Vantage to Pomona FEIS Index 34 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Vantage to Pomona Heights Chapter 3 230 kV Transmission Line Project FEIS Affected Environment PAGE 3-48 The proposed NNR Alternative closely parallels the existing Pacific Power Pomona-Wanapum 230 kV transmission line that primarily uses H-frame poles similar to the ones identified for the proposed Project. At the eastern end of the Project study area (Route Segments NNR-7 and NNR-8), one additional 230 kV transmission line (Puget Sound Energy Wanapum-Wind Ridge) and two 500 kV transmission lines (BPA Schultz-Wautoma No.1 and BPA Vantage-Schultz No.1) exist within one mile of the proposed NNR Alternative. Several of the route segments of the southern Action Alternatives A-H also parallel or are in close proximity to existing transmission lines. Route Segments 1a/NNR-1, 2c, and 3c are each within 0.25 mile of existing transmission lines for approximately half of their lengths. Transmission lines within one mile of Alternatives A-H include: the Pacific Power Pomona-Wanapum 230 kV line along Route Segment 1a/NNR-1, the Pacific Power Union Gap-Midway 230 kV line paralleling portions of Route Segments 2c and 3c, the BPA Hanford-Vantage No. 1 500 kV line paralleling a portion of Route Segment 3c, the BPA Schultz-Wautoma 500 kV line along Route Segments 3b and 3c. Agricultural areas predominately occur east of the Columbia River and south of the Saddle Mountains (Route Segment 3a), along Badger Pocket (Route Segments MR-1 and NNR-5), near the Pomona Heights Substation (Route Segments 1a/NNR-1 and NNR-2), and south of JBLM-YTC (Route Segments 1c and 2c). Other prominent infrastructure and disturbance within the Project study area includes urban and suburban development, JBLM YTC facilities, bivouac areas and training activities, road networks (Interstate (I) 82, state and county highways, all-weather gravel access roads for military training, and numerous light-duty dirt roads), communication towers, canals, and fire breaks. Generally speaking, infrastructure and disturbance is heaviest at the southwestern portions of the Project study area (1a/NNR-1, NNR-2, 1c, and 1b) and lightest along NNR-6, 2b, and 3b. Locations of existing infrastructure and disturbance are discussed in Section 3.3.4 (Route Segment Considerations). Wildfires have occurred and will continue to occur within and near the eight-mile wide Project study area, the majority of which have been concentrated within the JBLM YTC boundary. Due to the type and intensity of military training that occurs at the JBLM YTC, the incidence and risk of fire is higher compared with adjacent lands and naturally occurring fire cycles. The incidence of fire ignition and spread at the JBLM YTC has been declining since 1996 due to improvements to their fire management policy, increased support, use of dip tanks for aerial fire suppression, and maintenance of fire breaks (JBLM YTC 2002). Livestock grazing occurs outside of JBLM YTC on both public and private lands. In addition to grazing on private land, grazing leases are authorized on BLM land, Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) land, and Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) state trust land. Livestock grazing, which decreases cover of native forbs and perennial bunchgrasses, ended on JBLM YTC land in 1995 (Livingston 1998). Spring and summer habitat suitability for Sage-Grouse depends on sufficient cover of forbs and bunchgrasses. 3.3.2.2 Federally Threatened, Endangered and Candidate Species Five species (one with two Distinct Population Segments [DPSs]) listed as endangered, threatened, or candidate occur or are likely to occur within the Project study area (USFWS 2015a; Table 3.3-3). More detail on these species is provided in the following sections.