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Vantage to Pomona Heights Chapter 1 230 kV Transmission Line Project FEIS Purpose and Need PAGE 1-9 will use this FEIS to inform her decision whether or not to approve, approve with modifications, or deny the ROW application. If the BLM decides to approve the ROW, it will also use the FEIS in generating ROW conditions including, without limitation, conditions relating to project construction, operation, maintenance, and mitigation. Section 1.8 provides more discussion on BLM’s decision in consideration of its current Resource Management Plan (RMP) guidelines, including plan conformance and potential conflicts. 1.4.2 Cooperating Agencies The CEQ regulations implementing NEPA encourage the lead federal agency to invite other federal, state, tribal, or local agencies with jurisdiction by law or special expertise with respect to environmental issues addressed in the analysis to serve as Cooperating Agencies in the preparation of the FEIS (40 CFR Parts 1508.5 and 1501.6). Although the BLM is the lead federal agency for compilation of this FEIS, each of the 12 Cooperating Agencies must make their own informed decisions on the applicant’s proposal and request for ROWs and/or other permits. Therefore, this FEIS analyzes issues identified by each of the Cooperating Agencies and the public through scoping and other formal and informal meetings. As such, the Action Alternatives developed and impact assessment presented (Chapters 2 and 4, respectively) are focused on those issues and concerns that will help the BLM and Cooperating Agencies differentiate between the Action Alternatives presented and inform the decision‐making process. A summary of each Cooperating Agency’s mission, general policy guidance, and interests with respect to the proposed Project, Project review, and/or permitting responsibilities is provided below. 1.4.2.1 U.S. Army Joint Base Lewis-McChord Yakima Training Center The JBLM YTC is a formal Cooperating Agency responsible for processing Pacific Power’s ROW application (SF-299) on the federal lands managed by the Army. 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. The Army has established procedures to permit third parties to use Army-managed lands for purposes that do not conflict with their mission as a military training area. Furthermore, environmental stewardship and sustainability is an integral part of the Army’s mission. Per this commitment, the Army must analyze and minimize impacts to resources that would result from decisions to grant ROWs for third-party uses. The Army will use this FEIS as the basis from which to make decisions related to granting ROW to Pacific Power for the construction, operation, and maintenance of the proposed Project and to establish the need for any required mitigation of impacts occurring on Army-managed lands. 1.4.2.2 Bonneville Power Administration BPA is a formal Cooperating Agency because it owns and operates the existing Vantage Substation to which Pacific Power is proposing to interconnect the Project. Vantage Substation is part of the Federal Columbia River Transmission System (FCRTS) and is owned and operated by BPA, a federal agency that is part of the U.S. Department of Energy. Under its Open Access Transmission Tariff (OATT), BPA maintains an Interconnection Request Queue to manage requests to interconnect to the FCRTS. BPA offers transmission interconnection to the FCRTS to all eligible customers on a first-come, first-served basis, with this offer subject to an environmental review under NEPA. In 2008, Pacific Power submitted its request to BPA to interconnect the proposed Project to BPA’s Vantage Substation. BPA will use this FEIS as the basis on which to make its decision on whether or not to accommodate Pacific Power’s request for the proposed interconnection.