[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 14 (Wednesday, January 22, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 3020]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-1333]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Bonneville Power Administration


Grand Coulee-Bell 500-kV Transmission Line Project

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

ACTION: Notice of availability of Record of Decision (ROD).

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SUMMARY: This notice announces the availability of the ROD to construct 
the proposed Grand Coulee-Bell 500-kilovolt (kV) Transmission Line 
Project in Douglas, Grant, Lincoln, and Spokane Counties, Washington, 
based on the Final Environmental Impact Statement for this project 
(DOE/EIS-0344, December 2002). The proposed action consists of 
constructing a new 500-kV transmission line in Washington between the 
Bureau of Reclamation's Grand Coulee 500-kV switchyard near Grand 
Coulee and BPA's Bell Substation near Spokane, a distance of 84 miles.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the ROD and EIS may be obtained by calling BPA 
toll-free at 1-888-276-7790. The ROD and EIS Summary are also available 
on the Transmission Business Line Web site at http://www.transmission.bpa.gov/projects.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT: Inez S. Graetzer, Bonneville Power 
Administration--KEC-4, P.O. Box 3621, Portland, Oregon, 97208-3621; 
toll-free telephone number 1-800-282-3713; fax number 503-230-5699; or 
e-mail [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The proposed action involves removing an 
existing 115-kV transmission line and replacing it with a 500-kV line 
on existing right-of-way for most of its length. The line will be 
constructed using a single-circuit design, with the exception of two 
short distances of slightly less than one mile where double-circuit 
towers will be used because the right-of-way is constrained. As part of 
the proposed action, BPA has decided to expand the existing fenced yard 
at Bell Substation by about 11.7 acres; slightly expand the fenced area 
at Grand Coulee Switchyard to accommodate new line termination 
facilities and other equipment; install one group of series capacitors 
on an expanded site at BPA's Dworshak 500-kV Substation in Clearwater 
County, Idaho; and replace existing series capacitors within the 
current boundary of BPA's Garrison 500-kV Substation in Powell County, 
Montana. All mitigation measures have been updated, adopted, and 
included with the ROD. A Mitigation Action Plan will be prepared to be 
included in the construction specifications to ensure mitigation 
measures are implemented.

    Issued in Portland, Oregon, on January 10, 2003.
Stephen J. Wright,
Administrator and Chief Executive Officer.
[FR Doc. 03-1333 Filed 1-21-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P