Vantage to Pomona FEIS Index 34 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Vantage to Pomona Heights Executive Summary 230 kV Transmission Line Project FEIS October 2016 PAGE ES-ii 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. In addition, Pacific Power submitted an interconnection request to BPA to connect the proposed Project to BPA’s Vantage Substation and will submit an application to Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to cross Interstate (I) 82 and land owned by WSDOT. The proposed Project would eliminate the potential for redistributed loads and the overloading of the adjacent transmission system; would ensure continued reliable and efficient service to the Yakima Valley; and would address future reliability issues within the Mid-Columbia transmission system. The Mid- Columbia utilities including BPA, Grant County Public Utility District (PUD), Chelan County PUD, PacifiCorp, and Puget Sound Energy worked together with the Northwest Power Pool - Northwest Transmission Assessment Committee to perform a detailed screening of the transmission system’s exposure to overloading. As a result of the study, system reinforcement projects or upgrades were identified to address system conditions and overloading. The proposed Project was one of the reinforcement projects that were identified for Grant, Benton, and Yakima counties to ensure reliability of the transmission network in the Mid-Columbia area. Pursuant to 40 CFR § 1508.16, the BLM’s Oregon/Washington Spokane District is the lead federal agency, with the JBLM YTC, BPA, Reclamation, FHWA, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, WSDOT, Washington State Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation, Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife, DNR, Grant County, Kittitas County, and Yakima County serving as Cooperating Agencies. The development of the Project is dependent upon federal approvals of ROW grants for the transmission line and access roads across federal lands. 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 permission to cross Reclamation lands and an updated application was submitted in June 2016. Each federal agency will issue its own appropriate decision document regarding the matter before it. Pursuant to 43 CFR Part 2805.10, the BLM may include in any ROW grant such terms, conditions, and stipulations, which are in the public interest. This includes modifying the proposed use or changing the route or location of the facilities on BLM- administered lands. The BLM’s need to respond to Pacific Power’s ROW application, arises from the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 which establishes a multiple use mandate for management of federal lands, including energy generation and transmission facilities as outlined in 43 CFR Part 2800. Upon reviewing the scope of the proposed Project and the ROW applications, the BLM and JBLM YTC determined that the proposed Project constituted a major federal action and requires the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act. ALTERNATIVES This FEIS considers the nine Action Alternatives and the No Action Alternative that were analyzed in the DEIS and SDEIS. The Alternatives presented are as follows: No Action Alternative; Alternative A; Alternative B; Alternative C; Alternative D; Alternative E; Alternative F; Alternative G; Alternative H; and NNR Alternative. The NNR Alternative included an Overhead Design Option, an Underground Design Option and the Manastash Ridge (MR) Subroute. The NNR Alternative – Overhead Design Option has been selected as the Agency Preferred Alternative for the Project. This Alternative has also been identified as the Environmentally Preferred Alternative. A detailed description of the Action Alternatives and associated route segments are provided in Chapter 2 of this FEIS.