Proposed Route

Idaho Power submitted the eastern route alternative as the proposed route in its revised applications to the state and federal agencies. The eastern route alternative was one of three route alternatives developed through the Community Advisory Process (CAP) and reviewed by CAP participants in March 2010.

Idaho Power’s most recent steps for the Boardman to Hemingway Transmission Line Project were to:

• Submit revised right of way and special use permit applications (SF-299) to BLM and USFS, respectively. Idaho Power submitted its revised SF-299 applications to BLM and USFS in June 2010, which restarted the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review process.
• Submit the Notice of Intent to ODOE. Idaho Power submitted its revised Notice of Intent to ODOE in July 2010.
• Submit any additional permit applications as necessary.

Idaho Power appreciates the time, effort and thought CAP participants have contributed throughout this process.

In March 2010, Idaho Power presented three route alternatives to the Project Advisory Teams (PATs) and requested PAT feedback. Idaho Power analyzed the comments it received and used the feedback to help determine which route to submit as its proposed route for the state and federal environmental review processes.

Idaho Power received many comments from PAT members and the public about the three route alternatives. Comments received by March 25, 2010 are included in the final meeting summaries on the North, Central and South PAT pages.

Throughout the Community Advisory Process (CAP), Idaho Power has worked with the PATs to identify community criteria, develop a range of possible routes and recommend proposed routes.

Idaho Power’s three route alternatives were developed based on the PAT members’ recommended routes.

The table below compares the three route alternatives.

SUMMARY ROUTE COMPARISONS
Factors		Western Route		Central Route		Eastern Route
LAND USE CHARACTERISTICS
Length/Counties		275/5		282/6		299/6
Private Land		138 Miles (50%)		172 Miles (61%)		206 Miles (69%)
Public Land		137 Miles (50%)		110 Miles (39%)		93 Miles (31%)
Follows Existing Corridors		46 Miles		58 Miles		111 Miles
New Corridor		229 Miles		224 Miles		188 Miles
RESOURCES
Irrigated Cropland		10 Miles		9 Miles		22 Miles
Forest Clearing		1,754 acres		1,763 acres		681 acres
Rugged Terrain (>25% slopes)		59 Miles		56 Miles		35 Miles
Special Status Streams		46 Crossings		13 Crossings		8 Crossings
Restrictive FS/BLM Visual Classes		9.1 Miles		25.5 Miles		8.6 Miles
IMPORTANT ISSUES
John Day Valley		Crosses		Avoids		Avoids
West Side Baker County		Avoids		Crosses		Avoids
Oregon Trail Interpretive Center		Avoids		Avoids		Nearby
National Forests		Malheur and Umatilla (45 miles) New Corridor		Wallowa- Whitman (30 miles) New Corridor		Wallowa- Whitman but in a designated utility corridor (5 miles)
High Construction Difficulty		117.1 miles		94.8 miles		61.7 miles

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