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SR 85 Fiber Optic Cable Installation

Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument » SR 85 Fiber Optic Cable Installation » Document List


United States Department of the Interior

National Park Service
Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument
10 Organ Pipe Drive
Ajo, Arizona 85321-9626



IN REPLY REFER TO:


N22

12 December 2006

Subject: Fiber Optic Line, State Route 85: Why to Organ Pipe Cactus National
Monument Headquarters

Reference: Request for Comments on Initial Proposed Action (General Scoping)

Dear Interested Party,

Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) NEPA regulations (40 Code of Federal Regulations 1500 to 1508), and the National Park Service (NPS) NEPA compliance guidelines (DO-12), the NPS and Rural Utilities Service (RUS) are preparing an Environmental Assessment (EA) for the construction of a fiber optic line adjacent to State Route (SR) 85. Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument (OPCNM), under the administration of the NPS, and the RUS are in the initial stages of permitting for a fiber optic line that will be funded by the RUS and located between the OPCNM headquarters and Why, within unincorporated Pima County, Arizona (see attached maps).

Purpose and Need for Action: The purpose and need of the installation of a new fiber optic line is to provide additional, more reliable, and faster telecommunications networking services to the areas currently served by Table Top Telephone Company, Inc. (TTTC). Table Top Telephone Company, Inc. is a RUS company that provides telecommunication services to six rural communities in Arizona. The services include high-speed connections, which are required in today's environment for educational, medical, and business purposes. The permitting and installation of the proposed fiber optic line would allow TTTC to install the capacity to satisfy current and anticipated near-future needs.

Project Location: The project proponents are proposing to install 22 miles of fiber optics line along SR85 between Why and the OPCNM headquarters, within unincorporated Pima County, Arizona in portions of: Township 13 South, Range 5 West, Sections 25, 35 and 36; Township 14 South, Range 5 West, Sections 2, 11, 14, 23, 26, 27 and 34; Township 15 South, Range 5 West, Sections 3, 10, 15, 22, 27, 33 and 34; Township 16 South, Range 5 West, Sections 4, 8, 9, 17, 20, 29 and 32, and; Township 17 South, Range 5 West, Sections 5 and 8.


Project Description: The project proposes to install an entrenched fiber optics line on the west side of SR85 between Why and the OPCNM headquarters in southwestern Pima County. It is estimated that the trench that will be dug for the fiber optics will be 48 inches deep by one foot wide. Trenches will be dug using a vibratory plow, and the impact as a result of digging the trench (i.e., to accommodate equipment) is likely to be 10 feet wide. Trenches will not be dug through washes and areas with rocky substrates; rather the fiber optics line will be bored under washes and through these rocky areas using a horizontal directional drilling tractor. The fiber optics will be placed at least 12 feet from the edge of SR85 asphalt. The total project disturbance will be less than 27 acres (22 miles [116,160 feet] x 10 feet = 1,161,600 feet2).

Project Timeline: The construction is anticipated to begin in Spring 2007 and construction will last approximately 140 days.

Before we begin the environmental analysis for this project, we would like to hear your viewpoints on the action and any issues or concerns you have regarding the proposal. Please send your comments to the address below, or email Angela Barclay at angelab@canyongroup.org. Please comment no later than 12 January 2007.

Canyon Consulting
Attn: Angela Barclay
8916 E. Calle Kuehn Street
Tucson, AZ 85715

We appreciate your input on this proposal.

Sincerely,




Kathy Billings
Superintendent



Contact Information

Angela Barclay
8916 E. Calle Kuehn Street
Tucson, AZ 85715