South of Tri-Cities Reinforcement 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) is proposing to construct a new 18-mile-long 115-kilovolt (kV) transmission line between BPA’s existing Badger Canyon Substation in Benton County, Washington and BPA’s existing Ashe-Marion 500-kV transmission line to the west. The Tri-Cities area is growing, and the increasing demand for power is adding to the area’s existing transmission system constraints. The primary goals of this project are to improve long-term electric reliability, improve short-term operational flexibility and address system maintenance needs. Your comments will help BPA determine the issues that should be addressed in the environmental review.
For More Information:
https://www.bpa.gov/learn-and-participate/public-involvement-decisions/project-reviews/south-of-tri-cities
Close of comment: 11/20/2023
- TELP230001 -
Ard/n/aA large grove of Cottonwood trees is located along the railroad tracks approximately intersected by private road PR1023 and private road PR1035 along Badger Road. The Cottonwood grove is observed nesting habitat for the Great Horned Owl, Red Tailed Hawk, Bullock;s Oriole, Lazuli Bunting, Downy Woodpeckers, Red-breasted Nuthatch, and likely resting or nesting habitat for many other birds observed in this specific area including Black-Chinned Hummingbird, Rofous Humminbird, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Black-headed Grosbeak, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Red-winged Blackbird to name a few. I believe the cottonwood trees and the understory may need to be cut, or otherwise disturbed in order to route the new transmission line along the segment 2 railroad optional route. Additionally, a quick internet search indicates that a single, mature tree can absorb between 28-48 pounds of carbon dioxide per year. The area near the Cottonwood grove also includes big sagebrush and rabbitbrush that is habitat for Jackrabbit, cottontail rabbit, coyote, and sagebrush lizard. Please review this area carefully before determining the route to avoid an impact to important habitat and further destruction of an important carbon sink. Feel free to contact me for a walk in this area.
- TELP230003 -
PietroWish this could all be done underground. That said, I would choose following the railroad tracks.
- TELP230004 -
Darling/NoneThe proposed routing of the new power line from Webber Canyon needs further NEPA analysis to consider: 1) If the proposed wind farm is not built, is Webber Canyon the appropriate location for a substation to tie into an additional power source, 2) The Dallas/I-82 intersection is near where the future power demand growth will be far more so than the Badger Canyon substation area and a new substation located here should be evaluated rather than expansion of the Badger Canyon substation, 3) any power line poles should all be steel or concrete due to frequent grass fires occurring in the Badger Canyon and Horse Heaven Hills areas with no wooden poles used, and 4) if the Badger Canyon Substation is chosen to be tied into the Webber Canyon Substation, the obvious better path would be along Badger Road, not following the water canals, again because of grass fires along the water canals that could impact the power lines-it appears potential fires are being ignored in planning.
All of these issues should be evaluated for environmental and cost impacts before any decisions are made.
- TELP230005 -
paceIt was about thirty years ago when Randy Hardy made a compelling case for investments in transmission capacity and resiliency. IMO, everything he had to say still applies. With that as background, this upgrade and investment in transmission capacity for the tri-cities area is a no brainer. At the same time, it was about three decades ago that pygmy rabbits started kicking over the furniture inside my brain. I had no affinity whatsoever for pygmy rabbits, but I read dozens of environmental analyses that, at best, gave lip service to this species, even though it was listed for protection under ESA. Typically, someone from BPA or the Corps went for a ride in a pickup and did not see any of the species so that was that. Over the years pygmy rabbits continued to run around in my head saying that if I did not help them, nobody would. I have a tribal friend who is a member of STOI and I told him that I was haunted by pygmy rabbits. He had exactly the same thing happening. Dreams involving pygmy rabbits would not go away. This is a roundabout way of asking that, for this project, BPA give its full attention to an assessment of pygmy rabbits' survival and recovery. The tri-cities are growing, and they are smack dab in the middle of pygmy rabbits' critical habitat and, because there is no way that the species can or should block this transmission investment, BPA can afford to finally give the species a hard look and do a comprehensive analysis of the species needs, historical habitat, present population abundance and diversity, spatial structure and genetic diversity. That may be a tall ask given that virtually nobody gives rats backside about this rabbit. So, respectfully, I hope that BPA will give this species the attention it deserves. I think that because this is a no brainer investment, an in-depth assessment of pygmy rabbits is a risk-free topic to address at this time.
- TELP230006 -
Hannah
- TELP230007 -
Whitney
- TELP230008 -
Martin
- TELP230009 -
Sargent
- TELP230010 -
Dye
- TELP230011 -
Creed
- TELP230012 -
Smith
- TELP230013 -
Synoground
- TELP230014 -
minelli/Summit View Homn Owners
- TELP23 0015 -
MIller
- TELP23 0016 -
Brooks
- TELP23 0017 -
Curry
- TELP23 0019 -
Whitehurst
- TELP23 0020 -
Ross
- TELP23 0021 -
Powell
- TELP23 0022 -
Sidebe
- TELP23 0023 -
Ramble
- TELP23 0024 -
Ramble
- TELP23 0025 -
Mendoza
- TELP23 0026 -
Chelin
- TELP23 0027 -
Berg
- TELP23 0028 -
Sharp/Tri-Cities CARESRegarding-South of Tri-Cities Reinforcement Project
Tri-Cities CARES is a local conservation group focusing on Wildlife and Habitat, and to include responsible development of industrial projects. We are a 501(c)3 organization.
I submit this on behalf of the TCC board and will make a second comment as a resident affected by the project.
David Sharp
View Attachment
- TELP23 0031 -
Utley
- TELP23 0033 -
Sharp/Tri-Cities CaresI prefer the route that follows the existing right of way corridor that follows South Badger Canyon Road. See attached PDF document for detailed comments.
Also attached to the PDF is a photo that shows the density of the shrub steppe habitat North of the canal route.
David Sharp
View Attachment
- TELP23 0034 -
Malley/Benton County Public WorksPlease find attached comments - which I will also provide via email to Amanda Williams/Senior Project Manager for BPA. Thank you for the outreach and opportunity to comment - we look forward to learning more of BPAs project.
View Attachment
- TELP23 0035 -
Minelli/HomeownerSee attached comment preferring the Badger Road Route and opposing the Canal Route.
View Attachment
- TELP23 0036 -
Celski
This proposal directly impacts my property value as it’s proposed closest to my house. I have major health concerns regarding this placement. The East Badger Road alternative is the least impactful to wildlife and habitat, fires, dust, and property values.
I prefer the East Badger Road alternative route and strongly oppose the Canal route. Using an existing corridor is the best alternative. There is no reason the alternate route should be the highest priority and least impactful to us whom built our homes in this area.
- TELP23 0037 -
RobinsonThe East Badger Road alternative is the least impactful to wildlife and habitat, fires, dust, and property values.
I prefer the East Badger Road alternative route and strongly oppose the Canal route. Using an existing corridor is the best alternative.
- TELP23 0038 -
MercureI strongly oppose the canal route and strongly support the East Badger Road alternative route. If we must have these high voltage lines in our beautiful neighborhood, at least put them where they will do the least harm to wildlife, the ecology of our canyon and the property values of our homes. Using an already established route will be the most cost effective for the BPA.
- TELP23 0039 -
Wilhelm/Homeowner
- TELP23 0040 -
KlymAs both a homeowner and land parcel owner to the north of the proposed “South of Tri-Cities Reinforcement Project, I am in favor of the “railroad” option.
I urge the railroad corridor option:
• Existing corridor already impacts the flora and fauna by the railroad and daily traffic
• Easier access for construction and maintenance
• Less fire danger
• Level land
The “canal” option:
• Steep slopes and uneven ground provide greater risk to firefighters in event of fire
• More difficult fire abatement
• Fire danger to homes north of the canal to I-82 (my home included)
• Negative impact on the flora and fauna in the undisturbed shrub steppe
• Requires new access roads
• Negatively impacts property values and views (I have a land parcel just above the proposed lines/structures to cross the freeway
Thank you.
- TELP23 0041 -
Wilhelm
- TELP23 0042 -
Whitehurst/homeownerTo whom it may concern,
I had written a letter months before the comment period was opened. I have attached that letter to make sure it is actually added to the comments within the correct period.
It is our intention to not allow the high power lines to run through our property, close to our home. The route next to the railroad tracks makes much more sense in more ways then one. Please learn how to not spread these lines everywhere and try to keep them within corridors. We installed solar panels on our house to lessen the overall electrical load and allow electricity to be used by others rather than us and hopefully lessen the need for additional high lines (if more people did this). These lines are not healthy, make annoying sounds, and cause property values to plunge. And at our age our house and property are an investment that we do not want to go down.
Sincerely,
C. Rene Whitehurst
View Attachment
- TELP23 0043 -
Espinoza
- TELP23 0044 -
Minnelli
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