Shelton-Fairmount No 1 Transmission Line 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
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.
Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) proposes to rebuild its existing 60-mile-long Shelton-Fairmount No. 1 115-kilovolt (kV) wood pole transmission line, which extends from BPA’s Shelton Substation in Mason County, Washington to BPA’s Fairmount Substation in Jefferson County, Washington. The line is the sole point of service for multiple substations/customers west of the Hood Canal including Potlatch Substation, Duckabush Substation, and Quilcene Substation. The Shelton-Fairmount No. 1 line was built in 1949 and is nearing the end of its service life. It is experiencing performance issues due to its age, its poor grounding, and its overall condition. The line needs to be rebuilt to ensure reliable electric service and the safety of the public and transmission workers.
The proposed rebuild project would include rebuilding most of the existing wood pole structures along the line and replacing conductors (the transmission wires), overhead ground-wire, all associated hardware, and disconnect switching facilities. New structures would also be added at some locations along the line, and access roads along the line would be upgraded or repaired where needed to accommodate construction vehicles.
The proposed project would also replace the existing fiber optic cable along about 107 miles of existing BPA transmission lines, including the Shelton-Fairmount No. 1 line. In addition to replacing the fiber optic cable on the Shelton-Fairmount No. 1 line, fiber optic cable would be replaced on existing BPA transmission lines from BPA’s Olympia Substation in Thurston County, Washington to the Shelton Substation, and from the Fairmount Substation to BPA’s Port Angeles Substation in Clallam County, Washington. Access roads associated with the fiber optic cable replacement in the Olympia to Shelton and the Fairmount to Port Angeles sections would be upgraded or repaired where needed to accommodate replacement activities.
For more information go here: https://www.bpa.gov/environmental-initiatives/efw/project-reviews/shelton-fairmount-no-1-transmission-line-rebuild-project
For More Information:
Scott Lissit, 503-230-5057 or salissit@bpa.gov
Close of comment: 4/22/2022
- SH-FA220001 -
Tawney/NoneJust an observation. The title of this notice does not include the Fiber optic work specific to Olympic sub or the Port Angeles sub. Anyone interested in those activities might have miss this notice. While fiber optic replacement isn't as invasive an action as building a new line, you did feel it was worth mentioning in the notice. Perhaps it should have been noted in the title of this notice. Just saying it was weird to find it there at the bottom, when I wasn't expecting it.
Thanks for listening.
- SH-FA220002 -
Dinubilo/Cultural Resource Department of the Squaxin Island TribeThank you for contacting the Squaxin Island Tribe Cultural Resources Department regarding the above listed project for our review and comment. Due to the -Shelton-Fairmount transmission line being built in 1949, the BPA might want to consider determine if it is eligible for listing in the National Register.
Additionally, with the mention of new structures proposed, we look forward to starting the consultation project with your agency on this undertaking. As you know, the cultural resource report that was completed for this work is over 20 years old. It might be time to update that the report for medium to high probability areas.
- SH-FA220003 -
GoettlingI am one of the property owners that the BPA easement goes across.
We are concerned about the type of "improvement" that you will be making that affects our property. I feel the letter is very vague. Many years ago there was conversation from BPA about putting in large steel structure poles that would be on our property as well as affect our views of the Olympic Mountains.
At that time, we suggested that a study be made to propose putting the power lines under the ground, which would eliminate the above ground structures as well as protect the lines and lower the maintenance.
Nothing went future than conversation to our knowledge.
We would like to know what the proposed construction options are and if the underground construction is a possibility.
Respectfully,
Kathryn Goettling
- SH-FA220004 -
Kiel/Land OwnerThank you for the opportunity to comment. This project would take place on a transmission line has a BPA ROW through my property. While I have no objections to the proposed improvements, I would like to be kept informed as the project moves along. Given that this line was constructed in 1949, it seems unlikely that a current NEPA document exists and the preparation of an EA would be appropriate, particularly to identify any biological or archaeological impacts. In addition, the project description mentions upgrades to access roads, which would be necessary for construction access. Given that there is a considerable amount of target shooting and off-road vehicle use that occurs along this corridor, I would like to see at least some minimal options for managing these types of use.
- SH-FA220005 -
KnutzenPlease have your studies look at:
Habitat enhancement for the large elk herd that uses the BPA RW on my property. I am interested in replacement of the invasive blackberry with grasses.
I need more information about:
A schedule for blackberry mowing activities and a schedule for activities that will expose soil as a seedbed for tansy.
I have these other comments:
Thurston Co. noxious weed program requires underlying landowners to eliminate tansy. BPA should be responsible for control of tansy infestations resulting from soil exposure or provide landowners with grass seed to establish cover on cleared areas.
I would like to partner with the BPA, the Conservation Stewardship Program and the Thurston Conservation District to establish and maintain blackberry free elk habitat areas on my approx. 20 acres in the power line RW. I have a good track record improving the timber growing and carbon sequestration potential on the other 88 acres of my property, in cooperation with the Environmental Quality Incentives Program, and have committed to delaying any timber harvest to enhance carbon sequestration. I am ready to move on to enhancing the RW area if there is assistance available.
- SH-FA220006 -
Patterson/Mason PUD 3
- SH-FA220007 -
Merrigan/Peninsula Village Lot Owners AssociationWe are supportive of this project but do have concerns about the environmental affects it will have on the area behind our homeowner fences. We are Peninsula Village Lot Owners Association located at Village Place and Village Circle in Port Angeles and according to my comprehension of the plat it shows a 25-foot-wide B.P.A Transmission Line Easement Per Cause 8258. Could you please check your records to confirm if this is the area that you will be accessing or will there more land that is affected during your process? There seems to be about 200 more feet that the lines cover and what that will look like for the forested and or overgrown areas. Are you accessing this area via Village Place or Golf Course Road. Thanks.
- SH-FA220008 -
Schultz/Mike's Beach ResortOur business of over 70 years really looks forward to the upgrade of the power transmission system.
- SH-FA220009 -
MahanThanks for doing an E.A. I have talked with Lee at Bonneville in the past about my concern for our road quality. We've been adding rock over the years but ask that BPA contribute to this project. Please have your studies look at wetlands, harrier hawk nesting under existing line every year, March to Sept. We have vegetation management under the power lines on our property and plan to turn it into grazing land by 2023.
- SH-FA220010 -
MaggardStay in your right of way and only use your access points. Repair all ruts and damage caused by your equipment. Do not drive down to Bagely Creek, road is outside of your right of way and doesn't access the other side. You can leave the old poles if you want.
- SH-FA220011 -
StuberPlease look at: How to inform users about Power outages/expected repairs or time/schedule of return service. High speed internet access to many customers who would subscribe and who currently have unsatisfactory or no internet/high speed communications ect. I need more information about: High speed data - access to internet via direct high speed data lines. I currently have unacceptable services and such are unreliable. We experience frequent power outages. I am retired with children at home and have poor access to online school and other services.
- SH-FA220012 -
FloathePlease have your studies look at: Why trees have been cut down on my property and left there. In the past you have ground up the trees. It needs to be done. Also, the trees have been cut 5 to 10 inches above the ground leaving those stumps. Sloppy job!
For the past three years, you have Lee Webb was going to repair my private road that BPA had ruined for going on 20 years now. Promise date was supposed to be May 4 2020. Lee Webb called on 3/23/21 and again promised to repair my road. On 3/9/22 a BPA foreman that I called said he would get back to me about fixing my road, nothing yet. This is the fourth year of false promises.
- SH-FA220013 -
ONeal/Washington State Department of Natural ResourcesPlease see the attached PDF.
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