What makes crossing “location-constrained areas” unavoidable?
The location of energy demand and supply areas, topographical constraints, and land-ownership status combine to make these crossings unavoidable. In many cases, these crossings will take advantage of existing utility ROWs, and thus do not represent a new crossing location on federal land. Energy supplies and energy demand areas are fixed variables, and so are topographical features. Section 368 states that corridors are to be designated on federal lands only. It is also important to remember that no new environmental disturbance would occur in corridors designated through this process unless and until a specific energy transport project is proposed. Furthermore, designating these corridors does not obligate or require applicants to site their projects within these corridors. Applicants would still be able to choose to propose routes outside these corridors for their energy transport projects and acquire ROWs and permits in the manner currently available.
