Spar Canyon Round Valley Access Road System Improvements
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
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BPA proposes to improve the access road system for its existing Spar Canyon-Round Valley transmission line located on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land in Custer County, Idaho. Existing roads are in poor condition or lack a defined route of travel. These access roads are critical for continued safe and reliable operation and maintenance of the power transmission system. BPA’s improvements would involve constructing four to six miles of new road, reinforcing road crossings at drainages with rock, and acquiring access rights from BLM for new road use.
BPA and BLM will prepare an Environmental Assessment (EA) to understand the potential impacts of the proposed road improvements and identify ways to avoid, minimize and mitigate those impacts. Please let us know if you have concerns about particular resources or questions about the project. BPA and BLM are seeking input through Sept. 2, 2014. We will consider your comments and information we receive as we develop the EA.
Comment Period Open: 8/1/2014
For More Information:
https://www.bpa.gov/goto/SparCanyon
Close of comment: 9/2/2014
- SCARSI14 0001 -
PaceThe proposal to improve access for BPA’s Spar Canyon—Round Valley transmission line includes upgrading of existing roadways, as well as construction of as many as six miles of new roads. With respect to existing roadways, BPA and BLM should consider placing and/or replacing culverts, as appropriate, where access roads cross water drainages. Depending upon location, installing new culverts may be a better approach than reinforcing such crossings with rock. For newly constructed roads, BPA and BLM should ensure that activities occurring during the construction phase of the product are designed and timed to avoid impacts on sage grouse populations in the area and habitat. As BPA and BLM are no doubt aware, sage grouse are considered sage brush obligates, i.e., they are dependant upon sage brush for protection and as a food source and, in March 2010, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service designated sage grouse as a candidate for listing pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended, 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq., throughout the specie’s range in the state of Idaho and 10 other western states. In addition to the adverse impacts of the proposal to construct new roads and upgrade existing roads on sage grouse and the habitat that sage grouse depend upon, the environmental analysis should also consider the impacts on other species of wildlife, particularly deer and antelope. While neither deer nor antelope are protected under ESA, improving access to the Spar Canyon—Round Valley transmission line will likely increase impacts on populations of deer and antelope. A particular concern is that large numbers of antelope are found in the area and, in light of constraints on resources of Idaho Department of Fish and Game, as well as the proximity of the area to the cities of Challis, Mackey and Clayton, might increase poaching of trophy antelope and mule deer by locals.
- SCARSI14 0002 -
Robison/Idaho Conservation LeaguePlease see attached for comment
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