[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 95 (Thursday, May 16, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34917-34918]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-12251]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Bonneville Power Administration


Kangley-Echo Lake Transmission Line Project

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

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare a Supplemental Draft Environmental 
Impact Statement (EIS) and notice of floodplain and wetlands 
involvement.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This notice announces BPA's intention to prepare a 
Supplemental Draft EIS on the construction, operation, and maintenance 
of a 500-kilovolt (kV) transmission line in King and Kittitas Counties, 
State of Washington. Cooperating agencies are Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie and 
Wenatchee National Forests, U.S. Department of Agriculture. The 
Supplemental Draft EIS will include analysis of additional alternatives 
recommended in comments received on the Draft EIS. A floodplain and 
wetlands assessment will be performed and a floodplain statement of 
findings will be included in the Supplemental Draft EIS, in accordance 
with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).

DATES: Written comments on the NEPA scoping process are due to the 
address below no later than June 19, 2002. Comments may also be made at 
public meetings to be held on June 5, 6, 8, and 13, 2002, at the times 
and addresses below.

ADDRESSES: Send letters with comments and suggestions on the proposed 
scope of the Supplemental Draft EIS to Communications, Bonneville Power 
Administration--KC-7, P.O. Box 12999, Portland, Oregon, 97212. You may 
also give your comments by calling (360) 418-8445, or toll-free 1-800-
282-3713. Comments may also be sent to the BPA Internet address: 
[email protected]. To be placed on the project mail list, call 1-800-622-
4520. In all communications, please specify the Kangley-Echo Lake 
Project.
    Comments may also be made at public meetings to be held on 
Wednesday, June 5, 2002, 4-8 p.m., at Seattle Center, 305 Harrison 
Street, Seattle, Washington; Thursday, June 6, 2002, 4-8 p.m., at Mt. 
Si Senior Center, 411 Main Avenue South, North Bend, Washington; 
Saturday, June 8, 2002, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., at Black Diamond Community 
Center, 31605 3rd Avenue (State Route 169), Black Diamond, Washington; 
and Thursday, June 13, 2002, 4-8 p.m., at Maple Valley Community 
Center, 22010 SE 248th Street, Maple Valley, Washington. The weekday 
meetings will have an open house format from 4-6 p.m. with 
opportunities to provide more formal comments from 6-8 p.m. The 
Saturday meeting will have the same format, with an open house from 11 
a.m.-1 p.m. and a more formal comment period from 1-3 p.m.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT: Lou Driessen, Project Manager, 
Bonneville Power Administration--TNP/TPP-3, P.O. Box 3621, Portland, 
Oregon, 97208-3621; direct telephone (360) 619-6327; toll-free 
telephone 1-800-282-3713; or e-mail [email protected]. You may also 
contact Gene Lynard, Environmental Project Manager, Bonneville Power 
Administration--KEC-4, P.O. Box 3621, Portland, Oregon, 97208-3621; 
direct telephone (503) 230-3790; toll-free telephone 
1-800-282-3713; fax number (503) 230-5699; or e-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The construction, operation, and maintenance 
of a 500-kV transmission line in King and Kittitas Counties, 
Washington, is necessary to maintain reliable electrical service during 
severe winter conditions in the growing northwest Washington area. The 
intended effect on the public is to maintain a reliable high-voltage 
transmission system for Seattle area utilities and avoid an increasing 
risk of partial blackouts in the Puget Sound area during winter weather 
events that create a high demand for energy. The action would also 
enhance BPA's ability to provide firm energy to Canada to meet the 
requirements of the Columbia River Treaty of 1961. BPA proposes to 
construct the 500-kV transmission line in 2003-04 to meet these 
purposes.
    This action may involve floodplain and wetlands. In accordance with 
DOE regulations for compliance with floodplain and wetlands 
environmental review requirements, BPA will prepare a floodplain and 
wetlands assessment and will perform this proposed action in a manner 
so as to avoid or minimize potential harm to or within the affected 
floodplain and wetlands. The assessment and a floodplain statement of 
findings will be included in the Supplemental Draft EIS and Final EIS 
being prepared for the proposed project in accordance with NEPA.

Alternatives Proposed for Consideration

    In response to comments received on the Draft EIS, BPA identified 
four additional alternatives for location and configuration of a 
transmission line outside the Cedar River Municipal Watershed that 
would meet the intended purpose of the transmission line. Two of the 
alternatives to be considered cross land managed by the U. S. Forest 
Service north and east of the Cedar River Municipal Watershed, a large 
natural area in the Cascade Mountains used by the City of Seattle to 
collect drinking water for about 1.3 million people in King and 
Snohomish Counties. The added alternatives are described below.

Alternative A

    Rebuild BPA's existing Covington to Maple Valley 230-kV 
transmission line to a double-circuit 500-kV line. New transmission 
towers would be about 175 feet tall. The new 500-kV line would be 
constructed on existing right-of-way. Each end of the new line would be 
connected to existing unused 500-kV circuits such that the new line 
would be connected to BPA's Raver and Echo Lake substations. The 
northern vacant circuit would need to be connected to Echo Lake 
Substation with a short line on BPA property.

[[Page 34918]]

Alternative B

    Rebuild 30 miles of BPA's existing Rocky Reach to Maple Valley 345-
kV transmission line to a double-circuit 500-kV line. The new towers 
would be about 175 feet tall. The new 500-kV line would be connected to 
the existing Schultz-Raver No. 2 500-kV transmission line just east of 
Stampede Pass and to Echo Lake Substation at the west end. The line 
would cross Interstate 90 (I-90) twice. Almost all of this route would 
be on existing right-of-way.

Alternative C

    Construct a new single-circuit 500-kV line from near the community 
of Kangley, Washington, or from BPA's Raver Substation on mostly new 
150-foot-wide right-of-way. New towers would be about 135 feet tall. 
The new line could pass through the Ravensdale and Hobart areas and 
would be connected to an existing vacant (unused) Echo Lake to Maple 
Valley 500-kV circuit. The vacant circuit would then need to be 
connected to a new bay in the Echo Lake Substation. This option would 
require the purchase of new right-of-way.

Alternative D

    Construct a new single-circuit 500-kV transmission line from east 
of Stampede Pass to Echo Lake Substation. The new line would be 
adjacent to the existing Rocky Reach to Maple Valley 345-kV line. New 
towers would be about 135 feet tall. The line would cross I-90 twice. A 
new 150-foot-wide right-of-way would need to be acquired.

Public Participation and Identification of Environmental Issues

    BPA has established a 30-day scoping period. Potentially affected 
landowners, concerned citizens, special interest groups, local 
governments, and any other interested parties are invited to comment on 
the scope of the proposed Supplemental Draft EIS. Scoping will help BPA 
ensure that a full range of issues related to this proposal is 
addressed in the Supplemental Draft EIS, and also will identify 
significant or potentially significant impacts that may result from the 
proposed project. When completed, the Supplemental Draft EIS will be 
circulated for review and comment, and BPA will hold public comment 
meetings for the Supplemental Draft EIS. BPA will consider and respond 
in the Final EIS to comments received on the Draft EIS and Supplemental 
Draft EIS.
    Maps and further information are available from BPA at the address 
above.

    Issued in Portland, Oregon, on May 7, 2002.
Stephen J. Wright,
Administrator and Chief Executive Officer.
[FR Doc. 02-12251 Filed 5-15-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P