An Environmental Statement of A Proposal to Construct Two 500 kV Powerlines Across National Forest Land by the Arizona Public Service Company

Arizona Public Service Company, a member of the Western Energy Supply and Transmission Associates (WEST), is responsible for the construction and maintenance of two 500,000 volt transmission lines from the Navajo generating plant (now being constructed 4 miles east of Page, Arizona) to Phoenix, Arizona. The Company submitted a proposed right-of-way location for the transmission line route to the Forest Service for study and review. Upon receipt of this proposal Southwestern Regional Forester Hurst commissioned a multi-disciplinary team to study the proposal, and any other feasible routes, and to recommend the route which their study indicated would create the least effect on the overall environment. Formation of the study team and criteria for the study are contained in the Regional Forester's letters of October 16, August 10, and August 12, 1970, found in Exhibit 1 of the Appendix. A total or six alternate routes were identified and studied. The complete text of the study for this proposal is shown as Exhibit 1 in the Appendix. This environmental statement is made from information derived from the study.