Vantage to Pomona FEIS Index 34 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Vantage to Pomona Heights Chapter 2 230 kV Transmission Line Project FEIS Proposed Action and Alternatives PAGE 2-18 Reclamation ROW renewal provision where the useful life is expected to extend beyond the initial term of the ROW Grant are usually renewed however, there is no guarantee. Once a Reclamation ROD or other Reclamation appropriate decision document has been issued, the applications would be finalized with Project design details. Following the issuance of the Reclamation ROD or other decision document and ROW Grant, Pacific Power would provide a Construction POD with detailed design information specific to Reclamation-administered lands. Pacific Power Acquisition of Right-of-Way Across State Lands In order to cross WSDOT-administered or Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) administered lands, a ROW easement would be acquired using a utility permit or easement. A utility permit would be used for the crossing of state operated highway ROW. An easement would be required to cross or occupy state non-operating ROW, such as state parcels not associated with highway operations. Washington State law, Revised Code of Washington 47.44 and Washington Administrative Code (WAC) 468-34, grants WSDOT the authority to issue Utility Permits and Franchises for the occupancy of highway ROWs to the persons, associations, private or municipal corporations, the federal government, or any agency for the purpose of constructing and maintaining transmission lines and other utilities. Environmental studies and environmental surveys will be completed as required by the responsible state agency(ies) prior to construction and as part of the permitting process. Easements must be obtained from adjoining properties prior to obtaining break in access authorization from WSDOT for construction, operation, and maintenance. Any point from inside or outside the state limited access ROW limited access hachures (hachures define control of access between a highway facility and all other property; will be shown on applicable maps) that crosses over, under, or physically through the plane of the limited access, is an access break or “break in access,” including, but not limited to, locked gates and temporary construction access breaks. The DNR would be responsible for approving Pacific Power’s easements and access permit applications for crossing DNR managed uplands, and approving a use authorization (easement) for crossing State- Owned Aquatic Lands. Depending on the structure and piling location in relation to the ordinary high water mark, Pacific Power may be required to obtain an additional easement or right-of-entry from DNR (Aquatics Division) if the project requires use of or construction on state-owned aquatic land. Prior to processing permit applications, the proposed Project will need to comply with Washington’s State Environmental Policy Act and meet the DNR’s state substantive standards. Project crossing of the Columbia River or the Yakima River would require a use authorization. Geotechnical surveys on DNR Aquatic Lands also require right-of-entry. Pacific Power Acquisition of Right-of-Way Across Private Lands The ROW corridor for the proposed transmission line facilities on private land would be purchased by Pacific Power. All necessary land rights would be acquired in accordance with federal and state laws and regulations. According to Pacific Power, every effort would be made to purchase land rights through reasonable negotiations with current owners. Once a final route for the proposed transmission line has been selected, a list of all landowners with title to property lying within the transmission line ROW corridor would be obtained by Pacific Power from county records. Permission to enter the private property would be requested by Pacific Power from the landowners for Pacific Power’s personnel to conduct surveys, real property appraisals, environmental studies, and geotechnical studies. Detailed legal descriptions would be prepared using survey data of the proposed transmission line and access road ROWs; tract plats of the land rights to be acquired would be drawn. After title evidence is obtained and land valuation and legal descriptions are completed, Pacific Power’s realty specialists would present formal offers to acquire the necessary land rights form the landowners. Land rights would be acquired in the form of an easement contract for transmission line ROW corridor.