Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/41362
Using the Web Although locating corridors was a data-intensive under- taking, it wasn't a spatial-modeling effort. The planning that had already occurred and the complexity of siting variables far outweighed what could reasonably be achieved with available data and time in a modeling context. The real challenge was empowering decision makers in diverse locations with the ability to commu- nicate in an informed way about corridor locations. Providing a live version of the GIS database via the Web during scheduled meetings proved to be an effec- tive approach. These meetings connected decision makers from many organizational levels, agencies and disciplines, and allowed them to discuss where best to locate a corridor and what siting issues were important for particular locations. More than 50 such "Webcast" meetings were held, augmented with communications such as sharing status maps via e-mail. As the process evolved, GIS products were released for a variety of audiences and purposes on a public Web site (corridoreis.anl.gov), including many PDF maps, an Esri ArcReader project with a GIS database, corridor GIS files in a separate download, and a KML file of the corridors suitable for viewing in Google Earth and other free software. Making Connections The corridor designation requirements of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 extended only to federal agencies, so gaps exist in the corridors where there are tribal, state, private or other landowners. In some areas requiring significant new connectivity, there isn't sufficient federal land on which to designate a viable corridor. In these locations, project planners will have to coor- dinate with managers or owners of the non-federal lands to complete a connection. By the same token, there's nothing barring energy-corridor developers from applying for rights-of-way on federal lands outside the designated corridors. However, this will require more environmental analyses to comply with the necessary permitting pro- cesses. And federal agencies can continue the planning process to add new corridors or remove and/or modify currently designated corridors as needed. "Plans are Nothing; Planning is Everything" Although designating corridors isn't without contro- versy, using GIS and Web technologies made the plan- ning process as informed, transparent and open as possible. Producing the PEIS allowed participants to analyze the options thoroughly, compare the alterna- tives and maximize public participation. The project team sited corridors away from as many problematic locations as possible, effectively avoid- ing many environmental impacts. It also was able to address unavoidable issues by identifying mitiga- tion stipulations. In the BLM and USFS Records of lFigure 3. Corridors 18-23 and 18-224 near the California/Nevada border provide north/south routes reaching Las Vegas and Southern California, passing near several proposed BLM Solar Energy Development Zones. Decision, 92 and 39 land-management plans, respec- tively, were amended to designate corridors, and BLM and USFS can revisit the planning process at a later date to accommodate future changes. Authors' Note: This work was supported by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), BLM and USFS under interagency agreement, through DOE contract DE-AC02-06CH11357. We appreciate the direction, sponsorship and assistance from federal agency staff, including LaVerne Kyriss, Heather Feeney, Jerry Pell and Julia Souder (DOE); Ron Montagna, Scott Powers, John Reitsma and Kate Winthrop (BLM); Robert Cunningham, Maryanne Kurtinaitis and Glen Parker (USFS); John Allen and Fred Engle (Department of Defense); and many others. At Argonne, we thank Matt Nesta, Paul Marcou and Carmella Burdi of the GIS team for their contributions, and the dedicated work of the West-wide Energy Corridor PEIS team staff. James Kuiper is a GIS project developer/analyst, Brian Cantwell is a senior GIS programmer/analyst, and Ihor Hlohowskyj and H. Robert Moore are environmental scientists in the Environmental Science Division at Argonne National Laboratory; e-mail: jkuiper@anl.gov, bcantwell@anl.gov, ihor@anl.gov and bmoore@anl.gov, respectively. AUGUST 2O11 / WWW . GEOPLA CE . COM 25