The ESA consultation will evaluate the effects of the proposed activities on federally listed species and designated critical habitat. FWS will use BLM's biological assessment to complete consultation on this project. FWS acknowledged receipt of a complete initiation package on 8/12/2022. The proposed schedule anticipates evaluation of the preferred or selected alternative/alignment of the project during the 135-day formal consultation period.
The proposed update to the ESA Consultation Concludes Milestone target date to 01/23/23, provides for the 135-day formal consultation period. After consultation between BLM and FWS, a formal letter requesting the update was provided to FPISC on 10/19/22.
Cooperating under NEPA
Description:
The ESA consultation will evaluate the effects of the proposed activities on federally listed species and designated critical habitat. FWS will use BLM's biological assessment to complete consultation on this project. The proposed schedule anticipates evaluation of the preferred or selected alternative/alignment of the project. The current schedule includes a 135-day formal consultation period and additional time for BLM to review the draft BO should they do so. Milestone target dates will be confirmed when we determine we have a complete consultation package and can begin the consultation.
In our 9/9/22 response to BLM. FWS acknowledged receipt of a complete initiation package on 8/12/22 and noted we anticipate providing a BO and concluding consultation by 01/23/23.
Milestones:
PROJECT WEBSITE: SunZia Project Website
All dates below are specific to the schedule of the Environmental Review and Permitting processes for this project.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW AND PERMITTING STATUS
IN PROGRESS
ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE OF ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW AND PERMITTING
08/24/2023
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW AND PERMITTING PROCESSES
COMPLETED
SECTOR
Electricity Transmission
CATEGORY
Project Category
FAST-41 Covered Projects
LEAD AGENCY
Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management
View FAST-41 Postings by Agencies
Other Agencies with Actions or Authorizations:
Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service
Department of the Army, US Army Corps of Engineers - Regulatory
Description:
The SunZia Project includes two nominal 500-kV transmission lines located on federal, state, and private lands between central New Mexico and central Arizona. The approximately 550-mile-long transmission line route originates at the planned SunZia East Substation in Torrance County, New Mexico, and terminates near the existing Saguaro substation and the existing Pinal Central Substation, both in Pinal County, Arizona. The SunZia Project is located in Socorro, Sierra, Luna, Grant, Hidalgo, and Torrance counties in New Mexico and Graham, Greenlee, Cochise, Pinal, and Pima counties in Arizona.
The SunZia Project will be constructed in two phases and ultimately include two, new, single-circuit, 500 kV transmission lines with the intent of locating both within a single 400-foot-wide right-of-way, where possible. Only one of the two 500-kV circuits will be constructed in Phase 1 and the planned in-service date for the first transmission line is 2025. The first transmission line would be a direct-current (DC) line and the second transmission line would be an alternating-current (AC) line.
Update:
The Executive Director granted a BLM's request to extend the Section 106 consultation "Section 106 Review" completion date because route changes for the Project require modifications to the programmatic agreement needed to conclude the Section 106 consultation. The Executive Director determination is posted here.
Original Target Date: 11/17/2022
Milestone: ESA Consultation Concludes (Agency Action)
Requested extensions greater than 30 days for this Action are shown below:
ESA Consultation Concludes (Agency Action) extended by 67
From: 12/06/2022
To: 01/23/2023