Federal Consistency under the Coastal Zone Management Act [46 Pa.B. 1954]
[Saturday, April 16, 2016]This notice is published under section 306(d)(14) of the Federal Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C.A. § 1455(d)(14)), regarding public participation during consistency determinations. The Department of Environmental Protection (Department), Coastal Resources Management Program has received notice that ITC Lake Erie Connector, LLC is proposing the Lake Erie Connector international electric transmission cable project.
The project includes the construction of a 72.4-mile, 1,000-megawatt, ± 320-kilovolt (kV), high-voltage direct current, bidirectional electric transmission interconnection to transfer electricity between Canada and the United States. Approximately 35.4 miles of the transmission line will be installed in the lakebed of Lake Erie from the United States-Canada border to the shoreline of Lake Erie (underwater segment) and 7.1 miles will be installed underground in Springfield, Girard and Conneaut Townships, Erie County, from the shoreline to the new Erie Converter Station (underground segment). Approximately 2,082 feet of 345 kV, alternating current cable will be installed underground between the Erie Converter Station and the existing Penelec Erie West Substation. The underwater segment will be buried approximately 3 to 10 feet beneath the lakebed by jet plow, where applicable, and by limited confined blasting of bedrock, where necessary. From approximately 1,340 feet from shore, beneath the shoreline and bluffs, to a point approximately 394 feet from the bluff crest, the cable will be installed using a horizontal directional drilling method to avoid disruption within the nearshore area or on the Lake Erie bluffs. The applicant is seeking United States Army Corps of Engineers, Pittsburgh District authorization for this project.
This project is subject to Department review for Federal consistency because it is a Federal license and permit activity and will have reasonably foreseeable effects on this Commonwealth's coastal resources or uses.
In accordance with National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) regulations in 15 CFR Part 930, Subpart D (relating to consistency for activities requiring a Federal license or permit), ITC Lake Erie Connector, LLC has certified that the proposed activity will be conducted in a manner consistent with the applicable enforceable policies of the Commonwealth's NOAA-approved Coastal Resources Management Program. Interested parties may request a copy of the Federal Consistency Certification from the Department contact listed as follows.
Questions regarding this review should be directed to Matthew Walderon, Federal Consistency Coordinator, (717) 772-2196 or RA-Fed_Consistency@pa.gov.
The Department will consider all comments received on or before Saturday, April 30, 2016, before issuing a final Federal consistency concurrence or objection. Comments submitted by facsimile will not be accepted. Comments, including comments submitted by e-mail, must include the originator's name and address. Commentators are encouraged to submit comments using the Department's online eComment system at www.ahs.dep.pa.gov/eComment. Written comments should be submitted by e-mail to ecomment@pa.gov or by mail to the Department of Environmental Protection, Interstate Waters Office, 400 Market Street, P. O. Box 8465, Harrisburg, PA 17101-8465.
JOHN QUIGLEY,
Secretary[Pa.B. Doc. No. 16-650. Filed for public inspection April 15, 2016, 9:00 a.m.]
