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Planning commission approves multi-year extension for TransWest Express construction permit
Summary
The Sweetwater County Planning and Zoning Commission approved extending a TransWest Express construction-permit expiration to Dec. 31, 2030, citing the project's multi-year schedule and seasonal federal and state environmental stipulations that limit construction windows.
The Sweetwater County Planning and Zoning Commission voted to extend the construction-permit expiration for TransWest Expressto Dec. 31, 2030, allowing up to 48 months for completion of a long-distance, high-voltage transmission project.
County staff introduced the request under Section 4.b of the 2015 Sweetwater County zoning resolution, saying standard local construction permits are valid for 18 months and that this projectwhich staff described at one point as 732 miles and the applicant described as 800 milesrequires a much longer time frame because of coordination with multiple federal and state agencies. Staff recommended approval of variance request 2509COO1 to extend the permit expiration date to 12/31/2030.
Nancy Smith, identified in the record as TransWest Expresspreconstruction director, told the commission the company is in preconstruction and is building access roads and site pads, doing cultural-resource mitigation in areas described in the record as "Moffitt County," and preparing terminals near Sinclair (WY), Delta (UT) and Lincoln County (NV). Smith said many segments cross public land and are subject to seasonal stipulations from the Bureau of Land Management, the U.S. Forest Service and other agencies, including migratory-bird protections, big-game stipulations and greater sage-grouse measures. Those restrictions, she said, limit construction windows in many locations to weeks or months and require additional monitors and repeated nest observations before work can proceed.
County staff and the applicant told commissioners the requested extension would not supersede federal or state requirements. Staff said failing to extend the expiration would risk the permit lapsing mid-construction and requiring reapplication, potentially causing delays to the overall schedule.
The public hearing drew no public speakers. A commissioner moved to accept the public hearing recommendation and extend the construction-permit expiration; the commission voted in favor and the motion carried.
The commission's action allows TransWest Express additional time under the county's permit framework but does not change or override any federal or state agency conditions. The company and staff said further permitting and seasonal coordination with agencies will continue as required.
