Public ponders proposed power line path

Homeowners in the Scanlock subdivision, near Horn Ranch and in the Lake Ridge Mountain Valley, Colorado Anglers and Lake Forest subdivisions are tuning into Western Area Power Administration's plans to build a new transmission line on the west side of Highway 34.

Western, a power marketing agency within the U.S. Department of Energy, is proposing to rebuild the Granby to Windy Gap 69-kilovolt transmission line, located near Grand Lake and the town of Granby.

It is currently gathering input for an Environmental Impact Statement.

The EIS will address the environmental impacts of the proposal to remove 12 miles of existing 69-kV transmission line and adding a second power transformer.
Alternatives, including one that entails "no action," will be addressed in the EIS.

Because the proposed project may involve action in floodplains, the environmental impact statement will include a floodplain assessment and floodplain statement of findings following the U.S. Department of Energy regulations for compliance with floodplain and wetlands environmental review requirements.

The project area includes private lands and public lands managed by the Bureau of Reclamation, Bureau of Land Management, the U.S. Forest Service and Grand County.

The U.S. Forest Service, Arapaho-Roosevelt National Forests and Pawnee Grassland, will be cooperating agencies in the preparation of the EIS.

So far, public comment has revealed concerns about wildlife, habitat, proximity to homes and visual impacts.

Grand County would support a plan that puts poles out of sight from the National Scenic Byway, Highway 34.

In reference to Western's "proposed action plan," homeowners have commented about the height of the poles, which would be about 50 feet higher than existing poles.

Western said there would be 40 fewer poles spread farther apart, and there would be an attempt to blend the poles themselves into the landscape

Western has acquired the services of two environmental contractors, EDAW, Inc. of Fort Collins, and RMC, Inc. of Lakewood, to conduct studies and evaluate the natural, human and cultural resources that could potentially be affected by the proposed project.

Specifically, EDAW and RMC will prepare a biological report for the proposed action, conduct cultural resource inventories, and prepare a stand-alone cultural resource inventory report.

The results of the studies will assist in the planning for the construction of the proposed project.

EDAW will also prepare the EIS for Western's review.

At this time, comments to Western about any interests or issues about the transmission line rebuild project and the proposed environmental review are being accepted. Deadline for public input is Sept. 17.

Comments should be directed to: Mr. Rodney Jones, NEPA Document Manager. Western Area Power Administration, Rocky Mountain Region, 555 E. Crossroads Boulevard, Loveland, CO, 80538-8986, or E-mail GPPWGP@wapa.gov.