposed action is 1) to grant a right-of-way to SPS for the construction of a 115 KV in accordance with the Standard Stipulations f o r Overhead Powerlines in the R m e l l District, ELM (refer to the Grant, Exhibit A) , and 2) for ttia SPS to construct a new substation of WIPP lands as described above. SPS would retain ownership and maintenance responsibilities for both the powerline and substation. B. The WIPP is anticipated to require increased electrical capacity, reliability, and operational flexibility. The existing, temporary single-feed WIPP substation and single power line does not provide a redundant power source and...