William K. Dickinson, Superintendent, has announced the release of an environmental assessment to evaluate a proposal to upgrade the existing power servicing the Echo Bay developed area within Lake Mead National Recreation Area. The National Park Service (NPS) is considering upgrading the existing powerline to ensure that reliable power is available for NPS, concessioner, and visitor safety, and to eliminate power outages that have impacted the daily operations of NPS staff and concessioners. The NPS is working with Overton Power District No. 5 to achieve these results.
The demand for electrical power at Echo Bay has continually increased over the years, yet the primary power service equipment has remained relatively unchanged for more than 40 years. Brown-outs and power outages have occurred during peak use periods when the existing delivery system becomes overloaded by power demands.
The environmental assessment analyzes one action alternative and the no-action alternative, and evaluates their impacts on the human and natural environment in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, the regulations of the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) (40 Code of Federal Regulations [CFR] 1508.9), and NPS Director’s Order-12.
Copies of this document are available on the Lake Mead NRA website at: https://www.nps.gov/lame/parkmgmt/docs.htm and on the NPS PEPC internet website at https://parkplanning.nps.gov/. In addition, the document is available for public review at area libraries, and copies of the document may be requested in writing or by calling 702.293.8956. Comments may be submitted electronically via the PEPC website address. Written comments should be addressed to: Superintendent, Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Attention: Compliance Office, 601 Nevada Way, Boulder City, NV 89005. All comments must be received by April 9, 2007.
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service
