tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53975952011-04-21T11:35:20.075-07:00TEP Transmission Lines Through Southern ArizonaNews, events & discussion of TEP's proposed transmission lines through the Coronado National Forest - Arivaca (Known as the 'western route')Bart Santellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17542973512331492756noreply@blogger.comBlogger301100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5397595.post-8134506367216453162008-11-15T15:37:00.001-07:002008-11-21T15:43:59.605-07:00Existing 115 kV to 138 kV Transmission Line UpgradeThere are many changes that impact all segments of the existing 115 kV to 138 kV transmission line upgrade. For example, between the existing Amado (Kantor) Substation and the two Rio Rico substations (Canez and Sonoita), one alternative has the new line going this entire distance alongside the River/Railroad corridor. Please see the attached which shows this in part "D" taken from this importantBart Santellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17542973512331492756noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5397595.post-73159383292478084962008-05-14T11:20:00.000-07:002008-11-21T15:36:42.218-07:00Sahuarita-Nogales Transmission Line Project ProposalMar 27, 2008 11:06 PMTucson Electric Power (TEP) is working with the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) and federal agencies to improve electric reliability for Santa Cruz County residents served by TEP's sister company, UniSource Energy Services (UES) by proposing a new 345-kV transmission line.UES relies on a single 115-kV transmission line Bart Santellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17542973512331492756noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5397595.post-46812941443023869252007-06-26T05:46:00.001-07:002007-06-26T05:47:45.199-07:00Based on the latest ACC to DOE letter on DV-2 dated 24 May (attached),I am sure the 21 June DOE "Public Comments" meeting in Phoenix will bemostly devoted to this important topic.However, there is another issue that is of local concern here:An earlier ACC to DOE letter (attached) on the National Corridors on27 Feb stated the ACC considered the Tucson-Nogales-Mexico line ashaving the highest Bart Santellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17542973512331492756noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5397595.post-4800187907428259702007-06-26T05:44:00.000-07:002007-06-26T05:45:28.830-07:00Sandy -It was very informational to have listened to these historicproceedings where the Arizona Power Plant and Transmission Line SitingCommittee were overturned based on the testimony and evidencepresented by the Sierra Club and other important intervenors. The ACCStaff's recommendation to deny was especially rewarding, and theimpacts all made on the Commissioners was successful.Tim Hogan's Bart Santellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17542973512331492756noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5397595.post-35589818156992250722007-06-26T05:42:00.000-07:002007-06-26T05:44:09.035-07:00FYI - From Sandy Bahr (Sierra Club)Arizona Corporation Commission Votes to Deny the Devers to Palo Verde 2Power Line and to Protect the KOFA National Wildlife Refuge!Today, we have some great news to share. The Arizona CorporationCommission voted 5-0 to deny a Certificate of EnvironmentalCompatibility to Southern California Edison for the Devers-Palo VerdeNo. 2 Transmission Line Project (DPV2), aBart Santellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17542973512331492756noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5397595.post-38915351493714451962007-02-15T14:28:00.000-07:002007-02-15T14:32:11.191-07:00Tumacacori wilderness plan gets boost by DemsGrijalva bill would protect 84,000 acres southwest of Tucson; TEP high-power line still an issue there, tooBy Tim EllisArizona Daily Star Tucson, ArizonaPublished: 02.08.2007Now that his party controls Congress, Rep. Raúl Grijalva says he finally may succeed in protecting the Tumacacori Highlands near Nogales. "It does make its chances of passage much Bart Santellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17542973512331492756noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5397595.post-1139642722211224582006-02-11T00:19:00.000-07:002006-02-11T00:25:22.223-07:00ACC Not Sold On Need For Power LineBy Tony DavisArizona Daily StarTucson, Arizona | Published: 02.10.2006TEP asks for federal review while the state debates where to put a new power line.The Tucson Electric Power Co. is asking the federal government to streamline itsdecision-making on whether such a line could go in the Coronado National Forest.On Feb. 2, TEP asked for an expedited federal reviewBart Santellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17542973512331492756noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5397595.post-1106195125597550042005-01-19T21:21:00.000-07:002005-01-19T21:25:25.596-07:00Status from Bill Kurtz
"Here is how I believe the situation is: The final EIS is at the printers and should be published in the Federal Record by the end of the month. Than there is a thirty day period for the Government agencies to issue their final record of decision(ROD). The Forest Service, we have heard, will deny the western route within the Forest upholding the letter Ms. Derby sent toBart Santellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17542973512331492756noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5397595.post-1105642413883745252005-01-13T11:52:00.000-07:002005-01-13T11:53:33.883-07:00Paraphrased email from Marshall 1/12/05:
Background to this update: On January 11th, the Arizona Corporation Commission took action on TEP’s request to "Extended the time and re-opened" the Line Siting Committee Case No. 111 for TEP's 345 kV project between Sahuarita, Arizona and the US-Mexico border and Santa Ana, Mexico.
Present Status: The existing ACC Line Siting Committee Certification Bart Santellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17542973512331492756noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5397595.post-1104780439193433362005-01-03T12:26:00.000-07:002005-01-03T12:27:19.193-07:00Email from Marshall (12/31/04):
The ACC Open Meeting hearings in Phoenix on 11/12 January 2005 are to establish hearings and should NOT resolve any issues other than a permit extension.
(The Second hearing has to determine what to do with the nearly expired Siting Committee Certification for Environmental Compatibility (CEC), or, permit for the TEP 345 kV line between Sahuarita and Mexico. WithBart Santellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17542973512331492756noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5397595.post-1077983263083514162004-02-28T08:47:00.000-07:002004-02-28T08:49:47.686-07:00The "old-boy" network is alive and well with the Bush/Cheney administration (see below):
Question and Answer from UniSource 2003 Earnings Conference Call, 18 February
2004. See www.unisource.com under SEC reports, SEC 14A on 2/19/2003
> The below is from the above transcript. It seems that UniSource's CEO doesn't
> know what this is all about.
> Quote:
> Rob Howard, Prospector Partners
>
>Bart Santellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17542973512331492756noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5397595.post-1072335695375633072003-12-25T00:01:00.000-07:002003-12-25T00:02:35.513-07:00Desert Homestead Column by Bart Santello (as Published in the Connection Newspaper, Nov 2003)
Public comment against Tucson Electric Power’s (TEP) proposed transmission line route through southern Arizona has grown to several thousand pages. The “Western Route” takes the power lines through roadless areas of the Coronado National Forest (east of Arivaca), where approximately 191 line-towers, Bart Santellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17542973512331492756noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5397595.post-1065281795349731232003-10-04T08:36:00.000-07:002005-01-13T11:57:44.180-07:00Thanks to everyone who spoke at the hearings - You did great!!
Critics Denounce Power-Line Proposal
By Mitch Tobin
ARIZONA DAILY STAR
Tucson, ArizonaFriday, 26 September 2003
GREEN VALLEY - Rare is the public hearing where ranchers, environmentalists and the world's largest maker of earth-moving equipment are on the same side. But when federal officials asked Thursday for comments on Tucson Bart Santellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17542973512331492756noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5397595.post-1064207000517384392003-09-21T22:03:00.000-07:002003-09-21T22:03:20.610-07:00Reminder: Please try to attend and speak against the powerlines this week at one of the following hearings:
Dates for the public hearings are:
1. September 25, 2003, 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., Green Valley, Arizona
2. September 25, 2003, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., Green Valley, Arizona
3. September 26, 2003, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., Nogales, Arizona
4. September 26, 2003, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., Nogales, Arizona
We Bart Santellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17542973512331492756noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5397595.post-1063248073064694272003-09-10T19:41:00.000-07:002003-09-10T19:41:12.970-07:00Here are the up-to-date "contacts" for the public to send comment on the recently issued Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS), and/or express your concern regarding the proposed transmission lines.
Sue Kosacek - Director
U.S. Forest Service
Coronado National Forest
300 W. Congress
Tucson, AZ 85701
Keith Moon
Bureau of Land Management
222 N. Central Ave
Phoenix, AZ 85004-2203
602-417-Bart Santellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17542973512331492756noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5397595.post-1062305247665476492003-08-30T21:47:00.000-07:002003-08-30T21:47:27.700-07:00To speak at the upcoming public hearings, you will need to contact Dr. Pell and get your name on the list. For dates, locations and times of the hearing, please see the August 28th Federal Register posting (below).
Dr. Jerry Pell
Senior Environmental Scientist
Manager, Electric Power Regulation
Office of Coal and Power Import & Export
Fossil Energy, FE-27
U.S. Department of Energy
Washington, Bart Santellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17542973512331492756noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5397595.post-1062068188636746082003-08-28T03:56:00.000-07:002003-08-28T03:56:28.656-07:00Notice of Availability of Draft Environmental Impact Statement and Public
Hearings for the Proposed Tucson Electric Power Company
(TEP) Sahuarita-Nogales Transmission Line
AGENCY: Department of Energy (DOE).
ACTION: Notice of availability and public hearings.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Department of Energy (DOE) announces the Bart Santellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17542973512331492756noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5397595.post-1061322288670563902003-08-19T12:44:00.000-07:002003-08-19T12:45:31.833-07:00Email comments by Marshall:
We need to meet NEPA criteria so that all inputs are reviewed and tabulated (just opposing really doesn't count with out a reason - so we tell that when we give out Post Cards). You know TEP will look at return addresses, so "closeness" will be essential; however, comments as "my favorite recreation place is ___ which will be ruined by the Western Route" could Bart Santellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17542973512331492756noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5397595.post-1061322159744735052003-08-19T12:42:00.000-07:002003-08-19T12:42:39.650-07:00For those who want to order a copy of the EIS; I you can contact Dr. Jerry Pell by email at Jerry.Pell@hq.doe.gov or by leaving a telephone number 800-430-4046 or 202-586-3362. Information on hearing dates on the EIS will also be available at http://www.ttclients.com/tep/
Here is a quick "cut-and-paste" action post card:
=======================================================
Dear Dr Pell (DOE Bart Santellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17542973512331492756noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5397595.post-1060973087751881262003-08-15T11:44:00.000-07:002003-08-15T11:44:46.806-07:00Sources say that the draft is being mailed now (mid-August). The comment period for the EIS will officially begin on Aug. 22 when the EPA Federal Register notice of availability appears and will end on October 14 (2003).
Bart Santellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17542973512331492756noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5397595.post-1056690109222446982003-06-26T22:01:00.000-07:002003-06-26T22:01:49.290-07:00Email from Marshall (6/26)
Lets get these transmission line facts straight:
1. The TEP 345,000 volt line is only a Backup line, never to be primary line for Nogales, but is proposed to sell electricity to Mexico. (it's too expensive for us to use but we still have to pay to reserve it for backup purposes, about $15/customer/month and another $15/customer/month for capital costs, and even more ifBart Santellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17542973512331492756noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5397595.post-1055297745453539802003-06-10T19:15:00.000-07:002003-06-10T19:18:14.280-07:00The laws governing the Power Plant and Transmission Line Siting Committee are A.R.S. 40-360, and can be viewed at "www.azleg.state.az.us/ars/40/title40.htm"
Notices of the committee's public meetings can be found on the Arizona Corporation Commission's website at "www.cc.state.az.us" Also, you can get addresses of each of the Commissioners if you want to write them on this matter.
DocumentsBart Santellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17542973512331492756noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5397595.post-1055297375223110232003-06-10T19:09:00.000-07:002003-06-10T19:09:35.480-07:00The Dept. of Energy's website is www.FE.DOE.gov. To view TEP's application for a presidential permit (to transmit electricity across the US border) click on "Electricity Regulation on the menu at the top of the page, then click on Pending Procedures on the menu at the right side of the page.Bart Santellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17542973512331492756noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5397595.post-1055297101371603202003-06-10T19:05:00.000-07:002003-06-10T19:05:01.616-07:00From Tucson Electric Power's "Energy Update" May 2003
"...TEP's Corporate Communications Department will act as a clearinghouse for inquiries at company offices. For more information about the transmission line project, call 520-884-3630 or TEP's website at www.tucsonelectric.com and select "Company," then "News," then "TEP-Citizens Transmisison Line." Send email queries to Translineinfo@Bart Santellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17542973512331492756noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5397595.post-1055296647789264082003-06-10T18:57:00.000-07:002003-06-10T18:57:28.033-07:00The transmission line project web-site maintained for the Dept.of Energy by Tetra Tech, Inc. is:
"www.ttclients.com/tep" This site will allow you to leave comments; order a copy of the draft EIS; get the latest news; obtain meeting transcripts; view government correspondence; read a fact sheet on the project; view notices in the Federal Register; obtain DOE contact information and link to Bart Santellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17542973512331492756noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5397595.post-1054874850735086022003-06-05T21:47:00.000-07:002003-06-06T06:42:03.040-07:00If you would like to write our elected officials on the proposed transmission lines, here are two of our 'house' representatives and their mailing addresses:
Representative Raul Grijalva
United States Congress, 7th District, Arizona
1440 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Representative Jim Kolbe
United States Congress, 8th District, Arizona
2266 Rayburn House Office Building
Bart Santellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17542973512331492756noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5397595.post-1054654612466971792003-06-03T08:36:00.000-07:002003-06-03T08:36:52.503-07:00
......And remind them to call, email or write to Dr. Jerry Pell by 6 June to indicate if they want a copy of (1) CD-ROM, (2) 30-page summary, or (3) 350-page complete Draft EIS. If they don't contact or post mark by 6 June, they will be removed from DOE's mailing list.
Marshall Bart Santellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17542973512331492756noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5397595.post-1054533234914621092003-06-01T22:53:00.000-07:002003-06-01T22:53:54.936-07:00Arivaca'a Connection Newspaper has website with a "Forum" page where a topic has been started on the power line issue. This forum allows anyone to post comments. The website can be found at
http://soazconnection.com/forum/ then click on "The Connection Forum"Bart Santellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17542973512331492756noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5397595.post-1054528951368567992003-06-01T21:42:00.000-07:002003-06-01T21:42:30.576-07:00The Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for TEP's proposed Sahuarita-Nogales Transmission Line Project will be published soon. In order to receive a CD-ROM version of the complete EIS, you can contact Jerry Pell at the Department of Energy at (Jerry.Pell@HQ.DOE.GOV), or leave a message at 1-800-430-4046.
The draft EIS will also be available on the Internet at http://www.ttclients.com/TEPBart Santellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17542973512331492756noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5397595.post-1053096859689239982003-05-16T07:54:00.000-07:002003-06-03T08:35:56.150-07:00Edited version of a recent email from Marshall..
Please see "Holding the Line" at http://www.tucsonweekly.com/tw/current/feat2.html for some of the latest from TEP on its backup 345-kV powerline. As my Summary Brief indicated, UniSource stated there would be future ACC hearings (I count at least three - see attachment) that will have to deal with this issue:
a. Soon a hearing must be calledBart Santellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17542973512331492756noreply@blogger.com