[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 112 (Tuesday, June 10, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32686-32697]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-13013]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

[Docket No. PP-299]


Record of Decision Port Angeles-Juan de Fuca Transmission Project

AGENCY: Bonneville Power Administration and the Office of Electricity 
Delivery and Energy Reliability, U.S. Department of Energy.

ACTION: Record of Decision (ROD).

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SUMMARY: The Department of Energy (DOE) announces its decision to 
implement its Proposed Action and Preferred Alternative as identified 
in the Port Angeles-Juan de Fuca Transmission Project Final 
Environmental Impact Statement (DOE/EIS-0378, October 2007). Sea Breeze 
Olympic Converter LP (Sea Breeze) applied to DOE for authorizations and 
approvals necessary to construct the United States (U.S.) portion of an 
international electric power transmission cable from the greater 
Victoria area, British Columbia, Canada, across the Strait of Juan de 
Fuca to Port Angeles, Washington, United States. Under the Proposed 
Action, the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), an organizational 
element within DOE, will offer contract terms to Sea Breeze for 
interconnection of the cable with the Federal Columbia River 
Transmission System, which is owned and operated by BPA. Additionally, 
the Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability (OE), another 
organizational element within DOE, will issue a Presidential permit to 
Sea Breeze to construct, operate, maintain, and connect the 150,000-volt (150-kV) direct current (DC) submarine cable that 
crosses the U.S.-Canadian border.
    BPA's Proposed Action includes the expansion of BPA's Port Angeles 
Substation to accommodate the interconnection. The interconnection will 
allow power flow over BPA's transmission system to the extent that 
capacity on the system is available. The Proposed Action does not 
include transmission service over BPA's system, which must be requested 
separately. The Proposed Action included two short routing options (A 
and B) for the transmission cable as it enters BPA's substation 
property; BPA has chosen the Option A route.
    In reaching this decision, DOE considered the low potential for 
environmental impacts in the United States from constructing, 
operating, maintaining, and connecting the project, the lack of adverse 
impacts to the reliability of the U.S. electric power supply system, 
and the lack of major issues of concern to the public.

ADDRESSES: This ROD will be sent to interested parties and affected 
persons and agencies who requested a copy. Project documents, including 
the Draft and Final EIS, are available on the DOE National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Web site at http://www.eh.doe.gov/nepa/eis/eis0378/index.html and on the BPA project Web site at http://www.efw.bpa.gov/environmental_services/Document_Library/PortAngeles/. 
The Supplement Analysis, Record of Decision, and Mitigation Action Plan 
will soon be available on these sites. These documents may be obtained 
from BPA's Public Information Center, P.O. Box 3621, Portland, Oregon, 
97208-3621; or by using BPA's nationwide toll-free document request 
line at 800-622-4520. The documents may also be obtained by contacting 
Dr. Jerry Pell at the Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy 
Reliability, U.S. Department of Energy, OE-20, 1000 Independence 
Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585; by telephone at 202-586-3362; by 
facsimile at 202-318-7761; or by electronic mail at 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information about the EIS, 
contact Ms. Stacy Mason, Environmental Coordinator, Bonneville Power 
Administration--KEC, P.O. Box 3621, Portland, Oregon 97208-3621, by 
telephone at 503-230-5455, by facsimile at 503-230-5699, or by 
electronic mail at [email protected]; alternatively, contact Dr. Jerry 
Pell as indicated in the ADDRESSES section above.
    For general information on the DOE NEPA process, contact Carol 
Borgstrom, Director, Office of NEPA Policy and Compliance, GC-20, U.S. 
Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 
20585, by telephone at 202-586-4600, or leave a message at 800-472-
2756.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    BPA is an organizational unit within DOE that owns and operates 
most of the high-voltage electric transmission system in the Pacific 
Northwest. BPA has adopted an Open Access Transmission Tariff that is 
consistent with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's (FERC) pro 
forma open access tariff.\1\ Under BPA's tariff, BPA

[[Page 32687]]

offers transmission interconnection to the Federal Columbia River 
Transmission System, which is owned and operated by BPA, to all 
eligible customers on a first-come, first-served basis, subject to an 
environmental review under NEPA.
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    \1\ Although BPA is not subject to the FERC's jurisdiction, BPA 
follows the open access tariff as a matter of national policy. This 
course of action demonstrates BPA's commitment to non-discriminatory 
access to its transmission system and ensures that BPA will receive 
non-discriminatory access to the transmission systems of utilities 
that are subject to FERC's jurisdiction.
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    OE is the organizational unit within DOE that administers the 
Presidential permit process pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 10485 
(September 9, 1953), as amended by E.O. 12038 (February 7, 1978). The 
E.O. requires that a Presidential permit be issued by DOE before 
electric transmission facilities may be constructed, operated, 
maintained, or connected at the U.S. international border. DOE may 
issue or amend a permit if it determines that the permit is in the 
public interest and after obtaining favorable recommendations from the 
U.S. Departments of State and Defense. In determining whether issuance 
of a permit for a proposed action is in the public interest, DOE 
considers the environmental impacts of the proposed project pursuant to 
NEPA, the project's impact on electric reliability by ascertaining 
whether the proposed project would adversely affect the operation of 
the U.S. electric power supply system under normal and contingency 
conditions, and any other factors that DOE may consider relevant to the 
public interest.
    Sea Breeze, a private company, is proposing to construct 32 miles 
(52 kilometers [km]) of DC transmission cable from the greater Victoria 
area (View Royal), British Columbia, Canada, across the Strait of Juan 
de Fuca, to Port Angeles, Clallam County, Washington, United States. 
The cable would cross both land and sea under Canadian and U.S. 
jurisdictions, would be converted to alternating current (AC) at a new 
converter station in Port Angeles, and would interconnect with the 
Federal Columbia River Transmission System at BPA's Port Angeles 
Substation.
    In December 2004, Sea Breeze applied to OE for a Presidential 
permit for the international border crossing of the cable. In April 
2005, Sea Breeze submitted a request to BPA to connect the cable into 
the Federal transmission system. DOE prepared an EIS to evaluate the 
environmental effects of the proposed cable and interconnection, 
issuing the Final EIS (DOE/EIS-0378) in October 2007.

Description of the Proposed Action

    The project, as defined in this ROD and evaluated in the EIS, is a 
150 kV DC transmission cable that would extend from a point 
at the U.S.-Canadian border to Port Angeles, Washington. The cable 
would be capable of carrying up to 550 megawatts of power. BPA's 
Proposed Action is to allow Sea Breeze's transmission cable to connect 
into the Federal transmission system at BPA's Port Angeles Substation. 
OE's Proposed Action is to grant Sea Breeze a Presidential permit for 
the project. With the interconnection, the Presidential permit, and 
other Federal and state approvals granted, Sea Breeze can construct and 
operate its proposed cable project. There are six main components of 
the U.S. portion of Sea Breeze's project as described below.
     Marine DC cable--about 10.5 miles (17 km) of cable 
trenched in the sea floor from the international boundary to the Port 
Angeles Harbor. Sea Breeze will use a sea plow, hydro-jetting machine, 
or hydroplow to trench into the sea floor, and a specialized cable-
laying ship will be used to install the marine cable in the trench. The 
proposed trench will typically be 3 to 5 feet (1 to 1.5 meter [m]) deep 
and about 4 feet (1.2 m) wide for most of its length across the Strait.
     Horizontal Directionally Drilled (HDD) hole--a 3,465-foot 
(1.06 km) long hole \2\ to transition the cable from the marine 
environment in the Harbor to land. The HDD hole will extend generally 
southwest from a point about 1,505 feet (460 m) offshore, under the 
shoreline and bluff, to a point along North Liberty Street just south 
of Caroline Street in Port Angeles. All drilling for this hole will 
take place at the land end of the hole on North Liberty Street.
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    \2\ At the time of the EIS, the HDD hole was proposed to be 
3,300 feet (1.0 km) long and exit into the Harbor at a point 1,340 
feet (408 m) offshore. Pursuant to subsequent Section 7 consultation 
with National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and 
NOAA's recommendation to decrease potential impacts to macroalgae 
habitat, Sea Breeze moved the proposed HDD hole exit point about 165 
feet (50 m) seaward. This measure has been incorporated into the 
project. BPA prepared a Supplement Analysis (DOE/EIS-0378-SA-01) to 
review this change. The Supplement Analysis found that the hole 
extension would not substantially change the proposal nor create 
significant new circumstances or information relevant to 
environmental concerns, and therefore, no further NEPA documentation 
is required.
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     Terrestrial DC cable--about 0.8 miles (1.3 km) of cable 
trenched from the Liberty Street HDD hole to Sea Breeze's converter 
station site near BPA's Port Angeles Substation. This cable will be 
placed in a trench under Liberty Street. The trench will be about 4 to 
8 feet (1 to 2.5 m) deep and about 6 feet (2 m) wide at the surface. 
Standard utility trenching methods will be used to dig the trench, and 
Liberty Street will be repaired and repaved following cable 
installation.
     Converter Station--a 3.8-acre (1.5 hectares [ha]) station, 
located on about 5 acres (2 ha) of land owned by Clallam County Public 
Utility District across East Park Avenue from BPA's Port Angeles 
Substation. The station will convert power from DC to AC in order to be 
able to connect to the Federal AC transmission system. This converter 
station will include a building about 100 feet (30 m) wide, 200 feet 
(60 m) long, and 40 feet (12 m) tall, and an electrical yard, with a 
combination of decorative and chain-link fence enclosing the property.
     AC cable--about 1,250 feet (380 m) of underground 230-kV 
AC transmission cable trenched under Porter Street from the converter 
station to BPA's Port Angeles Substation. Two routing options (A and B) 
were considered for the AC cable entrance into BPA's substation. Option 
A has been selected. Trench dimensions and construction methods will be 
largely the same as those for the terrestrial DC cable.
     Interconnection at BPA's Port Angeles Substation--a 2-acre 
(1-ha) expansion of the existing electrical yard, a new relay house, 
and realignment of an existing 115-kV transmission line on BPA 
property. The expansion will occur south of the substation's existing 
fence line on an undeveloped portion of BPA's substation property. The 
interconnection will allow power flow over BPA's transmission system to 
the extent that capacity on the system is available, but does not 
include transmission service over BPA's system. Transmission service 
must be requested separately.
    Sea Breeze or its successors will be responsible for operating and 
maintaining all aspects of the project except for the Port Angeles 
Substation equipment, which will be operated and maintained by BPA.

Alternatives Considered

    DOE considered the Proposed Action with two short AC cable routing 
options (A and B), and the No Action Alternative.
    Cable routing Options A and B for entering the BPA substation 
property would have differed little in the environmental impacts 
created. Option A will be about 250 feet (76.2 m) longer than Option B, 
but the amount of tree clearing, soil disturbance, and visual impacts 
will be similar to what would have occurred under Option B. Option A 
will have less impact on BPA property, allowing potential future use of 
the area that Option B would have encumbered.
    Under the No Action Alternative, BPA would have denied Sea Breeze's 
request

[[Page 32688]]

to connect to the Federal transmission system, and OE would have denied 
issuance of the Presidential permit. Because the requested 
interconnection is essential to the viability of Sea Breeze's proposed 
project, it is likely that Sea Breeze would not build its transmission 
cable project under the No Action Alternative. Since the cable would 
not be built, implementation of the No Action Alterative would not have 
caused impacts to the environment (water resources, vegetation, marine 
habitat and wildlife, land uses, noise, visual resources, etc.) that 
the construction and operation of the transmission cable will have. The 
No Action Alternative thus is the environmentally preferable 
alternative.

Public Comment

    Early in the development of the EIS, DOE solicited input from the 
public (Federal, state and local agencies, Indian tribes with interest 
in the area, individuals along the project route, and interest groups) 
to help determine what issues should be studied in the EIS. DOE 
requested comments by publishing a Notice of Intent to prepare an EIS 
in the Federal Register (70 FR 23855) on May 5, 2005, sending a letter 
to about 415 people, conducting a public open-house style scoping 
meeting in Port Angeles, Washington, and establishing a project Web 
site with information about the project and the EIS process. Thirty-two 
people came to the public open-house scoping meeting and 14 individuals 
sent written comments.
    The Draft EIS was made available for a 45-day period of public 
review and comment via mailings and the Web site; a Notice of 
Availability of the Draft EIS was published by the U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency (EPA) in the Federal Register (72 FR 10749) on March 
9, 2007. Notices that the Draft EIS was available for review were sent 
to about 750 potentially interested parties of record; about 130 Draft 
EISs were distributed; and DOE held a public open house and hearing in 
Port Angeles on April 10, 2007. Thirteen people came to the Draft EIS 
public meeting/hearing and 14 individuals sent written comments.
    The Final EIS addressed comments received on the Draft EIS. DOE 
made the Final EIS available to the public, and sent it to interested 
parties of record; a Notice of Availability of the Final EIS was 
published by the EPA in the Federal Register (72 FR 58081) on October 
12, 2007.
    DOE received three written comments on the Final EIS. One letter, 
from the Skokomish Indian Tribe, informed DOE that the Tribe is unaware 
of the presence of any sites of cultural or religious significance to 
the Skokomish Tribe within the proposed project area. The tribe 
requested that DOE contact the Lower Elwha Tribe. DOE has been in 
contact with the Lower Elwha Tribe throughout this project's 
environmental process. The Lower Elwha Tribe commented on the Draft 
EIS; those comments, which primarily requested additional protection 
for tribal resources and cultural resources, were addressed in the 
Final EIS. Under the Mitigation Action Plan that is incorporated into 
this Record of Decision, the Tribe will continue to be involved in the 
project for geoduck clam mitigation and cultural resource monitoring.
    The EPA submitted written comments on the Final EIS that included 
acknowledgment of BPA's responses to EPA's comments on the Draft EIS. 
EPA also recommended that accountability measures be incorporated into 
the Clean Water Act 401 certification and 404 permit. The Washington 
State Department of Ecology and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers are 
reviewing Sea Breeze's application under these sections of the Clean 
Water Act and will impose appropriate measures to ensure 
implementation. EPA also recommended that the ROD include information 
to assure that environmental measures would be adjusted to meet 
Washington State water quality standards. In response, DOE is requiring 
Sea Breeze to follow the city, state, and Federal requirements 
regarding water quality standards, as described in Chapter 4 of the 
EIS, reiterated in the required mitigation measures identified in the 
EIS, and included in the Mitigation Action Plan that is incorporated 
into this Record of Decision.
    EPA also restated concerns regarding the public need for the 
project. In response, DOE notes that this project is proposed by a 
private entity and, therefore, public need is outside DOE's purview. In 
deciding whether BPA will allow an interconnection and whether OE will 
grant a Presidential permit for a project proposed by a private entity, 
neither BPA nor OE has a criterion that requires a demonstration of 
need for the project. As addressed in the EIS, BPA's need for action is 
to respond to Sea Breeze's request for interconnection, and OE's need 
for action is to respond to Sea Breeze's application for a Presidential 
permit. In addition, the Purpose and Need section of the EIS contains a 
statement of Sea Breeze's reasons for developing the project and 
provides links to various Web sites that present Sea Breeze's 
identified needs.
    Written comments were received also from the Olympic Environmental 
Council Coalition working on the Rayonier Hazardous Waste Cleanup 
Project, which expressed concern that the proposed cable route would go 
through a hazardous waste site undergoing cleanup, through potential 
shoreline and salt marsh restoration areas, and in a recommended 
protected area for orca whales. As described in the EIS, the former 
Rayonier pulp mill site and shoreline (which would include any 
potential salt marsh restoration areas) will be avoided because the 
cable will be routed through a HDD hole in bedrock well below these 
areas. The EIS addresses contaminated sediment concerns, and identifies 
required mitigation measures, including specifically the requirement 
for Sea Breeze to implement any actions identified by the Washington 
State Department of Ecology for sediment control. The EIS also analyzes 
potential impacts to whales and identifies mitigation measures required 
to lessen possible impacts. DOE considers these mitigation measures, as 
incorporated into this ROD and enforceable upon Sea Breeze, to be 
adequate to address the expressed concerns.

BPA's Rationale for Decision

    Under BPA's adopted Open Access Transmission Tariff, BPA offers new 
interconnections to the transmission system to all eligible customers, 
consistent with all BPA requirements and subject to environmental 
review. BPA has completed this environmental review and has considered 
and understands the environmental implications of its Proposed Action 
and alternatives. BPA analyzed the environmental impacts of the 
Proposed Action, the short routing options for the AC cable entering 
BPA property, and the No Action Alternative, and considered public 
comments received on the Draft EIS, as documented in the Final EIS, and 
comments on the Final EIS. BPA also considered that implementation of 
the Proposed Action is more consistent with the interconnection 
provisions of BPA's open access tariff than implementation of the No 
Action Alternative. Accordingly, by deciding to take actions that allow 
for interconnection of Sea Breeze's project, BPA is acting consistently 
with its tariff.
    In addition, BPA considered how well the various alternatives would 
meet the following purposes (i.e., objectives) identified for this 
project in the EIS:
     Maintenance of transmission system reliability;

[[Page 32689]]

     Consistency with BPA's environmental and social 
responsibilities; and
     Cost efficiencies.
    BPA believes that implementation of the Proposed Action will meet 
these objectives.

System Reliability

    The Proposed Action will maintain transmission system reliability 
by ensuring that the interconnection design will meet applicable 
reliability criteria and standards. Also, because Sea Breeze proposed 
that its project be connected to BPA's transmission system without 
improvements to increase capacity of the system, any transmission 
service provided to Sea Breeze across the transmission system will be 
limited in order to maintain reliability. These restrictions will 
include limiting power flow to or from the new interconnection through 
the BPA transmission system on the Olympic Peninsula at certain times 
of the day and year. If BPA receives transmission service requests from 
cable users that exceed system capacity, appropriate environmental 
review will be conducted and separate decisions made on the system 
improvements that will be necessary to accommodate those requests.

Environmental and Social Responsibilities

    The Proposed Action is consistent with BPA's environmental and 
social responsibilities. Sea Breeze worked to lessen potential 
environmental and social impacts through the design of the project and 
the development of mitigation measures. The use of the HDD hole to 
transition the cable from the Port Angeles Harbor to land will avoid 
impacts to the shoreline, including impacts to potential cultural 
resources in the vicinity, beach and shoreline habitats, and areas 
prone to erosion on the bluff. It will also help avoid contaminated 
sediments known in the area.
    With the erosion control measures proposed by Sea Breeze and 
incorporated in this ROD, construction impacts to water and soil 
resources will be short term, and low-to-moderate. In addition, Sea 
Breeze will ensure that turbidity levels during seabed trenching and 
disturbance will remain within state standards of no greater than 5 
nephelometric turbidity units. Sea Breeze is working with the 
Washington Department of Ecology and with the Department of Natural 
Resources to address disturbance of contaminants in the Harbor.
    Vegetation impacts will be limited to about a mile-long strip along 
the sea bottom, at the converter station site, and at the area affected 
by interconnection at BPA's Port Angeles Substation. NOAA's 
recommendation to decrease potential impacts to macroalgae habitat has 
been adopted by Sea Breeze by moving the proposed HDD hole exit point 
about 165 feet (50 m) seaward. The new location avoids an area of algae 
density cover of 50 percent to an area where the algae density cover 
lessens to 25 percent. The overall impacts to vegetation will be low, 
except at BPA's substation where impacts to vegetation will be low-to-
moderate. No wetlands were identified in the affected area, so wetlands 
will not be affected.
    Impacts to marine habitat and wildlife will be low-to-moderate. 
Most impacts will occur during construction and will be temporary. 
Measures to protect marine species include implementing work windows to 
avoid species during migrations (Endangered Species Act [ESA]-listed 
salmonids), monitoring for unexpectedly high concentrations of priority 
species (crabs, urchins, and geoduck clams), and using trained marine 
mammal observers during cable-laying operations to determine the 
presence of species (sea otters, porpoises, sea lions, seals, gray 
whales and ESA-listed humpback whales and Southern Resident killer 
whales) and if work should be slowed or stopped to protect those 
species. Habitat changes due to the warming of sediments along the 
seabed cable route will create localized moderate impacts, but only a 
small portion of the overall seabed will be affected.
    Because the cable route will run along existing city streets, there 
will be no-to-low impacts to terrestrial wildlife and freshwater fish. 
In addition, at the converter station no high-quality terrestrial 
habitat will be removed. Because the expansion of BPA's substation will 
be located next to a forested area, tree removal for the 
interconnection work will have low-to-moderate effects on habitat. 
However, this type of forest habitat is abundant and common in the 
area.
    Project construction will disturb residents and businesses in the 
vicinity and create short-term high impacts. The cable will be located 
in city streets and, after construction, will not encumber existing 
uses and will not create any long-term land use impacts. Although the 
new converter station and the expansion of BPA's Port Angeles 
Substation yard for the interconnection will limit existing casual 
recreational uses of the existing open space and incrementally increase 
utility-related uses in the area, these additional electrical 
facilities will not be out of place next to the existing Port Angeles 
Substation.
    Because the cable will be placed underground through city streets, 
the cable will not be visible and will not create the visual impacts 
typical of overhead transmission lines (towers, wires, cleared right-
of-way, and access roads). Although the converter station and the 
substation yard expansion will produce moderate-to-high visual impacts 
to residents in the immediate vicinity, Sea Breeze will soften the 
visual impacts of the converter station by installing decorative walls, 
fencing, and landscaping, and by seeking and incorporating input from 
local residents and planning officials about the exterior design of the 
converter station's building.
    The route of the cable on the seabed has been designed to avoid 
potential cultural resources. To ensure resources potentially uncovered 
on land are protected, archaeological monitors will be on site during 
soil disturbance activities in areas where there is a moderate-to-high 
potential to encounter resources.
    HDD hole construction will create short-term high noise impacts to 
local residents near the construction site during the 23 days of 
continuous (night and day) drilling operations. Sea Breeze will use 
sound dampening techniques at the HDD construction site to reduce noise 
levels as close to the source as possible. The operation of the cable 
will not generate noise, and noise from the converter station will be 
mitigated with design features, equipment layout, and insulation. 
Health and safety impacts associated with potential shocks or fire will 
be avoided with mitigation measures. Magnetic field exposure concerns 
are limited to the short (1,250 feet [380 m]) AC cable; DC lines do not 
induce currents into surrounding objects. Field levels of the AC cable 
will be lessened, as appropriate, by the configuration of the 
conductors of the cable.
    Socioeconomics impacts will be low, and Sea Breeze will ensure that 
the location of the marine cable is recorded on navigational charts. 
Sea Breeze will continue to work with the Washington State Department 
of Ecology to minimize the risk that the cable could be snagged or hit 
by ship anchors.

Cost Efficiencies

    Costs associated with the cable and converter station will be the 
responsibility of Sea Breeze. Sea Breeze will also be responsible for 
costs associated with the interconnection work; however, if the 
interconnection work were to be considered a network

[[Page 32690]]

upgrade, then those equipment and construction costs could be 
reimbursed to Sea Breeze.

OE's Rationale for Decision

    In arriving at its decision, OE has considered the lack of adverse 
impacts to the reliability of the U.S. electric power supply system, 
the low potential for environmental impacts in the United States, the 
nature of potential impacts of the alternatives, and the lack of major 
issues of concern to the public.
    OE has determined, and agrees with BPA, that the potential 
environmental impacts from the Proposed Action are expected to be 
small, as discussed above. OE also has determined that, based on BPA's 
interconnection standards and its restrictions on any requested 
transmission service to and from the proposed interconnection, the 
proposed project would not have an adverse impact on the reliability of 
the U.S. electric power supply system. Finally, the Departments of 
State and Defense have concurred in the issuance of a Presidential 
permit to Sea Breeze for the proposed project. OE did not select the No 
Action Alternative because the Proposed Action has been determined to 
be consistent with the public interest based on the consideration of 
environmental impacts, the impacts on electric reliability, and the 
favorable recommendations of the Departments of State and Defense.
    For the foregoing reasons, OE has decided to issue Presidential 
Permit PP-299 to authorize Sea Breeze to construct, operate, maintain, 
and connect the Port Angeles-Juan de Fuca transmission line as defined 
by the Proposed Action in the EIS.

Mitigation

    All the mitigation measures described in the Draft EIS, updated in 
the Final EIS, and further refined through consultations with the 
National Marine Fisheries Service of NOAA have been incorporated into 
the Mitigation Action Plan. A complete list of these measures is in the 
Mitigation Action Plan incorporated herein. Sea Breeze will be 
responsible for executing most of the mitigation measures, while BPA 
will be responsible for executing the mitigation measures associated 
with work at the Port Angeles Substation. Additional measures may be 
required through permitting processes with Federal, state, and local 
agencies.

Conclusions

    The following decisions are based on the project description as 
detailed in the EIS and the Supplement Analysis, and implementation of 
the mitigation measures listed in the Mitigation Action Plan.
    BPA has decided to interconnect the Port Angeles-Juan de Fuca cable 
to the Federal Columbia River Transmission System. BPA will, therefore, 
offer Sea Breeze contract terms for interconnection. BPA also will 
expand the Port Angeles Substation yard and construct necessary 
interconnection facilities to allow for interconnection of the project 
as described in this ROD and the Port Angeles-Juan de Fuca Transmission 
Project EIS.
    OE will issue Presidential Permit PP-299 to Sea Breeze, allowing 
the Port Angeles-Juan de Fuca electric transmission facilities to be 
constructed, operated, maintained, and connected at the U.S. 
international border with Canada.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on May 27, 2008.
Kevin M. Kolevar,
Assistant Secretary, Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy 
Reliability.
    Issued in Portland, Oregon, on May 30, 2008.
Stephen J. Wright,
Administrator and Chief Executive Officer, Bonneville Power 
Administration.

  Mitigation Action Plan for the Port Angeles-Juan de Fuca Transmission
                                 Project
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                            Time of
       Mitigation measure          Responsible party    implementation
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Water Resources
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Institute control        Sea Breeze........  During
 measures on the cable vessel to                       construction.
 prevent the potential risk of
 an accidental release of any
 hazardous materials.
 (Mitigation measure also listed
 in Marine Habitat and Wildlife
 Section.).
 Use oil-adsorbent        Sea Breeze........  During
 materials, maintained on the                          construction.
 construction vessels, in the
 event of a petroleum product
 spill on the deck and/or if any
 sheen is observed in the water.
 (Mitigation measure also listed
 in Marine Habitat and Wildlife
 Section.).
 Use the following        Sea Breeze........  During design and
 measures to lessen impacts of                         construction.
 HDD:
    [rtarr8] Determine the
     optimal HDD trajectory to
     minimize the chance of
     bedrock or soil fractures
     using a geotechnical
     evaluation of the geologic
     formations to be drilled.
    [rtarr8] Install a casing
     through near surface
     formations susceptible to
     fracturing (e.g., highly
     permeable unconsolidated
     materials) during drilling
     to seal off permeable
     formations.
    [rtarr8] Monitor losses of
     drilling mud. If a loss of
     drilling mud volume or
     pressure is detected, slow
     drilling to assess whether
     a fracture to the surface
     may have occurred.
    [rtarr8] Visually monitor
     the ground surface and
     surface waters to
     facilitate quick
     identification and response
     to a fracture.
    [rtarr8] If a fracture
     occurs, decrease amount of
     drilling muds lost by, for
     example, increasing the
     viscosity of the drilling
     mud to seal fractures and
     stabilize the borehole.

[[Page 32691]]

 
    [rtarr8] Contain any release
     of drilling mud onto the
     ground surface using BMPs
     (which could include the
     use of silt fences, sand
     bags, straw bales, or
     booms) to reduce the
     possibility of muds
     reaching surface waters.
    [rtarr8] Contain any
     potential drilling mud
     releases to Ennis Creek or
     Port Angeles Harbor above
     the high tide line with
     sand bags, and collect for
     disposal.
    [rtarr8] Use a forward-
     reaming drilling method, if
     practicable, to reduce
     volumes of drilling mud and
     drill cutting discharges.
    [rtarr8] Flush the drilling
     mud and cuttings from the
     borehole, if practicable,
     prior to the final drill
     out during a forward-
     reaming process.
    [rtarr8] Excavate a
     containment area at the HDD
     hole end point to collect
     and contain drilling muds
     and cuttings.
 Follow all mitigation    Sea Breeze (in      Prior to and
 measures required by the          consultation with   during
 Department of Ecology for water   Department of       construction.
 quality and contaminated          Ecology).
 sediments. Measures could
 include pre-construction
 sediment sampling near the HDD
 hole end point and cable trench
 in the Harbor, sediment
 dispersion modeling, sediment
 monitoring to ensure turbidity
 levels are not raised more than
 5 NTU above background levels,
 and sediment control measures.
 (Mitigation measure also listed
 in Geology and Soils Section.).
 Develop and implement a  Sea Breeze BPA....  Prior to and
 Spill Prevention, Control and                         during
 Countermeasure Plan to minimize                       construction.
 the potential for spills of
 fuels, oils, or other
 potentially hazardous materials
 to reach the shallow perched
 groundwater or surface water
 bodies.
 Develop a dewatering     Sea Breeze (in      Prior to and
 plan for trenching activities     consultation with   during
 in consultation with the City     City of Port        construction.
 of Port Angeles. (Mitigation      Angeles).
 measure also listed in
 Terrestrial Fish and Wildlife
 Section.)
 Keep vehicles and        Sea Breeze BPA....  During
 equipment in good working order                       construction.
 to prevent oil and fuel leaks.
 Limit site disturbance   Sea Breeze BPA....  During
 to the minimum area necessary                         construction.
 to complete construction
 activities to the extent
 practicable. (Mitigation
 measure also listed in Geology
 and Soils Section.).
 Prepare and implement a  Sea Breeze BPA....  During
 Storm Water Pollution                                 construction.
 Prevention Plan (SWPPP) to
 lessen soil erosion and improve
 water quality of stormwater run-
 off. (Mitigation measure also
 listed in Geology and Soils
 Section.).
 For the SWPPP, use       Sea Breeze BPA....  During
 management practices contained                        construction.
 in the most current addition of
 the Storm Water Management
 Manual for Western Washington
 found at http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wq/stormwater/manual.html (e.g., use silt
 fences, straw bales,
 interceptor trenches, or other
 perimeter sediment management
 devices, placing prior to the
 onset of the rainy season and
 monitoring and maintaining
 until disturbed areas have
 stabilized). (Mitigation
 measure also listed in Geology
 and Soils Section.).
 If needed, develop       BPA...............  Prior to and
 temporary retention pond (a                           during
 vegetated swale, a shallow                            construction.
 excavation, or a combination of
 detaining systems) to contain
 turbid stormwater during
 construction at Port Angeles
 Substation. (Mitigation measure
 also listed in Geology and
 Soils Section.).
 Seed or plant exposed    Sea Breeze BPA....  After
 areas as soon as practicable                          construction.
 after construction, or as
 called for by permit, at the
 converter station site and Port
 Angeles Substation to reduce
 the potential for short and
 long-term erosion. (Mitigation
 measure also listed in
 Vegetation and Wetlands,
 Geology and Soils, and Air
 Quality sections.).

[[Page 32692]]

 
 Provide appropriate      Sea Breeze (in      During design.
 long-term stormwater detention    consultation with
 or control facilities at the      City of Port
 converter station site as         Angeles).
 required by the City of Port
 Angeles. (Mitigation measure
 also listed in Terrestrial Fish
 and Wildlife Section.).
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Vegetation and Wetlands
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Conduct pre- and post-   Sea Breeze (in      2 weeks pre- and 2
 construction eel grass/macro      consultation with   weeks post-
 algae surveys in project impact   Washington          construction and
 area (HDD hole end point and      Department of       at Year 1 and
 cable corridor) two weeks prior   Fish and Wildlife   Year 2 following
 and two weeks following cable     and NMFS).          construction.
 installation. If a
 determination is made, in
 consultation with NMFS, that
 the macroalgae community is not
 likely to recover within one
 year, develop a plan to
 mitigate the effects. The plan
 may include annual monitoring
 for up to three years. Should
 the density of macroalgae in
 the disturbed area not recover
 to at least 80 percent of
 parallel reference transects
 after one year, take additional
 mitigation measures. Potential
 measures include placing
 appropriate material such as
 rocks or quarry spalls to
 enhance macroalgae attachment,
 and additional monitoring to
 document effectiveness.
 (Mitigation measure also listed
 in Marine Habitat and Wildlife
 Section.).
 Cut or crush             Sea Breeze BPA....  During
 vegetation, rather than blade,                        construction.
 in areas that will remain
 vegetated in order to maximize
 the ability of plants to
 resprout. (Mitigation measure
 also listed in Geology and
 Soils Section.).
 Seed or plant exposed    Sea Breeze BPA....  After
 areas as soon as practicable                          construction.
 after construction, or as
 called for by permit, at the
 converter station site and Port
 Angeles Substation to limit the
 potential for colonization by
 noxious weeds. (Mitigation
 measure also listed in Water
 Resources, Geology and Soils,
 and Air Quality sections.).
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Marine Habitat and Wildlife
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Monitor the beach        Sea Breeze (in      Prior to
 within 100 feet (30.5 m) of the   consultation with   construction.
 route for concentrations of       Washington
 crab and urchins, under the       Department of
 supervision of a qualified        Fish and
 biologist over a two-week         Wildlife).
 period prior to installation
 for any work occurring between
 February and September. If the
 survey identifies an
 unexpectedly high concentration
 of these priority species that
 would be directly impacted by
 the project, then determine
 additional mitigation
 requirements in consultation
 with WDFW.
 Mitigate loss of         Sea Breeze (in      Prior to and
 geoducks based on agreements      consultation with   following
 with the DNR, WDFW, the Lower     DNR, WDFW, the      construction.
 Elwha Klallam Tribe, the Port     Lower Elwha
 Gamble S'Klallam Tribe, and the   Klallam Tribe,
 Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe.        the Port Gamble
                                   S'Klallam Tribe,
                                   and the Jamestown
                                   S'Klallam Tribe).
 Use procedures that      Sea Breeze........  During design and
 reduce the volume of drilling                         construction.
 muds and drill cutting
 discharged into the Harbor.
 (See HDD mitigation measures
 listed in Water Resources
 Section.).
 Assess impacts to        Sea Breeze (in      Within 2 weeks
 nearshore habitat from drilling   consultation with   after
 and trenching to a depth of 70    Washington          construction and
 feet (21 m). If a determination   Department of       at Year 1, Year
 is made, in consultation with     Fish and Wildlife   2, and Year 3
 NMFS, that the macroalgae         and NMFS).          following
 community is not likely to                            construction.
 recover within one year,
 develop a plan to mitigate the
 effects. The plan may include
 annual monitoring for up to
 three years. Should the density
 of macroalgae in the disturbed
 area not recover to at least 80
 percent of parallel reference
 transects after one year, take
 additional mitigation measures.
 Potential measures include
 placing appropriate material
 such as rocks or quarry spalls
 to enhance macroalgae
 attachment, and additional
 monitoring to document
 effectiveness. (Mitigation
 measure also listed in
 Vegetation and Wetlands
 Section.).

[[Page 32693]]

 
 Institute control        Sea Breeze........  During
 measures on the cable vessel to                       construction.
 prevent the potential risk of
 an accidental release of any
 hazardous materials.
 (Mitigation measure also listed
 in Water Resources Section.).
 Use oil-adsorbent        Sea Breeze........  During
 materials, maintained on the                          construction.
 construction vessels, in the
 event of a petroleum product
 spill on the deck and/or if any
 sheen is observed in the water.
 (Mitigation measure also listed
 in Water Resources Section.).
 Conduct in-work and HDD  Sea Breeze........  During
 drilling between July 16                              construction.
 through February 15 to avoid
 impacts to bull trout and
 migrating juvenile salmonids.
 Mitigate potential       Sea Breeze (in      Prior to and
 impacts to state-protected        consultation with   during
 species as required by WDFW       WDFW).              construction.
 based on consultation (for
 example, marine work windows
 outside of the gray whale
 migration season of June 1 to
 November 30).
 Have a trained marine    Sea Breeze........  During
 mammal observer on board the                          construction.
 cable-laying vessel to record
 any observations of marine
 mammals, especially ESA-listed
 species. During nighttime
 operations, the observer would
 use low-light binoculars for
 observations. During cable-
 laying operations, observations
 for a minimum of 10 minutes
 would be made at least four
 times each hour. If any listed
 species are observed, the
 following procedures would be
 followed:
    [rtarr8] If an individual or
     group of animals is
     observed at 1,000 yards
     (915 m) from the cable-
     laying vessel, then
     behavior would be recorded
     and vessel operators would
     be notified. No change to
     cable-laying operations
     would be required.
    [rtarr8] If an individual or
     group of animals approaches
     the cable-laying vessel
     within 500 yards (457 m),
     the behavior of the animals
     would continue to be
     recorded, and the vessel
     operator would be notified
     and preparations to reduce
     the speed of cable-laying
     operations would begin.
    [rtarr8] If an individual or
     group of animals approaches
     the cable-laying vessel
     within 400 yards (366 m),
     the behavior of the animals
     would continue to be
     recorded, the vessel
     operator would be notified,
     and cable-laying operations
     would be reduced to one-
     half speed. The operator
     would prepare to stop cable-
     laying operation if
     necessary.
    [rtarr8] If an individual or
     group of animals approaches
     the cable-laying vessel
     within 100 yards (91 m),
     the behavior of the animals
     would continue to be
     recorded, the vessel
     operator would be notified,
     and cable-laying operations
     would cease until the
     individual or group of
     animals had moved beyond
     100 yards (91 m) of the
     vessel; then reduced-speed
     operations may resume.
 Deploy any item or       Sea Breeze........  During
 material that has the potential                       construction.
 for entangling marine mammals
 only as long as necessary to
 perform its task, and then
 immediately remove it from the
 project site.
 In the unlikely event    Sea Breeze........  During
 that a marine mammal becomes                          construction.
 entangled, immediately notify
 the stranding coordinator at
 NOAA Fisheries so that a rescue
 effort can be initiated.
 Aim work lights on the   Sea Breeze........  During
 cable-laying ship and support                         construction.
 vessels to illuminate work
 areas in such a way as to
 minimize spilling light into
 adjacent areas of water.
 If required by the       Sea Breeze (in      Prior to
 Department of Ecology,            consultation with   construction.
 undertake a marine monitoring     Department of
 program to help confirm the       Ecology).
 extent to which buried portions
 of the marine cable remain
 covered with sediment, and
 develop mitigation measures to
 keep the cable buried to the
 extent practical. (Mitigation
 measure also listed in
 Socioeconomics.).
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Terrestrial Wildlife and Freshwater Fish
------------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 32694]]

 
 Implement appropriate    Sea Breeze (in      During
 mitigation measures for ESA-      consultation with   construction.
 listed species if required by     USFWS).
 USFWS through Section 7
 consultations. Measures could
 include limitations to
 construction timing for noise
 producing activities.
 Develop a dewatering     Sea Breeze (in      Prior to and
 plan for trenching activities     consultation with   during
 in consultation with the City     City of Port        construction.
 of Port Angeles. (Mitigation      Angeles).
 measure also listed in Water
 Resources Section.).
 Provide appropriate      Sea Breeze (in      During design.
 long-term stormwater detention    consultation with
 or control facilities at the      City of Port
 converter station site so that    Angeles).
 peak flows in Ennis and White
 creeks are not increased from
 pre-existing levels.
 (Mitigation measure also listed
 in Water Resources Section.).
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Geology and Soils
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Follow all mitigation    Sea Breeze (in      Prior to and
 measures required by the          consultation with   during
 Department of Ecology for water   Department of       construction.
 quality and contaminated          Ecology).
 sediments. Measures could
 include pre-construction
 sediment sampling near the HDD
 hole end point and cable trench
 in the Harbor, sediment
 dispersion modeling, sediment
 monitoring to ensure turbidity
 levels are not raised more than
 5 NTU above background levels,
 and sediment control measures.
 (Mitigation measure also listed
 in Water Resources Section.).
 Limit site disturbance   Sea Breeze BPA....  During
 to the minimum area necessary                         construction.
 to complete construction
 activities to the extent
 practicable. (Mitigation
 measure also listed in Water
 Resources Section.).
 For the SWPPP, use       Sea Breeze BPA....  During
 management practices contained                        construction.
 in the most current addition of
 the Storm Water Management
 Manual for Western Washington
 found at http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wq/stormwater/manual.html (e.g., use silt
 fences, straw bales,
 interceptor trenches, or other
 perimeter sediment management
 devices, placing prior to the
 onset of the rainy season and
 monitoring and maintaining
 until disturbed areas have
 stabilized). (Mitigation
 measure also listed in Water
 Resources Section.).
 For the SWPPP, use       Sea Breeze BPA....  During
 management practices contained                        construction.
 in the Storm Water Management
 Manual for Western Washington
 (e.g., use silt fences, straw
 bales, interceptor trenches, or
 other perimeter sediment
 management devices, placing
 them prior to the onset of the
 rainy season and monitoring and
 maintaining until disturbed
 areas have stabilized).
 (Mitigation measure also listed
 in Water Resources Section.).
 If needed, develop a     BPA...............  Prior to and
 temporary retention pond (a                           during
 vegetated swale, a shallow                            construction.
 excavation, or a combination of
 detaining systems) to contain
 turbid stormwater during
 construction at Port Angeles
 Substation. (Mitigation measure
 also listed in Water Resources
 Section.).
 Seed or plant exposed    Sea Breeze BPA....  After
 areas as soon as practicable                          construction.
 after construction, or as
 called for by permit, at the
 converter station site and Port
 Angeles Substation to reduce
 the potential for short and
 long-term erosion. (Mitigation
 measure also listed in Water
 Resources, Vegetation and
 Wetlands, and Air Quality
 Sections.).
 Cut or crush             Sea Breeze BPA....  During
 vegetation, rather than blade,                        construction.
 in areas that will remain
 vegetated in order to maximize
 the ability of plant roots to
 keep soil intact. (Mitigation
 measure also listed in
 Vegetation and Wetlands
 Section.).
 Install trip switches    Sea Breeze........  During design.
 in the converter station to
 automatically shut off power at
 the station in the event of
 strong ground shaking during a
 seismic event that could damage
 the transmission system.

[[Page 32695]]

 
 Include engineered       Sea Breeze........  During design.
 design and earthquake-resistant
 construction in all habitable
 structures to increase the
 safety of persons occupying the
 buildings. The minimum seismic
 design would comply with the
 Clallam County Building Code
 and applicable Washington State
 Building Codes.
 Design and construct     Sea Breeze........  During design.
 non-habitable project
 components using earthquake-
 resistant measures.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Land Use
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Notify residents and     Sea Breeze BPA....  Prior to
 business owners of the                                construction.
 construction schedule,
 potential impacts, and contact
 numbers for project managers
 who can provide information or
 address concerns during
 construction.
 Contact residents along  Sea Breeze........  Prior to
 the route prior to construction                       construction.
 to coordinate driveway access
 and reduce interference.
 Provide appropriate      Sea Breeze (in      Prior to and
 signage for redirecting traffic   coordination with   during
 during construction through       the City of Port    construction.
 coordination with the City of     Angeles).
 Port Angeles Public Works
 Department.
 Implement measures to    Sea Breeze........  During design and
 reduce visual and noise impacts                       construction.
 (see Visual and Noise
 Sections).
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Visual Resources
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Seek and incorporate     Sea Breeze........  During design.
 input from local residents and
 planning officials about the
 design of the exterior of the
 converter station.
 Design converter         Sea Breeze........  During design.
 station building exterior to be
 compatible with facilities of
 Peninsula College. This would
 be accomplished by including
 the following:
    [rtarr8] Installing
     decorative walls,
    [rtarr8] Planting native
     trees and understory
     vegetation,
    [rtarr8] Installing slats on
     chain-link fencing.
 Revegetate exposed       BPA...............  After
 ground above underground AC                           construction.
 lines on BPA property with
 vegetation that does not
 jeopardize safety or
 reliability of equipment.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Socioeconomics
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Record the location of   Sea Breeze........  During
 the marine cable bundle on                            construction.
 navigational charts.
 (Mitigation measure also listed
 in Health and Safety Section.).
 Bury the cable bundle    Sea Breeze........  During
 deep enough to provide                                construction.
 protection, up to 12 feet (3.6
 m), in areas of soft soils and
 potential ship anchorage.
 (Mitigation measure also listed
 in Health and Safety Section.).
 If required by the       Sea Breeze........  During operation.
 Department of Ecology to reduce
 the possibility of the cable
 being snagged by anchors,
 undertake a marine monitoring
 program to help confirm the
 extent to which buried portions
 of the marine cable remain
 covered with sediment, and
 develop mitigation measures to
 keep the cable buried to the
 extent practical. (Mitigation
 measure also listed in Marine
 Habitat and Wildlife.).
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cultural Resources
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Develop an Inadvertent   Sea Breeze and BPA  Prior to
 Discovery Plan that details       (in consultation    construction.
 crew member responsibilities      with Washington
 for reporting in the event of a   SHPO and the
 discovery during marine cable     Lower Elwha
 installation.                     Klallam Tribe).
 Develop a Cultural       Sea Breeze and BPA  Prior to
 Resource Monitoring Plan in       (in consultation    construction.
 consultation with the Lower       with Washington
 Elwha Klallam Tribe.              SHPO and the
                                   Lower Elwha
                                   Klallam Tribe).
 Ensure tribal monitors   Sea Breeze BPA....  During
 from the Lower Elwha Klallam                          construction.
 Tribe and an archaeologist are
 present during excavation in
 areas of moderate to high risk
 for impacts (e.g., at the HDD
 platform, trenching along level
 areas of the terrestrial route,
 and excavation at the converter
 station site and
 interconnection site work).

[[Page 32696]]

 
 Develop an Inadvertent   Sea Breeze and BPA  Prior to
 Discovery Plan that details       (in consultation    construction.
 construction worker               with Washington
 responsibilities for reporting    SHPO and the
 in the event of a discovery       Lower Elwha
 during terrestrial excavation.    Klallam Tribe).
 If final placement of    Sea Breeze and BPA  During
 the project elements results in   (in consultation    construction.
 unavoidable adverse impacts to    with Washington
 a significant resource, prepare   SHPO and the
 a Mitigation Plan to retrieve     Lower Elwha
 the scientific and historical     Klallam Tribe).
 information that makes the site
 significant under the direction
 of a qualified archeologist and
 in consultation with Washington
 SHPO and the Lower Elwha
 Klallam Tribe.
 Stop work immediately    Sea Breeze and BPA  Immediately after
 and notify local law              (in consultation    remains are
 enforcement officials, the        with Washington     encountered.
 Washington SHPO, and the Lower    SHPO and the
 Elwha Klallam Tribe if project    Lower Elwha
 activities expose human           Klallam Tribe).
 remains, either in the form of
 burials or isolated bones or
 teeth, or other mortuary items.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Noise
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Incorporate the use of   Sea Breeze........  Prior to and
 sound attenuating techniques at                       during HDD
 the HDD construction site to                          construction.
 reduce noise levels as close to
 its source as possible.
 Do not permit the use    Sea Breeze........  During
 of equipment with back-up                             construction.
 warning devices between 7 p.m.
 and 7 a.m.
 Monitor vibration        Sea Breeze........  During HDD
 levels during initial HDD                             construction.
 operations and during pipe
 ramming.
 Conduct pre-             Sea Breeze........  Prior to and after
 construction and post-                                HDD construction.
 construction structural surveys
 of adjacent and nearby
 structures to determine if
 structural damage has occurred
 due to pipe ramming vibrations.
 Compensate property owners for
 damages as appropriate.
 Reduce the speed of the  Sea Breeze........  During HDD
 HDD drill during non-exempt                           construction.
 hours, if possible, to limit
 noise levels.
 Enclose major noise-     Sea Breeze........  During design.
 generating equipment inside the
 converter station building,
 where possible.
 Place cooling fans at    Sea Breeze........  During design.
 the converter station away from
 residents.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Health and Safety
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Obtain approval from     Sea Breeze........  Prior to
 the City of Port Angeles prior                        construction.
 to construction in city
 streets.
 Provide detailed         Sea Breeze........  After
 information about the location                        construction.
 of the cable (as-builts) to the
 Port Angeles Engineering
 Department so construction
 crews can avoid it.
 Install concrete and     Sea Breeze........  During
 warning tape above buried                             construction.
 terrestrial cables to protect
 the cable from possible damage
 during future excavation in the
 street near the cable corridor.
 Record the location of   Sea Breeze........  During and after
 the marine cable bundle on                            construction.
 navigational charts.
 (Mitigation measure also listed
 in Socioeconomic Section.)
 Bury the cable bundle    Sea Breeze........  During
 deep enough to provide                                construction.
 protection, up to 12 feet (3.6
 m), in areas of soft soils and
 potential ship anchorage.
 (Mitigation measure also listed
 in Socioeconomic Section.)
 Configure and locate     Sea Breeze........  During design.
 buried AC cables and overhead
 transmission lines to lessen
 potential magnetic field
 exposures.
 Abide by all federal,    Sea Breeze BPA....  During
 state, and local requirements                         construction.
 for the storage, handling,
 transport, disposal, and spill
 reporting requirements of all
 products and deleterious
 substances. Personnel handling
 or transporting such materials
 would be adequately trained
 and, where necessary, material
 safety data sheets (MSDS) would
 be kept on hand.
 Ensure proper refueling  Sea Breeze BPA....  During
 procedures are followed and                           construction.
 that containment materials are
 on hand at refueling locations.
 Maintain ``good-         Sea Breeze BPA....  During
 housekeeping practices'' within                       construction.
 the hazardous material
 containment area, including
 prompt cleanup of spills.

[[Page 32697]]

 
 Place all transformers   Sea Breeze........  During design.
 inside a bermed area large
 enough to capture the full
 potential volume of any oil
 spills or leaks from the
 equipment.
 Conduct periodic         Sea Breeze........  During operation.
 inspections around all
 transformers to look for any
 minor leaks or spills.
 Install appropriate      Sea Breeze........  During design.
 fire detectors, sprinklers, and
 other fire safety equipment in
 the converter station.
 Remove vegetation and    Sea Breeze BPA....  During
 tall trees that could pose a                          construction.
 danger to overhead transmission
 lines, converter station
 equipment, and electrical yards
 to prevent potential damage
 during large windstorms or from
 tree deadfalls.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air Quality
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Apply water to exposed   Sea Breeze BPA....  During
 soils at construction sites as                        construction.
 necessary to control dust.
 Clean accumulated dirt,  Sea Breeze........  During
 as necessary, from roads along                        construction.
 the cable construction corridor
 and near the converter station
 and substation.
 Implement dust control   Sea Breeze BPA....  During
 measures, as necessary, to                            construction.
 limit dust releases from dump
 trucks (such as wetting dry
 soil).
 Seed or plant exposed    Sea Breeze BPA....  After
 areas as soon as practicable                          construction.
 after construction, or as
 called for by permit, at the
 converter station site and Port
 Angeles Substation to reduce
 the potential for wind blown
 erosion. (Mitigation measure
 also listed in Water Resources,
 Vegetation and Wetlands, and
 Geology and Soils sections.)
 Keep all construction    Sea Breeze BPA....  During
 equipment in good running                             construction.
 condition to minimize emissions
 from internal combustion
 engines and ensure that odor
 impacts are kept to a minimum.
 To the degree            Sea Breeze BPA....  During
 practical, minimize equipment                         construction.
 idling for long periods of
 time.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

 [FR Doc. E8-13013 Filed 6-9-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P