[Federal Register: March 20, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 54)]
[Notices]
[Page 13696]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr20mr03-49]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Bonneville Power Administration
Wallula-McNary Transmission Line Project and Wallula Power
Project
AGENCY: Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), Department of Energy
(DOE).
ACTION: Notice of availability of Record of Decision (ROD).
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SUMMARY: This notice announces the availability of the ROD for the
Wallula-McNary Transmission Line Project and Wallula Power Project,
based on the Final Environmental Impact Statement (DOE/EIS-0330, August
2002). BPA has decided to implement its portion of the proposed action
identified in the Final EIS, which includes interconnection with the
Federal Columbia River Transmission System (FCRTS) of a power plant
that Wallula Generation LLC (Wallula LLC) has proposed to construct.
The interconnection would be accomplished through the construction of a
new transmission line and substation, and negotiation of
interconnection and transmission agreements with Wallula LLC or its
successor.
ADDRESSES: Copies of the ROD and EIS may be obtained by calling BPA
toll-free at 1-888-276-7790. The ROD and EIS Summary are also available
on the Transmission Business Line Web site at http://
www.transmission.bpa.gov/projects.
www.transmission.bpa.gov/projects.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Donald L. Rose, Bonneville Power
Administration--KEC-4, P.O. Box 3621, Portland, Oregon 97208-3621;
toll-free telephone number 1-800-282-3713; fax number 503-230-5699; or
e-mail dlrose@bpa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The proposed Wallula Project is a 1,300-
megawatt (MW) natural-gas-fired, combined-cycle turbine power plant
that Wallula LLC is planning to construct on a site near the Columbia
River in Walla Walla County, Washington, approximately eight miles
south of the City of Pasco. BPA will construct a new 5.1-mile, 500-
kilovolt (kV) transmission line to interconnect the Wallula Project
with the FCRTS and the new Smiths Harbor Substation, where the
interconnection will be located. The new substation will be located
adjacent to the existing 500-kV Lower Monumental-McNary transmission
line, which is a part of the FCRTS. Power generated by the Wallula
Project will be made available for purchase in the wholesale power
market.
Wallula LLC has also requested firm transmission service be
available on the FCRTS to John Day and Big Eddy Substations. The
proposed action evaluated in the EIS included an additional 28 miles of
500-kV line that was expected to be needed for firm transmission
service to John Day and Big Eddy. The need for the 28-mile segment of
line diminished as other proposed generation projects that requested
firm transmission on existing transmission lines were cancelled or put
on hold. This has resulted in adequate transmission capacity for
Wallula Project service becoming available on the existing Lower
Monumental-McNary line. Although construction of all project components
and negotiation of contract agreements were originally expected to be
completed by Fall of 2004, the current schedule is uncertain.
For BPA, implementing the proposed action involves offering
contract terms to Wallula LLC or its successor for interconnecting the
Wallula Project into the FCRTS and providing firm transmission service
to John Day and Big Eddy Substations. Under these contracts, BPA will
construct, operate, and maintain the necessary interconnection
facilities (including the new transmission line and substation) and
integrate power from the Wallula Project into the FCRTS. Firm
transmission service will require transmission capacity be available on
the existing Lower Monumental-McNary transmission line. All practicable
means to avoid or minimize environmental harm from the alternative
selected have been adopted and will be implemented in accordance with
Appendix A of the Final EIS, Revised Mitigation Measures.
Issued in Portland, Oregon, on March 10, 2003.
Stephen J. Wright,
Administrator and Chief Executive Officer.
[FR Doc. 03-6690 Filed 3-19-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P