PPL ELECTRIC UTILITIES CORPORATION ATTACHMENT 4 – ALTERNATIVES AND SITING ANALYSIS ATTACHMENT 4 NORTHEAST-POCONO RELIABILITY PROJECT ALTERNATIVES AND SITING ANALYSIS Table of Contents 1.0 OVERVIEW OF SITING ANALYSIS ............................................................ 1 1.1 Overview of Quantitative and Qualitative Siting Methodology ......................... 3 1.2 Overview of Phase I – Macro Corridor Generation ............................................ 4 1.3 Overview of Phase II – Alternative Corridor Generation ................................... 6 1.4 Overview of Phase III – Alternative Route Generation ...................................... 7 1.5 Overview of Phase IV – Selected Route Determination ..................................... 8 2.0 ALTERNATIVE ROUTE SELECTION PROCESS AND RESULTS ........... 9 2.1 Generating Macro Corridors and Defining the Project Study Area .................. 10 2.1.1 Substation Location Determination .......................................................... 13 2.1.2 Public Outreach - Project Study Area Review .......................................... 14 2.2 Generating and Reviewing Alternative Corridors in the Project Study Area ... 16 2.2.1 Project Specific Data................................................................................. 19 2.2.2 Review of Alternative Corridors ............................................................... 22 2.3 Generation and Evaluation of Alternative Routes in the Project Study Area ... 22 2.3.1 Selection of Alternative Route Alignments .............................................. 22 2.3.2 Engineering Adjustments to Alternative Route Alignments .................... 23 2.3.3 Public Outreach – Alternative Route Review ........................................... 23 2.4 Description and Evaluation of Alternative Routes per Project Segment .......... 24 2.4.1 Jenkins-West Pocono Segment (J-WP) .................................................... 24 2.4.1.1 Alternative Route A ........................................................................................... 24 2.4.1.2 Alternative Route B ........................................................................................... 26 2.4.1.3 Evaluation of Alternative Routes – Jenkins-West Pocono Segment ................. 27 2.4.1.4 Weighting Procedures ........................................................................................ 32 2.4.1.5 Discussion of Quantitative Results .................................................................... 35 2.4.1.5.1 Built Environment ........................................................................................ 35 2.4.1.5.2 Natural Environment .................................................................................... 35 2.4.1.5.3 Engineering Considerations ......................................................................... 36 2.4.1.6 Qualitative Assessment ...................................................................................... 36 2.4.1.6.1 Visual Concerns ........................................................................................... 37 2.4.1.6.2 Community Concerns .................................................................................. 38 2.4.1.6.3 Special Permit Requirements ....................................................................... 39 2.4.1.6.4 Construction, Maintenance, and Accessibility ............................................. 41 2.4.1.6.5 Risk of Schedule Delay ................................................................................ 42 2.4.1.7 Determination of Selected Route – Jenkins-West Pocono Segment ................. 43 2.4.1.8 Review and Determination of the West Pocono 138/69 kV Connector Lines .. 44 PPL ELECTRIC UTILITIES CORPORATION i NORTHEAST-POCONO RELIABILITY PROJECT PPL ELECTRIC UTILITIES CORPORATION ATTACHMENT 4 – ALTERNATIVES AND SITING ANALYSIS 2.4.2 West Pocono-North Pocono Segment (WP-NP)....................................... 51 2.4.2.1 Alternative Route C ........................................................................................... 51 2.4.2.2 Alternative Route D ........................................................................................... 52 2.4.2.3 Alternative Route D-1 ........................................................................................ 54 2.4.2.4 Evaluation of Alternative Routes – West Pocono-North Pocono Segment ....... 55 2.4.2.5 Discussion of Quantitative Results .................................................................... 58 2.4.2.5.1 Built Environment ........................................................................................ 58 2.4.2.5.2 Natural Environment .................................................................................... 58 2.4.2.5.3 Engineering Considerations ......................................................................... 59 2.4.2.6 Qualitative Assessment ...................................................................................... 59 2.4.2.6.1 Visual Concerns ........................................................................................... 60 2.4.2.6.2 Community Concerns .................................................................................. 61 2.4.2.6.3 Special Permit Requirements ....................................................................... 62 2.4.2.6.4 Construction, Maintenance, and Accessibility ............................................. 63 2.4.2.6.5 Risk of Schedule Delay ................................................................................ 64 2.4.2.7 Determination of Selected Route – West Pocono-North Pocono Segment ....... 65 2.4.2.8 Review and Determination of the North Pocono 138/69 kV Connector Lines . 66 2.4.3 North Pocono-Paupack Segment (NP-P) .................................................. 74 2.4.3.1 Alternative Route E............................................................................................ 74 2.4.3.2 Alternative Route F ............................................................................................ 76 2.4.3.3 Alternative Route F-1 ........................................................................................ 77 2.4.3.4 Evaluation of Alternative Routes – North Pocono-Paupack Segment ............... 78 2.4.3.5 Discussion of Quantitative Results .................................................................... 82 2.4.3.5.1 Built Environment ........................................................................................ 82 2.4.3.5.2 Natural Environment .................................................................................... 82 2.4.3.5.3 Engineering Considerations ......................................................................... 83 2.4.3.6 Qualitative Assessment ...................................................................................... 83 2.4.3.6.1 Visual Concerns ........................................................................................... 84 2.4.3.6.2 Community Concerns .................................................................................. 85 2.4.3.6.3 Special Permit Requirements ....................................................................... 86 2.4.3.6.4 Construction, Maintenance, and Accessibility ............................................. 88 2.4.3.6.5 Risk of Schedule Delay ................................................................................ 90 2.4.3.7 Determination of Selected Route – North Pocono-Paupack Segment ............... 91 3.0 REVIEW OF COMBINED SELECTED ROUTE ......................................... 91 3.1 Review of Township Zoning and Comprehensive Plans .................................. 92 3.1.1 Township Zoning ...................................................................................... 94 3.1.1.1 Plains Township, Luzerne County ..................................................................... 95 3.1.1.1.1 Industrial District ......................................................................................... 95 3.1.1.1.2 Single Family Residential District ............................................................... 96 PPL ELECTRIC UTILITIES CORPORATION ii NORTHEAST-POCONO RELIABILITY PROJECT PPL ELECTRIC UTILITIES CORPORATION ATTACHMENT 4 – ALTERNATIVES AND SITING ANALYSIS 3.1.1.1.3 Conservation District ................................................................................... 96 3.1.1.1.4 Highway Business District ........................................................................... 97 3.1.1.2 Bear Creek Township, Luzerne County............................................................. 97 3.1.1.2.1 Agricultural District ..................................................................................... 97 3.1.1.2.2 Conservation District ................................................................................... 98 3.1.1.3 Buck Township, Luzerne County ...................................................................... 98 3.1.1.3.1 Conservation District ................................................................................... 99 3.1.1.3.2 Industrial District ....................................................................................... 100 3.1.1.4 Thornhurst Township, Lackawanna County .................................................... 100 3.1.1.4.1 Open Space Conservation District ............................................................. 100 3.1.1.4.2 Agriculture-Residential District ................................................................