Pacific Direct Current Intertie Upgrade Project
The following comments were submitted in response to the open comment period described below.
Comments are numbered consecutively as they are received. Breaks in the number sequence result when comments are deleted because they
were submitted in error or have inappropriate content (such as SPAM). If you do not see your comment two business days after
you submit it, please contact (800) 622-4519.
BPA proposes to replace aging equipment at its Celilo converter station and to upgrade equipment on the Celilo-Sylmar 500-kilovolt (kV) transmission line from the Celilo converter station in The Dalles, Oregon to the Nevada-Oregon border (265 miles) where BPA's ownership of the 846-mile line terminates.
The project would modernize and simplify the equipment at Celilo, install four reinforced towers and upgraded hardware at selected locations on the northern part of the DC line.
Contingent on completing appropriate environmental review, construction would start in fall 2013.
You may submit comments to BPA online at: www.bpa.gov/comment, or fax your comments to (503) 230-4019. You also may call us with your comments toll free at (800) 622-4519. Please submit comments to us by October 29, 2012 referencing "PDCI Upgrade Project". We will post all comments we receive on our website at www.bpa.gov/comment.
Public Meetings:
October 9, 2012 in Lakeview, OR 5:00 to 7:30 pm
October 10, 2012 in Prineville, OR 5:00 to 7:30 pm
October 11, 2012 in The Dalles, OR 4:30 to 7:00 pm
For More Information:
www.bpa.gov/goto/pdci_upgrade
Close of comment: 10/29/2012
- PDCI120001 -
What inpack will this have on my property, located in Christmas Valley?
Answer?
- PDCI120002 -
/Whitford Real Estate, LLCI need more information about the exact location in the Grizzly/Grizzly Road area. The map didn't show road detail sufficiently.
- PDCI120003 -
MareyView attachment
View Attachment
- PDCI120004 -
GuthrieBPA needs to do weed control on right-of-way. Your last rocking job brought in new weeds to the area.
- PDCI120005 -
LanePlease have your environmental studies look at the E 1/2 of the NE 1/4 of the NW 1/4 of Section 16 in township 26 South, Range 19, east of the Willamette Meridian in Lake County, Oregon.
- PDCI120006 -
Krider/affected landownerHighly recommending that human resources and natural resources be utilized from local sources county by county whenever possible. Certainly was not considered in past BPA projects.
- PDCI120007 -
Fahlstromview attachment
View Attachment
- PDCI120008 -
Decker
Please have your environmental studies look at my property.
I need more information about roads and service roads. We would like to know if BPA is going to fix and maintain main roads or maintain while work is going on.
What danger is involved to land and homeowners?
- PDCI120009 -
Hutchison/BLMI need more information about the plan of development to include the exact footprint of the staging area, dead-end structures, and newly constructed roads (dimensions of road) and what exactly upgraing existing roads entail.
- PDCI120010 -
CecilAre you going to construct new towers? I thought the last time I was out that way a tower crossed a portion of the property. What impace if any would result?
- PDCI120011 -
Joens
Will they be using our road? (Big Sky Rd)
How long will the project take?
What are the dates of the project?
Road quality - dust, noise?
Road improvements?
Increased power lines/health risks?
Future frequency of road usage by BPA?
- PDCI120012 -
Conger/Northern Wasco Co PUDThank you for the opportunity to comment on this important project. Please see attached comments from the Board of Northern Wasco County People's Utility District.
View Attachment
- PDCI120013 -
Young/U.S. Fish and Wildlife ServiceThe following are general FWS comments on BPA's Sept 24, 2012 announcement of the Pacific DC Intertie Upgrade Project. Other FWS offices may provide additional comments by October 29. FWS anticipates that our more specific questions and recommendations will be discussed and addressed after this initial comment period closes.
1. The Project has been sited, and these new Project activities will occur within, significant acreages of important sage-grouse habitat, and likely have had and will continue to have significant direct and indirect effects on Oregon's sage-grouse populations and habitat. FWS recommends that BPA ensure any Project activities (new roads, road widening, upgrades or new waterbody crossings, various construction sites, future monitoring and maintenance plans, etc) are consistent with the Oregon Sage-grouse Conservation Strategy and associated sage-grouse mitigation framework (Framework). Consistency should be expressed via Project design considerations associated with avoiding short- and long-term direct and indirect impacts to sage-grouse Core habitats, and avoidance or significant minimization efforts for direct and indirect effects in Low Density habitats; analysis of impacts and quantification of adverse effects per the Framework; commitments for compensatory mitigation per the Framework; and monitoring and adaptive management per the Framework. FWS looks forward to discussing these sage-grouse related issues with ODFW, BLM, and BPA.
2. Similar to sage-grouse issues, above, Project design and conservation considerations should be developed and applied for pygmy rabbit and its habitats.
3. Per BPA's commitments under the existing Migratory Bird Conservation Executive Order 13186 and MOU between Department of Energy and FWS, FWS recommends that BPA develop and implement a Migratory Bird Conservation Strategy for the Project. This document should provide specific Project commitments, associated with Project upgrades and future operations, to conservation of Migratory Birds and their habitats throughout the Project's length, including migratory bird and habitat avoidance, minimization, restoration, monitoring, and compensatory mitigation measures.
4. BPA should ensure all existing and new roads, including waterbody crossings, are designed and maintained to avoid impacts on all waterbodies. Designs, construction, and monitoring of these roads and waterbody crossings should consistent with the most current road design and fluvial geomorphic principles and practices. FWS recommends a roads/waterbody crossing plan be developed for the Project, that will assess current waterbody crossing conditions, determine risk of failure, and define design and monitoring practices consistent with the watershed/waterbody crossing setting.
5. To ensure these important FWS Trust Resource issues and recommendations are incorporated into the Project's NEPA analysis, FWS requests that we are designated as a Cooperating Agency for purposes of Project NEPA.
Please let me know if you have any questions. FWS looks forward to meeting with BPA, ODFW, and BLM in the near future on these issues and recommendations.
- PDCI120014 -
Martin/Oregon Department of Fish and WildlifeAttached are Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife comments on the the September 24th, 2012, Notice of Intent to prepare an Environmental Assessment for the proposed Pacific Direct Current Intertie Upgrade Project, request for comments on environmental issues, and notice of public scoping meetings (KEC-4) Thank you, Art Martin Energy and NRDA Coordinator Wildlife Division Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife 3406 Cherry Avenue, NE Salem, Oregon 97303 art.c.martin@state.or.us 503-947-6082 971-600-6492 (cell)
View Attachment
- PDCI120015 -
Martin/Oregon Department of Fish and WildlifePlease see attached Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife's March 2012 mitigation framework guidance; Implementing Habitat Mitigation for Greater Sage-grouse under the Core Area Approach. Thank you, Art Martin Energy and NRDA Coordinator Wildlife Division Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife 3406 Cherry Avenue, NE Salem, Oregon 97303 art.c.martin@state.or.us 503-947-6082 971-600-6492 (cell)
View Attachment
- PDCI120016 -
PaceThank you for the opportunity to comment on the scoping of issues for proposal by Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) to upgrade the Pacific Direct Current Intertie (PCDI). I have three things that I’d like to suggest should be addressed in the environmental process for your consideration. First, to the extent that the proposal contemplates a potential increase in the 3100 MW capacity of the intertie, e.g., to allow for the transfer of increased levels of energy generated by wind-powered assets in the Pacific Northwest, BPA should analyze the biological and ecological impacts of using hydroelectric generating facilities of the Federal Columbia River Power System to support wind power, e.g., to provide balancing reserves on fish and wildlife, and the habitat such species depend upon, including but not limited to major population groups of anadromous fish, which are listed as threatened or endangered species under the Endangered Species Act. Second, my understanding is that BPA intends to improve access roads along the PDCI right-of-way in order to provide faster access for line maintenance crews. BPA should carefully assess the impacts of improved access on public lands. In addition, BPA should consider the impacts on water, plants, fish and wildlife of its vegetation management programs. In particular, you should look carefully at the ecological and biological effects of using herbicides to control vegetation growing in the right-of-way. Third, it is clear that there is a need to replace the aging Celilo 4 converter terminal to maintain and improve reliability. However, rather than BPA undertaking this project and passing the costs on to its customers, the environmental analysis should consider selling the Celilo converter station, other PDCI facilities and the federal government’s right, title and interest in right-of-way. The proceeds of such a sale would contribute to reducing the national debt while allowing transmission service providers in the western United States, investor-owned-utilities, independent generators and/or other public/private entities that have economic interests in moving power between the Pacific Northwest and Pacific Southwest to own and operate the intertie in an economically sound, businesslike manner, subject to oversight by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Of course BPA, as the entity responsible for marketing power generated by the Federal Columbia River Power System, would presumably be able to access the (privatized) PDCI on terms that are non-discriminatory. Thank you for your review and consideration of these comments. Please add my name and contact information to the list of persons and entities BPA contacts as additional information on the PDCI proposal becomes available.
- PDCI120017 -
AmenThis line goes through our property on n. side of Grizzly. I have a rock pit on Rams road and would like to supply rock for your project. Any information would be apprecaited. Thank you.
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