National BLM > OR/WA > Spokane > Planning

Vantage-Pomona Heights 230kV Transmission Line Project

Project Description

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is currently the lead federal agency for the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) that will address potential effects of a proposal by Pacific Power to build and operate a new 230kV electric transmission line across federal lands managed by the BLM and the U.S. Army - Yakima Training Center (YTC). This proposal is known as the Vantage to Pomona Heights 230kV Transmission Line Project. Route alternatives for the proposed transmission line cross lands in Benton, Grant, Kittitas, and Yakima Counties in Washington State. A detailed map showing the currently proposed route alternatives for the project is available below, under Project Documents and Maps.

A formal scoping period for the EIS began last year on January 5, 2010 and ended on March 8, 2010. As part of scoping, public meetings were held in Selah and Mattawa on February 3 and 4, 2010, respectively. During this scoping period, three main routes were presented for public and agency comment: a northern route crossing YTC roughly parallel with the existing Pacific Power Pomona-Wanapum transmission line and two southern route alternatives, one that mostly crossed YTC land just inside their south boundary and a second route mostly on private land, approximately one-half mile south of the YTC boundary. Numerous sub-routes were also presented.

Due to public and agency input received during the scoping period and a significant military aviation safety issue identified afterwards, it became necessary to eliminate certain route alternatives and to make major adjustments to other alternatives. An explanation of the changes and the new proposed route alternatives are described in a "Dear Interested Party" letter that was sent out on January 14, 2011. The letter and its map enclosure are available below, under Project Documents and Maps.

Request for Public Comment

The BLM is seeking public input on the revised route alternatives presented in the January 14, 2011 "Dear Interested Party" letter (available below, under Project Documents and Maps). Comments received will be considered in the EIS analysis. Please submit your comments by February 4, 2011. Comments may be submitted by email to: BLM_OR_WN_Mail@blm.gov (please specify "Vantage to Pomona Heights EIS" in the subject line) or you may submit written comments to:

BLM Wenatchee Field Office
Attn: Vantage to Pomona Heights EIS
915 Walla Walla Avenue
Wenatchee, WA 98801-1521

For all comments submitted, please identify whether you are submitting them as an individual or as the designated spokesperson on behalf of an organization. All comment submittals must include the commenter's name and address. Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment - including your personal information - may be made publically available at any time. While you can ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.

Mailing List

If you would like to be added to the mailing list for this project, please send email to the Wenatchee Field Office at BLM_OR_WN_Mail@blm.gov , or call us at 509-665-2100. You may also return the form included with the January 14, 2011 "Dear Interested Party" letter (see link below).