[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 37 (Thursday, February 24, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9257-9258]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-4344]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Bonneville Power Administration


Tanner Tap to Snoqualmie-Lake Tradition No.1 115-kV Transmission 
Line

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

ACTION: Notice of Floodplain and Wetlands Involvement.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This notice announces BPA's proposal to site a new 115,000-
volt (115-kV) transmission line across a number of wetlands and a 
floodplain. The line will be constructed in central King County, 
Washington, to provide Tanner Electric Cooperative (Tanner), one of 
BPA's full requirements customers, a new point of delivery at Tanner's 
proposed substation in the City of North Bend. The action is necessary 
to allow Tanner to meet their existing and future loads in the North 
Bend area. The effect on the public will be the construction and 
operation of a new 4.5-mile-long transmission line where no 
transmission line has existed before. In accordance with DOE 
regulations for compliance with floodplain and wetlands environmental 
review

[[Page 9258]]

requirements, BPA will prepare a floodplain and wetlands assessment and 
would perform this proposed action in a manner so as to avoid or 
minimize potential harm to or within the affected floodplain and 
wetlands. After BPA issues the assessment, a floodplain statement of 
findings will be published in the Federal Register.

DATES: Comments are due to the address below no later than March 10, 
2000.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments to Communications, Bonneville Power 
Administration--KC-7, P.O. Box 12999, Portland, Oregon, 97212. Internet 
address: [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gene Lynard, Environmental Project 
Lead , KECN-4, Bonneville Power Administration, P.O. Box 3621, 
Portland, Oregon, 97208-3621, phone number 503-230-3790, fax number 
503-230-5699.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Wetlands in the project area are primarily 
associated with the floodplains of the Snoqualmie River and its 
tributaries. The proposed transmission line route would cross a number 
of small wetlands, which support no unique flora or fauna. Most 
wetlands crossed are narrow and would be spanned where practical. 
Impacts would be primarily related to the removal of trees, which would 
threaten transmission line safety from wetlands and associated buffers. 
The largest wetland area crossed is located about one mile northwest of 
the City of North Bend along North Bend Way in Section 5, 23N, 8E. This 
is a large diverse wetland associated with Kimball Creek. The proposed 
transmission line alignment bisects this Pulustrian scrub/shrub and 
forested wetland for a distance of about 0.8 kilometers (0.5 miles). 
The project would be located within the North Bend Way right-of-way (at 
this location) and no structures would be placed within the wetland; 
however, the transmission line would be located within the 50-foot 
buffer of this sensitive area.
    Wetlands could be affected if construction activities alter wetland 
vegetation, soils or hydrology. Construction and clearing activities 
and any necessary road improvements could also potentially affect 
sediment transport, damage vegetation and wildlife habitat, and reduce 
a wetland's ability to provide for flood and sediment control.
    Maps and further information are available from BPA at the address 
above.

    Issued in Portland, Oregon, on February 15, 2000.
James M. Kehoe,
Manager, Policy and Strategic Planning.
[FR Doc. 00-4344 Filed 2-23-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P