FAST-41 Initiated February 2, 2023
Contact Lead Agency (FERC) Project Manager for additional information.
Applications: WYWY 191971, WYWY 191971-01, WYWY 191971-02
Contact BLM Project Manager for additional information.
BLM Rawlins Field office contact for the right-of-way is Carla Fiedor, her email is c75fiedo@blm.gov, phone number (307) 328-4251.
BLM Rawlins Field office contact for planning/NEPA is Wendy Huber, whuber@blm.gov, phone number (307) 775-6288.
BLM must solicit information about key mitigation measures during the public comment period that follows the NOA for the Draft EIS. BLM will also continue to consider possible mitigation measures through internal and external scoping throughout the planning process. Resource areas that BLM has currently identified as requiring possible mitigation include:
- Removal of Limber Pine
- Big Game Winter Crucial Range – Determination on mitigation measures will require coordination with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department
- BLM Threatened & Endangered or Sensitive Species
- Visual Impacts in Visual Resource Management Avoidance Areas (Class II VRM)
A document outlining mitigation measures necessary for wildlife from the Rawlins RMP is attached for reference.
BLM must solicit information about key mitigation measures during the public comment period that follows the NOA for the Draft EIS. BLM will also continue to consider possible mitigation measures through internal and external scoping throughout the planning process. Resource areas that BLM has currently identified as requiring possible mitigation include:
· Removal of Limber Pine
· Big Game Winter Crucial Range – Determination on mitigation measures will require coordination with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department
· BLM Threatened & Endangered or Sensitive Species
· Visual Impacts in Visual Resource Management Avoidance Areas (Class II VRM)
A document outlining mitigation measures necessary for wildlife from the Rawlins RMP is attached for reference.
N/A
Tribal Outreach: EIS effort should include Historic Properties Treatment Plan for the BLM ROW. If it does not, further coordination with BLM will be required. Typically the EIS would include a Programmatic Agreement as an appendix, which would contain the Historic Properties Treatment Plan.
Cooperating Agency Meetings: Will FERC identify local governments with jurisdiction by law or special expertise that should be Cooperating Agencies and schedule the necessary Cooperating Agency meetings that include these entities? BLM can provide support/advice. BLM usually conducts Cooperating Agency meetings on a regular (e.g., monthly) basis, or at a minimum after each EIS stage (I.e., pre-NOI, NOI, Draft EIS NOA, Final EIS NOA, ROD).
Socioeconomics Workshop: BLM conducts at least one Socioeconomics Workshop during the NOI scoping period. BLM could likely do this in cooperation with FERC if FERC already plans to host a workshop(s)
Public Scoping Meetings: BLM conducts at least one public scoping meeting during the 30-day scoping period that follows the NOI. BLM could likely do this in cooperation with FERC if FERC already plans to host a meeting(s)
Action: Environmental Impact Statement (FERC)
Milestones:
Issuance of Notice of Intent to Prepare an EIS (Agency Action): 02/25/2025
Conduct 30-day scoping period (43 CFR 1610.2(e)) (Agency Action): 02/25/2025
Official Notice of Availability of a Draft EIS published in the FR (Agency Action): 08/29/2025
Conduct 90-day public comment period (43 CFR 1610.2(e)) (Agency Action): no date set
Official Notice of Availability of a Final EIS published in the FR (Agency Action): 03/13/2026
Issuance of Lead Agency Record of Decision (Agency Action): 06/18/2026
Action: Environmental Impact Statement (BLM)
Milestones:
Adopt FERC Final EIS (Cooperating Agency Action): 06/25/2026
Conduct 30-day Protest Period (43 CFR 1610.5) (Cooperating Agency Action): 07/25/2026
Conduct 60-day Governor’s Consistency Review (43 CFR 1610.3 2(e)) (Cooperating Agency Action): 08/25/2026
Issue Record of Decision (Cooperating Agency Action): 09/25/2026
BLM will likely have to amend our Rawlins Resource Management Plan to issue the required Rights-of-Way.