[Federal Register: January 5, 2010 (Volume 75, Number =
2)]
[Notices] =20
[Page 429-430]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr05ja10-99] =20
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[LLORW00000 L51010000.ER0000. LVRWH09H0570; HAG10-0008]
=20
Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for=20
the Vantage to Pomona Heights 230 Kilovolt Transmission Line Project,=20
Yakima, Kittitas, and Grant Counties, WA
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of intent.
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SUMMARY: In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act=20
(NEPA) of 1969, as amended, and the
[[Page 430]]
Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA) of 1976, as amended The=20
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Wenatchee Field Office and the U.S.=20
Army Yakima Training Center (YTC) intend to prepare an Environmental=20
Impact Statement (EIS) for the Vantage to Pomona Heights 230 kilovolt=20
(kV) Transmission Line Project. By this notice, the BLM and YTC are=20
announcing the beginning of the scoping process to solicit public=20
comments and identify issues.
DATES: Comments on this Notice of Intent may be submitted in writing=20
until March 8, 2010. The dates and the locations of any scoping=20
meetings will be announced through local media and individual letter=20
mailings at least 15 days prior to the events. To be considered in the=20
Draft EIS, all comments must be received prior to the close of the=20
scoping period or 15 days after the last public meeting, whichever is=20
later. BLM will provide additional opportunities for public involvement=20
after publication of the Draft EIS.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments or resource information related to=20
the Vantage to Pomona Heights 230 kV Transmission Line Project by=20
either of the following methods:
E-mail: OR_Wenatchee_Mail@blm.gov =
(please reference=20
Vantage to Pomona Heights EIS in the subject line).
Mail/hand deliver to: BLM Wenatchee Field Office, ATTN:=20
Vantage to Pomona Heights EIS, 915 Walla Walla Avenue, Wenatchee,=20
Washington 98801-1521.
Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined at the BLM=20
Wenatchee Field Office.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information and/or to have=20
your name added to our mailing list, contact William Schurger, Realty=20
Specialist, at (509) 655-2100; e-mail: OR_Wenatchee_Mail@blm.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pacific Power has submitted applications for=20
rights-of-way (ROWs) across BLM- and YTC-administered lands to=20
construct the Vantage to Pomona Heights 230kV Transmission Line=20
Project. The new 230 kV transmission line is being proposed to address=20
energy demand growth in the Yakima region by increasing the capacity of=20
the transmission system [that will serve growing needs] while ensuring=20
continued reliable service to existing customers.
The new 230 kV transmission line would be constructed from Pacific=20
Power's existing Pomona Heights substation east of Selah, Washington to=20
the Bonneville Power Administration's existing Vantage substation east=20
of the Wanapum Dam on the Columbia River. The project would cross a=20
distance of approximately 38 miles through Grant, Kittitas, and Yakima=20
Counties. The proposed route is generally parallel and south of Pacific=20
Power's existing Pomona-Wanapum 230 kV transmission line. The line=20
would cross approximately four miles of BLM-administered land, 19 miles=20
of the YTC administered lands, and 15 miles of private land. The=20
permanent ROW requested for the project is 125 feet wide. H-frame wood=20
pole structures are proposed for most of the line located in open=20
terrain. The H-frame structures would be between 65 and 100 feet tall=20
and spaced approximately 750 to 900 feet apart depending on terrain. In=20
developed areas, such as around the Pomona Heights substation, single=20
wood or steel pole structures would be used. The single pole structures=20
would be between 80 and 95 feet tall and spaced approximately between=20
300 to 500 feet apart. For the Columbia River crossing, steel lattice=20
structures would be approximately 200 feet tall. This extra height is=20
required to safely span the more than 3,000-foot river crossing.=20
Construction would begin in mid 2011 and be completed in late 2012.
The BLM and YTC are joint lead Federal agencies for preparation of=20
the EIS. Through public scoping, BLM and YTC expect to identify various=20
issues, potential impacts, mitigation measures, and alternatives=20
associated with the proposed action. Through internal scoping, the BLM=20
and YTC identified the following preliminary issues and concerns:
(1) Potential conflict with YTC training operations. The YTC is=20
concerned about how the proposed transmission line would interfere with=20
or constrain its military training mission.
(2) Cultural properties. Cultural properties in the vicinity of the=20
proposed route are of concern to several Native American Tribes.
(3) Habitat for sage-grouse and other species of concern. The=20
proposed route would pass through occupied sage-grouse habitat.
(4) Values within the Yakima River Canyon Area of Critical=20
Environmental Concern (ACEC). The proposed route would cross through=20
this ACEC, whose values include three plant species of concern, unique=20
wildlife habitat, and recreational opportunities.
(5) Visual resources. Portions of the proposed transmission line=20
would be visible from great distances in this open terrain.
(6) Wildland fire management. High value facilities, such as the=20
proposed transmission line, require additional protection from wildland=20
fire.
The BLM will use the NEPA commenting process to satisfy the public=20
involvement process of Section 106 of the National Historic=20
Preservation Act (16 U.S.C. 470f), as provided for in 36 CFR=20
800.2(d)(3). Native American Tribal consultations will be conducted and=20
Tribal concerns, including impacts on Indian trust assets, will be=20
given due consideration. Federal, State, and local agencies, along with=20
other stakeholders that may be interested in or affected by the BLM's=20
decision on this project, are invited to participate in the scoping=20
process. Federal, State, and local agencies may request or be asked by=20
the BLM to participate as a cooperating agency. Before including your=20
address, phone number, e-mail address, or other personal identifying=20
information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire=20
comment--including your personal identifying information--may be made=20
publicly available at any time.
Robert B. Towne,
Spokane District Manager.
[FR Doc. E9-31240 Filed 1-4-10; 8:45 am]
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