PROJECTS

ENERGY
Transmission

Mona-Oquirrh 500kV Transmission Corridor Project EIS/PA (Utah)

EPG was retained by PacifiCorp (Rocky Mountain Power) to prepare a feasibility analysis and an environmental impact statement (EIS) to establish a 500/345kV double-circuit transmission line corridor from the Mona substation in Mona, Utah to two different substations in the Wasatch Front, a distance of approximately 140 miles. The siting study process also included the identification and siting of two future 500/345/138kV substations and a future 500kV transmission line corridor. The project was broken into three major phases (1) feasibility study, (2) project scoping and EIS, and (3) state and local project permits. EPG completed the feasibility studies in 2006. As the third-party consultant to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), EPG prepared the Draft EIS in May 2009. Currently, EPG is working with the BLM to track and respond to public comments and prepare the Final EIS. The project involves two BLM field offices, four counties and coordination with other federal, state, and local agencies. The State of Utah Governor’s Office of Public Land and Policy Coordination is a cooperating agency on the EIS.

A comprehensive public involvement program was developed and implemented on the project that included newsletters, project websites, media announcements, landowner meetings and a Community Working Group (CWG). The CWG was sponsored by Rocky Mountain Power and met four times during the project in order to obtain input from key stakeholders and agencies that would potentially be impacted by the project. Overall, 450 miles of alternative routes and 24 alternative substation sites were analyzed to identify potential transmission line routes and substation sites for the project. State and local permitting is anticipated to commence in fall 2009 with construction of the project expected to begin in summer 2010.