Environmental Assessment to Upgrade Power Servicing the Echo Bay Developed Area

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. During the summer of 2002, failure of the local power service equipment forced NPS and concession employees and their families to leave their residences at Echo Bay for temporary lodging in the community of Overton, NV, located over 30 miles away, to escape the relentless southern Nevada heat. Additionally, the frequent brown-outs and power outages at Echo Bay have resulted in numerous failures of the new water treatment plant. These failures occurred during times of peak annual water demand, requiring extreme response measures by NPS staff in order to ensure the availability of minimal quantities of potable water for domestic, structural fire, and sanitary needs.

Copies of this document are also available on the Lake Mead NRA website at http://www.nps.gov/lame/parkmgmt/docs.htm. 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.

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