Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement and To Conduct Public Scoping Meetings, and Notice of Floodplains and Wetlands Involvement; New England Clean Power Link Project

Résumé

The Department of Energy (DOE) announces its intent to prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) to assess the potential environmental impacts from its proposed federal action of granting a Presidential permit to Champlain VT, LLC, doing business as TDI-New England (TDI-NE; the Applicant), to construct, operate, maintain, and connect a new electric transmission line across the U.S.-Canada border in northern Vermont. The New England Clean Power Link Environmental Impact Statement (DOE/EIS-0503) will address potential environmental impacts from the proposed action and reasonable alternatives. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)--New England District, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)--Region 1 (New England), and the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) are cooperating agencies in the preparation of the EIS. The purpose of this Notice of Intent (NOI) is to inform the public about the proposed action, announce public scoping meetings, and solicit public comments regarding the scope of the EIS. Because the proposed project would involve actions in floodplains and wetlands, in accordance with DOE regulations, the EIS will include a floodplain and wetland assessment.