[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 67 (Friday, April 6, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18236-18237]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-8509]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Bonneville Power Administration


Wallula Power Project

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 a joint 
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)/State Environmental Policy Act 
(SEPA) EIS in cooperation with the State of Washington Energy Facility 
Site Evaluation Council (EFSEC) for an electrical interconnection 
including a new 29-mile 500-kilovolt (kV) transmission line associated 
with a proposed power plant. BPA is the lead Federal agency under NEPA 
and EFSEC is the lead Washington State agency under SEPA. The Wallula 
Power Project is a 1,300-megawatt (MW) generating station proposed by 
Newport Northwest, LLC (Newport Northwest) that would be located near 
Wallula in Walla Walla County, Washington. Newport Northwest has 
requested an interconnection and upgrade to BPA's transmission system 
that would allow firm power delivery to customers in the Pacific 
Northwest. BPA proposes to execute an agreement with Newport Northwest 
to provide the interconnection and firm power transmission.

ADDRESSES: To be placed on the project mailing list, including 
notification of proposed meetings, call toll-free 1-800-622-4520, name 
this project, and leave your complete name and address. To comment, 
call toll-free 1-800-622-4519; send an e-mail to the BPA Internet 
address [email protected]; or send a letter to Communications, Bonneville 
Power Administration--KC-7, P.O. Box 12999, Portland, Oregon 97212.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas C. McKinney, Bonneville Power 
Administration--KEC-4, P.O. Box 3621, Portland, Oregon 97208-3621; 
toll-free telephone 1-800-282-3713; direct telephone 503-230-4749; or 
e-mail [email protected]. Additional information can be found at BPA's 
web site: www.bpa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The EIS will assess the environmental 
consequences of the proposed project, including:
     The interconnection agreement that BPA proposes with 
Newport Northwest;
     The construction and operation of the power plant;
     The construction and operation of a 5.9-mile, 20-inch-
diameter gas line to tie into Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) Gas 
Transmission Northwest's (GTN) pipeline;
     The construction and operation of an interconnection 
consisting of 4.3 miles of 500-kV line plus a substation; and
     The construction and operation of a new 500-kV 
transmission line from the interconnection to the McNary switching 
station, roughly paralleling the existing 500-kV line from Lower 
Monumental Dam to McNary Dam.
    Later this spring, an open house and public information meeting 
will be conducted by BPA, EFSEC, and Newport Northwest to discuss the 
project, associated BPA transmission interconnection and upgrades, and 
topics to be addressed in the EIS. At least two weeks' notice will be 
provided to interested parties concerning the time and location of this 
meeting.
    After July 2001, one or more EIS scoping meetings will be held, and 
a 45-day comment period will be announced, 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. A 30-day notice of the meeting(s), 
including time and location, will be provided to interested persons. At 
the meeting(s), BPA and EFSEC will answer questions and accept oral and 
written comments.
    Receiving comments from interested parties will assure that BPA and 
EFSEC address in the EIS the full range of issues and potentially 
significant impacts related to the proposed project. When completed, 
the Draft EIS will be circulated for review and comment, and BPA and 
EFSEC will hold at least one public comment meeting on the Draft EIS. 
BPA and EFSEC will consider and respond in the Final EIS to comments 
received on the Draft EIS.
    Proposed Action. The Wallula Power Project would be a gas-fired 
combined-cycle plant with a nominal generating capacity of 1,300 MW. 
The plant site would be located on 175 acres of land that is zoned for 
industry and which is located on the east side of U.S. Highway 12, 
between the J.D. Simplot Feedlot and the Boise Cascade Wallula Mill.
    Natural gas would be burned in a gas turbine engine, in which the 
expanding gases from combustion would turn the turbine's rotor, driving 
a generator to produce electrical energy. Hot exhaust from the gas 
turbine would be used to boil water, using a heat recovery steam 
generator (HRSG). Steam produced by the HRSG turns a steam turbine, 
that

[[Page 18237]]

would connect to another generator, producing additional electrical 
energy.
    Water would be required to generate steam and cool the steam 
process, as well as for sanitary uses. The proposed power plant would 
require an average water consumption rate of up to 6,000 gallons per 
minute, which would be supplied from various sources including an on-
site well being developed by the Port of Walla Walla.
    Water discharges, primarily consisting of blowdown from the cooling 
towers, would be regulated under a Washington Department of Ecology 
permit or through the use of onsite disposal methods.
    The proposed Wallula Power Project would deliver electricity to the 
regional power grid through an interconnection and a new 500-kV 
transmission line paralleling the existing Lower Monumental-McNary 
transmission line. BPA would also modify the existing McNary 
Substation.
    The power plant and the gas and power interconnections would be 
located within Walla Walla County, Washington. Approximately 7 miles of 
the new 500-kV transmission line would be located in Walla Walla County 
with the remaining 22 miles in Umatilla County, Oregon.
    Responsibility for construction and operation of the new facilities 
is principally with Newport Northwest who would build and operate the 
power plant. However, the interconnection and the new 500-kV 
transmission line would be constructed under BPA's management, and BPA 
would be responsible for the operation and maintenance of these 
facilities. GTN would build and operate the proposed 5.9-mile gas 
pipeline that would supply fuel to the power plant.
    Process to Date. BPA is the lead Federal agency for the joint NEPA/
SEPA EIS, and EFSEC is the lead Washington State agency. EFSEC has 
already held open houses introducing the Wallula Power Project to 
interested parties in Walla Walla County. Subsequent to these meetings, 
BPA determined that a new 500-kV transmission line was necessary for 
firm power delivery on the existing transmission system. Newport 
Northwest will prepare an Application for Site Certification and submit 
it to EFSEC in July 2001. This initial application will address the 
Wallula Power Project in detail. BPA and EFSEC will conduct joint 
scoping meetings after receipt and preliminary review of the initial 
submission.
    Alternatives Proposed for Consideration. Alternatives thus far 
identified for evaluation in the EIS are (1) the proposed actions, and 
(2) no action. Other alternatives may be identified through the scoping 
process.
    Identification of Environmental Issues. EFSEC will prepare an EIS 
consistent with its responsibilities under Chapter 80.50 of the Revised 
Code of Washington and Chapter 197-11 of the Washington Administrative 
Code. BPA has determined in a System Impact Study requested by Newport 
Northwest that, for firm transmission service, the construction of 29 
miles of 500-kV transmission line may be required. Such an action 
triggers a need for BPA to prepare an EIS. Therefore, BPA and EFSEC 
intend to prepare a joint NEPA/SEPA EIS addressing both the power plant 
and the associated electric power interconnection and transmission 
facilities. The principal issues identified thus far for consideration 
in the Draft EIS are (1) air quality impacts, (2) noise impacts from 
plant operation, (3) aesthetic and visual impacts, (4) socio-economic 
impacts, (5) wetlands and wildlife habitat impacts, and (6) cultural 
resource impacts. These issues, together with any additional 
significant issues identified through the scoping process, will be 
addressed in the EIS.

    Issued in Portland, Oregon, on March 26, 2001.
Steven G. Hickok,
Acting Administrator and Chief Executive Officer.
[FR Doc. 01-8509 Filed 4-5-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P