Salem-Albany Transmission Line Rebuild Project (DOE/EA-1946)
Polk, Benton, Marion, and Linn Counties, Oregon

• PROJECT DESCRIPTION:

  
  BPA proposes to rebuild the 23.90-mile Salem-Albany No. 1 and 27.85-mile Salem-Albany No. 2 115 kV wood pole transmission lines between Salem and Albany, Oregon. The project is necessary due to the overall age, condition, and performance of the two lines. The rebuild would involve replacing the wood poles, conductors, ground wires, and associated structural components of the two lines. The lines would continue to operate at 115-kV, and our intent would be to rebuild both lines using the same wood pole locations and designs. Associated activities would include establishing temporary access during construction; setting up temporary staging areas; removing some vegetation; and improving, acquiring, or building access roads as needed.
  
  BPA will prepare an environmental assessment (EA) to understand the potential environmental impacts of the project. Two alternatives will be studied in the EA: to rebuild the line or not to rebuild, continuing with current operation and maintenance practices. The EA will describe anticipated impacts to natural and human resources and include mitigation measures that would enable BPA to avoid or minimize impacts.
  
  

• CURRENT STATUS:

  
  A letter about the project was sent on December 4, 2012 to adjacent landowners, tribes, government agencies, and other potentially affected or concerned interest groups. In addition, two public scoping meetings were held on January 16, 2013 in Monmouth, Oregon, and on January 17, 2013, in Albany, Oregon, to provide information about the project and take questions and comments. Comments on the proposed project were accepted through January 31, 2013, and will be taken under consideration during the development of the EA. All comments are posted in their entirety on the Salem-Albany Transmission Line Rebuild Project comments webpage.
  
  Project and road designs are currently under development. Environmental and cultural surveys are scheduled to begin this spring and summer, and a preliminary EA is expected to be completed and made available by the spring of 2014.
  
  Please note: some routine maintenance activities will continue to occur over the next couple of years to carry out repairs on existing structures in order to ensure continued safety and reliability of the line. Please feel free to contact BPA with any questions or concerns about these activities (contact information is below).
  
  

• CONTACT:

  
  For more information on this project, please contact:
  
  Amanda Williams, BPA Project Manager
  Bonneville Power Administration - TEP-TPP-1
  P.O. Box 61409
  Vancouver, WA 98666-1409
  Direct phone 360-619-6634; Toll-free 1-800-282-3713
  E-mail amloran@bpa.gov
  
  Kara Hempy-Mayer, BPA Environmental Protection Specialist
  Bonneville Power Administration - KEC-4
  P.O. Box 3621, Portland, Oregon, 97208-3621
  Direct phone 503-230-4982; Toll-free 1-800-282-3713
  Fax 503-230-5699
  E-mail klhempymayer@bpa.gov
  
  

• DOCUMENTS:

  
  Letter to the Public (34Kb pdf) (12/04/12)
  Comment Form (29Kb pdf) (12/04/12)
  Project Vicinity Map (935Kb pdf) (11/27/12)