The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is seeking comments on a permit application from the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) to build a 500-kilolt (kV) lattice steel tower transmission line that would run from a new 500-kV substation near Castle Rock, Washington, to a new 500-kV substation near Troutdale, Oregon. The proposed transmission line corridor would be about 79.8 miles long, and up to 150 feet wide.
Under their preferred alternative, BPA proposes to fill up to 21 acres of wetlands, and clear trees and shrubs from up to 87 acres of wetlands. BPA would also install or reconstruct up to 401 permanent stream crossings, and 46 temporary stream crossings. The purpose of the project is to increase the transmission capacity in the southwest Washington/northwest Oregon area and allow BPA to provide for local load growth, maintain reliable power, and accommodate requests for long-term, firm transmission service.
The Corps is reviewing the proposal as required in accordance with Section 404 of the Clean Water Act and Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act.
To access the electronic version of this public notice, go to the Seattle District’s web page at: http://www.nws.usace.army.mil/, and click on “Regulatory Public Notices” under “Open Public Comment Periods.” This page lists recently-issued public notices in chronological order of the date of issuance. Select and view the listing for this project.
Additional information about the proposed project and the Environmental Impact Statement process can be found at: http://www.bpa.gov/Projects/Projects/I-5/Pages/default.aspx The public comment period on the Draft EIS remains open through March 1, 2013.
The Corps is accepting comments on the proposal until March 1. Comments should reference NWS-2011-346 and may be sent via e-mail to: steven.w.manlow@usace.army.mil Conventional mail comments may be sent to: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Regulatory Branch, Attention: Mr. Steve Manlow, Post Office Box 3755, Seattle, WA 98124-3755.
Release no. 13-001