Rebuild of the North Loop 230kV Electrical Transmission Line, Hanford Site, Washington      (DOE/EA -2033)

Benton County, WA

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

The U.S. Department of Energy- Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) and Richland Operations Office (RL) propose to rebuild the 28-mile long North Loop 230kV transmission line on the Hanford Site, near Richland, in southeastern Washington. The Hanford Site is an area of approximately 580 square miles owned by the federal government and managed by the DOE Richland Operations Office. BPA, a power marketing agency within DOE, operates a portion of the electrical transmission facilities within the Hanford Site. A portion of the electric power needs of BPA and the Hanford Site mission is provided from the North Loop electrical transmission line, which is part of an existing 230 kilovolt (kV) system that was built in the 1940s.To provide reliable power for BPA and RL Hanford Site requirements, BPA and RL propose to rebuild approximately 28 miles of the existing North Loop transmission line in the northern part of the Hanford Site with approximately 20 miles of 230 kV, single- and double-circuit transmission line. The proposed North Loop Hanford Site Project would require reconfiguring of switching stations and substation components, installing of transmission line equipment and conductors, building new and reconditioning existing access roads, and installing and performing other ancillary components and activities.

ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW

To understand the potential environmental impacts of this proposal, RL prepared an environmental assessment (EA) following the procedures of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The EA considered four alternative routes with multiple route segments and a no-action alternative. The EA describes anticipated impacts to vegetation, wildlife, cultural resources, floodplains and health and safety. The draft EA was released for public review and comment in May 2017; no comments were received.

The schedule for the environmental review was as follows:
Scoping comment period          N/A
Scoping public meeting(s)          N/A
Draft EA comment period          May 23, 2017
Final EA          May 7, 2018
Finding of No Significant Impact (if warranted)          May 7, 2018
Analysis of North Loop Design Changes and NEPA Determination    August 31, 2022
If decision to build, construction start         October 2022    

CURRENT STATUS

BPA and RL have released their final EA and Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI). The FONSI includes a Mitigation Action Plan to help avoid or lessen potential impacts. The EA, FONSI, Analysis of North Loop Design Changes and NEPA Determination can be found on DOE’s website at: NEPA - Environmental Assessments - Hanford Site

CONTACT

For environmental information, contact:
Laura Roberts Toll-free: 800-622-4519
Environmental Protection Specialist Direct Line: 503-230-5073
Bonneville Power Administration, ECT-4 Email: laroberts@bpa.gov 
PO Box 3621
Portland, Oregon 97208-3621


For project information, contact:
Mark Korsness Toll-free: 800-622-4519
Project Manager Direct Line: 360-619-6326
Bonneville Power Administration, TEP-TPP-1 Email: makorsness@bpa.gov 
PO Box 3621
Portland, Oregon 97208-3621

DOCUMENTS

FINAL EA & FONSI
FONSI  (05/07/2018)
Final EA  (April 2018)
Analysis of North Loop Design Changes and NEPA Determination  (08/31/2022)