Rebuild of the Libby (FEC) to Troy Section of BPA's Libby to Bonners Ferry 115-kilovolt Transmission Line, 23856-23857 [05-8996]

Download as PDF 23856 Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 86 / Thursday, May 5, 2005 / Notices Angeles to change between direct current and alternating current. This proposed converter station would be located in the vicinity of BPA’s Port Angeles Substation in Clallam County, Washington, and would occupy from one to two acres. OC has proposed that the converter station be sited within the existing boundary of the Port Angeles Substation on property leased or otherwise transferred from BPA to OC. OC has proposed to begin construction of the HVDC transmission line and converter station by June 2006. Under this schedule, the HVDC system would be interconnected to the FCRTS in the fall of 2007, with a proposed operation date of December 2007. Once constructed, all existing land use and marine activities would be expected to continue to take place along the route of the transmission line, excluding the area encompassed by the converter station. The HVDC transmission system would be expected to operate continuously for at least 20 years. OC is in the process of applying for applicable permits from the City of Port Angeles, which may trigger the Washington State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) process for the proposed Project. OC also is coordinating with other Federal and State agencies regarding all required permits and approvals. On December 20, 2004, OC applied to OEEA for a Presidential permit to develop the proposed Project. DOE published a notice of that application in the Federal Register on February 18, 2005 (70 FR 8350). OC also has submitted a request to BPA for interconnection of the proposed Project to the FCRTS. BPA and OEEA are separate organizational units both within DOE. DOE has determined its actions for the proposed Project, including issuance of a Presidential permit, would constitute a major Federal action that may have a significant impact upon the environment within the meaning of NEPA. BPA’s Proposed Action. BPA has adopted an Open Access Transmission Tariff for the FCRTS, consistent with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s (FERC) pro forma open access tariff. Under BPA’s tariff, BPA offers transmission interconnection to the FCRTS to all eligible customers on a first-come, first-served basis, consistent with all BPA requirements, but with this offer subject to the results of an environmental review under NEPA. Under its tariff, BPA must respond to OC’s request for transmission interconnection. VerDate jul<14>2003 13:10 May 04, 2005 Jkt 205001 BPA proposes to execute an agreement with OC to provide interconnection services for up to 550 MW from the proposed Project. As part of this agreement, BPA may agree to lease or otherwise permit occupancy by OC of approximately one to two acres of real property that is owned by BPA adjacent to the Port Angeles Substation. This property would be used for a new converter substation that would allow interconnection of the proposed Project to the FCRTS at Port Angeles Substation. OEEA’s Proposed Action. OEEA’s proposed action is to issue a Presidential permit for the proposed Project. Executive Order 10485, as amended, provides that a Presidential permit may be issued after a finding that the proposed Project is consistent with the public interest and after favorable recommendation by the Departments of State and Defense. In determining consistency with the public interest, DOE considers the impacts of the proposed Project on the reliability of the U.S. electric power system and on the environment, and any other factors that DOE may also consider pertinent to the public interest. The regulations implementing the Executive Order have been codified at 10 CFR 205.320– 205.329. Issuance of a permit for a particular project indicates that there is no Federal objection to that Project, but does not mandate that the Project be completed. Possible Alternatives for the Proposed Actions. For BPA, an alternative to its proposed action of offering interconnection contract terms is to not offer these terms. For OEEA, an alternative to the proposed issuance of a Presidential permit is to deny this permit. In either instance, the Project as proposed would not go forward. The EIS will evaluate both of these alternatives as the ‘‘no-action’’ alternative. Public Participation and Identification of Environmental Issues. Consistent with its NEPA regulations, DOE has established a minimum 30-day scoping period during which affected landowners, Tribes, concerned citizens, special interest groups, local governments, State and Federal agencies, and any other interested parties are invited to comment on the scope of the proposed EIS. Scoping will help DOE to identify potentially significant impacts that may result from its proposed actions and the privately proposed transmission line, and ensure that all relevant environmental issues related to DOE’s proposed actions are addressed in the EIS. The EIS will consider the reasonably foreseeable consequences of PO 00000 Frm 00023 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 construction and operation of the proposed HVDC transmission line across the Strait of Juan de Fuca and the interconnection to the FCRTS. Based on DOE’s experience, potential environmental issues for the proposed transmission line and interconnection facilities may include socioeconomic impacts created by a construction workforce; effects on recreation (primarily fishing); impacts on cultural resources; impacts to wildlife habitat and populations including migratory birds, fish, and marine mammals; noise created by the converter station during Project operation; and mitigation measures. When completed, the Draft EIS will be circulated for a minimum 45-day public comment period, and DOE will hold one or more public hearings on the Draft EIS. In the Final EIS, DOE will consider and respond to all comments received on the Draft EIS. DOE expects to publish the Final EIS in summer 2006. BPA’s and OEEA’s subsequent decisions will be documented in a Record of Decision. In addition to the Federal NEPA process, the City of Port Angeles will provide opportunity for public participation as part of its SEPA and permitting process. It is expected that representatives from the City of Port Angeles will hold public meetings for the transmission project during 2005. DOE will coordinate with the City of Port Angeles to ensure full consideration of all public and agency comments received. Issued in Portland, Oregon, on April 28, 2005. Stephen J. Wright, Administrator and Chief Executive Officer. [FR Doc. 05–8995 Filed 5–4–05; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6450–01–P DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Bonneville Power Administration Rebuild of the Libby (FEC) to Troy Section of BPA’s Libby to Bonners Ferry 115-kilovolt Transmission Line Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), Department of Energy (DOE). ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). AGENCY: SUMMARY: BPA intends to prepare an EIS on the proposed rebuilding, operation, and maintenance of a 17-mile-long portion of BPA’s Libby to Bonners Ferry 115-kilovolt (kV) Transmission Line in Lincoln County, Montana. The portion to be rebuilt would start at Flathead Electric Cooperative’s (FEC) Libby E:\FR\FM\05MYN1.SGM 05MYN1 Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 86 / Thursday, May 5, 2005 / Notices Substation, in the town of Libby, Montana, and proceed west along an existing right-of-way for about 17 miles, terminating at BPA’s Troy Substation just east of the town of Troy, Montana. The line would be rebuilt mostly on existing right-of-way, and would replace an existing 115-kV wood pole line. The EIS is being prepared for the proposed project in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and in accordance with DOE regulations. DATES: Written comments on the NEPA scoping process are due to the address below no later than June 6, 2005. Comments may also be made at two EIS scoping meetings to be held on May 19, 2005, at the address below. ADDRESSES: Send letters with comments and suggestions on the proposed scope of the Draft EIS to Bonneville Power Administration, Communications—DM– 7, P.O. Box 14428, Portland, Oregon 97293–4428; FAX them to 503–230– 3285; or submit your comments on-line at: https://www.bpa.gov/comment/. To be placed on the project mail list, call 1– 888–276–7790. Comments may also be made at EIS scoping meetings to be held on Thursday, May 19, 2005, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., and from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., in conference rooms A, B, & C at the Kootenai National Forest Supervisor’s Office, 1101 Highway 2 West, Libby, Montana. At these informal open-house meetings, we will provide a brief introduction of the proposed project during the first 15 minutes. We will then provide maps and information about the project, have several members of the project team available to answer questions, and accept oral and written comments. Kirk Robinson, Project Manager, Bonneville Power Administration—TNP–TPP–3, P.O. Box 61409, Vancouver, Washington 98666–1409; toll-free telephone 1–800– 282–3713; direct telephone 360–619– 6301; or e-mail kmrobinson@bpa.gov. You may also contact Tish Eaton, Environmental Coordinator, Bonneville Power Administration—KEC–4, P.O. Box 3621, Portland, Oregon 97208– 3621; telephone 503–230–3469; fax 503–230–5699; or e-mail tkeaton@bpa.gov. Information about the project can also be found at https:// www.efw.bpa.gov. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: BPA is proposing to rebuild a 17-mile-long section of BPA’s Libby to Bonners Ferry 115-kV transmission line. This rebuild would replace an existing 115-kV wood pole transmission line that runs west from FEC’s Libby Substation in the town SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: VerDate jul<14>2003 13:10 May 04, 2005 Jkt 205001 of Libby, to BPA’s Troy Substation, east of Troy, Montana. The proposed rebuild would be located primarily in BPA’s existing right-of-way corridor with two potential re-routings—one to avoid immediately adjacent residences in the town of Libby, and the other at a river crossing prior to a washout at China Creek, approximately one-half mile east of the present crossing of the Kootenai River. The project is needed to continue to provide safe and reliable service to the local communities, and in anticipation of the future growth of the area. The Libby (FEC) to Troy section of the Libby to Bonners Ferry transmission line was originally built by Pacific Power & Light Company (PP&L) in the 1950’s. The condition of the Libby (FEC) to Troy section of the line has been deteriorating over the years to the point where a major rebuilding of the H-frame wood pole line is needed to continue serving customer loads safely and reliably. Field reconnaissance surveys of the line during the summer of 2004 showed that many of the wooden poles and cross-arms have passed their ability to withstand required structural loads, including stresses caused by snow and ice build-up during winter. Also, serious problems with the conductor have been discovered. In the last two years, BPA transmission line maintenance crews have provided ‘‘fixes’’ for critical situations to prevent the line from failing completely, but these fixes are meant to be only temporary, and they do not provide a complete long-term solution to the existing structural and conductor problems with the line. This proposed project was originally considered by BPA in 1993–1994, as part of the Northwest Montana/North Idaho Support Project. The proposal at that time was to build a 230-kV doublecircuit transmission line from BPA’s substation at Bonners Ferry to Libby Substation, owned at the time by PP&L. The project was scoped with the public, comments were incorporated into the proposal, and environmental analysis was done. A preliminary draft EIS was in preparation when the project was cancelled for fiscal reasons. Alternatives Proposed for Consideration. Based on information gathered during the previous environmental evaluation, and from current and potential load growth studies for the area, BPA currently is considering four alternatives for evaluation in the EIS: (1) Rebuilding the line in-kind, as a single-circuit 115-kV wood pole H-frame line with some wood-pole equivalent steel poles; (2) rebuilding the line as a double-circuit PO 00000 Frm 00024 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 23857 115-kV tubular steel pole line; (3) rebuilding the line as a double-circuit 230-kV tubular steel pole line; and (4) the alternative of not rebuilding the line (an alternative BPA always considers). Other alternatives may be identified through the scoping process. Public Participation and Identification of Environmental Issues. BPA has established a 30-day scoping period during which affected landowners, concerned citizens, special interest groups, local governments, and any other interested parties are invited to comment on the scope of the proposed EIS. Scoping will help BPA ensure that a full range of environmental issues related to this proposal is addressed in the EIS, and also will help identify significant or potentially significant impacts that may result from the proposed project. The potential environmental issues identified for most transmission projects include: land use, cultural resources, visual resources, sensitive plants and animals, recreation use, erosion concerns, and fish and water resources. The Draft EIS for the proposed project will address these issues, as well as other environmental issues raised during the public scoping process. When completed, the Draft EIS will be circulated for review and comment, and BPA will hold public meetings to receive comments on the Draft EIS. BPA will consider and respond in the Final EIS to comments received on the Draft EIS. BPA’s decision will be documented in a Record of Decision. The EIS will satisfy the requirements of NEPA. Issued in Portland, Oregon, on April 28, 2005. Stephen J. Wright, Administrator and Chief Executive Officer. [FR Doc. 05–8996 Filed 5–4–05; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6450–01–P DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [Docket Nos. CP05–130–000, CP05–132– 000, and CP05–131–000] Dominion Cove Point LNG, LP, Dominion Transmission, Inc.; Notice of Application April 29, 2005. Take notice that on April 15, 2005, Dominion Cove Point LNG, LP (Cove Point LNG) filed an application in Docket No. CP05–130–000, pursuant to section 3 of the Natural Gas Act (NGA), requesting authority to expand its facilities at its liquefied natural gas E:\FR\FM\05MYN1.SGM 05MYN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 86 (Thursday, May 5, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23856-23857]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-8996]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Bonneville Power Administration


Rebuild of the Libby (FEC) to Troy Section of BPA's Libby to 
Bonners Ferry 115-kilovolt Transmission Line

AGENCY: Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), Department of Energy 
(DOE).

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement 
(EIS).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: BPA intends to prepare an EIS on the proposed rebuilding, 
operation, and maintenance of a 17-mile-long portion of BPA's Libby to 
Bonners Ferry 115-kilovolt (kV) Transmission Line in Lincoln County, 
Montana. The portion to be rebuilt would start at Flathead Electric 
Cooperative's (FEC) Libby

[[Page 23857]]

Substation, in the town of Libby, Montana, and proceed west along an 
existing right-of-way for about 17 miles, terminating at BPA's Troy 
Substation just east of the town of Troy, Montana. The line would be 
rebuilt mostly on existing right-of-way, and would replace an existing 
115-kV wood pole line. The EIS is being prepared for the proposed 
project in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) 
and in accordance with DOE regulations.

DATES: Written comments on the NEPA scoping process are due to the 
address below no later than June 6, 2005. Comments may also be made at 
two EIS scoping meetings to be held on May 19, 2005, at the address 
below.

ADDRESSES: Send letters with comments and suggestions on the proposed 
scope of the Draft EIS to Bonneville Power Administration, 
Communications--DM-7, P.O. Box 14428, Portland, Oregon 97293-4428; FAX 
them to 503-230-3285; or submit your comments on-line at: https://
www.bpa.gov/comment/. To be placed on the project mail list, call 1-
888-276-7790.
    Comments may also be made at EIS scoping meetings to be held on 
Thursday, May 19, 2005, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., and from 6 p.m. to 8 
p.m., in conference rooms A, B, & C at the Kootenai National Forest 
Supervisor's Office, 1101 Highway 2 West, Libby, Montana. At these 
informal open-house meetings, we will provide a brief introduction of 
the proposed project during the first 15 minutes. We will then provide 
maps and information about the project, have several members of the 
project team available to answer questions, and accept oral and written 
comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kirk Robinson, Project Manager, 
Bonneville Power Administration--TNP-TPP-3, P.O. Box 61409, Vancouver, 
Washington 98666-1409; toll-free telephone 1-800-282-3713; direct 
telephone 360-619-6301; or e-mail kmrobinson@bpa.gov. You may also 
contact Tish Eaton, Environmental Coordinator, Bonneville Power 
Administration--KEC-4, P.O. Box 3621, Portland, Oregon 97208-3621; 
telephone 503-230-3469; fax 503-230-5699; or e-mail tkeaton@bpa.gov. 
Information about the project can also be found at https://
www.efw.bpa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: BPA is proposing to rebuild a 17-mile-long 
section of BPA's Libby to Bonners Ferry 115-kV transmission line. This 
rebuild would replace an existing 115-kV wood pole transmission line 
that runs west from FEC's Libby Substation in the town of Libby, to 
BPA's Troy Substation, east of Troy, Montana. The proposed rebuild 
would be located primarily in BPA's existing right-of-way corridor with 
two potential re-routings--one to avoid immediately adjacent residences 
in the town of Libby, and the other at a river crossing prior to a 
washout at China Creek, approximately one-half mile east of the present 
crossing of the Kootenai River. The project is needed to continue to 
provide safe and reliable service to the local communities, and in 
anticipation of the future growth of the area.
    The Libby (FEC) to Troy section of the Libby to Bonners Ferry 
transmission line was originally built by Pacific Power & Light Company 
(PP&L) in the 1950's. The condition of the Libby (FEC) to Troy section 
of the line has been deteriorating over the years to the point where a 
major rebuilding of the H-frame wood pole line is needed to continue 
serving customer loads safely and reliably. Field reconnaissance 
surveys of the line during the summer of 2004 showed that many of the 
wooden poles and cross-arms have passed their ability to withstand 
required structural loads, including stresses caused by snow and ice 
build-up during winter. Also, serious problems with the conductor have 
been discovered. In the last two years, BPA transmission line 
maintenance crews have provided ``fixes'' for critical situations to 
prevent the line from failing completely, but these fixes are meant to 
be only temporary, and they do not provide a complete long-term 
solution to the existing structural and conductor problems with the 
line.
    This proposed project was originally considered by BPA in 1993-
1994, as part of the Northwest Montana/North Idaho Support Project. The 
proposal at that time was to build a 230-kV double-circuit transmission 
line from BPA's substation at Bonners Ferry to Libby Substation, owned 
at the time by PP&L. The project was scoped with the public, comments 
were incorporated into the proposal, and environmental analysis was 
done. A preliminary draft EIS was in preparation when the project was 
cancelled for fiscal reasons.
    Alternatives Proposed for Consideration. Based on information 
gathered during the previous environmental evaluation, and from current 
and potential load growth studies for the area, BPA currently is 
considering four alternatives for evaluation in the EIS: (1) Rebuilding 
the line in-kind, as a single-circuit 115-kV wood pole H-frame line 
with some wood-pole equivalent steel poles; (2) rebuilding the line as 
a double-circuit 115-kV tubular steel pole line; (3) rebuilding the 
line as a double-circuit 230-kV tubular steel pole line; and (4) the 
alternative of not rebuilding the line (an alternative BPA always 
considers). Other alternatives may be identified through the scoping 
process.
    Public Participation and Identification of Environmental Issues. 
BPA has established a 30-day scoping period during which affected 
landowners, concerned citizens, special interest groups, local 
governments, and any other interested parties are invited to comment on 
the scope of the proposed EIS. Scoping will help BPA ensure that a full 
range of environmental issues related to this proposal is addressed in 
the EIS, and also will help identify significant or potentially 
significant impacts that may result from the proposed project.
    The potential environmental issues identified for most transmission 
projects include: land use, cultural resources, visual resources, 
sensitive plants and animals, recreation use, erosion concerns, and 
fish and water resources. The Draft EIS for the proposed project will 
address these issues, as well as other environmental issues raised 
during the public scoping process. When completed, the Draft EIS will 
be circulated for review and comment, and BPA will hold public meetings 
to receive comments on the Draft EIS. BPA will consider and respond in 
the Final EIS to comments received on the Draft EIS. BPA's decision 
will be documented in a Record of Decision. The EIS will satisfy the 
requirements of NEPA.

    Issued in Portland, Oregon, on April 28, 2005.
Stephen J. Wright,
Administrator and Chief Executive Officer.
[FR Doc. 05-8996 Filed 5-4-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P
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