Review, comment period opens for proposed LANL transmission line upgrade project

WASHINGTON - The Department of Energy (DOE) National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) has announced the availability and comment period for the Los Alamos National Laboratory Electrical Power Capacity Upgrade Project Draft Environmental Assessment (DOE/EA-2199) (EA).

The EA was prepared in cooperation with the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), Santa Fe National Forest (SFNF) and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Taos Field Office. The draft EA includes proposed amendments to the 2022 Forest Plan for the Santa Fe National Forest that would allow for the designation of a utility corridor and permanent easement on SFNF-administered lands.

The draft EA analyzes the construction and operation of a new 115 kilovolt (kV) power transmission line and upgrading LANL's existing electrical infrastructure. LANL requires a reliable and redundant electrical power supply to support mission programs and other activities conducted at LANL facilities. Electrical power supply forecasts project that existing transmission lines that serve LANL and Los Alamos County will reach capacity before 2030, jeopardizing DOE/NNSA's electrical power supply to meet mission requirements.

The draft EA provides sufficient evidence and analysis for determining whether to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the project or to issue a Finding of No Significant Impact, in accordance with National Environmental Policy Act authorities.

This notice is to announce the official start of the comment period on December 19, 2023. Written comments on the draft EA will be accepted through January 17, 2024. The Draft EA is available in the NNSA NEPA Reading Room at: /nnsa/nnsa-nepa-reading-room or directly at /nepa/doeea-2199-los-alamos-national-laboratory-electrical-power-capacity-upgrade-project.

Questions, EA and Forest Plan amendment comments, and/or requests for a paper copy of the draft EA may be submitted via U.S. mail to:

NNSA Los Alamos Field Office
ATTN: EPCU Project NEPA
3747 West Jemez Road
Los Alamos, NM 87544

or emailed to:
[email protected]

Comments may be submitted to the NNSA Los Alamos Field Office via mail or through the email address listed above. Comments will not be accepted over the telephone. All comments must be received during the official comment period. Comments received after January 17, 2024, will be considered to the extent practicable for preparation of the final EA and decision document. A public meeting will be scheduled during the comment period and announced via the LANL GovDelivery system.