The possible impact on BLM lands by the proposed Gateway West Transmission line will be discussed this Thursday evening in Douglas.

Listen here,

An openhouse at the Douglas Clarion Inn, October 6th, 4 to 7pm, is hosted by Bureau of Land Management officials who'll be on hand to answer questions about their Draft Environmental Impact Statement. The proposed Gateway West high voltage transmission line would travel 1100 miles crossing public lands about 50 percent of the time as it makes its way from the Glenrock area across southern Wyoming to Boise, Idaho.

"This meeting is hosted by the BLM to show the work we've been doing on the Environmental Impact Statement. This will give the public and opportunity to see it, but also let us know if we've missed anything."

BLM Spokesperson, Beverly Gorney says impacts studied include cultural and historical resources, wildlife habitats, oil and gas usage, and grazing issues. And Gorney says, much of the impact studied for public lands has relevance for neighboring private land holders. "The exit and entrance point to the public land is going to impact the neighboring private land. We want to be cognizant of the concerns that will raise for those private land owners."

Gorney stresses that a final right-of-way decision on the route won't come until all public comments are considered. The comment period ends October 28th.

Project maps and documents are available on online, copies can be viewed at public libraries or at BLM field offices.

The Gateway West transmission line is jointly proposed by Idaho Power and Rocky Mountain Power and would add 3,000 megawatts (MW) of electrical transmission capacity from new and existing resources, including wind.

Follow this link to read the draft environmental impact statement http://www.wy.blm.gov/nepa/cfodocs/gateway_west/

 

 

 

 

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