Notice of Floodplain/Wetlands Involvement for the Boyd-Valley 115-kV Transmission Line Rebuild and Upgrade Project

Samenvatting

Western Area Power Administration (Western), a power marketing agency of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), is the lead Federal agency for a rebuild and upgrade of 2 miles of Western's existing Boyd- Valley 115-kilovolt (kV) transmission line, which is connected to Platte River Power Authority's (PRPA) Boyd and Valley 115-kV substations. This project is located in Loveland, Colorado. PRPA plans to replace Western's existing H-frame wood pole, 115-kV single-circuit transmission line with two new circuits constructed on double-circuit single-pole steel structures. The rebuild and upgrade will use the same right-of-way as the existing transmission line. Based on the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) flood insurance maps, the project area is within the 100-year floodplain (base flood) for the Big Thompson River. Approximately 1 mile of the project right-of-way is located within the designated 100-year floodplain. In accordance with the DOE's floodplain/wetland review requirements (10 CFR 1022), Western will prepare a floodplain/wetlands assessment and will perform the proposed actions in a manner so as to avoid or minimize potential harm to or within the affected flo