Electrical Power Capacity Upgrade Project | Environmental Stewardship Resources

Project Overview

The purpose of the Electrical Power Capacity Upgrade Project (EPCU) is to increase the capacity, capability, reliability, and resiliency of the existing electrical transmission and distribution systems at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL). This will enable the transmission and distribution systems to successfully align with and meet the Department of Energy’s (DOE), the National Nuclear Security Administration’s (NNSA), and LANL’s mission for ensuring America’s security and prosperity by solving national security challenges through simultaneous excellence.

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.

Ownership map of the Caja del Rio showing the proposed transmission line route under consideration from the Norton Substation to the Los Alamos National Laboratory Switching Station.

Project Status

Draft Final Environmental Assessment under preparation

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, is preparing the draft Final Environmental Assessment (EA) based on public comment provided during the two public comment periods in December and January.

The draft EA was published on November 16, 2023, and is available at: /nnsa/nnsa-nepa-reading-room or directly at /nepa/doeea-2199-los-alamos-national-laboratory-electrical-power-capacity-upgrade-project

Two public comment periods were held from Dec. 19, 2023 to Jan. 17, 2024 and from January 22, 2024 to February 20, 2024. The public comment periods are now closed. Two public meetings were held at Santa Fe Community College on January 11, 2024 and February 15, 2024.

PowerPoint Presentation from the January 11, 2024 and February 15, 2024 Public Meetings (pdf)

Posters from the January 11. 2024 and February 15, 2024 Public Meetings (pdf)

The draft EA was prepared by DOE/NNSA in coordination with the 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 draft 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.

White Rock Canyon crossing looking west.

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.

Epcu Roadmap Featured Body 960x500 — The EPCU NEPA roadmap provides a summary of the NEPA process for this specific project.

A Public Scoping Period was held during spring 2021 and concluded on May 21, 2021. The Public Scoping Period is Now Closed.

EPCU EA Scoping Meeting Presentation (pdf)

PowerPoint Presentation from the January 11, 2024 and February 15, 2024 Public Meetings (pdf)

Posters from the January 11. 2024 and February 15, 2024 Public Meetings (pdf)

The draft 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 on the LANL campus. 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 and includes a suite of electrical infrastructure upgrades on the LANL campus. An additional power line is required because the two existing electric power transmission lines are forecast to approach their capacity limit by the end of 2027.

Once the draft Final EA is complete it will be released for public review followed by an opportunity to object during an Objection Period. Interested parties must have submitted specific comments during a previous official comment period to have standing to object as part of the Forest Service’s pre-decisional administrative review process (objection) 36 CFR 218 and 219. Notice will be provided when the draft Final EA is available to the public and when the opportunity to object will commence.

The USFS NEPA website describes Forest Service NEPA procedures, policy and guidance.

The DOE NEPA Policy and Compliance website provides links to DOE NEPA documents, DOE NEPA guidance and requirements.

Santa Fe National Forest Planning webpage provides access to the Santa Fe National Forest Plan and associated NEPA documents.

NNSA NEPA Reading Room webpage is the public repository for NNSA NNSA-published NEPA documents.

USFS Special Use Permits webpage describes the USFS process of obtaining a special use permit.

USDA Forest Service Objection Process document describes the project-level pre-decisional administrative review process.

BLM Rights-Of-Way webpage describes the BLM process for obtaining a right-of-way for a special use permit.

NPS National Historic Trail - El Camino real de Tierra Adentro webpage provides information of the NPS managed historic trail near the project location.

PNM Environment webpage provides an overview of the PNM efforts and commitment towards the environment.