Southwestern Region, Arizona, New Mexico, West Texas and Oklahoma; Proposed 115KV Transmission Line Project on the Tres Piedras Ranger District, Carson National Forest, Taos County, NM

Riepilogo

Based on a request made by the Kit Carson Electric Cooperative, the Carson National Forest is preparing an environmental impact statement (EIS) to analyze the effects of a proposal to authorize Kit Carson Cooperative to construct, operate and maintain a new 115 KV electric transmission line and fiber optic system on National Forest Lands from the existing Ojo to Taos 115 KV line to Ojo Caliente, New Mexico. The proposal also includes construction, operation and maintenance of a substation in Ojo Caliente. The proposal has several parts, most of which pertain directly to National Forest lands and for which the USDA Forest Service will make the decision. Other portions pertain to Bureau of Land Management administered lands including the proposed substation location, for which the responsible line officer in the Bureau of Land Management will be the deciding official. If any alternative should be selected that might include private holdings, Kit Carson Electric Cooperative will negotiate for approval. The purpose of the project is to improve existing service by reducing voltage fluctuations and the number of outages. It is also to provide fiber optic capabilities to a number of small