DOCSLIB.ORG

Hills Creek-Lookout Point Transmission Line Rebuild Project

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Hills Creek-Lookout Point Transmission Line Rebuild Project In cooperation with the U.S. Forest Service Hills Creek-Lookout Point Transmission Line Rebuild Project Draft Environmental Assessment August 2016 DOE/EA-1967 Hills Creek-Lookout Point Transmission Line Rebuild Project Draft Environmental Assessment Bonneville Power Administration In cooperation with the U.S. Forest Service August 2016 Table of Contents Table of Contents Chapter 1. Purpose of and Need for Action ..................................................................... 1-1 1.1 Introduction ................................................................................................... 1-1 1.2 Need for Action .............................................................................................. 1-3 1.3 Purposes ......................................................................................................... 1-3 1.4 Cooperating Agencies .................................................................................... 1-4 1.5 Public Involvement and Consultation ............................................................ 1-5 1.5.1 Public Involvement and Scoping Issues ............................................. 1-5 1.5.2 Agency and Tribal Consultation ......................................................... 1-6 Chapter 2. Proposed Action and Alternatives ................................................................. 2-1 2.1 Existing Transmission Line.............................................................................. 2-1 2.2 Proposed Action ............................................................................................. 2-3 2.2.1 Removal and Replacement of all Wood Pole Transmission Line Structures ........................................................................................... 2-5 2.2.2 Realignment of the Transmission Line in Line Mile Two ................... 2-9 2.2.3 Realignment of the Transmission Line in Line Mile Three ............... 2-11 2.2.4 Replacement of Wood-Pole Structures with Steel Monopole Structures in Line Mile Five .............................................................. 2-12 2.2.5 Replacement of Conductors, Overhead Ground Wire, and Counterpoise .................................................................................... 2-13 2.2.6 Replacement of Two Disconnect Switches ...................................... 2-13 2.2.7 Installation of Temporary Load Banks ............................................. 2-14 2.2.8 Establishment of a Temporary Material Storage Yard, Helicopter Landing Pads, and Tensioning Sites ............................... 2-14 2.2.9 Enhancement of the Access Road and Trail System ........................ 2-16 2.2.10 Acquisition of New Access Road Rights Along the Transmission Line and New Easements in Line Miles Two and Three ................... 2-18 2.2.11 Removal of Trees and Other Vegetation ......................................... 2-18 2.2.12 Construction Activities ..................................................................... 2-19 2.2.13 Ongoing Operation, Maintenance and Vegetation Management ... 2-21 2.3 No Action Alternative ................................................................................... 2-22 2.4 Alternatives Dismissed from Further Consideration ................................... 2-22 2.5 Comparison of Alternatives ......................................................................... 2-22 2.6 Mitigation Measures .................................................................................... 2-28 2.7 Environmental Consultation, Review, and Permit Requirements ............... 2-33 Chapter 3. Affected Environment and Environmental Consequences ............................ 3-1 3.1 Land Use, Recreation, and Transportation .................................................... 3-1 3.1.1 Affected Environment ........................................................................ 3-1 3.1.2 Environmental Consequences—Proposed Action ............................. 3-9 3.1.3 Environmental Consequences—No Action Alternative ................... 3-12 3.2 Geology and Soils ......................................................................................... 3-13 3.2.1 Affected Environment ...................................................................... 3-13 Hills Creek-Lookout Point Transmission Line Rebuild Project Draft Environmental Assessment i Table of Contents 3.2.2 Environmental Consequences—Proposed Action ........................... 3-15 3.2.3 Environmental Consequences—No Action Alternative ................... 3-16 3.3 Vegetation .................................................................................................... 3-16 3.3.1 Affected Environment ...................................................................... 3-16 3.3.2 Environmental Consequences—Proposed Action ........................... 3-19 3.3.3 Environmental Consequences—No Action Alternative ................... 3-21 3.4 Streams and Fish .......................................................................................... 3-21 3.4.1 Affected Environment ...................................................................... 3-21 3.4.2 Environmental Consequences—Proposed Action ........................... 3-28 3.4.3 Environmental Consequences—No Action Alternative ................... 3-32 3.5 Wetlands, Floodplains, and Groundwater ................................................... 3-32 3.5.1 Affected Environment ...................................................................... 3-32 3.5.2 Environmental Consequences—Proposed Action ........................... 3-36 3.5.3 Environmental Consequences—No Action Alternative ................... 3-39 3.6 Wildlife ......................................................................................................... 3-40 3.6.1 Affected Environment ...................................................................... 3-40 3.6.2 Environmental Consequences—Proposed Action ........................... 3-47 3.6.3 Environmental Consequences—No Action Alternative ................... 3-54 3.7 Cultural Resources ....................................................................................... 3-54 3.7.1 Affected Environment ...................................................................... 3-54 3.7.2 Environmental Consequences—Proposed Action ........................... 3-58 3.7.3 Environmental Consequences—No Action Alternative ................... 3-59 3.8 Visual Quality ............................................................................................... 3-60 3.8.1 Affected Environment ...................................................................... 3-60 3.8.2 Environmental Consequences—Proposed Action ........................... 3-63 3.8.3 Environmental Consequences—No Action Alternative ................... 3-67 3.9 Socioeconomics and Public Services ............................................................ 3-67 3.9.1 Affected Environment ...................................................................... 3-67 3.9.2 Environmental Consequences—Proposed Action ........................... 3-71 3.9.3 Environmental Consequences—No Action Alternative ................... 3-72 3.10 Noise, Public Health, and Safety .................................................................. 3-72 3.10.1 Affected Environment ...................................................................... 3-72 3.10.2 Environmental Consequences—Proposed Action ........................... 3-74 3.10.3 Environmental Consequences—No Action Alternative ................... 3-79 3.11 Air Quality .................................................................................................... 3-79 3.11.1 Affected Environment ...................................................................... 3-79 3.11.2 Environmental Consequences—Proposed Action ........................... 3-80 3.11.3 Environmental Consequences—No Action Alternative ................... 3-80 3.12 Greenhouse Gases ....................................................................................... 3-80 3.12.1 Affected Environment ...................................................................... 3-80 3.12.2 Environmental Consequences—Proposed Action ........................... 3-83 3.12.3 Environmental consequences—No Action Alternative ................... 3-84 3.13 Cumulative Impacts ..................................................................................... 3-85 Bonneville Power Administration ii August 2016 Table of Contents 3.13.1 Identification of Past, Present, and Reasonably Foreseeable Future Actions .................................................................................. 3-85 3.13.2 Cumulative Impacts .......................................................................... 3-86 3.14 Intentional Destructive Acts ......................................................................... 3-92 Chapter 4. Persons, Tribes, and Agencies Receiving the EA ............................................ 4-1 4.1 Federal Agencies and Officials ....................................................................... 4-1 4.2 Tribes .............................................................................................................. 4-1 4.3 State Agencies and Officials ........................................................................... 4-1 4.4 Local Governments and Utilities .................................................................... 4-1 4.5 Libraries .........................................................................................................
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Willamette Basin Review Feasibility Study
    US Army Corps of Engineers Portland District Willamette Basin Review Feasibility Study DRAFT Integrated Feasibility Report and Environmental Assessment November 2017 Willamette Basin Review Feasibility Study Executive Summary The Willamette River basin is located entirely within the state of Oregon, beginning south of Cottage Grove, and extending approximately 187 miles to the north where the Willamette River flows into the Columbia River. The basin is more than 11,200 square miles, averages 75 miles in width, and encompasses approximately 12 percent of the total area of the state (Figure ES-1). Within the watershed are most of the state’s population (nearly 70 percent), larger cities, and major industries. The basin also contains some of Oregon’s most productive agricultural lands and supports nationally and regionally important fish and wildlife species. Thirteen of Oregon’s thirty-six counties intersect or lie within the boundary of the Willamette River basin. Through a series of Flood Control Acts the U.S. Congress authorized the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) to construct, operate, and maintain thirteen major dams1 in the Willamette River basin. Collectively, these dams, reservoirs and associated infrastructure are known as the Willamette Valley Project (WVP). With a combined conservation storage capacity of approximately 1,590,000 acre-feet, the WVP is capable of providing important benefits for flood damage reduction, navigation, hydropower, irrigation, municipal and industrial water supply, flow augmentation for pollution abatement and improved conditions for fish and wildlife, and recreation. Feasibility Study History The Willamette Basin Review Feasibility Study began in 1996 to investigate future Willamette River basin water demand.
    [Show full text]
  • Oregon Historic Trails Report Book (1998)
    i ,' o () (\ ô OnBcox HrsroRrc Tnans Rpponr ô o o o. o o o o (--) -,J arJ-- ö o {" , ã. |¡ t I o t o I I r- L L L L L (- Presented by the Oregon Trails Coordinating Council L , May,I998 U (- Compiled by Karen Bassett, Jim Renner, and Joyce White. Copyright @ 1998 Oregon Trails Coordinating Council Salem, Oregon All rights reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. Printed in the United States of America. Oregon Historic Trails Report Table of Contents Executive summary 1 Project history 3 Introduction to Oregon's Historic Trails 7 Oregon's National Historic Trails 11 Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail I3 Oregon National Historic Trail. 27 Applegate National Historic Trail .41 Nez Perce National Historic Trail .63 Oregon's Historic Trails 75 Klamath Trail, 19th Century 17 Jedediah Smith Route, 1828 81 Nathaniel Wyeth Route, t83211834 99 Benjamin Bonneville Route, 1 833/1 834 .. 115 Ewing Young Route, 1834/1837 .. t29 V/hitman Mission Route, 184l-1847 . .. t4t Upper Columbia River Route, 1841-1851 .. 167 John Fremont Route, 1843 .. 183 Meek Cutoff, 1845 .. 199 Cutoff to the Barlow Road, 1848-1884 217 Free Emigrant Road, 1853 225 Santiam Wagon Road, 1865-1939 233 General recommendations . 241 Product development guidelines 243 Acknowledgements 241 Lewis & Clark OREGON National Historic Trail, 1804-1806 I I t . .....¡.. ,r la RivaÌ ï L (t ¡ ...--."f Pðiräldton r,i " 'f Route description I (_-- tt |".
    [Show full text]
  • “Hybrid Lattice-Tubular Steel Wind Towers: Conceptual Design of Tower”
    “Hybrid Lattice-Tubular steel wind towers: Conceptual design of tower” Dissertação apresentada para a obtenção do grau de Mestre em Engenharia Civil na Especialidade de Mecânica Estrutural Autor João Rafael Branquinho Maximino Orientador Carlos Alberto da Silva Rebelo Milan Veljkovic Esta dissertação é da exclusiva responsabilidade do seu autor, não tendo sofrido correcções após a defesa em provas públicas. O Departamento de Engenharia Civil da FCTUC declina qualquer responsabilidade pelo uso da informação apresentada Coimbra, Julho, 2015 Hybrid Lattice-Tubular steel wind towers AGRADECIMENTOS Agradeço em primeiro lugar aos meus pais, por todo o apoio demonstrado ao longo dos anos, e pelos ensinamentos fundamentais que me levaram a este momento. Ao meu irmão, que sempre esteve ao meu lado, obrigado pela motivação em todos os momentos. A toda a minha família pela união, apoio, coragem e vontade que sempre me transmitiram. À minha namorada, que desde o início tornou esta experiência melhor para mim, e me ajudou a crescer como pessoa. Aos meus colegas que me acompanharam e apoiaram neste percurso, a todos os professores que me transmitiram tudo o que aprendi até agora, o meu muito obrigado. Por fim gostaria de agradecer à Universidade Técnica de Lulea por me ter acolhido na realização desta tese de mestrado, e mostrar a minha gratidão ao Professor Doutor Carlos Alberto da Silva Rebelo e ao Professor Doutor Milan Veljkovic pela orientação e disponibilidade dispensada. i Hybrid Lattice-Tubular steel wind towers ABSTRACT The utilization of the wind is not a new technology, but an evolution of old processes and techniques. Like nowadays, wind power had a huge role in the past, with different utilizations and proposes, although the main goal was always to help in the Human’s heavy work.
    [Show full text]
  • HORSES, KENTUCKY DERBY (1875-2019) Kentucky Derby
    HORSES, KENTUCKY DERBY (1875-2019) Kentucky Derby Winners, Alphabetically (1875-2019) HORSE YEAR HORSE YEAR Affirmed 1978 Kauai King 1966 Agile 1905 Kingman 1891 Alan-a-Dale 1902 Lawrin 1938 Always Dreaming 2017 Leonatus 1883 Alysheba 1987 Lieut. Gibson 1900 American Pharoah 2015 Lil E. Tee 1992 Animal Kingdom 2011 Lookout 1893 Apollo (g) 1882 Lord Murphy 1879 Aristides 1875 Lucky Debonair 1965 Assault 1946 Macbeth II (g) 1888 Azra 1892 Majestic Prince 1969 Baden-Baden 1877 Manuel 1899 Barbaro 2006 Meridian 1911 Behave Yourself 1921 Middleground 1950 Ben Ali 1886 Mine That Bird 2009 Ben Brush 1896 Monarchos 2001 Big Brown 2008 Montrose 1887 Black Gold 1924 Morvich 1922 Bold Forbes 1976 Needles 1956 Bold Venture 1936 Northern Dancer-CAN 1964 Brokers Tip 1933 Nyquist 2016 Bubbling Over 1926 Old Rosebud (g) 1914 Buchanan 1884 Omaha 1935 Burgoo King 1932 Omar Khayyam-GB 1917 California Chrome 2014 Orb 2013 Cannonade 1974 Paul Jones (g) 1920 Canonero II 1971 Pensive 1944 Carry Back 1961 Pink Star 1907 Cavalcade 1934 Plaudit 1898 Chant 1894 Pleasant Colony 1981 Charismatic 1999 Ponder 1949 Chateaugay 1963 Proud Clarion 1967 Citation 1948 Real Quiet 1998 Clyde Van Dusen (g) 1929 Regret (f) 1915 Count Fleet 1943 Reigh Count 1928 Count Turf 1951 Riley 1890 Country House 2019 Riva Ridge 1972 Dark Star 1953 Sea Hero 1993 Day Star 1878 Seattle Slew 1977 Decidedly 1962 Secretariat 1973 Determine 1954 Shut Out 1942 Donau 1910 Silver Charm 1997 Donerail 1913 Sir Barton 1919 Dust Commander 1970 Sir Huon 1906 Elwood 1904 Smarty Jones 2004 Exterminator
    [Show full text]
  • Oklahoma Territory 1889-1907
    THE DIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA GRADUATE COLLEGE SOME ASPECTS OF LIFE IN THE "LAND OP THE PAIR GOD"; OKLAHOMA TERRITORY, 1889=1907 A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE GRADUATE FACULTY in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OP PHILOSOPHY BY BOBBY HAROLD JOHNSON Norman, Oklahoma 1967 SOME ASPECTS OP LIFE IN THE "LAND OF THE FAIR GOD"; OKLAHOMA TERRITORY, 1889-1907 APPROVED BY DISSERTATION COMMITT If Jehovah delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it unto us; a land which floweth with milk and honey. Numbers li^sS I am boundfor the promised land, I am boundfor the promised land; 0 who will come and go with me? 1 am bound for the promised land. Samuel Stennett, old gospel song Our lot is cast in a goodly land and there is no land fairer than the Land of the Pair God. Milton W, Reynolds, early Oklahoma pioneer ill PREFACE In December, 1892, the editor of the Oklahoma School Herald urged fellow Oklahomans to keep accurate records for the benefit of posterity* "There is a time coming, if the facts can be preserved," he noted, "when the pen of genius and eloquence will take hold of the various incidents con­ nected with the settlement of what will then be the magnifi» cent state of Oklahoma and weave them into a story that will verify the proverb that truth is more wonderful than fic­ tion." While making no claim to genius or eloquence, I have attempted to fulfill the editor's dream by treating the Anglo-American settlement of Oklahoma Territory from 1889 to statehood in 1907» with emphasis upon social and cultural developments* It has been my purpose not only to describe everyday life but to show the role of churches, schools, and newspapers, as well as the rise of the medical and legal professions* My treatment of these salient aspects does not profess to tell the complete story of life in Oklahoma.
    [Show full text]
  • Oakridge-Westfir Community Trails Plan
    Oakridge-Westfir Community Trails Plan The Oakridge-Westfir Community Trails Committee and the Oakridge-Westfir Area Chamber of Commerce with assistance from the National Park Service Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance Program Table of Contents Table of Contents........................................................................................................... i Acknowledgments........................................................................................................ iii Executive Summary ...................................................................................................... 1 Planning Process .......................................................................................................... 3 Purpose .....................................................................................................................................................................3 Steps in the Trails Plan Process ................................................................................................................................3 Community Involvement ..........................................................................................................................................4 Background and History............................................................................................... 6 Economic Development................................................................................................ 7 Benefits of Non- Motorized Trails ...............................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Probabilistic Capacity Assessment of Lattice Transmission Towers Under Strong Wind
    ORIGINAL RESEARCH published: 19 October 2015 doi: 10.3389/fbuil.2015.00020 Probabilistic capacity assessment of lattice transmission towers under strong wind Wei Zhang1* , Jin Zhu1 , Huijuan Liu2 and Huawei Niu3 1 Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA, 2 Guangxi University, Nanning, China, 3 Wind Engineering Research Center, Hunan University, Changsha, China Serving as one key component of the most important lifeline infrastructure system, transmission towers are vulnerable to multiple nature hazards including strong wind and could pose severe threats to the power system security with possible blackouts under extreme weather conditions, such as hurricanes, derechoes, or winter storms. For the security and resiliency of the power system, it is important to ensure the structural safety with enough capacity for all possible failure modes, such as structural stability. The study is to develop a probabilistic capacity assessment approach for transmission towers under strong wind loads. Due to the complicated structural details of lattice transmission towers, wind tunnel experiments are carried out to understand the complex interactions of wind and the lattice sections of transmission tower and drag coefficients and the dynamic amplification factor for different panels of the transmission tower are Edited by: Acir Mércio Loredo-Souza, obtained. The wind profile is generated and the wind time histories are simulated as a Universidade Federal do Rio Grande summation of time-varying mean and fluctuating components. The capacity curve for do Sul, Brazil the transmission towers is obtained from the incremental dynamic analysis (IDA) method. Reviewed by: Franklin Lombardo, To consider the stochastic nature of wind field, probabilistic capacity curves are gener- Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, USA ated by implementing IDA analysis for different wind yaw angles and different randomly Ioannis Zisis, generated wind speed time histories.
    [Show full text]
  • Coast Guard Island Southshore Center
    JACK LONDON SQUARE Oakland Ferry Terminal EMBARCADERO 80 OAKLAN Al DeWitt 2014 Metropolitan O’Club Yacht Club D Bicycle Shop Bike/Walk Path California Gompers Arkansas Enterprise Caution: Noisy, Narrow and Dangerous Bike Locker Bridge with Steps Trail through Posey Tube Alameda Road Stairs Fire Station Bike Path-Caution Mulvaney 9 Pyro Bus Stop Protected Bike Lane Mars Texas Shasta Õ Flint Cimarron Ct Gas Station & Air Bike Lane Narrow Boardwalk WILLIE STARGELL Public Restroom Bike Route 6 EMBARCADERO Public Phone Park Glenview Gate Shopping Center Coast RUBY BRIDGES Guard 80 SCHOOL Island North Star Rd Oakland Yacht Club Eagle Rd Encinal Yacht Club Pickering Dr Campbell Blvd McCulloch Wakefield Dr Icarus Dr Spencer Rd Dr Brush St Dr BASE ro SCHOOL1900 Mun Bear Rd Hudson 1800 1800 1700 ACADEMY OF 1800 Dennison St 1700 ALAMEDA China Clipper EMBARCADERO 100 200 1800 ALAMEDA 400 Alameda Yacht Club 100 500 300 ANIMAL 1700 FortmanThoroughfare Way Cruiser 1600 Hibbard 100 NEACLC SHELTE Red Sails R Bohemia 1500 Alaska Packer 1600 200 200 2000 600 Island Yacht Club 100 1500 900 1000 200 1000 1599 29th Ave 1600 1500 1400 1800 800 23rd Ave 1400 1400 Esterbrook Kennedy Bikers: Take underpass on 29th Avenue ALAMEDA PARK 900 1600 to stay on East 7th Street 1300 Chapman Street East 7th St FRUITVALE Queen’s 1500 1000 1300 1400 BART 1100 1200 1500 Ford St Glascock Street 1300 400 King’s 1300 1400 Derby St 1300 1600 1200 1200 1300 8 900 1700 2000 1300 1100 Stairs East 8th St 1200 1800 1900 1200 Ballena Bay 1900 1200 2400 Yacht Club 1900 Lancaster
    [Show full text]
  • Analyzing Dam Feasibility in the Willamette River Watershed
    Portland State University PDXScholar Dissertations and Theses Dissertations and Theses Spring 6-8-2017 Analyzing Dam Feasibility in the Willamette River Watershed Alexander Cameron Nagel Portland State University Follow this and additional works at: https://pdxscholar.library.pdx.edu/open_access_etds Part of the Geography Commons, Hydrology Commons, and the Water Resource Management Commons Let us know how access to this document benefits ou.y Recommended Citation Nagel, Alexander Cameron, "Analyzing Dam Feasibility in the Willamette River Watershed" (2017). Dissertations and Theses. Paper 4012. https://doi.org/10.15760/etd.5896 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access. It has been accepted for inclusion in Dissertations and Theses by an authorized administrator of PDXScholar. Please contact us if we can make this document more accessible: [email protected]. Analyzing Dam Feasibility in the Willamette River Watershed by Alexander Cameron Nagel A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Geography Thesis Committee: Heejun Chang, Chair Geoffrey Duh Paul Loikith Portland State University 2017 i Abstract This study conducts a dam-scale cost versus benefit analysis in order to explore the feasibility of each the 13 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) commissioned dams in Oregon’s Willamette River network. Constructed between 1941 and 1969, these structures function in collaboration to comprise the Willamette River Basin Reservoir System (WRBRS). The motivation for this project derives from a growing awareness of the biophysical impacts that dam structures can have on riparian habitats. This project compares each of the 13 dams being assessed, to prioritize their level of utility within the system.
    [Show full text]
  • Response to Watershed Analysis Amendment Request
    Upper Middle Fork Watershed Analysis Update Response to the Watershed Analysis Amendment Request Listed below are analysis and responses provided by the Middle Fork District to issues/concerns listed in the U.S.D.I. Fish and Wildlife Service November, 1996. In this portion of the analysis amendment, the original issue is listed, as stated by the Fish and Wildlife Service. Following this, the key question and issue from the 1996 Watershed Analysis is stated. Below each key question is the scientific, analytical, and professional response to these issues. In some cases the issue presented by the Fish and Wildlife Service do not related to the key issues presented in the original watershed analysis. In these situations a new key question is developed. For the most part, the original key questions are still valid with minor changes. Listed below are the eleven aquatic habitat condition concerns. Eleven Listed Aquatic Concerns 1. Identify and map important bull trout rearing and spawning habitat, as well as current and future re-introduction sites, and potential future distribution down to Hills Creek Reservoir – if this information is known or available. Functional Relationship – Bull Trout Habitat Historical references indicate that bull trout Salvelinus confluentus in Oregon were once distributed throughout 12 basins in the Klamath River and Columbia River systems. Bull trout were probably found throughout the Willamette Basin, however available documentation is limited (Buchanan et al. 1997). Bull trout in the upper Middle Fork Willamette Watershed likely ranged throughout the mainstem Middle Fork Willamette and associated larger tributaries (Figure 1-1, Historic Bull Trout Distribution Map).
    [Show full text]
  • Thailand Invitational 2017
    Field Guides Tour Report Thailand Invitational 2017 Feb 25, 2017 to Mar 18, 2017 Dave Stejskal & John Rowlett For our tour description, itinerary, past triplists, dates, fees, and more, please VISIT OUR TOUR PAGE. This shimmering Green-tailed Aethopyga is one of the fanciest sunbirds we saw on the tour! Photo by participant Fred Dalbey. It’s been two months now since our Thailand adventure closed and yet I live with persistent reminders of episodes from that trip that arise almost daily! No doubt, in part, because this was my first tour to this extraordinary country for birds, food, culture, and people (and now we know, butterflies!). And in part because I knew that ours was the last tour, after 21 wonderful years, that our heralded Asia guide Dave Stejskal would lead to Siam. Ouch, bite the man! Having the encounters, as we did, with so many legendary birds--Spoon-billed Sandpiper and Nordmann’s Greenshank, Silver Pheasant and Siamese Fireback, Great Hornbill and Silver-breasted Broadbill, Crested Jay and Ratchet-tailed Treepie, Sultan Tit and Giant Nuthatch, and overwhelming numbers of bulbuls, babblers, leaf warblers, and flycatchers--is enough to assure an exceptional birding tour. But to insure an experience of the highest quality, it was necessary to collect a stellar group of participants under the leadership of a first-rate guide and mix in some fabulous Thai food, some Siamese culture, and Dave’s good friend Wat with the best ground crew in the business in order to produce the kind of trip we in fact enjoyed. It was a humdinger.
    [Show full text]
  • Hills Creek-Lookout Point Final EA
    In cooperation with the U.S. Forest Service Hills Creek-Lookout Point Transmission Line Rebuild Project Final Environmental Assessment DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Bonneville Power Administration DOE/EA-1967 June 2017 __________________________________________________________________________________ This document is the final environmental assessment (EA) for the proposed Hills Creek-Lookout Point Transmission Line Rebuild Project (Project). Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) prepared this document as an abbreviated final EA because there have been no substantial changes to the Proposed Action, alternatives, or environmental analysis presented in the draft EA. This abbreviated final EA provides changes made to the text of the draft EA, as well as comments received on the draft EA and BPA’s responses to those comments. This final EA should be used as a companion document to the draft EA (DOE/EA-1967, dated August 2016), which contains the full text describing the project, its potential environmental impacts, and mitigation measures to reduce impacts. The draft EA is available on the project webpage at http://www.bpa.gov/goto/HillsCreekLookoutPoint. Summary BPA proposes to rebuild its Hills Creek-Lookout Point transmission line, which runs from Oakridge to Lowell in Lane County, Oregon. The existing 26-mile-long 115-kilovolt (kV) transmission line is aging, and BPA proposes to replace its wood-pole structures and other line components and improve its road system that provides access to the line. BPA released the draft EA for public comment on August 10, 2016; the comment period ran until September 19, 2016. The draft EA describes the Project, its potential environmental impacts, and mitigation measures to reduce those impacts.
    [Show full text]