Vantage to Pomona FEIS Index 34 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Vantage to Pomona Heights Chapter 1 230 kV Transmission Line Project FEIS Purpose and Need PAGE 1-20 ACTION REQUIRING PERMIT, APPROVAL OR REVIEW PERMIT/APPROVAL/ COMPLIANCE OR REVIEW ACCEPTING AUTHORITY/ APPROVING AGENCY LEGAL AUTHORITY OR POLICY GUIDANCE Provide control of airborne dust particles during construction Dust Control Plan Yakima Regional Clean Air Agency and WDOE Construction Dust Control Policy Provide control of noxious weeds during construction and operation Noxious Weed Management Plan County Weed Control Districts (all that apply) RCW 17.10, WAC 16-750 Noxious Weed List 1.12 SCOPING AND PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT Public participation is essential for the environmental review process and informed decision making. Scoping occurs early in the NEPA process and generally extends through development of alternatives. The intent of scoping is to determine the scope of issues to be addressed in the EIS and identify the significant issues related to the proposed Project by soliciting comments from interested and potentially affected parties, including landowners, citizens, tribes, government agencies and interest groups and organizations (40 CFR 1501.7). Scoping activities conducted by the BLM and JBLM YTC (Joint Lead Federal Agencies at this time), as required by 40 CFR 1501.7, are described below. The Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare an EIS for the proposed Project was published in the Federal Register on January 5, 2010. The NOI included a detailed description of the proposed Project, purpose of public scoping, the role of BLM and JBLM YTC as Joint Lead Federal Agencies and Cooperating Agencies, a list of preliminary environmental issues, notification of planned public meetings, and procedures for submitting comments on the proposed Project and issues of concern. Publication of the NOI also marked the beginning of a 60-day public comment period, January 5 through March 8, 2010. In addition to the Federal Register notice, the BLM and JBLM YTC sent letters to private landowners located within 0.25 mile of either side of the assumed centerlines of the preliminary alternative routes notifying them of BLM and JBLM YTC’s intent to prepare an EIS; the dates, time, and locations of the public scoping meetings; and comment period deadlines. Scoping letters were also sent to interested agencies, individuals, groups, and organizations on the BLM and JBLM YTC’s mailing lists. Additionally, scoping letters were sent to federal, state, and local agencies and elected officials notifying them of the proposed Project and the scoping period and inviting them to attend an agency scoping meeting. A total of 1,280 public and agency notification letters were sent on January 14, 2010. Other scoping notifications included a BLM news release to local media outlets and the development of a project webpage on the BLM Spokane District website: http://www.blm.gov/or/districts/spokane/plans/vph230.php. The BLM and JBLM YTC held two open house format public scoping meetings to explain the proposed Project and receive input on environmental concerns. Meetings were held on the following dates at the locations listed below: • February 3, 2010 at the Selah Civic Center, Selah, Washington (approximately 70 participants). • February 4, 2010 at the Mattawa Elementary School Cafeteria, Mattawa, Washington (approximately 25 participants).