R-Project Transmission Line

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) published a Notice of Availability in the Federal Register and opening a 90-day public comment period on the revised Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) and Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) for the R-Project Transmission Line (R-Project) in Nebraska. The public comment period begins on February 9, 2024, and ends on May 9, 2024. 

The FWS hosted two in-person on February 27 and 29, 2024, and one virtual public meeting on March 7, 2024.

All public meetings served the following purposes:  allowed members of the public to learn about the Draft SEIS for the NPPD R-Project HCP, ask clarifying questions, and provide verbal public comments. The virtual meeting presented the same information as the in-person meetings.

Recording of the virtual public meeting

Public Meeting Presentation Slides

To ensure accessibility, the recording of the virtual public meeting is at the following library locations: 

• North Platte Public Library, 120 W 4th St, North Platte, NE 69101; 
• Thomas County Library, 501 Main St, Thedford, NE 69166; and
• Taylor Public Library, 106 William St., Taylor, NE 68879.

In addition, a hardcopy of the following documents is available for viewing in the public libraries above:

• Draft SEIS  
• Draft SEIS Appendices
• Draft HCP with Appendices
• Draft Migratory Bird Conservation Plan
• 2019 Final EIS 
   

The public may submit comments by May 9, 2024, using one of the following methods:

• Online: at www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments on Docket No. FWS-R6-ES-2014-0048.
• U.S. mail: Public Comments Processing; Attn: Docket No. FWS-R6-ES-2014-0048; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Headquarters, MS: PRB/3W; 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041–3803.

The Notice of Availability is associated with the preparation of a SEIS to the February 2019 Final Environmental Impact Statement on Issuance of an Incidental Take Permit (permit) and Implementation of a revised HCP for the R-Project Transmission Line. 

The FWS is seeking public feedback on the effect of the potential action (issuance of a permit authorizing incidental take of a covered species in association with covered activities and revised HCP implementation) on the human environment.  Input received during the scoping period will be incorporated into the Final SEIS. 

Nebraska Public Power District (NPPD) has resubmitted an application for a federal permit to authorize the take of the federally threatened American burying beetle (Nicrophorus americanus) under the Endangered Species Act for the proposed construction, operation, and maintenance of a 226-mile-long, 345-kilovolt (kV) transmission line and associated infrastructure.   

The purpose of the R-Project is three-fold:  

1. Relieve electrical congestion within the existing transmission system;  
2. Enhance system reliability;  
3. Provide opportunities for development of renewable resources.

The proposed project starts at NPPD’s substation at Gerald Gentleman Station; north to a 345 kV substation in Thomas County near Thedford; and then extends eastward to another 345 kV substation sited in Holt County, which is interconnected with Western Area Power Administration’s existing Fort Thompson to Grand Island 345 kV line located on the eastern border of Holt County.  The R-Project study area is within the following Nebraska counties: Antelope, Blaine, Brown, Cherry, Garfield, Holt, Hooker, Lincoln, Logan, Loup, McPherson, Rock, Thomas, and Wheeler. 

Additional Information
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Notice of Availability

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