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ODOE: Energy Facility Siting

Cascade Crossing Transmission Line Project
Introduction
Proposed Facility: Portland General Electric originally proposed constructing and operating 210 miles of single- and double-circuit, 500-kilovolt, transmission lines from Boardman to Salem. The original proposal also included three new substations and potentially upgrading portions of the transmission system in the Willamette Valley. On Jan. 14, 2013, PGE announced it had signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Bonneville Power Administration to pursue a modification to the project proposal. Under the modification in the memorandum, PGE is now proposing that the new transmission line would begin at Boardman and follow the path of the originally proposed project. However, instead of building a line to Salem, the new line would end at a new substation about 18 miles southwest of Maupin. This would eliminate about 101 miles of new transmission line. 
 
Location: Boardman to Maupin (Proposed route)

Applicant: Portland General Electric 
 
Project Website: http://www.cascadecrossingproject.com/ 
 
Contact Information:

Applicant    
 Department of Energy Staff
Deb Schallert  Hillary Dobson
121 SW Salmon St.  625 Marion St. NE
1WTC 0401  Salem, OR 97301
Portland, OR  97204  E-mail Hillary

 E-mail Deb

                                                                                                                                                                        
To Receive Project Updates by E-mail:
Gov Delivery - Allows you to sign up to receive notices and emails about this project. To sign up for other projects including general EFSC announcements, click here.
 
Helpful Information:
Process Description - Explains the different project phases included in the table below
 
Joint State and Federal Review
The proposed transmission line may cross federal, tribal, state, and private lands and requires a site certificate from the Energy Facility Siting Council. In addition to the EFSC site certificate, the project requires an Environmental Impact Statement under the National Environmental Policy Act. The NEPA process is required for any proposed action on federally managed lands. This NEPA process is being administered by the U.S. Forest Service, which has been designated as the lead federal agency for the Cascade Crossing project. ODOE and the USFS will coordinate the state and federal review processes as much as possible.

On Jan. 4, 2013, PGE filed a complete application with the Oregon Department of Energy. Normally, ODOE would post the entire application on the ODOE website, issue public notice and hold public meetings. However, soon after filing its complete application, PGE announced significant changes to the Cascade Crossing transmission project and shared its intent to submit an amended application to ODOE in early spring 2013. ODOE will post the complete amended application, issue public notice, and hold public meetings once PGE has filed an amended application. The original application is available upon request.
Project Status (Table details will be updated as project progresses)
 
Project Phase
Project Phase Details
Date
Notice of Intent
Notice of Intent
May 17, 2010
Joint Scoping Notification Letter
  Attachment 1: Project Overview Map 
  Attachment 2 & 3: NEPA and EFSC Processes 
May 26, 2010
Information Meeting  (Department Staff & Applicant)
June/July 2010
  Deadline to submit public comments on the Notice of Intent
August 2010
 
Project Order
Amended Project Order Feb. 24, 2012
 
Complete Application
Complete Application
 
Exhibit A– Applicant and Participating Persons
Exhibit B– Construction Schedule and Temporary Disturbance of Site
Exhibit C– Location of Proposed Facility
Exhibit D– Organizational Expertise of the Applicant
Exhibit E– Permits Needed for Construction and Operation of the Facility
Exhibit F– A List of the Names and Mailing Addressed of all Owners of Record
Adjacent to the Site Boundary
Exhibit G– Materials Analysis
Exhibit H– Geologic and Soil Stability within the Analysis Area
Exhibit I– Soil Conditions and Uses in the Analysis Area
Exhibit J– Waters of the State or Waters of the United States
Exhibit K– Compliance with the Statewide Planning Goals
Exhibit L– Facilities Impact on Protected Areas
Exhibit M– Financial Capability
Exhibit N– Need for Non-Generating Facility
Exhibit O– Anticipated Water Use During Construction and Operation
Exhibit P– Fish and Wildlife Habitat and Species
Exhibit Q– Threatened and Endangered Plant and Animal Species
Exhibit R– Impact on Scenic Resources
Exhibit S– Historic Cultural and Archaeological Resources
Exhibit T– Impacts on Important Recreational Facilities in the Analysis Area
Exhibit U–Ability of Public and Private Providers to Provide Services
Exhibit V– Plans to Minimize and Recycle Solid Waste and Wastewater
Exhibit W– Site Restoration
Exhibit X– Noise Generated by Construction and Operation
Exhibit Y– Standards for Base Load Gas Plants, Non-Base Load Power Plants and Nongenerating Energy Facilities that Emit Carbon Dioxide
Exhibit Z– Standards for Evaporative Cooling Tower
Exhibit AA– Standards for Electric Transmission Lines
Exhibit BB– Any Other Information Requested by the Department of Energy
Exhibit CC– All Applicable Statutes, Administrative Rules and Local Government Ordinance Standards or Criteria.
Exhibit DD– Specific Standards Adopted by the Siting Council
 
 
Information Meeting (Department Staff and Applicant)
      -Public Notice
      -Agenda
 
 
Deadline for public comments to be considered in the Draft Proposed Order
 
 
Draft Proposed Order
Draft Proposed Order Proposed Order
 
 
*Public Hearing (Council or Hearing Officer) 
      -Public Notice
      -Agenda
 
 
Deadline for public comments to be received by the Department to be included in the record at the Draft Proposed Order Hearing
 
 
Proposed Order
 
Council Meeting
      -Notice (Regular Council Meeting Notice only)
      -Agenda
 
 
Proposed Order
 
 
Contested Case Hearing
 
Notice of Proposed Order and Contested Case
(Only sent to those who participated in person or in writing at the Draft Proposed Order Hearing)   
 
 
Contested Case Hearing
 
 
Proposed Contested Case Order
 
 
Final Order &
Site Certificate
 
Council Meeting
      -Notice (Regular Council Meeting Notice only)
      -Agenda
 
 
Final Order
 
 
Site Certificate
 
 
Appeal
Application for Rehearing (30 days from final order)
 
 
Petition for Judicial Review by Oregon Supreme Court (60 days from final order)
 
 
Decision by Supreme Court (6 months from petition)
 
 
*Please Note: Failure to raise issues in person or in writing at this hearing precludes participation in the subsequent Contested Case and the right to appeal Council’s final decision.  Issues must be raised with sufficient specificity to afford the Council, the Department of Energy and the applicant an adequate opportunity to respond, including a statement of facts that support the person’s position on the issue.