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Vantage to Pomona Heights Chapter 1 230 kV Transmission Line Project FEIS Purpose and Need PAGE 1-22 Mountains Management Area, and would be located primarily on private lands. This Alternative also crosses land managed by Reclamation, Grant County PUD, and DNR and is located in Yakima, Benton, and Grant Counties. Public meetings were held by BLM in Selah and Desert Aire in February 2013 to provide the public an opportunity to give their input on the DEIS and Agency Preferred Alternative. The BLM received letters and e-mails containing more than 250 comments during the comment period which ended on March 8, 2013 (see Section 5.7 and Appendix F). As a result of the public and agency comments received during the public meetings and during the DEIS comment period, the BLM, Pacific Power and the JBLM YTC identified the NNR Alternative, which is located largely on JBLM YTC land. The BLM determined that an SDEIS was required to analyze this new potential alternative. See Section 1.1.1 EIS Process for more information on the identification of the NNR Alternative. Notification of the NNR Alternative was sent on May 31, 2013 to the affected tribal governments including the Yakama Nation, Colville Confederated Tribes, and the Wanapum Band of Indians. A letter was also sent to over 1,100 potentially interested individuals, groups, organizations, and agencies on May 31, 2013, which contained an update on the status of the Project and informed the parties about the location of the NNR Alternative and the preparation of the SDEIS. With the publication of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Notice of Availability in the Federal Register occurring on January 2, 2015, the SDEIS was released to the public for review and comment. A 45-day comment period followed, closing on Tuesday, February 17, 2015. Public meetings were again held by BLM in Selah and Desert Aire in January 2015 as described in Section 5.3.4 to provide the public an opportunity to give their input on the SDEIS. The BLM received letters and e-mails containing more than 90 comments during the 45-day comment period (see Section 5.7 and Appendix F). 1.13 ISSUES IDENTIFIED This section briefly describes the issues identified for further analysis in this FEIS. The following discussion incorporates issues raised during public scoping, as well as internal BLM and Cooperating Agency scoping. 1.13.1 Issues Identified for Further Analysis During DEIS Scoping The following issues have been identified for further analysis in this FEIS. In many cases, these issues were considered in the development of Action Alternatives (described in Chapter 2.0). In all cases, these issues have been further described and analyzed in Chapters 3, 4, and 5. The issues presented in Table 1-2 are not intended as a comprehensive list of all issues evaluated in the FEIS; these issues represent the key concerns of the public, BLM project team staff, and Cooperating Agencies. Table 1-2 Issues Raised by the Public and Government Agencies during scoping BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES How would the proposed Project affect Sage-Grouse populations and habitat? What would the effects of the proposed Project construction and operation be on special status wildlife species and birds protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act? What would be the potential for avian collision during operation? What would be the effect on vegetation from construction and maintenance of the proposed Project? How much disturbance would occur in sagebrush and native grassland communities and what would be the effects? What would be the effects to endangered, threatened, and sensitive plant species? Would noxious weeds be introduced or spread into the ROW and how would they be controlled?