HomeMy WebLinkAbout20083388.tiff f.NT OFF
P4> l" Department of Energy
Western Area Power Administration '.�
Rocky Mountain Customer Service Region
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P.O. Box 3700
Fo Loveland, CO 80539-3003
STATES -n
JUL Q 1 2008
Notice of Proposed Floodplain and Wetland Action and Request for Comments
Fort Saint Vrain Substation to Fordham Substation
New 230-kV Transmission Circuit
Weld and Boulder Counties, Colorado
Western Area Power Administration (Western) proposes to approve the Platte River Power
Authority's (Platte River) proposal to rebuild and upgrade Western's existing transmission line
between Fort Saint Vrain Substation, located near Platteville in Weld County, and Fordham
Substation, located in Longmont, Boulder County (Figure 1). The project would rebuild and
upgrade Western's existing 115-kilovolt (kV) line to increase the line's capacity and improve
system reliability by providing a back-up transmission path. The majority of the new 21.6 mile
long 230-kV transmission line would be a combination of adding to or rebuilding existing
115-kV and 230-kV lines.
The existing transmission line crosses Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
designated floodplains (Figure 1). Wetland areas (Figure 2) are located within the proposed
project area. In accordance with the U.S. Department of Energy's Floodplain/Wetland Review
Requirements (10 CFR part 1022), Western will prepare a floodplain and wetland assessment
that will evaluate impacts to the affected toodplains and wetlands. Western requests your
comments and will consider them in its environmental review of the proposed project.
You are invited to provide comments on this proposed floodplain and wetland action by July 28,
2008. Comments may be mailed, e-mailed, faxed, or telephoned to:
Mr. John Stover
Environmental Specialist
Western Area Power Administration
P.O. Box 3700
Loveland, CO 80539
Telephone: 970-461-7287
Facsimile: 970-461-7213
E-mail: stover@wapa.gov
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Project Description
The purpose of the project is to meet projected electric load growth and to enhance transmission
reliability in the City of Longmont. If no action is taken, existing transmission lines would not
be able to accommodate the load growth expected in Longmont. The project was developed with
input from the public and local governments. The work associated with this project includes the
following:
• Add a 9 mile long 230-kV circuit consisting of three conductors to the existing
transmission line owned by Platte River between the Fort Saint Vrain Power Plant
located in Weld County near Platteville, Colorado, and a new overhead to underground
transition pole near the Longs Peak Substation near Mead, Colorado.
• Construct a new 5.2 mile 230-kV underground segment to be owned by Platte River from
the new transition pole near Longs Peak Substation to a transition pole located at a point
west of the intersection of Caspian Drive and Sundance Drive and east of the Ute Creek
Golf Course. The new 230-kV transmission line would run south in a new right-of-way
(ROW) from the Longs Peak transition pole for approximately 3 miles to Tri-State
Generation and Transmission Association, Inc (Tri-State) existing Meadow to Del
Camino 115-kV transmission line ROW. The underground line would then run west
2 miles along Tri-State's transmission line ROW to the new underground to overhead
transition pole located east of Ute Creek Golf Course.
• From the transition pole east of Ute Creek Golf Course, the transmission line would be
constructed as an overhead line for 1.5 miles along 21st Avenue in Longmont to Tri-
State's Meadows Substation. Since the existing structures for Tri-State's Meadow to Del
Camino 115-kV transmission line were not designed to support a 230-kV circuit, new
transmission structures will be installed within 15 feet of the existing structures. The
existing structures will be removed.
• Construct an additional 5.9 miles of alternating underground and overhead configurations
of 230-kV transmission line in Boulder County from Tri-State's Meadows Substation to
the Fordham Substation located in the southwest corner of the City of Longmont using
existing transmission line ROW. For the overhead portions of the transmission line, a
230-kV circuit will be added to the existing 115-kV circuit. Both the existing 115-kV
circuit and the 230-kV circuit will be placed underground at designated locations along
the existing transmission ROW.
o This 5.9 mile segment would include a 1.5 mile segment of existing 115-kV
overhead transmission line owned by Western between the Northwest Substation
and the Terry Tap (also known as the Fordham Tap). This segment would be
constructed as a new double-circuit 230-kV underground transmission line.
Western's existing 115-kV overhead transmission lines consisting of wooden
H-frame structures would be removed. Western's new underground segment
would be placed adjacent to a new Platte River underground 230-kV line within
the existing ROW between the Harvard Substation and the Fordham Tap.
o The final component is a 1.9 mile segment from the Fordham Tap to the Fordham
Substation that would be an overhead line with a new 230-kV circuit added to an
existing 115-kV circuit. This segment would continue to cross the Golden Ponds
Park and Natural Area in the existing ROW.
Floodplain/Wetland Action
The project crosses designated floodplains (FEMA, Flood Insurance Rate Maps). The majority
of the floodplains and wetlands in the project area would be spanned. Structures for the
overhead line would be located to span as much of the floodplain and wetland areas as
practicable and minimize the number of structures located in floodplains and wetlands.
Temporary impacts to floodplains would occur during project construction from vehicle access
and construction equipment in the floodplain.
Several existing overhead transmission line structures are located within floodplains and wetland
areas. Two new angle structures would be placed in floodplains (Table I). Four new structures
for the overhead lines will be placed in wetlands (Table 2).
Platte River's proposed action in the floodplain would include auguring holes for new angle
structures, installing reinforced concrete foundations, installing new angle structures on the
foundations, and installing new conductors. The area around the transmission structures would
be restored to preconstruction conditions.
One wetland area associated with the underground transmission line construction would be
disturbed. The underground segment between the transition pole northeast of Longs Peak
Substation and the transition pole east of Ute Creek Golf Course crosses a wetland area along an
unnamed tributary of Saint Vrain Creek. The wetland area is located in Weld County
approximately 1 mile north of Highway 66.
A trench approximately 4-feet wide and 5.5-feet deep would be excavated to install the
underground transmission line segment between the two transition structures. Concrete will be
used to encase the conduits placed in the trench and then excavated soils will be used to
complete the backfill of the trench. After completion of the conduit system, the underground
cable will be installed to complete the transmission line. The disturbed area would be restored to
preconstruction conditions.
Expected Floodplain/Wetlands Impacts
Platte River will adhere to the requirements of the Army Corps of Engineers Nationwide Permit
12 for design and construction in floodplains and wetlands. The project does not require
dredging or filling floodplains. Western expects there will be no significant impacts to the
floodplain from this proposal. A transmission line does not impede the natural action and
function of a floodplain. The transmission line would be constructed in accordance with
applicable standards and good engineering practices. There would be no expected adverse
impact on the transmission line from the expected level of flooding in this floodplain. Flooding
would not be expected to impact the transmission line or cause unusual risks to public safety.
The impacts to the wetland areas would be short-term. The underground transmission line would
not impede the natural action and function of the wetland area after construction.
Undergrounding in the unnamed tributary area would directly impact approximately 0.21 acres
of wetland vegetation. Impacts would include minor displacement of wildlife and short-term
loss of habitat during construction. Activities in migratory bird breeding areas would be avoided
to the maximum extent practicable.
If you require additional information, please contact Mr. Stover at the address given above.
James Hartman
Environmental Manager
4 Enclosures
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