[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 133 (Friday, July 11, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40094-40095]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-16243]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Bonneville Power Administration
Hot Springs to Anaconda Transmission Line Rebuild 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 wetland assessment.
SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act
(NEPA), BPA intends to prepare an EIS on its proposed rebuild of
approximately 120 miles of existing 230-kiliovolt (kV) wood-pole
transmission line that runs through Sanders, Lake, Missoula, Granite,
Powell, and Deer Lodge counties, Montana. The deteriorated condition of
the more than 60-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 EIS and is requesting comments about the potential environmental
impacts it should consider as it prepares the EIS for the proposed
project. In accordance with DOE regulations for compliance with
floodplain and wetland environmental review requirements, BPA will
prepare a floodplain and wetlands assessment that identifies,
evaluates, and as appropriate, implements actions to avoid or minimize
potential harm to or within any affected floodplains and wetlands. The
assessment will be included in the EIS.
DATES: Written comments are due to the address below by August 12,
2014. Comments may also be made at three EIS scoping meetings to be
held on the 29th, 30th, and 31st of July, 2014 at 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 www.bpa.gov/comment; or
email them to [email protected]. Scoping meetings will be held in Montana
from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the following locations: July 29, 2014
at the Missoula Fire Department, Station 4, 3011 Latimor Street,
Missoula; on July 30, 2014 at the Dixon Senior Citizens Center, 106 3rd
Street, Dixon; and on July 31, 2014 at the William K. Kohrs Memorial
Library, 501 Missouri Avenue, Deer Lodge. At these informal, open-house
meetings, BPA will provide project information and maps. Members of the
project team will be available to answer questions and accept verbal
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 email at
[email protected]. You may also contact Chad Hamel, Project Manager,
Bonneville Power Administration--TEP-TPP-1, P.O. Box 3621, Portland,
Oregon, 97208-3621; toll-free telephone 1-800-622-4519; direct
telephone 360-619-6557; or email [email protected]. Additional
information can be found at the project Web site: www.bpa.gov/goto/HotSpringsAnaconda.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: BPA proposes to rebuild three existing wood-
pole transmission lines--the Hot Springs-Rattlesnake, Rattlesnake-
Garrison, and Garrison-Anaconda lines--that run consecutively from Hot
Springs, Montana to Anaconda, Montana. No major work has been done on
the lines since they were built in 1952. 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.
The project would include removing and replacing existing wood-pole
structures and components, as well as the conductor; improving access
roads and establishing temporary access where needed; removing trees
adjacent to the line that may cause a threat to reliability; developing
temporary staging areas for storage of project materials; 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 230 kV.
Proposed activities would also include the installation of new line
disconnect switches at the Hot Springs and Garrison substations, and
upgrading the existing fiber optic line that is attached to the Hot
Springs-Rattlesnake and Rattlesnake-Garrison transmission line
structures.
Alternatives Proposed for Consideration: In addition to the
Proposed Action, BPA will evaluate the No Action Alternative as well as
any additional viable alternatives brought forward during the scoping
process. Under the No Action Alternative, BPA would not rebuild the
line and would make repairs on an as-needed or emergency basis.
Public Participation and Identification of Environmental Issues:
The potential environmental issues identified for most transmission
line projects include land use, cultural resources, visual impacts,
sensitive plants and animals, erosion/soils, wetlands, floodplains, and
fish and water resources. The existing lines cross about 50 miles of
the Flathead Indian Reservation, small portions of the Lolo and
Beaverhead-Deer Lodge National Forests, several miles of State land, as
well as private land.
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
may 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.
[[Page 40095]]
Issued in Portland, Oregon, on June 19, 2014.
Elliot Mainzer,
Administrator and Chief Executive Officer.
[FR Doc. 2014-16243 Filed 7-10-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P