West-wide Energy Corridor

Thanks to the Government News for Montana blog I learned about the draft environmental impact statement for the West-wide Energy corridor. This EIS was brought about in part by language in the Energy Policy Act of 2005. This act in section 368 "[d]irects the Secretaries of Agriculture, of Commerce, of Defense, of Energy, and of the Interior (the Secretaries), in consultation with FERC, states, tribal or local governmental entities, affected utility industries, and other interested persons, are directed to consult with each other and to: (1) designate corridors for oil, gas, and hydrogen pipelines and electricity transmission and distribution facilities on federal land in the 11 contiguous Western States; (2) incorporate the designated corridors into the relevant agency land use and resource management or equivalent plans; and (3) ensure that additional corridors are promptly identified and designated."

Since this act covers multiple states it takes up three volumes. To see where these corridors will be you can look at volume 3 (here is a direct link to CO's map).

Everyone can comment on this proposal and you can do this using an easy form online. If you are interested in the comments given during the scoping (preparation) phase, check out this search engine.

Want a little bit of the media perspective? Check out Denver Post's "Feds to designate energy corridors."

Want more environment and energy resources? Check out the library's guides.