Walla Walla-Tucannon River Transmission Line Rebuild Project
Walla Walla and Columbia Counties, Washington

• PROJECT DESCRIPTION:

  BPA proposes to rebuild the Walla Walla-Tucannon River 115-kilovolt transmission line. The 47-mile long, wood pole line extends from the BPA Walla Walla substation to the BPA Tucannon River substation in Walla Walla and Columbia Counties , Washington . The project would include replacing wood poles, associated structural components, and conductor, installing 24 new structures, improvements to some existing access roads, widening of the transmission line right-of-way, construction of less than 1 mile of new access roads, and some vegetation removal. The rebuild would enable BPA to maintain reliable electric service and avoid risks to the public and worker safety. The line would continue to operate at 115-kV.

  To understand potential impacts of the proposal, BPA conducted public meetings in March 2010, provided project information to interested parties, and accepted comments on the proposal. Since that time, BPA has conducted an environmental review of the proposal and prepared a preliminary Environmental Assessment (EA). The preliminary EA describes the proposed rebuild project, the no action alternative, potential environmental impacts, and proposed mitigation measures that could avoid or minimize those impacts. The preliminary EA also provides an assessment of the floodplains and wetlands that are potentially affected by the project.

• CURRENT STATUS:

  A Revision Sheet for the EA is available and that, with the Preliminary EA, constitutes the Final EA. On May 17, 2011, a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) was issued and includes a Mitigation Action Plan. BPA has decided to proceed with the Proposed Action.

  Construction will start in May 2011 and will be completed in fall-winter 2011.

• CONTACT:

  Stephanie Breeden, Environmental Specialist, Bonneville Power Administration - KEC-4, P.O. Box 3621, Portland, OR 97208-3621; toll-free telephone 800-282-3713; direct telephone 503-230-5192; fax 503-230-5699; or e-mail sfbreeden@bpa.gov.

• DOCUMENTS:

  Public Letter Announcing FONSI (31Kb pdf) (05/20/11)
  FONSI (84Kb pdf) (05/17/11)
  Revision Sheet (2.2MB pdf) (05/16/11)
  Mitigation Action Plan (60Kb pdf) (05/16/11)
  Preliminary EA Public Letter (34Kb pdf) (04/07/11)
  Preliminary EA Comment Form (34Kb pdf) (04/07/11)
  Preliminary EA (3.2MB pdf) (04/05/11)
  Letter to the Public (32Kb pdf) (03/01/10)
  Comment Form (35Kb pdf) (03/01/10)
  Project Vicinity Map (551Kb pdf) (02/22/2010)