SunZia and the Bureau of Land Management

Determining SunZia’s Location

Environmental Impact Statement

 An Extensive Analysis of SunZia’s Impact

 

Resources that may be affected by the project have been carried forward for analysis in this EIS and are discussed in chapters 3 and 4. These resources and land management programs were selected based on federal regulatory requirements and policies, concerns of the lead and cooperating agencies and/or issues identified during scoping.

 

Full list of resources evaluated in the Environmental Impact Study of SunZia’s Tranmission Lines:
N

Climate and Air Quality

N

Biological Resources

Vegetation, Noxious and Invasive Weeds, Wildlife, Special-status Species

N

Land Use and Recreation Resources

N

Environmental Justice

N

Earth Resources

Geology, Minerals, Soils

N

Wildland Fire Ecology and Management

N

Special Designations

N

Heath and Safety/Hazardous Materials (EMF, noise)

N

Paleontological Resources

N

Cultural Resources

N

Wilderness

N

Water Resources

N

Visual Resources

N

Social and Economic Conditions

Current Route Choice

This route was selected as the BLM preferred alternative because it will:

 

  • maximize use of existing utility corridors and infrastructure
  • minimize potential impacts to sensitive crossings
  • minimize potential impacts at river crossings
  • minimize potential impacts to residential and commercials uses
  • minimize potential impacts to military operations within the restricted airspace north of the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico
A major portion of the preferred alternative route will be constructed along established utility corridors where existing access roads are available. Approximately 53 percent (273 miles) of the approved route will parallel existing or designated utility corridors, including 229 parallel miles.