http://www.argusobserver.com/news/boardman-to-hemingway-routes-released/article_e0346bc0-b511-11e2-9897-0019bb2963f4.html
Vale — The Bureau of Land Management has identified the preliminary preferred alternatives for the proposed Boardman to Hemingway Transmission Line. The preferred routes, along with the map released Friday, are the ones that BLM will contemplate in the development of the draft Environmental Impact Statement that will be released later this year.
The BLM, acting as lead Federal agency, is continuing to prepare a draft Environmental Impact Statement for the B2H Project under the National Environmental Policy Act. The draft Environmental Impact Statement will identify and document the potential effects of the project as well as a range of reasonable alternatives that may help avoid, minimize or mitigate for these impacts. . .
Malheur County residents have banded together to oppose any part of the route that goes over private land, particularly farm ground. And, while project maps show most of the proposed route through the county sticking to public land, the Tub Mountain alternative, identified as “preliminary environmentally preferred” would cross farm ground between Vale and Willowcreek. This alternative would take the line on a route to the east of Brogan, instead of a routing to the west and north of the community, keeping to public land. A major issue in the choosing of a route for the transmission line over public land is sage grouse habitat and avoidance of grouse breeding grounds. . .
The B2H preferred routes and related map are available online at: www.boardmantohemingway.com
