[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 20 (Tuesday, January 30, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8209-8210]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-2573]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Bonneville Power Administration


Shelton-Kitsap Transmission Line Rebuild

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

ACTION: Finding of no significant impact (FONSI) and floodplain 
statement of findings.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces BPA's proposal to rebuild its existing 
Shelton-Kitsap No. 2 115-kilovolt (kV) transmission line as a double-
circuit 230-kV line in the existing right-of-way (ROW), in order to 
improve system capability and reliability. BPA has prepared an 
Environmental Assessment (EA) (DOE/EA-1342) 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.
    A finding is included that there is no practicable alternative to 
locating the project within a 100-year floodplain.

ADDRESSES: For copies of this FONSI or the EA, please call BPA's toll-
free document request line: 800-622-4520. It is also available at the 
BPA, Environment, Fish and Wildlife website: www.efw.bpa.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT: Dawn R. Boorse--KEC-4, Bonneville 
Power Administration, P.O. Box 3621, Portland, Oregon, 97208-3621; 
telephone number 503-230-5678; fax number 503-230-5699; e-mail 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: BPA's existing Shelton-Kitsap No. 2 115-kV 
transmission line is approximately 31 miles in length and is located in 
Mason and Kitsap Counties in Washington State. In addition to this 115-
kV line, there are two existing 230-kV transmission lines in the 
corridor between BPA's Shelton Substation and its Kitsap Substation. To 
improve system capability and reliability, BPA is

[[Page 8210]]

proposing a joint project with Puget Sound Energy (PSE) to rebuild 
BPA's existing Shelton-Kitsap No. 2 115-kV line as a double-circuit 
230-kV line in the existing right-of-way. One circuit would replace the 
existing 115-kV line and would initially be operated at 115-kV. The 
other circuit would be a new circuit operated at 230 kV.
    The new 230-kV circuit would be routed around BPA's Kitsap 
Substation and would interconnect with PSE's existing Kitsap-South 
Bremerton No. 3 line. The Kitsap-South Bremerton No. 3 line 
(constructed for 230 kV but currently operating at 115 kV) would be re-
energized at 230 kV and terminated at a new 230/115-kV transformer at 
the South Bremerton Substation.
    Transmission planning studies have shown that if one of the two 
existing 230-kV transmission lines to the Kitsap Substation or one of 
the two existing 230/115-kV transformers at Kitsap is out of service, 
the remaining facilities serving electrical loads on the Kitsap 
Peninsula could experience thermal loading beyond their rated 
capabilities. Thermal overloading of transmission facilities could 
result in failure or damage of equipment as well as violation of 
National Electrical Safety Code standards. These outage conditions may 
also cause system voltages to drop below acceptable levels and 
eventually lead to voltage collapse resulting in loss of load. BPA 
needs to correct and improve these conditions on its Shelton-Kitsap 
115-kV line.
    Construction of the proposed line would cause short-term 
construction-related impacts to land use, socioeconomic, visual, soils, 
and vegetation resources. These would include noise, dust, traffic 
disruption, erosion, and possible growth of noxious weeds in the ROW 
from ground surface and vegetation disturbance during construction. 
Temporary increases in the use of local motels/hotels, recreational 
parks, and campgrounds by construction workers, and short-term 
increases in local employment and spending in the local economy, would 
also occur. Minor visual impacts may occur from construction activities 
in certain locations along the ROW. Potential increases in soil erosion 
due to access road improvements, pole assembly and erecting, and 
clearing to provide access to work areas would occur. However, in the 
long term, erosion rates are expected to return to pre-construction 
rates.
    Long-term impacts would be the removal of approximately 0.5 acre of 
young forested woodland, with accompanying loss of shade on a small 
non-fish-bearing stream at the site near the south side of the BPA 
Kitsap Substation on BPA property. The tree removal is necessary to 
route the line around the Kitsap Substation and interconnect with PSE's 
existing Kitsap-South Bremerton No. 3 line. The amount of clearing 
would be relatively small, and low-growing vegetation would regrow in 
the cleared area.
    No impacts are expected to wetlands and floodplains, public health 
and safety, and cultural resources. During review of the Preliminary 
EA, the Squaxin Island Tribe discussed with BPA the presence of areas 
of cultural sensitivity in the project vicinity. A Draft Memorandum of 
Agreement between BPA and the Tribe has been prepared to ensure 
protection of the culturally sensitive areas.
    BPA also studied the No Action Alternative. The No Action 
Alternative would be to continue with the current Dispatcher Standing 
Operating Order, which defines actions to be taken under peak load 
normal system and outage conditions to mitigate potential overload and 
low voltage conditions. BPA currently has an agreement with the U.S. 
Navy, whereby BPA, in an emergency, and for a very short duration, 
could connect the Navy's backup generators to BPA's transmission system 
while the problem was being repaired. However, since the agreement was 
put into place the region's electrical load has grown such that, even 
with the generators, the electrical system is inadequate to supply the 
needed electricity. In addition, if the Navy needs the generators for 
their own emergency purposes, they may cease support to BPA at any 
time. BPA's agreement with the Navy to use its generators expires in 
2001 and will not be extended for the long term. Outages will occur if 
BPA experiences problems on the system without the rebuild.
    The Proposed Action would not violate Federal, State, or local law 
or requirements imposed for protection of the environment. All permits 
are in place.

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 September 15, 2000, and a 
floodplain and wetlands assessment was incorporated in the EA (section 
3.7). BPA is proposing to rebuild its existing Shelton-Kitsap No. 2 
115-kV transmission line as a double-circuit 230-kV line in the 
existing right-of-way which crosses the 100-year floodplains of Johns 
Creek, Cranberry Creek, and Sherwood Creek. No impacts to the 
floodplains would occur because no construction activities within the 
floodplains would be associated with the proposed project, and their 
floodplain characteristics would not be altered. The proposed action 
conforms to applicable State or local floodplain protection standards.
    BPA will endeavor to allow 15 days of public review after 
publication of this statement of findings before implementing the 
proposed action.

Determination

    Based on the information in the EA, as summarized here, BPA 
determines that the proposed action is not a major Federal action 
significantly affecting the quality of the human environment within the 
meaning of NEPA, 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq. Therefore, an EIS will not be 
prepared and BPA is issuing this FONSI.

    Issued in Portland, Oregon, on January 17, 2001.
Robert W. Beraud,
Manager, Environmental Analysis.
[FR Doc. 01-2573 Filed 1-29-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-U