Avon-to-Gilman transmission line enters objection period

A long-debated proposal to build a backup transmission line between Avon and Gilman has entered the objection phase, the final step before a decision is made on whether the project can move forward.

The U.S. Forest Service has released an environmental assessment and draft decision notice approving Alternative 4 of the project, which would grant Holy Cross Energy a 50-year permit to construct and operate a 115-kilovolt transmission line across 3.3 miles of White River National Forest land near Minturn.

Approximately 1.6 miles would be overhead within a 100-foot-wide corridor, while 1.7 miles would be buried underground in what the agency described as a “temporary 50-foot-wide and final 30-foot-wide” right of way.

Other authorized activities would include “clearing and removal of hazard trees and vegetation within the ROW; conductor stringing and splicing work; staging and access via vehicle, all-terrain vehicle (ATV), and helicopter; and maintenance and patrolling,” according to the draft decision.

The proposal has faced scrutiny for years

The project has been in the works since 2017, when Holy Cross Energy first applied for permission to build the line. The Forest Service said the need for the project “is driven by current risks of electrical outages and service interruptions due to a lack of redundancy in the current local transmission circuit,” in addition to increases in demand from population growth and expanded use of electric vehicles.

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“Enhanced reliability and capacity would benefit public safety, local and regional economies, and national security,” the Forest Service wrote in its assessment.

The proposal has drawn scrutiny since the beginning, with an earlier round of environmental review in 2020 and 2021 generating 34 public comment documents, which were parsed into 116 individual comments. Many focused on visual and environmental impacts, and some called for burying all or part of the line to reduce fire risk and protect scenic values, as well. Others questioned the adequacy of the Forest Service’s analysis under the National Environmental Policy Act.

The town of Minturn, in particular, “provided extensive comments suggesting alternatives and additional analyses, including concerns about land use and public safety,” according to the Forest Service’s summary of feedback.

In response, the agency developed Alternative 4, which it now considers the preferred route. That design incorporates a longer underground section and follows existing utility corridors where possible.

An alternative that still raises questions

But Alternative 4 has been controversial, as well, with some community members concerned that it will require a wildfire response staging area at Homestake Peak School to be relocated downvalley.

“When those transmission lines go in, they can no longer do helicopters into HPS,” said Amanda Mire, who was part of a town of Minturn working group that was convened to study the issue.

“It takes away our staging area — this most upvalley staging area — and it pushes us down into the Avon and Edwards area for fire staging,” Mire said. “That is a big deal when you’re talking about getting the town of Vail and the town of Minturn out on one single pathway.”

Under federal rules, only those who submitted comments during earlier review periods may file objections now. Objections must be received by Nov. 3 at 11:59 p.m.

If no objections are filed, the Forest Service may issue a final decision five business days after the deadline. If objections are received, the reviewing officer must respond in writing before the project can proceed.

Project documents and instructions on how to file an objection can be found on the White River National Forest website at fs.usda.gov/r02/whiteriver/projects/57224