[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 60 (Tuesday, March 28, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16380-16381]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-7581]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Bonneville Power Administration


Kangley-Echo Lake Transmission Line 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: This notice announces BPA's intention to prepare an EIS on the 
construction, operation, and maintenance of a 10-mile-long 500-kilovolt 
(kv) transmission line in King County, State of Washington. In 
accordance with DOE regulations for compliance with floodplain and 
wetlands environmental review requirements, BPA will prepare a 
floodplain and wetlands assessment and will perform this proposed 
action in a manner so as to avoid or minimize potential harm to or 
within the affected floodplain and wetlands. The assessment and a 
floodplain statement of findings will be included in the EIS being 
prepared for the proposed project in accordance with the National 
Environmental Policy Act.

DATES: BPA has established a 30-day scoping period. Written comments 
are due to the address below no later than April 27, 2000.
    Comments may also be made at an EIS scoping meeting to be held on 
Tuesday, April 11, 2000.

ADDRESSES: BPA invites comments and suggestions on the proposed scope 
of the Draft EIS. Send comment letters and requests to be placed on the 
project mailing list to Communications, Bonneville Power 
Administration--KC-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. Comments may also be sent 
to the BPA Internet address: [email protected].
    The EIS scoping meeting will be held on April 11, 2000, from 3:00 
p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Mt. Si Senior Center, 411 Main Avenue South, 
North Bend, Washington. At the informal meeting, we will have several 
members of the project team available to answer your questions and 
accept oral and written comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT: Lou Driessen, Project Manager, 
Bonneville Power Administration--TNP-3, P.O. Box 3621, Portland, 
Oregon, 97208-3621; phone number 503-230-5525; or

[[Page 16381]]

e-mail [email protected]. You may also contact Gene Lynard, 
Environmental Project Manager, Bonneville Power Administration--KECN-4, 
P.O. Box 3621, Portland, Oregon, 97208-3621; phone number 503-230-3790; 
fax number 503-230-5699; or email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice announces BPA's intention to 
prepare an EIS on the construction, operation, and maintenance of a 10-
mile-long 500-kv transmission line. This action may involve floodplain 
and wetlands located in King County, State of Washington. The action is 
necessary to maintain reliable load service during severe winter 
conditions in the growing northwest Washington area. The intended 
effect on the public is to maintain a reliable high-voltage 
transmission system and to avoid significant load loss in the south 
Seattle area. When completed, the Draft EIS will be circulated for 
review and comment, and BPA will hold a public comment meeting for the 
Draft EIS. BPA will consider and respond to comments received on the 
Draft EIS in the Final EIS 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 proposed 
EIS. 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.
    BPA proposes to construct a 500-kv transmission line near the 
community of Kangley in King County, Washington, in 2002. BPA has 
identified three action alternatives for constructing the transmission 
line, all of which cross the Cedar River Municipal Watershed. The Cedar 
River Municipal Watershed is a large natural area in the Cascade 
Mountains that is used by the City of Seattle to collect approximately 
two thirds of the potable water for about 1.3 million people in King 
and Snohomish Counties.
    Maps and further information are available from BPA at the address 
above.

    Issued in Portland, Oregon, on March 17, 2000.
Steven G. Hickok,
Acting Administrator and Chief Executive Officer.
[FR Doc. 00-7581 Filed 3-27-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P