[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 209 (Friday, October 29, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66750-66751]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-27411]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Bonneville Power Administration


Albany-Eugene Transmission Line Rebuild Project

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

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement 
(EIS).

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act 
(NEPA), BPA intends to prepare an EIS on its proposed rebuild of a 32-
mile section of the Albany-Eugene 115-kilovolt (kV) No. 1 Transmission 
Line in Lane and Linn counties, Oregon. The deteriorated condition of 
this 70-year old line compromises BPA's ability to maintain reliable 
electric service and poses a safety risk to the public and maintenance 
crews. With this notice BPA is initiating the public scoping process 
for the Albany-Eugene Transmission Line Rebuild Project EIS and 
requesting comments about the potential environmental impacts it should 
consider as it prepares the EIS for the proposed project.

DATES: Written comments are due to the address below no later than 
November 30, 2010. Comments may also be made at two EIS scoping 
meetings to be held on November 16 and 17, 2010 at the the addresses 
below.

ADDRESSES: Comments and suggestions on the proposed scope of the Draft 
EIS for this project and requests to be placed on the project mailing 
list may be mailed by letter to Bonneville Power Administration, Public 
Affairs--DKC-7, P.O. Box 14428, Portland, OR 97292-4428. Or you may FAX 
them to 503-230-3285; submit them on-line at http://www.bpa.gov/comment; or e-mail them to [email protected]. On November 16, 2010 a 
scoping meeting will be held from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Harrisburg 
High School, 400 South 9th Street, Harrisburg, Oregon 97446. On 
November 17, 2010, a scoping meeting will held from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. 
at the Albany Public Library, 2450 14th Avenue SE., Albany, Oregon 
97322. At these informal open-house meetings, BPA will provide 
information, including maps, about the project. Members of the project 
team will be

[[Page 66751]]

available to answer questions and accept oral and written comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Doug Corkran, Environmental 
Coordinator, Bonneville Power Administration--KEC-4, P.O. Box 3621, 
Portland, Oregon, 97208-3621; toll-free telephone number 1-800-622-
4519; direct number (503) 230-7646; fax number 503-230-5699; or e-mail 
[email protected]. You may also contact Erich Orth, Project Manager, 
Bonneville Power Administration--TEP-TPP-3, P.O. Box 3621, Portland, 
Oregon 97208-3621; toll-free telephone 1-800-622-4519; direct telephone 
360-619-6559; or e-mail [email protected] Additional information can be 
found at BPA's Web site: http://www.efw.bpa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Proposed Action: BPA proposes to rebuild a 32-mile section of the 
Albany-Eugene 115-kV No. 1 Transmission Line. No major work has been 
done on the line since it was built in 1940. Many of the structures, 
the electric wire (conductor), and associated structural components 
(cross arms, insulators, and dampers) are physically worn and 
structurally unsound in places. The wood transmission poles have lasted 
beyond the expected 55 to 60 years and now need to be replaced due to 
age, rot, and deterioration. Rebuilding the deteriorated line would 
maintain reliable electrical service and avoid risks to the safety of 
the public and maintenance crews.
    Proposed activities would include establishing temporary access to 
the line, improving some access roads, developing staging areas for 
storage of materials, removing and replacing existing wood pole 
structures and associated structural components and conductor, and 
revegetating areas disturbed by construction activities. The existing 
structures would be replaced with structures of similar design within 
or near to their existing locations. The line would continue to operate 
at 115-kV. Danger trees and brush located off the existing right-of-way 
(ROW) would be removed. A danger tree is a tree located off the ROW 
that is a present or future hazard to the transmission line. A tree is 
identified as a danger tree if it would contact BPA facilities should 
it fall, bend, grow within a swing displacement of the conductor, or 
grow into the conductor. Danger tree removal would take place 
concurrently with project construction.
    Process to Date: In February 2010, BPA announced its proposed 
rebuild and its intent to prepare an Environmental Assessment (EA) for 
the proposed project. BPA held a public meeting in March 2010, in 
Junction City, Oregon. Two comment letters were received during the 
comment period, which closed on March 27, 2010. Since that time BPA has 
determined that a significant number of danger trees would need to be 
removed to prevent damage to the line and that a different kind of NEPA 
document--an EIS rather than an EA--is required because of the 
potential for significant environmental impact.
    Alternatives Proposed for Consideration: In addition to the 
Proposed Action, BPA will evaluate the No Action Alternative. Under the 
No Action Alternative, BPA would not rebuild the line; current 
operation and maintenance activities would continue.
    Public Participation and Identification of Environmental Issues: 
The potential environmental issues identified for most transmission 
line projects include land use, cultural resources, visual impact, 
sensitive plants and animals, erosion/soils, wetlands, floodplains, and 
fish and water resources. BPA has established a 30-day scoping period 
during which affected landowners, concerned citizens, special interest 
groups, local governments, and any other interested parties are invited 
to comment on the scope of the proposed EIS. Scoping will help BPA 
ensure that a full range of issues related to this proposal is 
addressed in the EIS, and also help identify significant or potentially 
significant impacts that my result from the proposed project. When 
completed, the Draft EIS will be circulated for review and comment, and 
BPA will hold at least one public comment meeting for the Draft EIS. 
BPA will consider and respond in the Final EIS to comments received on 
the Draft EIS. BPA's subsequent decision will be documented in a Record 
of Decision.
    Maps and further information are available from BPA at the address 
above.

    Issued in Portland, Oregon, on October 21, 2010.
Stephen J. Wright,
Administrator and Chief Executive Officer.
[FR Doc. 2010-27411 Filed 10-28-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P