BPA is proposing to completely rebuild the nearly 23.90-mile Salem-Albany No.1 and the 27.85 Salem-Albany No. 2 wood-pole transmission lines. The lines run from Salem to Albany, Ore., through Polk, Benton, Marion and Linn counties.

The rebuilds are necessary due to the overall age, condition and performance of the lines, which were built more than 60 years ago. The rebuilds would involve replacing wood pole structures, associated structural components, the conductor and the ground wire. The lines would continue to operate at 115-kV, and our intent would be to rebuild both lines using the same wood pole locations and designs.

Over the next two years, BPA employees or contractors will be conducting field activities related to planning and environmental review. BPA will prepare an Environmental Assessment (EA) under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to assess the potential environmental impacts of the proposed action and identify ways to reduce those impacts.

Feedback we receive during the public comment period will be used to help develop the EA. In addition, we will have two public meetings to provide information on the project and take questions and comments. The public meetings will be held in Salem and Albany during the last half of Jan. 2013.  Once the meeting dates are confirmed, a reminder post card will be sent to interested parties and the meetings will be posted on the Event Calendar at www.bpa.gov and the project website.