[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 95 (Wednesday, May 16, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27083-27084]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-12332]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Bonneville Power Administration


McNary-John Day Transmission Line Project

AGENCY: Bonneville Power Administration (Bonneville), 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: Bonneville intends to prepare an EIS on the construction, 
operation, and maintenance of a 75-mile-long 500-kilovolt transmission 
line in Benton and Klickitat Counties, Washington, and Umatilla and 
Sherman Counties, Oregon. The new line would start at Bonneville's 
McNary Substation in Oregon and would cross the Columbia River just 
north of the substation into Washington. The line would then proceed 
west for about 70 miles along the Columbia River. At the John Day Dam, 
the line would again cross the Columbia River into Oregon and terminate 
at Bonneville's John Day Substation. The new line would parallel 
existing transmission lines for the entire length. Bonneville has 
available right-of-way next to those lines; the new line would be 
within the available right-of-way wherever feasible. The proposed 
McNary-John Day line is needed to help move power from east to west. In 
accordance with DOE regulations for compliance with floodplain and 
wetlands environmental review requirements, Bonneville will prepare a 
floodplain and wetlands assessment as necessary to avoid or minimize 
potential harm to or within any affected floodplains and wetlands. The 
assessment will be included in the EIS being prepared for the proposed 
project in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act.

DATES: Written comments are due to the address below no later than June 
18, 2001. Comments may also be made at the EIS scoping meetings to be 
held on May 23 and 24, 2001, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the addresses 
below.

ADDRESSES: Send letters with comments and suggestions on the proposed 
scope of the Draft EIS, and requests to be placed on the project 
mailing list, to Bonneville Power Administration, Communications--KC-7, 
PO Box 12999, Portland, Oregon 97212. You may also call Bonneville's 
toll-free comment line at 1-800-622-4519, and leave a message (please 
include the name of this project); or send an e-mail to: 
[email protected].
    On Wednesday, May 23, 2001, a scoping meeting will be held from 4 
p.m. to 8 p.m. at Paterson School, 51409 West Prior Road, Paterson, 
Washington. On Thursday, May 24, 2001, a scoping meeting will be held 
from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Roosevelt School, 615 Chinook Avenue, 
Roosevelt, Washington. At these informal meetings, we will provide 
information about the project, including maps, and have several members 
of the project team available to answer questions and accept oral and 
written comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lou Driessen, Project Manager, 
Bonneville Power Administration--TNP-3, PO Box 3621, Portland, Oregon, 
97208-3621; toll-free telephone 1-800-282-3713; direct telephone 503-
230-5525; or e-mail [email protected]. You may also contact Stacy 
Mason, Environmental Coordinator, Bonneville Power Administration--KEC-
4, PO Box 3621, Portland, Oregon 97208-3621; toll-free telephone 1-800-
282-3713; direct telephone 503-230-5455; or e-mail [email protected]. 
Additional information can be found at Bonneville's web site: 
www.efw.bpa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Presently, the existing transmission lines 
between McNary and John Day substations are operating at capacity. 
These lines help move power from the east side of the Cascades to the 
west side, where there is a high need for electricity (cities along the 
I-5 corridor). Because the Northwest is short on power, there are many 
new proposals for facilities to generate new power. Some of these 
generation facilities are in the vicinity of the proposed transmission 
line. The new

[[Page 27084]]

line would help insure that existing and newly generated power could 
move through the system.
    Alternatives Proposed for Consideration. At this point the 
alternatives we are considering for evaluation in the EIS include 
alternative tower locations near the existing lines, and the 
alternative of not building the line (an alternative we always 
consider). Other alternatives may be identified through the scoping 
process.
    Public Participation and Identification of Environmental Issues. 
The potential environmental issues identified for most transmission 
line projects include land use, cultural resources, visual, sensitive 
plants and animals, erosion/soils, wetlands, floodplains, and fish and 
water resources. Bonneville has established a 30-day scoping period 
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 
Bonneville 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. When completed, the Draft EIS will be circulated for review 
and comment, and Bonneville will hold public meetings to hear comments. 
Bonneville will consider and respond in the Final EIS to comments 
received on the Draft EIS. The Final EIS is expected to be published in 
mid to late 2002. Bonneville's decision will be documented in a Record 
of Decision.

    Issued in Portland, Oregon, on May 8, 2001.
Stephen J. Wright,
Administrator and Chief Executive Officer.
[FR Doc. 01-12332 Filed 5-15-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P