EntergyServices,Inc.308B.PearlSt.,Suite700________P0.Box164039215Jackson,MS39201rjtejTel6019692596Fax6019692696kdowell@entergy.comKelliM.DowellAssistantGeneralCounsel-EnvironmentalAugust18,2014ViaCertifiedMailRonCurryRegionalAdministrator—RegionVIU.S.EnvironmentalProtectionAgency1445RossAvenue,Suite1200Dallas,Texas75202Re:RequestforExceptiontoBayouAuxCarpes§404(c)FinalDeterminationEntergyLouisianaLLC.DearMr.Curry:EntergyLouisiana,L.LC.(“Entergy”)respectfullyrequestsanexceptiontoEPA’s1985§404(c)FinalDeterniinationrelatingtoBayouAuxCarpes(the“FinalDetermination”).Thejustificationforthisexceptionisdocumentedintheattached“RequestforExceptiontoBayouAuxCarpes§404(c)FinalDetermination.”Asyouknow,EPA’sFinalDeterminationprohibits,withlimitedexceptions,dredge/fillactivitieswithinthedefinedgeographicboundariesoftheBayouAuxCarpes§404(c)area.TheworkcoveredbyEntergy’sattachedexceptionrequestrelatestotheroutineoperationandmaintenanceofexistingtransmissionanddistributionlines(andrelatedrights-of-way)locatedpartiallywithintheBayouAuxCarpes§404(c)area.Thelineswereconstructedinthe1960’sandthereforepredatethe1985FinalDetermination.Althoughthepresenceandimpactofthetransmissionlineright-of-waywereconsideredatthetimeofthe1985FinalDeterminationandatthetimeofsubsequent§404(c)determinationsrelatingtoBayouAuxCarpes,noexceptionshavebeenrecognizedfortheoperationandmaintenanceoftheline.Entergyrequestsanexceptionthatwillpermitworksimilarto,butlessonerousthan,thatallowedbyexistingexceptionsgrantedforpipelinerights-of-waywithinBayouAuxCarpesbythe1985FinalDetermination(forSouthernNaturalGas)andthe1992ModificationtoFinalDetermination(forShellPipeLineCorporation).AsdocumentedintheattachedRequestforException,potentialwetlandsimpactsfromtheproposedoperationandmaintenanceactivitiesareinsignificant.TheseoperationandmaintenanceactivitieswillnotinterferewithEPA’sresponsibilityunder33U.S.C.§1344(c)toprohibitactivitieswhichwillhaveanunacceptableadverseeffectonmunicipalwatersupplies,shellfishbeds,fisheryareas,wildlife,orrecreationalareas.Welookforwardtoworkingwiththeagencyonthismatter.Pleasecontactmeat601-969-2596todiscussanyquestionsorissuesthatyouhave.Sincerely,gQQi.th&QKelliM.DowellAssistantGeneralCounsel—EnvironmentalKMD/sasEnclosureCc:Mr.WilliamK.HonkerMs.BarbaraKeelerREQUESTFOREXCEPTIONTOBAYOUAUXCARPES§404(c)1985FINALDETERMINATIONPursuanttoits1985FinalDetermination(50Fed.Reg.47267,November15,1985),theEnvironmentalProtectionAgency(EPA)exerciseditsauthorityunder§404(c)oftheCleanWaterAct.(33U.S.C.§1344(c))torestrict(withlimitedexceptions)thedischargeofdredgeandfillmaterialinanareadesignatedastheBayouAuxCarpes§404(c)AreainJeffersonParish,Louisiana.TheFinalDeterminationwasmodifiedin1992(57Fed.Reg.13745,April17,1992)and2009(74Fed.Reg.37219,July28,2009)tograntadditionalexceptionstothedredgeandfillprohibition.EntergyLouisiana,L.L.C.(Entergy)requestsanexceptiontotheFinalDeterminationfortheoperationandmaintenanceofatransmissionlineandadistributionlinethathavebeenintheBayouAuxCarpes§404(c)Areasincethe1960’s—yearspriortotheFinalDetermination.I.BACKGROUNDEntergyhasanexistingelectricaltransmissionline(theBaratariatoAllianceTransmissionLine)andadistributionlinewhichrunthroughaportionoftheBayouAuxCarpes§404(c)Area.(SeeAppendixA.)EntergyisrequestinganexceptiontotheFinalDeterminationthatwillallowfordischargesassociatedwithroutineoperationandmaintenanceofitsexistingtransmissionanddistributionlines.Thisexceptionissimilarto(butlessextensivethan)pastexceptionsauthorizedintheBayouAuxCarpes§404(c)ArearelatingtotheSouthernNationalGaspipelineintheoriginal1985§404(c)FinalDeterminationandtotheShellpipelineinEPA’s1992modificationoftheFinalDetermination.Entergy’stransmissionlineservicesresidentialfacilities,commercialfacilities,militaryfacilities,HomelandSecurityfacilities,andstrategicoilprocessingfacilitiesinPlaquemineParish.Thedistributionlineformerlyprovidedelectricitytotheaviationwarninglightsononeofitsstructures.AllportionsofthedistributionlinewithintheBayouAuxCarpes§404(c)Areaarecurrentlyoutofserviceandde-energized.Thistransmissionlineisthesolesourceofelectricaltransmissiontoalargeportionofitsserviceareaandisaradialfeedtotheendusers.Entergyisintheprocessofobtainingclearancetoconstructanothertransmissionlinetoprovideanadditionalsourceofelectricitytothearea.Whilethespecificroutehasnotbeendetermined,itwillnotinvolvetheBayouAuxCarpes§404(c)Area.Oncethenewlineisinplace,bothlineswillbecomepartofanelectricalgridinsteadofbeingaradialfeed.A“radial”network(orfeed)anda‘grid”networkaretwotypesoftransmissionsystems.1Aradialfeed(suchastheBaratariatoAllianceline)originatesatapowerstationorsubstationandpassesthroughitsserviceareawithoutconnectingtoanyotherpowersupply.Radialfeedsaremotelikelyfoundinisolatedruralareas.Agridnetworkhasmultipleconnectionstomultiplepowersources,allowingforoptionalflowconfigurationsbydirectingpowerfromalternativepowersources.Theobviousadvantageofagridnetworkisthat,intheeventofanisolatedlineproblemormaintenanceactivity,accesstoanalternativepowerstationallowsthemajorityofthegridtostayonline.Incontrast,alineproblemormaintenanceactivityonaradialfeedwouldcausealossoftransmissiontothatpartoftheradiallinethathasbeendisconnectedfromthesolepowersource.Agridnetworkismorereliablethanaradialfeedforhigherloaddemands,andisbetterequippedtoaccommodatefuturegrowthloaddemands.II.EXISTINGTRANSMISSIONANDDISTRIBUTIONLINESLOCATEDWITHINBAYOUAUXCARPES4O4(C)AREATheBaratariatoAllianceTransmissionLineis74,012feetintotallengthofwhich11,543feetarewithintheBayouAuxCarpes§404(c)Area.(SeeAppendixB.)Thetransmissionlineright-of-wayis120feetwide.Thereare15transmissionlinestructures(seeAppendixC)withinthewetlandsofBayouAuxCarpes§404(c)AreaasdefinedintheFinalDetermination.Ingeneralthesestructuresaremountedonmetalfoundationsthataredrivenintothegroundandheldinplacebyguywiresandanchors.Thedistributionlinehas15woodensinglepolesandapproximately3,415feetoflinewithintheBayouAuxCarpes§404(c)Area.(SeeAppendixD.)Thedistributionlineright-of-wayis10feetwide.ThoseportionsofthedistributionlinewithintheBayouAuxCarpes§404(c)Areaarecurrentlyout-of-serviceandde-energized.Inpreparationforconstructionofthetransmissionline,Entergy’spredecessorLouisianaPower&Light(LP&L)obtainedright-of-wayagreementsfromlandownersin1964/1965,andobtainedaCorpsofEngineers(COE)Section10Permitin1966forthecrossingoftheGulfIntracoastalWaterway(GIWW).LP&Lconstructedbothlinesinthelate1960’s.1Thetransmissionlineisexpectedtolastanother50-60years,baseduponaninspectionofashortsegmentofthislineafterHurricaneGustav.Theonlystructurerequiringrepairatthattimewasnotwithinthe§404(c)area.Preventativemaintenance(describedindetailbelow)ofthefoundationsofstructuresalongthelineisnecessary.1AtthetimeoftheFinalDetermination,LP&LwasasubsidiaryofMiddleSouthUtilitieswhichbecameEntergyCorporationin1989.EntergyLouisiana,LLCisthecorporatesuccessortoLP&L.2COEpermitMVN-2013-01842-EOO,issuedonJanuary23,2014,authorizestheengineeringsurveyandinspectionofstructurefoundations,necessaryforplanningthispreventativemaintenancework.(SeeAppendixE.)Entergyconductsregutaraerialinspectionsofitstransmissionlinesinordertodetermineifroutinemaintenanceofitsright-of-wayand/orthetransmissionlineisneededasrequiredbyFederalEnergyRegulatoryCommission(FERC)regulations,NorthAmericanElectricReliabilityCorporation(NERC)regulations,and/orEntergy’sinternalguidelinesandprocedures.Entetgyalsoisvigilantregardingoutagescausedbystormsandunexpectedcomponentfailures.Outagesrequireimmediaterepairsinordertore-establishelectricaltransmissiontoitsconsumers.Tore-establishpower,Entergyproceduresrequireanimmediateaerialorgroundsurvey(ifpossible)ofthelinetodetermine:thecauseoftheoutage;suppliesandcomponentsneededforrepair;equipmentneededforrepair;numberofrepaircrews;andaccessrouteforequipment.Dependingonthetypeofrepairsrequired,suchequipmentincludesairboats,marshmasters,andmarshbuggies.TothebestofEntergy’sknowledgeandunderstanding,noemergencyorplannedstructuralmaintenancehasoccurredwithinthe§404(c)area.TherearethreetypesofexistingmetalstructureslocatedalongEntergy’slinesintheBayouAuxCarpes§404(c)Area.OnetypeisalatticesinglemetalpoleYstructurewithfourguywiresandanchors.Therearetwothree-polelatticemetalstructures(No.23&30)withmultipleguywiresandanchors.Theanchorsarescrewtypeanchorswhichdonotrequirediggingorfillingforinstallation.Thethirdstructuretypeisaself-supportinglatticemetalstructure(No.31)whichhasfourlegsbasedintolargeconcretefootingsandnoguywiresoranchors.(SeeAppendixF.)IntheprocessofestablishingtheBayouAuxCarpes§404(c)Area,theEPAandotherstateandfederalnaturalresourceagenciesidentifiedtheenvironmentalsettings,characteristics,functionsandvaluesofthisarea.Duringthisprocess,severalmanmadefeatureswereidentified,butmainlyinrespecttotheirpositiveand/ornegativeimpactsonhydrologicalconditions.NodirectreferencewasmadetotheexistenceoftheLP&Lelectricaltransmissionordistributionlinesortheirimpactonnaturalresources,eventhoughonsitefieldtrips,samplingefforts,andphotointerpretationsrevealedthepresenceofthetransmissionline.OnOctober16,1985,EPAissuedits“FinalDeterminationoftheU.S.EnvironmentalProtectionAgency’sAssistantAdministratorforExternalAffairsconcerningtheBayouAuxCarpessiteinJeffersonParish,LouisianapursuanttoSection§404(c)oftheCleanWaterAct,”whichreferenced“...a3500footlongtransmissionlineright-of-waycanal...”ItisnotcleatiftheFinalDeterminationintendedtosuggestthatthecanalisrelatedto3theadjacenttransmissionlineright-of-wayorthatthecanalwascreatedintheconstructionofthetransmissionline.Entergycanconfirmthatthiscanalwasnotconstructedforthepurposeofconstructionormaintenanceofthetransmissionline,butappearstohavebeeninstalledbyathirdpartyasanaidtodrainage.AsdemonstratedbythefollowingdocumentsfromthedeliberationsprecedingtheFinalDetermination,itisapparentthatthepresenceandimpactofthetransmissionlinewasconsideredbytheEPAatthetimeoftheFinalDetermination,andhasalsobeenafactorintheevaluationofpost-i985FinalDeterminationmodificationrequests.•EPA’sdocumentdatedJulyi986entitled“CleanWaterAct,Section§404(c)Evaluation,BayouAuxCarpes,Louisiana”(inAppendixH.2entitled“ColoredInfraredPhotographofBayouAuxCarpesStudyArea”datedJanuary19,1984)showsthetransmissionlineanditsright-of-way.•InAppendixC.2(“StateCoordination”)tothesameEPAdocument,aletterdatedJuly10,1985fromDr.C.G.Groat(AssistanttotheSecretaryoftheLouisianaDepartmentofNaturalResources)providesmapswhichshowthetransmissionlineright-of-wayasachangeinwetlandtype.•Thereportentitled“DescriptionofDataCollection,Methodology,andPhotoAnalysisResultsofPhotointerpretiveStudyofBayouAuxCarpesArea”datedJune1985categorizesvegetationtypesandlandusesinto18differentcategories.Thetransmissionlineright-of-wayisnotidentifiedasalanduse,buttheline’stight-of-wayvegetationtypesareaccountedforandincludedwiththoseoutsideoftheright-of-way.•InEPA’spresentationataFebruaryii,2009publichearingrelatingtoarequestedmodificationoftheFinalDetermination,oneslideclearlyshowsthetransmissionlineright-of-wayinanaerialphotothatwasusedtoindicatethelocationofpotentialleveegappingandplugremovallocations.Twoofthesegappinglocationsareadjacenttoorwithintheright-of-way.•Thetransmissionlinetight-of-waycanbeeasilyseeninanotheraerialphotoonpage1-22inanEPAreportofApril2009,Theshorttermimpactoftheexistenceofthistransmissionlinewastheconversionofforestedwetlandsandscrubshrubwetlandtypestoherbaceouswetlands.NolongtermadverseimpactsfromthetransmissionlinewerenotedinanyofthestudiesbyEPAorotherregulatoryandnaturalresourcesagenciesandtheirenvironmentalsubcontractors,aspresentedintheJuly1986EPAdocument.4III.ENTERGY’SPROPOSEDEXCEPTIONISCONSISTENTWITHEXISTINGEXCEPTIONSINCLUDEDINTHEFINALDETERMINATIONANDIORGRANTEDSUBSEQUENTTOTHEISSUANCEOFTHEFINALDETERMINATION.EntergynotesthatEPAhasgrantedexceptionstotheBayouAuxCarpes§404(c)FinalDetermination.TheexceptionsgrantedtoSouthernNaturalGasPipelineCompanyandtoShellPipeLineCorporationaresimilartoEntergy’srequest.Bothofthepipelinecompanieshavebeengrantedexceptionsfordischargesassociatedwithroutineoperationandmaintenanceoftheirpipelines,withtherequirementthatappropriatepermitsmustbeobtainedfromtheCorpsofEngineersforindividualmaintenanceactivities.Entergylikewiserequestsanexceptionfor“dischargesassociatedwithroutineoperationandmaintenance”ofitstransmissionline.TheexceptionsgrantedforSouthernNaturalGasandShellpipelineactivitiesarebaseduponEPA’sdeterminationthatenvironmentaldischargesassociatedwiththeroutineoperationandmaintenancewouldnotresultinunacceptableadverseeffectstotheBayouAuxCarpes§404(c)Area.Entergy’sactivitieswillbeequivalenttoorlessimpacifulthanthepipelinemaintenanceexceptionsalreadydeterminedtobeminimalintermsofwetlandimpacts.EntergynotesthatthisproposedexceptioninvolvesactivitieswithsignificantlylesswetlandimpactsthanthoseauthorizedbytheEPA’sFebruary28,1992exceptiongrantedtotheShellPipeLineCorporation.(57Fed.Reg.13745,April17,1992.)•LikeEntergy,Shellownedaman-madestructureintheBayouAuxCarpes§404(c)AreaatthetimeoftheFinalDetermination.•LikeEntergy,theFinalDeterminationprovidednoexceptionforShell’soperationandmaintenanceofitsstructures.•Shellsoughtandwasgrantedanexceptionthatauthorized:otheexcavationandrelocatingoftheexistingundergroundpipelinetoadeeperdepth;andoroutineoperationandmaintenanceoftherelocatedpipeline.•UnlikeShell,Entergyseeksanexceptiononlyfortheroutineoperationandmaintenanceitsexistinglines.Entergydoesnotseektorelocateorotherwisemodifyitsexistinglines.5A.Entergy’sroutineoperationandmaintenanceactivitieswillbeconductedinmannerthatwillminimizeunavoidableimpactstowetlands.Duetotheterrainofthisarea,Entergywillbeusingspecializedequipment(mainlyairboats,marshmasters,andmarshbuggies)toconductmaintenanceactivities,similartoequipmentusedbytheexceptedpipelinecompanies.Entergyisconstantlyworkingtoidentifyimprovedand/ornewtechnologyavailableonthemarketthatwillachieveeitherlessimpactorthetotalavoidanceofimpactstothewetlands.Entergyusesnonintrusivemethodstoconductmaintenancewherepossible.However,theappropriatemethoddependsonthetypeofmaintenancerequired.Wherefeasible,Entergyconductsmaintenanceoperationswithonlyairboatsand/orhelicopters.Recently,EntergyconductedmaintenanceactivitiesonatransmissionlineintheJeanLafiffeNationalHistoricalParkandPreserveusingonlyhelicopters.Entergyiscommittedtousingtheleastdamagingequipmentandrepairmethodswherepossibleforemergencyandplannedmaintenanceactivities.However,notallrepairscanbeconductedsolelyviahelicopter;somerepairsrequiretheuseofgroundequipment.Entergyusesateamapproachinevaluatingrequiredmaintenance,methodsandequipment,accessroutes,environmentalconcerns,availabilityofequipment,leastdamagingtechniques,andalternatives.Theteamdevelopsamaintenanceplan,obtainsnecessarypermits,andexecutesthatplan.Forplannedmaintenanceactivities,thereareoftenrestrictionsthatlimitwhenrepairscanbemadeinrelationtoavailableequipment.Forinstance,theuseofmedium-to-heavylifthelicoptersislimitedtotimeswhenthesehelicoptersarenotonfirecontroldutyinthewesternstatesandwhenthereisalowelectricalloaddemandinthisarea(duringthewintermonths).FurtherminimizingpotentialimpactstowetlandsfromtheexceptedactivitiesisthefactthatallsuchoperationsandmaintenanceactivitieswillbeconductedunderthepermitauthorityofeitheranindividualorprogrammaticU.S.ArmyCorpsofEngineers’permit.1.EQUIPMENTVarioustypesofequipmentareusedbyEntergyforinspectionsandmaintenanceandstructureremoval.(SeeAppendixG.)Thisequipmentcanbedividedintotwobasictypes:aerialvehiclesandgroundvehicles.Groundvehiclesareeitherwaterborneoramphibious,basedonthenatureoftheterrain,waterdepth,soils,andvegetation.Entergyrecognizesthat,historicaLly,theuseofgroundvehiclesinmarshandwetlandareashascausedadverseimpactstoLouisianawetlands,andisconfidentthatitsuseofnewerandlighter-weightvehicleswillcausenolongtermandminimalshorttermimpact.EarlygenerationsofmarshbuggiesweremodifiedModelTcarsfittedwithwide6metalrimsandwoodenslats.Latermodificationsincludedlargeconcretewheelssevenfeettallandfourfeetwide.ThesetypesofmarshbuggiescouldresultinsignificantdamagestoLouisiana’swetlandmarshes.MarshbuggydesignhasadvancedsuchthatthevehiclesusedbyEntergy(seeAppendixC)havesignificantlylessimpacttothemarshthanvehiclesuseddecadesago.Multiplefactorsdeterminetheextentofvehicleimpacttoamarsh,including:thepounds-per-square-inch(PSI)exertedbythevehicle;thetypeofmarsh;thetypeofsoil;waterlevels;andtheamountoferosionoccurringnaturallyinthemarsh.ThePSIexertedbymarshbuggieshasbeensignificantlyreducedovertheyearsfromarangeof3.5-3.8PSIdowntoarangeof1.5-1.8PSI.Thisimprovementwasachievedbydesigninnovationsrelatingtometalweight/strengthratioandincreasedtrackwidthandlength.ThemarshesintheBayouAuxCarpes404(c)Areaareofatypeandcondition(soilswhicharenoteroding)thatisconducivetotheuseofmarshbuggieswithoutanyresultinglongtermimpacts.Mostlongtermimpactsfrommarshbuggiesresultfromthereductionofsoilelevationtothepointthatemergentvegetationcannolongergrowortoleratetheincreasedwaterdepth.Theuseofnewerandlighterweightbuggieswilleliminateanylong-termadverseimpactsandminimizeshort-termimpacts.Entergynotesthatthescientificstudiescitedintheoriginal1985§404(c)FinalDeterminationdidnotfindanylong-termadverseimpactsresultingfromtheoriginalconstructionoftheBarataria-Atliancetransmissionlinein1960’s.Entergy’sproposedmaintenanceactivitieswillbemustlessimpacifulthantheoriginalconstruction.2.INSPECTIONSa.AccessInspectionsofelectricaltransmissionlinesaretypicallyconductedusingaBell206serieshelicopter.Aerialinspectionsoccuratleastthreetimesayear,whilenonscheduledinspectionsoccurasneeded,suchasafteranoutage.Becauseaerialinspectionsonthislinearedoneatlowlevelswithinarestrictedmilitaryairspaceandoveranationalpark,clearancestoconductthesurveyareobtainedfromtheNationalParkServices(NPS),theFederalAviationAdministration,andtheU.S.Navy.Withthistypeofinspection,thereisnocontactwiththegroundandnodredge/fillimpact.Accessforaerialinspectionisalmostdirectlyovertheright-of-way,whilegroundvehicleaccesswouldbewithinthetransmissionlineright-of-way.Groundinspectionsareconductedeitherbyairboatormarshmaster,whichcauseonlytemporaryimpacts.7b.WorkActivityAerialinspectioninvolveslow-levelflyingatagroundspeedthatallowssufficienttimetomakenecessaryobservations.Attimes,circlingastructureisnecessaryinordertodeterminetheextentofdamage,vegetationmanagementneeds,orcomponentsneedingreplacementorrepair.Atnotimedoestheaerialinspectionteamlandforadditionalinspection.DuetothevegetationandterrainwithintheBayouAuxCarpes§404(c)Area,landingsarenotpossible.Groundinspectionoperationsarerestrictedtoairboatsormarshmasters.Bothofthesevehicletypeshaveinsignificantimpactstovegetationandterrain.Vegetationwillbepushedoverbutnodredgeorfillwilloccurwithanaitboatormarshmaster.Themarshmastercan,butisnotlikelyto,causesomesmallpressureridgestooccurifturnedsharply.Formationofridgescanbeavoidedbymakingwiderturns.Thesepotentialminorimpactseasilyareaddressedbymanuallyremovingtheridgesbyshoveltoreturntheterraintoitsoriginalcondition.Therefore,suchimpactsfromanairboatoramarshmasterwouldbetemporary.3.OperationsandMaintenance(O&M)a.AccessO&Mequipmentincludeshelicopters,airboats,marshmastersandmarshbuggies.DependingonthenatureoftheO&Mactivityandterrainconditions,oneormoreofthesetypesvehiclesmayberequired.Groundequipmentaccesswouldberestrictedtotheright-of-way.b.WorkActivityO&Mfromahelicopterispossibleforcertainrepairsandisusedwheneverpossible.AnadvantageofusinghelicoptersisthatpermitsfromtheCOEorLouisianaDepartmentofNaturalResourceOfficeofCoastalManagementarenotrequired,becausenowetlandsimpactswilloccur.Anotheradvantageisthatnocompensatorywetlandmitigationisrequired.O&Mrequiringgroundvehiclesalsovarywiththetypeofrepairrequired.Typesofequipmentfortheserepairsincludeairboats,marshmasters,andmarshbuggies.Therepairsmayrequireonlytheuseofairboatsand/ormarshmasters.Asignificantportionofrepairstostructuresinvolveonlytheabove-groundportionofthestructure.Belowgroundmaintenanceincludesmaintenanceoffoundationstopreventcorrosion,foundationrepairs,andcathodicprotectionmaintenance.Thehypotheticalworstcasemaintenance/repairscenariowouldinvolvethestructuralfailureofallstructureslocatedwithintheBayouAuxCarpes§404(c)Area.Theground$equipmentpotentiallyneededforcorrectiveactionwouldincludeairboats,marshmastersandfourdifferenttypesofmarshbuggies.Theairboatsandmarshmasterswouldbeusedasprimarymoversoflightsuppliesandpersonnelonadailybasiswhilethebuggieswouldbeusedintheinstallationofnewstructuresandremovalofdamagedstructures.Duetonewdesignstandardsforstructures,thebasicdesignwouldchangetoasinglemetaltubularstructurereplacingtheYlatticestructures;whiletubularmetalthree-polestructureswouldreplacethethree-polemetallatticestructures.Thelargeself-supportingstructureattheGIWWwouldbereplacedwithalargetubularmetalHframestructure.Newcaissonfoundationswouldneedtobeinsertedintothegroundwithavibratoryhammer.Fourmarshbuggytypeswouldbeneeded.OnebuggywouldbeequippedwithaMantiscraneforheavylifts(structureerection,foundations,andvibratoryhammer),whilethedeckbuggywouldcarryinthenewstructuresandcarryouttheolddamagedstructures.Thecranebuggywouldbeusedformedium-to-lightlifts(unloading,joiningstructuresections,andloadingdamagedstructures),whilethebucketbuggywouldbeusedforcrewstoworkonthecomponentsofstructures.Helicopterscapableofliftingnewstructuresinandoldstructuresoutwouldbeusedifavailable.Ifnecessary,Structure#31attheGIWWwouldbereplacedusingwaterbotneequipmentsuchasbargesandtugs.Alloftheequipmentusedfortheotherstructureswouldbetransportedusingbargeswiththeappropriateequipmentmountedonbargedecks.RemovalofthefoundationstoStructure#31wouldrequireextensivedredgingandfilling,sincethefoundationsarefourlargeconcreteblocksthatwereplacedwellintotheground.Removingtheseconcretefoundationswouldhavesignificantimpactsresultingfromdredgingandfillingoperations.Theremovalofthesefoundationswouldalsosignificantlyreducethestabilityofgroundforthereplacementstructure.ThereforeEntergywouldleavethefoundationsinplaceandplacethenewcaissonfoundationsinthesameimmediatearea.Caissonfoundationsforeachstructureareinstalledusingavibratoryhammerwhichuseshydraulicpressurethatcausesthesoilstoallowthemovementofthecaissondownwardwithoutdredgingorfillingoccurring.Byusingcaissonsasfoundations,thestructuresareself-supportinganddonotrequireguywiresandanchors.Basedontheseworstcasescenariomaintenanceactivities,wetlandimpactswouldbetemporary.Nodredgingorfillingwouldoccurinthereplacementofthestructuresorfoundations.Dredgingandfillingactivitieswouldoccuronlyunderothermaintenancescenarios,asdescribednext.4.PotentialDredgeandFillActivities9UnlikeexistingpipelineexceptionstoFinalDetermination,Entergy’sroutinemaintenanceactivitieswouldbeconductedalmostexclusivelyabove-ground,exceptformaintenanceoffoundations.Maintenanceoftheprotectivecoatingandcathodicprotectiononexistingfoundationsandanchorswillrequiteminimalandinsignificantamountsoftemporarydredgingandfillingateachstructure.Thismaintenanceisestimatedtorequirethetemporaryremovalof0.09cubicyardsperstructure,resultinginafinaltemporaryimpactof0.0002acresperstructure.Thisfinalimpactfromfoundationmaintenanceisbothtemporaryandinsignificantbecauseitwilllastonlyforamatterofhoursandwillinvolvevirtuallynoecologicalimpact.Itrequiresthetemporaryremovalandreplacementofsoilfromaroundthefoundationofthestructure.First,thetop-mostsoilcontainingthevegetationandrootswouldberemovedandsetaside.Thenthenextlowerlevelofsoilwouldberemovedandsetasideseparately.Thiswouldcontinueuntilenoughsoilwasremovedtoexposetheareatoberepaired.Upononcompletionoftherepairs,thelowerlevelsoilswouldfirstbeputbackinplace.Thenthetopsoil(withthevegetationandrootmass)wouldbeplacedbackintoitsoriginalpositionatitsoriginalelevation.Thisprocesswouldbecompletedwithinafewhours,afterwhichthesitewilllookasitdidpriortothedredging.Andimpactedvegetationwouldcontinuetogrowandsurvive.Maintenanceofthefoundationswillrequireonedayperstructure,includingreestablishingsoilcontours.Routinemaintenanceofthistransmissionlinewouldhaveinsignificantenvironmentalimpact.Themaintenancemethodstobeemployedwillbethemostpracticalandfeasibleforboth:(1)environmentalconsiderations;and(2)reliabilityoftheelectricalline.Additionally,environmentalimpactswiLlbeminorandtemporarybecauseroutinemaintenanceactivitiesonthislinewillentailatotalmaximumdischargeof1.35cubicyardsaffectingatotalof0.003acresforthecoatingandcathodicprotectionmaintenanceofallstructurescombined.SimilartopipelinecompaniessubjecttoFERCregulations,Entergyisrequiredtomaintainright-of-wayvegetationtolimitsdefinedunderFAC-003-2ofFERCregulations.Incontrasttopipelinemaintenanceactivities,Entergycanallowvegetationgrowththatdoesnotexceedcertainlimits.Ingeneral,vegetationmanagementislimitedto:canopygrowthintotheright-of-way;verticalwoodyvegetationgrowthwithintheright-of-waythatexceeds8feet;woodyvegetationgrowthintotheright-of-wayfromoutsidetheright-of-wayexceedingminimumheightrequirements;andvinesgrowingonstructuresorguywires.Entergydoesnotusemowingforvegetationcontrolwithinthe404(c)Area.Herbaceousvegetationisallowedtogrowwithoutcontrolexceptforvinesonstructuresandguywires.Vegetationmanagementmeasuresforcontrollingthecanopyincludehandcutting,aerialsidetrimmingandgroundvehiclesidetrimming.Theaerialsidetrimmerisa10devicethatisexternallyhungfromahelicopter.(SeeAppendixG.)Thetrimmerhasmultiplecircularsawbladesthatmovealongtheedgeofthetight-of-way,cuttingthecanopywithintheright-of-wayfromthelowestbranchestothetopofthetree.Thegroundvehiclesidetrimmerhasatelescopingboomwithasingleradialsawbladeontheendandcancutthecanopyupto80feetinheight.(SeeAppendixG.)UsingagroundvehiclewouldbeEntergy’slastoption.Thefirstoptionwouldbehandcutting(asdescribedbelow),whilethesecondoptionwouldbeanaerialsidetrimmer.Controllingvegetationgrowthwithintheright-of-wayisdonewithherbicidesand/orhandcuffing.Herbicideapplicationisdoneviadirectapplicationtoindividualwoodyplants,eitherusinganArgovehicle,amarshmaster,oranairboat.Noaerialorbroadsprayingisconducted.OnlyEPAapprovedherbicides(approvedforaquaticenvironments)areuseandtheyareappliedonlyatrecommendedrates.Theamountofwaterinthewetlandsdetermineswhichvehiclewouldbeused.Woodyvegetationgrowingintothetight-of-wayfromoutsidetheright-of-waywouldbehandcut(includingclimbingtreestoconductthecutting),withaccessprovidedbyanAgro,marshmaster,orairboat.Vegetationmanagementoutsideoftheright-of-wayislimitedto“risktrees.”Risktreesarethosethataredeterminedtomeetspecificfactors(seeAppendixH)toqualifyasahazardtothestructure,guywires,orwires.Risktreemanagementwouldbeaccomplishedbyhandcutting,withamarshmasterprovidingaccess.Themarshmasterwouldremaininthetight-of-waywhilethecrewswalktotherisktreefromtheright-of-way.Foraltvegetationcontrolmeasures,cutvegetationwouldbeallowedtofalltothegroundanddecompose.Vegetationcontroloccurseverytwoyears,baseduponEntergy’sexperiencewithitsright-of-ways.Entergyconductedvegetationcontrolwithinthe§404(c)areapriortobecomingawarethatitsrights-of-waysfallwithina§404(c)designation.Theseactionsoccurredapproximatelyeverytwotothreeyears.Accessintoandwithintheareawasachievedviaairboat,Argo,ormarshmaster.Vegetationwashandcutasdescribedabove.Entergy’svegetationcontrolgrouphasbeenmadeawareoftheBayouAuxCarpes§404(c)restrictionandwillnotconductvegetationmaintenancewithoutproperclearance.Baseduponrecentaerialobservation,sidetrimminginthe§404(c)areawillbeneededduring2014.Thisworkwouldbecarriedoutbyhandcuttingasdescribedabove.SimilartothepipelinecompanieswithexistingexceptionstotheBayouAuxCarpes§404(c)Areadesignation,Entergyisregulatedbystateandfederalentitiesregardingreliabilityofitsservices.TheseentitiesincludetheLouisianaPublicServiceCommission(LPSC),FERC,andNERC.TheLPSChasenactednewregulationsrequiringitsapprovalofnewlines.EntergyisalsorequiredtomeettheelectricalstandardsfortransmissionlinesasestablishedbytheNationalElectricSafetyCode11(NESC)andtheSERCReliabilityCorporation(thelocalregionaldivisionofNERC).AswithpipelinecompaniesunderFERCjurisdiction,Entergyisrequiredtocorrectdeficiencieswithincertaintimeframes,basedonpriorityofimportanceestablishedbyFERCand/orNERC.IV.THEREARENOFEASIBLEALTERNATIVESTOTHECONTINUEDOPERATIONANDMAINTENANCEOFTHESETRANSMISSIONANDDISTRIBUTIONLINES.A.THETRANSMISSIONLINETheoreticalalternativestothisrequested§404(c)exceptionformaintenanceactivitiesandoperationincludethefollowing:1)AbandonmentoftheBarataria-Allianceline.2)AbandonmentoftheBarataria-AlliancelineandreplacementwithalineoutsideoftheBayouAuxCatpes§404(c)Area.3)AbandonmentofallormostofthatportionoftheBarataria-AlliancelinethatrunsthroughtheBayouAuxCarpes§404(c)Area,andreplacementoftheabandonedportionwithnewtransmissionline.Forthereasonsexplainedbelow,thesealternativesareeconomicallyandpracticablyinfeasible;wouldnotenhanceenvironmentalconditionsintheBayouAuxCarpes§404(c)Area;andwouldcauseadditionalunnecessarywetlandimpactsbothwithinandoutsideoftheBayouAuxCarpes§404(c)Area.1.AbandonmentofthetransmissionlineEvendiscountingthemandatoryrequirementsofregulatoryauthoritiessuchastheLPSC,FERC,andNERC,thealternativeofnotmaintainingtheexistinglineisnotfeasible.Thelineisthesoleelectricitysourcefor:•Approximately5,000homesandbusinesses;•Importantoilandgasinfrastructure(pipelines,collectionfacilities,pumpingstations);and•HomelandSecurityandU.S.CoastGuardfacilitiesinVenice,Louisiana.12TheBarataria-Alliancelineisalsotheprimarysourceofelectricityforarefineryproducingtransportationfuels(gasoline,dieselfuelandjetfuel)andotherproductssuchaspetrochemicalfeedstocks,homeheatingoil,andanode-gradepetroleumcoke.TherefineryservicescustomersinthesoutheasternandeasternUnitedStatesthroughmajorcommon-carrierpipelinesystemsandbybarge.Whileadifferentlineservesasasecondaryelectricitysourcefortherefinery,thatsourcelackstheloadcapacitytobeboththesolesourcefortherefineryandtherestofitsservicearea.AbandonmentoftheBarataria-AlliancelinewouldleaveasignificantportionofPlaqueminesParishwithoutelectricalpower.TheBarataria-AlliancelineisalsothesecondarysourceofelectricityforcriticalDefenseandHomelandSecurityfacilitieslocatedinandaroundtheNavalAirStationinBelleChasse,Louisiana.Until2013,Barataria-AlliancewasthesolesourceofelectricityfortheNavalAirStation.ThestationisnowservicedfromadifferentEntergysubstation,buttheNavyandHomelandSecurityhaverequiredthattheBarataria-Altiancelinecontinuetobeavailableasaback-upcontingency.Existingtransmissionlinesareinadequatetoprovidefortheprojectedelectricalloadforfuturegrowthinthisarea.Additionalmajorfacilities(suchasanoilterminalfacilityenvisionedinCOE§404PermitApplicationMVN-2013-0550-EQ)arealreadybeingplannedandpermittedforthisarea.Transmissionlineremovalcannotoccuruntilreplacementtransmissionisinplaceandenergized.However,thetimingofremovalwouldinfluencemanyadditionalimpacts.Iftheremovalistobedelayedforanytime,additionaldeadendstructureswouldhavetobebuilttoprovidefortheremovaloftheconductorwirefromoverroadsandtheGIWVV.2.ReplacementoftheexistinglineAsmentionedabove,Entergyisplanninganadditionaltransmissionlinetoprovideanadditionalsourceofelectricityforthearea.ThenewlinewillnotreplacetheexistingBaratariatoAllianceline,asbothwillberequiredtomeettheprojectedneedsforthearea.WhileEntergy’smotivationinplanningthisnewlinewasnottoreplacetheBaratariatoAllianceline,thefollowinginformationregardingthenewlineisofferedtodemonstratethechallengesthatwouldbefacedinreplacingtheexistingline.Theenvironmental,regulatory,andeconomicchallengesandanalysesaresimilarfortheconstructionofeitherareplacementlineorasecondline.WealsonotethatmerelyreplacingtheexistinglinewouldnotaddresstheissuesposedbytheNERCreliabilitystandards,norwoulditaddressfuturegrowth.Accordingly,abandonmentoftheexistinglinewouldlikelyrequiretheconstructionoftwonewlinestocreatethegridsystemreliabilitynotprovidedbytheexistingradialline.Thepurposeofthenewlineistoeliminatenon-consequentialloadlossduetoasingle13contingencyeventontheexistingNineMiletoBaratarialine.ThenewlineisalsoneededtoremaincompliantwithNERCreliabilitystandardsandfuturegrowthinthenext25years.PotentialoverloadsandvoltageviolationscausedbyloadlosseventswouldviolateNERC’smandatoryreliabilitystandardsandEntergy’sguidelines.TheapplicablemandatoryNERCstandard(TPL-OO1-4-categoryP1event)doesnotallowforeitherthelossoftransmissionserviceornon-consequentialloadunderthiscategoryofcontingency.DuringasinglecontingencyoutageeventoftheNineMiletoBaratarialine,thetransmissionsystemwouldbeoperatingunderconditionsinwhichalargeareamustbesupportedviaaverylongradialconfiguration.Underthatconfiguration,servicetoexistingelectricalloadswouldhavetobeinterruptedinordertoreducetheloadontheremainingtransmissionsystemandraisethevoltagesintheaffectedareastoanallowablelevel.ConstructionoftheplannedOakvilletoAlliancetransmissionlineandinstallationofanautotransformeratAlliancewillprovideanewalternatetransmissionsourcedirectlyintotheAllianceareasubstationtomitigatepotentialoverloadandvoltageviolations,andmeetmandatoryNERCreliabilitystandards.TheproposedOakvilletoAlliancelineisnotasubstitutefortheBaratariatoAllianceline.BothlineswillbeusedtocontinuetosupporttheAllianceareaaspartoftheEntergytransmissionnetwork.Additionally,intheeventofoutagesinothersectionsofthegrid,theBaratariatoAlliancelineisneededtocontinuetoprovidetransmissiontoothersubstations.3.AbandoningallormostofthoseportionsoftheBarataria-AlliancetransmissionlinecurrentlyintheBayouAuxCarpes§404(c)AreaEntergyhasexaminedthefollowingalternativeroutesfortheBarataria-Alliancetransmissionlinethatwould,forthemostpart,avoidtheBayouAuxCarpes§404(c)Area.EachofthesealternativeswouldinvolveabandoningsectionsoftransmissionlineintheBayouAuxCarpes§404(c)Area.(SeeAppendixI.)•AlternativeIaisaroutethatrunsfromStructureNo.14inasoutheasterndirectionthroughaforestedarea,residentialarea,andpark,andcrossestheGIWWbeforeturningeastwardtotiebackintotheexistingline.Thisroutewouldbeabout2.45milesinlengthandwouldrequiretwonewstructuresforcrossingtheGIWW,13three-polemetalstructures,and12singlepolemetalstructures.Theestimatecostforthisalternativewouldbe$7.4million,notincludingwetlandmitigationcosts.Thisalternativewouldresultin17.8acresofforestedwetlandsbeingpermanentlyconvertedintoherbaceouswetlands.Atotalofabout22acresofwetlandswouldbeimpacted.14•Alternativelbwouldusethefirst2,167feetofAlternativelabeforetakingamotesoutherlyrouteparalleltoHighway3134untilitcrossestheGIWW.Thenthenewlineitwouldturneastwardtotieintothelast1,626feetofAlternative1a,makingthisalternativetotal3.2milesinlengthwithtwostructuresforcrossingtheGIVVW,8three-polemetalstructures,and26singlepolemetalstructures.Theestimatedcostofthisalternativewouldbe$9.6million,notincludingwetlandmitigationcosts.Permanentconversionof17.1acresofforestedwetlandstoherbaceouswetlandswouldoccurwiththisalternative.Atotalofabout23acresofwetlandswouldbeimpacted.•AlternativeicissimilartoAlternativelaexceptthatitdoesnotcrosstheGIWW,butusestheexistingcrossingstructures.ThisalternativewouldrequitefourtallmetalstructurestocrosstheareaofBayouDesFamilies.Itwouldalsorequire15three-polestructuresand10singlepolemetalstructures.Approximately1,527feetofthetotal2.4milesofthisalternativewouldbewithintheBayouAuxCarpesboundary,requiringadditionalstructurestobeinstalledwithinthe404(c)area.Thisalternativeisestimatedtocost$7.2million,notincludingwetlandmitigationcosts.Permanentconversionof19.3acresofforestedwetlandstoherbaceouswetlandswouldoccurwiththisalternative.Atotalofabout20acreswouldbeimpacted.•Alternative2runsdirectlyfromtheBaratariaSubstationsouthwardtocrosstheGIWW,thenturnseastwardtoconnectwithAlternative1b.Thisalternativehasatotalof4.1mileswithtwostructuresforcrossingtheGIWW,8three-polemetalstructures,and34singlepolemetalstructures.Thisalternativeisestimatedtocost$12.3million,notincludingwetlandmitigationcosts.Permanentconversionof35.6acresofforestedwetlandstoherbaceouswetlandswouldoccurwiththisalternative.Atotalofabout42acresofwetlandswouldbeimpacted.ThesealternativeswouldnotmeetthegoalofsupplyingtransmissionfromtheBaratariaSubstation.Pleasenotethatthespecificrouteforanewlinehasnotbeenselectedorapproved.Entergyprefersthatthesolutionavoidwetlandimpactsasmuchaspossible.Entergyalsonotesthatbuildingasinglelineortwolinesonthesameroutefromthestartingpointofthenewlinewouldnotincreasethereliabilityofsupplyingtransmission.Suchasystemwouldstillbearadialfeed(ratherthanagrid)fromasinglesource.4.Regulatory,economic,andright-of-wayissuesrelatingtoalternativesFailuretooperateandmaintaintheexistinglinethroughouttheBayouAuxCarpes§404Area(again,ahypotheticalworst-casealternative)wouldcauseotherimpactsthat15mustbeconsidered.Independentapprovalforanewroutewouldhavetocomefromthefollowingregulatoryagencies:•LPSCapprovalwouldberequiredforanynewtransmissionline.•TheLouisianaDepartmentofNaturalResourcesOfficeofCoastalManagementwouldrequireaCoastalUsePermit.•TheCOEwouldrequire§10&404permits.•JeffersonParishwouldrequirepermitsfornewconstruction.•TheNPSwouldrequiteaSpecialUsePermitforanyactivityonparklands.•TheFederalAviationAdministrationwouldrequitepermitsforstructuresattheGulfIntracoastalWaterway,duetothelocationofthesestructureswithinmilitaryrestrictedairspace.Obtainingnewright-of-wayagreementsfromlandownerswouldbeamajorissue.Entergy’sexperiencewiththeexpropriationofright-of-waysfromlandownersisthatcourtchallengesoccuratahigherfrequencywheretherearenumerouslandowners,andallofthepotentialreplacementrouteshereinvolvenumerouslandowners.Thecourtsystemmustconsidertherightsofthelandowners,theneedandjustificationfortheproject,andtheneedandjustificationfortheroute.Areplacementroutefortheexistinglinewouldcausewetlandsimpactsfaroutweighingthoseinvolvedinoperatingandmaintainingtheexistingline.Theseimpactsinclude:1)Shortandlongtermimpactstowetlandsfromanewroute.2)Shortandlongtermimpactstoresidentialandcommercialareas.3)ShortandlongtermimpactstotheJeanLafitteNationalHistoricalParkandPreserve.4)RemovaloftheexistingstructuresandwireswithintheBayouAuxCarpes§404(c)wouldhavesignificantlymoreimpactsthanroutinemaintenancesince:a)Structureswouldhavetobetakenoutinpiecesduetoequipmentlimitations.Multipletripsbyequipmentwouldberequiredtoremoveeachstructurewithfoundations.Thisrepetitivetrackinginthewetlandswouldhavesignificantimpacts.b)Removalofstructureswouldrequireheavierequipmentthanmaintenanceofstructuresandfoundations,thusincreasing16opportunitiesforimpactstothewetlands.5)Ifthestructuresareleftinplace,thefollowingissuesmustbeaddressed:a)Ifthereisfailureononeormorestructures,isremovalgoingtoberequired?Ifso,then4.a&b.impacts(above)atelikely.b)Theconductor(wire)overthehighwaysandtheGIVVWwouldrequiteremoval.Inordertoaccomplishthis,deadendstructureswouldhavetobeinstalledoneachsideofthehighwaysneatStructures16&17.DeadendstructureswouldalsohavetobeinstalledoneithersideoftheGlW’/V,withoneinthe§404(c)areanearStructure30.Accordingly,twodeadendstructureswouldhavetobeconstructedwithinthe§404(c)area,resultinginadditionalwetlandimpacts.Ifthedeadendswerenotconstructed,therewouldberiskofadomino-likecatastrophicfailureofmultiplestructureswithinthe§404(c)area.Again,thiswouldleadtoadditionalimpactsasidentifiedabovein4.a&b.6)Entergy’sexperiencedemonstratesthatittypicallytakesthreeyearstoobtainthenecessarypermits,clearances,right-of-wayagreements,andapprovalsforanewline.Itwouldtakeanotheryearforconstruction.Entergywouldneedtomaintainandmakerepairstotheexistinglineduringtheinterim.7)Newright-of-wayagreementswithNPSwouldberequiredforeachoftheabovealternatives.NPShasspecialprovisionsthatallowittograntnewright-of-waysforlinearelectricalprojectswithintheirparks.However,theactualgrantingofthenewright-of-wayandpermitcouldbeproblematic.B.THEDISTRIBUTIONLINEThoseportionsofthedistributionlinelocatedwithintheBayouAuxCarpes§404(c)Areahavebeenout-of-serviceforsometime;2however,anevaluationisongoingtodetermineifthelineshouldbeplacedbackintoservicetoprovideelectricalpowertoaviationwarninglightsonStructure31.Entergyhasconsideredthefollowingalternatives.(SeeAppendixJ.)2EntergynotesthatthedistributionlinenolongerprovidesservicetotheoldFosterCreppelhomesteadandnearbystructures,whicharelocatedinanon-wetlandportionoftheBayouAuxCarpes§404(c)Area,asthatportionofthelinehasbeende-energized.17•AlternativeA—Re-energizethecurrentdistributionline,whichwouldrequitereclearingtheright-of-wayandpossiblereplacementofwoodenpolestructures,conductorwireandancillaryhardware.Sinceasignificantportionofthislineiswithintheprotectedareaand/orthepark,thisistheleastdesiredalternative.•AlternativeB—Constructingandmaintaininganewdistributionlineonadifferentroute.Thisroutewouldremainentirelywithinintheexemptednon-wetlandareaasdefinedbythe1985FinalDeterminationfortheBayouAuxCarpes§404(c)document.Underthisalternative,thelinewouldbeinstalledalonganexistingclearedright-of-wayforanunimprovedroad,andwouldrequireordinarytoadvehicles.•AlternativeC-InstallingasolarpanelsystemonStructure31thatwouldsupplytheelectricalpowerfortheaviationwarninglights.Nodistributionlinewouldberequiredunderthisalternative.Implementationofthealternativewouldrequirenormalroadvehicles.Entergy’spreferredalternativeforsupplyingpowertotheaviationwarninglightsisAlternativeC—installingsolarpowerpanels.UndereitherAlternativeBorC,therearethreeoptionsforremovingde-energizedportionsoftheexistingdistributionline.1.Removalofwire,hardwareandwoodenpoleswithmarshbuggies.Poleswouldbecutflushtothegroundandloadedontomarshbuggiesfortransporttoanonwetlandsiteforstaginganddisposalatanapprovedlandfill.2.Removalofwire,hardwareandwoodenpoleswithmarshmasters.Poleswouldbecutflushtothegroundandtowedtoanon-wetlandsiteforstaginganddisposalatanapprovedlandfill.3.Removalofwireandhardwarewithmarshmasters,andallowingwoodenpolestodeteriorateinplace.Entergy’spreferredmethodforaddressingtheremovalofde-energizedportionsofthedistributionlineis#1removalofmaterialsusingmarshbuggies.V.SUMMARYEntergyhasconcludedthatenvironmentalimpactsassociatedwiththefutureroutinemaintenanceofitselectricaltransmissionanddistributionlineswouldnotresultinunacceptableadverseeffectstoBayouAuxCarpes§404(c)Area’sshellfish&fishery12areas(includingspawningandbreedingareas),municipalwatersupplies,wildliferesources,orrecreationareas.TheimpactontheBayouAuxCarpes§404(c)Area’snaturalresources,fishandwildlifehabitat,hydrology,andwetlandswouldbeinsignificant.Therequested§404(c)exceptionwouldnot,byitself,authorizedredgeandfilloperations.AlldredgeandfilloperationswouldstillrequirepermitauthorizationundereitheraCOEProgrammaticGeneralPermit(PGP)oranindividualCOE§404permit.Entergy’soperationandmaintenanceactivitieswouldbesubjecttotheCOE’sP.GPforprojectswithinacoastalzoneboundary.ThespecificandlimitedactivitiesauthorizedbythePGParenotconsideredbytheCorpstoresultinsignificantimpactsanddonotrequireanindividualpermit.TheCorpshasissuedPGPsforallEntergy’smaintenanceprojectsinwetlandareas,suchasarecentproject(MVN-2013-01303-EQ).3DredgeandfillactivitiesnotauthorizedunderaPGPwillrequireanindividual§404permit.Entergyhasevaluatedtheenvironmentalimpactsfromitstransmissionlineoperationandmaintenanceactivitiesandfoundthemtobeinsignificant.Inaddition,Entergyfindsthatmaintainingtheexistingtransmissionanddistributionlinesisthemostpracticalandfeasibleoptionfortheenvironmentwithin(andoutsideof)theBayouAuxCarpes§404(c)Area.Entergybelievesthatfuturedischargesassociatedwiththeroutinemaintenanceofthesetransmissionanddistributionlineswiltbetessthanthoseauthorizedbytheexceptionsdescribedineitherthe1985FinalDeterminationfortheSouthernNaturalGasCompanypipelineorinthe1992exceptionforShellPipeline.ThereforeEntergyrequestsanexceptiontothe1985FinalDeterminationfortheBayouAuxCarpes§404(c)Areafordischargesassociatedwithroutineoperationandmaintenanceofitstransmissionanddistributionlines,withtherequirementthatindividualmaintenanceactivitiesbeauthorized,whenappropriate,bypermitsand/orclearancesfromtheNPS(JeanLafitteNationalHistoricalParkandPreserve),theCOE,andtheEPA.PermitMVN-2013-01303-EQrelatestoaprojectintheJeanLafitteNationalHistoricalParkandPreserve--outsideoftheBayouAuxCarpes404(c)Areaboundaries.19REFERENCESEntergy.EntergyTransmissionLocalPlanningCriteria.https://www.oasis.oaticom/woaLdocs/EES/EESdocs/transmissionlocalplanningcriteria.pdfEntergy.EntergyTransmissionPlanningGuywirelines.https://www.oasis.oatLcom/woa/docsIEES/EESdocs/transmissionplanningguywii.!i.IEPA.BayouauxCarpes§404(c).TransmissionPointPresentation.EPAPublicHearingFebruary11,2009.NewOrleans,LA.http://www.naevrronmentai.gov/nola_pub!icUat&pjojects/usaceLevee/docsorjginaBayouAuxCarpes404clnalDetVoIi3.pdfEPA.BayouauxCarpesSite,LA;AmendmenttoOctober16,1985CleanWaterActSection§404(c)FinalDetermination.57.Fed.Reg.13745April17,1992.http://www.nolaevnironmental.gov/nolapublicdataiprojcts/usace_leveeldocsoriginal/BayouAuxCarpes404cFinalDetVoIi3.pdfEPA.CleanWaterActSection§404(c)Evaluation:BayouAuxCarpes,Louisiana.July1986hffp:J/www.nolaevnironmental.gov/nolapublicdataIpp[ects/usace_vee/docsorjginal/BayouAuxpes4Q4cFinalDetVoIi3.pdfEPA.DescriptionofDataCollection,MethodologyandPhotoAnalysisResultsofPhotointerpretiveStudyofBayouAuxCarpesArea.June19,1985.EnvironmentalMonitoringSystemsLaboratory,LasVegas,Nevada.http://www.nolaevnironmental.gov/nolapublic_data/projects/usaelevee/%çpjiinaUBayouAuxCa[pes404cFjnajDetVoIi3.pdfEPA.FinalDeterminationoftheU.S.EnvironmentalProtectionAgency’sAssistantAdministratorforExternalAffairsConcerningtheBayouAuxCarpesSiteinJeffersonParish,LouisianaPursuanttheSection§404(c)oftheCleanWaterAct.50Fed.Reg.47267(November5,1985).20http://www.nolaevnironmental.qov/nolapublicII3.pdfEPA.AHydrological,Chemical,andBiologicalAssessmentofBayouAuxCarpes,NewOrleans,Louisiana.January1985.EcologicalSupportBranch,Athens,Georgia.http:Hwww.nolaevnironjnental.gov/noia_pubhcIi3.pdfGroat,C.G.LettertoDickWhfttington.July10,1985.http:/Iwww.noIaevnironmentgovinjpublic_Lpfpiects/LçQcpjjinal/BayouAuxCarpes404cFinalDetVoIi3.pdfNERC.TransmissionSystemPlanningPerformanceRequirements.TPL-001-4htp:llwww.nerccom/layouts/PrintStandard.aspx?standardnurnber=TPL001-4&title=TransmissistemRanniigPerformance_Requirements&jurisdiction=UnitedStatesNERC.TransmissionVegetationManagement.FAC-003-2.httpJ/www.nerc.corn/files/FAC-OO3pdfUSACE.MVN-2012-01248-MB.EstuaryMitigationBankJeffersonParish,Louisiana.httpJ/wwwnvnisacarmyrnHLPortais/56/docs/regutoryipubJicnotices/201201428PNaII.pdfUSAGE.MVN-2013-0550-EQ.NOLAOilTerminal.Jjttpiuiwwvv0550pn.pdfUSAGE.MVN-2013-01482-EOO.EntergyLouisiana,L.L.C.Barataria-AllianceFoundationSurvey.USAGE.LTMA593.LouisianaTransmission&LightCompany.ConstructionoftransmissionlineacrosstheGulfGoastlntracoastalWaterway.21APPENDIXAVICINITYMAP

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# DEPARTMENTOF

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TO ATTENTION

OF: 

# Operations

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# JAN

23

2014



# R

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Section SUBJECT:

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# K

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R Entergy Louisiana,

LLC % Fred

0. Dunham Kourco Environmental

Services,

Inc. 3131 Cameron

Street Lafayette,

Louisiana

70506 Dear

Mr. Dunham: The proposal

to access

an existing

right

of way

to temporarily

excavate

and baclcfttt 77 stes

for

an engineering

survey extending

from Barataria

to Alliance, Louisiana,

In Jefferson

and Plaquemines

Parishes,

as shown

on

the attached drawings,

Is authorized under Category

II of the Programmatic

General

Permit, provided

that

all conditions

of the permit

are met.

The permittee

is aware

that

this approval supersedes

the previous PGP

II dated December

18, 2013. Prior

to commencing

work

on your project,

you must obtain approvals

from

state

and local agencies

as required

by Law

and

by terms

of this permit.

These approvals

include, hut

are

not limited

to,

a permit, consistency determination,

or determination

of “no direct or significant

impact

fNDSI)

on coastal

waters’

from

the Louisiana Department

of Natural Resources,

Office

of Coastal Management

and

a water quality certification

from the Louisiana Department

of Environmental

Quality. The following

special conditions

are being

made

a part

of this authorization: 1. The permittee

Is aware

that structures

numbered

17-31,

as illustrated

In figure

3 of

12, extends

through

EPA’s

Bayou

Aux Carpes

Section

404(c)

area, Excavation

and filling activities

are prohibited

at these locations. 2. Our

Real Estate Division

has indicated

that

your project

is located

in

an area

over which

the federal government

holds

real estate interest.

No work

may

be performed

under

this permit

until

a real estate Instrument

is issued

by our Real Estate Division.

If you requite

further information

regarding

real estate matters, call (504) 862-1701.

The

teal estate Instrument

will

be Initiated

by

our Real Estate Division

without

further

action required

on your

part. This approval

to perform

work

Is valid

for

5 years

from

the date

of thIs letter. Permittee

is aware

that

this office

may reevaluate

Its decision

on this permit

at any time

the cIrcumstances

warrant.

# Should

you have

any further questions concerning

this mafter

please

call Brad LaBorde

of this office

at (504) 862-2226

Sincerely, 

# —z

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# Chief, Regulatory

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4 16 29.779430556

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4 Project: ENTERcY

NOW ORLEANS,

INC. 

# Ic

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Survey Date:



# { Project

No: 09117(2013



# __J

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# KoutCo STRUCTURECOOROINATES

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1-46

# Structure

No ttttude

Longitude 47 29.748430556

-90.019922222 48 29.746850000

-90,049922222 49 29.745088889

-90M465527?8 50 29.743219444

-90044697222 51 29,741500000

-90.043005556 52 29.739725000

-90.041225000 53 29.737983333

-00.039497222 54 29.736522222

-90.038036111 55 29.734980556

-90.036483333 56 20.733447222

-90.034947222 57 29.731827778

-90.033313889 52 20730311111

-90.031819444 59 29.728797Z22

-90.030302778 60 29.127188111

-90.028716667 61 29.725558333

-90.027566667 62 29.723538889

90026383333 63 29.721491222

-90.025088889 64 29.719494444

-90.023816667 65 29.717450000

-90.022538889 66 29.715427778

-90.021261111. 67 29.71342

2222 -90.029988889 68 29.711438889

-90.018750000 69 29.709341667

-90.017413889 70 29.797241667

-90.016100000 71 29.705247222

-90.014805556 72 29.703227778

-90.013550000 73 29.701216667

-90.012283333 74 29.699191667

-90.010997222 75 29.697177778

-90,009727778 76 29.695152778

-90.008450000 77 29.693036111

-90007152778 78 29.692961111

-90.004713889 79 29.692886111

-90.002052778 80 29.602975000

-90002063889 81 29.690550000

-89.908427778 82 29.688775000

-89.997200000 83 29.686611111

-89.996111111 84 29.684702778

-89.994811111 85 29.682319444

-89.993338829 86 29.680611111

-89,992258333 87 29.678400000

-29990955556 88 29,1176644444

-89.989583333 89 2.9.674191667

-89.988258333 90 29.671944444

-89.986802778 91 29.673038889

-89.983952712 92 29.674169444

-89.981416667

N of Foundaton

N Gukte wires/anchors 1 1 1 I 1 1 1 1 I 1 1 1 1. 3 1 1 1 1 1 S 1 .1 1. 1 1 1 I 1 1 3 1 3 1 I 1 1 1 1. I 1 4 4 4 104

4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 7.1

4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 21

4 4 21

4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 0 0 0 390 Proect: ENTERGY

NEW ORLEANS,

INC. Baraloria

to ABlonce PoindoIIon

Swvoy__________ 

# 1Il7Oif3

ureNo. TURE OOIU5INAT1S

8

2 —

-

.



# •s 47-92

# Water

Line Mud

Line .4

42 Dulsldc Diameter FYPLQQEFER

DFM NOTTO

SCALE

Coffer

Dam— 

# H-Pile

and Tower Structure Spoil

Area

I.ç COFFER

p,M

PLAN

VIEW NOTTO

SCALE NO DREDGING

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AT STRUCTURES

17-31 .0002

ctcros

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ydrds

ot dredging

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# Ou1ide t):arnuier TYPICAL

COFFER

DAM NOTIC

SCALE

Excavation

Area Requfred for Water Pumping

In Take —- 

# Excavation

Area Coffer

Dam —— 

# Anchor Spoil

Area

TYPicAL

VIEW NOTTO

SCALE NO DREDGING

OR FILLING

AT STRUCTURES

‘17-31 .0002

acres

of Impact

pet

se 09 total

acres

of impact 09 cubIc

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site_______________ 

# 44,5

fatal cubIc

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# KoutCo envt,wimiinhiil

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# FOUNDA3ICN

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# COFFER

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WORK

SPACE 10’

x 15’ 

# T.YP1cL

Wg &NQ.QEMT.ACET

EACH FOUNDATION

Q /NQHQE NOTTO

SCALE

ProJ6ct: ENTERGY

NEW ORLEANS,

INC Daratarla

to AtOance Foundatton

Suivcy________ 

# Date:



# I Prajcct

No.: 0011412013

13979.01 Drawn

B:

MM Fiqiir

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# MARSH MASTER 14—-—-—-

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# TYPJU1FMfNT

NOTTO

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# CEMVN-PGP

SPECIAL CONDITIONS

14 Jan

2014 1. ActivIties authorized

under

this general

permit

shall

not

be used

for piecemeal

work

and

shall

be applied

to single

and complete

projects.

All components

of

a single

and complete

project

shall

be treated together

as constituting

one single

and complete

project.

All planned

phases

of multi-phased projects

shall

be treated together

as constltuUng

one single

and complete

project.

This general

permit shall

not

be used

for

any activity

that

is part

of

an overall

project

for which

en individual

permit

is required. 2,

No activity

is authorized

under

this general

permit

which

may adversely

affect significant

cultural resources

listed

or eligible

for listing

in the National

Register

of Historic

Places

until

the requirements

for Section

106

of the National

Historic Preservation

Act

are

met.

Upon discovery

of the presence

of previously

unknown

historic

and/or prehistoric

cultural resources,

all work

must

cease

and

the permittee must

notify

the State Historic Preservation

OffIce

and

the Corps

of Engineers.

The authorization

is suspended

until

it

is determined

whether

or not

the activity

will have

an adverse

effect

on cultural resources.

The authorization

may

be reactivated

or modified

through

specific conditions

if necessary,

if it

is determined

that

the activity

will have

no adverse

effect

on cultural resources,

The CEMVN-PGP authorization

will

be revoked

if

It

is determined

that cultural resources

would

be adversely

affected,

and an indivlduai

permit

may

be necessary. 3. The ChiUmacha

Tribe

of Louisiana

has stated

that

the project

area

Is part

of the aboriginal Chitimacha

homelands.

if during

the course

of work

at the

site, prehistoric

and/or

historic aborIginal cultural materials

are discovered,

the permittee

will contact

the Chitimacha

Tribe

of Louisiana

at P.O. Box

661, Charenton,

LA 70523,

and CEMVN.

CEMVN

will initiate

the required

Federal,

State,

and Tribal coordination

to determine

the significance

of the cultural materials

and

the need,

if applicable,

for additional

cultural resource Investigations. 4. There

shall

be

no unreasonable

interference

wIth navigation

by

the existence

or use

of the activity authorized

herein.

The permittee

wilt,

at

his

or her expense,

install

and maintain

any safety

lights, signals,

and signs prescribed

by

the United

States

Coast

Guard, through regulations

or otherwise,

on authorized

facilities

or

on equipment

used

in performing

work under

the authorization. 5.

No activity

may substantially

disrupt

the movement

of those species

of aquatic

life Indigenous

to the water

body, including

those species

which normally

migrate

through

the area, unless

the activity’s primary

purpose

is

to block

or Impound

water. 6.

if the proposed

activity involves

the Installation

of aerial transmission

lines, submerged

cable,

or submerged

pipelines

across navigable

waters

of the United

States

the following

is applicable; The National

Ocean

Service

(NOS)

has been notified

of this authorization.

You must

notify NOS

and

this office

in writing,

at least

two weeks

before

you begin

work

and upon completion

of the activity authorized

by this permit.Your

notification

of completion

must include

a drawing

which certifies

the location

and configuration

of the completed

activity

(a certified

permit drawing

may

be used). Notification

to NOS

will

be sent

to the following address:

National

Ocean

Service,

Office

of Coast Survey, NICS261,

1315

East West Highway,

Sliver Springs, Maryland 20910-3282. 7.

For pipelines

under

an anchorage

or

a designated

fairway

In the Gulf

of Mexico

the following

is applicable:

The NOS

has been notified

of this authorization.

You must

notify

NOS

and

this office

in writing,

at least

two weeks

before

you begin

work

and upon completion

of the activity authorized

by this permit.

Within

30 days

of completion

at the pipeline,

‘as built’ drawings

certified

by

a professional engineer registered

in Louisiana

or

by

a registered

surveyor

shall

be furnished

to this office,

the Commander

(dpw),

Eighth

Coast

Guard District,

Hale Boggs Federal

Building,

500 Poydras

Street, Room

1230,

New Orleans,

Louisiana

70130,

and

to the Director,

National

Ocean Service,

Office

of Coast Survey, NICS261,

1315

East West Highway,

Silver Springs,

Maryland 20910-3282.

The plans must include

the location, configuration

and actual

burial

depth

of the completed

pipeline

project.

# 8.

if the proposed

project,

or future maintenance

work, Involves

the

use

of floating construction equipment

(barge mounted

cranes,

barge mounted

pile driving equipment,

floating

dredge equipment, dredge discharge

pipelines,

etc.,)

in thewaterway,

you

are advised

to notify

the Eighth

Coast

Guard District

so that

a Notice

to Mariners,

if required,

may

be prepared. Notification

with

a copy

of your permit approval

and drawings

should

be mailed

to the Commander

(dpw),

Eighth

Coast

Guard

District, Hale Boggs Federal

Building,

500 Poydras

Street,

Room

1230,

New Orleans,

Louisiana

70130,

about 1 month

before

you

plan

to start

work. Telephone

inquiries

can

be directed

to the Eighth

Coast

Guard District, Waterways Management

at (504)

671 -.107. 9.

All activities authorized

herein

shall,

If they involve,

during

their construction

or operation,

any discharge

of pollutants

into waters

if the United

States,

be

at

all times consistent

with applicable

water quality standards,

effluent limitations

and standards

of performance,

prohibitions,

pretreatment standards

and management

practices established

pursuant

to the Clean

Water

Act

(PL 92-500:86

Stat 816),

or pursuant

to applicable

state

and

local

laws. 10. Substantive

changes

to the Louisiana

Coastal Resources

Program

may require immediate suspension

and revocation

of this permit

In accordance

with

33 CFR 325.7. if Irrespective

of whether

a project

meets

the other conditions

of this permit,

the Corps

of Engineers retains dIscretionary

authority

to require

an individual Department

of the Army

permit

when circumstances

of the proposal

warrant

this requirement. 12,

Any Individual authorization

granted

under

this permit

may

be modifIed, suspended,

or revoked

in whole

or

in part

if the Secretary

of the Army

or

his authorized representative

determines

that there

has been

a violation

of any

of the terms

or conditions

of this permit

or that

such

action

would otherwise

be in the public interest. 13,

The Corps

of Engineers

may suspend,

modify,

or revoke

this general

permit

If

It

Is found

In the public interest

to

do

so. 14, Activities

proposed

for authorization

under

the PGP

must comply

with

all other necessary

federal, state,

andfor

local permits,

licenses,

or approvals.

Failure

to

do

so would

result

in

a violation

of the terms and conditions

of CEMVN-PGP. 15.

The permittee

shall permit

the District Commander

or

his authorIzed representative(s)

or designee(s)

to make periodic inspections

of the project

site(s)

and disposal

site(s)

if different

from

the project

site(s)

at any

time deemed necesary

In order

to assure

that

the activity

being performed

under authority

of this permit

Is

In accordance

with

the terms

and conditions

prescribed

herein. 16.

This general

permit

does

not convey

any property

rights,

either

in real estate

or material,

or any exclusive

privileges;

and

it does

not authorize

any injury

to property

or invasion

of rights

or any infringement

of federal,

state,

or local

laws

or regulations

nor does

it obviate

the requirements

to obtain state

or local assent required

by law

for

the activity authorized

herein. 17.

In issuing authorIzations

under

this permit,

the federal government

will

rely upon information

and data supplied

by

the applicant.

If, subsequent

to the issuance

of

an authorization,

such information

and data prove

to

be false, incomplete,

or inaccurate,

the authorization

may

be modified, suspended,

or revoked,

in whole

or

In part. 18.

For activities

resulting

in sewage generation

at the project

site,

such sewage

shall

be processed through

a municipal

sewage treatment

system

or,

in areas

where

tie-In

to

a municipal

system

is not practical,

the on-site sewerage

system

must

be approved

by

the local parish sanitarian

before construction. 19.

Any modifIcation,

suspension,

or revocation

of CEMVN-PGP,

or any individual authorization granted

under

this permit,

will

not

be

the basis

for any claim

for damages

against

the United

States.

# 20. Additional

conditions

deemed necessary

to protect

the public interest

may

be added

to the general permit

by

the District Commander

at any

time.

If additional

conditions

are added,

the public

will

be advised

by publtc

notice. individual authorizations

under CEMVN-PGP

may include

special conditions deemed necessary

to ensure

minimal

impact

and compliance

with CEMVN-PGP. 21. CEMVN-PGP

is subject

to periodic

formal

review

by CEMVN

and 0CM

in coordination

with

the Environmental

Protection

Agency,

US Fish

and Wildlife

Service,

the National

Marine Fisheries

Service, and

the Louisiana Department

of Wildlife

and Fisheries,

Comments

from reviewing

agencies

will

be considered

in determination

as

to whether modifications

to the general

permit

are needed. Should

the District Commander

make

a determination

not

to incorporate

a change proposed

by

a reviewing

agency,

after normal negotiations

bolween

the respective

agencies,

the District Commander will explain

in writing

to the reviewing

agency

the basis

and rationale

for

his decision, 22. CEMVN

retains discretion

to review CEMVNPGP,

its terms, conditions,

and processing procedures,

and decide whether

to modify,

reissue,

or revoke

the permit.

If CEMVN-PGP

is not modified or reissued

within

5 years

of

its effective

date,

it automaticaliy

expires

and becomes

null

and void. 23,

The permittee understands

and agrees

that,

if future operations

by

the United

States

require

the removal, relocation,

or other alteration,

of the structure

or work herein authorized,

or

if,

in the opinion of the Secretary

of the Army

or

his authorized representative,

said structure

or work

shall cause unreasonable

obstruction

to the

free navigation

of the navigable

waters,

the pormHtee

will

be required, upon

due notice

from

the Corps

of Engineers,

to remove,

relocate,

or alter

the structural

work

or obstructions

caused

thereby,

without expense

to the United

States.

No claim

shati

be made against the United

States

on account

of any

such removal

or alteration. 24.

‘ou must maintain

The activity authorized

by this permit

in good condition

and

in conformance with

the terms

and conditions

of this permit.

You

are

not relieved

of this requirement

if you abandon the permitted

activity,

although

you

may make

a good

faith transfer

to

a third

party

as described

in Special Condition

26 below.

Should

you

wish

to cease

to maintain

the authorized

activity

or should you desire

to abandon

it without

a good

faith transfer,

you must

obtain

a modification

of this permit

from this

of ice, which

may require restoration

of the area. 25.



# If you discover

any previously

unknown

historIc

or archeological

remains

while accomplishing

the activity authorized

by this permit,

you must immediately

notify

this office

of what

you have

found.

We will initiate

the Federal

and State coordination

required

to determine

if the remains

warrant

a recovery effort

or lithe

site

is eligible

for listing

In the National

Register

of Historic

Places. 26.

if you

sell

the property associated

with

this permit,

you must provide

this office

with

a copy

of the permit

and

a letter

noting

your agreement

to transfer

the permit

to the

new owner

and

the

new owner’s agreement

to accept

the permit

and abide

by

all conditions

of the permit.

This

letter

must

be signed

by both parties. 27.

it

a conditioned

water

quality certification

has been issued

for your project,

you must comply

with the conditions

specified

in the certification

as special conditions

to this permit. 2. Many

local governing

bodies

have Instituted

laws and/or ordinances

in order

to regulate

dredge andlor

fill activities

in floodplains

to assure maintenance

of floodwater

storage

capacity

and avoid disruption

of drainage

patterns

that

may affect surrounding

properties.

Your project invoives

dredging and/or placement

of

fill; therefore,

you must contact

the local municipal

and/or

parish governing

body regarding

potential

impacts

to floodpiains

and compliance

of your proposed

activities

with

local floodplain ordinances,

regulations

or permits. 29.

in issuing authorizations

under

this permit,

the federal government

does

not assume

any liabiiity

for: damages

to the permitted

project

or uses thereof

as

a result

of other permitted

or unpermitted

activities

or from natural

causes;

damages

to

the permitted

project

or uses thereof

as

a result

of current

or future activities underlaken

by

or

on behalf

of

the United

States

in

the public interest; damages

to persons, property,

or

to other permitted

or unpermitted

activities

or structures

caused

by

the activity authorized

by this permit,

and; design

or construction

deficiencies

associated

with

the permitted

work.APPENDIXFSTRUCTURETYPESEXISTINGLATTICESTRUCTURETYPESN.a.YTYPESTRUCTURE______ii:’.;;—\..TypicalstructuretypeforStructures17-22and24-29.Notethatalloftheexistingstructuresareofalatticeconstructiondesign.Newstructuresareoftubulardesignasshownbelow.b.THREEPOLEMETALSTRUCTURE(SIR23&30).J.Ic.STRUCTURE31d.REPLACEMENTTYPESTRUCTURESI.TubularsingleMetalPoleStructure/ii.TubularH-FrameMetalStructuresTypeofH-FrameStructurethatwouldreplaceSTR31TYPEOFSTRUCTURETOREPLACE23&30IAPPENDIXGEQUIPMENTTYPESHELICOPTERSTheHughes500isusedtoconductcertainrepairsasillustratedinthephotos,whiletheBell206isusedforaerialinspectionofthetransmissionlineandright-of-way.Sinceneitheroftheseaircraftwilllandinthe404(c)area,theirusewillcausenoimpactstothearea.Hughes500Bell206HeavyliftHelicopterS-61NMediumtoHeavyLiftHelicopterKmaxAIRBOATS15’8’Vegetationtypes,typicalwaterlevels,andtheterrainintheBayouAuxCarpes404(c)areaarenotsuitedforairboatuse,exceptwhenhighwaterlevelsallowoperations.Whenvegetationistallanddry,itisdifficultforairboattravel.Potentialairboatimpactsaregenerallylimitedtocausingvegetationtolayover:however,repetitivetripsoverthesamepathcancausetemporaryvegetationloss.Thisiseasilyavoidedbyusingmultiplepathsandbyminimizingthenumberofpassesmade.Certainwetlandvegetationmadeairboattraveldifficult.OnesuchspeciesisthebulltongueplantwhichisfoundwithintheBayouAuxCarpes404(c)area.Entergycontinuestolookfornewtypesofequipmentandstrivestoimproveitsuseofequipmentinordertoreduceoravoidimpactsassociatedwithtransportingcrewstotheworksites.Onesuchimprovementisthedevelopmentofthegasturbineengineairboat.Theprototypeofthisairboathasdemonstratedthatproblemvegetation(suchasthebulltongueplant)doesnotlimitorrestrictitmovement.ThisairboatmaylessenpotentialimpactsfromEntergy’smaintenanceactivities.TurbineEngineAirboatSmallAirboatLength35’15’WidthMARSHMASTERARGOLengthWidthTrackWidthGroundPressureTheMarshMasterandArgoareamphibioustrackvehiclesdesignedtotravelinthemarshandswampareasofthegulfcoast.Theirverylowgroundpressureresultsininsignificantornoimpacttotheterrain.Duringstraight-linetravel,thesevehicleswillnotimpactthe404(c)areaexceptforpushingdownvegetationwithintheright-of-way.Asharpturncancauseasmallridgeofsoiltoform.Ifridgesarecreated,Entergywillre-establishnaturalcontours;however,theformationoftheridgescanbeavoidedbymakingwiderturns.Specifications:MMI12’1”7,4”24”1PsIMM2LX15’lO”8’O”28”1PSIAgto119”72”18”0.67PSIMARSHBUGGYAmarshbuggyisanamphibioustrackvehicledesignedtotravelinthemarshandswampareasofthegulfcoast.Itslowgroundpressurecauseslittleornoimpacttotheterrain.Straight-linetravelwillnotimpactthe404(c)areaexceptforpushingdownvegetationwithintheright-of-way.Asharpturncancauseasmallridgeofsoiltoform.Ifridgesarecreated,Entergywillre-establishnaturalcontours;however,theformationoftheridgescanbeavoidedbymakingwiderturns.TherearedifferenttypesofmarshbuggiesthatEntergycanuseinthe404(c)area.Theydifferbasedonthetypeofequipmentcarriedonthebuggy.ThebuggycanbesetuptocarryaMantisCrane,acrane,utilitydeck,orabucketwithextensionboom.Thesebuggiesexertagroundpressurerangingfrom1.5PSIto1.8PSI.Thetracksonthesebuggiesare5’-6’wideandthetotalwidththevehiclesis19’-20’.MantisCraneMarshBuggyCraneMarshBuggy1DeckMarshBuggyAERIALSIDETRIMMERAnaerialsidetrimmerisaseriesofcircularsawbladesmountedverticallyonametalsquaretubularbeamwithapowerunit.Thetrimmerhasalongtetherconnectedtoaslinghookunderahelicopter(usuallyaHughes500serieshelicopter).Thisarrangementallowstheedgeofthetight-of-waytobecutfromthegroundtothetopofthecanopy.Sincethisequipmentdoesnotcomeincontactwiththeground,therewillbenoimpactsfromtheuseoftheequipment./SIDETRIMMERMarshbuggyequippedwithsidetrimmer.Similartotheothermarshbuggies,thisbuggyexertsagroundpressureof1.5PSIto1.8PSI..Thetelescopingboomcanreachupto80feetinheight.BARGEANDTUGThistypeoftugwilldraftfivefeetwhilethebargewilldrafttwofeet.(Equippedwithamantiscrane.)APPENDIXHRISKTREECRITERIAEntergyTransmissionVegetation-2012:RiskTreeAssessmentGuidelinesforTreeRemovalPROGRAMOBJECTIVE:Improveelectrictransmissionreliabilitybyreducingthenumberofdefectiveoffrightofwaytreesfromfallingnearorintotransmissionlines.TREEASSESSMENTMETHOD:Utilizingaprofessionalforester/arboristtovisuallyevaluateandmarkalltreesalongtherightofwayedgeaswellasofftherightofwayforthepresenceofstructurallydefectiveorweaktreeconditionsthathaveahighlikelihoodofleadingtotreefailure.Individualtreeassessmentshelptodetermineandindicatewhichtreesexhibitahigherdegreeofriskforfailure.Treeinspectionsconsiderenvironmentalandphysicalfactorssuchasstructuraldefect,roothealth,treelean,insect/diseaseinfestation,rootwash,plantvitality/vigor,etc.ASSESSMENTGUIDLINESFORTREEREMOVAL:TreesthatexhibitoneormoreofthefollowingcharacteristicsandhavesufficientheighttofallwithintheMinimumVegetationFlashoverApproachDistance(asdocumentedinEntergy’sTVMP-AM-SV-FAC-OOl)oftheconductorarecandidatesforremoval:1.Alltreesthathavevisiblerottenwoodorahollowinthetrunk.2.Anytreehavinga“CatFace”orstemcankeratorbelowconductorheightoftheline.3.Anytreemeasuringaleanof25degreesormorefromverticalangleleaningtowardtheline.4.Treeshavingagroundswellorshowingsoilseparationwithintherootzoneoppositethelinesideofthetree.Suchtreespossessahighriskforstructuralplantfailure.5.Alltreesadjacenttoorlocatedinfreeflowingdrainsorcreekswhereanyoftherootsystemisexposed.6.Treeslocatedonhillsideswhererootsareexposedandwhereerosionisprobable(criticalinLoessHills,sandysoilsandshallowsoils).7.Treesthathavetheirrootsystemseverelydamagedbydiggingorshearingofthesoil.8.MIpinetreesthatexhibitayellowingofthecrownorreddish-brownfoliage,beetleexcursion/dustmaybepresentaroundthebaseofthetree.Barkslippageor’voidbarkareascouldalsobepresent.9.DeadtreesthathavethepotentialtocauselinecontactoranelectricarcflashbyfallingwithintheapplicableTransmissionMinimumVegetationFlashoverApproachDistanceasdocumentedinEntergy’sTVMP(AM-SV-fAC-001).10.ALlhardwoodtreespecieshavingalivecrownratiolessthan60%unlessitisleaningawayfromtheline,11.Alltreespecieshavingadoub]eforked(co-dominateleader)crownwithincludedbark,andoneforkisfacingtheline(conductorzone).12.Treeswithpronouncedswellingonthetrunkorthebaseofthetree,whichexhibitssignsofinternalwounds/decay,orotherweakness.Thisisoftenfoundonolderhardwoodtrees,Note:Somehardwoodtreespeciesaretypicalofthischaracteristic.AcoupleofexampleswouldincludeBlackgum(Nyssasylvatica)a,idBatdcypress(Taxodlumdistuchum).13.A1ltreespeciesshowingevidenceofphysicaldamagecausedbybeaversandiorotheranimals,14.Alltreespeciesthatarenotindigenoustosaturatedsoilsandarecurrentlylocatedinstandingwater,orshowevidenceofbeinginstandingwaterforlongperiodsoftime(exhibitcrowndieback,buttrotandlorrootdamage/decay.)15.Treesleftstandingalongor’near’theROWedgefromrecentforestryclear’-cutorthinningoperations.Note:Largesingletreesor’smallclustersoflarger’treesleftstandingwithinastandofsmaller’treesincreasetherisktowindthrowduetothelackofstandsupport.CUME:Toaccuratelydeterminetreeheights,alltreeheightmeasurementsshallbetakenusingprovenandapplicableforestry/utilitymeasuringdevices(examplesmayincludebutarenotlimitedtoClinometer,Vertex111withTransponder,TruPulseLaser/Rangefinder,etc...).TreeswithanyofthelistedcriteriathathavetheabilitytofallwithintheapplicableTransmissionMinimumVegetationflashoverApproachDistanceasdocumentedinEntergy’sTVMP(AM-SV-FAC-00l)shouldbemarkedandrecordedasaremovalcandidate.Alltreesmartcedforremovalshallbemarkedat41,2feet(54”)(dbh)fromgroundlinewithflorescenttreemarkingpaint.Thepaintshallbeonthetrunkfacenearesttothelineandasecondpaintspotonthetreebase.

# Timber volumes

and other

free

data which

are required

shall

be recorded

on

a structure

by structure

basis.

Trees

shall

be sealed

and tallied

by property

owner

name

listing

the

tree species,

DBH,

height,

wood volume

and stumpage

values

using current

forestry

volume and scale standards. If requested

by Entergy Transmission, Contractor

shall determine

and record

the GPS location

for each

tree marked. Contractor shall document

data

for dispute resolutions

and/or

insure

proper landowner

payments. Contractor

shall

take,

store, maintain

and

file digital photographs

for each

tree marked and reference

all data

on

a per landowner

and/or

per structure(s)

basis. All timber

volume

records

will

be forwarded

to

the appropriate Right-of-Way

Agent and/or Vegetation

Operations Coordinator

for processing. All

trees marked

for removal

using

this assessment

guide

line should

have sufficient height

to come

within

the applicable Transmission

Minimum

Vegetation

flashover Approach

Distance

of

the nearest

electric conductor (documented

in Entergy’s

TVMP- 

# AM-S

V-F AC-OO1).APPENDIXIALTERNATIVEROUTESFROMTHEBARATARIAALLIANCETRANSMISSIONLINEMAP

# Google Earth Pro IAfternave Routes For Barataria-Ailiance Transmission Line



# mesF

- 

# A

MIII -tAPPENDIXJALTERNATIVE•ROUTESDISTRIBUTIONLINE

# Distribution Line Alternatives



# Existing mute &

ole Locations of

tribution Line

Existing

Unimproved Road

- 

# Panels on

pproximate

oundary of Non

wetland Area as

1985



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