October 9, 2002 

Dear Interested Party: 

The National Park Service (NPS) is preparing an environmental impact statement (EIS) to reach a decision about a right-of-way application for crossing the Namekagon River from Minnesota Power and the Wisconsin Public Service Corporation (the applicants). 

The right-of-way request is for crossing the river with a 345 kilovolt (kV) electric transmission line known as the Arrowhead to Weston Project.  The EIS is being prepared to comply with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) which requires Federal agencies to consider the environmental impacts of proposed actions before reaching a decision.  The HEPA process also provides an avenue for public input in the Federal decision-making process. 

This scoping letter was prepared to seek your thoughts and ideas on the issues to be addressed and alternatives to be evaluated in the BPS EIS for the right-of-way request. 

Background

The Arrowhead to Weston Electric Transmission Line Project would extend 220 miles from the Arrowhead Substation near Duluth, Minnesota to the Weston Substation near Wausau, Wisconsin.  According to the applicants, “the purpose of the project is to strengthen the bulk transmission system by providing a second high-capacity connection across the Wisconsin-Minnesota transmission interface.”  The governmental agency with regulatory authority for the overall project, the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSCW), prepared a State EIS to comply with the Wisconsin Environmental Policy Act and granted approval for the project in late 2001.  The utilities are presently or soon will be seeking other necessary permits from Federal, State, and local agencies. 

The PSCW approved route would cross Namekagon River in Stinnett Township, Washburn County, approximately 10 miles west of Hayward, Wisconsin (see enclosed map).  The Namekagon River is part of the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway, which is administered by the NPS.  The Riverway was one of the eight original national wild and scenic rivers established when Congress passed the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (the Act) in 1968.  The purpose of designating the Namekagon River under the Act was to protect its free-flowing character, water quality and outstanding natural, scenic, aesthetic, cultural, and recreational values. 

The applicants have requested a right-of-way permit from the NPS to cross the Riverway.  They propose to cross along and adjacent to an existing 161-kV transmission line easement granted to Xcel Energy by private landowners prior to NPS land acquisition in that area. An additional 10 to 55-feet of right-of-way would be required depending on the alternative.  The segment of the transmission line that would be within the Riverway boundary is 4500 feet in length.  This 4500 feet is the only portion of the 220-mile route of the transmission line that is subject to NPS decision making authority. 

Alternatives Being Considered

The NPS and the applicants have identified the following preliminary alternatives for crossing the river.  They are:

• Double-circuit the proposed 345-kV line with the existing 161-kV line, and go overhead on a single shaft steel poles or H-frame poles; 
• Place the existing 161kV line underground and the proposed 345-kV line overhead; 
• Place both the existing 345-kV line underground and leave the 161-kV line as is overhead; 
• Place both the existing 161-kV line and the proposed 345-kV line underground; 
• and No action: Existing conditions remain unchanged (Deny the right-of-way request). 

Public Meeting/Involvement

This scoping letter is the first step in soliciting public input for this project..  The NPS wants to hear about your ideas, issues and concerns that are related to the proposed Namekagon River crossing.  The NPS will also hold a scoping meeting/open house to provide the public with an opportunity to: 

• Find out more about the proposed river crossing; 
• Learn about the process the NPS will use to reach a decision about the right-of-way request; 
• and Help the NPS identify issues to be addressed in the EIS

Wednesday, November 6, 2002 6:30pm-8:30pm, with a short Presentation at 7:00pm 

Hayward Senior High School/Commons Area and Auditorium 

10320 Greenwood Lane Hayward, Wisconsin 54853

Superintendent 

St. Croix National Scenic Riverway 

PO Box 708

St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin 54024 

Attention: Jill Medland 

Our practice is to make written comments, including names and home addresses, available for public review.  Individual respondents may request that we withhold their home address from the record, which will honor to the extent allowable by law.  There nay also be circumstances where we would withhold from the record a respondent’s identity, as allowable by law. If you wish that your name and/or address be withheld, you must state this prominently at the beginning of your written comment.  We will not consider anonymous comments.  All submissions from organizations or businesses, and from individuals identifying themselves as representatives or officials of organizations or businesses, will be made available in their entirety for public inspection. 

For Further Information
If you have any questions, please contact Compliance Specialist Jill Medland at 715-483-3284, ext. 609. 

Sincerely, 

Thomas A. Bradley