March 11, 2015 MEMORANDUM TO: FROM: Tillamook to Oceanside Transmission Line (TOTL) Siting Process Citizen Advisory Group (CAG) Debra Nudelman and Annie Kilburg, Kearns & West SUBJECT: Tillamook to Oceanside Transmission Line (TOTL) Siting Process Open House March 11, 2015 Public Comments Compilation Thank you for your participation and effort at the Tillamook to Oceanside Transmission Line (TOTL) Siting Process Open House held at the Oregon Department of Forestry, 5005 3rd Street, Tillamook, OR, on Wednesday, March 11, 2015, from 6:00 8:30 PM. This memo includes a compilation of the public comments submitted, notes taken by the staff and a copy of the comment cards and any materials that the public submitted with their comments. David and Doris Mast (landowners): Provided materials on 3/11/15 and 3/13/15. (Note: Please see attached comment card and materials). David Mast (landowner): Provided materials. (Note: Please see attached comment card and materials). Alene Allen (citizen): o Other comments: I believe the new substation should be built. The line should be planned to disrupt no more than possible. I wouldn t want it close to my house, but how bad is that big a powerline really to health and livelihood? Anonymous: o Other comments: All for it Dave Hendrickson (representing self): o What input or feedback would you like to share with the TOTL Citizen Advisory Group (CAG) as they evaluate potential route(s) and provide recommendations to the Tillamook PUD? Why not go along Hwy 131 with existing line and do a major upgrade? There is a current right-of-way. o What additional information might the CAG consider while evaluating potential route(s)? On the field trip, go to Kilchis Point Park. (Gary Albright at Pioneer Museum knows a lot about it). TOTL / TOTL Open House Public Comments Compilation - 3-11-15 Page 1 of 5
Paul Levesque (CAG member): Provided materials. (Note: Please see attached comment card and materials). o Oregon Solutions to construct a contaminated soils cell along Front Street, 3.5 above flood level. Anonymous: o What input or feedback would you like to share with the TOTL Citizen Advisory Group (CAG) as they evaluate potential route(s) and provide recommendations to the Tillamook PUD? 118K near radio Station will disrupt AM station Minimize impact to AM Have RF engineer look at consequences Do diligence Ron Marolf (landowner): Provided materials. (Note: Please see attached comment card and materials). o I would rather have it in my field than my backyard. Gary Mahan (representing Ocean Highlands organization): o What input or feedback would you like to share with the TOTL Citizen Advisory Group (CAG) as they evaluate potential route(s) and provide recommendations to the Tillamook PUD? Has the option of overbuilding the existing route on Tone Road 131 for 115 KVA line to the new substation and connecting the route up to Cape Mears back along that route. o What additional information might the CAG consider while evaluating potential route(s)? Cost! Ease of permitting o Other comments? What RF vs. 115 KVA energy will effect KTIL AM passing close to transmission tower? Anonymous: o What input or feedback would you like to share with the TOTL Citizen Advisory Group (CAG) as they evaluate potential route(s) and provide recommendations to the Tillamook PUD? The route is already decided CAG is a legitimacy comm. Not an advisory group. o What additional information might the CAG consider while evaluating potential route(s)? Need! o Other comments? Wave energy will come if substation is built. Donnie Aufdermauer (landowner): o What input or feedback would you like to share with the TOTL Citizen Advisory Group (CAG) as they evaluate potential route(s) and provide recommendations to the Tillamook PUD? Tone Road route avoid Front Street and protect sloughs Gus Meyer (representing self and County Roads, Soil and Water): o What input or feedback would you like to share with the TOTL Citizen Advisory Group (CAG) as they evaluate potential route(s) and provide recommendations to the Tillamook PUD? What is the range of estimated costs for proposed TOTL routes? Who will finance/pay for the TOTL line? TOTL / TOTL Open House Public Comments Compilation - 3-11-15 Page 2 of 5
Transmission line to be underground through populated areas. Health and safety concerns; including emergency air support. o What additional information might the CAG consider while evaluating potential route(s)? Please take PUD Director Ray Sieler s August 2014 Ruralite letter on nuclear energy generation to heart. Place nuscales small nuclear generator at the current end of TOTL proposed site near Oceanside. Save costs, forest easements while reducing general public emotions on a notable scale. o Other comments? PUD has lost their LUBA appeal utilizing the Front Street route. This remains on their active proposed routes mapping. Eric Peterson (representing self and family, farm): o What input or feedback would you like to share with the TOTL Citizen Advisory Group (CAG) as they evaluate potential route(s) and provide recommendations to the Tillamook PUD? We don t want wave energy off Oceanside, Netarts, Cape Mears, etc. o What additional information might the CAG consider while evaluating potential route(s)? Don t touch our property!!! Period o Other comments? Keep transmission line out of my area completely, that includes my parents Roy and Claire Peterson s property!!! Michael Blair (representing self): o What input or feedback would you like to share with the TOTL Citizen Advisory Group (CAG) as they evaluate potential route(s) and provide recommendations to the Tillamook PUD? Avoid rural residential property. Bayocean Road route affects four homes and five additional building sites in addition. Any of their routes will affect two new homes that are planned for this spring. Eric Peterson purchased the Furguson property and already has a permit to build behind the Furguson home, which will be directly underneath one of the routes. Any of these routes will be within 0-150 feet from all of the existing and future homes. Roy Peterson: o What additional information might the CAG consider while evaluating potential route(s)? Consider going out from BPA substation south to Air Base, then west to Oceanside. David Wells (representing self): o What input or feedback would you like to share with the TOTL Citizen Advisory Group (CAG) as they evaluate potential route(s) and provide recommendations to the Tillamook PUD? I would like to see a seismically (earthquake) stable route chosen. o What additional information might the CAG consider while evaluating potential route(s)? Seismically (earthquake) stable Able to direct power to Tillamook in case of an earthquake from Navy ship. Be able to route power to the grid from offshore wine or wave generating structures (long term concept). TOTL / TOTL Open House Public Comments Compilation - 3-11-15 Page 3 of 5
Don Caspell (property owner): Provided drawing on a map (Note: Please see attached comment card and map). o What input or feedback would you like to share with the TOTL Citizen Advisory Group (CAG) as they evaluate potential route(s) and provide recommendations to the Tillamook PUD? We wish to know the exact location of the power poles; as to where they will cross our property on the west side/bank of the Tillamook River. Please keep us informed. Roy and Claire Peterson (property owners): o What input or feedback would you like to share with the TOTL Citizen Advisory Group (CAG) as they evaluate potential route(s) and provide recommendations to the Tillamook PUD? In regard to the Tomlinson Road routes: The transmission line on poles would change the character of our neighborhood from lovely pastoral residential to industrial. Our house (which we have lived in since 1976) was designed by Warren Weber, an architect, who studied under Frank Lloyd Wright. It is very similar to Wrights Usonian homes. The settling of a Frank Lloyd Wright is just as important, or more so than the structure itself. If PUD chose one of the Tomlinson Road routes it would nullify the location of our home, we would have grounds for a huge payment for distribution of our place. o Other comments? P.S. We hear you don t want to consider some of the routes because Fish and Wildlife say no transmission lines near eagles nest. Now, we have never seen an eagles nest in the tree area north of our house. But, we have seen a fledgling baby eagle sitting beside the road near the trees. IF PUD chooses this route and puts it underground at PUD s expense, OK. Loretta and Eric Peterson (property owners): Provided materials (Note: Please see attached materials). o Handout provided: No transmission lines we need roads fixed! TOTL / TOTL Open House Public Comments Compilation - 3-11-15 Page 4 of 5
The following notes were taken by the staff, based on the public s comments and questions at the Open House on March 11, 2015: Comments at Table Four: Why can t you work on the wire hot? Can t you put out a temporary line to work hot? There aren t that many people in Netarts/Oceanside Can there be a walking path under the transmission line? Eagles nest on Hadley Road Eagles nest off Hwy 101, north of slough Infrastructure, improvement, existing at BPA substation and distribution along Hwy 101 Use Trask substation as take off Choose a route that is less intrusive 100 beck line (logging road) south In last five years, how many new meters in Oceanside? Why is Front Street still on the map after the LUBA decision? What load growth in city? Upgrade existing distribution along Hwy 131 and Bayocean and link near Oceanside - plus add a transformer at BPA substation still need new transmission line and substation Run DC instead of AC, does this reduce number of conductors? Comments at Table Six: Gus Meyer: o Has pacemaker and doctor says to stay away from transmission o Eight year limit on high voltage lines work in MN o Should build a nuclear station in Netarts RadioShack KTIL: o Hire RF engineer to determine if it is going to affect KTIL o Reduces likelihood of lawsuit o He has discussed this with the owner Troy: o Look into a way to shield the EMF? This memo respectfully submitted by Kearns & West. TOTL / TOTL Open House Public Comments Compilation - 3-11-15 Page 5 of 5
Route Evaluation Using the Proposed Criteria David & Doris Mast Modified Blue Route Orange Route MUST HAVE MAXIMIZE Is siteable (Can be Obtained) NO NO Tillamook County Land Use Ordinance Section 6.040 Criterion (4) requires that The proposed use would not alter the character of the surrounding area in a manner which (sic) substantially limits, impairs or prevents the use of surrounding properties for the permitted uses listed in the underlying zone. Criterion (3) requires that The parcel is suitable for the proposed use considering its size, shape, location, topography, existence of improvements and natural features. Tillamook PUD Board of Directors voted to avoid going through property zoned Rural Residential 2 acres. Co-location within existing corridors NO NO Use of existing rights-of- way and pole locations NO NO AVOID OR MINIMIZE Number of landowners and properties affected 4 Landowners 4 Landowners 6 Lots 6 Lots Visual Impact Impact Severe Impact Severe (4) Closer to Mast house than blue route. Turns on Eric Peterson s property. Their More poles on Mast property than house will be sandwiched between a blue route. Extensive tree cutting on transmission line and a distribution line. the Mast property dominating the Mast hillside viewshed. Turns on Eric Peterson s property. Their house will be sandwiched between a transmission line and a distribution line. A major turn is at the end of Mast s property. The Mast driveway, currently flanked by trees, will be flanked by personal use line and a transmission line. The amount of tree cutting is enormous. Conflicts with existing land uses, structures, congestion Impact High Impact High (3) Trees, salmonberry and huckleberry bushes Trees are a wind break. Removal of will be lost. Trees are a wind break, removal trees places the Mast s home in the of trees puts R. Peterson property in the wind severe winds coming off the bay. The modified blue route is 50 closer to the Mast house than the previous blue route. (OVER)
Environmental issues Impact High Impact High (3) Crosses the millpond, the creek and Crosses the millpond and the stream. wetlands. The trees cool the small stream Trees shade the runoff from the hill as draining into the wetlands. Crosses steep it drains into the river. The trees along hillsides leading to erosion and slides the stream will also be cut. Crosses steep Erosion potential at 3 places: 1. On the creek hillsides leading to erosion and slides. on parcel 3 2. below the house on parcel 3 3. the canyon slope on parcel 2. Effects on existing vegetation Impact Severe Impact Severe (4) Hundreds of trees and berry shrubs on Hundreds of trees and berry shrubs on Mast s property will be cut leaving a 100 Mast s property will be cut leaving a 100 ft wide clear cut swath the entire length ft wide clear cut swath the entire length of the property. With the cutting of danger of the property. With the cutting of danger trees, the swath could be 175 ft wide. trees, the swath could be 175 ft wide. Special Structures Trees on Blair s property would be danger trees and could be cut. Impact Severe 2-3 pole structures placed in front yard visible from front door of the Mast s property. Space Requirements Impact Severe Impact Severe (4) The right of way would take 30.5% of The right of way would take 38% of Mast s parcel 2, therefore the Masts can Mast s Parcel 1 and needs a pole at the no longer build a home on Parcel 2 which site of the new home because of the slopes, loses its value. therefore, the Mast s can no longer build a The right of way will take 13% of parcel 3. home on parcel 1 which then loses its value. It will take 18.5% of all of the Mast property. The right of way will take 21% of parcel 3 That does not include the additional acreage and it will take 21% of all of the Mast required to remove danger trees and develop property. That does not include the access roads. The modified blue route is additional acreage required to remove 30% longer through the Mast property than danger trees and develop access roads. the blue route. Angle Poles Impact High Impact High Turns right after Mast s parcel 2 and transitions to ugly 2 3 pole structures. Turns on the Reeder s property and on the Peterson s property. Need for Access Roads Impact Severe Impact Severe (3) Access roads will be needed on the Mast Access roads will be needed on the Mast property for 1.) Construction and 2.) property for 1.) Construction and 2.) 2,) Maintenance. With the Mast s steep Maintenance. Access roads will be slopes an access road will trigger landslides. needed to Eric Peterson s property.