For release: January 4, 2012
Contact: Bill Schurger (509) 665-2100
Release No: OR130-FY2013-0005
Public Comment Period Opens for Proposed Vantage to Pomona
Heights 230kV Transmission Line
Spokane, WA – The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Spokane District released the draft
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed Vantage to Pomona Heights
Transmission Line Project (Project). The Project is a 61 to 67 mile, 230-kilovolt (kV)
transmission line that would provide more reliable power to the Yakima region. The new line
would run from the Bonneville Power Administration’s existing Vantage substation east of
Wanapum Dam, on the Columbia River, to Pacific Power’s existing Pomona Heights substation
east of Selah, Washington. The transmission line would potentially cross federal lands
administered by the BLM, Bureau of Reclamation, and U.S. Army – Joint Base Lewis McChord
Yakima Training Center, Washington State Department of Natural Resources land, and private
lands. Most of the project would be constructed on private lands.
The Draft EIS includes analysis of eight possible end to end alternative route alignments and a
“No Action” alternative. The eight alignments are designated A through H, and all involve the
construction of a single-circuit aerial 230kV transmission line. Each of the alternatives consists of
the interconnection of various route segments to form complete end to end routes.
A 45-day public comment period will begin January 4, and end February 9, 2013. During the
comment period, the BLM will schedule public meetings in Selah and Mattawa, Washington, and
will announce these meetings and any other public involvement activities at least 15 days in
advance through the BLM Web site listed below, public notices, media releases, and direct
mailings. Formal written comments can be emailed, mailed or hand delivered to BLM’s
Wenatchee Field Office. Comments must be submitted by February 18, 2013 to:
By email: [email protected] (please specify Vantage to Pomona Heights EIS
in the subject line).
By mail or hand-delivered: BLM Wenatchee Field Office, ATTN: Vantage to Pomona
Heights EIS, 915 Walla Walla Avenue, Wenatchee, Washington 98801-1521.
All comments must include the commenter’s name and street 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 identifying
information—may be published as part of the EIS and Decision process.
Compact disks containing the Draft EIS are available at the BLM Wenatchee Field Office. The
document is also available online at the project website:
http://www.blm.gov/or/districts/spokane/plans/vph230.php
Copies of the Draft EIS are available for review at the BLM Wenatchee Field Office, Mattawa
Community Library, and Downtown Yakima Library
Additional information about the BLM Spokane District is available online at:
http://www.blm.gov/or/districts/spokane/index.php
-BLMThe BLM manages more land – 245 million surface acres – than any other Federal agency. This land, known as the National System of
Public Lands, is primarily located in 12 Western States, including Alaska. The Bureau, with a budget of about $1 billion, also administers
700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. The BLM’s multiple-use mission is to sustain the health and
productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. The Bureau accomplishes this by managing
such activities as outdoor recreation, livestock grazing, mineral development, and energy production, and by conserving natural, historical,
cultural, and other resources on public lands.