[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 115 (Thursday, June 14, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32339-32340]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-14989]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Bonneville Power Administration


Starbuck Power Project

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

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement.

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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 16-mile 500-kilovolt (kV) transmission line and other 
facilities 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 Starbuck Power Project is a 1,200-megawatt (MW) 
generating station proposed by Starbuck Power Company, L.L.C. (SPC) 
that would be located near the town of Starbuck in Columbia County, 
Washington. SPC has requested an interconnection and upgrade to BPA's 
transmission system that would allow firm power delivery to the 
wholesale power market. BPA proposes to execute an agreement with SPC 
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: Lou Driessen, Project Manager, 
Bonneville Power Administration--TNP-3, P.O. 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 Phil Smith, Environmental Coordinator, Bonneville Power 
Administration--KEC-4, P.O. Box 3621, Portland, Oregon 97208-3621; 
toll-free telephone 1-800-282-3713; direct telephone 503-230-3294; or 
e-mail [email protected]. Additional information can be found at BPA's 
web site: www.efw.bpa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The EIS will assess the environmental 
consequences of the proposed project, including:
     Interconnection agreement that BPA proposes with SPC;
     Construction and operation of the power plant;
     Construction and operation of an approximately 200-foot, 
20-inch-diameter gas line to tie into Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) Gas 
Transmission Northwest's (GTN) pipeline;
     Construction and operation of an on-site well, or in the 
alternative, an approximately 6-mile long, 4-inch diameter water supply 
line from the town of Starbuck to the power plant site;
     Construction and operation of a rail spur near the power 
plant site for use during power plant construction; and
     Construction and operation of an interconnection 
consisting of a substation and approximately 16 miles of 500-kV 
transmission line from the substation to Lower Monumental Substation.
    The power plant and the gas and power interconnections would be 
located within Columbia County, Washington. Approximately 1 mile of the 
new 500-kV transmission line would be located in Columbia County with 
the remaining 15 miles in Walla Walla County, Washington.
    Responsibility for construction and operation of the new facilities 
is principally with SPC 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 approximately 200-foot gas pipeline that would 
supply fuel to the power plant.

Proposed Action

    The Starbuck Power Project would be a natural-gas-fired combined-
cycle combustion turbine power plant with a nominal generating capacity 
of approximately 1,200 MW. The plant site would be located on 
approximately 50 acres of a 100-acre site that is zoned for industrial 
use and which is located approximately 6 miles northwest of Starbuck, 
Washington, on property under option and owned by the BAR-Z Ranch, a 
Washington Corporation.
    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, 
which would connect to another generator, producing additional 
electrical energy.
    The Starbuck Power Project would consist of two complete and 
separate combined cycle power blocks (or ``islands'') and associated 
support facilities. In summary, each block would consist of two gas 
combustion turbine generators, two HRSGs, one steam turbine generator, 
and one air-cooled condenser.
    Water would be required to generate steam, as well as for sanitary 
uses. The proposed power plant would require an average water 
consumption rate of less than 500,000 gallons per day (gpd). SPC 
proposes to use an on-site well. As an alternative, the project has 
secured an option to purchase 100 gallons per minute (gpm), or up to 
144,000 gpd, of water from the town of Starbuck's existing water right. 
With this alternative, an approximately 5-mile water pipeline would be 
constructed from the town of Starbuck to the project site. SPC proposes 
to locate this line within an abandoned railroad right-of-way that 
parallels SR-261 from Starbuck to just south of the project site.
    SPC proposes that project wastewater and storm water be collected 
in retention and infiltration ponds located at the south end of the 
property.
    The proposed Starbuck 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-Little 
Goose No. 1 and No. 2 transmission lines. BPA would also modify the 
existing Lower Monumental Substation.

[[Page 32340]]

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 Starbuck Power Project to interested parties in 
Columbia County and the surrounding area. Subsequent to these meetings, 
BPA determined that a new 500-kV transmission line was necessary for 
firm power delivery on the existing transmission system. SPC will 
prepare an Application for Site Certification and submit it to EFSEC in 
July 2001. This initial application will address the Starbuck 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, (2) use of the town's well and a proposed water 
pipeline as an alternative to the on-site well, and (3) 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 SPC that, for firm transmission 
service, the construction of 16 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) aesthetic and visual impacts, (3) socio-economic 
impacts including transportation impacts, (4) wetlands and wildlife 
habitat impacts, (5) cultural resource impacts, (6) water supply and 
quality impacts, (7) health and safety impacts, and (8) noise impacts 
from plant operation. These issues, together with any additional 
significant issues identified through the scoping process, will be 
addressed in the EIS. BPA will also use the EIS and NEPA process to 
address historic preservation and cultural resource issues under 
Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act.

Public Participation

    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.

    Issued in Portland, Oregon, on June 4, 2001.
Stephen J. Wright,
Acting Administrator and Chief Executive Officer.
[FR Doc. 01-14989 Filed 6-13-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P