Gateway South - PacifiCorp

Gateway South
New transmission project to help meet growing need for electricity
As demand for electricity grows, Rocky Mountain Power plans a new
transmission project to serve customers
Rocky Mountain Power is always working to provide
safe, reliable electrical service to meet the growing
needs of its customers. With energy use on the rise
and electrical demand fast approaching the limits
of the existing transmission system, new facilities
are needed to meet the growing demand. Despite
the recent economic slowdown, typical residential
customers today use 26 percent more electricity than
they did 20 years ago.
In 2007, Rocky Mountain Power’s parent company,
PacifiCorp, committed to expanding its transmission
network to ensure sufficient capacity would be available
to meet the needs of its new and existing customers.
The Gateway South transmission project will increase
capacity and service reliability for customers in the
region. To meet expected demand, the project is
planned to be completed and in service to customers
sometime during 2017-2019.
March 2011

Project description
The Gateway South project is a 500 kilovolt
transmission line, approximately 400 miles in length
(depending on the route that is selected), beginning
at the planned Aeolus substation near Medicine Bow,
Wyoming and terminating at the Clover substation
near Mona, Utah.
The proposed structures, made of dulled galvanized
steel, would vary in type depending on the location.
The height would range from approximately 140 feet
to 190 feet and the average span between structures
would be approximately 1,000 to 1,500 feet (four to five
structures per mile). The line would be constructed
on a 250-foot-wide right of way to accommodate the
construction and operation of the transmission line.
Route selection process
Many location options are being considered for the
transmission line and public involvement will play
a key role in selecting a final preferred route. Public
input will be gathered through open house meetings
and ongoing consultation with landowners, agencies
and local governments. This public feedback will be
accommodated to the greatest extent possible, even if
all impacts cannot be eliminated.
Criteria also considered in reviewing route alternatives
include: electric service reliability, safety, technical
feasibility, eventual cost to customers, land use,
accessibility, geography, access to areas to be served,
other utility locations, visual resources, historical
and cultural sites, agriculture, vegetation, wildlife
management areas, raptor nesting, economic
development, parks and monuments, soil conditions
and other factors.
Environmental review & permitting process
Rocky Mountain Power conducted a feasibility
analysis for the project and identified preliminary
routing alternatives prior to filing a right of way
application with the Bureau of Land Management
Typical structure types

15
FRANKLIN
B E A R
L A K E
L I N C O L N
Kemmerer
Naughton
CACHE
RICH
80
U I N T A H
MORGAN
Jim Bridger
Wamsutter
Rock Springs
S W E E T W A T E R
F L A M I N G
G O R G E
N A T I O N A L
R E C R E A T I O N
A R E A
191
W Y O M I N G
287
Rawlins
Creston
Baggs
Aeolus
Hanna
Ft. Steele
C A R B O N
Medicine
Bow
30
80
ALBANY
SUMMIT
U T A H
DAGGETT
Flaming Gorge
C O L O R A D O
R O U T T
JACKSON
Salt Lake City
W ASATCH
Lake Side
Mona
U T A H
L A K E
Nephi
Provo 40
Clover
D U C H E S N E
Duchesne
C A R B O N
Price
Vernal
40
Bonanza
U I N T A H
M O F F A T Craig
Hamilton
Rangley
Meeker
R I O B L A N C O
G A R F I E L D
Hayden
80
Steamboat Springs
G R A N D
40
E A G L E
Scipio
S A N P E T E
Sigurd
Mt. Pleasant
S E V I E R
70
Huntington
Hunter
E M E R Y
Green River
G R A N D
A R C H E S
N A T I O N A L
PAR K
Moab
To view a more detailed map online, visit the Gateway South project
webpage at rockymountainpower.net/transmission.
191
70
M E S A
Grand
Junction
D E LTA
Planned substations
P I T K I N
Project study area
Alternate routes
Recommended for elimination
by Rocky Mountain Power
Recommended G U N Nfor I S Oelimination
N
by BLM
Power plant
Substation
Map not to scale
and the U.S. Forest Service in December 2008 for
routes affecting federal lands in Wyoming, Colorado
and Utah. Many locations were considered during
the feasibility analysis for the transmission line
to ensure the additional capacity and improved
reliability were sufficient to meet the current and
future needs of customers.
The BLM, as lead agency for compliance with the
National Environmental Policy Act, determined that
an Environmental Impact Statement is required and is
working with the Forest Service as well as other federal,
state and local cooperating agencies on the EIS.
Public participation is encouraged throughout
the development of the EIS. Detailed information
regarding public meetings will be published in local
newspapers, mailed to project-specific mailing lists
and posted on company and BLM websites. Several
alternative routes are currently proposed. The final
route will be determined through the EIS process.
Once the route has been selected, Rocky Mountain
Power will continue to work directly with landowners
to obtain rights of way. The company also will apply
for all necessary permits and approvals from other
federal and state agencies and local jurisdictions.

Project timeline
• Public Scoping (conducted by BLM)
May 2011 – June 2011
• Environmental Impact Statement
December 2008 – 2015
• Informational meetings
2009 – project completion
• Estimated line in service for customers
2017 – 2019
Public information process
Rocky Mountain Power will continue to involve the
public in all aspects in the planning and development
of this project. As project planning continues,
newsletters and other informational materials will
continue to be posted online and distributed to
landowners and interested citizens.
For more information, please contact us. Because there
are a number of projects underway, please specify that
your request is regarding the Gateway South project.
E-mail: ConstructionProjects@pacificorp.com
Message line: 801-220-4221
Web: rockymountainpower.net/transmission and
select “Gateway South”
To have your comments regarding the Gateway South
project considered as part of the official record, please
submit them directly to:
BLM Wyoming State Office
Attn: Gateway South Project
P. O. Box 21150
Cheyenne, WY 82003
E-mail: GatewaySouth_WYMail@blm.gov
Web: http://www.blm.gov/wy/st/en/info/NEPA/
documents/hdd/gateway_south.html
Please send your comments to both Rocky Mountain
Power and the BLM. Comments made directly to
the BLM become part of the official record.
© March 2011 Rocky Mountain Power