Consent 3.
Regular Board of Supervisors Meeting
Board of Supervisors
- Meeting Date:
- 07/09/2013
- Title:
- MOU from the BLM, New Mexico State Office, and Cochise County as Cooperating Agencies for the the SunZia Southwest Transmission Line Project
- Submitted By:
- Arlethe Rios, Board of Supervisors
- Department:
- Board of Supervisors
Presentation:
No A/V Presentation
Recommendation:
Approve
Document Signatures:
BOS Signature Required
# of ORIGINALS
Submitted for Signature:
Submitted for Signature:
1
NAME
of PRESENTER:
of PRESENTER:
n/a
TITLE
of PRESENTER:
of PRESENTER:
n/a
Docket Number (If applicable):
Mandated Function?:
Not Mandated
Source of Mandate
or Basis for Support?:
or Basis for Support?:
Information
Agenda Item Text:
Approve the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) accepting Cooperating Agency status for Cochise County from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) New Mexico State Office in the preparation of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and possible land use amendments for the SunZia Southwest Transmission Line Project.
Background:
In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) intends to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to analyze the potential environmental and land use impacts of the proposed SunZia Southwest Transmission Line Project.
On May 23, 2013, the Board of Supervisors sent formal response to the BLM requesting Coordinating Agency status for the Southline Transmission Line Project. The BLM recently responded with the attached Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) would formally establish a Cooperating Agency relationship, not a Coordinating Agency relationship as the County had requested in May. The attached response from the County would formally accept Cooperating Agency status, but would also remind the BLM of our need for Coordinating Agency status on the Project.
In Attachment C of the MOU, Michael J. Ortega would be listed as a Backup Agency Representative for Deputy County Admininstrator James E. Vlahovich.
On May 23, 2013, the Board of Supervisors sent formal response to the BLM requesting Coordinating Agency status for the Southline Transmission Line Project. The BLM recently responded with the attached Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) would formally establish a Cooperating Agency relationship, not a Coordinating Agency relationship as the County had requested in May. The attached response from the County would formally accept Cooperating Agency status, but would also remind the BLM of our need for Coordinating Agency status on the Project.
In Attachment C of the MOU, Michael J. Ortega would be listed as a Backup Agency Representative for Deputy County Admininstrator James E. Vlahovich.
Department's Next Steps (if approved):
Have the Deputy County Administrator sign and send the MOU.
Impact of NOT Approving/Alternatives:
The County would not accept Cooperating Agency status from the BLM in the preparation of the proposed EIS and potential land use plan amendments for the SunZia Southwest Transmission Line Project.
To BOS Staff: Document Disposition/Follow-Up:
Please send the MOU directly to the Bureau of Land Management: C/o Adrian Garcia, Project Lead at the Santa Fe Office Bureau of Land Management, P.O. Box 27115, Santa Fe, New Mexico, 87502; and
Mary Darling, Darling Geomatics, U of A Tech Park, 9040 Rita Road, Suite 2350, Tucson, AZ 85747
Mary Darling, Darling Geomatics, U of A Tech Park, 9040 Rita Road, Suite 2350, Tucson, AZ 85747