HomeMy WebLinkAbout3.0 Staff ReportPROJECT NAME:
MPLICANT:
LOCATION:
PROJECT INFORMATION AND STAFF COMMENTS
4xtr, Ull F
Special Use PermiE Request for
Relocation of 69 KV Electric
Transmission Line.
Public Service Company of Colorado
Between NoName Creek ar.d Grizzly Creek
in the Glenwood CanYon'
RELATIONSIIIP TO TIIE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN:
This projecE lies within District c and E of the county comprehensive Plan
(Rural Areas with Minor, and severe-Moderate Environmental constrainEs) '
DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPOSAL:
Public Service Company of Colorado is required to relocate the 69'000 volt
(69KV) electric transmission line in a portion of Glenwood canyon as a result
of the Glenwood Canyon I-70 project. This llne was originally-constructed
in 1911 and supplies the major electrical needs in Ehe Company's service
territory between the shoshone Hydro Plant, located east of Glenwood springs
in the canyon, and the cameo steam Plant, located east of Grand Junction'
The line structures, approximately 60-70 feet high , will be wood structures that
have been creosote ireated' The structures will be conductored and insulated to meet
the 115 KV standards; however, the line will be operated at 69KV' operation
of the line at 115 KV would require additional work at the substations' and
rebuilding the remainder of the line to 115 KV, and would require an additional
separate applicati-on from Garfield county at the time of proposal'
The appllcant has indicated that they will abide by alt lndustrial performance
standards of Garfield County. The relocation will cause no adverse effects on
water or wildlife. Dust generation will be temporary during construction and
will be substantially fimited by "helicopter constructionrr methods ' Noise
generaEed during construction activlties will be temporary, and afterwards will
not exceed county noise standards. The applicant indicates that the sound
generated by an electrlc transmission line is barely detectable beneath the
conductors. wet and foggy weather provide a more favorable condiEion for the
sound that is generated, and " "t""Lling noise is more perceptible' l'lhen the
ambient sounds (background noise gerr"raled by the canyon traffic, etc') are
considered, the sound generated li tf,. line will be imperceptible' No gLare
witl be generaEed. Some bl:rstin! will be required during consEruction' Blasting
mats will be used to prevent debiis from becoming airborne I the State Highway
Department will be notifled of blasting; and flagpersons wlll be sLationed on
the highway to ensure public safety'
TheprojectwasoriginallyscheduledforrelocationbyOctoberl'198+^+-r.-^ ^r D,,h] in Sanrice Comoanv. has
L982.
;;#;;,-i;r;t Kelth, a represengative of Public Service Companv' has
c,--- ^ u^^ ^L^n^^,r rha hn'l ,1 -rn is due to thei"il."llu;;; inu ,ime frame has changed. rhe hold-up is due ro
1 r -- -L^;l:;Til; ;,,i;"1r, rhe line relocarior, "" being provided bv the Highwav
r -- -- r^ D"L1 i;:;:rHH.::;; no finar sign-off on rhe monies f,"" v.t been made. Public
{ ^- .,i +l^r'n nna month of;:ffi:':"t;rffi i,;"';;;;.;^:; .,,,*ence consrrucrlon wirhin one monrh of
the contract signing.
Construction requirements for the applicant include a staging area fot
::H[::;i;; il;.rials. originatly,' ttre applicant proposed to,use Ehe
-,--^- r ^-^. in thp NoN:me sravel pit. Since
ai" O.p".ml.ratL contractors rr" ttoi yet finlshed using the pit atea,
public Servlce Company is proposing tt use a 2-3 acte site at GrizzLy'Creek'
which has been the location of several river rafting operations in past years '
Storageofflammableorexplosivesolidsorgases(blastingmaterials'
helicopter fuels, eEc.) will be ln accordance with the National Flre Code''
When construction acti-vities are complete, all waste will be disposed of
properly. Alt light materials which may be spread by the wind will be
cleaned up on a daily basis. A11 disturbed areas will be revegetated.
The construction work force will consist of 20-30 people for approximately
6 weeks. Public Service Company will request that bids for the project
i-nclude confirmed reservations for housing during the construction period.
Page 4
MAJOR CONCERNS AND ISSUES:
1. The applicant should address revegetation of the abondoned rlght-of-way.
2. The applicant should submit evldence of their 1egal rlght of entry for
the line crosslngs pri-or to issuance of the Speclal Use P,ermit.
REVIEWING AGENCY COMMENTS :
1. Bureau of Land Management-are reviewing the proposal as a 115 KV line.
(see letters of August 15, 1982 and September 2, 1982, pages__l_!_t_).
2. Division of Wlldlife-no concerns with this project (see letter of August
31, L982, page 9 ).
FINDINGS:
1. That proper postlng, publication and public noti,ce was provided as
required by 1aw for the hearing before the Board of County Commissloners.
2. That all hearlngs before the Board of County Corrnissioners were
extensi-ve and complete, that all pertinent facts, matters, and issues
were submitted and that all interested parties were heard at that hearing.
3. That the proposed special use ponforms to Section 5.03, concerning the
Approval or Dlsapproval of a Petition for a Speclal Use, of the Garfield County
Zonlrtg Resolution.
4. That the proposed land use will be compatible with existing and permitted
land uses in all dlrecti-ons.
On September B, 1982, the Garfield County Plannlng Conrnission recommended
approval ef the Publlc Servlce Company application wj-th the following
conditions:
1. A11 proposals of the applicant shaIl be consldered conditions of approval
unless stated otherrlise by the Board of County Conrnissioners.
2. The applicant shall submit an as-bui1t 1egal description of Ehe transmlssion
line to the Planning Department within 60 days of project completion.
3. The applicant shall submit copies of their State and Federal agency approvals
(BLM, Forest Service, State Highway Department) to the Planning Department
pnior to issuance of the Special Use Perrnit.
5. The permlt issued hereunder shall extend only to the location and operation
of a 69 KV transrnisslon llne (built to 115 KV standards) and the temporary
stagi-ng area.
6. Any disturbance to existing vegetation resulting from dismantling of
the old line shall be revegetated as per the revegetation plan for new proposal.
7. The applicant must receive this Special Use Permlt withln one year of 1ts
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Page 5
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STATE OFCOLOIUDO
DEPARTMENT OF HIGHWAYS
P.O. Box 2107
Grand Junction, Colorado 81502 - 2107
(303) 242-2862
r 70-2(70)
Glenwood Canvon
September 10, 1982
Mr. Larry Velasquez, Chairman
Garfield County Commissioners
P. O. Box 640
Glenwood Springs, CO 81601
Dear Mr. Velasquez:
The DepartmenL of Highways is in support of Public Service
Companyrs request for a Special Use Permit for relocating its
69Kv transmission line in Glenwood Canyon. The relocation of
this line is required to accommodate construction of the Inter-
state highway in the canyon.
As you are aware, the Department of Highways, their con-
sultants, and the Citizens Advisory Committee have spent count-
less hours on the concept and design of this portion of the
Interstate Highway System. Every effort has been dedicated Eo
design and to construct the highway in such a fashion as to
cause the least amount of environmental and visual impacts. I
would like to assure you that this same type of concern was ap-
plied t.o the transmi-ssion line relocation.
I respectfully requeat that you approve the Special Use
Permi-t for Public Service Company. Approval of this request
will allow construction of Interstate 70 within the canyon to
proceed on schedule.
Very truly yours,
E. N. HAASE
CHIEF ENGINEER
R. P. MOSTON
DISTRICT ENGINEER
RPM:1mw
XC: Sturm
Sherman
Trapani
Thompson
file
BY
ah\bitc
'"i:;;;T"'-
2850
7 -162
United States Department of the Interior
BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT
Glenwood springs Resource Area
P.0. Box 1009
Gl enwood
Ti:lfir"I':?TTr'*T1[;:];
i' hh"t. $ lg6fl ,Lfuu "'J
Sffi-Hl$ 6& fLrd*i"i$&
Dennis Stranger
County Planning Director
2014 Blake Ave.
Glenwood Springs, C0. 81601
Springs, Colorado 81602
September 2, l9BZ
RE: Public Service Company request
for Special Use Perm'it for the
69kU/L15kV Shoshone to No Name
Powerl i ne.
Dear Mr. Stranger:
As part of the permitting process for the above referenced powerline,
Public Servjce Company has applied for a right-of-way on public lands
east of No Name. Public Service Company has proposed in their applicationfor right-of-way to build the powerline to 115kV standards, but to energize
the powerline initially to 69kV until the higher voltage is required.
hle are evaluating Pubfic Service Company's proposal as a proposal for a
115kV (115,000 volt) powerline.
Thank you for the opportunity to comment.
Si ncerely,
C&\S\t^t!
Al f ryd l,l. rJri ght
Area Manager
United States Department of the Interior
BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT
Glenwood Springs Resource Area
P.0. Box 1009
Glenwood Springs, Colorado 8L602
August 15, l9BZ
Garfield County Planning Dept.Attn: Terry Bowman
2014 Blake Ave.
Glenwood Springs, C0.
Dear Ms. Bowman:
We have received your request for comments on the Public Service Company
request for a 69kv/115kv transmission line relocation near No Name. t,le
are presently processing Public Service company's app'lication for a
right-of-way. At this time, we have no comments.
IN N,EPLY REFEN, TO
2850
c-35 16 1
7 -162
81601
Si ncerely,
."ir,,t6,, U,I*
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