Hills Creek-Lookout Point Rebuild 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
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BPA is accepting comments on the draft environmental assessment (EA) for the proposed Hills Creek-Lookout Point Transmission Line Rebuild Project. BPA proposes to rebuild the 26-mile, 115-kilovolt wood-pole transmission line between the City of Oakridge and Lowell, Oregon. The line was originally built in 1953 and is showing expected deterioration based on its age. The rebuild would replace all wood-pole structures, replace conductors and ground wires, and improve access roads. BPA also proposes to realign two sections of the transmission line recently damaged by rock fall and landslides.
The draft EA describes the project and why it is needed, discusses the environmental impacts the project would create, and lists the mitigation measures that would lessen or eliminate those impacts. These sections of line are within Willamette National Forest. The U.S. Forest Service is a cooperating agency in the development of the EA and is considering whether to issue a special use permit to allow BPA to realign the sections of line.
For More Information:
http://www.bpa.gov/goto/HillsCreekLookoutPoint
Close of comment: 9/19/2016
- HCLP16 0001 -
Keppler/Lane County PWLane County Public Works staff have reviewed the Draft EA for the proposed Hills Creek-Lookout Point Rebuild Project.
Lane County Right of Way Permits are required for construction activities within County Roads and rights of way.
Table 2-5, Mitigation Measures for Proposed Action, should be revised to include a bullet item
"Coordinate with Lane County Public Works to obtain any Right-of-Way Permits that may be required, if any, for project activities, including hauling, within County Roads and right-of-way .
http://www.lanecounty.org/Departments/PW/Pages/rowpermits.aspx"
under the Land Use, Recreation and Transportation section.
- HCLP16 0002 -
MaupinPlease view attachment.
View Attachment
- HCLP16 0004 -
Heiken/Oregon WildPlease view attachment.
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- HCLP16 0005 -
ChapmanPlease see attached comment
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- HCLP16 0006 -
hardingI would like to know why BPA has decided to hold water back at Bonneville dam during the peak Chinook salmon migration?
- HCLP16 0007 -
paceCanis lupus, listed as endangered in the western 2/3 of Oregon, which includes the entirety of the proposed project, and there are areas in the vicinity of Oakridge that are estimated wolf use areas by FWS. BPA should start by assessing inconsistencies between the project as proposed and ODFW’s updated Wolf Conservation and Management Plan, which is available online at http://www.dfw.state.or.us/Wolves/wolf_program_updates.asp. Your analysis should consider, e.g., impacts of access roads on wolves and potential wolf habitat. But it should not stop there. You should also look at issues like the impact of vegetation management on wolf survival and recovery. To a lesser extent, I think you also have the same problem but to a lesser degree with Lynx canadensis. So far as I know, a recovery plan for Canada lynx has not been promulgated. However, the area of potential lynx habitat includes areas that are adjacent to and/or nearby the eastern end of the proposed project. You may have similar concerns with impacts on potential range that should be addressed for Pekania pennanti, which is a species of concern. Thankfully, I don’t believe you have a problem with pygmy rabbits. That’s the mammals. There are fish and plants, of course.
- HCLP16 0008 -
Burbank/Oregon Department of TransportationTo whom it may concern,
ODOT has reviewed the notice for Hills Creek-lookout point Transmission Line Rebuild (Doe/ea-1967) if new approaches to the state right of way are required an application for road approach to the state highway system will be required.
Additionally, if the applicant anticipates work within the state highway right-of-way, they will need to contact Jeff Prociw at (541) 726-2526 in the ODOT District 5 Maintenance Office to discuss the type of work and to obtain any necessary permits for work within the state highway right-of-way.
If vehicles are to be over-sized or over weight please contact Motor Carrier for appropriate permits.
Please provide a map of any currently used or potentially used state highway access for our review associated with the project.
If you have any questions please feel free to contact me.
Thank you,
Brennan Burbank, P.E.
Acting Development Review Coordinator | ODOT Region 2
455 Airport Road SE, Bldg. B | Salem, Oregon 97301
(503) 986-2825 | Cell: (503) 798-8195 | Brennan.Burbank@odot.state.or.us
- HCLP16 0009 -
Gamble/ODOTODOT District 5 Permits Department requires applicable District Permits to be obtained prior to working in the right of way (ROW).
- HCLP16 0011 -
BurlesonPlease view attachment.
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