Big Eddy-Knight Transmission Project, 26679-26680 [E9-12915]
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Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 105 / Wednesday, June 3, 2009 / Notices
Becoming an Intervenor
Once Calais LNG files an application
with the Commission, you may want to
become an ‘‘intervenor’’, which is an
official party to the proceeding.
Intervenors play a more formal role in
the process and are able to file briefs,
appear at hearings, and be heard by the
courts if they choose to appeal the
Commission’s final ruling. An
intervenor formally participates in a
Commission proceeding by filing a
request to intervene. Instructions for
becoming an intervenor are included in
the User’s Guide under the ‘‘eFiling’’
link on the Commission’s Web site.
Please note that you may not request
intervenor status at this time. You must
wait until a formal application for the
project is filed with the Commission.
PWALKER on PROD1PC71 with NOTICES
Additional Information
Additional information about the
project is available from the
Commission’s Office of External Affairs,
at 1–866–208–FERC (3372) or on the
FERC Web site (https://www.ferc.gov)
using the eLibrary link. Click on the
eLibrary link, select ‘‘General Search’’
and enter the docket number excluding
the last three digits (i.e., PF08–24) in the
‘‘Docket Number’’ field. Be sure you
have selected an appropriate date range.
For assistance with eLibrary, the
eLibrary helpline can be reached at 1–
866–208–3676, TTY (202) 502–8659, or
by e-mail at
FercOnlineSupport@ferc.gov. The
eLibrary link also provides access to the
texts of formal documents issued by the
Commission, such as orders, notices,
and rule makings.
In addition, the Commission now
offers a free service called eSubscription
which allows you to keep track of all
formal issuances and submittals in
specific dockets. This can reduce the
amount of time you spend researching
proceedings by automatically providing
you with notification of these filings,
document summaries, and direct links
to the documents. Go to https://
www.ferc.gov/esubscribenow.htm.
Public meetings or site visits will be
posted on the Commission’s calendar
located at https://www.ferc.gov/
EventCalendar/EventsList.aspx along
with other related information.
Finally, Calais LNG has established a
Web site for this project at https://
www.calaislng.com. The Web site
includes a project overview, status,
potential impacts and mitigation, and
answers to frequently asked questions.
You can also request additional
information by calling Calais LNG
directly at 207–214–7074 or visiting the
VerDate Nov<24>2008
16:08 Jun 02, 2009
Jkt 217001
Calais LNG office at 421 Main Street,
Calais, Maine.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E9–12869 Filed 6–2–09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Bonneville Power Administration;
Big Eddy-Knight Transmission Project
AGENCY: Bonneville Power
Administration (BPA), Department of
Energy (DOE).
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
and notice of floodplain and wetlands
involvement.
SUMMARY: BPA intends to prepare an EIS
in accordance with the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) on
the construction, operation, and
maintenance of a proposed 500-kilovolt
(kV) transmission line and substation.
The project would be located in Wasco
County, Oregon and Klickitat County,
Washington. The new BPA transmission
line would extend generally northeast
from BPA’s existing 500-kV Big Eddy
Substation in The Dalles, Oregon, to a
new BPA 500-kV substation proposed to
be connected to BPA’s existing
Wautoma-Ostrander 500-kV
transmission line approximately 4 miles
northwest of Goldendale, Washington.
The proposed BPA substation would be
called Knight Substation. BPA is
considering three routing alternatives
for the proposed transmission line;
portions of all three routes parallel
existing BPA lines in the area. The
lengths of the routing alternatives range
from about 26 to 28 miles. The proposed
Big Eddy-Knight transmission line is
needed to increase transmission
capacity to respond to requests for
transmission service in this area.
With this Notice of Intent, BPA is
initiating the public scoping process for
the EIS. BPA is requesting comments
about potential environmental impacts
that it should consider as it prepares the
EIS for the proposed project, as well as
comments on the proposed routes for
the transmission line, and suggestions
about other route options that may meet
the technical requirements of the
transmission system.
In accordance with DOE regulations
for compliance with floodplain and
wetlands environmental review
requirements, BPA will prepare a
floodplain and wetlands assessment to
avoid or minimize potential harm to or
within any affected floodplains and
PO 00000
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
26679
wetlands. The assessment will be
included in the EIS.
DATES: Written scoping comments are
due to the address below no later than
July 21, 2009. Comments may also be
made at the EIS scoping meetings to be
held on June 30, 2009 and July 1, 2009
at the addresses below.
ADDRESSES: Send letters with comments
and suggestions on the proposed scope
of the Draft EIS, and requests to be
placed on the project mailing list, to
Bonneville Power Administration,
Public Affairs Office—DKE–7, P.O. Box
14428, Portland, OR, 97293–4428, or by
fax to (503) 230–3285. You also may call
BPA’s toll free comment line at (800)
622–4519 and leave a message (please
include the name of this project), or
submit comments online at https://
www.bpa.gov/comment. BPA will post
all comment letters in their entirety on
BPA’s Web site at https://www.bpa.gov/
comment.
On Tuesday, June 30, 2009, an openhouse style scoping meeting will be
held from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Shilo
Inn Suites Hotel in The Dalles, Oregon.
On Wednesday, July 1, 2009, a scoping
meeting will be held from 4 p.m. to 7
p.m. at the Goldendale High School in
Goldendale, Washington. At these
informal meetings, we will provide
maps and other information about the
project and have members of the project
team available to answer questions and
accept oral and written comments. You
may stop by anytime during the open
house.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Stacy Mason, Environmental
Coordinator, Bonneville Power
Administration—KEC–4, P.O. Box 3621,
Portland, Oregon 97208–3621; toll-free
telephone 1–800–282–3713; direct
telephone 503–230–5455; or e-mail
slmason@bpa.gov. You may also contact
Steve Prickett, Project Manager,
Bonneville Power Administration—
TNP–3, P.O. Box 3621, Portland,
Oregon, 97208–3621; toll-free telephone
1–800–282–3713; direct telephone 360–
619–6379; or e-mail slprickett@bpa.gov.
Additional information can be found at
BPA’s Web site: https://
www.efw.bpa.gov/
environmental_services/nepadocs.aspx,
click on ‘‘Project Reviews—Active,’’
then use the drop-down box and click
on Big Eddy-Knight Transmission
Project.
In 2008,
BPA conducted a Network Open Season
(NOS) process to help manage its list of
requests for long-term transmission
service. During the NOS process,
utilities and power generators
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
E:\FR\FM\03JNN1.SGM
03JNN1
PWALKER on PROD1PC71 with NOTICES
26680
Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 105 / Wednesday, June 3, 2009 / Notices
(including wind generators and power
marketers) requested the use of BPA’s
transmission system to transmit their
power. To determine if BPA could offer
the service requested, BPA studied the
transmission system and identified
where existing capacity was available
and where the system needed upgrades.
The studies found that there was not
enough available transmission capacity
to accommodate all requests for longterm service from the east side of the
Cascade Mountains along the Oregon/
Washington border, to load centers west
of the Cascades, and to major
transmission lines serving California.
Wind generation facilities built and
proposed in the region have greatly
increased the amount of power being
produced on the east side of the Cascade
Mountains. Further studies revealed
that building a new 500-kV line from
BPA’s existing Big Eddy Substation in
Oregon to a point on BPA’s existing
Wautoma-Ostrander 500-kV
transmission line in Washington would
allow BPA to accommodate the requests
for transmission service in this area.
BPA must respond to these requests
for transmission service under its Open
Access Transmission Tariff. This tariff,
which is generally consistent with the
Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission’s pro forma open access
tariff, has procedures that provide
access to BPA’s transmission system for
all eligible customers, consistent with
all BPA requirements (including the
availability or development of sufficient
transmission capacity) and subject to an
environmental review under NEPA. The
proposed Big Eddy-Knight Transmission
Line Project would respond to these
requests for transmission service. BPA,
therefore, will prepare an EIS under
NEPA to assist the agency as it decides
whether to build the proposed project,
and if a decision is made to build a line,
which alternative transmission line
route should be constructed.
BPA will be the lead agency for
preparation of the EIS. In furtherance of
existing cooperative agreements
between BPA and the States of
Washington and Oregon, the
Washington Energy Facility Site
Evaluation Council (Washington EFSEC)
and the Oregon Energy Facility Siting
Council (Oregon EFSC) also will
participate in preparation of the EIS.
Among other things, these State
agencies will assist BPA in evaluating
alternative transmission line routes and
identifying State interests that should be
addressed in the EIS. In addition,
cooperating agencies for the EIS may be
identified as the proposed project
proceeds through the NEPA process.
VerDate Nov<24>2008
16:08 Jun 02, 2009
Jkt 217001
Alternatives Proposed for
Consideration. BPA is considering three
routing alternatives for evaluation in the
EIS. The routing alternatives use a
combination of existing BPA
transmission right-of-way and new
right-of-way and are about 26–28 miles
long. BPA proposes to use lattice steel
towers for construction of the
transmission line.
All routing alternatives would
originate at BPA’s Big Eddy Substation,
near The Dalles, Oregon, and would
terminate at a new BPA 500-kV Knight
Substation located under and connected
to BPA’s existing BPA WautomaOstrander 500-kV transmission line
approximately 4 miles northwest of
Goldendale, Washington. The following
describes the general location of the
three routing alternatives:
• West Alternative: This route would
extend northwest from Big Eddy
Substation following existing vacant
BPA right-of-way to and across the
Columbia River. The line would then
head east, and then north to parallel an
existing BPA 115-kV H-frame wood-pole
transmission line. The proposed line
would angle northeast in new right-ofway adjacent to the wood pole line for
about 12 miles. The proposed line
would continue northeast in new rightof-way for about 4 miles before nearing
two existing lattice steel lines (230 kV
and 500 kV). The proposed line would
parallel these existing lines eastward for
about 3 miles to the proposed Knight
Substation site. This routing alternative
is about 26 miles long.
• Middle Alternative: From Big Eddy
Substation, this route would extend east
and slightly north in existing right-ofway next to an existing BPA 230-kV
lattice-steel transmission line for about
7 miles before crossing the Columbia
River. The line would cross the river
just west of the existing line and follow
it for about 1.5 miles before heading
north in new right-of-way. The line
would then head to the proposed Knight
Substation site, generally running north
for about 15 miles with one jog east
along an existing BPA 115-kV woodpole line. This routing alternative is
about 26 miles long.
• East Alternative: This route would
follow the same route as the Middle
Routing Alternative, but instead of
heading north on the Washington side
of the river, the East Routing Alternative
would continue east next to two existing
lattice-steel lines (230 kV and 345 kV)
for an additional 4 miles before turning
north. The line would then generally
run north for 15 miles to the proposed
Knight Substation site. This routing
alternative is about 28 miles long.
PO 00000
Frm 00033
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
BPA is also considering the No Action
Alternative, that is, not building the
transmission line and substation. Other
alternatives may be identified through
the scoping process.
Public Participation and
Identification of Environmental Issues.
The potential environmental issues
identified for most transmission line
projects include land use,
socioeconomics, cultural resources,
visual resources, electric and magnetic
field effects, sensitive plants and
animals, soil erosion, wetlands,
floodplains, and fish and water
resources. The transmission line
alternatives being considered also cross
portions of the Columbia River Gorge
National Scenic Area. BPA has
established a 45-day scoping period
during which tribes, affected
landowners, concerned citizens, special
interest groups, local and federal
governments, and any other interested
parties are invited to comment on the
scope of the proposed EIS, including
potential routing alternatives to be
considered and environmental impacts
to be evaluated. Scoping will help BPA
ensure that a full range of issues related
to this proposal is addressed in the EIS,
and also will identify significant or
potentially significant impacts that may
result from the proposed project. When
completed, the Draft EIS will be
circulated for review and comment, and
BPA will hold public meetings to
answer questions and receive
comments. BPA will consider and
respond to comments received on the
Draft EIS in the Final EIS. The Final EIS
is expected to be published in winter
2010–11. BPA’s decision will be
documented in a Record of Decision
that will follow the Final EIS.
Issued in Portland, Oregon, on May 27,
2009.
Stephen J. Wright,
Administrator and Chief Executive Officer.
[FR Doc. E9–12915 Filed 6–2–09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission
[Docket No. ER09–1181–000]
Hoosier Wind, LLC; Supplemental
Notice That Initial Market-Based Rate
Filing Includes Request for Blanket
Section 204 Authorization
May 27, 2009.
This is a supplemental notice in the
above-referenced proceeding of Hoosier
Wind, LLC’s application for market-
E:\FR\FM\03JNN1.SGM
03JNN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 105 (Wednesday, June 3, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26679-26680]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-12915]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Bonneville Power Administration;
Big Eddy-Knight Transmission Project
AGENCY: Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), Department of Energy
(DOE).
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement
(EIS) and notice of floodplain and wetlands involvement.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: BPA intends to prepare an EIS in accordance with the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) on the construction, operation, and
maintenance of a proposed 500-kilovolt (kV) transmission line and
substation. The project would be located in Wasco County, Oregon and
Klickitat County, Washington. The new BPA transmission line would
extend generally northeast from BPA's existing 500-kV Big Eddy
Substation in The Dalles, Oregon, to a new BPA 500-kV substation
proposed to be connected to BPA's existing Wautoma-Ostrander 500-kV
transmission line approximately 4 miles northwest of Goldendale,
Washington. The proposed BPA substation would be called Knight
Substation. BPA is considering three routing alternatives for the
proposed transmission line; portions of all three routes parallel
existing BPA lines in the area. The lengths of the routing alternatives
range from about 26 to 28 miles. The proposed Big Eddy-Knight
transmission line is needed to increase transmission capacity to
respond to requests for transmission service in this area.
With this Notice of Intent, BPA is initiating the public scoping
process for the EIS. BPA is requesting comments about potential
environmental impacts that it should consider as it prepares the EIS
for the proposed project, as well as comments on the proposed routes
for the transmission line, and suggestions about other route options
that may meet the technical requirements of the transmission system.
In accordance with DOE regulations for compliance with floodplain
and wetlands environmental review requirements, BPA will prepare a
floodplain and wetlands assessment to avoid or minimize potential harm
to or within any affected floodplains and wetlands. The assessment will
be included in the EIS.
DATES: Written scoping comments are due to the address below no later
than July 21, 2009. Comments may also be made at the EIS scoping
meetings to be held on June 30, 2009 and July 1, 2009 at the addresses
below.
ADDRESSES: Send letters with comments and suggestions on the proposed
scope of the Draft EIS, and requests to be placed on the project
mailing list, to Bonneville Power Administration, Public Affairs
Office--DKE-7, P.O. Box 14428, Portland, OR, 97293-4428, or by fax to
(503) 230-3285. You also may call BPA's toll free comment line at (800)
622-4519 and leave a message (please include the name of this project),
or submit comments online at https://www.bpa.gov/comment. BPA will post
all comment letters in their entirety on BPA's Web site at https://www.bpa.gov/comment.
On Tuesday, June 30, 2009, an open-house style scoping meeting will
be held from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Shilo Inn Suites Hotel in The
Dalles, Oregon. On Wednesday, July 1, 2009, a scoping meeting will be
held from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Goldendale High School in Goldendale,
Washington. At these informal meetings, we will provide maps and other
information about the project and have members of the project team
available to answer questions and accept oral and written comments. You
may stop by anytime during the open house.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Stacy Mason, Environmental
Coordinator, Bonneville Power Administration--KEC-4, P.O. Box 3621,
Portland, Oregon 97208-3621; toll-free telephone 1-800-282-3713; direct
telephone 503-230-5455; or e-mail slmason@bpa.gov. You may also contact
Steve Prickett, Project Manager, Bonneville Power Administration--TNP-
3, P.O. Box 3621, Portland, Oregon, 97208-3621; toll-free telephone 1-
800-282-3713; direct telephone 360-619-6379; or e-mail
slprickett@bpa.gov. Additional information can be found at BPA's Web
site: https://www.efw.bpa.gov/environmental_services/nepadocs.aspx,
click on ``Project Reviews--Active,'' then use the drop-down box and
click on Big Eddy-Knight Transmission Project.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In 2008, BPA conducted a Network Open Season
(NOS) process to help manage its list of requests for long-term
transmission service. During the NOS process, utilities and power
generators
[[Page 26680]]
(including wind generators and power marketers) requested the use of
BPA's transmission system to transmit their power. To determine if BPA
could offer the service requested, BPA studied the transmission system
and identified where existing capacity was available and where the
system needed upgrades. The studies found that there was not enough
available transmission capacity to accommodate all requests for long-
term service from the east side of the Cascade Mountains along the
Oregon/Washington border, to load centers west of the Cascades, and to
major transmission lines serving California. Wind generation facilities
built and proposed in the region have greatly increased the amount of
power being produced on the east side of the Cascade Mountains. Further
studies revealed that building a new 500-kV line from BPA's existing
Big Eddy Substation in Oregon to a point on BPA's existing Wautoma-
Ostrander 500-kV transmission line in Washington would allow BPA to
accommodate the requests for transmission service in this area.
BPA must respond to these requests for transmission service under
its Open Access Transmission Tariff. This tariff, which is generally
consistent with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's pro forma
open access tariff, has procedures that provide access to BPA's
transmission system for all eligible customers, consistent with all BPA
requirements (including the availability or development of sufficient
transmission capacity) and subject to an environmental review under
NEPA. The proposed Big Eddy-Knight Transmission Line Project would
respond to these requests for transmission service. BPA, therefore,
will prepare an EIS under NEPA to assist the agency as it decides
whether to build the proposed project, and if a decision is made to
build a line, which alternative transmission line route should be
constructed.
BPA will be the lead agency for preparation of the EIS. In
furtherance of existing cooperative agreements between BPA and the
States of Washington and Oregon, the Washington Energy Facility Site
Evaluation Council (Washington EFSEC) and the Oregon Energy Facility
Siting Council (Oregon EFSC) also will participate in preparation of
the EIS. Among other things, these State agencies will assist BPA in
evaluating alternative transmission line routes and identifying State
interests that should be addressed in the EIS. In addition, cooperating
agencies for the EIS may be identified as the proposed project proceeds
through the NEPA process.
Alternatives Proposed for Consideration. BPA is considering three
routing alternatives for evaluation in the EIS. The routing
alternatives use a combination of existing BPA transmission right-of-
way and new right-of-way and are about 26-28 miles long. BPA proposes
to use lattice steel towers for construction of the transmission line.
All routing alternatives would originate at BPA's Big Eddy
Substation, near The Dalles, Oregon, and would terminate at a new BPA
500-kV Knight Substation located under and connected to BPA's existing
BPA Wautoma-Ostrander 500-kV transmission line approximately 4 miles
northwest of Goldendale, Washington. The following describes the
general location of the three routing alternatives:
West Alternative: This route would extend northwest from
Big Eddy Substation following existing vacant BPA right-of-way to and
across the Columbia River. The line would then head east, and then
north to parallel an existing BPA 115-kV H-frame wood-pole transmission
line. The proposed line would angle northeast in new right-of-way
adjacent to the wood pole line for about 12 miles. The proposed line
would continue northeast in new right-of-way for about 4 miles before
nearing two existing lattice steel lines (230 kV and 500 kV). The
proposed line would parallel these existing lines eastward for about 3
miles to the proposed Knight Substation site. This routing alternative
is about 26 miles long.
Middle Alternative: From Big Eddy Substation, this route
would extend east and slightly north in existing right-of-way next to
an existing BPA 230-kV lattice-steel transmission line for about 7
miles before crossing the Columbia River. The line would cross the
river just west of the existing line and follow it for about 1.5 miles
before heading north in new right-of-way. The line would then head to
the proposed Knight Substation site, generally running north for about
15 miles with one jog east along an existing BPA 115-kV wood-pole line.
This routing alternative is about 26 miles long.
East Alternative: This route would follow the same route
as the Middle Routing Alternative, but instead of heading north on the
Washington side of the river, the East Routing Alternative would
continue east next to two existing lattice-steel lines (230 kV and 345
kV) for an additional 4 miles before turning north. The line would then
generally run north for 15 miles to the proposed Knight Substation
site. This routing alternative is about 28 miles long.
BPA is also considering the No Action Alternative, that is, not
building the transmission line and substation. Other alternatives may
be identified through the scoping process.
Public Participation and Identification of Environmental Issues.
The potential environmental issues identified for most transmission
line projects include land use, socioeconomics, cultural resources,
visual resources, electric and magnetic field effects, sensitive plants
and animals, soil erosion, wetlands, floodplains, and fish and water
resources. The transmission line alternatives being considered also
cross portions of the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. BPA
has established a 45-day scoping period during which tribes, affected
landowners, concerned citizens, special interest groups, local and
federal governments, and any other interested parties are invited to
comment on the scope of the proposed EIS, including potential routing
alternatives to be considered and environmental impacts to be
evaluated. Scoping will help BPA ensure that a full range of issues
related to this proposal is addressed in the EIS, and also will
identify significant or potentially significant impacts that may result
from the proposed project. When completed, the Draft EIS will be
circulated for review and comment, and BPA will hold public meetings to
answer questions and receive comments. BPA will consider and respond to
comments received on the Draft EIS in the Final EIS. The Final EIS is
expected to be published in winter 2010-11. BPA's decision will be
documented in a Record of Decision that will follow the Final EIS.
Issued in Portland, Oregon, on May 27, 2009.
Stephen J. Wright,
Administrator and Chief Executive Officer.
[FR Doc. E9-12915 Filed 6-2-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P
