[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 115 (Monday, June 16, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32591-32592]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-15711]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Bonneville Power Administration


Transmission System Vegetation Management Program

AGENCY: Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), Department of Energy 
(DOE).

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement 
(EIS).

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SUMMARY: This notice announces BPA's intention to prepare an EIS on

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principles for implementing BPA's Transmission System Vegetation 
Management Program. In accordance with the Federal Columbia River 
Transmission System Act of 1974, the Administrator ``shall operate and 
maintain the Federal transmission system to * * * maintain the 
electrical stability and electrical reliability of the Federal 
(transmission) system * * *.'' In order to ensure safe and reliable 
power, BPA must control the vegetation on land around the electrical 
transmission facilities.
    BPA has invited the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land 
Management to be cooperating agencies in this EIS process. They have 
been asked to participate in the formal scoping process; to review 
resource analysis; and to assist in developing alternative principles 
to guide the standards, techniques, and procedures used in BPA's 
Transmission System Vegetation Management Program. These agencies were 
invited because they manage some of the land where BPA transmission 
facilities are located.
    BPA invites public comment on the range of actions, alternatives, 
and impacts to be addressed in the Transmission System Vegetation 
Management Program EIS.

DATES: BPA has established a scoping period during which affected 
landowners, concerned citizens, special interest groups, local 
governments, and any other interested parties are invited to comment on 
the scope of the EIS. BPA will hold one scoping meeting (possibly more 
depending on public interest) and will contact tribes, agencies, and 
groups interested in BPA's Vegetation Management Program. Written 
comments are due to the address below no later than July 23, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Send comment letters and requests to be placed on the 
project mailing list to Communications, Bonneville Power 
Administration--ACS-7, P.O. Box 12999, Portland, Oregon, 97212. The 
phone number of the Communications office is 503-230-3478 in Portland 
(toll-free 1-800-622-4519 outside of Portland); or comment at our 
internet address at: [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT: Tammie Vincent at (503) 230-3469, 
Bonneville Power Administration--ECN-4, P.O. Box 3621, Portland, 
Oregon, 97208-3621.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: BPA owns and operates a high-voltage 
transmission system throughout Washington and Oregon, and in parts of 
Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, and California. To ensure safe, reliable 
service, vegetation is managed as part of the normal operation of the 
transmission system.

Proposed Action

    BPA proposes to review its Transmission System Vegetation 
Management Program and set principles to guide the planning and 
implementation of vegetation management techniques used in the program. 
The objective of the proposed action is to provide the most cost-
effective, efficient, and environmentally acceptable means of 
controlling vegetation that may threaten transmission system safety and 
reliability. General issues the EIS may address include the following: 
vegetation management, land management, water quality management, fish 
and wildlife management, threatened and endangered species management, 
cultural resources management, and economic effects. Additional issues 
may be identified by the public scoping process; scoping may also 
eliminate some issues from in-depth analysis. The EIS will develop 
broad, program-wide standards and practices for planning and 
implementing vegetation management. Site-specific analysis would then 
be tiered to the Program EIS, when needed.
    Information developed from other environmental reviews, especially 
concerning vegetation management in the Pacific Northwest, may be 
included in the BPA Transmission System Vegetation Management Program 
EIS, as appropriate.

Current Practice

    BPA currently manages vegetation with a mix of techniques on a 
project-by-project basis. This approach does not foster consistency 
across projects, jurisdictions, BPA's regions, or over time. BPA needs 
to find a way to ensure consistency.

Alternatives Proposed for Consideration

    Alternatives to be considered in the BPA Transmission System 
Vegetation Management Program EIS would include alternative vegetation 
management planning and implementation principles for each management 
issue addressed. The EIS will also consider a No Action alternative, 
i.e., continuing project-by-project vegetation management without 
defined program-or region-wide standards and guidelines.

Identification of Environmental Issues

    The environmental issues associated with transmission system 
vegetation management include potential effects on land use, vegetation 
communities, water quality, human health and safety, and wildlife 
populations.

    Issued in Portland, Oregon, on June 6, 1997.
Randall W. Hardy,
Administrator and Chief Executive Officer.
[FR Doc. 97-15711 Filed 6-13-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6540-01-P