[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 105 (Wednesday, June 3, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26679-26680]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-12915]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Bonneville Power Administration;


Big Eddy-Knight Transmission Project

AGENCY: Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), 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: BPA intends to prepare an EIS in accordance with the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) on the construction, operation, and 
maintenance of a proposed 500-kilovolt (kV) transmission line and 
substation. The project would be located in Wasco County, Oregon and 
Klickitat County, Washington. The new BPA transmission line would 
extend generally northeast from BPA's existing 500-kV Big Eddy 
Substation in The Dalles, Oregon, to a new BPA 500-kV substation 
proposed to be connected to BPA's existing Wautoma-Ostrander 500-kV 
transmission line approximately 4 miles northwest of Goldendale, 
Washington. The proposed BPA substation would be called Knight 
Substation. BPA is considering three routing alternatives for the 
proposed transmission line; portions of all three routes parallel 
existing BPA lines in the area. The lengths of the routing alternatives 
range from about 26 to 28 miles. The proposed Big Eddy-Knight 
transmission line is needed to increase transmission capacity to 
respond to requests for transmission service in this area.
    With this Notice of Intent, BPA is initiating the public scoping 
process for the EIS. BPA is requesting comments about potential 
environmental impacts that it should consider as it prepares the EIS 
for the proposed project, as well as comments on the proposed routes 
for the transmission line, and suggestions about other route options 
that may meet the technical requirements of the transmission system.
    In accordance with DOE regulations for compliance with floodplain 
and wetlands environmental review requirements, BPA will prepare a 
floodplain and wetlands assessment to avoid or minimize potential harm 
to or within any affected floodplains and wetlands. The assessment will 
be included in the EIS.

DATES: Written scoping comments are due to the address below no later 
than July 21, 2009. Comments may also be made at the EIS scoping 
meetings to be held on June 30, 2009 and July 1, 2009 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, Public Affairs 
Office--DKE-7, P.O. Box 14428, Portland, OR, 97293-4428, or by fax to 
(503) 230-3285. You also may call BPA's toll free comment line at (800) 
622-4519 and leave a message (please include the name of this project), 
or submit comments online at http://www.bpa.gov/comment. BPA will post 
all comment letters in their entirety on BPA's Web site at http://www.bpa.gov/comment.
    On Tuesday, June 30, 2009, an open-house style scoping meeting will 
be held from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Shilo Inn Suites Hotel in The 
Dalles, Oregon. On Wednesday, July 1, 2009, a scoping meeting will be 
held from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Goldendale High School in Goldendale, 
Washington. At these informal meetings, we will provide maps and other 
information about the project and have members of the project team 
available to answer questions and accept oral and written comments. You 
may stop by anytime during the open house.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Stacy Mason, Environmental 
Coordinator, Bonneville Power Administration--KEC-4, P.O. Box 3621, 
Portland, Oregon 97208-3621; toll-free telephone 1-800-282-3713; direct 
telephone 503-230-5455; or e-mail [email protected]. You may also contact 
Steve Prickett, Project Manager, Bonneville Power Administration--TNP-
3, P.O. Box 3621, Portland, Oregon, 97208-3621; toll-free telephone 1-
800-282-3713; direct telephone 360-619-6379; or e-mail 
[email protected]. Additional information can be found at BPA's Web 
site: http://www.efw.bpa.gov/environmental_services/nepadocs.aspx, 
click on ``Project Reviews--Active,'' then use the drop-down box and 
click on Big Eddy-Knight Transmission Project.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In 2008, BPA conducted a Network Open Season 
(NOS) process to help manage its list of requests for long-term 
transmission service. During the NOS process, utilities and power 
generators

[[Page 26680]]

(including wind generators and power marketers) requested the use of 
BPA's transmission system to transmit their power. To determine if BPA 
could offer the service requested, BPA studied the transmission system 
and identified where existing capacity was available and where the 
system needed upgrades. The studies found that there was not enough 
available transmission capacity to accommodate all requests for long-
term service from the east side of the Cascade Mountains along the 
Oregon/Washington border, to load centers west of the Cascades, and to 
major transmission lines serving California. Wind generation facilities 
built and proposed in the region have greatly increased the amount of 
power being produced on the east side of the Cascade Mountains. Further 
studies revealed that building a new 500-kV line from BPA's existing 
Big Eddy Substation in Oregon to a point on BPA's existing Wautoma-
Ostrander 500-kV transmission line in Washington would allow BPA to 
accommodate the requests for transmission service in this area.
    BPA must respond to these requests for transmission service under 
its Open Access Transmission Tariff. This tariff, which is generally 
consistent with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's pro forma 
open access tariff, has procedures that provide access to BPA's 
transmission system for all eligible customers, consistent with all BPA 
requirements (including the availability or development of sufficient 
transmission capacity) and subject to an environmental review under 
NEPA. The proposed Big Eddy-Knight Transmission Line Project would 
respond to these requests for transmission service. BPA, therefore, 
will prepare an EIS under NEPA to assist the agency as it decides 
whether to build the proposed project, and if a decision is made to 
build a line, which alternative transmission line route should be 
constructed.
    BPA will be the lead agency for preparation of the EIS. In 
furtherance of existing cooperative agreements between BPA and the 
States of Washington and Oregon, the Washington Energy Facility Site 
Evaluation Council (Washington EFSEC) and the Oregon Energy Facility 
Siting Council (Oregon EFSC) also will participate in preparation of 
the EIS. Among other things, these State agencies will assist BPA in 
evaluating alternative transmission line routes and identifying State 
interests that should be addressed in the EIS. In addition, cooperating 
agencies for the EIS may be identified as the proposed project proceeds 
through the NEPA process.
    Alternatives Proposed for Consideration. BPA is considering three 
routing alternatives for evaluation in the EIS. The routing 
alternatives use a combination of existing BPA transmission right-of-
way and new right-of-way and are about 26-28 miles long. BPA proposes 
to use lattice steel towers for construction of the transmission line.
    All routing alternatives would originate at BPA's Big Eddy 
Substation, near The Dalles, Oregon, and would terminate at a new BPA 
500-kV Knight Substation located under and connected to BPA's existing 
BPA Wautoma-Ostrander 500-kV transmission line approximately 4 miles 
northwest of Goldendale, Washington. The following describes the 
general location of the three routing alternatives:
     West Alternative: This route would extend northwest from 
Big Eddy Substation following existing vacant BPA right-of-way to and 
across the Columbia River. The line would then head east, and then 
north to parallel an existing BPA 115-kV H-frame wood-pole transmission 
line. The proposed line would angle northeast in new right-of-way 
adjacent to the wood pole line for about 12 miles. The proposed line 
would continue northeast in new right-of-way for about 4 miles before 
nearing two existing lattice steel lines (230 kV and 500 kV). The 
proposed line would parallel these existing lines eastward for about 3 
miles to the proposed Knight Substation site. This routing alternative 
is about 26 miles long.
     Middle Alternative: From Big Eddy Substation, this route 
would extend east and slightly north in existing right-of-way next to 
an existing BPA 230-kV lattice-steel transmission line for about 7 
miles before crossing the Columbia River. The line would cross the 
river just west of the existing line and follow it for about 1.5 miles 
before heading north in new right-of-way. The line would then head to 
the proposed Knight Substation site, generally running north for about 
15 miles with one jog east along an existing BPA 115-kV wood-pole line. 
This routing alternative is about 26 miles long.
     East Alternative: This route would follow the same route 
as the Middle Routing Alternative, but instead of heading north on the 
Washington side of the river, the East Routing Alternative would 
continue east next to two existing lattice-steel lines (230 kV and 345 
kV) for an additional 4 miles before turning north. The line would then 
generally run north for 15 miles to the proposed Knight Substation 
site. This routing alternative is about 28 miles long.
    BPA is also considering the No Action Alternative, that is, not 
building the transmission line and substation. 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, socioeconomics, cultural resources, 
visual resources, electric and magnetic field effects, sensitive plants 
and animals, soil erosion, wetlands, floodplains, and fish and water 
resources. The transmission line alternatives being considered also 
cross portions of the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. BPA 
has established a 45-day scoping period during which tribes, affected 
landowners, concerned citizens, special interest groups, local and 
federal governments, and any other interested parties are invited to 
comment on the scope of the proposed EIS, including potential routing 
alternatives to be considered and environmental impacts to be 
evaluated. Scoping will help BPA 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 BPA will hold public meetings to 
answer questions and receive comments. BPA will consider and respond to 
comments received on the Draft EIS in the Final EIS. The Final EIS is 
expected to be published in winter 2010-11. BPA's decision will be 
documented in a Record of Decision that will follow the Final EIS.

    Issued in Portland, Oregon, on May 27, 2009.
Stephen J. Wright,
Administrator and Chief Executive Officer.
[FR Doc. E9-12915 Filed 6-2-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P