Vantage to Pomona FEIS Index 34 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Vantage to Pomona Heights Chapter 1 230 kV Transmission Line Project FEIS Purpose and Need PAGE 1-2 for Adjacent Transmission Circuits as applicable to the proposed Project was retired as part of the WECC-0071 project, approved by the WECC Board of Directors on December 1, 2011. The NNR Alternative consisted of an Overhead Design Option, Underground Design Option, and a Manastash Ridge Subroute. The NNR Alternative was developed and analyzed in the Supplemental DEIS (SDEIS) and Alternative D from the DEIS remained as the Agency Preferred Alternative for comparison. The SDEIS was published in January of 2015. This FEIS addresses public comments received on both the DEIS and SDEIS and considers the No Action Alternative and all nine of the Action Alternatives analyzed in the DEIS and SDEIS. The nine Action Alternatives considered in this FEIS range from 40.5 to 66.8 miles in length. The Action Alternatives cross federal land managed by BLM, JBLM YTC, Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation), and state land managed by Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT ) and Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Yakima, Kittitas, Benton, and Grant counties are crossed by the Action Alternatives considered in this FEIS. The information presented in the DEIS and the SDEIS have been combined in the FEIS for clarity and resource data and analyses have been updated as necessary for full disclosure of anticipated impacts for all Action Alternatives. In order to provide maximum flexibility to the decision makers and incorporate all input from the public, Cooperating Agencies, tribes, and interested parties, all Action Alternatives are available for consideration up to the issuance of a decisions (i.e., Record of Decision [ROD] by the BLM; a Record of Environmental Consideration [REC] by JBLM YTC), and any other appropriate decision documents by other federal agencies who will issue their NEPA decisions. In this FEIS, the Agency Preferred Alternative presented in the DEIS and the SDEIS (Alternative D) has been changed to NNR Alternative – Overhead Design Option. The NNR Alternative – Overhead Design Option has been selected as the Agency Preferred Alternative based on the analysis contained in the DEIS and SDEIS, in consideration of all of the Action Alternatives and their relative impacts on resources, preferences of the Cooperating Agencies and Tribal Representatives, and input received from the public via comments. Concurrence among the twelve Cooperating Agencies regarding their preferences for the FEIS Agency Preferred Alternative was not reached. The Cooperating Agency alternative preferences are included in Appendix G and a Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) Memorandum of Understanding Compliance Summary is documented in Appendix I. The NNR Alternative - Overhead Design Option has also been identified as the Environmentally Preferred Alternative. Chapter 2, Section 2.4.2 presents more information on the identification of the Environmentally Preferred Alternative and the selection of the Agency Preferred Alternative. The BLM Spokane District is the lead federal agency responsible for preparation of the FEIS, project oversight, and compliance with the requirements of NEPA and other applicable laws and regulations. The FEIS will be used by BLM, JBLM YTC, and Reclamation to make their decisions regarding Pacific Power’s SF-299s. In October 2008, Pacific Power filed separate ROW applications (SF-299s) with the BLM and JBLM YTC to request grants of ROW across federal lands for the transmission line project. Updated SF-299 applications were submitted to JBLM YTC in November 2013 and June 2016 for the NNR Alternative. In April 2011, Pacific Power filed a ROW application with Reclamation to request a grant of ROW across Reclamation lands and an updated application was submitted in June 2016. Each federal agency will issue its own ROD, REC, or other appropriate decision document regarding the matter before it. Washington state and local agencies will assess applicant-requested permits and approval for the Project which will require SEPA compliance. Therefore, this FEIS may be used in a combined review process by affected counties and state agencies to satisfy SEPA requirements (see Section 1.5). A Project-specific SEPA Environmental Checklist has been developed for the proposed Project and is included in Appendix D.