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 .........................................................................................................