|
|||
Grand Canyon Sierra Club Alert! 07-26-01STOP POWER LINE CONSTRUCTION IN YOUR NATIONAL FORESTS! Tucson Electric Power (TEP) is proposing to run a new huge electric transmission line through the Coronado National Forest -- your national forest. The TEP proposal involves construction of a 345kv line that would run from the Sahuarita substation 60 miles to the Mexican border via the west side of the Tumacacori Mountains, north to south through 28 miles of the Coronado National Forest to the Ruby Road, and east toward Nogales along the northern boundary of the Sycamore Canyon/Pajarita Wilderness. TEP's alternative route would go down the east side of the Tumacacoris using the El Paso Gas pipeline easement through 14 miles of Coronado National Forest. Because all of the proposed routes being considered by TEP would cross through the Coronado National Forest, the company must obtain a "Special Use Permit" from the Forest Service. That means you have an opportunity to ask the Forest Service to reject this proposal. Power lines are a hazard for numerous bird species and the swath of land that is scraped to construct the lines helps provide an opportunity for invasive plant species. Power lines also significantly impact the viewshed, historic ranches and sites, and cultural and biologically sensitive and restrictive areas, such as Sycamore Canyon and Bear Valley There are alternatives. Arizona should be focusing on generating and providing energy locally (e.g. by a natural-gas plant near Nogales) and generating its energy from the one thing we have in abundance -- the sunlight. More emphasis should be placed on energy efficiency and conservation. With these measures we can help limit the need for both more power plants and more transmission lines. Please let the Forest Service, the Department of Energy, and the Arizona Corporate Commission (ACC) know that you oppose this proposal to further denigrate these natural areas -- the Pajarita Wilderness, Sycamore Canyon, Bear Valley, etc. The Department of Energy is holding scoping meetings on the TEP proposal. Please attend one or both of the following meetings:
Also please write to the Coronado National Forest and ask them to reject the proposal for a special use permit. Tell them you want to keep your national forests free of power lines to preserve both the views and the habitat for plants and animals. Please write to:
And to the Arizona Corporate Commission:
And finally the Department of Energy:
For more information on this proposal, please contact Ellie Kurtz at 520-398-2985, email sopori@gateway.net, or Bart Santello at 480-940-7728, email bsantello@aol.com. Thanks for your help! Sandy Bahr Page updated: 07/26/01 Return to Press Releases and Action Alerts page Sierra Club, Grand Canyon Chapter, 202 E. McDowell Rd, Suite 277, Phoenix, AZ 85004, (602) 253-8633 |