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BUSHKILL, PA - Today, the National Park Service published for public review the draft Statement of Findings (SOF). This document accompanies the environmental review of PPL Electric Utilities Corporations (PPL) and Public Service Electric and Gas Company (PSE&G) Susquehanna-Roseland Transmission Line proposal and documents NPS compliance with Executive Order 11990, "Protection of Wetlands" and Executive Order 11988, "Floodplain Management". The applicant proposes to expand the size of the current ROW, access the ROW through existing and natural and cultural areas, construct new and taller towers, and remove and replace the existing 230 kilovolt (kV) line with a new double-circuit 500 kV line across the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, Middle Delaware National Scenic and Recreational River, and Appalachian National Scenic Trail, in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. The draft SOF describes the wetlands located along the applicant's proposal and each of the five proposed alternatives, evaluates each wetland's functions and values, and describes the impacts to each wetland from the proposed installation of the transmission line. The draft SOF also proposes mitigation for wetland impacts for the preferred alternative, as identified in the draft Environmental Impact Statement. Wetlands mitigation includes wetland restoration, wetland preservation, stream restoration, and r emoval of invasive plant species from high-quality wetlands. The draft SOF also describes the floodplain associated with each alternative, evaluates the project's impacts to the floodplain, and proposes floodplain mitigation for the preferred alternative. A public comment period has started and will end on August 17, 2012. The draft Statement of Findings is available for review and comment on the NPS Planning, Environment and Public Comment (PEPC) website: https://parkplanning.nps.gov/documentsOpenForReview.cfm?parkID=220&projectID=25147 Additionally, the draft Statement of Findings will be available for viewing at the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area Headquarters, 1978 River Road (off US 209) Bushkill, Pennsylvania. To submit comments, please select the " Comment on Document " button and a blank comment form will appear. If you prefer to mail your comments please select the "Print Form" link in the far left column of the "Comment on Document" page. Comments must be postmarked no later than August 17, 2012. |
Last updated: April 14, 2015