[=5 m a COMMONWEALTH of VIRGINIA Mb HAY 12 P I: 5S g CO DEPARTMEm OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY Street address: 629 East Main Street, Richmond, Virginia 23219 Molly Joseph Ward Mailing address: P.O. Box 1105, Richmond, Virginia 23218 David K. Paylor Secrelaryof Natural Resources Fax: 804-698-4019 - TDD (804) 698-4021 Director www.deq.virginia.gov (8 04 ) 698-4020 1-800-592-5482 May 11, 2016 Mr. Joel H. Peck, Clerk Document Control Center State Corporation Commission 1300 E. Main Street, Tyler Bldg., 1st Floor Richmond, Virginia 23219 RE: Application of Virginia Electric and Power Company (Dominion) for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity: Cunningham-Dooms 500 kV Transmission Line Rebuild, Fluvanna, Albemarle, and Augusta Counties, Case No. PUE-2016- 00020 (reviewed under DEQ #16-0495). Dear Mr. Peck: As requested in Mr. William H. Harrison's, March 3, 2016 letter (received March 7, 2016), the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has coordinated the review of the above-referenced application, focusing on the DEQ supplement found in the application. The purpose of the review is to develop information for State Corporation Commission (SCC) staff about potential impacts to natural and cultural resources associated with the proposed project. Based on comments submitted by reviewers, we are providing a summary of potential impacts to these resources from construction and operation of the electric transmission line as well as recommendations for minimizing those impacts and for compliance with applicable legal requirements. This report includes copies of the comments submitted by reviewers. Thank you for the opportunity to review the application for SCC certification. We trust that you will find our report helpful in your review process. If you have questions, please do not hesitate to call me at (804) 698-4204 or Julia Wellman at (804) 698-4326. Sincerely, Bettina Sullivan, Manager Environmental Impact Review and Long Range Priorities Program Attachments Joel H. Peck DEQ #16-0495 PUE-2016-00020 Page 2 ec: William H. Harrison,.SCC Bonnie Riedesel, Central Shenandoah Planning District Commission Charles Boyles, Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission Timothy Fitzgerald, Augusta County Steven Nichols, Fluvanna County Thomas C. Foley, Albemarle County Charlotte McAfee, Dominion Amy Ewing, DGIF Keith Tignor, VDACS Robbie Rhur, DCR Roy Soto, VDH Roger Kirchen, DHR David Spears, DMME Greg Evans, DOF Tony Watkinson, VMRC Randy Owen, VMRC Chip Ray, VDOT James Cromwell, VDOT Elizabeth Jordan, VDOT Susan Simmers, DOAV Martha Little, VOF © © a a COMMONWEALTH of VIRGINIA ©9 ©9 DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY Street address: 629 East Main Street, Richmond, Virgin ia 23219 Molly Joseph Ward Mailing address: P.O. Box 1105, Richmond, Virginia 23218 David K. Paylor Secretaryof Natural Resources Fax: 804-698-4019-TDD (804) 698-4021 Director www.deq.virginia.gov (8 04 ) 698-4020 1-800-592-5482 COMMENTS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY Concerning the Application of Virginia Electric and Power Company (Dominion) for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity: Cunningham-Dooms 500 kV Transmission Line Rebuild, Fluvanna, Albemarle, and Augusta Counties, Case No. PUE-2016-00020 (reviewed under DEQ #16-0495). The following comments are intended to provide technical assistance to the State Corporation Commission (SCC) in evaluating the project. The following agencies, locality and planning district commissions joined in this review: Department of Environmental Quality Department of Game and Inland Fisheries Department of Conservation and Recreation Department of Health Department of Historic Resources Marine Resources Commission Department of Transportation Department of Aviation Virginia Outdoors Foundation Augusta County Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission Central Shenandoah Planning District Commission The Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy, Department of Forestry, Fluvanna County and Albemarle County also were invited to comment. The information considered in this review includes Dominion's Application for Approval and Certification of Electric Facilities, Cunningham-Dooms 500 kV Transmission Line Rebuild, Case No. PLIE-2016-00020, focusing on the information in the DEQ supplement. Joel H. Peck p DEQ #16-0493 m PUE-2016-00020 m Page 2 in A PROJECT DESCRIPTION © <© © Dominion submitted an application to the SCC for a certificate of public convenience ®8 and necessity to rebuild the existing 500 kilovolt (kV) Cunningham-Dooms Line #534 transmission line in Virginia. Dominion plans to rebuild approximately 32.7 miles of the line, entirely within its existing right-of-way. The line traverses three counties in Virginia: Augusta (approximately 4.2 miles), Albemarle (approximately 25.1 miles) and Fluvanna (approximately 3.4 miles). The rebuild portion is located between the existing Cunningham Switching Station in Fluvanna County and Dooms Substation in Augusta County. The line has been in continuous use since the 1960s. The existing right-of-way contains multiple circuits and varies in width from a minimum of 150 feet to a maximum of 292 feet. No new easements will be required for the rebuild project. The right-of-way is currently cleared and maintained for existing transmission facility operation. Minimal clearing of existing access roads may be necessary in these areas to support construction activities for the rebuild project. Although the proposed finish is different to address the structural issues experienced with COR-TEN® weathering steel on the Company's 500 kV system, Dominion states that the proposed lattice towers are similar to the existing weathering and galvanized steel lattice towers and will allow the rebuild and uprate of the existing 500 kV line. Figures in the application state that the approximate average heights of the proposed 500 kV line towers will be taller than the existing 500 kV line towers. The general character of the project area is predominantly rural with agricultural and scattered residential uses. The right-of-way crosses the Shenandoah National Park, including Skyline Drive and the Appalachian Trail, in Augusta County and a portion of National Park Service Property in Albemarle County. Joel H. Peck p DEQ #16-0493 ®) PUE-2016-00020 @ Page 3 y=I LIST OF PERMITS OR APPROVALS « The following permits and approvals are likely to be necessary as prerequisites to project construction. The details of these requirements appear in the "Regulatory and Coordination Needs" section of these comments. 1. Water Permits (see "Regulatory and Coordination Needs", item 1, page 30). a. Section 404 permit (e.g. Nationwide Permit 12, if appropriate). Required pursuant to the federal Clean Water Act and issued by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for impacts to jurisdictional wetlands and/or waters of the United States. b. Virginia Water Protection Permit (9VAC25-210 et seq.). Issued by the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) for impacts to waters and jurisdictional wetlands, including isolated wetlands. 2. Subaqueous Lands Management (see "Regulatory and Coordination Needs", item 2, page 30). a. Subaqueous Lands Permit pursuant to Section 28.2-1204 of the Code of Virginia. Issued by the Virginia Marine Resources Commission for encroachments in, on or over state-owned subaqueous beds. 3. Erosion and Sediment Control and Stormwater Management Plans (see "Regulatory and Coordination Needs," item 3, page 30). a. General erosion and sediment control specifications pursuant to Virginia Code § 62.1-44.15:55. General erosion and sediment control specifications are subject to annual approval by DEQ. b. Erosion and Sediment Control Plans for construction of facilities not covered under Virginia Code § 62.1-44.15:55 are subject to approval by the appropriate plan approving authority. 4. Stormwater Management Permit (see "Regulatory and Coordination Needs," item 4, page 30). a. Virginia Stormwater Management Program (VSMP) General Permit for Discharges of Stormwater from Construction Activities (9VAC25-880-70 et seq.) of the Virginia Stormwater Management Program Permit Regulations (9VAC25-870 et seq.) involving land disturbance of 1 acre or more. Coverage under this general permit is approved by DEQ. 5. Air Quality Permits or Requirements (see "Regulatory and Coordination Needs," item 5, pages 30 - 31). Joel H. Peck p DEQ #16-0495 © PUE-2016-00020 <© Page 4 & a. Open Burning (9VAC5-130 et seq.). For open burning involving demolition <0 debris. ^ b. Fugitive dust emissions (9VAC5-50-60 et seq.). Governs abatement of visible emissions. c. Fuel-burning equipment (9VAC5-80, Article 6, Permits for New and Modified Sources). Governs the installation of fuel-burning equipment (boilers, generators, compressors, etc.) or any other air pollution emitting equipment. 6. Solid and Hazardous Waste Management (see "Regulatory and Coordination Needs," item 6, pages 31 - 32). a. Applicable state laws and regulations include: • Virginia Waste Management Act (Code of Virginia Section 10.1-1400 et seq.); • Virginia Hazardous Waste Management Regulations (VHWMR) (9VAC20- 60); • Virginia Solid Waste Management Regulations (VSWMR) (9VAC20-81); and • Virginia Regulations for the Transportation of Hazardous Materials (9VAC20-110). b. Applicable Federal laws and regulations include: • Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), 42 U.S.C. Section 6901 et seq., and the applicable regulations contained in Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations; and • U.S. Department