[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 55 (Tuesday, March 22, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Page 15970]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-6662]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Bonneville Power Administration


Central Ferry to Lower Monumental 500-kilovolt Transmission Line 
Project

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

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

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SUMMARY: This notice announces the availability of the ROD to implement 
the Central Ferry--Lower Monumental 500-kilovolt (kV) Transmission Line 
Project in Garfield, Columbia, and Walla Walla counties, Washington. 
BPA has decided to implement the Combination A Alternative identified 
in the Central Ferry--Lower Monumental 500-kV Transmission Line Project 
Final Environmental Impact Statement (DOE/EIS-0422, February 2011). The 
Combination A Alternative consists of constructing a new 500-kV single-
circuit transmission line from BPA's new Central Ferry Substation near 
the Port of Central Ferry in Garfield County generally west through 
Garfield, Columbia, and Walla Walla counties to BPA's existing Lower 
Monumental Substation in Walla Walla County, a distance of about 38 
miles. The transmission line route begins at the new Central Ferry 
Substation along the Snake River, and runs southwest for about 11 miles 
mostly parallel to and about 1,200 to 2,500 feet (about \1/4\; mile to 
[frac12] mile) south of BPA's two existing Little Goose-Lower Granite 
500-kV steel lattice transmission lines. The route then angles away 
from the existing lines and proceeds southwest for about 6 miles before 
crossing the Tucannon River directly north of the town of Starbuck. The 
route then proceeds west for about 20 miles from the Tucannon River 
crossing to BPA's existing Lower Monumental Substation. BPA will 
acquire new 150-foot-wide right-of-way for the entire length of the new 
line. Approximately 161 new lattice steel transmission towers, ranging 
in height from about 104 to 189 feet with an average span length 
between towers of about 1,200 feet, will be constructed in the new 
right-of-way. The conductor and overhead ground wire for the new 
transmission line will be placed on these towers, and counterpoise 
would be buried in the ground at selected towers. Construction of the 
new line also will include the upgrade of about 5 miles of existing 
access roads, and the construction of about 38 miles of new access 
roads. Power circuit breakers, disconnect switches, and other 
electrical equipment will be installed at Lower Monumental Substation. 
In the vicinity of the Lower Monumental Substation, six existing steel 
lattice towers that support existing transmission lines in this area 
will be relocated to allow entry of the Central Ferry-Lower Monumental 
transmission line into the substation. Fiber optic cable will be 
installed along a portion of the new line. All mitigation measures 
identified in the EIS are adopted.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the ROD and EIS may be obtained by calling BPA's 
toll-free document request line, 1-800-622-4520. The ROD and EIS are 
also available on our Web site, http://www.bpa.gov/go/centralferrylomo.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Tish Eaton, Bonneville Power 
Administration--KEC-4, P.O. Box 3621, Portland, Oregon 97208-3621; 
toll-free telephone number 1-800-622-4519; fax number 503-230-5699; or 
e-mail [email protected].

    Issued in Portland, Oregon, on March 11, 2011.
Stephen J. Wright,
Administrator and Chief Executive Officer.
[FR Doc. 2011-6662 Filed 3-21-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P