Richland Substation to Stevens Drive 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.
BPA proposes to rebuild an approximately 3-mile-long segment of the White Bluffs to Richland No. 1 115-kilovolt (kV) transmission line from Stevens Drive Substation south to the Richland Substation within the City of Richland, Washington (see enclosed project map).
The rebuild is necessary to ensure unplanned outages in the Tri-Cities area are less likely to occur. Over the past five years, the BPA transmission system has experienced 15 unplanned outages on the Richland – Stevens Drive 115 kV line. Six of these outages were resolved by dispatchers who were able to remotely reclose breakers to restore service without investigation or repairs. Five of these outages occurred during peak loading periods in the spring and summer. If BPA takes no action, these outages could increase in frequency and result in longer, more widespread power interruptions to customers in the area. Your comments will help BPA determine the issues that should be addressed in the environmental review.
For More Information:
www.bpa.gov/nepa/richland-stevens-drive
Close of comment: 4/26/2023
- TEPL-TP230001 -
pacePlease give special attention to adverse impacts, including destruction or adverse modification of designated critical habitat, for the Columbia Basin Pygmy rabbit population. Here is what WDFW says to take into account: "The population of Columbia Basin pygmy rabbit in Washington is extremely small and is designated as a Distinct Population Segment for protection under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. Conservation threats to the Columbian Basin pygmy rabbit include loss and degradation of shrubsteppe primarily due to conversion and fragmentation of this habitat to cropland and development.
Reintroduction efforts utilize semi-wild breeding enclosures to produce juveniles that are released into suitable habitat with the goal of establishing self-sufficient populations. Corridors of dense shrub cover connecting areas of suitable habitat and private lands enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program are critical to recovery efforts. Corridors of dense shrub cover connecting areas of suitable habitat are critical to recovery efforts." Here is the link to the WDFW website for your further consideration: https://wdfw.wa.gov/species-habitats/species/brachylagus-idahoensis
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- TEPL-TP230002 -
ReddickThank you for the opportunity to comment. Ive been a resident in the area of the proposed project for a long time. I have experienced the recent power outages, which are increasing in frequency and duration. They affect heating/cooling, lighting, communications, transportation, and the ability to cook.
Improvements to prevent electrical outages will be good for public health and public safety, since there will be fewer resulting hazards for vulnerable people or emergency responders.
This refurbishment is within existing footprints, and the very same work is routinely done across the country. Perhaps there is a valid categorical exclusion which precludes the need for an EA? The area on the map has already been disturbed, and electrical demands are only going to increase in the area. As a result, this project can proactively prevent future troubles.
- TEPL-TP230003 -
BirneyIf the government has any realistic hopes of actually forcing us into EVs, banning our gas stoves, etc, there are hundreds of projects like this one which must be completed in the near future.
- TEPL-TP230004 -
Thompson/ResidentGood day
Dear BPA Employees,
I was able to speak with your project manager, and EE from Richland, and 2 other gentlemen on April 12
2023.
I left some notes, in particular, saying that I realize a survival issue with severe windstorms, as well, large heating and cooling needs causing outages - and that which we do not consider.
Most homes would be impacted, let alone many government houses without wall/other insulation.
My new concerns are twofold regarding the extended height:
The strength during STRONGER WINDSTORMS THAN
WE HAVE HAD IN THE PAST
AS, wind turbines lessen the natural beauty of our horizons/other and are thought to impact peoples mentality negatively, lessening natural beauty. I believe the higher poles would be visualized by more citizens than those that experience them up and close.
Thank you for taking in and honestly seriously thinking these factors through.
Also, a special Thank You to your project manager. She came across as an honestly caring individual!
We are definitely all in THIS Together!
Respectfully and appreciatively,
Kathy E Thompson
- TEPL-TP230005 -
ThompsonGood day!
Dear BPA Employees,
I was able to speak with your project manager, and EE from Richland, and 2 other gentlemen on April 12, 2023.
I left some notes, in particular, saying that I realize a survival issue with severe windstorms, as well, large heating and cooling needs causing outages - and that which we do not consider.
Most homes would be impacted, let alone many government houses without wall/other insulation.
My new concerns are twofold regarding the extended height:
1. The strength during STRONGER WINDSTORMS THAN
WE HAVE HAD IN THE PAST*
2. AS, wind turbines lessen the natural beauty of our horizons/other and are thought to impact people's mentality negatively, lessening natural beauty. I believe the higher poles would be visualized by more citizens than those that experience them up and close.
Thank you for taking in and honestly seriously thinking these factors through.
Also, a special Thank You to your project manager. She came across as an honestly caring individual!
We're definitely all in THIS Together!
Respectfully and appreciatively,
Kathy E Thompson
- TEPL-TP230006 -
TalbottHello! This is a comment on the “Richland Substation to Stevens Drive Transmission Line Rebuild Project”
I fully approve of the concept of increasing and reinforcing our links to the broader power grid - however when I consider climate change and our current typical levels of wind in most seasons, I strongly suggest burying any new electrical infrastructure - this has many benefits, but most particularly increasing security of our electrical infrastructure, as well as improving the visual appeal of our community - in addition, such an improvement could allow for future growth of other utilities and infrastructure to be buried in the future.
Should an underground installation not be possible, I suggest that some provision for simple future growth of capacity be installed. We need to “future-proof” our electrical grid, whenever possible.
Jim T.
- TEPL-TP230007 -
LarsonAssume the tie between North Richland and Stevens subs is good and the Stevens to Richland South which is needing a boost. Would just increasing conductor size rather than adding a second line be less intrusive to the neighborhoods? Perhaps the low frequency magnetic field influence on nearby homes would be too high if larger conductors were installed at the same height as existing?? Although it appears that the lowest phase conductor in the new config is lower than the existing circuit conductors.
- TEPL-TP230008 -
Stevens Jr
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