Date: 1982-03-23
Speaker: PETER JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: S

Administrator. Bonneville Power Administration. Portland. Oreg. DEAR MR. JOHNSON: At the end of December. a member of my staff conducted three public meetings in Missoula and St. Regis. Mont.. concerning Bonnevilles proposed twin 500 kv power lines. Thank you for making available several Bonneville personnel for these meetings. While. as you know. I strongly disagree with Bonnevilles interpretation of its authority to construct these lines east of the Flathead Reservation and with Bonnevilles decision not to comply with Montanas Major Facilities Siting Act. nevertheless. I appreciate any efforts Bonneville makes to respond to the needs of residents along the proposed routes. Several questions were raised at these meetings. and 1 would appreciate your review and response. Residents at St. Regis suggested the possibility of routing the line along what is known as the "CC Divide"-an alternative that I understand may place the lines over primarily federal land. I would appreciate your directing that this alternative be thoroughly rereviewed. From comments at the meeting. I am concerned that engineering and cost factors may have led to the premature abandonment of this possible route even though. it may have the least impact on area residents. 1. How much private land could be avoided by using something closer to the CC Divide route instead of the proposed possible southern routing near St. Regis? 2. How many people would have the lines running through their lands or within sight of their residences on these different routes? 3. What are the specific engineering differences of the two routes that might suggest one over the other? 4. What are the expected cost differences of the two routes? 5. What are the environmental impact differences of these two routes? 6. What would be the benefits and costs of routing the lines close to the existing Milwaukee Railroad rightofwayanother possibility raised at this meeting? Concerning the Miller Creek portion of the possible southern. route. I understand that Bonneville believes that four to six landowners would be able to see the power lines from their homes. Please forward to me the details. 7. Specifically. what residents in the Miller Creek area would be able to see the power lines from their homes should this route be chosen? 8. What economic impacts on each of these people and others in the Miller Creek area are foreseen? I am particularly interested in BPAs assessment of land valuation changes. People living in this area do so to a great extent because of its scenic and recreational value in relative proximity to Missoula. 9. How does Bonneville intend to compensate people who are econoplically damaged by land devaluations or in other ways even though the lines do not cross their particular lands? Please explain Bonnevilles mandatory and discretionary authority as well as Bonnevilles past practices in implementing these authorities and any relevant court decisions. 10. What specific economic impacts has Bonneville identified to date on local governments. residents. and others in Missoula and Mineral Counties? Please explain your work to date in identifying these impactsparticularly impacts on residents and landowners affected by the lines. but who do not own the lands through w would pass. As part of this r explain for me the effects have on Mineral Countys I radio communications. 11. What issues and imp identified at this time in the Please explain for me the being considered in this area ly concerned about a sugg been made to me by local Bonneville should more clos sible route approximately m1 Maxville. and Phillipsburg most entirely on public lands 12. What is the projected t point for Bonnevilles publi environmental impact staten Thank you for your assista With best personal regards Sincerely. hich the lines Divide between Quinns Hot Springs and esponse. please Tamarack Hill. The most northern route the lines might Judged feasible crosses the Clark Pork on aw enforcement the east side of Tamarack Hill. goes up the South side of Tamarack Creek to a point acts have been near Buzzard Quich. and then rejoins the Maxville area? original and more southerly route near tie various routes confluence of Flat Rock and Tweivemile . Im particular- Creeks. We call this the Tamarack Creek estion that has route. Until recently. It was not considered residents that because of the Forest Services RARE I1 ely study a pos- designation for lands it wouid have to cross. idway between The Forest Service. however. has recentiy that would be dropped this designation for these lands and the route is presently under active considerimetable at this ation as an alternative. We began studying shing the draft it more closely about 3 months ago. It ent? avoids the intry conditions posed by the nee. CC Divide. The area is either well served by I am roads or is in line for future road devlopMAX BAUCUS. ment by the Forest Service. Thiaseo athaie wilresturie mre IId