96-28503. BPA/Lower Valley Transmission Project

[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 216 (Wednesday, November 6, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57400-57401]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-28503]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Bonneville Power Administration


BPA/Lower Valley Transmission Project

AGENCY: Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), Department of Energy 
(DOE).

ACTION: Notice of floodplain and wetlands involvement.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces BPA's proposal to construct a new 
single-circuit 115-kilovolt transmission line from BPA's Swan Valley 
Substation, west of Swan Valley, Bonneville County, Idaho, east 
approximately 36 miles to BPA's Teton Substation, northwest of Jackson, 
Teton County, Wyoming. In accordance with DOE regulations for 
compliance with floodplain and wetlands environmental review 
requirements (10 C.F.R. Part 1022), BPA will prepare a floodplain and 
wetlands assessment and will perform this proposed action in a manner 
so as to avoid or minimize potential harm to or within the affected 
floodplain and wetlands. The assessment and a floodplain statement of 
findings will be included in the environmental impact statement being 
prepared for the proposed project in accordance with the National 
Environmental Policy Act.

DATES: Comments are due to the address below no later than November 21, 
1996.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments to the Public Involvement and Information 
Manager, Bonneville Power Administration--CKP, P.O. Box 12999, 
Portland, Oregon, 97212. Comments may also be sent to the BPA Internet 
address: [e-mail].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nancy Wittpenn--ECN, Bonneville Power 
Administration, P.O. Box 3621, Portland, Oregon, 97208-3621, phone 
number [phone], fax number [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: As proposed, the project would locate a new 
115-kV transmission lines on 75 feet of additional right-of-way. The 
proposed transmission line corridor and associated access roads cross 
drainages identified as 100 year floodplains. The Federal Emergency 
Management Agency (FEMA) identifies areas that have a one percent 
chance of being flooded in a given year as a 100-year floodplain. The 
100-year floodplains crossed by the transmission line corridor and or 
access roads are:

Pine Creek
    T2N R43E Sec 14 (corridor)

[[Page 57401]]

    T2N R44E Sec 6 (corridor & access road)
    T3N R44E Sec 31 (access road)
    T3N R44E Sec 29 (access road)
    T3N R44E Sec 28 (access road)
Trail Creek T3N R46W Sec 30 (corridor)
    T41N R117W no sec (corridor)
Fish Creek
    T41N R117W Sec 2 (corridor)
Lake Creek
    T41N R117W Sec 2 (corridor & access road)

    Adverse impacts due to the construction and maintenance activities 
of the proposed project could include potential flood damage to 
transmission facilities, increased flooding due to displacement of 
water from the normal floodplain, and increased potential for erosion 
of floodplain soil and sediment near the construction sites. These 
impacts may occur if transmission towers or access roads encroach on 
designated floodplains. No impacts would occur where floodplains are 
avoided, spanned, or accepted mitigation measures effectively eliminate 
or avoid impacts.
    The proposed project lies within two major drainages that support 
riparian wetlands. Pine Creek drains into the Snake River and Trail 
Creek drains into the Teton River. These wetlands are mapped on the 
USFWS National Wetlands Inventory. The wetlands associated with Fish 
Creek and Lake Creek developed from surface and irrigation run-off. Wet 
meadows are also present throughout the project area.
    Although wetlands occur throughout the proposed project area, no 
direct impacts would occur from construction of the new line. Wetlands 
would be spanned by the conductors and transmission towers would be 
located upland of the wetlands. Some indirect impacts may occur from 
vehicular disturbance and erosion. Stormwater runoff from roads and 
tower foundation areas could cause sedimentation in the wetlands.
    New road construction and improvements to existing access roads 
could cause impacts to riparian wetlands associated with Pine Creek and 
Trail Creek. The construction activities could carry sediment to 
adjacent wetlands and affect water quality and biological productivity. 
Ongoing vehicular disturbance could cause permanent adverse impacts to 
wetland functions and could degrade overall biological productivity.
    Although no road access exists for the section of the corridor 
between Fish Creek and Lake Creek, new roads would be constructed to 
avoid impacting wetlands.
    Ongoing maintenance activities have the potential to impact 
wetlands. Roads without adequate drainage may cause sedimentation to 
wetlands from stormwater runoff.
    Maps and further information are available from BPA at the address 
above.

    Issued in Portland, Oregon, on October 30, 1996.
Kenneth C. Kirkman,
NEPA Compliance Officer.
[FR Doc. 96-28503 Filed 11-5-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P