Issues Related to the Trails in the Northwest


This section addresses current issues of importance to the Northwest Chapter. Of immediate concern is the proposed transmission line from Boardman to Hemingway. This line will severely impact the Oregon Trail.

 

Boardman to Hemingway Transmission Line, Update Fall 2023

This B2H update provided by Dave Welch

The transmission line route has been approved by the Oregon Energy Facility Siting Council. The approved route has no direct (physical) impact on the trail. There are nine locations identified by Idaho Power that will have significant visual impacts, i.e., the towers will be somewhat-to-highly visible. OCTA has identified five other locations where we are concerned about visual impacts. As a result of these adverse impacts, Idaho Power is required to provide mitigation.

Discussion of possible mitigation activities is currently underway. Dave Welch and Dave Price are involved in those discussions. Idaho Power has offered to replace and upgrade signage and interpretation in selected areas. That was “an opening gambit,” but not the end of the story. This package would provide improvements at Alkali Springs and nearby areas, Birch Creek, Farewell Bend, and Flagstaff Hill. We are expecting a much wider range of projects to be identified at our next meeting.

Because much of the impacted areas is on private land and are not accessible without landowner permission, it is expected that mitigation will emphasize projects not associated with a particular location. A few of the suggestions we have made include financial support for OCTA and the Northwest and Idaho chapters, the 2024 convention in Pendleton, the Baker City Interpretive Center, and special research projects.

 

Boardman to Hemingway Transmission Line, Update Summer 2023

Dave Welch, Northwest Chapter interim Preservation Officer and Dave Price, Idaho Chapter Preservation Officer are continuing their review of the B2H project documents. They submitted comments a month or so ago and are still awaiting responses. Their comments included suggestions for mitigation, but no response on those items at this time. Although the Bureau of Land Management’s target date to start construction is the fall of 2023 there are many pieces that must fall into place for this to happen.

 

Boardman to Hemingway Transmission Line, Update Winter 2023

This B2H update provided by Dave Welch.

Dave Price (Western Idaho preservation officer)and Dave Welch (Northwest interim preservation officer) are working on the next phase of the review of the Boardman to Hemingway Transmission Line (TL) Project with the Bureau of Land Management and Idaho Power. Previously, the Oregon Energy Facility Siting Council issued the project permit with a designated route. Price and Welch initiated a review of the final routing to determine if there were any new impacts or impacts missed in previous assessments. The revised routing has no direct impact on the trail, but there are some issues concerning a couple of locations that are still being analyzed. The setting is impacted in
several locations. This will be the subject of upcoming mitigation discussions.

While we should not expect any major revisions to the TL routing at this point, minor revisions to reflect local topography and geology can be expected. Possible impacts to the trail are examined each time a change is made.

We are currently reviewing the Historic Properties Manage Plan (HPMP). This document lays out how historic properties (including the trail) are treated during construction and future maintenance activities. This is an umbrella document; specific locations will be addressed later.

There is some encouraging news concerning the Interpretive Center in Baker City. While the TL route will still pass below the Interpretive Center along the route of the current TL, its visual impact will be reduced from that indicated by the original plans. The tower design of the new line will mimic the existing line and will be lower than that originally proposed. The existing TL may be incorporated into the new towers. The major impact will be to the setting from the Panorama Point viewpoint near the western edge of the property. No Class 1 or 2 trail will be impacted in the area.

 

Boardman to Hemingway Transmission Line, Update Summer 2022

B2H: A 300 mile Idaho Power Co. 500 kV transmission line crossing the Oregon National Historic Trail seven times.

The matter went before an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) where parties presented their cases including the cross examination of witnesses.

OCTA member Gail Carbiener submitted a written brief to the ALJ with both rebuttal and comments emphasizing the accuracy of the testimonies at the hearing. According to Gail “The ALJ is scheduled to Issue her Proposed Contested Case Order around the end of May. This order will determine our next steps in this long process. I have requested that Idaho Power either bury the power line, for 1.7 miles at a cost of approximately $100 million or provide $3.5 million to the Interpretive Center at Baker City. Both options will offset impact to the Center. Of course the ALJ may just deny our request!”

by John Winner