One proposal could cut through a portion of Harney County
By Debbie Raney
Burns Times-Herald
Over the next 20 years energy consumption in the United States is expected to increase by 0.5 percent. To keep ahead of the anticipated need, Idaho Power has proposed construction of a 500 kV transmission line from the Boardman Substation to a new substation in Melba, Idaho, called the Hemingway Substation.
To initiate the proposed project, called the Boardman to Hemingway Project, Idaho Power has begun the siting process, which includes accepting public input. Before developing a route for the lines Idaho Power consideration must be given to the regulatory and engineering criteria, as well as community criteria. At this point, four basic route options have been mapped, with sub-options stemming from these.
One of the options would site the transmission lines through the northwestern portion of Harney County. As it is currently mapped, after this route leaves Boardman and goes through Grant County, five alternate routes have been suggested.
The next step in the planning process will be compiling input and suggestions from the communities involved. Open house meetings were held in John Day and Burns last week to help Idaho Power get a broader scope of what the communities are thinking. Advisory committees from the areas will begin meeting in the next two weeks, to review comments and ideas.
“Our first objective is to find a route that is permitable,” said David Angell, delivery planning manager for Idaho Power. “We’re looking for an acceptable route with the least impact.”
Once all issues and concerns have been addressed for each of the suggested routes, Idaho Power will make a recommendation for a proposed route, with alternatives. Applications have already been made by Idaho Power for a right-of-way grant from the Bureau of Land Management and a special use permit from the United States Forest Service to cross federal lands with the transmission line. Both agencies must comply with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), which requires an evaluation of the environmental consequences of the proposed project and alternatives. This evaluation will be documented in an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).
When the EIS is complete, the BLM will document the selected alternative and any mitigation measures in a Record of Decision, and issue a right-of-way grant and notice to proceed if the project is approved. The USFS will document its decision in a Decision Notice and issue a special use permit if the project is approved.
Idaho Power has estimated that the project will be in the construction phase by January 2013, and the line will be in service by June 2015.
All of the Boardman to Hemingway Transmission Project information, along with maps, is available at:
www.boardmantohemingway.com
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October 30th, 2009 at 6:04 pm
A year ago Boardman to Hemingway informational meetings such as these were held in Ontario, Baker City and several communities in Idaho. As the result of an initial mapping process comprised only of Idaho residents, the proposed route almost entirely crossed Oregon exclusive farm use property in counties with 50-85% public lands.
After push-back from Stop Idaho Power in Malheur County and Move Idaho Power in Baker County, mapping sessions were re-instituted to allow additional Oregon (and Idaho) citizen input for routes that would preferably cross public lands. Requests were made to add routes through Harney and Grant counties in Oregon as well as Ada and Gem counties in Idaho. Additional meetings have only been held in Harney and Grant counties, however.
Alternative power line corridors should include routes through Idaho as well as routes through Oregon.