Electrical Power Capacity Upgrade Project

Goals and Objectives 

The goals and objectives of the EPCU are to provide the Los Alamos National Laboratory 115 kV transmission system with 200 MVA import capacity with contingency reliability, to provide the internal 115kV transmission system with the capacity and reliability to support the imported 200 MVA capacity, and to provide the 13.8kV distribution system with the capacity and resiliency to deliver 200 MVA to LANL facilities and customer loads by 2027. The project will also include a fiber optic line to improve communications to LANL and the Los Alamos townsite, and power protection coordination across the transmission system network.  

Project Status 

Final Environmental Assessment under Forest Service Objection Period 

The Department of Energy (DOE) National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), in cooperation with the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), Santa Fe National Forest (SFNF), and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Taos Field Office, has completed the Final Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Electrical Power Capacity Upgrade Project. The EA was prepared by DOE/NNSA in coordination with the U.S. Forest Service Santa Fe National Forest as a cooperating agency and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Taos Field Office as a participating agency.

The EA analyzes the potential environmental effects that could result from NNSA’s proposal to construct and operate an approximately 14-mile, 115-Kilovolt power transmission line and related infrastructure upgrades. The proposed transmission line would be erected on public lands within the Caja del Rio area of Santa Fe County, New Mexico (NM) on lands primarily managed by the Santa Fe National Forest and with a small inclusion of Bureau of Land Management- (BLM) managed land (see map). From the Caja del Rio, the transmission line would span White Rock Canyon onto DOE/NNSA-managed lands at Los Alamos National Laboratory within Los Alamos County, NM.

The purpose of the Proposed Action is to provide LANL with higher capacity electrical power that is reliable and redundant. An additional power line and associated electrical infrastructure upgrades are required because the two existing electric power transmission lines are forecast to approach their capacity limit by the end of 2027.

The Santa Fe National Forest and Taos Field Office are providing support to NNSA to ensure that the environmental analysis needed for this project provides sufficient information to support the issuance of a Special Use Permit on National Forest System Lands, and Right-of-Way Grant on BLM-administered lands as required for the construction of the proposed transmission line.

NEPA Process

The National Environmental Policy Act, or NEPA, was enacted on January 1, 1970. NEPA requires federal agencies to assess the environmental effects of their proposed actions prior to making decisions.

An Environmental Assessment (EA) under NEPA is a concise public document that provides sufficient evidence and analysis for determining whether a Federal Agency should issue a Finding of No Significant Environmental Impact (FONSI) or prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). Additionally, an EA aids a federal agency's compliance with NEPA when no EIS is necessary, i.e., it helps to identify better alternatives and mitigation measures and facilitates preparation of an EIS should one be proven necessary. The FONSI briefly explains the reasons why an action will not have a significant effect on the environment to support a Decision Document.

The Council of Environmental Quality has prepared A Citizen's Guide to NEPA to help citizens and organizations effectively participate in federal agencies’ environmental reviews under NEPA. Also, the USDA NEPA Process and NNSA NEPA Overview provide graphical overviews of their agency-specific NEPA processes. Please review the above links for an overview of the NEPA process and how to best participate in the preparation of this EA.

Visit this website regularly as it will be updated as the NEPA process progresses.