Federal Register: June 19, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 117)
DOCID: fr19jn09-71 FR Doc E9-14448
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Bonneville Power Administration
NOTICE: NOTICES
DOCID: fr19jn09-71
DOCUMENT ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and notice of floodplain and wetlands involvement.
SUBJECT CATEGORY:
Central Ferry-Lower Monumental Transmission Line Project
DATES: Written scoping comments are due to the address below no later than August 3, 2009. Comments may also be made at the EIS scoping meeting to be held on July 13, 2009, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the addresses below.
DOCUMENT SUMMARY:
BPA intends to prepare an EIS in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) on the construction, operation, and maintenance of a proposed 500kilovolt (kV) transmission line in Garfield, Columbia, and Walla Walla counties, Washington. The proposed line would extend west from a new BPA 500kV Central Ferry Substation (separately proposed to be built in northwestern Garfield County, Washington to interconnect proposed wind projects in that area), to BPA's existing 500kV Lower Monumental Substation in Walla Walla County, Washington. BPA is considering two routing alternatives for the proposed Central FerryLower Monumental transmission line; portions of both routes would parallel existing BPA lines in the area. One routing alternative for the transmission line is about 38 miles long, and the other is about 40 miles long. The proposed transmission line is needed to increase transmission capacity to respond to requests for transmission service in this area.
With this Notice of Intent, BPA is initiating the public scoping process for the EIS. BPA is requesting comments about potential environmental impacts that it should consider as it prepares the EIS for the proposed project, as well as comments on the proposed routes for the transmission line and suggestions about other route options that may meet the technical requirements of the transmission system.
In accordance with DOE regulations for compliance with floodplain and wetlands environmental review requirements, BPA will prepare a floodplain and wetlands assessment to avoid or minimize potential harm to or within any affected floodplains and wetlands. The assessment will be included in the EIS.
SUMMARY:
Environmental Impact Statement; Intent, etc.:
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
In 2008, BPA conducted a Network Open Season (NOS) process to help manage its list of requests for longterm transmission service. During the NOS process, utilities and power generators (including wind generators and power marketers) requested the use of BPA's transmission system to transmit their power. To determine if BPA could offer the service requested, BPA studied the transmission system and identified where existing capacity was available and where the system needed upgrades. The studies found that there was not enough available transmission capacity to accommodate all requests for longterm service from the Lower Snake area in southeast Washington to load centers west of the Cascades and to major transmission lines serving the regions growing energy needs. Wind generation facilities built and proposed in this area will increase the amount of power being produced in southeast Washington. Further studies revealed that building a new 500kV line from a point along BPA's existing Little GooseLower Granite lines to BPA's Lower Monumental Substation would allow BPA to accommodate the requests for transmission service from proposed wind generation facilities in this area.
BPA must respond to these requests for transmission service under
its Open Access Transmission Tariff. This tariff, which is generally
consistent with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's pro forma
open access tariff, has procedures that provide access to BPA's transmission system for
[[Page 29206]]
all eligible customers, consistent with all BPA requirements (including
the availability or development of sufficient transmission capacity)
and subject to an environmental review under NEPA. The proposed Central
FerryLower Monumental Transmission Line Project would respond to these
requests for transmission service. BPA, therefore, will prepare an EIS
under NEPA to assist the agency as it decides whether to build the
proposed project, and if a decision is made to build a line, which alternative transmission line route should be constructed.
BPA will be the lead agency for preparation of the EIS. In furtherance of existing cooperative agreements between BPA and the State of Washington, the Washington Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council (Washington EFSEC) also will participate in preparation of the EIS. Among other things, this state agency will assist BPA in evaluating alternative transmission line routes and identifying state interests that should be addressed in the EIS. In addition, cooperating agencies for the EIS may be identified as the proposed project proceeds through the NEPA process.
Alternatives Proposed for Consideration. For the proposed 500kV transmission line, BPA will consider and evaluate two routing alternatives in the EIS. One routing alternative for the transmission line is about 38 miles long, and the other is about 40 miles long. Both alternatives would require new transmission line rightofway to allow adequate system reliability spacing of the proposed line from existing 500kV transmission lines in the area. BPA proposes to construct the new line using lattice steel towers for both routing alternatives.
Both routing alternatives would originate at a new 500kV substation, referred to as the Central Ferry Substation, that BPA is separately proposing to build in northwestern Garfield County, Washington, at a point along BPA's existing Little GooseLower Granite lines approximately two miles southeast of the Snake River near the Port of Central Ferry, Washington. The Central Ferry Substation is being independently proposed to respond to requests received by BPA for interconnection of proposed wind projects in the area to BPA's existing transmission system.
Both routing alternatives also would terminate at the existing BPA
500kV Lower Monumental Substation, which is located at Lower
Monumental Dam on the Snake River in Walla Walla County, Washington.
Both routing alternatives would avoid crossing existing BPA 500kV
lines and the Snake River by remaining to the south of these features.
The following describes the general locations of the two routing alternatives:
southwesterly direction for about 6 miles before crossing the Tucannon River directly north of the Town of Starbuck. From the Tucannon River crossing, the route would continue southwest and west for about 3 miles before angling northwest for about 5 miles to a point approximately 1500 feet south of BPA's two existing Lower MonumentalLittle Goose lines. From this point, the route would proceed west for about 14 miles to BPA's existing Lower Monumental Substation, with much of this portion of the route running parallel to and approximately 1500 feet south of these existing lines.
BPA is also considering the No Action Alternative, that is, not building the proposed transmission line. Other alternatives may be identified through the scoping process.
Public Participation and Identification of Environmental Issues.
The potential environmental issues identified for most transmission
line projects include land use, socioeconomics, cultural resources,
visual resources, electric and magnetic field issues, sensitive plants
and animals, soil erosion, wetlands, floodplains, and fish and water
resources. BPA has established a 45day scoping period during which
tribes, affected landowners, concerned citizens, special interest
groups, local and federal governments, and any other interested parties
are invited to comment on the scope of the proposed EIS, including
potential routing alternatives to be considered and environmental
impacts to be evaluated. Scoping will help BPA ensure that a full range
of issues related to this proposal is addressed in the EIS, and also
will identify significant or potentially significant impacts that may
result from the proposed project. When completed, the Draft EIS will be
circulated for review and comment, and BPA will hold public meetings to
hear comments. The Draft EIS is expected to be published in summer
2010. BPA will consider and respond to comments received on the Draft
EIS in the Final EIS. The Final EIS is expected to be published in
springsummer 2011. BPA's decision will be documented in a Record of Decision that will follow the Final EIS.
Issued in Portland, Oregon, on June 9, 2009.
Stephen J. Wright,
Administrator and Chief Executive Officer.
[FR Doc. E914448 Filed 61809; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 645001P
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
Tish Eaton, Environmental Coordinator, Bonneville Power AdministrationKEC4, P.O. Box 3621, Portland, Oregon 972083621; tollfree telephone 18002823713; direct telephone 503 2303469; or email tkeaton@bpa.gov. You may also contact Theresa Berry, Project Manager, Bonneville Power AdministrationTEP3, P.O. Box 3621, Portland, Oregon 972083621; tollfree telephone 1800282 3713; direct telephone 3606196313; or email tmberry@bpa.gov. Additional information can be found at BPA's Web site: http:// www.efw.bpa.gov.