[Federal Register: June 3, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 105)]
[Notices]
[Page 26679-26680]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr03jn09-53]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Bonneville Power Administration;
Big Eddy-Knight Transmission Project
AGENCY: Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), Department of Energy
(DOE).
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement
(EIS) and notice of floodplain and wetlands involvement.
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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 500-kilovolt (kV) transmission line and
substation. The project would be located in Wasco County, Oregon and
Klickitat County, Washington. The new BPA transmission line would
extend generally northeast from BPA's existing 500-kV Big Eddy
Substation in The Dalles, Oregon, to a new BPA 500-kV substation
proposed to be connected to BPA's existing Wautoma-Ostrander 500-kV
transmission line approximately 4 miles northwest of Goldendale,
Washington. The proposed BPA substation would be called Knight
Substation. BPA is considering three routing alternatives for the
proposed transmission line; portions of all three routes parallel
existing BPA lines in the area. The lengths of the routing alternatives
range from about 26 to 28 miles. The proposed Big Eddy-Knight
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.
DATES: Written scoping comments are due to the address below no later
than July 21, 2009. Comments may also be made at the EIS scoping
meetings to be held on June 30, 2009 and July 1, 2009 at the addresses
below.
ADDRESSES: Send letters with comments and suggestions on the proposed
scope of the Draft EIS, and requests to be placed on the project
mailing list, to Bonneville Power Administration, Public Affairs
Office--DKE-7, P.O. Box 14428, Portland, OR, 97293-4428, or by fax to
(503) 230-3285. You also may call BPA's toll free comment line at (800)
622-4519 and leave a message (please include the name of this project),
or submit comments online at http://www.bpa.gov/comment. BPA will post
all comment letters in their entirety on BPA's Web site at http://
www.bpa.gov/comment.
On Tuesday, June 30, 2009, an open-house style scoping meeting will
be held from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Shilo Inn Suites Hotel in The
Dalles, Oregon. On Wednesday, July 1, 2009, a scoping meeting will be
held from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Goldendale High School in Goldendale,
Washington. At these informal meetings, we will provide maps and other
information about the project and have members of the project team
available to answer questions and accept oral and written comments. You
may stop by anytime during the open house.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Stacy Mason, Environmental
Coordinator, Bonneville Power Administration--KEC-4, P.O. Box 3621,
Portland, Oregon 97208-3621; toll-free telephone 1-800-282-3713; direct
telephone 503-230-5455; or e-mail slmason@bpa.gov. You may also contact
Steve Prickett, Project Manager, Bonneville Power Administration--TNP-
3, P.O. Box 3621, Portland, Oregon, 97208-3621; toll-free telephone 1-
800-282-3713; direct telephone 360-619-6379; or e-mail
slprickett@bpa.gov. Additional information can be found at BPA's Web
site: http://www.efw.bpa.gov/environmental_services/nepadocs.aspx,
click on ``Project Reviews--Active,'' then use the drop-down box and
click on Big Eddy-Knight Transmission Project.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In 2008, BPA conducted a Network Open Season
(NOS) process to help manage its list of requests for long-term
transmission service. During the NOS process, utilities and power
generators
[[Page 26680]]
(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 long-
term service from the east side of the Cascade Mountains along the
Oregon/Washington border, to load centers west of the Cascades, and to
major transmission lines serving California. Wind generation facilities
built and proposed in the region have greatly increased the amount of
power being produced on the east side of the Cascade Mountains. Further
studies revealed that building a new 500-kV line from BPA's existing
Big Eddy Substation in Oregon to a point on BPA's existing Wautoma-
Ostrander 500-kV transmission line in Washington would allow BPA to
accommodate the requests for transmission service 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 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 Big Eddy-Knight 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
States of Washington and Oregon, the Washington Energy Facility Site
Evaluation Council (Washington EFSEC) and the Oregon Energy Facility
Siting Council (Oregon EFSC) also will participate in preparation of
the EIS. Among other things, these State agencies 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. BPA is considering three
routing alternatives for evaluation in the EIS. The routing
alternatives use a combination of existing BPA transmission right-of-
way and new right-of-way and are about 26-28 miles long. BPA proposes
to use lattice steel towers for construction of the transmission line.
All routing alternatives would originate at BPA's Big Eddy
Substation, near The Dalles, Oregon, and would terminate at a new BPA
500-kV Knight Substation located under and connected to BPA's existing
BPA Wautoma-Ostrander 500-kV transmission line approximately 4 miles
northwest of Goldendale, Washington. The following describes the
general location of the three routing alternatives:
West Alternative: This route would extend northwest from
Big Eddy Substation following existing vacant BPA right-of-way to and
across the Columbia River. The line would then head east, and then
north to parallel an existing BPA 115-kV H-frame wood-pole transmission
line. The proposed line would angle northeast in new right-of-way
adjacent to the wood pole line for about 12 miles. The proposed line
would continue northeast in new right-of-way for about 4 miles before
nearing two existing lattice steel lines (230 kV and 500 kV). The
proposed line would parallel these existing lines eastward for about 3
miles to the proposed Knight Substation site. This routing alternative
is about 26 miles long.
Middle Alternative: From Big Eddy Substation, this route
would extend east and slightly north in existing right-of-way next to
an existing BPA 230-kV lattice-steel transmission line for about 7
miles before crossing the Columbia River. The line would cross the
river just west of the existing line and follow it for about 1.5 miles
before heading north in new right-of-way. The line would then head to
the proposed Knight Substation site, generally running north for about
15 miles with one jog east along an existing BPA 115-kV wood-pole line.
This routing alternative is about 26 miles long.
East Alternative: This route would follow the same route
as the Middle Routing Alternative, but instead of heading north on the
Washington side of the river, the East Routing Alternative would
continue east next to two existing lattice-steel lines (230 kV and 345
kV) for an additional 4 miles before turning north. The line would then
generally run north for 15 miles to the proposed Knight Substation
site. This routing alternative is about 28 miles long.
BPA is also considering the No Action Alternative, that is, not
building the transmission line and substation. 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 effects, sensitive plants
and animals, soil erosion, wetlands, floodplains, and fish and water
resources. The transmission line alternatives being considered also
cross portions of the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. BPA
has established a 45-day 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
answer questions and receive comments. 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 winter 2010-11. BPA's decision will be
documented in a Record of Decision that will follow the Final EIS.
Issued in Portland, Oregon, on May 27, 2009.
Stephen J. Wright,
Administrator and Chief Executive Officer.
[FR Doc. E9-12915 Filed 6-2-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P