[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 166 (Friday, August 25, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51817-51820]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-21754]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Bonneville Power Administration


Tanner Electric Transmission Line Project

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

ACTION: Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) and Floodplain 
Statement of Findings.

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SUMMARY: Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) proposes to construct 7 
kilometers (4.5 miles) of new 115-kilovolt (kV) transmission line in 
King County, Washington, which would supply a new substation to be 
built by its customer, Tanner Electric Cooperative (Tanner). BPA has 
prepared an Environmental Assessment (EA)

[[Page 51818]]

(DOE/EA-1328) evaluating the proposed project. Based on the analysis in 
the EA, BPA has determined that the proposed action is not a major 
federal action significantly affecting the quality of the human 
environment, within the meaning of the National Environmental Policy 
Act (NEPA) of 1969. Therefore, the preparation of an Environmental 
Impact Statement (EIS) is not required, and BPA is issuing this FONSI.

ADDRESSES: For copies of this FONSI or the EA (which contains the 
FONSI), please call BPA's toll-free document request line: 800-622-
4520. It is also available on the internet at www.efw.bpa.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT: Gene Lynard, KECN-4, Bonneville Power 
Administration, P.O. Box 3621, Portland, Oregon 97208-3621, phone 
number 503-230-3790, fax number 503-230-5699, e-mail [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: BPA proposes to construct 7 kilometers (4.5 
miles) of new 115-kV transmission line in unincorporated King County 
and in the City of North Bend, Washington. As a connected action, 
Tanner would construct a 115/12.5-kV substation in the City of North 
Bend, Washington, which would receive power from BPA's proposed 
transmission line. BPA is responding to the need to supply reliable 
electricity to meet current and future loads of its full requirements 
customer, Tanner.
    Local government planning agencies, as well as individual citizens, 
are strongly interested in the project. Concerns have primarily focused 
on the visual impacts that would be related to clearing of trees and 
other vegetation. Specific areas of concern include locations along SE 
356th Avenue, adjacent to the Snoqualmie Ridge Business Park, within 
the I-90 right-of-way (a National Scenic Byway), and along North Bend 
Way. These concerns led to consideration of a number of different route 
segments during development of alternatives and to modification of line 
locations throughout the planning phase.
    Two major alternative plans were identified and are addressed in 
the EA (Chapter 2). Briefly, they are as follows:
     Proposed Action: BPA would construct a new 7-kilometer 
(4.5-mile), 115-kV single-circuit electric power transmission line in 
unincorporated King County and in the City of North Bend, Washington, 
to be energized in the fall of 2001. As a connected action, Tanner 
would construct a 115-kV/12.5-kV substation in North Bend, Washington, 
which would be supplied by the new line. The new line would tap Puget 
Sound Energy's (Puget's) Snoqualmie-Lake Tradition No. 1 transmission 
line and would be supported on a combination of single wood pole 
structures and H-frame wood pole structures that could accommodate a 
Puget distribution line, if necessary.
     No Action Alternative: BPA would not construct the new 
transmission line. It is likely, however, that another entity, probably 
Puget, would do so, because the need to supply growing electrical loads 
in the area would still exist. If another entity were to build the 
line, the impacts of the No Action Alternative might be similar to the 
proposal in nature and intensity. However, if no facilities were 
constructed, impacts would be limited to the socioeconomic effects of 
not supplying electricity demands, including deteriorating service to 
electricity customers.
    In addition, eight route variations and a proposal to place a 
portion of the line underground were considered and eliminated for a 
variety of reasons, including costs and/or environmental impacts that 
were higher than the proposed action. Table 2 in the EA summarizes the 
impacts of the proposed action.
    BPA has determined, based on the context and intensity of these 
impacts, that with mitigation, they are not significant, using the 
definition of this concept in Section 1508.27 of the Council on 
Environmental Quality Regulations for implementing the National 
Environmental Policy Act. This determination is based on the following 
discussion of each point listed in Section 1508.27:
    1. The project would benefit electrical customers in the area by 
meeting the short-term needs of Tanner and the long-term needs of both 
Tanner and Puget. The project would also benefit the environment by 
providing one set of facilities (one transmission line, one substation, 
and one distribution line) that meet the customer service needs of 
three utilities in the area, an example of one-utility planning. In 
doing so, the views from some residences and roads will change 
noticeably, but the effects would be mitigated below the level of 
significance.
    2. Implementation of the proposed action would not affect the 
health and safety of the people of the North Bend/Snoqualmie area. As 
documented in Sections 3.11, 4.5.2, and 4.5.3 of the EA, the 
transmission line and substation would be constructed in accordance 
with the National Electrical Safety Code and state and local safety 
requirements. Section 3.11 demonstrates that the project would not 
significantly increase exposure or health risk from electric or 
magnetic fields.
    3. The proposed transmission line and substation would cross or be 
in environmentally sensitive areas, including wetlands and a National 
Scenic Byway. Specifically:
    a. The new transmission line would parallel I-90, designated a 
National Scenic Byway, for 1 kilometer (0.6 mile) (EA, Section 3.8.2). 
The line would create low to moderate impacts to those travelling on I-
90, depending on viewer sensitivities. The line would not become the 
dominant view to either eastbound or westbound motorists: the dominant 
views in both directions are of mountains and foothills. The following 
factors also would limit visual impacts to I-90 motorists:
     the line's relatively small size (115-kV);
     the line's limited length within the highway right-of-way 
(1 kilometer [0.6 mile]);
     the use of natural materials (wood poles) in a single-pole 
design;
     the relative speed of viewers (60-70 miles per hour);
     the curvilinear shape of the freeway in this area;
     the vegetative buffer between the line and the highway; 
and
     the planting of trees and other vegetation to screen the 
right-of-way from public view.
    Therefore, the impacts to the National Scenic Byway would not be 
significant.
    b. The new transmission line would cross a number of small wetlands 
and one large one (EA, Section 3.6.2). Until project design is 
finalized, the exact locations of transmission structures and access 
roads are unknown. However, most wetlands crossed are narrow and will 
be spanned where practical. Impacts would be related primarily to 
removal of tall trees from wetlands and associated buffers. Any 
vegetation that would need to be removed would be left in the sensitive 
area as wildlife habitat. Should any access roads be constructed in 
wetlands, BPA would acquire the necessary permits through the U.S. Army 
Corps of Engineers. Best management practices would be used to prevent 
erosion and runoff and to avoid adversely affecting the wetlands and 
their resources.
    The proposed alignment bisects the large palustrine scrub-shrub and 
forested wetland associated with Kimball Creek for about 0.8 kilometer 
(0.5 mile). However, the line would be located on existing fill within 
the North Bend Way right-of-way, which already bisects the wetland, and 
no structures would be placed in the wetland. Impact would be limited 
to removal of a few

[[Page 51819]]

tall trees from the wetland to maintain line safety and reliability. 
Because existing access is in place, no new roads would be constructed 
in the wetland. Therefore, impacts to this wetland would result in no 
net loss of wetlands and would not be significant.
    The actions proposed would not affect other unique characteristics 
of the geographic area, such as wild and scenic rivers, prime farmland, 
or park lands, as there are none present in the immediate project 
vicinity. Although there is a cultural resource within the project 
area, the Seattle Lake Shore and Eastern Railway (owned and operated by 
the Snoqualmie Valley Railroad), the proposed action would not 
compromise its present use for tourism nor adversely affect the 
railroad as a potential National Register-eligible cultural resource.
    4. There are no extraordinary circumstances related to the proposal 
that may affect the significance of the environmental effects of the 
proposal. Although interest in the proposed project has been high from 
its inception, BPA has addressed all of the comments received during 
the 30-day review period of the Preliminary EA, and has made revisions 
to the document where necessary. Included in the comments received were 
comments from King County and the cities of North Bend and Snoqualmie; 
however, no comments were received from the State of Washington. During 
the 30-day comment period on the Preliminary EA, BPA held an open house 
in the City of North Bend. The BPA project team and representatives of 
Tanner Electric and Puget Power attended to address any concerns, 
provide information, and to take input that would be addressed in the 
Final EA. Nine people attended the open house.
    5. The impacts of the proposed action are not significant due to 
the degree of highly uncertain, unique, or unknown risks. BPA has been 
constructing transmission lines since the 1930s. The project design is 
not unique, so it would not create unique risks. The impacts of the new 
line and corridor can be predicted with a high degree of certainty. 
While recommending continued research into the health effects of 
magnetic fields, prominent scientific authorities, including the 
National Academy of Sciences and the National Institute of 
Environmental Health Sciences, have concluded that: ``The data at 
different biological complexities taken in total do not provide 
convincing evidence that electric and magnetic fields [EMF] experienced 
in residential environments are carcinogenic'' and that while EMF 
exposure ``cannot be recognized as entirely safe,'' the evidence for 
risk to cancer and other diseases was ``weak'' and the probability that 
EMF exposure is a health hazard is ``small'' and ``* * * insufficient 
to warrant aggressive regulatory concerns.'' In any event, the project 
either would not increase electromagnetic fields for some segments, or 
would not increase exposures because no residences or other occupied 
buildings would be close enough to experience the increased levels (EA, 
Section 3.11.2).
    6. The actions proposed are not related to other actions with 
individually insignificant but cumulatively significant impacts, nor 
would they establish a precedent for future actions with significant 
effects or represent a decision in principle about a future 
consideration. The only future action that depends on this one is 
Puget's potential underbuild of a distribution line on the new poles 
proposed for this project. However, the EA included an assessment of 
the effects of that potential underbuild, including the visual effects 
and changes to electromagnetic fields. Therefore, BPA's determination 
of no significant impact includes the impacts of the potential future 
underbuild.
    7. There are no sites listed on or eligible for the National 
Register of Historic Places at or near any facility location. Although 
the Snoqualmie Valley Railroad right-of-way may be eligible for listing 
due to its age, the proposed transmission line would not adversely 
affect the facility as a potential National Register-eligible cultural 
resource. The State Historic Preservation Officer concurs with this 
determination (EA, Section 3.10.2).
    8. No federally listed threatened or endangered plants fall within 
any of the four townships within which the project is located (EA, 
Section 3.5.1) and no fish or wildlife species listed under the 
Endangered Species Act, or their critical habitats, are found within 3 
kilometers (2 miles) of the project area, so none would be affected 
(EA, Section 3.7.1).
    9. The actions proposed would not threaten to violate federal, 
state, or local law or requirements imposed for the protection of the 
environment. The following permit may be required and will be obtained, 
as needed: Clean Water Act Section 404 permit (U.S. Army Corps of 
Engineers). Final determinations regarding the need for permits will be 
made after project participants complete final design.
    Floodplain Statement of Findings: This is a Floodplain Statement of 
Findings prepared in accordance with 10 CFR Part 1022. A Notice of 
Floodplain and Wetlands Involvement was published in the Federal 
Register on February 24, 2000, and impacts to floodplains and wetlands 
were assessed in the EA (Section 3.6). The proposed route crosses the 
100-year floodplain adjacent to Kimball Creek, where it would be 
located on existing fill. Though no structures are proposed to be 
placed within the 100-year floodplain, if any were, they would be 
designed to withstand flooding, not impede expected flows, and prevent 
accumulation of flood debris. The project would not increase the chance 
of flooding or flood-related damage. Though several route variations 
were considered, lower-impact, reasonable-cost alternatives that would 
avoid the floodplain were not found.
    Although the substation itself would be outside the 100-year 
floodplain, construction for footings would remove relatively porous 
soil below the 100-year flood elevation and replace it with less porous 
concrete footings and gravel. Because of the fill that would be placed 
below the flood elevation, Tanner is required to compensate for the 
resulting loss of water storage capacity on a one-for-one basis. To 
satisfy this requirement, Tanner will remove soil over an area 
approximately 46 meters (150 feet) by 44 meters (145 feet) by 26 
centimeters (13 inches) deep, yielding a volume of soil totaling 667 
cubic meters (873 cubic yards). The amount of material removed by the 
excavation would make up for the storage capacity lost by substation 
construction. The excavated soil will be placed outside of the 
floodplain to avoid additional impacts. Increases in run-off and 
streamflows due to project clearing and access road construction are 
expected to be minor. Overall, the proposed project would not adversely 
affect human life, property, or natural floodplain values.
    The actions proposed would conform to applicable state and local 
floodplain protection standards. Although the proposed transmission 
line would cross the 100-year floodplain of Kimball Creek, the 
transmission line would be within the North Bend Way right-of-way, 
above the base flood elevation of the 100-year floodplain.
    The steps to be taken to avoid or minimize potential harm to or 
within the affected floodplains include:
     In sensitive areas, disturbed land would be restored as 
closely as possible to pre-project contours and replanted with native 
and local species.
     Transmission poles will be placed to avoid impacts to 
wetlands and floodplains. Wetlands would be spanned where practical.

[[Page 51820]]

     Best management practices would be employed to control 
erosion and run-off and to avoid adversely affecting floodplains.
     Manual methods would be employed to remove trees or 
vegetation determined to be a hazard to transmission line safety and 
reliability.
     At the substation site, Tanner would remove soil from 
below the base flood elevation associated with Gardiner Creek. Tanner 
would deposit the excavated soil in uplands.
    BPA will endeavor to allow 15 days of public review after 
publication of this statement of findings before implementing the 
selected alternative.
    Determination: Based on the information in the EA, as summarized 
here, BPA determines that the actions proposed, as described and 
analyzed, are not major federal actions significantly affecting the 
quality of the human environment within the meaning of NEPA, 42 U.S.C. 
4321 et seq. Therefore, an environmental impact statement will not be 
prepared, and BPA is issuing this FONSI.

    Issued in Portland, Oregon, on August 15, 2000.
Alexandra B. Smith,
Vice President, Environment, Fish and Wildlife.
[FR Doc. 00-21754 Filed 8-24-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P