[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 178 (Wednesday, September 15, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56094-56096]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-23066]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Western Area Power Administration

[DOE-EIS 0398]


Delta-Mendota Canal Intertie Project

AGENCY: Western Area Power Administration, DOE.

ACTION: Notice of Record of Decision and Floodplain Statement of 
Findings.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Western Area Power 
Administration (Western), plans to authorize a new interconnection and 
design, construct, own, operate, and maintain a new 69-kilovolt (kV) 
transmission line and fiber optic cable for delivery of project use 
power as part of the Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation, 
Mid-Pacific Region's (Reclamation) Delta-Mendota Canal (DMC)/California 
Aqueduct Intertie (Intertie) project. The Intertie, including the 
interconnection to Western's system and transmission line and fiber 
optic cable, was analyzed in a Reclamation Environmental Impact 
Statement (EIS) with the Final EIS dated and released in November 2009. 
The EIS was developed in compliance with the National Environmental 
Policy Act (NEPA).
    Reclamation issued a Record of Decision (ROD) dated December 28, 
2009, to proceed with the Intertie, described as its Proposed Action in 
the EIS. The Intertie would be located in Alameda County, California, 
and involves constructing and operating a pumping plant, a pipeline 
connection between the DMC and the California Aqueduct at Mile 7.2 of 
the DMC and Mile 9 of the California Aqueduct, a switchyard, access 
roads, and the transmission line. Reclamation served as the lead agency 
in the preparation of the NEPA documents for this project. Western, in 
accordance with the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) Regulations 
for Implementing NEPA (40 CFR Parts 1500-1508) and DOE NEPA 
Implementing Procedures (10 CFR Part 1021), served as a cooperating 
agency. Western adopted the EIS in March 2010 (DOE/EIS-0398) to meet 
its NEPA responsibilities for its transmission actions in support of 
the Intertie.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. David Young, Environmental 
Protection Specialist, Western Area Power Administration, Sierra Nevada 
Region, 114 Parkshore Drive, Folsom, CA 95630-4710; telephone (916) 
353-4542; e-mail [email protected]. Copies of the Draft EIS and Final EIS 
are available online at http://www.usbr.gov/mp/nepa/nepa_projdetails.cfm?Project_ID=1014. For general information about the DOE 
NEPA process, visit the DOE NEPA Program Web site at http://nepa.energy.gov/ or contact Ms. Carol M. Borgstrom, Director, Office of 
NEPA Policy and Compliance, GC-54, U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 
Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585; telephone (800) 472-
2756.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The purpose of the Intertie is to improve 
the DMC conveyance conditions that restrict the C.W. ``Bill'' Jones 
Pumping Plant to less than its original-design authorized pumping 
capacity of 4,600 cubic feet per second (cfs) and to improve 
operational flexibility for operation, maintenance, and emergency 
activities. A lack of operational flexibility presently compromises the 
ability of the Central Valley Project, owned and operated by 
Reclamation, and the State Water Project to respond to emergencies, 
conduct necessary system maintenance, and provide capacity to respond 
to environmental opportunities in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River 
Delta (Delta). The amount, timing, and location of water deliveries 
from the DMC, apparent canal subsidence, siltation, the facility 
design, and other factors have resulted in a mismatch between designed/
authorized Jones Pumping Plant export capacity and DMC conveyance 
capacity.
    The primary project component of the Intertie would be a pumping 
plant with four electrically-powered pumping units having a total 
pumping capacity of 467 cfs although the maximum average monthly 
pumping is expected to be around 400 cfs. Water would be withdrawn from 
the DMC through a conventional-style intake structure and pumped uphill 
a vertical distance of about 50 feet through belowground pipelines and 
be discharged into the California Aqueduct. The pipeline would be 
located between the DMC and the California Aqueduct at Mile 7.2 of the 
DMC and Mile 9 of the California Aqueduct; all Intertie facilities 
would be in Alameda County, California. A switchyard would be located 
northwest of the pumping plant. The Intertie would be owned by 
Reclamation and operated by the San Luis & Delta-Mendota Water 
Authority (Water Authority).
    Reclamation completed the EIS process and issued a ROD on December 
28, 2009, authorizing the construction of the Intertie (Reclamation's 
Proposed Action and Preferred Alternative, also referred to as 
Alternative 2).

Western's Purpose and Need

    Western's purpose and need for the proposed action is a result of 
Reclamation's request for an interconnection with Western's system. 
Reclamation requires a reliable electrical connection and power supply 
to run the Intertie pumps. Western's Open Access Transmission Service 
Tariff describes all conditions necessary for access to its 
transmission system. Western provides an interconnection to its 
transmission system if there is sufficient available capacity, while 
considering transmission system reliability and power delivery to 
existing customers, and the applicant's objectives.

Western's Proposed Action

    Western plans to authorize a new interconnection and design, 
construct, own, operate, and maintain a new 69-kV transmission line and 
fiber optic cable for delivery of project use power as part of 
Reclamation's DMC Intertie project. Western would construct the new 
4.5-mile-long 69-kV transmission line and fiber optic cable between its 
existing Tracy Substation and Reclamation's new DMC Intertie pumping 
plant switchyard. The transmission line would run parallel to the DMC 
for approximately 4.5 miles and would be constructed entirely on the 
west side of the canal and within the existing previously disturbed 
canal right-of-way.
    The transmission line would be constructed using approximately 51 
wood poles and 25 glue laminate poles which would be placed in augered 
holes in the spoil piles that border the canal from its construction. 
The holes would be no more than 3 feet, 5 inches in diameter and 
approximately 14 feet in depth, supporting poles approximately 61 feet 
tall. A crane using the existing access and maintenance road along the 
canal would be used to set the transmission structures. Although span 
lengths will vary according to ground and alignment conditions, it is 
estimated that the average span length across straight segments of the 
transmission line would be approximately 300 feet. The existing access 
and maintenance road would be realigned where necessary to accommodate 
transmission line structures, but the upgraded access road

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would remain on the spoil area and within the canal right-of-way.
    The majority of the soil extracted from augered holes would be 
backfilled and compacted to support the poles. The remainder would be 
placed back onto the spoil piles. Wood poles would be free standing 
without guy wires. Conductor, fiber optic cable, and optical ground 
wire would be strung on these poles. Transmission line installation 
would result in a permanent ground disturbance of approximately 3 to 13 
square feet for each pole; the total permanent ground disturbance for 
the entire transmission line would be 0.005 to 0.02 acre. These 
estimates are based on a permanent ground disturbance diameter of 2 to 
4 feet for each pole.
    The fiber optic cable would provide a communications link between 
the substation and the switchyard. Western would install a new load 
break disconnect at the Tracy Substation to provide reliability and 
flexibility for the new power service. Western would also install a new 
fused disconnect on the new transmission line to provide protection for 
the line and flexibility for other electrical service.

Alternatives Considered

    Reclamation evaluated four alternatives in their Intertie EIS, 
including No Action, with the transmission line being included as a 
component in two of the evaluated action alternatives. Due to the 
locations of the Tracy Substation, the DMC, and Reclamation's 
switchyard, locating the transmission line along the DMC was an obvious 
opportunity to consolidate project facilities and minimize possible 
environmental impacts. This route kept the new transmission line within 
the existing canal right-of-way and on a previously disturbed area, the 
side-cast spoil from the original construction of the DMC. The route 
also allowed use of the existing canal access and maintenance road to 
be used for construction and future maintenance of the transmission 
line. A cursory review indicated that any potential alternative 
transmission line routes would impact other landowners, add to the 
overall length of the line, likely impact previously undisturbed areas, 
and clearly increase overall potential impacts to environmental 
resources. Given the opportunity to use the existing canal right-of-way 
and minimize environmental impacts, no other transmission alignment 
options were developed for the Intertie project.

Environmentally Preferred Alternative

    Reclamation identified their Alternative 4 (Virtual Intertie) as 
the Environmentally Preferred Alternative. This alternative relied on 
temporary facilities and would not require Western to construct the 
transmission line. However, this alternative did not meet all of 
Reclamation's objectives and needs; therefore, Reclamation made the 
decision to implement their Preferred Alternative (Alternative 2) that 
includes the transmission line component.

Public Involvement

    A Notice of Intent announcing the preparation of an EIS was 
published in the Federal Register on July 12, 2006. Reclamation issued 
a news release on July 20, 2006, seeking public input on preparation of 
an EIS for the Intertie project. Two scoping meetings were held to 
solicit written comments about the scope of the environmental review. A 
Sacramento meeting was held August 1, 2006, and a Stockton meeting was 
held August 3, 2006. Comments were received and incorporated as 
appropriate into the EIS. Additionally, a scoping report was prepared.
    Reclamation filed a Notice of Availability for the Draft EIS in the 
Federal Register on July 17, 2009. The Draft EIS was circulated for 
public review for 45 days, during which time Reclamation held two 
public hearings (August 4 and 5, 2009). No oral comments were received 
during these hearings, but 10 written comments were received during the 
public review period. All written comments were incorporated into the 
Final EIS which was released on November 20, 2009, and circulated for 
public review for 30 days.

Environmental Impacts

    The scoping process and prior litigation revealed several areas of 
controversy surrounding the Intertie. The Intertie is controversial as 
it relates to diversions from the Delta and construction of facilities 
near the Transmission Agency of Northern California's California-Oregon 
Transmission Project. In the past several years, virtually any project 
proposal to change diversions in the Delta has been met with great 
resistance from a variety of agencies, organizations, and landowners 
depending on the specific proposal. Reclamation, in coordination with 
Western and the Water Authority, addressed each of the identified areas 
of controversy in the Intertie EIS through changes in the project, 
impact assessment, and inclusion of measures required for Endangered 
Species Act (ESA) compliance. No controversy or substantive 
environmental impacts were identified associated with Western's action 
of constructing the transmission line and related activities, primarily 
because of the selection of the route along the DMC, as described above 
under the heading ``Alternatives Considered.''

Consultation

    As part of the development of the Intertie, Reclamation coordinated 
with several agencies, including U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 
(USFWS), California Department of Water Resources (DWR), the State 
Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO), and Western and the Water 
Authority as cooperating agencies. Reclamation's ROD, which was signed 
on December 28, 2009, is available online at http://www.usbr.gov/mp/nepa/nepa_projdetails.cfm?Project_ID=1014. Reclamation coordinated 
with USFWS for development of the Coordination Act Report and 
consultation under Section 7 of the ESA and with DWR to obtain right-
of-way access on the California Aqueduct. The SHPO concurred with 
Reclamation's finding that the Intertie would have no adverse effect on 
historic properties pursuant to 36 CFR 800.5(a). Reclamation's 
consultations and the Intertie EIS satisfy Western's NEPA compliance 
documentation requirements for the interconnection and construction, 
operation, and maintenance of the new transmission line and fiber optic 
cable for delivery of power for the Intertie.

Mitigation

    Reclamation and Western adopted all practicable means to avoid or 
minimize adverse effects on the environment that would result from the 
implementation of the Intertie. Where feasible and appropriate, 
Reclamation and Western will implement mitigation measures as specified 
in Reclamation's ROD. The ROD includes a summary of all the 
environmental commitments and mitigation for the Intertie, specifies 
the party responsible for implementation, and provides a time frame for 
completion. Reclamation and Western will ensure that the environmental 
commitments and mitigation measures are effectively implemented and 
completed according to schedule during design, construction, and 
operation as required.

Floodplain Statement of Findings

    In accordance with 10 CFR 1022, the Intertie EIS considered the 
potential impacts of the Intertie on floodplains and wetlands. Section 
4.2 ``Vegetation and Wetlands'' of the EIS includes a map of all 
wetland resources and drainage features in the study area. Flood hazard 
areas identified on the

[[Page 56096]]

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Flood Insurance Rate Maps 
are identified as a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA). SFHA is defined 
as the area that will be inundated by the flood event having a one 
percent chance of being equaled or exceeded in any given year. The one 
percent annual chance flood is also referred to as the base flood or 
100-year flood. According to FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map 06077c07457, 
the majority of the Intertie study area is located within Zone X with a 
small portion located within Zone AE. There are no practical means of 
avoiding floodplain areas. Implementation of environmental commitments 
and mandatory compliance with applicable floodplain management 
standards as set forth by FEMA will ensure the Intertie does not 
substantially alter the normal drainage patterns, affect runoff rates, 
or contribute to the impedance of flood flows.
    The Intertie study area contains Seasonal, Emergent marsh, Alkali 
wetlands, and Perennial, Intermittent, and Ephemeral drainages. Clean 
Water Act Section 404 regulates the discharge of dredged and fill 
materials into waters of the United States. Waters of the United States 
refers to oceans, bays, rivers, streams, lakes, ponds and wetlands. EIS 
Section 4.2 ``Vegetation and Wetlands'' includes an evaluation of the 
Intertie impacts on wetlands and determined that none of the Intertie 
alternatives would result in the discharge of dredged or fill material 
into any wetland or water. Western will coordinate with Reclamation to 
ensure compliance with all applicable floodplain and wetland protection 
standards and requirements applicable to the construction, operation, 
and maintenance of the transmission line.

Decision

    Western's decision is to interconnect the Intertie to Western's 
system and design, construct, own, operate, and maintain a new 69-kV 
transmission line, fiber optic cable, disconnects, and related 
equipment in support of Reclamation's decision to construct the 
Intertie as summarized above and described in detail in the EIS. This 
decision is based on the information contained in the DMC Intertie EIS 
which Western adopted in March 2010 as DOE/EIS-0398. This ROD was 
prepared in accordance with CEQ Regulations for Implementing NEPA (40 
CFR Parts 1500-1508) and DOE NEPA Implementing Procedures (10 CFR Part 
1021). Full implementation of this decision is contingent upon the 
implementation of all identified environmental commitments and 
mitigation measures applicable to Western's action and obtaining all 
applicable permits and approvals.

    Dated: September 2, 2010.
Timothy J. Meeks,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2010-23066 Filed 9-14-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P