Central Ferry-Lower Monumental Transmission Line Project
Garfield, Columbia, and Walla Walla Counties, Washington

• PROJECT PROPOSAL:

  
  BPA is proposing to construct a 500-kilovolt (kV) transmission line in Garfield, Columbia, and Walla Walla counties, Washington. The proposed line would extend west from a new BPA 500-kV substation, called Central Ferry Substation, in Garfield County, to BPA's existing 500 kV Lower Monumental Substation in Walla Walla County.
  
  BPA is considering two routing alternatives and a no action alternative for the proposed transmission line; portions of both routes parallel existing BPA lines in the area. The length of the routing alternatives ranges from about 38 to 40 miles. The proposed Central Ferry-Lower Monumental transmission line project is needed to increase transmission capacity to respond to requests for transmission service in this area.
  
  To make an informed decision on whether to build the line, and to understand the impacts of the alternatives, BPA is preparing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
  
  BPA will be the lead agency for preparation of the EIS. In furtherance of existing cooperative agreements between BPA and the State of Washington, the Washington Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council also will participate in preparation of the EIS. Among other things, this state agency will assist BPA in evaluating alternative transmission line routes and identifying state interests that should be addressed in the EIS. In addition, cooperating agencies for the EIS may be identified as the proposed project proceeds through the NEPA process.
  
  

• CURRENT STATUS:

  
  BPA held one open house style public meeting on the proposed project and scope of the EIS on July 13, 2009 in Starbuck, WA. BPA has compiled all scoping comments and has sent a summary of the comments to all interested parties.
  
  Project staff and contractors will be reviewing the project area and proposed routes to collect information for the draft EIS. These specialists will stay on existing rights-of-way and cross properties where landowners have given BPA permission to enter their property. If you have sent in your Permission-to-Enter-Property form, thank you. If you haven't completed the form yet, please return your signed form to assist us in determining the impacts of building the project.
  
  

• COMMENTS:

  
  All comments received on the project before August 3, 2009 will be used to help determine the environmental impacts to be considered in the EIS; comments received after that date will be considered to the extent practicable. Though the scoping period has closed, other opportunities to comment will be available. Comments may be submitted to BPA online or via mail to: Bonneville Power Administration, Public Affairs Office - DKE-7, P.O. Box 14428, Portland, OR, 97293-4428; or by fax to (503) 230-3285. Please reference "Central Ferry-Lower Monumental Transmission Line Project" with your comments.
  
  

• CONTACT:

  
  For further information on this project, please contact Tish Eaton, BPA Environmental Lead.
  

• DOCUMENTS:

  
  Project Scoping Summary Letter (29Kb pdf) (09/28/09)
  Updated Project Vicinity Map (218Kb pdf) (09/22/09)
  Project Factsheet (488Kb pdf) (07/23/09)
  Public Scoping Letter (33Kb pdf) (06/16/09)
  Comment Form (47Kb pdf) (06/16/09)
  Project Vicinity Map (253Kb pdf) (06/16/09)
  Notice of Intent (34Kb pdf) (06/09/09)