Gateway West Transmission Line Draft EIS

Appendix B
Transmission Line and Substation Components Common to All
Action Alternatives

This appendix contains detailed information provided by the Proponents regarding the
components of the transmission system evaluated in the EIS, including the transmission
structures, the communications system, and the substations. These component descriptions
apply to the Proposed Route and Route Alternatives; throughout this appendix, a reference
to a segment includes the Route Alternatives for that segment.

Gateway West Transmission Line Draft EIS
Appendix B Transmission Line and Substation
Components Common to All Action Alternatives
B-iii
Table of Contents
1. SYSTEM COMPONENTS ................................................................................... B-1
1.1 Transmission Structures .............................................................................. B-1
1.1.1 Types of Transmission Line Support Structures .............................. B-1
1.1.2 Structure and Conductor Clearances ............................................. B-10
1.1.3 Structure Foundations .................................................................... B-10
1.2 Conductors ................................................................................................. B-11
1.3 Other Hardware .......................................................................................... B-12
1.3.1 Insulators ....................................................................................... B-12
1.3.2 Grounding Systems ........................................................................ B-12
1.3.3 Minor Additional Hardware ............................................................. B-14
1.4 Communication Systems............................................................................ B-14
1.4.1 Optical Ground Wire ....................................................................... B-14
1.4.2 Regeneration Stations .................................................................... B-15
1.5 Access Roads ............................................................................................ B-16
1.5 Substations ................................................................................................ B-24
1.5.1 Substation Components ................................................................. B-24
1.5.2 Distribution Supply Lines ................................................................ B-26
2 SYSTEM CONSTRUCTION .............................................................................. B-27
2.1 Land Requirements and Disturbance ......................................................... B-27
2.1.1 Right-of-Way Width ........................................................................ B-27
2.1.2 Right-of-Way Acquisition ................................................................ B-27
2.1.3 Land Disturbance ........................................................................... B-31
2.2 Transmission Line Construction ................................................................. B-31
2.2.1 Transmission Line System Roads .................................................. B-35
2.2.2 Soil Borings .................................................................................... B-36
2.2.3 Staging Areas................................................................................. B-36
2.2.4 Site Preparation ............................................................................. B-37
2.2.5 Install Structure Foundations ......................................................... B-38
2.2.6 Erect Support Structures ................................................................ B-39
2.2.7 String Conductors, Shield Wire, and Fiber Optic Ground Wire ...... B-39
2.2.8 Cleanup and Site Reclamation ....................................................... B-41
2.3 Communication System ............................................................................. B-42
2.3.1 Regeneration Stations .................................................................... B-42
2.3.2 Access Road .................................................................................. B-42
2.4 Substation Construction ............................................................................. B-42
2.4.1 Substation Roads ........................................................................... B-42
2.4.2 Soil Boring ...................................................................................... B-43
2.4.3 Clearing and Grading ..................................................................... B-43
2.4.4 Storage and Staging Yards ............................................................ B-43
2.4.5 Grounding ...................................................................................... B-43
2.4.6 Fencing .......................................................................................... B-43
2.4.7 Foundation Installation ................................................................... B-44
2.4.8 Oil Containment ............................................................................. B-44
Gateway West Transmission Line Draft EIS
Appendix B Transmission Line and Substation
Components Common to All Action Alternatives
B-iv
2.4.9 Structure and Equipment Installation ............................................. B-44
2.4.10 Control Building Construction ......................................................... B-45
2.4.11 Conductor Installation .................................................................... B-45
2.4.12 Conduit and Control Cable Installation ........................................... B-45
2.4.13 Construction Cleanup and Landscaping ........................................ B-45
2.5 Special Construction Techniques ............................................................... B-45
2.5.1 Blasting .......................................................................................... B-45
2.5.2 Helicopter Use................................................................................ B-47
2.5.3 Water Use ...................................................................................... B-48
2.6 Construction Elements ............................................................................... B-50
2.6.1 Construction Workforce .................................................................. B-50
2.6.2 Construction Equipment and Traffic ............................................... B-51
2.6.3 Removal of Facilities and Waste Disposal ..................................... B-59
2.6.4 Construction Schedule ................................................................... B-61
3 SYSTEM OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE ............................................... B-65
3.1 Routine System Operation and Maintenance ............................................. B-65
3.1.1 Routine System Inspection, Maintenance, and Repair ................... B-66
3.1.2 Transmission Line Maintenance..................................................... B-66
3.1.3 Hardware Maintenance and Repairs .............................................. B-66
3.1.4 Access Road and Work Area Repair .............................................. B-67
3.1.5 Vegetation Management ................................................................ B-67
3.1.6 Substation and Regeneration Station Maintenance ....................... B-71
3.2 Emergency Response ................................................................................ B-73
4 DECOMMISSIONING ....................................................................................... B-75

Gateway West Transmission Line Draft EIS
Appendix B Transmission Line and Substation
Components Common to All Action Alternatives
B-v
List of Tables
Table B-1. Proposed Structure Configuration ................................................................... B-9
Table B-2. Foundation Excavation Dimensions .............................................................. B-11
Table B-3. Proposed Regeneration Station Locations .................................................... B-15
Table B-4. Typical Access Road Requirements for Transmission Line System .............. B-17
Table B-5. Summary of Land Required for Construction and Operations ....................... B-28
Table B-6. Summary of Land Disturbance Resulting from Construction and
Operations .................................................................................................... B-32
Table B-7. Miles of New and Improved Access Roads
1/
................................................. B-36
Table B-8. Construction Staging Areas and Helicopter Fly Yards .................................. B-37
Table B-9. Summary of Shallow Bedrock ....................................................................... B-46
Table B-10. Estimated Water Usage by Component, Segment, and Activity .................... B-49
Table B-11. Transmission Line Construction Equipment Requirements Segments
14 ............................................................................................................... B-52
Table B-12. Transmission Line Construction Equipment Requirements Segments
5-10 .............................................................................................................. B-53
Table B-13. Substation Equipment Requirements Segments 14 ................................. B-54
Table B-14. Substation Equipment Requirements Segments 510 ............................... B-55
Table B-15. Average and Peak Construction Traffic ........................................................ B-56
Table B-16. Solid Waste Generation from Construction Activities .................................... B-60
Table B-17. Construction Schedule.................................................................................. B-62

Gateway West Transmission Line Draft EIS
Appendix B Transmission Line and Substation
Components Common to All Action Alternatives
B-vi
List of Figures
Figure B-1. Proposed Tangent Single-Circuit 230-kV H-Frame Structure .......................... B-2
Figure B-2. Proposed Tangent Single-Circuit 500-kV Lattice Steel Structure .................... B-3
Figure B-3. Proposed Tangent Double-Circuit 500-kV Lattice Steel Structure ................... B-4
Figure B-4. Proposed and Alternative Single-Circuit ROW Configurations ........................ B-5
Figure B-5. Two-Circuit 500-kV ROW Configurations ........................................................ B-6
Figure B-6. Alternative Single-Circuit 500-kV Guyed Delta and V ROW
Configuration .................................................................................................. B-7
Figure B-7. 500-kV Structure Types Considered but not Carried Forward ......................... B-8
Figure B-8. Typical Regeneration Station Site ................................................................. B-16
Figure B-9. Typical Road Sections for Different Terrains ................................................. B-19
Figure B-10. Access Road Dry Crossings ......................................................................... B-20
Figure B-11. Access Road Wet Crossings ........................................................................ B-21
Figure B-12. Typical 500-kV Substation ............................................................................ B-25
Figure B-13. Transmission Line Construction Sequence ................................................... B-35
Figure B-14. Conductor Installation ................................................................................... B-40
Figure B-15. Total Projected Labor Force by EPC Analysis Area and Week ..................... B-51
Figure B-16. Live-line Maintenance Space Requirements, 230 kV .................................... B-68
Figure B-17. Live-line Maintenance Space Requirements, Single-Circuit 500 kV .............. B-69
Figure B-18. Live-line Maintenance Space Requirements, Double-Circuit 500 kV ............. B-70
Figure B-19. Right-of-Way Vegetation Management ......................................................... B-72
Figure B-20. Right-of-Way Vegetation Management in Steep Terrain ............................... B-73

Gateway West Transmission Line Draft EIS
Appendix B Transmission Line and Substation
Components Common to All Action Alternatives
B-1
This appendix contains detailed information provided by the Proponents regarding the
components of the transmission system evaluated in the EIS, including the transmission
structures, the communications system, and the substations. These component
descriptions (Section 1.0) apply to the Proposed Route and Route Alternatives, and
throughout this appendix, a reference to a segment includes the Route Alternatives for
that segment. It provides details regarding construction of the system (Section 2.0),
goes on to provide information regarding the operations and maintenance of the system
(Section 3.0), and finally details the proposed abandonment and restoration techniques
(Section 4.0).
1. SYSTEM COMPONENTS
This section describes the various components of the transmission system for the
Gateway West Project, including the structures themselves, the conductors used, other
hardware needed, the communication system, the access roads, and finally the
substations. Both the proposed and alternative structures are described here, and
details are provided to support the discussion of transmission structure alternatives
found in Section 2.7 of Chapter 2 of the EIS.
1.1 Transmission Structures
1.1.1 Types of Transmission Line Support Structures
The proposed transmission line circuits would typically be supported by three types of
structures: steel H-frame 230-kV structures and self-supporting single- and double-
circuit 500-kV lattice steel towers
1
. Figures B-1 through B-3 illustrate the typical tangent
structure configurations, which would be the predominant types used for the Project.
Tangent structures are designed to support the conductors where the line angle at the
structure location is typically one degree or less, meaning the transmission line is
essentially a straight line. Figures B-4 and B-5 illustrate the proposed and alternative
ROW design configurations. Figure B-6 shows details for the guyed structure
variations.
In addition to the more typical tangent structure configurations, specialized structures
are designed where the line must turn an angle. Each structure type is individually
designed, depending on the line angle and the underlying soil and rock conditions, to
withstand the pull of the wires in different directions. Angle structures are heavier and
have deeper foundations. Figure B-7 illustrates structure types considered during
preliminary Project design but not carried forward as proposed by the Proponents.
Table 2.6-2 and Section 2.6.2, Chapter 2, provide a comparison with proposed
structures and a rationale for the selection of the proposed structures.
230-kV Steel H-Frame Structures
The two proposed 230-kV single-circuit lines between the Windstar and Aeolus
Substations (Segments 1E and 1W[a]) would use steel H-frame structures. The

1
A 5.5-mile interconnecting 345-kV transmission line (Segment 3A) would be constructed between the proposed
Anticline Substation yard and the existing J im Bridger Substation 345-kV yard to electrically connect the two
substations. The 230-kV circuit from Creston (Segment 3B) would leave the 230/500-kV line and continue for about
4.3 miles to a termination at the J im Bridger Substation in the 230-kV yard.
Gateway West Transmission Line Draft EIS
Appendix B Transmission Line and Substation
Components Common to All Action Alternatives
B-2


Figure B-1. Proposed Tangent Single-Circuit 230-kV H-Frame Structure
Gateway West Transmission Line Draft EIS
Appendix B Transmission Line and Substation
Components Common to All Action Alternatives
B-3

Figure B-2. Proposed Tangent Single-Circuit 500-kV Lattice Steel Structure
Detail of Conductor Bundle
Gateway West Transmission Line Draft EIS
Appendix B Transmission Line and Substation
Components Common to All Action Alternatives
B-4

Figure B-3. Proposed Tangent Double-Circuit 500-kV Lattice Steel Structure
Gateway West Transmission Line Draft EIS
Appendix B Transmission Line and Substation
Components Common to All Action Alternatives
B-5







Figure B-4. Proposed and Alternative Single-Circuit ROW Configurations
500-kV Proposed
Design
500-kV Alternative
Design
230-kV Proposed
Design
Gateway West Transmission Line Draft EIS
Appendix B Transmission Line and Substation
Components Common to All Action Alternatives
B-6







Figure B-5. Two-Circuit 500-kV ROW Configurations
Design Variation
Proposed Design
Structure Variation


Gateway West Transmission Line Draft EIS
Appendix B Transmission Line and Substation
Components Common to All Action Alternatives
B-7




Guyed Delta

Guyed V




Figure B-6. Alternative Single-Circuit 500-kV Guyed Delta and V ROW
Configuration
Gateway West Transmission Line Draft EIS
Appendix B Transmission Line and Substation
Components Common to All Action Alternatives
B-8




STRUCTURE


Figure B-7. 500-kV Structure Types Considered but not Carried Forward
Gateway West Transmission Line Draft EIS
Appendix B Transmission Line and Substation
Components Common to All Action Alternatives
B-9
structures that would be replaced when reconstructing the existing 230-kV line between
the Dave J ohnston and Aeolus Substations (Segment 1W[c]) would also use steel H-
frame structures.
The 230-kV steel H-frames would use self-weathering steel. Weathering steel is
manufactured from a group of steel alloys that were developed to eliminate the need for
painting or other protective finish. This type of steel alloy forms a stable rust-like
appearance if exposed to the weather for several years. The average distance between
H-frame structures would be approximately 700 feet. Typically, the 230-kV single-circuit
H-frame structures would have pole lengths ranging between 70 and 100 feet.
Embedment depths are typically 10 percent of the pole length plus 2 feet, which in the
case of this Project is expected to range between 9 and 12 feet. The structure heights
above ground vary from 60 to 90 feet.
500-kV Galvanized Lattice Steel Structures
Lattice steel towers would be fabricated with galvanized steel members treated to
produce a dulled galvanized finish. The average distance between 500-kV towers
would be 1,200 to 1,300 feet. Structure heights would vary depending on terrain and
the requirement to maintain minimum conductor clearances from ground. The 500-kV
single-circuit towers would vary in height from 145 to 180 feet and the double-circuit
towers would vary in height from 160 to 190 feet. Table B-1 describes the approximate
number and type of structures by segments, typical height, typical distances between
structures, and temporary and permanent disturbance areas by structure.
Table B-1. Proposed Structure Configuration
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1E 100.6 230-kV H-
Frame Structure
6090 732 700 ROW Width 125
feet x 150 feet =
0.43 acre
ROW Width 50
feet x 50 feet =
0.06 acre
1W(a) 76.5 230-kV H-
Frame Structure
6090 588 700 ROW Width 125
feet x 150 feet =
0.43 acre
ROW Width 50
feet x 50 feet =
0.06 acre
1W(c) 70.6 230-kV H-
Frame Structure
6090 531 existing span
lengths
assumed to
be 700
ROW Width 125
feet x 150 feet =
0.43 acre
ROW Width 50
feet x 50 feet =
0.06 acre
2 96.7 500-kV Double-
Circuit Lattice
Tower
160
190
414 1,2001,300 ROW Width 300
feet x 250 feet =
1.72 acres
ROW Width 50
feet x 50 feet =
0.06 acre
3 56.5
2/
500-kV Double-
Circuit Lattice
Tower
160
190
253 1,2001,300 ROW Width 300
feet x 250 feet =
1.72 acres
ROW Width 50
feet x 50 feet =
0.06 acre
4 203.0 500-kV Double-
Circuit Lattice
Tower
160
190
893 1,2001,300 ROW Width 300
feet x 250 feet =
1.72 acres
ROW Width 50
feet x 50 feet =
0.06 acre
Gateway West Transmission Line Draft EIS
Appendix B Transmission Line and Substation
Components Common to All Action Alternatives
B-10
Table B-1. Proposed Structure Configuration (continued)
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5 54.6 500-kV Single-
Circuit Lattice
Tower
145
180
245 1,2001,300 ROW Width 250
feet x 250 feet =
1.72 acres
ROW Width 50
feet x 50 feet =
0.06 acre
6 0.5 500-kV Single-
Circuit Lattice
Tower
145
180
10 varies ROW Width 250
feet x 250 feet =
1.43 acres
ROW Width 50
feet x 50 feet =
0.06 acre
7 118.1 500-kV Single-
Circuit Lattice
Tower
145
180
534 1,2001,300 ROW Width 250
feet x 250 feet =
1.43 acres
ROW Width 50
feet x 50 feet =
0.06 acre
8 131.0 500-kV Single-
Circuit Lattice
Tower
145
180
577 1,2001,300 ROW Width 250
feet x 250 feet =
1.43 acres
ROW Width 50
feet x 50 feet =
0.06 acre
9 161.7 500-kV Single-
Circuit Lattice
Tower
145
180
707 1,2001,300 ROW Width 250
feet x 250 feet =
1.43 acres
ROW Width 50
feet x 50 feet =
0.06 acre
10 33.6 500-kV Single-
Circuit Lattice
Tower
145
180
155 1,2001,300 ROW Width 250
feet x 250 feet =
1.43 acres
ROW Width 50
feet x 50 feet =
0.06 acre
1/ Reasonable estimate from preliminary engineering. In infrequent locations where spans between structures would
exceed 1,800 feet, the right-of-way may need to be increased to provide clearance from conductors blown toward
the right-of-way edge.
2/ Includes 230-kV and 345-kV interconnections with existing J im Bridger Substation, which will be constructed using
tubular steel single-circuit structures. Note that for estimating purposes, the larger disturbance footprint of the 500-
kV double-circuit tower type was used. Actual disturbance will be less.

1.1.2 Structure and Conductor Clearances
Conductor phase-to-phase and phase-to-ground clearance parameters are determined
in accordance with the NESC, ANSI C2, produced by the ANSI. This code provides for
minimum distances between the conductors and ground, crossing points of other lines
and the transmission support structure, and other conductors, and minimum working
clearances for personnel during energized operation and maintenance activities (IEEE
2007). Typically, the clearance of conductors above ground is 35 feet for 500 kV and
28 feet for 230 kV. During detailed design, clearances may be increased to account for
localized conditions.
1.1.3 Structure Foundations
The 500-kV single- and double-circuit lattice steel structures each require four
foundations with one on each of the four corners of the lattice towers. The foundation
diameter and depth would be determined during final design and are dependent on the
type of soil or rock present at each specific site. Typically, the foundations for the
single-circuit tangent lattice towers would be composed of steel-reinforced concrete
drilled piers with a typical diameter of 4 feet and a depth of approximately 15 feet. For
the double-circuit tangent lattice towers, typical foundation dimensions would be 6 feet
Gateway West Transmission Line Draft EIS
Appendix B Transmission Line and Substation
Components Common to All Action Alternatives
B-11
in diameter and 20 feet in depth. Typical foundation diameters and depths for the
single- and double-circuit structure families are shown in Table B-2.
Table B-2. Foundation Excavation Dimensions
Structure
No. of
Holes
Depth
(feet)
Diameter
(feet)
Concrete
(cubic
yards)
500-kV Single Circuit - Tangent Lattice Tower 4 22.0 4 41
500-kV Single Circuit - Small Angle Lattice Tower 4 24.5 4 46
500-kV Single Circuit - Medium Angle Lattice Tower 4 27.0 4 50
500-kV Single Circuit - Medium Dead-End Lattice Tower
1/
4 29.5 5 86
500-kV Single Circuit - Heavy Dead-End Lattice Tower 4 32.0 5 93
500-kV Double Circuit - Tangent Lattice Tower 4 26.0 5 76
500-kV Double Circuit - Small Angle Lattice Tower 4 28.5 5 83
500-kV Double Circuit - Medium Angle Lattice Tower 4 31.0 5 90
500-kV Double Circuit - Medium Dead-End Lattice Tower 4 33.5 6 140
500-kV Double Circuit - Heavy Dead-End Lattice Tower 4 36.0 6 151
1/ Dead-end structure typically refers to a structure that is placed at a point where the transmission line turns
direction.
The 230-kV single-circuit H-frame structures are directly embedded into the ground and
do not require concrete foundations. The embedment depth is typically 10 percent of
the pole length plus 2 feet, which for the Project is expected to be between 9 and 12
feet based on the structure heights proposed for the Project. The diameter of the hole
excavated for embedment is typically the pole diameter plus 18 inches. When a pole is
placed in a hole, native or select backfill would be used to fill the voids around the
perimeter of the hole.
1.2 Conductors
The proposed conductor for the 500-kV lines is 1,949.6 kcmil
2
42/7 ACSR/TWD,
Athabaska/TW
3
. Each phase of a 500-kV three-phase circuit
4
would be composed of
three subconductors in a triple bundle configuration. The individual 1,949.6 kcmil
conductors would be bundled in a triangular configuration with spacing of 18 and 25
inches between subconductors (see Figures B-2 and B-3). The triple-bundled
configuration is proposed to provide adequate current carrying capacity and to provide
for a reduction in audible noise and radio interference as compared to a single large-
diameter conductor. Each 500-kV subconductor would have a 42/7 aluminum/steel
stranding, with an overall conductor diameter of 1.504 inches and a weight of 2.199
pounds per foot and a non-specular finish
5
.
At 500 kV, where multiple conductors are utilized in a bundle for each phase, the bundle
spacing would be maintained through the use of conductor spacers at intermediate

2
Kcmil (1000 cmils) is a quantity of measure for the size of a conductor; kcmil wire size is the equivalent cross-
sectional area in thousands of circular mils. A circular mil (cmil) is the area of a circle with a diameter of one
thousandth (0.001) of an inch.
3
Aluminum/steel refers to the conductor material composition. The preceding numbers indicate the number of
strands of each material type present in the conductor (i.e., 42/7 aluminum/steel stranding has 42 aluminum strands
wound around 7 steel strands).
4
For transmission lines, a circuit consists of three phases. A phase may consist of one conductor or multiple
conductors (i.e., subconductors) bundled together.
5
Non-specular finish refers to a dull finish rather than a shiny finish.
Gateway West Transmission Line Draft EIS
Appendix B Transmission Line and Substation
Components Common to All Action Alternatives
B-12
points along the conductor bundle between each structure. The spacers serve a dual
purpose: in addition to maintaining the correct bundle configuration and spacing, the
spacers are also designed to damp out wind-induced vibration in the conductors. The
number of spacers required in each span between towers would be determined during
the final design of the transmission line.
The proposed conductor for the new 230-kV lines and for reconstructing of the portion
of the existing Dave J ohnston Rock Springs 230-kV line between the Dave J ohnston
Power Plant and planned Aeolus Substation is 1,272 kcmil 45/7 ACSR Bittern. Each
phase of a 230-kV three-phase circuit would be composed of two subconductors in a
double-bundle configuration. The individual 1,272 kcmil conductors would be bundled
in a vertical configuration with a spacing of 18 inches. The double-bundle configuration
is proposed to provide adequate current carrying capacity and to provide for a reduction
in audible noise and radio interference when compared to a single large-diameter
conductor. Each 230-kV conductor would have 45/7 aluminum/steel stranding, with an
overall conductor diameter of 1.345 inches and a weight of 1.432 pounds per foot and a
non-specular finish.
Where multiple conductors are utilized in a bundle for each phase, the bundle spacing
would be maintained through the use of conductor spacers at intermediate points along
the conductor bundle between each structure. The spacers serve a dual purpose: in
addition to maintaining the correct bundle configuration and spacing, the spacers are
also designed to damp out wind-induced vibration in the conductors. The number of
spacers required in each span between towers would be determined during the final
design of the transmission line.
1.3 Other Hardware
1.3.1 Insulators
As shown in Figure B-1, insulator assemblies for 230-kV H-frame tangent structures
would consist of one insulator string hung vertically from the cross arm in the form of an
I. As shown in Figures B-2 and B-3, insulator assemblies for 500-kV tangent
structures would consist of two strings of insulators normally in the form of a V. These
strings are used to suspend each conductor bundle (phase) from the structure,
maintaining the appropriate electrical clearance between the conductors, the ground,
and the structure. The V-shaped configuration of the 500-kV insulators also restrains
the conductor so that it would not swing into the structure in high winds. Dead-end
insulator assemblies for both 230-kV and 500-kV lines would use an I-shaped
configuration, which consists of insulators connected horizontally from either a tower
dead-end arm or a dead-end pole in the form of an I. Insulators would be composed
of grey porcelain or green-tinted toughened glass or single unit polymer (no ceramic
insulators).
1.3.2 Grounding Systems
AC transmission lines such as the Gateway West transmission lines have the potential
to induce currents on adjacent metallic structures such as transmission lines, railroads,
pipelines, fences, or structures that are parallel to, cross, or are adjacent to the
transmission line. Induced currents on these facilities would occur to some degree
Gateway West Transmission Line Draft EIS
Appendix B Transmission Line and Substation
Components Common to All Action Alternatives
B-13
during steady-state operating conditions and during a fault condition on the powerline.
For example, during a lightning strike on the line, the insulators may flash over, causing
a fault condition on the line and current would flow down the structure through the
grounding system (i.e., ground rod or counterpoise) and into the ground. The
magnitude of the effects of the AC induced currents on adjacent facilities is highly
dependent on the magnitude of the current flows in the transmission line, the proximity
of the adjacent facility to the line, and the distance (length) for which the two facilities
parallel one another in proximity.
The methods and equipment needed to mitigate these conditions would be determined
through electrical studies of the specific situation. As standard practice and as part of
the design of the Project, electrical equipment and fencing at the substation would be
grounded. All fences, metal gates, pipelines, metal buildings, and other metal
structures adjacent to the ROW that cross or are within the transmission line ROW
would be grounded. If applicable, grounding of metallic objects outside of the ROW
may also occur, depending on the distance from the transmission line as determined
through the electrical studies. These actions take care of the majority of induced
current effects on metallic facilities adjacent to the line by shunting the induced currents
to ground through ground rods, ground mats, and other grounding systems, thus
reducing the effect that a person may experience when touching a metallic object near
the line (i.e., reduce electric shock potential). In the case of a longer parallel facility,
such as a pipeline parallel to the Project over many miles, additional electrical studies
would be undertaken to identify any additional mitigation measures (more than the
standard grounding practices) that would need to be implemented to prevent damaging
currents from flowing onto the parallel facility, and to prevent electrical shock to a
person that may come in contact with the parallel facility. Some of the typical measures
that could be considered for implementation, depending on the degree of mitigation
needed, could include (NACE International 2003):
Fault Shields shallow grounding conductors connected to the affected structure
adjacent to overhead electrical transmission towers, poles, substations, etc. They
are intended to provide localized protection to the structure and pipeline coating
during a fault event from a nearby electric transmission power system.
Lumped Grounding localized conductor or conductors connected to the
affected structure at strategic locations (e.g., at discontinuities). They are
intended to protect the structure from both steady-state and fault AC conditions.
Gradient Control Wires a continuous and long grounding conductor or
conductors installed horizontally and parallel to a structure (e.g., pipeline section)
at strategic lengths and connected at regular intervals. These are intended to
provide protection to the structure and pipeline coating during steady-state and
fault AC conditions from nearby electric transmission power systems.
Gradient Control Mats typically used for aboveground components of a
pipeline system, these are buried ground mats bonded to the structure, and are
used to reduce electrical step and touch voltages in areas where people may
come in contact with a structure subject to hazardous potentials. Permanent mats
bonded to the structure may be used at valves, metallic vents, cathodic protection
test stations, and other aboveground metallic and nonmetallic appurtenances
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Appendix B Transmission Line and Substation
Components Common to All Action Alternatives
B-14
where electrical contact with the affected structure is possible. In these cases
there is no standard solution that would solve these issues every time. Instead,
each case must be studied to determine the magnitude of the induced currents
and the most appropriate mitigation given the ground resistivity, distance
paralleled, steady-state and fault currents, fault clearing times expected on the
transmission line, and distance between the line and the pipeline, to name a few
of the parameters. If the electrical studies indicate a need to install cathodic
protection devices on a parallel pipeline facility, a distribution supply line
interconnection may be needed to provide power to the cathodic protection
equipment.
During final design of the transmission line segments, appropriate electrical studies
would be conducted to identify the issues associated with paralleling other facilities and
the types of equipment that would need to be installed (if any) to mitigate the effects of
the induced currents.
1.3.3 Minor Additional Hardware
In addition to the conductors, insulators, and overhead shield wires, other associated
hardware would be installed on the tower as part of the insulator assembly to support
the conductors and shield wires. This hardware would include clamps, shackles, links,
plates, and various other pieces composed of galvanized steel and aluminum.
A grounding system would be installed at the base of each transmission structure that
would consist of copper ground rods embedded into the ground in immediate proximity
to the structure foundation and connected to the structure by a buried copper lead.
When the resistance to ground for each transmission structure would be greater than
25 ohms with the use of ground rods, counterpoise would be installed to lower the
resistance with the intent to achieve 25 ohms or less. Counterpoise consists of a bare
copper-clad or galvanized-steel cable buried a minimum of 12 inches deep, extending
from structures (from one or more legs of structure) for approximately 200 feet within
the ROW.
Other hardware that is not associated with the transmission of electricity may be
installed as part of the Project. This hardware may include aerial marker spheres or
aircraft warning lighting as required for the conductors or structures per FAA
regulations.
6
Structure proximity to airports and structure height are the determinants of
whether FAA regulations would apply based on an assessment of wire/tower strike risk.
The Proponents do not anticipate that structure lighting would be required because
proposed structures would be less than 200 feet tall and would not be near airports that
require structure lighting.
1.4 Communication Systems
1.4.1 Optical Ground Wire
Reliable and secure communications for system control and monitoring of Gateway
West is very important to maintain the operational integrity of the Project and of the

6
U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration, Advisory Circular AC 70/7460-1K Obstruction
Marking and Lighting, August 1, 2000; and Advisory Circular AC 70/7460-2K Proposed Construction or Alteration of
Objects that May Affect the Navigable Airspace, March 1, 2000.
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Appendix B Transmission Line and Substation
Components Common to All Action Alternatives
B-15
overall interconnected system. Primary communications for relaying and control would
be provided via the OPGW that would be installed on the transmission lines. For the
500-kV transmission lines, a secondary communications path would be provided by the
Proponents existing microwave system, which is currently installed from the Central
Wyoming area near the Windstar Substation west to existing substations near Boise,
Idaho. A secondary communication path may also be developed using a powerline
carrier. No new microwave sites are anticipated for the Project. Updated microwave
equipment may be installed at existing sites and at the substations.
Each structure would have two lightning protection shield wires installed on the peaks of
each of the 500-kV single- or double-circuit lattice steel structures (see Figures B-2 and
B-3). On the 230-kV H-frame structures (see Figure B-1) these lightning protection
shield wires would be installed near the top of each pole. On both the 500-kV and 230-
kV lines where communication is required, one of the shield wires would be composed
of extra high strength steel wire with a diameter of 0.495 inch and a weight of 0.517
pound per foot. The second shield wire would be an OPGW constructed of aluminum
and steel, which carries 48 glass fibers within its core. On the 500-kV lines, the OPGW
would have a diameter of 0.637 inch and a weight of 0.375 pound per foot; on the 230-
kV lines, the OPGW would have a diameter of 0.465 inch. The glass fibers inside the
OPGW shield wire would provide optical data transfer capability among the Proponents
facilities along the fiber path. The data transferred are required for system control and
monitoring. On lines where communication is not required, both of the shield wires
would be composed of extra high strength steel wires with a diameter of 0.495 inch and
a weight of 0.517 pound per foot For the Gateway Project, all 500-kV line segments
would be designed to carry an OPGW. For the 230-kV lines, Segments 1W(a) and 1E
would be designed to carry an OPGW, although the OPGW shield wire on Segment 1E
would not immediately be connected to the communication system and would be left
dark. Between the new Anticline Substation and the existing J im Bridger Substation,
two communication paths (underground or aerial) would be required for redundancy.
1.4.2 Regeneration Stations
As the data signal is passed through the optical fiber cable, the signal degrades with
distance. Consequently, signal regeneration stations are required to amplify the signals
if the distance between substations or regeneration stations exceeds 55 miles. As
summarized in Table B-3, a total of 11 regeneration stations would be required.
Table B-3. Proposed Regeneration Station Locations
Segment Number
Total Construction
Acres
Total Operations
Acres
Segment 1W(a) Windstar to Aeolus 1 1 0.5
Segment 2 Aeolus to Creston 1 1 0.5
Segment 4 Anticline to Populus 3 3 1.5
Segment 7 Populus to Cedar Hill 2 2 1
Segment 8 Midpoint to Hemingway 2 2 1
Segment 9 Cedar Hill to Hemingway 2 2 1

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Appendix B Transmission Line and Substation
Components Common to All Action Alternatives
B-16
A regeneration station may be housed within a substation control house in those cases
where a substation is located along or near the final transmission route at an
appropriate milepost; otherwise, land must be obtained or additional area requested.
Where a new site is required, the typical site would be 100 feet by 100 feet, with a
fenced area of 75 feet by 75 feet. A 12-foot- by 32-foot- by 9-foot-tall building or
equipment shelter (metal or concrete) would be placed on the site, and access roads to
the site and power from the local electric distribution circuits would be required. An
emergency generator with a liquid petroleum gas fuel tank would be installed at the site
inside the fenced area. Two diverse cable routes (aerial and/or buried) from the
transmission ROW to the equipment shelter would be required. For Segment 1E, no
electronics would be connected to the dark fiber; therefore, no regeneration station
would be constructed as part of the Project. Figure B-8 illustrates the plan arrangement
of a typical regeneration station.

Figure B-8. Typical Regeneration Station Site

1.5 Access Roads
Access and service roads are an essential part of the construction and operation of the
Gateway West transmission line. Large foundation auger equipment, heavily loaded
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Appendix B Transmission Line and Substation
Components Common to All Action Alternatives
B-17
trucks, cranes, and specialized line construction equipment will be required for
construction, maintenance, and emergency restoration activities. Annual ground based
inspections require vehicular access using 4x4 trucks or 4x4 all-terrain vehicles (ATVs)
to each structure site. Section 3 of this appendix describes in detail operational
requirements.
During construction vehicular access will be require to each structure. New access
roads will be constructed and existing roads widened as needed to provide a 14-foot-
wide travel way. Roads not required for operations will be restored to their original
condition or left as is, depending on landowner/land management agency requirements.
During routine operations, vehicular access will be needed to reach each structure for
periodic inspections and maintenance and to areas of forest or tall shrubs to control
vegetation in the ROW for safe operation. The Proponents plan to employ live-line
maintenance techniques on the transmission line (see Appendix B, Section 3.1.3). Live
line maintenance and repair techniques require the utilization of high-reach bucket trucks
and other trucks and equipment. Roads required as routine service roads for the
operational life of the Project will be revegetated following construction but will not be
recontoured; they would be maintained free of trees and shrubs for a minimum 8-foot
width.
In an emergency (i.e., in the event of a tower or conductor failure) full emergency
access, including cranes and other heavy equipment, will be needed. Based on
historical reliability of lattice structures and conductors, it is anticipated that only a small
fraction of the tower sites will require emergency access over the life of the Project.
For the purposes of calculating ground disturbance and operational needs, the Project
has classified access roads into four categoriesthree of them permanent roads and
one of them temporary. Table B-4 summarizes the four categories of roads needed for
accessing the transmission line structures for the Project.
Table B-4. Typical Access Road Requirements for Transmission Line System
Road Type Construction Use Routine Operations Use
Non-Routine
Operations Use
Existing roads
requiring no
improvement
No change No change No change
Existing roads
requiring
improvement
Unsurfaced 14-foot-wide
straight sections of road
and 16- to 20-foot-wide
sections at corners
For routine activities, an 8-
foot portion of the road
would be used and vehicles
would drive over the
vegetation (two-track).
For non-routine
maintenance requiring
access by larger vehicles,
the full width of the access
road may be used. Access
roads would be repaired, as
necessary, but would not be
routinely graded. In order to
preserve the ability to enter
rapidly, the road structure
(cuts and fills) would be left
in place.
New (service)
roads
Unsurfaced 14-foot-wide
straight sections of road
and 16- to 20-foot-wide
sections at corners
For routine activities, an 8-
foot portion of the road
would be used and vehicles
would drive over the
vegetation (two-track).
Temporary
roads
Unsurfaced 14-foot-wide
straight sections of road
and 16- to 20-foot-wide
sections at corners
Nonecontours would be
restored, and the road
would be ripped and
seeded.
None
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Components Common to All Action Alternatives
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The largest of the heavy equipment needed, which dictates the minimum needed road
dimensions, is a truck-mounted aerial lift crane, 100,000 pounds gross vehicle weight,
8x8 drive, 210-foot telescoped boom. Vehicle width is 86 (102 inches) or less and
wheelbase is around 25 feet. To accommodate this equipment, the road specifications
require a 14-foot-wide road top (travel way) and 16- to 20-foot-wide road width in turns.
The required road disturbance area and travel way in areas of rolling to hilly terrain will
require a wider disturbance to account for cuts and fills, or where vehicles are required
to pass one another while traveling in opposite directions. In addition, the Proponents
plan to conduct maintenance using live-line maintenance techniques, thereby avoiding
an outage to the critical transmission line infrastructure. High-reach bucket trucks along
with other equipment would be used to conduct these activities.
Access road construction employs heavy equipment including bulldozers, front-end
loaders, dump trucks, backhoes, excavators, both tracked and rubber-tired, and
graders. Other specialized equipment, including boom trucks to install culverts in some
areas, will be used where needed. Roads will be built to provide a stable, permanent
14-foot-wide travel surface. Depending on the side slope, this can include cuts and fills,
crowning and ditching, at-grade water bars, and various kinds of waterbody crossings.
Figure B-9 shows the typical cross-sections created during construction of this kind of
road. Construction of new access roads would begin with vegetation removal.
Merchantable timber would be cut and yarded to landings where the logs can be loaded
on to trucks and hauled to market. Non-merchantable logs would be stored along the
edge of the ROW for later use in site restoration. Smaller vegetation would be lopped
and scattered outside the road prism. Topsoil would be stripped in from the road prism
as required by federal land management agencies or landowners. Topsoil would be
stored adjacent to the road or in a nearby workspace. Appropriate erosion control
devices would be installed to prevent erosion or loss of the topsoil, including but not
limited to tackifiers to prevent wind erosion and fugitive dust and silt fencing to prevent
sediment runoff. As needed, the construction pad and access road would be graded to
allow for safe access and construction. The grading may include cut and fill as needed
to achieve a workable safe surface.
Waterbody Crossings with Access Roads: Access roads would be constructed to
minimize disruption of natural drainage patterns. Estimates of relative frequencies of
crossing types and disturbance estimates for each are based on local engineering
experience in Wyoming and Idaho (Raugutt 2010; Adams 2010). Each crossing will be
designed with the roads as advanced engineering is completed, and crossing
disturbance will vary. However, these estimates are conservative and consistent across
all alternatives. On all federally managed lands, the Proponents would consult with the
managing agency regarding relevant standards and guidelines pertaining to road
crossing methods at waterbodies. Consultation would include site assessment, design,
installation, maintenance, and decommissioning. Three types of waterbody crossings
as well as avoidance are considered as part of the Project (see Figures B-10 and B-11).
They are:
Type 1Drive through: Crossing of a channel with only minimal vegetation
removal and no cut or fill needed. This is typical for much of the low-precipitation
sagebrush country with rolling topography and streams that rarely flow with water.
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Components Common to All Action Alternatives
B-19

Figure B-9. Typical Road Sections for Different Terrains

Gateway West
Transmission Line Project
Idaho, Wyoming, Nevada
Gateway West Transmission Line Draft EIS
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Components Common to All Action Alternatives
B-20
Figure B-10. Access Road Dry Crossings


Gateway West
Transmission Line Project
Idaho, Wyoming, Nevada
Gateway West Transmission Line Draft EIS
Appendix B Transmission Line and Substation
Components Common to All Action Alternatives
B-21
Figure B-11. Access Road Wet Crossings

Gateway West
Transmission Line Project
Idaho, Wyoming, Nevada
Gateway West Transmission Line Draft EIS
Appendix B Transmission Line and Substation
Components Common to All Action Alternatives
B-22
Type 2Ford: Crossing of a channel that includes grading and stabilization.
Stream banks and approaches would be graded to allow vehicle passage and
stabilized with rock or other erosion control devices. The stream bed would in
some areas be reinforced with coarse rock material, where approved by the land-
management agency, to support vehicle loads, prevent erosion and minimize
sedimentation into the waterway. The rock would be installed in the stream bed
such that it would not raise the level of the streambed, thus allowing continued
movement of water, fish and debris. A ford crossing results in an average
disturbance profile of 25 feet wide (along the waterbody) and 50 feet long (along
the roadway) for 1,000 square feet or 0.02 acre at each crossing. Disturbance
amount is estimated based on need to get equipment into the riparian area to
build the 14-foot-wide travelway and protect it from erosion by adding armoring.
Type 3Cul vert: Crossing of a waterbody that includes installation of a culvert
and a stable road surface established over the culvert for vehicle passage.
Culverts would be designed and installed under the guidance of a qualified
engineer who, in collaboration with a hydrologist and aquatic biologist where
required by the land management agency, would recommend placement
locations; culvert gradient, height, and sizing; and proper construction methods.
Culvert design would consider bedload and debris size and volume. The
disturbance footprint for culvert installation is estimated to be 50 feet wide (along
the waterbody) and 150 feet long (along the road) for 7,500 square feet or 0.17
acre at each crossing. Ground-disturbing activities would comply with Agency-
approved BMPs. Construction would occur during periods of low water or normal
flow. The use of equipment in streams would be minimized. All culverts would be
designed and installed to meet desired riparian conditions, as identified in
applicable unit management plans. Culvert slope would not exceed stream
gradient. Typically, culverts would be partially buried in the streambed to maintain
streambed material in the culvert. Sandbags or other non-erosive material would
be placed around the culverts to prevent scour or water flow around the culvert.
Adjacent sediment control structures such as silt fences, check dams, rock
armoring, or riprap may be necessary to prevent erosion or sedimentation.
Stream banks and approaches may be stabilized with rock or other erosion control
devices. Culverts would be inspected and maintained annually for the life of the
Project (estimated at 50 years or longer) for proper operation and to protect water
quality.
Avoid Crossing: Where constructing a new waterbody crossing is impractical or
would require a bridge or a very large (>48-inch-diameter) culvert, existing
waterbody crossings would be used and access redesigned to avoid a new
crossing. All canals and ditches would be avoided by using existing crossings, as
would all large perennial bodies like rivers.
The performance of low water stream crossings would be monitored for the life of the
access road, and maintained or repaired as necessary to protect water quality.
Wetlands Crossings with Access Roads: During construction and for routine and
emergency operations, access across wetlands to each structure location is necessary.
The Proponents evaluated various method of minimizing impact to wetlands but do not
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Appendix B Transmission Line and Substation
Components Common to All Action Alternatives
B-23
propose to utilize these alternatives, in lieu of permanent above grade fill, because they
do not provide expeditious year around access to each structure site:
Constructing at-grade roads with geotextiles and road materials which allow for
water through-flow. This type of road would be below water during certain times
of the year which would make locating the roads difficult, and the depth of the
water over the drivable surface may make travel over the submerged road
surface impractical or not feasible.
Limiting structure access across wetlands to dry or frozen conditions along with
the use low ground pressure tires or specialized tracked vehicles. This approach
does not allow sufficient flexibility for emergency restoration and for operation
and maintenance as the depth of water and/or soil conditions would not allow
access to the structures during certain times of the year.
Installing temporary matting materials to allow access for heavy vehicles and
equipment. The mats typically come in the form of heavy timbers bolted
together. Mats spread the concentrated axle loads from equipment over a much
larger surface area thereby reducing the bearing pressure on fragile soils.
However, mats are not effective when standing water is present. Matting has a
limited service life before replacement is required and must be stored for
maintenance and emergency restoration activities. While matting is sometimes
used during construction, the Proponents report that they do not consider it a
suitable alternative for emergency restoration or for periodic operations and
maintenance activities.
Constructing ice roads if suitable winter conditions are present. Construction of
ice roads in wetlands involves using lightweight equipment such as snowmobiles
to tamp down existing snow cover and vegetation to allow penetration of frost
into the wetland soils. This operation is followed by packing with heavier tracked
equipment such as Bombardiers or wide tracked dozers. There is a relatively
small window of time during the year where cold enough weather is present on to
allow for this technique thereby restricting the flexibility required for operation and
maintenance in other seasons besides winter.
Constructing using helicopters in wetlands. The lighter single-circuit 500kV
towers will be designed such that they can be erected by helicopter if needed.
However, the weight of the double-circuit 500kV towers preclude the use of
helicopter erection as explained in Section 2.5.2 of Appendix B. However, in
each case, the use of ground based vehicles would still be required and would
not eliminate the need for an access road to each structure to complete
construction or during inspections and live-line maintenance activities.
The Proponents propose to utilize permanent fill to construct above-grade access roads
in wetlands such that the travel surface would be higher in elevation than the ordinary
high water level. The construction of above-grade access roads allows for the use of
the types equipment described above and the most flexibility for construction operation,
maintenance, and expedited access for emergency restoration throughout the year.
All waterbody and wetland disturbances would be completed under the terms of a
USACE CWA Section 404 permit, the NPDES Construction Stormwater Permit (CWA
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Appendix B Transmission Line and Substation
Components Common to All Action Alternatives
B-24
402), and State 401 water quality certification requirements that govern activities within
any waters of the United States. In Idaho, there is an additional requirement for a
stream channel alteration permit for activities in stream beds. See also Appendix C-6
for the Proponents mitigation framework.
1.5 Substations
The Project includes three proposed substations and expansions at one planned and
eight existing substations.
1.5.1 Substation Components
The following sections describe key components of substations.
1.5.1.1 Bay
A substation bay is the physical location within a substation fenced area where the
high-voltage circuit breakers and associated steel transmission line termination
structures, high-voltage switches, bus supports, controls, and other equipment are
installed. For each transmission line, 500-kV, 345-kV, and 230-kV circuit breakers,
high-voltage switches, bus supports, and transmission line termination structures would
typically be installed. The 500-kV transmission line termination structures are
approximately 125 to 135 feet tall. Additional equipment including 500/230-kV or
500/345-kV transformers and 500-kV shunt reactors (which resemble a transformer in
appearance), and 230-kV shunt capacitor banks would be installed.
The appearance of the new and expanded substations would be similar to the
appearance of the existing substations. The tallest structures in the substations would
be the 500-kV, 345-kV, and 230-kV dead-end structures, which vary in height from
approximately 70 feet (230 kV) to 125 to 135 feet (500 kV), and/or a microwave antenna
tower, which would be in the range of 100 feet or more, depending on the height
needed to maintain line of sight to the nearest microwave relay site. Figure B-12
includes a perspective sketch and an elevation view illustrating the appearance of a
typical 500-kV substation with multiple line connections.
1.5.1.2 Access Road
Permanent all-weather access roads are required at substation sites to provide access
for personnel, material deliveries, vehicles, trucks, heavy equipment, low-boy tractor
trailer rigs (used for moving large transformers), and ongoing maintenance activities at
each site. Substation access roads are normally well-compacted, graded gravel roads
approximately 20 feet in width with a minimum 110-foot turning radius to accommodate
the delivery of large transformers to the site. New access roads of less than 1 mile
would be developed from public roads to the Creston and Anticline Substations. Access
to the Aeolus Substation would require an upgrade of a portion of CR 121. Access
roads would exist at the time of Gateway West construction for all other substation
locations.

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Appendix B Transmission Line and Substation
Components Common to All Action Alternatives
B-25

Figure B-12. Typical 500-kV Substation

1.5.1.3 Control Building
One or more control buildings are required at each substation to house protective
relays, control devices, battery banks for primary control power, and remote monitoring
equipment. The size and construction of the building depends on individual substation
requirements. Typically, the control building would be constructed of concrete block,
pre-engineered metal sheathed, or composite surfaced materials. Special control
buildings may be developed within the substation developments to house other control
and protection equipment. For example, at Aeolus a static var compensation (SVC)
building would be developed to protect power electronic equipment, controls, and
cooling equipment.
1.5.1.4 Fencing and Landscaping
Security fencing would be installed around the entire perimeter of each new or
expanded substation to protect sensitive equipment and prevent accidental contact with
energized conductors by third parties. This 7-foot-high fence would be constructed of
chain link with steel posts, with one foot of barbed wire above the chain link, and with
locked gates. If required by the landowner or permitting agency, landscaping would be
established using drought-resistant vegetation where allowed.
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B-26
1.5.2 Distribution Suppl y Lines
Station service power would be required at each substation or regeneration station.
Typically, station service power is provided from a local electric distribution line, located
in proximity to the substation or regeneration station. The voltage of the distribution
supply line is typically 34.5 kV or lower and carried on wood poles. For all new sites, it
would be necessary to extend the electric distribution line from a suitable take-off point
on the existing distribution line to the new Gateway West substation site. The location
and routing of the existing distribution lines to the new substation sites would be
determined during the final design process. For Gateway West, new distribution line
extensions to provide station service power are anticipated for the Creston, Anticline,
and Cedar Hill Substations. The distance between existing distribution supply and the
substations ranges from 200 feet to 3.3 miles. The remaining substation locations
would exist at the time of the construction of Gateway West and new distribution line
extensions to provide station service power would not be required. However,
modifications to the existing distribution facilities may be necessary to provide increased
capacity to support the expansions at the existing substation sites.
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Appendix B Transmission Line and Substation
Components Common to All Action Alternatives
B-27
2 SYSTEM CONSTRUCTION
The following section and subsections detail construction activities for the Project,
including transmission line, substation communication, and associated ancillary features.
2.1 Land Requirements and Disturbance
2.1.1 Right-of-Way Width
The Proponents propose to acquire a permanent 300-foot-wide ROW for construction
and operation of the 500-kV double-circuit sections of the Project, a 250-foot-wide ROW
for the 500-kV single-circuit sections of the Project, and a 125-foot-wide ROW for the
230-kV single-circuit sections of the Project. The Design Variation under which two
single-circuit self-supporting 500-kV structures would be installed would require 350 feet
of ROW. The Structure Variation using alternative 500-kV guyed Delta structures in a
side-by-side configuration would require 375 feet of ROW. However, in the isolated
situation where spans between structures would exceed 1,800 feet as compared to the
average span of 1,200 to 1,300 feet, the ROW width may need to be increased to
provide appropriate clearance from conductors blown toward the ROW edge, and a
parallel circuit separation distance of greater than 175 feet would be required for
protection in the unlikely event of a tower tipping into an adjacent line. Longitudinal
offsets of tall towers may also be required. Figures B-4 through B-6 illustrate the ROW
width requirements. The determination of these widths is based on two criteria:
Sufficient clearance must be maintained during a high wind event when the
conductors are blown towards the ROW edge.
Sufficient room must be provided within the ROW to perform transmission line
maintenance. See Section 3.1.2 of this appendix for details of maintenance
requirements.
Table B-5 provides a breakdown of the amount of land needed temporarily for
construction and for operation over the life of the Project. During construction, temporary
permission would be required from landowners and land management agencies for off-
ROW access, staging areas, helicopter fly yards, and material storage. During operation,
Project land requirements would be restricted to the ROW, including access roads,
substations, and communication facilities. Access to the ROW would be in accordance
with the land rights obtained as part of the easement acquisition process. As further
details of the final Project design are engineered, the amount of land required may
change.
2.1.2 Right-of-Way Acquisition
All segments must obtain new ROWs through a combination of ROW grants and
easements negotiated between the Proponents and various federal, state, and local
governments; other companies (e.g., utilities and railroads); and private landowners.
Close coordination with all property owners and land agencies during initial surveys and
the construction phase of the Project is essential for successful completion of the
Project. In the early stages of the Project, landowners would be contacted to obtain
right-of-entry for surveys and for geotechnical drilling at selected locations. Each
Gateway West Transmission Line Draft EIS
Appendix B Transmission Line and Substation
Components Common to All Action Alternatives
B-28
landowner along the final centerline route would be contacted to explain the Project and
to secure right-of-entry and access to the ROW.
Table B-5. Summary of Land Required for Construction and Operations
Segment
Land Required for
Construction (acres)
1/, 2/

Land Required for
Operations (acres)
1/

Segment 1E Windstar to Aeolus
T-Line ROW (including Off ROW Wire Pulling/
Splicing Sites) 1,543 1,520
Off-ROW Staging Areas 40
Off-ROW Fly Yards 204
Off-ROW Access Roads 104 52
OPGW Regeneration Station(s) - 0
Portion of Windstar and Aeolus Substations 23 20
Segment Subtotal 1,914 1,592
Segment 1W(a) Windstar to Aeolus (230-kV Line)
T-Line ROW (including Off ROW Wire Pulling/
Splicing Sites) 1,179 1,156
Off-ROW Staging Area
Off-ROW Fly Yards 45
Off-ROW Access Roads 52 27
OPGW Regeneration Station(s) - 1 1 0.5
3/
Portion of Windstar and Aeolus Substations 23 20
Segment Subtotal 1,300 1,204
Segment 1W(c) Windstar to Aeolus (230-kV Reconstruction)
T-Line ROW (including Off ROW Wire Pulling/
Splicing Sites)
1,086 1,066
Off-ROW Staging Area 30
Off-ROW Fly Yards 305
Off-ROW Access Roads 36 18
OPGW Regeneration Station(s) - 0 -
Portion of Heward and Aeolus Substations 24 20
Segment Subtotal 1,481 1,104
Segment 2 Aeolus to Creston
T-Line ROW (including Off ROW Wire Pulling/
Splicing Sites)
3,560 3,502
Off-ROW Staging Area 60
Off-ROW Fly Yards
Off-ROW Access Roads 83 42
OPGW Regeneration Station(s) - 1 1 0.5
3/

Portion of Aeolus and Creston Substations 59 51
Segment Subtotal 3,763 3,596
Segment 3 Creston to Bridger
T-Line ROW (including Off ROW Wire Pulling/
Splicing Sites)
2,083 2,043
Off-ROW Staging Area 40
Off-ROW Fly Yards
Off-ROW Access Roads 45 23
OPGW Regeneration Station(s) - 0
Portion of Creston, Anticline and J im Bridger
Substations
86 75
Segment Subtotal 2,254 2,141
Gateway West Transmission Line Draft EIS
Appendix B Transmission Line and Substation
Components Common to All Action Alternatives
B-29

Table B-5. Summary of Land Required for Construction and Operations (continued)
Segment
Land Required for
Construction (acres)
1/, 2/

Land Required for
Operations (acres)
1/

Segment 4 Bridger to Populus
T-Line ROW (including Off ROW Wire Pulling/
Splicing Sites)
7,498 7,367
Off-ROW Staging Area 98
Off-ROW Fly Yards
Off-ROW Access Roads 148 74
OPGW Regeneration Station(s) - 3 3 1.5
3/

Portion of Anticline and Populus Substations 98 89
Segment Subtotal 7,845 7,532
Segment 5 Populus to Borah
T-Line ROW (including Off ROW Wire Pulling/
Splicing Sites)
1,699 1,651
Off-ROW Staging Area 40
Off-ROW Fly Yards 173
Off-ROW Access Roads 57 29
OPGW Regeneration Station(s) - 0
Portion of Populus and Borah Substations 50 44
Segment Subtotal 2,019 1,724
Segment 6 Borah to Midpoint
T-Line ROW (including Off ROW Wire Pulling/
Splicing Sites)
17 17
Off-ROW Staging Area
Staging areas from adjacent
segments would be used.

Off-ROW Fly Yards
Fly yards from adjacent
segments would be used.

Off-ROW Access Roads
Minimal roads would be
required around substations
for required work.

OPGW Regeneration Station(s) - 0
Portion of Borah and Midpoint Substations 35 31
Segment Subtotal 52 48
Segment 7 Populus to Cedar Hill
T-Line ROW (including Off ROW Wire Pulling/
Splicing Sites)
3,655 3,568
Off-ROW Staging Area 60
Off-ROW Fly Yards 399
Off-ROW Access Roads 59 30
OPGW Regeneration Station(s) - 2 2 1
Portion of Cedar Hill Substation 47 42
Segment Subtotal 4,222 3,641
Segment 8 Midpoint to Hemingway
T-Line ROW (including Off ROW Wire Pulling/
Splicing Sites)
4,067 3,968
Off-ROW Staging Area 120
Off-ROW Fly Yards 487
Off-ROW Access Roads 19 10
OPGW Regeneration Station(s) - 2 2 1
Portion of Midpoint Substation 15 13
Segment Subtotal 4,710 3,992
Gateway West Transmission Line Draft EIS
Appendix B Transmission Line and Substation
Components Common to All Action Alternatives
B-30
Table B-5. Summary of Land Required for Construction and Operations (continued)
Segment
Land Required for
Construction (acres)
1/, 2/

Land Required for
Operations (acres)
1/

Segment 9 Cedar Hill to Hemingway
T-Line ROW (including Off ROW Wire Pulling/
Splicing Sites)
5,024 4,901
Off-ROW Staging Area 120
Off-ROW Fly Yards 565
Off-ROW Access Roads 86 43
OPGW Regeneration Station(s) - 2 2 1
Portion of Cedar Hill Substation 17 15
Segment Subtotal 5,814 4,960
Segment 10 Midpoint to Cedar Hill
T-Line ROW (including Off ROW Wire Pulling/
Splicing Sites)
1,043 1,006
Off-ROW Staging Area 20
Off-ROW Fly Yards 120
Off-ROW Access Roads 2 1
'Off-ROW Crossings
OPGW Regeneration Station(s) - 0
Portion of Midpoint Substation and Cedar Hill
Substations
31 28
Segment Subtotal 1,216 1,035
Total Project
T-Line ROW (including Off ROW Wire Pulling/
Splicing Sites)
32,454 31,765
Off-ROW Staging Area 628
Off-ROW Fly Yards 2,298
Off-ROW Access Roads 691 349
OPGW Regeneration Station(s) - 11 11 6
Substation 508 448
Total Proj ect 36,590 32,568
1/ The exact land requirements would depend on the final detailed design of the transmission line, which is influenced
by the terrain, land use, and economics. Alignment options may also slightly increase or decrease these values.
2/ Acreages in table are rounded to the nearest acre; columns therefore may not sum exactly.
3/ Values are given in 0.5-acre increments because regeneration sites are typically 0.5 acre each.
Assumptions/Notes:
1. ROW widths for 500-kV double circuit and 500-kV single circuit segments are 300 feet and 250 feet, respectively. The
ROW width for 230-kV H-frame segments is 125 feet. The dimensions of the tower construction pads and area permanently
occupied by towers after restoration are based on the dimensions specified in Table B-1.
2. The staging areas would serve as field offices, reporting locations for workers, parking space for vehicles and equipment,
sites for material storage, fabrication assembly and stations for equipment maintenance, and concrete batch plants.
3. Staging/material storage yards/batch plants would be approximately 20 acres for 500 kV and 10 acres for 230 kV. They
would be located at each end of a segment, and every 20 to 30 miles along the line.
4. Fly yards would be 10 to 15 acres located approximately every 5 miles. Values in table assume helicopter construction
throughout all single-circuit 500-kV and 230-kV segments (the double-circuit 500-kV tower is too heavy to utilize helicopter
construction). The construction contractor may choose to construct using ground-based techniques, therefore not utilizing fly
yards.
5. For 500 kV, wiring pulling/splicing sites would be the ROW width x 600 feet located approximately every 3 miles; for 230
kV, ROW width x 400 feet located every 9,300 feet. Typically, only sites that would be off of the ROW would be at large angle
dead-ends. It is estimated that one in four sites would be off of the ROW.
6. Refer to Table B-7 for access road mileages for each segment.

All negotiations with landowners would be conducted in good faith, and the Projects
effect on the parcel or any other concerns the landowner may have would be
addressed. ROWs for transmission line facilities on private lands would be obtained as
Gateway West Transmission Line Draft EIS
Appendix B Transmission Line and Substation
Components Common to All Action Alternatives
B-31
perpetual easements. Land for substation or regeneration stations would be obtained in
fee simple where located on private land. A good faith effort would be made to
purchase the land and/or obtain easements on private lands through reasonable
negotiations with the landowners.
Chapter 1, Section 1.3.3.3 describes NERC and WECC reliability standards and
capacity needs for Gateway West. To achieve the capacity needed to serve present
and future loads within the Proponents service areas, the WECC requires a minimum
separation from existing transmission lines that serve substantially the same load as
that served by each of the new Gateway West transmission segments. In these cases,
the Gateway West transmission lines must be located at least 1,500 feet from the
nearest existing 230 kV or higher-voltage transmission lines and is being designed to be
located the maximum span distance away when adjacent to longer spans. Land
between ROWs that are separated to meet reliability criteria would not be encumbered
with an easement but could practically be limited in land uses due to the proximity of
two or more large transmission lines.
2.1.3 Land Disturbance
Land disturbance as described in Table B-6 is the estimated amount of land that would
be disturbed during construction or required to be permanently converted to operational
uses. These uses are less than the amount of land for which operational controls are
required over the life of the Project as described in Table B-5.
Estimates for construction disturbances are based on best professional judgment and
experience with this type of project. Estimates were made of disturbance areas resulting
from each construction activity involving structure placement, access roads, contractor
and material staging areas, and new and expanded substations. Sections 2.2 through
2.4 of this appendix describe typical disturbance areas for each construction activity.
2.2 Transmission Line Construction
The following sections detail the transmission line construction activities and procedures
for Gateway West. Construction equipment and work force requirements are described
in Section 2.6. Figure B-13 illustrates the transmission line construction sequence.
Substation construction is described in Section 2.4 of this appendix. Various
construction activities would occur during the process, with several crews operating
simultaneously at different locations. The proposed construction schedule is described
in Section 2.6.4 of this appendix.
For the entire Proposed Route, 1,103 miles of transmission lines and associated
support structures would be constructed, including 71 miles to be reconstructed. Of this
total, 847.5 miles would be constructed using 500-kV structures, although one of the
500-kV circuits on the segment between Aeolus and Anticline would be initially
energized at 230 kV. Two hundred and fifty-two miles would be constructed using 230-
kV steel H-frame structures and approximately 5.5 miles would be 345-kV construction
between the proposed Anticline Substation and the expansion of the existing 345-kV
substation at the J im Bridger Power Plant.
Gateway West Transmission Line Draft EIS
Appendix B Transmission Line and Substation
Components Common to All Action Alternatives
B-32
Table B-6. Summary of Land Disturbance Resulting from Construction and
Operations
Segment/Project Component Land Affected During
Construction (acres)
1/, 2/
Land Affected During
Operations (acres)
1/
Segment 1E
One Single-Circuit Tower 230-kV Pad 315 42
Dead-end Angle 230-kV Pulling Sites 44
Existing Roads, Needing Improvement 241 121
New Access Roads 179 100
Fly Yards 225
OPGW Regeneration Station - 0 1 0.5
Single Circuit Pulling-Tensioning 230-kV 23
Staging Yards 230-kV 40
Portion of Windstar and Aeolus Substations 23 20
Segment 1E Subtotal 1,096 283
Segment 1W(a)
One Single-Circuit Tower 230-kV Pad 253 34
Dead-end Angle 230-kV Pulling Sites 42
Existing Roads, Needing Improvement 127 65
New Access Roads 112 64
Fly Yards 50
OPGW Regeneration Station - 1 1

Single Circuit Pulling-Tensioning 230-kV 13
Staging Yards 230-kV
Portion of Windstar and Aeolus Substations 23 20
Segment 1W(a) Subtotal 623 182
Segment 1W(c)
One Single-Circuit Tower 230-kV Pad 228 30
Dead-end Angle 230-kV Pulling Sites 38
Existing Roads, Needing Improvement 79 41
New Access Roads 90 52
OPGW Regeneration Station 0 1 0.5
Fly Yards 312
Single-Circuit Pulling-Tensioning 230-kV 12
Staging Yards 230-kV 30
Heward Substation & portion of Aeolus Substation 24 20
Segment 1W(c) Subtotal 817 144
Segment 2
One Double-Circuit Tower 500k-V Pad 713 95
Dead-end Angle Pulling Double-Circuit 500-kV 145
Existing Roads, Needing Improvement 316 163
New Access Roads 162 91
OPGW Regeneration Station 1 1 0.5
Fly Yards
Double-Circuit Pulling-Tensioning 500-kV 85
Staging Yards 500-kV 60
Portion of Aeolus and Creston Substations 59 51
Segment 2 Subtotal 1,544 401
Segment 3
One Double-Circuit Tower 500-kV Pad 435 58
Dead-end Angle Pulling Double-Circuit 500-kV 103
Gateway West Transmission Line Draft EIS
Appendix B Transmission Line and Substation
Components Common to All Action Alternatives
B-33

Table B-6. Summary of Land Disturbance Resulting from Construction and
Operations (continued)
Segment/Project Component Land Affected During
Construction (acres)
1/, 2/
Land Affected During
Operations (acres)
Existing Roads, Needing Improvement 61 31
New Access Roads 99 56
Fly Yards
OPGW Regeneration Station 0
Double-Circuit Pulling-Tensioning 500-kV 36
Staging Yards 500-kV 40
J im Bridger 345-kV and portion of Creston and
Anticline Substations
86 75
Segment 3 Subtotal 863 219
Segment 4
One Double-Circuit Tower 500-kV Pad 1,536 205
Dead-end Angle Pulling Double-Circuit 500-kV 324
Existing Roads, Needing Improvement 330 167
New Access Roads 330 189
Fly Yards
OPGW Regeneration Station 3 3 1.5
Double-Circuit Pulling-Tensioning 500-kV 121
Staging Yards 500-kV 100
Portion of Anticline and Populus Substations 98 89
Segment 4 Subtotal 2,846 651
Segment 5
One Single-Circuit Tower 500-kV Pad 351 14
Dead-end Angle Pulling Single-Circuit 500-kV 106
Existing Roads, Needing Improvement 127 64
New Access Roads 92 52
OPGW Regeneration Station 0
Fly Yards 175
Single-Circuit Pulling-Tensioning 500-kV 40
Staging Yards 500-kV 40
Portion of Populus and Borah Substations 50 44
Segment 5 Subtotal 982 174
Segment 6
Portion of Borah and Midpoint Substations 35 31
Substation Additional Disturbance 30 30
Segment 6 Subtotal 65 61
Segment 7
One Single-Circuit Tower 500-kV Pad 764 31
Dead-end Angle Pulling Single-Circuit 500-kV 184
Fly Yards 400
Existing Roads, Needing Improvement 113 59
New Access Roads 166 99
OPGW Regeneration Station 2 2 1
Single-Circuit Pulling-Tensioning 500-kV 64
Staging Yards 500-kV 60
Portion of Cedar Hill Substation 47 42
Segment 7 Subtotal 1,804 231
Segment 8
One Single-Circuit Tower 500-kV Pad 827 33
Dead-end Angle Pulling Single-Circuit 500-kV 218
Fly Yards 512
Existing Roads, Needing Improvement 182 92
New Access Roads 170 106
OPGW Regeneration Station - 2 2 1
Single-Circuit Pulling-Tensioning 500-kV 77
Gateway West Transmission Line Draft EIS
Appendix B Transmission Line and Substation
Components Common to All Action Alternatives
B-34
Table B-6. Summary of Land Disturbance Resulting from Construction and
Operations (continued)
Segment/Project Component Land Affected During
Construction (acres)
1/, 2/
Land Affected During
Operations (acres)
Staging Yards 500-kV 120
Portion of Midpoint Substation 15 13
Segment 8 Subtotal 2,125 246
Segment 9
One Single-Circuit Tower 500-kV Pad 1,014 41
Dead-end Angle Pulling Single-Circuit 500-kV 270
Fly Yards 612
Existing Roads, Needing Improvement 342 174
New Access Roads 216 128
OPGW Regeneration Station 2 2 1
Single-Circuit Pulling-Tensioning 500-kV 74
Staging Yards 500-kV 120
Portion of Cedar Hill Substation 17 15
Segment 9 Subtotal 2,670 359
Segment 10
One Single-Circuit Tower 500-kV Pad 222 9
Dead-end Angle Pulling Single-Circuit 500-kV 75
Fly Yards 125
Existing Roads, Needing Improvement 43 23
New Access Roads 29 18
OPGW Regeneration Station
Single-Circuit Pulling-Tensioning 500-kV 3 3
Staging Yards 500-kV 20
Portion of Midpoint Substation and Cedar Hill
Substations
31 28
Segment 10 Subtotal 549 81
Project Totals
Deadend Pulling 1,548
Existing Road - Improved 1,962 1,000
Fly Yard 2,412
New Road 1,644 953
Pads (including Segment 6) 6,660 592
Pulling-Tensioning 548 3
Regeneration Site - 11 12 5.5
3/

Staging Area 630
Substation 506 478
Grand Total 15,985 3,033
1/ The exact land requirements would depend on the final detailed design of the transmission line, which is influenced
by the terrain, land use, and economics. Alignment options may also slightly increase or decrease these values.
2/ Acreages in table are rounded to the nearest acre; columns therefore may not sum exactly.
3/ Values are given in 0.5-acre increments because regeneration sites are typically 0.5 acre each.
Assumptions/Notes:
1. ROW widths for 500-kV double circuit and 500-kV single circuit segments are 300 feet and 250 feet, respectively. The ROW
width for 230-kV H-frame segments is 125 feet.
2. The staging areas would serve as field offices, reporting locations for workers, parking space for vehicles and equipment, sites for
material storage, fabrication assembly and stations for equipment maintenance, and concrete batch plants.
3. Staging/material storage yards/batch plants would be approximately 20 acres for 500 kV and 10 acres for 230 kV. They would be
located at each end of a segment, and every 20 to 30 miles along the line.
4. Fly yards would be 10 to 15 acres located every 5 miles. Values in table assume helicopter construction throughout all single-
circuit 500-kV and 230 kV-segments (the double-circuit 500-kV tower is too heavy to utilize helicopter construction). The construction
contractor may choose to construct using ground-based techniques, therefore, not utilizing fly yards.
5. For 500 kV, wiring pulling/splicing sites would be the ROW width x 600 feet located every 3 miles; for 230 kV, ROW width x 400
feet located every 9,300 feet. Typically, only sites that would be off of the ROW would be at large angle dead-ends. It is estimated
that one in four sites would be off of the ROW.
6. Refer to Table B-7 for access road mileages for each segment.
Gateway West Transmission Line Draft EIS
Appendix B Transmission Line and Substation
Components Common to All Action Alternatives
B-35

Figure B-13. Transmission Line Construction Sequence
2.2.1 Transmission Line System Roads
Construction of the new 230-kV and 500-kV transmission lines would require vehicle,
truck, and crane access to each new structure site for construction crews, materials,
and equipment. Similarly, construction of other Project components such as staging
areas and substation sites would require vehicle access.
Transmission line ROW access would be a combination of new access roads,
improvements to existing roads, and use of existing roads as is. New access roads or
improvements to existing access roads would be constructed using a bulldozer or
grader, followed by a roller to compact and smooth the ground. Front-end loaders
would be used to move the soil locally or off site. Typically, access to the transmission
line ROW and tower sites requires a 14-foot-wide travel way for straight sections of road
and a 16- to 20-foot-wide travel way at corners to facilitate safe movement of equipment
and vehicles. Wherever possible, new access roads would be constructed within the
proposed transmission line ROW, or existing roads would be used. In other cases,
access roads would be required between the proposed transmission line and existing
roads. Erosion control and sedimentation measures such as at-grade water bars,
culverts, sediment basins, or perimeter control would be installed as required to
minimize erosion during and subsequent to construction of the Project.
After Project construction, existing and new permanent access roads would be used by
maintenance crews and vehicles for inspection and maintenance activities. New roads
created to access tower sites would be revegetated but not restored to original contours
to allow for emergency access to the tower location and for periodic inspection and
maintenance activities. Temporary construction roads not required for future
maintenance access would be restored after completion of Project construction. For
Gateway West Transmission Line Draft EIS
Appendix B Transmission Line and Substation
Components Common to All Action Alternatives
B-36
example, access roads to staging areas would not be required once the staging area is
regraded and vegetated. Gates would be installed as required to restrict unauthorized
vehicular access to the ROW. Roads retained for operations would be seeded with a
grass mix and allowed to revegetate. For normal maintenance activities, an 8-foot
portion of the road would be used and vehicles would drive over the vegetation. For
non-routine maintenance requiring access by larger vehicles, the full width of the access
road may be used. Access roads would be repaired, as necessary, but not be routinely
graded. Vegetation (e.g., taller shrubs and trees) that may interfere with the safe
operation of equipment would be managed on a cyclical basis.
Table B-7 lists the estimated miles of proposed access roads by segment based on
preliminary engineering.
Table B-7. Miles of New and Improved Access Roads
1/

Segment
New Access Roads
Existing Access Roads to
be Improved Totals
Miles Acres
2/
Miles Acres
2/
Miles Acres
2/

Segment 1E 104 179 125 241 229 420
Segment 1W(a) 69 112 67 127 136 239
Segment 1W(c) 56 90 43 79 99 169
Segment 2 93 162 114 316 208 478
Segment 3 59 99 32 61 91 160
Segment 4 200 330 172 330 372 660
Segment 5 55 92 67 127 121 219
Segment 6
3/

Segment 7 109 166 62 113 170 279
Segment 8 113 170 95 182 209 352
Segment 9 135 216 180 342 315 558
Segment 10 19 29 23 43 43 72
Total 1,013 1,644 979 1,961 1,992 3,607
1/ Includes on- and off-ROW access roads.
2/ Acreages in table are rounded to the nearest acre; column therefore may not sum exactly.
3/ The disturbance for new or improved access roads is accounted for under tower disturbance calculation in Table B-6.
2.2.2 Soil Borings
At the discretion of the Project engineer, soil borings would be completed along the
route to determine depth to bedrock and the engineering properties of the soil. Based
on the soil properties, foundation designs will be completed for transmission line towers
and other structures. Borings would be made with truck- or track-mounted equipment.
The borings would be approximately 4 inches in diameter, range from 15 to over 60 feet
deep, and be backfilled with the excavated material upon completion of soil sampling.
2.2.3 Staging Areas
Construction of Gateway West would begin with the establishment of staging areas.
The staging areas would serve as field offices; reporting locations for workers; parking
space for vehicles and equipment; and sites for material storage, fabrication assembly,
concrete batch plants, and stations for equipment maintenance. Staging areas, about
20 acres each for 500-kV construction and 10 acres each for 230-kV construction,
would be located near each end of each segment of the transmission line ROW, and
approximately every 20 to 30 miles along the route. Additionally, fly yards for helicopter
Gateway West Transmission Line Draft EIS
Appendix B Transmission Line and Substation
Components Common to All Action Alternatives
B-37
operations would be located approximately every 5 miles along the route where
helicopter construction is planned, and would occupy approximately 10 to 15 acres.
Construction of the transmission line along Segments 2, 3, and 4 would not use
helicopters due to the size and weight of the proposed double-circuit structures. If
either the phased single-circuit or two single-circuit design options described in Chapter
2, Sections 2.1.2 through 2.1.4 is selected, helicopter construction would likely be used.
Staging areas and helicopter fly yards would be fenced and their gates locked. Security
guards would be stationed where needed. Staging area locations would be finalized
following discussion with the land management agency or negotiations with landowners.
In some areas, the staging area may need to be scraped by a bulldozer and a
temporary layer of rock laid to provide an all-weather surface. Unless otherwise
directed by the landowner or land manager, the rock would be removed from the
staging area upon completion of construction and the area would be restored.
Table B-8 lists the frequency and estimated acreage disturbance for staging areas and
helicopter fly yards by segment based on preliminary engineering. In locating yards, the
preference is for relatively flat areas with easy existing access to minimize site grading
and new road construction. The staging areas would be located in previously disturbed
sites or in areas of minimal vegetative cover where possible.
Table B-8. Construction Staging Areas and Helicopter Fly Yards
Proposed
Segment
Staging/Material Storage/Batch Pl ant Fly Yards
Quantity
Approximate Acreage
Quantity
Approximate Acreage
Per Location Total Per Location Total
Segment 1E 4 10 40 18 12.5 225
Segment 1W(a)
1/
4 12.5 50
Segment 1W(c) 3 10 30 25 12.5 313
Segment 2
2/
3 20 60
Segment 3
2/
2 20 40
Segment 4
2/
5 20 100
Segment 5 2 20 40 14 12.5 175
Segment 6
3/

Segment 7 3 20 60 32 12.5 400
Segment 8 6 20 120 41 12.5 512
Segment 9 6 20 120 49 12.5 612
Segment 10 1 20 20 10 12.5 125
1/ Co-located with Segment 1W(c).
2/ Fly yards not applicable for the double-circuit 500-kV design.
3/ Staging area and fly yard disturbance are accounted for in the substation calculation.
2.2.4 Site Preparation
Individual structure sites would be cleared to install the transmission line support
structures and facilitate access for future transmission line and structure maintenance.
Clearing of individual structure sites would be required to install the structures. Clearing
individual structure sites would be done using a bulldozer to blade the required area. At
each single-circuit 500-kV structure location, an area approximately 250 feet by 250 feet
would be needed for construction laydown, tower assembly, and erection at each tower
site. An area of approximately 300 feet by 250 would be needed for each 500-kV
double-circuit tower site. An area approximately 150 feet by 125 feet would be required
Gateway West Transmission Line Draft EIS
Appendix B Transmission Line and Substation
Components Common to All Action Alternatives
B-38
for 230-kV structure locations. This area would provide a safe working space for
placing equipment, vehicles, and materials. The work area would be cleared of
vegetation only to the extent necessary. After line construction, all areas not needed for
normal transmission line maintenance, including fire and personnel safety clearance
areas, would be graded to blend as near as possible with the natural contours, then
revegetated as required.
Additional equipment may be required if solid rock is encountered at a structure
location. Rock-hauling, hammering, or blasting may be required to remove the rock.
Excess rock that is too large in size or volume to be spread at the individual structure
sites would be hauled away and disposed of at approved landfills or at a location
specified by the landowner.
2.2.5 Install Structure Foundations
Table B-1 lists the number of 500-kV, 230-kV, and 345-kV support structures that would
be installed. Note that for the short interconnections between the proposed Anticline
Substation and the 230-kV and 345-kV yards at the existing J im Bridger Substation, the
230-kV and 345-kV structures were included in the 500-kV structure total.
H-Frame Installation
Each 230-kV H-frame would require the poles to be directly embedded in the ground.
Holes would be drilled in the ground using a truck- or track-mounted auger. The
diameter of the hole excavated for embedment is typically the pole diameter plus
18 inches. The depth is typically 10 percent of the pole length plus 2 feet; in the case of
this Project, it would be between 9 and 12 feet. When the pole is placed in the hole,
native or select backfill would be used to fill the voids around the perimeter of the hole.
When backfill must be imported, material would be obtained from commercial sources
or from areas free of noxious weed species. See Section 1.1.1 of this appendix for a
description an H-frame structure and Figure B-1 for an illustration. Similarly, where
solid rock is encountered, blasting (see Section 2.5.1 of this appendix) may be required.
Lattice Steel Tower Foundations
Each 500-kV support structure would require the installation of foundations, which are
typically drilled concrete piers. First, four holes would be excavated for each structure.
The holes would be drilled using truck- or track-mounted augers of various sizes
depending on the diameter and depth requirements of the hole to be drilled. Table B-2
provides the dimensions of each of the foundation holes required for each structure.
See Section 1.1.1 of this appendix for a description of each structure type and Figures
B-2 and B-3 for structure illustrations. Prior to excavation, topsoil would be stripped
from the area around the tower and stockpiled to prevent contamination. Excavation
spoils would be spread around the tower pad upon completion of the foundations. As
part of final restoration, the stockpiled topsoil would be spread over the excavation
spoils and revegetated. Each foundation would extend approximately 1 foot above the
ground level.
Where solid rock is encountered, blasting (see Section 2.5.1 of this appendix), rock
hauling, or the use of a rock anchoring or micropile system may be required. Micropiles
are high capacity, small diameter (5-inch to 12-inch) drilled and grouted in-place piles
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designed with steel reinforcement to primarily resist structural loading. The rock
anchoring or micropile system would be used in areas where site access is limited or
adjacent structures could be damaged as a result of blasting or rock hauling activities.
In environmentally sensitive areas with very soft soils, a HydroVac, which uses water
pressure and a vacuum, may be used to excavate material into a storage tank.
Alternatively, a temporary casing may be used during drilling to hold the excavation
open, after which the casing is withdrawn as the concrete is placed in the hole.
Alternatively, in areas where soil conditions preclude temporary casing withdrawal, it
may be abandoned in place. The steel would be cut below grade and backfilled once
the foundation reveal has cured. In areas where it is not possible to operate large
drilling equipment due to access or environmental constraints, hand digging may be
required.
Reinforced-steel anchor bolt cages would be installed after excavation and prior to
structure installation. These cages are designed to strengthen the structural integrity of
the foundations and would be assembled at the nearest Project laydown yard and
delivered to the structure site via flatbed truck or helicopter. These cages would be
inserted in the holes prior to pouring concrete. The excavated holes containing the
reinforcing anchor bolt cages would be filled with concrete (Table B-2).
Typically, and because of the remote location of much of the transmission line route,
concrete would be provided from portable batch plants set up approximately every
25 miles along the line route in one of the staging areas. Concrete would be delivered
directly to the site in concrete trucks with a capacity of up to 10 cubic yards. In the more
developed areas along the route and in proximity to the substations, the construction
contractor may use local concrete providers to deliver concrete to the site when
economically feasible.
2.2.6 Erect Support Structures
The 230-kV H-frame structures would be framed on site. Two methods of assembly can
be used to accomplish this, the first of which is to assemble the poles, braces, cross
arms, hardware, and insulators on the ground. A crane is then used to set the fully
framed structure by placing the poles in the excavated holes. Alternatively, aerial
framing can be used by setting the poles in the ground first and assembling the braces,
cross arms, hardware, and insulators in the air. A crane would move along the ROW
from structure to structure site setting the structures.
The 500-kV lattice steel structures would be assembled on site, except where helicopter
delivery is employed, as described in Section 2.5.2 of this appendix. Steel members for
each structure would be delivered to the site by flatbed truck. Assembly would be
facilitated on site by a truck-mounted crane. Subsequent to assembly, the structures
would be lifted onto foundations using a large crane designed for erecting towers. The
crane would move along the ROW from structure to structure site erecting the towers.
Figure B-13 illustrates the tower erection sequence.
2.2.7 String Conductors, Shield Wire, and Fiber Optic Ground Wire
Conductor, shield wire, and OPGW would be placed on the transmission line support
structures by a process called stringing. The first step to wire stringing would be to
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install insulators (if not already installed on the structures during ground assembly) and
stringing sheaves. Stringing sheaves are pulleys that are temporarily attached to the
lower portion of the insulators at each transmission line support structure to allow
conductors to be pulled along the line. Figure B-14 illustrates the sequence of steps in
installing conductors.

Figure B-14. Conductor Installation
Additionally, temporary clearance structures (also called guard structures) would be
erected where required prior to stringing any transmission lines. The temporary
clearance structures are typically vertical wood poles with cross arms and are erected at
road crossings or crossings with other energized electric and communication lines to
prevent contact during stringing activities. Bucket trucks may also be used to provide
temporary clearance. Bucket trucks are trucks fitted with a hinged arm ending in an
enclosed platform called a bucket, which can be raised to let the worker in the bucket
service portions of the transmission structure as well as the insulators and conductors
without climbing the structure.
Once the stringing sheaves and temporary clearance structures are in place, the initial
stringing operation would commence with the pulling of a lighter weight sock line
through the sheaves along the same path the transmission line would follow. Typically
the sock line is pulled in via helicopter. The sock line is attached to the hard line, which
follows the sock line as it is pulled through the sheaves. The hard line would then be
attached to the conductor, shield wire, or OPGW to pull them through the sheaves into
their final location. Pulling the lines may be accomplished by attaching them to a
specialized wire stringing vehicle. Following the initial stringing operation, pulling and
tensioning the line would be required to achieve the correct sagging of the transmission
lines between support structures.
Pulling and tensioning sites for 500-kV construction would be required approximately
every 3 miles along the ROW and would require approximately 5 acres each to
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accommodate required equipment. Pulling and tensioning sites for 230-kV construction
would be required approximately every 2 miles along the ROW and would require
approximately 1.2 acres each to accommodate required equipment. Equipment at sites
required for pulling and tensioning activities would include tractors and trailers with
spooled reels that hold the conductors and trucks with the tensioning equipment. To the
extent practicable, pulling and tensioning sites would be located within the ROW.
Depending on topography, minor grading may be required at some sites to create level
pads for equipment. Finally, the tension and sag of conductors and wires would be fine-
tuned, stringing sheaves would be removed, and the conductors would be permanently
attached to the insulators at the support structures.
At the tangent and small angle structures, the conductors would be attached to the
insulators using clamps to suspend the conductors from the bottom of the insulators.
At the larger angle dead-end structures, the conductors cannot be pulled through and
so are cut and attached to the insulator assemblies at the structure dead ending the
conductors. There are two primary methods to attach the conductor to the insulator
assembly at the dead-end structure. The first method, hydraulic compression fittings,
uses a large press and pump that closes a metal clamp or sleeve onto the conductor.
This method requires heavy equipment and is time consuming. The second method,
implosive fittings, uses explosives to compress the metal together. Implosive fittings do
not require heavy equipment, but do create noise similar to a gunshot when the primer
is struck. Implosive sleeves may be set off either one at a time or in groups. The
implosive type sleeve is faster to install and results in a secure connection between the
conductor and the sleeve. Implosive sleeves are planned for the Project.
The 500-kV single- and double-circuit lines use a three conductor bundle for each
phase. At each single-circuit 500-kV dead-end structure, 18 implosive dead-end
sleeves (six per phase, one for each of the three subconductors on each of the three
phases, and on each side of the structure) would be required. Additionally, 18
compression or implosive sleeves would be required to fabricate and install the jumpers
that connect the conductors from one side of the dead-end structure to the other, for a
total of 36 sleeves for each single-circuit dead-end structure. Each double-circuit 500-
kV dead-end structure would require twice as many sleeves as for the single-circuit
structure because there are twice as many conductors to dead-end and jumpers to be
fabricated, for a total of 72 sleeves for each double-circuit dead-end structure.
The 230-kV single-circuit lines use a two-conductor bundle for each phase. Each 230-
kV dead-end structure would require 12 implosive or compression type sleeves to dead-
end the conductors and 12 sleeves to fabricate the jumpers, for a total of 24 sleeves at
each dead-end structure. For the overall Project, approximately 18,000 to 20,000
compression or implosive fittings would be used.
2.2.8 Cleanup and Site Reclamation
Construction sites, staging areas, material storage yards, and access roads would be
kept in an orderly condition throughout the construction period. Approved enclosed
refuse containers would be used throughout the Project. Refuse and trash would be
removed from the sites and disposed of in an approved manner. Oils or chemicals
would be hauled to a disposal facility authorized to accept such materials. Open
burning of construction trash would not be allowed.
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Disturbed areas not required for access roads and maintenance areas around
structures would be restored and revegetated, as required by the property owner or land
management agency. Service roads would be decompacted and the topsoil replaced.
The road prism would not be restored to original contours so that a stable road base is
present if equipment is needed to access a tower during operation. The landowner,
land-management agency, or local Natural Resources Conservation Service would be
consulted regarding the appropriate seed mix and rate to revegetate the road surface.
Vegetation on an 8-foot width of road surface may be periodically managed to allow
equipment travel if necessary. Temporary culverts would be removed. Drivable at-
grade waterbars would be installed where needed with frequency proportional to road
slope to prevent erosion of the roadbed. Applicable agency BMPs and unit
management plan requirements would be implemented. All practical means would be
made to restore the land outside the minimum areas needed for safe operation to its
original contour and to restore natural drainage patterns along the ROW.
2.3 Communication System
OPGW for the communication system would be installed at the same time as the
conductors on each of the transmission line structures. It would be spliced and
tensioned in the same way.
2.3.1 Regeneration Stations
Similar to the substations, the selected area is graded, vegetation is removed, and a
layer of crushed rock is installed. Typically, a 12-foot by 32-foot by 9-foot tall building or
equipment shelter (metal or concrete) would be constructed on the site. An emergency
generator with a liquid petroleum gas fuel tank would be installed at the site inside the
fenced area. Two diverse cable routes (aerial and/or buried) from the transmission
ROW to the equipment shelter would be installed.
2.3.2 Access Road
Regeneration station roads would be constructed using a bulldozer or grader, followed
by a roller to compact and smooth the ground. Front-end loaders would be used to
move the soil locally or off site. Either gravel or asphalt would be applied to the
prepared base layer.
2.4 Substation Construction
There would be substation construction activities at 12 locations for the Project. A
summary of construction equipment to be used at each substation is included in Section
2.6 of this appendix. The proposed Creston, Anticline, and Cedar Hill Substations
would be needed to electrically connect the new transmission line segments. In
addition, expansion of the substation yards at the planned or existing Windstar, Heward,
Aeolus, J im Bridger (230-kV and 345-kV yards), Populus, Borah, Midpoint, and
Hemingway Substations would be required.
2.4.1 Substation Roads
Substation roads would be constructed using a bulldozer or grader, followed by a roller
to compact and smooth the ground. Front-end loaders would be used to move the soil
locally or offsite. Either gravel or asphalt would be applied to the prepared base layer.
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2.4.2 Soil Boring
Typically, soil borings would be made on a 600-foot grid spacing within the substation,
particularly at the approximate location of large structures and equipment such as
transmission line dead ends and transformers, to determine the engineering properties
of the soil. Borings would be made with truck- or track-mounted equipment. The
borings would be approximately 4 inches in diameter, range from 15 to over 60 feet
deep, and be backfilled with the excavated material upon completion of soil sampling.
2.4.3 Clearing and Grading
Clearing of all vegetation would be required for the entire substation area, including a
distance of about 10 feet outside the fence. This is required for personnel safety due to
grounding concerns and because of lower clearances to energized conductors within
the substations as compared to transmission lines. These lower clearances are allowed
by the NESC because the entire substation is fenced.
An insulating layer on the surface of the substation is required to protect personnel from
high currents and voltages during electrical fault conditions. Typically, vegetation is
removed and a 4- to 6-inch layer of crushed rock is applied to the finished surface of the
substation. Then the substation is usually treated with a soil sterilizer to prevent
vegetation growth because the vegetation would degrade the insulating qualities of the
crushed rock. The entire substation area would be graded essentially flat, with just
enough slope to provide for runoff of precipitation. The substation would be graded to
use existing drainage patterns to the extent possible. In some cases, drainage
structures, such as ditches or culverts, may be required. Clearing and grading material
would be disposed of in compliance with local ordinances. Material from off site would
be obtained at existing borrow or commercial sites and would be trucked to the
substation using existing roads and the substation access road.
2.4.4 Storage and Staging Yards
Construction material storage yards may be located outside the substation-fenced area
near the substation. These storage yards may be part of the substation property or
leased by the contractor. After construction is completed, all debris and unused
materials would be removed and the staging/storage yards returned to preconstruction
conditions by the construction contractor.
2.4.5 Grounding
A grounding system is required in each substation for detection of faults and for
personnel safety. The grounding system typically consists of buried copper conductor
arranged in a grid system and driven ground rods, typically 8 to 10 feet long. The
ground rods and any equipment and structures are connected to the grounding
conductor. The amount of conductor and length and number of ground rods required
are calculated based on fault current and soil characteristics.
2.4.6 Fencing
Security fencing is installed around the entire perimeter of each new or expanded
substation to protect sensitive equipment and prevent accidental contact with energized
conductors by third parties. This 7-foot-high fence would be constructed of chain link
with steel posts. One foot of barbed wire or other similar material is installed on top of
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the chain link yielding a total fence height of 8 feet. Locked gates would be installed at
appropriate locations for authorized vehicle and personnel access.
2.4.7 Foundation Installation
Foundations for supporting structures are of two typesspread footings or drilled piers.
Spread footings are placed by excavating the foundation area, placing forms and
reinforced-steel and anchor bolts, and pouring concrete into the forms. After the
foundation has been poured, the forms would be removed, and the surface of the
foundation dressed. Pier foundations are placed in a hole generally made by a track- or
truck-mounted auger. Reinforced-steel and anchor bolts are placed into the hole using
a track- or truck-mounted crane. The portion of the foundation above ground would be
formed. The portion below ground uses the undisturbed earth of the augered hole as
the form. After the foundation has been poured, the forms would be removed, the
excavation would be backfilled, and the surface of the foundation dressed.
Equipment foundations for circuit breakers and transformers would be slab-on-grade
type. These foundations are placed by excavating the foundation area; placing forms,
reinforced steel, and anchor bolts (if required); and placing concrete into the forms.
After the foundations have been poured, the forms would be removed, and the surface
of the foundation dressed. Where necessary, provision would be made in the design of
the foundations to mitigate potential problems due to frost. Reinforced steel and anchor
bolts would be transported to each site by truck, either as a prefabricated cage or loose
pieces, which would then be fabricated into cages on the site. Concrete would be
hauled to the site in concrete trucks. Excavated material would be spread at the site or
disposed of in accordance with local ordinances. Structures and equipment would be
attached to the foundations by means of threaded anchor bolts embedded in the
concrete. Some equipment such as transformers and reactors may not require anchor
bolts.
2.4.8 Oil Containment
Some types of electrical equipment, such as transformers and some types of reactors
and circuit breakers, are filled with an insulating mineral oil. Containment structures are
required to prevent equipment oil from getting into the ground or waterbodies in the
event of a rupture or leak. These structures take many forms depending on site
requirements, environmental conditions, and regulatory restrictions. The simplest type
of oil containment is a pit, of a calculated capacity, under the oil-filled equipment that
has an oil-impervious liner. The pit is filled with rock to grade level. In case of an oil
leak or rupture, the oil captured in the containment pit is pumped into tanks or barrels
and transported to a disposal facility. If required, more elaborate oil containment
systems can be installed. This may take the form of an on- or off-site storage tank
and/or oil-water separator equipment depending on site requirements.
2.4.9 Structure and Equipment Installation
Supporting steel structures are erected on concrete foundations as noted above. These
are set with a track- or truck-mounted crane and attached to the foundation anchor bolts
by means of a steel base plate. These structures would be used to support the
energized conductors and certain types of equipment. This equipment is lifted onto the
structure by means of a truck-mounted crane and bolted to the structures; electrical
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connections are then made. Some equipment, such as transformers, reactors, and
circuit breakers, are mounted directly to the foundations without supporting structures.
These are set in place by means of a truck-mounted crane. Some of this equipment
requires assembly and testing on the pad. Electrical connections to the equipment are
then made.
2.4.10 Control Building Construction
One or more control buildings are required at each substation to house protective
relays, control devices, battery banks for primary control power, and remote monitoring
equipment. The size and construction of the building depends on individual substation
requirements. Typically, the control building would be constructed of concrete block,
pre-engineered metal sheathed, or composite surfaced materials. Once the control
house is erected, equipment is mounted and wired inside. In some cases an
emergency generator may be located just outside the control house within the
substation fenced area.
2.4.11 Conductor Installation
The two main types of high voltage conductors used in substations are tubular
aluminum for rigid bus sections and/or stranded aluminum conductor for strain bus and
connections to equipment. Rigid bus would be a minimum of 4 inches in diameter for
this Project and would be supported on porcelain or polymer insulators on steel
supports. The bus sections would be welded together and attached to special fittings
for connection to equipment. Stranded aluminum conductors would be used as flexible
connectors between the rigid bus and the station equipment.
2.4.12 Conduit and Control Cable Installation
Most substation equipment requires low-voltage connections to protect relaying and
control circuits. These circuits allow metering, protective functions, and control (both
remote and local) of the power system. Connections are made from the control building
to the equipment through multi-conductor control cables installed in conduits and/or pre-
cast concrete cable trench system.
2.4.13 Construction Cleanup and Landscaping
The cleanup operation would be performed after construction activities are completed.
All waste and scrap material would be removed from the site and deposited in local
permitted landfills in accordance with local ordinances. Ruts and holes outside the
substation fence due to construction activities would be regraded. Revegetation and
restoration would be conducted as required. Landscaping required by the permitting
agency would use drought-tolerant plant materials. A permanent access road would be
constructed to the new substation.
2.5 Special Construction Techniques
2.5.1 Blasting
As described in Section 2.2.5 of this appendix, 500-kV lattice tower foundations would
normally be installed using drilled shafts or piers and 230-kV H-frame structures would
be directly embedded. If hard rock is encountered within the planned drilling depth,
blasting may be required to loosen or fracture the rock in order to reach the required
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depth to install the structure foundations. Areas where blasting would likely occur have
been identified based on the geologic setting of the proposed alignment. Table B-9
summarizes the shallow bed rock conditions within each segment. More precise
locations where blasting is expected would be identified based on a site-specific
geotechnical study carried out as part of detailed design.
The construction contractor would be required to prepare an overall Blasting Plan for
the Project, subject to the approval of the Proponents. The Blasting Plan would detail
the contractors proposals for compliance with the Proponents blasting specifications
and would detail the general concepts proposed to achieve the desired excavations
using individual shot plans. In addition, the plan would address proposed methods for
controlling fly rock, for blasting warnings, and for use of non-electrical blasting systems.
The contractor would be required to provide data to support the adequacy of the
proposed efforts regarding the safety of structures and slopes and to ensure that an
adequate foundation is obtained. When utilized, blasting would take place between
sunrise and sunset.
Table B-9. Summary of Shallow Bedrock
Segment
Number Total Miles
Route Miles within
1 to 4 feet of
Shallow Bedrock
Route Miles within
4 to 8 feet of
Shallow Bedrock
Route Miles within
8 to 12 feet of
Shallow Bedrock
Percent of Proposed
Route Miles Within
Shallow Bedrock
1E 100.6 14.7 11.2 15.4 41
1W(a) 76.5 0.8 14.6 20
1W(c) 70.6 7.1 13.7 29
2 96.7
1/
3 56.4 37.6 3.1 41
4 203.0 52.6 2.8 10.0 32
5 54.6 2.4 12.2 27
6 0.5 0.2 0.3 100
7 118.1 17.1 22.4 6.9 39
8 131.0 25.3 76.8 9.2 85
9 161.7 72.1 33.0 30.1 84
10 33.6 7.1 0.4 0.6 24
1/ See geotechnical drilling comments below.
The shot plans would detail, including sketches, the drilling and blasting procedures; the
number, location, diameter, and inclination of drill holes; the amount, type, and
distribution of explosive per hole and delay; and pounds of explosive per square foot for
presplitting and smooth blasting. The contractor would be required to maintain
explosives logs.
Blasting near buildings, structures, and other facilities susceptible to vibration or air
blast damage would be carefully planned by the contractor and the Proponents and
controlled to eliminate the possibility of damage to such facilities and structures. The
Blasting Plan would include provisions for control to eliminate vibration, fly rock, and air
blast damage.
Blasting would be very brief in duration (milliseconds), and the noise would dissipate
with distance. Blasting produces less noise and vibration than comparable non-blasting
methods to remove hard rock. Non-blasting methods include track drill rigs, rock
breakers, jack hammers, rotary percussion drills, core barrels, and rotary rock drills with
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rock bits. Which all require much longer time duration to excavate approximately the
same amount of rock as blasting.
No readily available data were found to evaluate depth to bedrock at depths greater than
12 feet. Tables B-1 and B-2 indicate that the majority of transmission tower foundations
are 20 feet or less deep, but foundations for double circuit 500-kV towers (angle towers
or dead-ends) may range from 20 to 30 feet deep. In 2010, drilling began in some areas
of Segments 1 through 4 to support geotechnical evaluations for transmission line
structures. The drilling was conducted on public land and private land where landowner
permission was obtained. As a conservative measure, it was assumed that all shallow
bedrock that would need to be removed would require blasting.
As of the date of this Draft EIS, a total of 124 boreholes have been advanced in
Segments 1 through 4. Total depths drilled ranged from 15 feet to 66.5 feet. The
drilling data indicate that 11 borings contained bedrock at depths less than 20 feet
including one of the geotechnical borings in Segment 2, which intercepted bedrock at a
depth of 15 feet. Therefore, it is assumed that shallow bedrock could be encountered in
any of the segments. Due to the lack of depth to bedrock data deeper than 12 feet, the
amount of shallow bedrock presented in Table B-9 likely underestimates the amount of
shallow bedrock that will be intercepted during construction.
2.5.2 Helicopter Use
Access roads are required to each tower site for construction and for operation and
maintenance activities. Helicopters may be used to support these activities. Project
construction activities potentially facilitated by helicopters may include delivery of
construction laborers, equipment, and materials to structure sites; structure placement;
hardware installation; and wire stringing operations. Helicopters may also be used to
support the administration and management of the Project by the Proponents. The use
of helicopter construction methods for this Project would not change the length of the
access road system required for operating the Project because vehicle access is
required to each tower site regardless of the construction method employed.
The size and weight of the 500-kV double-circuit lattice steel structures preclude the use
of helicopter erection methods
7
. These structures would be erected on site using
appropriately sized cranes to assemble and erect the towers. The single-circuit 500-kV
towers weigh less and in some cases it may be desirable to employ heavy lift
helicopters in the tower erection process. To allow the construction contractor flexibility
in what construction methods can be used, the construction specification would be
written to allow the contractor the option of using ground-based or helicopter
construction methods, or a combination thereof. Use of a helicopter for structure
erection may be driven by various factors, including access to the structure locations,
construction schedule, and/or construction economics.
When helicopter construction methods are employed, helicopter construction activities
would be based at a fly yard, which is a Project-material staging area (see Table B-8).
The fly yards would be approximately 10 to 15 acres in area and would be sited at
locations to permit a maximum fly time of 4 to 8 minutes to reach structure locations,

7
For the Gateway West Project, a typical 500-kV double-circuit tangent tower would weigh approximately 82,000
pounds. A typical 500 kV single-circuit tangent tower would weigh approximately 46,000 pounds.
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typically at about 5-mile intervals. Fly yards would be used for material storage and
erection of structure sections prior to transport to the final structure locations for
installation. Additionally, fueling trucks, maintenance trucks, and operations crews
would be based in the fly yards. Appropriate dust control measures would be
implemented at these fly yard locations as well as the locations where helicopters would
be used along the route.
Prior to installation, each tower structure would be assembled in multiple sections at the
fly yard. Tower sections or components would be assembled by weight based on the
lifting capacity of the helicopter in use. The lift capacity of helicopters is dependent on
the elevation of the fly yard, the tower site, and the intervening terrain. The heavy lift
helicopters that could be used to erect the single-circuit 500-kV tower sections would be
able to lift a maximum of 15,000 to 20,000 pounds per flight, depending on elevation.
After assembly at the fly yard, the tower sections would be attached by cables from the
helicopter crane to the top four corners of the structure section and airlifted to the
structure location. Upon arrival at the structure location, the section would be placed
directly on to the foundation or atop the previous structure section. Guide brackets
attached on top of each section would assist in aligning the stacked sections. Once
aligned correctly, line crews would climb the structures to bolt the sections together
permanently.
It should be noted that the fly yard locations provided are considered approximate and
subject to change, additions, or deletions upon acquisition of an installation contractor
prior to the beginning of construction. Upon completion of field review, a final
determination would be made on the necessity of certain fly yards and the respective
locations that provide the most efficient, economic, safest, and least impact use of the
fly yards that are needed.
2.5.3 Water Use
Construction of the transmission lines and substations would require water. Major water
uses are for transmission line structure and substation foundations, and dust control
during ROW and substation grading and site work. A minor use of water during
construction would include the establishment of substation landscaping where required.
Table B-10 lists the amount of water required for the Project.
Transmission lines use water for two primary purposes: foundation construction and
ROW dust control. The required water would be procured from municipal sources, from
commercial sources, or under a temporary water use agreement with landowners
holding existing water rights. No new water rights would be required. In the
construction of foundations, water is transported to the batch plant site where it would
be used to produce concrete. From the batch plant, the wet concrete would be
transported to the structure site in concrete trucks for use in foundation installation (refer
to Section 2.2.4 of this appendix for more details on foundation installation).
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Table B-10. Estimated Water Usage by Component, Segment, and Activity
Transmission Line
Segments Total Miles
No of
Structures
1/

Foundation Gallons
per Segment
2/

Dust Control
Gallons per
Segment
3/

Total Gallons
per Segment
1E 100.6 575 2,158,320 2,158,320
1W(a) 76.5 460 1,726,656 1,726,656
1W(c) 70.6 416 1,561,498 1,561,498
2 96.7 414 1,174,149 1,553,990 2,728,139
3 56.4 253 717,535 949,660.8 1,667,196
4 203 893 2,532,644 3,351,965 5,884,609
5 54.6 245 694,846 919,632 1,614,478
6 0.5 10 28,361 37,536 65,897
7 118.1 534 1,514,481 2,004,422 3,518,904
8 131 577 1,636,434 2,165,827 3,802,261
9 161.7 707 2,005,128 2,653,795 4,658,923
10 33.6 155 439,597 581,808 1,021,405
Total Transmission Line Water Usage (million gall ons = MG) 30.4
Substations
Acres of
Construction
Disturbance
Gallons for
Concrete
Gallons for
Grading/Site
Work/Dust Control
2/

Gallons for
Substation
Landscaping
Total Gallons
per Substation
Windstar Substation 12 9,200 1,703,196 1,712,396
Heward Substation 7 5,400 993,531 998,931
Aeolus Substation 100 89,000 14,193,330 14,282,300
Creston Substation 17 13,000 2,412,861 242,5861
Anticline Substation 135 103,000 19,160,955 19,263,955
J im Bridger 345-kV
Substation
10 7,700 1,419,330
1,427,030
J im Bridger 230-kV
Substation
2/


Populus Substation 90 69,000 12,773,970 12,842,970
Borah Substation 40 34,000 5,677,320 5,711,320
Midpoint 44 34,000 6,245,052 6,279,052
Cedar Hill Substation 50 39,000 7,096,650 7,135,650
Hemingway
Substation

Total Substation Water Usage (MG) 143.8
Regeneration
Sites
Number
Gallons for
all Activities
Total Gallons
Regen Sites
Sites 11 800 8,800
Total Project (MG) 102.5
1/ Water usage per structure is used to make concrete at the batch plant site.
2/ All 230-kV structures would be directly embedded. Concrete foundations are not required; therefore, no water is required.
3/ The amount of water used for dust control varies significantly based on many conditions. Estimates are based on
reasonable construction experience.

Construction of the transmission lines and related facilities would generate a temporary
increase in fugitive dust. If the level of fugitive dust is too high in specific Project areas,
as determined in cooperation with the landowner or agency, water would be applied to
disturbed areas to minimize dust.
Water usage for substation construction is primarily for dust control during site
preparation work. During this period, construction equipment would be cutting, moving,
and compacting the subgrade surface. As a result, water trucks patrolling the site to
Gateway West Transmission Line Draft EIS
Appendix B Transmission Line and Substation
Components Common to All Action Alternatives
B-50
control dust would make as many as one pass per hour over the station site. Once site
preparation work is complete, concrete for the placement of foundations becomes the
largest user of water and dust control becomes minimal.
Once site grading is complete, the balance of the substation construction work would be
performed on bare subgrade soil or subgrade with a thin layer of rock. Fire risk would
be minimal due to the bare ground or rock surface and would be contained within the
confines of station fenced area.
2.6 Construction Elements
2.6.1 Construction Workforce
The proposed Project would be constructed primarily by contract personnel, with the
Proponents responsible for Project administration and inspection. The construction
workforce would consist of laborers, craftsmen, supervisory personnel, support
personnel, and construction management personnel who would perform the
construction tasks. Estimated construction workforce requirements are summarized by
EPC
8
contract in Figure B-15. These projections were developed for the various Project
components by the Proponents transmission engineering contractor using project
planning computer software. Overall, Project construction is expected to occur between
J une 2013 and December 2018, with multiple contractors working concurrently on the
separate line segments and substations of Gateway West in order to meet the planned
in-services dates. The first phase would extend from Windstar to Populus, and the
second phase would extend from Populus to Hemingway, with the last segment being
complete by the end of 2018.
The Proponents proposed schedule identifies general construction timeframes by
segment and substation, generally 4 to 5 years (see Table B-17). Construction times by
segment are, however, expected to range from about 8 months to 27 months; similarly,
substation construction times would range from 2 to 9 months. This construction would
take place within the broader timeframes identified in Table B-17, but the exact timing is
unknown. The combined labor requirements by EPC shown in Figure B-15 are,
therefore, based on a representative Project schedule that is used in the EIS for the
purposes of analysis.
Project-wide, the Project workforce would reach a peak of 745 workers in weeks 58 and
59. The construction personnel peak on site in any line segment would be when the
wire stringing operations begin while several other operations are occurring at the same
time, which would likely include excavating holes, installing foundations (500 kV),
hauling materials, assembling structures, and erecting/setting structures.
With respect to each substation, installation of the ground grid, installation of the conduit
and cable trench system, assembly and erection of steel structures, construction of the
control building, and installation of major equipment would start when the foundations
are 50 percent complete and would overlap with each other, resulting in the highest
concentration of the work force on site.

8
EPC contract means that the final engineering, all or some of the procurement, and the construction are performed
by one contractor.
Gateway West Transmission Line Draft EIS
Appendix B Transmission Line and Substation
Components Common to All Action Alternatives
B-51
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
1 10 19 28 37 46 55 64 73 82 91 100 109 118 127 136 145 154 163 172 181 190 199 208 217 226 235 244 253 262 271 280
Week
N
u
m
b
e
r

o
f

J
o
b
s
EPC#1 EPC#2 EPC#3

Figure B-15. Total Projected Labor Force by EPC Analysis Area and Week

The substation work is estimated to take between 40 and 60 personnel at each site.
Site grading requires a small number of people including a surveyor, heavy equipment
operators, foreman, and construction management personnel. Each station would
require numerous concrete crews in order to complete the below grade construction and
concrete placement on schedule. Concrete would be provided by a batch plant
producing approximately 160 cubic yards per day delivered in 8 cubic yard trucks.
Other below-grade crews would be needed to install conduit, cable trench, and ground
mat material. The below-grade crews would be on site overlapping the schedule of the
concrete crew. Several three-person crews working with boom trucks and bucket trucks
would erect the steel and install the physical equipment in the yard. Considering the
size of the substation expansions, this would require approximately three fully equipped
crews per station. Electrical installation would be handled by 20 people arranged into
two-person teams alternating between indoor and outdoor activity. Construction would
generally occur between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Additional hours
may be necessary to make up schedule deficiencies or to complete critical construction
activities.
2.6.2 Construction Equipment and Traffic
Equipment required for construction of the Gateway West transmission lines and
substations would include, but is not limited to, that listed in Tables B-11 through B-14.
These tables also include the anticipated daily duration of equipment use for each
segment for each type. Table B-15 provides an estimate of the average and peak
construction traffic during the construction period.
Gateway West Transmission Line Draft EIS
Appendix B Transmission Line and Substation
Components Common to All Action Alternatives
B
-
5
2

Table B-11. Transmission Line Construction Equipment Requirements Segments 14
Equipment
Segment 1E Segment 1W(a) Segment 1W(c) Segment 2 Segment 3 Segment 4
Qty.
hrs/
day
days/
wk Qty.
hrs/
day
days/
wk Qty.
hrs/
day
days/
wk Qty.
hrs/
day
days/
wk Qty.
hrs/
day
days/
wk Qty.
hrs/
day
days/
wk
Pickup 10 8 6 10 8 6 10 8 6 37 8 6 37 8 6 37 8 6
Bulldozer 3 4 6 3 4 6 3 4 6 6 4 6 6 4 6 6 4 6
Motor Grader 2 4 6 2 4 6 2 4 6 4 4 6 4 4 6 4 4 6
Water Truck 2 6 6 2 6 6 2 6 6 5 6 6 5 6 6 5 6 6
Hole Digger 2 8 6 2 8 6 2 8 6 3 8 6 3 8 6 3 8 6
Truck (2-ton) 3 5 6 3 5 6 3 5 6 5 5 6 5 5 6 5 5 6
Concrete Truck 0 6 6 0 6 6 0 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6
Carry All 12 6 6 12 6 6 12 6 6 26 6 6 26 6 6 26 6 6
Hydro Crane 0 7 6 0 7 6 0 7 6 1 7 6 1 7 6 1 7 6
Crane 7 7 6 7 7 6 7 7 6 22 7 6 22 7 6 22 7 6
Wagon Drill 0 5 6 0 5 6 0 5 6 1 5 6 1 5 6 1 5 6
Steel Haul Truck 2 7 6 2 7 6 2 7 6 4 7 6 4 7 6 4 7 6
Fork Lift 3 6 6 3 6 6 3 6 6 5 6 6 5 6 6 5 6 6
Wire Reel Trailer 6 7 6 6 7 6 6 7 6 12 7 6 12 7 6 12 7 6
Diesel Tractor 5 5 6 5 5 6 5 5 6 12 5 6 12 5 6 12 5 6
Boom Truck (5-ton) 3 6 6 3 6 6 3 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6
Splicing Truck 1 3 6 1 3 6 1 3 6 4 3 6 4 3 6 4 3 6
3-Drum Puller 2 4 6 2 4 6 2 4 6 4 4 6 4 4 6 4 4 6
Single Drum Puller 1 3 6 1 3 6 1 3 6 2 3 6 2 3 6 2 3 6
Tensioner 1 4 6 1 4 6 1 4 6 4 4 6 4 4 6 4 4 6
Sagging Dozer 2 3 6 2 3 6 2 3 6 4 3 6 4 3 6 4 3 6
Static Wire Reel Trailer 2 5 6 2 5 6 2 5 6 4 5 6 4 5 6 4 5 6
Dump Truck 2 4 6 2 4 6 2 4 6 3 4 6 3 4 6 3 4 6
Loader 3 4 6 3 4 6 3 4 6 3 4 6 3 4 6 3 4 6
Light Helicopter 1 6 6 1 6 6 1 6 6 2 6 6 2 6 6 2 6 6
Heavy Helicopter 0 6 6 0 6 6 0 6 6 2 6 6 2 6 6 2 6 6
Gateway West Transmission Line Draft EIS
Appendix B Transmission Line and Substation
Components Common to All Action Alternatives
B
-
5
3

Table B-12. Transmission Line Construction Equipment Requirements Segments 5-10
Equipment
Segment 5 Segment 6
1/
Segment 7 Segment 8 Segment 9 Segment 10
Qty.
hrs/
day
days/
wk Qty.
hrs/
day
days/
wk Qty.
hrs/
day
days/
wk Qty.
hrs/
day
days/
wk Qty.
hrs/
day
days/
wk Qty.
hrs/
day
days/
wk
Pickup 30 8 6 10 8 6 30 8 6 30 8 6 30 8 6 30 8 6
Bulldozer 6 4 6 2 4 6 6 4 6 6 4 6 6 4 6 6 4 6
Motor Grader 4 4 6 2 4 6 4 4 6 4 4 6 4 4 6 4 4 6
Water Truck 3 6 6 1 6 6 3 6 6 3 6 6 3 6 6 3 6 6
Hole Digger 3 8 6 3 8 6 3 8 6 3 8 6 3 8 6 3 8 6
Truck (2-ton) 4 5 6 2 5 6 4 5 6 4 5 6 4 5 6 4 5 6
Concrete Truck 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6
Carry All 17 6 6 4 6 6 17 6 6 17 6 6 17 6 6 17 6 6
Hydro Crane 1 7 6 1 7 6 1 7 6 1 7 6 1 7 6 1 7 6
Crane 16 7 6 2 7 6 16 7 6 16 7 6 16 7 6 16 7 6
Wagon Drill 1 5 6 1 5 6 1 5 6 1 5 6 1 5 6 1 5 6
Steel Haul Truck 4 7 6 4 7 6 4 7 6 4 7 6 4 7 6 4 7 6
Fork Lift 5 6 6 3 6 6 5 6 6 5 6 6 5 6 6 5 6 6
Wire Reel Trailer 6 7 6 6 7 6 6 7 6 6 7 6 6 7 6 6 7 6
Diesel Tractor 6 5 6 6 5 6 6 5 6 6 5 6 6 5 6 6 5 6
Boom Truck (5-ton) 3 6 6 3 6 6 3 6 6 3 6 6 3 6 6 3 6 6
Splicing Truck 2 3 6 2 3 6 2 3 6 2 3 6 2 3 6 2 3 6
3-Drum Puller 2 4 6 2 4 6 2 4 6 2 4 6 2 4 6 2 4 6
Single Drum Puller 1 3 6 1 3 6 1 3 6 1 3 6 1 3 6 1 3 6
Tensioner 2 4 6 2 4 6 2 4 6 2 4 6 2 4 6 2 4 6
Sagging Dozer 2 3 6 2 3 6 2 3 6 2 3 6 2 3 6 2 3 6
Static Wire Reel Trailer 2 5 6 2 5 6 2 5 6 2 5 6 2 5 6 2 5 6
Dump Truck 3 4 6 1 4 6 3 4 6 3 4 6 3 4 6 3 4 6
Loader 3 4 6 1 4 6 3 4 6 3 4 6 3 4 6 3 4 6
Light Helicopter 1 6 6 1 6 6 1 6 6 1 6 6 1 6 6 1 6 6
Heavy Helicopter 1 6 6 1 6 6 1 6 6 1 6 6 1 6 6 1 6 6
1/ Construction work would involve approximately five transmission line structures at each end of Segment 6 to tie into new substation positions.
Gateway West Transmission Line Draft EIS
Appendix B Transmission Line and Substation
Components Common to All Action Alternatives
B
-
5
4

Table B-13. Substation Equipment Requirements Segments 14
Equipment
Windstar Heward Aeolus Creston Anticline
Qty. hrs/
day
days/
wk
Qty. hrs/
day
days/
wk
Qty. hrs/
day
days/
wk
Qty. hrs/
day
days/
wk

Qty.
hrs/
day
days/
wk
Below Grade
Auger 2 10 6 2 10 6 10 10 6 2 10 6 20 10 6
Backhoe 1 10 6 1 10 6 2 10 6 1 10 6 4 10 6
Front Loader 1 10 6 1 10 6 1 10 6 1 10 6 2 10 6
Ditch Witch 1 10 6 1 10 6 2 10 6 1 10 6 4 10 6
Concrete Truck 2 10 6 2 10 6 10 10 6 2 10 6 20 10 6
Water Truck 1 10 6 1 10 6 1 10 6 1 10 6 1 10 6
Dump Truck 1 10 6 1 10 6 1 10 6 1 10 6 4 10 6
Trailer 2 10 6 2 10 6 2 10 6 2 10 6 2 10 6
Crew Truck/Car 2 10 6 2 10 6 4 10 6 2 10 6 8 10 6
Hauler 1 10 6 1 10 6 1 10 6 1 10 6 1 10 6
Skid Steer Loader 1 10 6 1 10 6 1 10 6 1 10 6 2 10 6
Batch Plant 1 10 6 1 10 6 1 10 6 1 10 6 1 10 6
Drill Rig 1 10 6 1 10 6 1 10 6 1 10 6 2 10 6
Truck with Trailer 2 10 6 2 10 6 4 10 6 2 10 6 4 10 6
Compressor 1 10 6 1 10 6 2 10 6 1 10 6 4 10 6
Construction Fork 1 10 6 1 10 6 1 10 6 1 10 6 2 10 6
980 Loader 1 10 6 1 10 6 1 10 6 1 10 6 2 10 6
Vibrating Roller 1 10 6 1 10 6 1 10 6 1 10 6 2 10 6
Inspection Truck 1 10 6 1 10 6 1 10 6 1 10 6 1 10 6
Above Grade
Crane 1 10 6 1 10 6 1 10 6 1 10 6 1 10 6
Bucket Truck 2 10 6 2 10 6 2 10 6 2 10 6 4 10 6
Boom Truck 2 10 6 2 10 6 2 10 6 2 10 6 3 10 6
Fork Lift 1 10 6 1 10 6 1 10 6 1 10 6 2 10 6
Gateway West Transmission Line Draft EIS
Appendix B Transmission Line and Substation
Components Common to All Action Alternatives
B
-
5
5

Table B-14. Substation Equipment Requirements Segments 510
Equipment
Jim Bridger 230- and
345-kV Yards Populus Borah Cedar Hill Midpoint Hemingway
Qty.
hrs/
day
days/
wk
Qty.
hrs/
day
days/
wk
Qty.
hrs/
day
days/
wk
Qty.
hrs/
day
days/
wk
Qty.
hrs/
day
days/
wk
Qty.
hrs/
day
days/
wk
Below Grade
Auger 2 10 6 10 10 6 10 10 6 20 10 6 10 10 6 10 10 6
Backhoe 1 10 6 2 10 6 2 10 6 4 10 6 2 10 6 2 10 6
Front Loader 1 10 6 1 10 6 1 10 6 2 10 6 1 10 6 1 10 6
Ditch Witch 1 10 6 2 10 6 2 10 6 4 10 6 2 10 6 2 10 6
Concrete Truck 2 10 6 10 10 6 10 10 6 20 10 6 10 10 6 10 10 6
Water Truck 1 10 6 1 10 6 1 10 6 1 10 6 1 10 6 1 10 6
Dump Truck 1 10 6 1 10 6 1 10 6 4 10 6 1 10 6 1 10 6
Trailer 2 10 6 2 10 6 2 10 6 2 10 6 2 10 6 2 10 6
Crew Truck/Car 2 10 6 4 10 6 4 10 6 8 10 6 4 10 6 4 10 6
Hauler 1 10 6 1 10 6 1 10 6 1 10 6 1 10 6 1 10 6
Skid Steer
Loader
1 10 6 1 10 6 1 10 6 2 10 6 1 10 6 10 6
Batch Plant 1 10 6 1 10 6 1 10 6 1 10 6 1 10 6 1 10 6
Drill Rig 1 10 6 1 10 6 1 10 6 2 10 6 1 10 6 1 10 6
Truck with Trailer 2 10 6 4 10 6 4 10 6 4 10 6 4 10 6 4 10 6
Compressor 1 10 6 2 10 6 2 10 6 4 10 6 2 10 6 2 10 6
Construction Fork 1 10 6 1 10 6 1 10 6 2 10 6 1 10 6 1 10 6
980 Loader 1 10 6 1 10 6 1 10 6 2 10 6 1 10 6 10 6
Vibrating Roller 1 10 6 1 10 6 1 10 6 2 10 6 1 10 6 10 6
Inspection Truck 1 10 6 1 10 6 1 10 6 1 10 6 1 10 6 1 10 6
Above Grade
Crane 1 10 6 1 10 6 1 10 6 1 10 6 1 10 6 1 10 6
Bucket Truck 2 10 6 2 10 6 2 10 6 4 10 6 2 10 6 2 10 6
Boom Truck 2 10 6 2 10 6 2 10 6 3 10 6 2 10 6 2 10 6
Fork Lift 1 10 6 1 10 6 1 10 6 2 10 6 1 10 6 1 10 6

Gateway West Transmission Line Draft EIS
Appendix B Transmission Line and Substation
Components Common to All Action Alternatives
B-56
Table B-15. Average and Peak Construction Traffic
Vehicle Type Average Dail y Round Trips Peak Dail y Round Trips
Segment 1E
Construction Workers 18 28
Delivery 2 4
Heavy Trucks 10 15
Water Trucks 2 4
Total 32 51
Segment 1W(a)
Construction Workers 13 20
Delivery 2 4
Heavy Trucks 7 11
Water Trucks 2 4
Total 24 39
Segment 1W(c)
Construction Workers 13 20
Delivery 2 4
Heavy Trucks 7 11
Water Trucks 2 4
Total 24 39
Segment 2
Construction Workers 35 50
Delivery 5 8
Heavy Trucks 18 27
Water Trucks 5 8
Total 63 93
Segment 3
Construction Workers 35 50
Delivery 5 8
Heavy Trucks 18 27
Water Trucks 5 8
Total 63 93
Segment 4
Construction Workers 35 50
Delivery 5 8
Heavy Trucks 18 27
Water Trucks 5 8
Total 63 93
Segment 5
Construction Workers 25 40
Delivery 3 6
Heavy Trucks 13 21
Water Trucks 3 6
Total 44 73
Segment 6
Construction Workers 18 30
Delivery 2 4
Heavy Trucks 9 15
Water Trucks 2 4
Total 31 53
Gateway West Transmission Line Draft EIS
Appendix B Transmission Line and Substation
Components Common to All Action Alternatives
B-57
Table B-15. Average and Peak Construction Traffic (continued)
Vehicle Type Average Dail y Round Trips Peak Dail y Round Trips
Segment 7
Construction Workers 25 40
Delivery 3 6
Heavy Trucks 13 21
Water Trucks 3 6
Total 44 73
Segment 8
Construction Workers 25 40
Delivery 3 6
Heavy Trucks 13 21
Water Trucks 3 6
Total 44 73
Segment 9
Construction Workers 25 40
Delivery 3 6
Heavy Trucks 13 21
Water Trucks 3 6
Total 44 73
Segment 10
Construction Workers 25 40
Delivery 3 6
Heavy Trucks 13 21
Water Trucks 3 6
Total 44 73
Windstar Substation
Construction Workers 2 4
Delivery 2 4
Heavy Trucks 8 12
Water Trucks 8 10
Total 20 30
Heward Substation
Construction Workers 2 4
Delivery 2 4
Heavy Trucks 8 12
Water Trucks 8 10
Total 20 30
Aeolus Substation
Construction Workers 2 4
Delivery 2 4
Heavy Trucks 8 12
Water Trucks 8 10
Total 20 30
Creston Substation
Construction Workers 2 4
Delivery 2 4
Heavy Trucks 8 12
Water Trucks 8 10
Total 20 30
Gateway West Transmission Line Draft EIS
Appendix B Transmission Line and Substation
Components Common to All Action Alternatives
B-58
Table B-15. Average and Peak Construction Traffic (continued)
Vehicle Type Average Dail y Round Trips Peak Dail y Round Trips
Anticline Substation
Construction Workers 2 4
Delivery 2 4
Heavy Trucks 8 12
Water Trucks 8 10
Total 20 30
Jim Bridger 230-kV and 345-kV Yards
Construction Workers 2 4
Delivery 2 4
Heavy Trucks 8 12
Water Trucks 8 10
Total 20 30
Populus Substation
Construction Workers 2 4
Delivery 2 4
Heavy Trucks 8 12
Water Trucks 8 10
Total 20 30
Borah Substation
Construction Workers 2 4
Delivery 2 4
Heavy Trucks 8 12
Water Trucks 8 10
Total 20 30
Cedar Hill Substation
Construction Workers 2 4
Delivery 2 4
Heavy Trucks 8 12
Water Trucks 8 10
Total 20 30
Midpoint Substation
Construction Workers 2 4
Delivery 2 4
Heavy Trucks 8 12
Water Trucks 8 10
Total 20 30
Hemingway Substation
Construction Workers 2 4
Delivery 2 4
Heavy Trucks 8 12
Water Trucks 8 10
Total 20 30
Construction access would occur at several locations along the transmission line route,
resulting in dispersed construction traffic.
The equipment required for transmission line construction is similar for both the 500-kV
and 230-kV lines, although the equipment needed for 230-kV line construction is
generally smaller than for 500-kV construction. The following is a summary of
anticipated equipment to be used for each construction activity. Survey work only
requires the use of pickup trucks or ATVs. Road construction would utilize pickups,
bulldozers, motor graders, and water trucks. To dig holes and directly embed the 230-
Gateway West Transmission Line Draft EIS
Appendix B Transmission Line and Substation
Components Common to All Action Alternatives
B-59
kV H-frame poles or install 500-kV foundations it is anticipated that pickup trucks, 2-ton
trucks, hole diggers, bulldozers, concrete trucks, water trucks, carry alls, cranes, hydro
crane, wagon drill, dump trucks, and front-end loaders would be used. Hauling steel, or
poles, braces and hardware for the 230-kV lines, to the structure sites would require the
use of steel haul trucks, carry alls, cranes, and forklifts. For assembly and erection of
structures it is anticipated that pickup trucks, 2-ton trucks, carry alls, cranes, and a
heavy lift helicopter may be used. Wire installation requires the most equipment
including pickups, wire reel trailers, diesel tractors, cranes, 5-ton boom trucks, splicing
trucks, three drum pullers, single drum pullers, tensioners, sagging dozers, carry alls,
static wire reel trailers, and a light helicopter. Final cleanup, reclamation, and
restoration would utilize pickups, 2-ton trucks, bulldozers, motor graders, dump trucks,
front-end loaders, and water trucks. The highest level of traffic would be when the wire
stringing operations begin while several other operations are occurring at the same time
which would likely include excavating holes, installing foundations, hauling steel,
assembling structures, and erecting structures.
For the substation work, the highest level of traffic would be during site grading and
foundation installation. As tabulated in Table B-16, varying amounts of solid waste and soil
not be suitable for re-use at each site would have to be disposed of off site at a remote
location. Dump trucks would be leaving and returning to the site on a constant basis each
day for the duration of the site grading. The volume of concrete required at each site will vary
in proportion to the size of the substation site, and may be up to 7,000 cubic yards of
concrete at the very large substations. Delivering, placing, and finishing concrete is labor
intensive. Once concrete placement is complete, traffic on the surrounding roads would
subside. Workers would arrive in the morning and leave at the end of the day. The balance
of daily traffic would be material deliveries from storerooms, which would probably be one or
two trips per day. Each substation would require the delivery of permitted loads such as
transformers and/or reactors. Each reactor or transformer bank required would require four
large multiple-wheel lowboy trucks. Delivery would be scheduled to match the completion of
their respective foundations.
2.6.3 Removal of Facilities and Waste Disposal
Substation and ROW construction would generate a variety of solid wastes including
concrete, hardware, and wood debris. The solid wastes generated during construction
would be recycled or hauled away for disposal. Excavation along the ROW and at
substations would generate solid wastes that could potentially be used as fill; however,
some of the excavated material would be removed for disposal. Excavated material
that is clean and dry would be spread along the ROW. The volumes shown in
Table B-16 reflect the waste that would be hauled away and not disposed of in the
ROW for each segment during construction of Gateway West.
The majority of waste associated with substation construction results from spoils
created during site grading. The values shown in Table B-16 reflect the amount of
vegetation and rock larger than 6 inches in diameter that cannot be processed and
converted into backfill for compaction. Very little of the soil excavated during foundation
installation is waste product. Above-grade waste would be packing material such as
crates, pallets, and paper wrapping to protect equipment during shipping. It is assumed
a 12-yard dumpster would be filled once a week with waste material for the duration of
each substation project.
Gateway West Transmission Line Draft EIS
Appendix B Transmission Line and Substation
Components Common to All Action Alternatives

B
-
6
0

Table B-16. Solid Waste Generation from Construction Activities
Total Solid Waste by Substation (cubic yards)
Acti vit y
Windstar
Substati on
Heward
Substati on
Aeol us
Substati on
Creston
Substati on
Anti cli ne
Substati on
Jim Bridger
230-kV and
345-kV Yards
Popul us
Substati on
Borah
Substati on
Cedar Hill
Substati on
Midpoi nt
Substati on
Hemingway
Substati on
Substation Grading/
Site Work
250 250 8,700 50 16,200 250 2,500 1,400 5,400 4,800 -
Substation Construction
(Below Grade)
65 65 474 18 1272 65 601 148 1,075 729 229
Substation Construction
(Above Grade)
144 144 192 120 432 144 192 192 432 192 192
Acti vit y
Segment 1E Segment 1W(a) Segment 1W(c) Segment 2 Segment 3
/
Segment 4
Excavation
Removal
Total (yard)
Other
Soli d
Waste
Total
(yard)
Excavation
Removal
Total (yard)
Other
Soli d
Waste
Total
(yard)
Excavation
Removal
Total
(yard)
Other
Soli d
Waste
Total
(yard)
Excavation
Removal
Total (yard)
Other
Soli d
Waste
Total
(yard)
Excavation
Removal
Total
(yard)
Other
Soli d
Waste
Total
(yard)
Excavation
Removal
Total (yard)
Other
Soli d
Waste
Total
(yard)
230-kV Structure Install ation
230-kV Sgl Ckt - H-frame Family (includes angle
& dead-ends)
0 337,801 0 163,500 0 160,100 - - - - - -
500-kV Structure Install ation
500-kV Sgl Ckt - Tangent Lattice Tower - - - - - - - - - - - -
500-kV Sgl Ckt - Small Angle Lattice Tower - - - - - - - - - - - -
500-kV Sgl Ckt - Medium Angle Lattice Tower - - - - - - - - - - - -
500-kV Sgl Ckt - Medium Dead-End Lattice Tower - - - - - - - - - - - -
500-kV Sgl Ckt - Heavy Dead-End Lattice Tower - - - - - - - - - - - -
500-kV Dbl Ckt - Tangent Lattice Tower - - - - - - 0 302,595 0 178,086 0 657,257
500-kV Dbl Ckt - Small Angle Lattice Tower - - - - - - 0 43,228 0 25,441 0 93,894
500-kV Dbl Ckt - Medium Angle Lattice Tower - - - - - - 0 21,614 0 12,720 0 46,947
500-kV Dbl Ckt - Medium Dead-End Lattice Tower - - - - - - 0 43,228 0 25,441 0 93,894
500-kV Dbl Ckt - Heavy Dead-End Lattice Tower - - - - - - 0 21,614 0 12,720 0 46,947

Acti vit y
Segment 5 Segment 6 Segment 7 Segment 8 Segment 9 Segment 10
Excavation
Removal
Total (yard)
Other
Soli d
Waste
Total
(yard)
Excavation
Removal
Total (yard)
Other
Soli d
Waste
Total
(yard)
Excavation
Removal
Total
(yard)
Other
Soli d
Waste
Total
(yard)
Excavation
Removal
Total (yard)
Other
Soli d
Waste
Total
(yard)
Excavation
Removal
Total
(yard)
Other
Soli d
Waste
Total
(yard)
Excavation
Removal
Total (yard)
Other
Soli d
Waste
Total
(yard)
230-kV Structure Install ation
230-kV Sgl Ckt - H-frame Family (includes angle
& dead-ends)
- - - - - - - - - - - -
500-kV Structure Install ation
500-kV Sgl Ckt - Tangent Lattice Tower 0 66,286 0 2,933 0 147,530 0 164,248 0 198,271 0 41,355
500-kV Sgl Ckt - Small Angle Lattice Tower 0 9,469 0 419 0 21,076 0 23,464 0 28,324 0 5,908
500-kV Sgl Ckt - Medium Angle Lattice Tower 0 4,735 0 210 0 10,538 0 11,732 0 14,162 0 2,954
500-kV Sgl Ckt - Medium Dead-End Lattice Tower 0 9,469 0 419 0 21,076 0 23,464 0 28,324 0 5,908
500-kV Sgl Ckt - Heavy Dead-End Lattice Tower 0 4,735 0 210 0 10,538 0 11,732 0 14,162 0 2,954
500-kV Dbl Ckt - Tangent Lattice Tower - - - - - - - - - - - -
500-kV Dbl Ckt - Small Angle Lattice Tower - - - - - - - - - - - -
500-kV Dbl Ckt - Medium Angle Lattice Tower - - - - - - - - - - - -
500-kV Dbl Ckt - Medium Dead-End Lattice Tower - - - - - - - - - - - -
500-kV Dbl Ckt - Heavy Dead-End Lattice Tower - - - - - - - - - - - -
Gateway West Transmission Line Draft EIS
Appendix B Transmission Line and Substation
Components Common to All Action Alternatives
B-61
2.6.4 Construction Schedule
The Proponents intend to continue to refine the design of the Gateway West during the
BLM approval process in order to immediately commence construction if the Project is
approved. Final engineering surveys would determine the exact locations of towers,
access roads, and other features prior to the start of construction and would be included
in the Plan of Development. Due to the broad scope of construction, the varied nature
of construction activities, and the geographic diversity of the Project area, the
Proponents intend to hire multiple contractors to complete Project work within the
projected timeframe and in accordance with industry performance standards. The
Proposed Action would involve three separate EPC contracts and division of the Project
into discrete construction phases. Table B-17 shows the planned construction start and
end dates for each phase. Multiple segments would be under construction at the same
time. The Proponents developed a Project construction schedule based on this
strategy. The greatest construction activity would occur in the first 2 years.
Although the construction rate of progress would be reduced in the winter, the
Proponents have planned an aggressive schedule and it is anticipated that construction
would continue through the winter months in the lower-elevation areas of the Project,
except during winter storms. In the higher-elevation areas of the Project, winter storms
and snow would limit access to the ROW, for example in Segment 4 in western
Wyoming and eastern Idaho. In these areas, it is expected that construction would be
suspended on some portions of the ROW during the peak winter months and
construction resources would either be demobilized or shifted to other segments of the
Project.
Transmission line construction commences with contractor mobilization. The contractor
would mobilize equipment and personnel to the construction site at various stages in the
Project schedule depending on operational requirements. This would cumulatively
require approximately 6 weeks throughout the schedule for each segment.
Construction management, engineering support, inspection, materials handling, and
administration are required throughout the Project. First, surveyors would start at one
end of the segment and stake the locations of access roads. Road construction can
start 1 to 2 weeks after the surveyors begin, which may require clearing in higher
elevations where tree removal is required prior to road construction. After a couple of
weeks of road construction another survey crew can begin staking the structure
locations. A week or two after the survey crew starts staking structure locations,
excavation of holes for foundations for 500-kV towers, or for directly embedded poles
for 230-kV structures, can begin. For 500-kV construction, the installation of the
concrete pier foundations would begin within the next couple of weeks. The foundations
need time to cure and develop to full structural strength (i.e., compression capacity)
before lattice towers can be installed. Five to six weeks after foundation installation has
begun, lattice tower assembly and erection can begin. For 230-kV construction,
structure assembly and setting can begin immediately after the excavation of holes has
begun. For 230-kV and 500-kV construction, the wire installation crews would start
approximately 8 to 12 weeks after assembly and erection/setting begins. This would be
followed by final cleanup, reclamation, and restoration.
Gateway West Transmission Line Draft EIS
Appendix B Transmission Line and Substation
Components Common to All Action Alternatives

B
-
6
2

Table B-17. Construction Schedule 1
Segment
Number
Segment or Substation
Name
Primaril y Wyoming Primaril y Idaho
Phase 1 Phase 1 Phase 2
Start June 2013 End Dec 2018 Start Mar 2013 End Dec 2018 Start May 2015 End Dec 2018
Windstar Substation Windstar Expansion
Heward Substation Heward Substation
Aeolus Substation Aeolus Expansion
Creston Substation Creston Substation
Populus Substation Populus Expansion
Anticline Substation Anticline (Includes 230-kV and
345-kV bays at existing J im Bridger
Substation)
1E Windstar Aeolus #2 Single-Circuit 230-kV
1W(a) Windstar Aeolus #1 Single-Circuit 230-kV and rebuild a
short section of the existing single-
circuit 230-kV line
1W(c) Dave J ohnston Heward
Aeolus
Rebuild the existing single circuit 230-
kV and build a short section a new
single-circuit 230 kV line
2 Aeolus Creston Double-Circuit 500-kV
1/

3 Creston Anticline Double-Circuit 500-kV
1/

3A Anticline J im Bridger
345-kV Substation
Single-Circuit 345-kV
3B J im Bridger 230-kV
Substation
2/

Single-Circuit 230-kV
4 Anticline Populus Double-Circuit 500-kV
Populus Substation Populus Expansion
Cedar Hill Substation Cedar Hill Substation
Hemingway Substation Hemingway Expansion
7 Populus Cedar Hill Single-Circuit 500-kV
9 Cedar Hill Hemingway Single-Circuit 500-kV
10 Midpoint Cedar Hill Single-Circuit 500-kV
Borah Substation Borah Expansion
Midpoint Substation Midpoint Expansion
Hemingway Substation Hemingway Expansion
5 Populus Borah Single-Circuit 500-kV
6 Borah Midpoint
3/
Existing single-circuit
8 Midpoint Hemingway Single-Circuit 500-kV
1/ Constructed to 500-kV standards but one circuit initially operated at 230 kV and the other at 500 kV.
2/ Termination for Creston Anticline circuit when initially operated at 230 kV.
3/ Existing single circuit constructed to 500-kV standards (energized from 345 kV to 500 kV).
Gateway West Transmission Line Draft EIS
Appendix B Transmission Line and Substation
Components Common to All Action Alternatives
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Substation construction includes five activities: 1) site grading (grading and access road
development), 2) below-grade construction (primarily the installation of foundations, 3)
above-grade construction (steel erection and building construction), 4) electrical
(installation and termination of control wiring), and 5) testing (functional testing of control
and monitoring schemes). Typically, these activities overlap and complement each other,
allowing the construction of a substation to proceed more quickly than line construction. It
is estimated that the site grading activity and access road work for Gateway West
substations would take 4 to 8 weeks to complete, depending on the size of the site.
Below-grade construction can be completed in 3 months or less for all substations that
are expansions of existing substations. In these cases the basic infrastructure is already
in place, having been installed with the initial substation and designed for the future
expansion requirements. Only the new substations would take longer to complete.
Above-grade construction duration is highly dependent on the level of construction force
the contractor chooses. Due to the size of each station, many crews can work on steel
erection and equipment assembly without interfering with each other. The greatest
amount of schedule recovery or acceleration in a stations construction schedule can be
achieved during this timeframe. It is estimated that for the majority of the substations the
erection of steel, bus assembly, and major equipment assembly can be completed in
between 4 months for the smaller substations and 6 months for the larger substations.
Electrical construction is a long and labor-intensive task. Although multiple crews can
work in a yard at any given time, the space in a control building is very limited and
would determine the length of this task. In the case of each of these stations, given the
size and type of equipment to be installed, there would be miles of cable to be pulled
into conduit and duct banks and thousands of connections to be made and double
checked prior to the start of testing. New substations would take longer than existing
substations that already have the basic infrastructure in place.
Prior to starting construction, the Proponents may be required to conduct on-site surveys
in accordance with applicable protocols or mitigation measures adopted by BLM and
other agencies as Project conditions. Accordingly, adjustments might occur to the Project
schedule as necessary to avoid sensitive resources. Pre-construction activities, including
pre-construction environmental surveys, materials procurement, design, contracting,
ROW acquisition, and permitting efforts, are not shown in the summary schedule.
The schedule is predicated upon the Proponents ability to complete the following tasks
in a timely manner:
Secure all necessary permit approvals;
Secure agency support;
Complete biological and cultural survey work;
Construct within environmental time constraints;
Order and receive equipment;
Secure construction contractor resources and associated construction equipment;
and
Maintain continuous construction activity with no delay due to environmental,
administrative, or legal issues.
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Components Common to All Action Alternatives
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Components Common to All Action Alternatives
B-65
3 SYSTEM OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE
The 500-kV transmission lines to be constructed as part of the Project will comprise
critical infrastructure of the RMP and Idaho Power transmission systems, and of the
western U.S. electrical grid. Limiting the duration of unplanned outages and planning
for the use of live-line maintenance techniques to minimize the requirement for any
outages is an important part of the design, construction, and operations/maintenance
requirements for this Project.
3.1 Routine System Operation and Maintenance
The goal of the Proponents is to provide their customers with a reliable supply of
electricity while maintaining the overall integrity of the regional electrical grid. The
Proponents obligation to maintain reliable operation of the electrical system is
documented in the Proponents agreements with the various states through the public
service commissions and is directed through compliance with industry standard codes
and practices such as the NESC (ANSI C2), which governs the design and operation of
high-voltage electric utility systems.
In 2005, Congress passed the Energy Policy Act of 2005, which provided a regulatory
basis for the implementation of specific incentives (and penalties) for maintaining
reliable service, among other issues. As a result of the passage of the Act, the FERC
selected the NERC to act as the enforcement agency for compliance with electric utility
reliability and operating standards, among other issues. The Proponents are required to
be in compliance with the various reliability standards promulgated through the
implementation of the NERC policies and procedures. Additionally, PacifiCorp and
Idaho Power are governed by the WECC standards that may be in addition to or more
stringent than those currently required by NERC (see also Section 1.3.3.3 for further
description of these regulatory agencies). In response, the Proponents have prepared
internal operation and maintenance policies and procedures designed to meet the
requirements of the NERC, WECC, and the state public utility commissions, while
remaining in compliance with the applicable codes and standards with respect to
maintaining the reliability of the electrical system.
Operations and maintenance activities would include transmission line patrols, climbing
inspections, tower and wire maintenance, insulator washing in selected areas as
needed, and access roads repairs. The Proponents would keep necessary work areas
around structures clear of vegetation and would limit the height of vegetation along the
ROW. Periodic inspection and maintenance of each of the substations and
communications facilities is also a key part of operating and maintaining the electrical
system. The following sections provide details on the anticipated operation and
maintenance activities for Gateway West.
After the transmission line has been energized, land uses that are compatible with
safety regulations would be permitted in and adjacent to the ROW. Existing land uses
such as agriculture and grazing are generally permitted within the ROW. Incompatible
land uses within the ROW include construction and maintenance of inhabited dwellings
and any use requiring changes in surface elevation that would affect electrical
clearances of existing or planned facilities.
Gateway West Transmission Line Draft EIS
Appendix B Transmission Line and Substation
Components Common to All Action Alternatives
B-66
Land uses that comply with local regulations would be permitted adjacent to the ROW.
Compatible uses of the ROW on public lands would have to be approved by the
appropriate agency. Permission to use the ROW on private lands would have to be
obtained from the utility owning the transmission line.
3.1.1 Routine System Inspection, Maintenance, and Repair
Regular inspection of transmission lines, substations, and support systems is critical for
safe, efficient, and economical operation of the Project.
3.1.2 Transmission Line Maintenance
Regular ground and aerial inspections would be performed in accordance with the
Proponents established policies and procedures for transmission line inspection and
maintenance. The Proponents transmission lines and substations would be inspected
for corrosion, equipment misalignment, loose fittings, vandalism, and other mechanical
problems. The need for vegetation management would also be determined during
inspection patrols.
Inspection of the entire transmission line system would be conducted semi-annually.
Aerial inspection would be conducted by helicopter semi-annually and would require two
or three crew members, including the pilot. Detailed ground inspections would take
place on an annual basis using service roads to each structure. Ground inspection
would use 4x4 trucks or 4x4 ATVs. The inspector would assess the condition of the
transmission line and hardware to determine if any components need to be repaired or
replaced, or if other conditions exist that require maintenance or modification activities.
The inspector would also note any unauthorized encroachments and trash dumping on
the ROW that could constitute a safety hazard. The inspector would access each of the
structure locations along each line and use binoculars and spotting scopes to perform
this inspection.
3.1.3 Hardware Maintenance and Repairs
Routine maintenance activities are ordinary maintenance tasks that have historically
been performed and are regularly carried out on a routine basis. The work performed is
typically repair or replacement of individual components (no new ground disturbance),
performed by relatively small crews using a minimum of equipment, and usually is
conducted within a period from a few hours up to a few days. Work requires access to
the damaged portion of the line to allow for a safe and efficient repair of the facility.
Equipment required for this work may include 4-wheel-drive trucks, material (flatbed)
trucks, bucket trucks (low reach), boom trucks (high reach), or personnel lifts. This work
is scheduled and is typically required due to issues found during inspections. Typical
items that may require periodic replacement on a 500-kV tower include insulators,
hardware or tower members. It is expected that these replacements would be required
infrequently.
The Proponents plan to conduct maintenance on the critical 500-kV and 230-kV system
using live line maintenance techniques. Maintenance on the transmission lines can be
completed safely using live line techniques thereby avoiding an outage to the critical
transmission line infrastructure. High reach bucket trucks along with other equipment
are used to conduct these activities. For the 500-kV lattice tower structures, this
requires that adequate space be available at each structure site so that the high reach
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Appendix B Transmission Line and Substation
Components Common to All Action Alternatives
B-67
bucket truck can be positioned to one side or the other of the structure and reach up
and over the lower phases to access the upper center phase for live-line maintenance
procedures. For the 230-kV H-frame structures, this requires that adequate space be
available at each structure site so that a bucket truck can be positioned to access the
outside phases. To allow room at each structure for these activities, in low slope areas
a pad area is required with the structure in the center of 300 feet (ROW width) by 100
feet longitudinal for the double-circuit 500-kV structure, 250 feet by 100 feet for the
single-circuit 500-kV structure, and 125 feet by 50 feet for the 230-kV H-frame structure.
Figures B-16 through B-18 depict the space requirements for live-line maintenance.
The size and location of these required pads near the structures may vary depending on
the side slope and access road at each site. The work areas and pads would be
cleared to the extent needed to safely complete the work. These pads would remain in
place after construction, but would be revegetated after the initial construction is
completed.
3.1.4 Access Road and Work Area Repair
ROW repairs include grading or repair of existing maintenance access roads and work
areas, and spot repair of sites subject to flooding or scouring. Required equipment may
include a grader, backhoe, four-wheel-drive pickup truck, and a tracked-loader or
bulldozer. The cat-loader has steel tracks whereas the grader, backhoe, and truck
typically have rubber tires. Repairs to the ROW would be scheduled as a result of line
inspections, or would occur in response to an emergency situation.
3.1.5 Vegetation Management
The Proponents must maintain work areas adjacent to electrical transmission structures
and along the ROW for vehicle and equipment access necessary for operations,
maintenance, and repair, including for live-line maintenance activities as described in
Section 3.1.3, under Hardware Maintenance and Repairs. During schedule vegetation
management activities, tall growing species, large shrubs and other obstructions would
be removed near structures to facilitate a safe working environment for inspection and
maintenance of equipment and to ensure system reliability. At a minimum, trees and
large brush would be cleared within a 25-foot radius of the base or foundation of all
electrical transmission structures, and to accommodate equipment pads to conduct live
line maintenance operations as noted.
Vegetation management practices along the ROW would be in accordance with the
Idaho Power and PacifiCorp clearing specifications and vegetation management plans
(Idaho Power 2008; PacifiCorp 2007c; and Appendix C-4). Much of the transmission
line route traverses arid country characterized by low-growing vegetation, while higher
elevations receive more precipitation and exhibit more vegetation. The wire-border
zone method to controlling vegetation is an approach used by PacifiCorp (2007c). This
method results in two zones of clearing and revegetation. The wire zone is the linear
area along the ROW under the wires and extending 10 feet outside of the outermost
phase conductor. After initial clearing, vegetation in the wire zone would be maintained
to consist of native grasses, legumes, herbs, ferns, and other low-growing shrubs that
remain under 5 feet tall at maturity. The border zone is the linear area along each side
of the ROW extending from the wire zone to the edge of the ROW. Vegetation in the
border zone would be maintained to consist of tall shrubs or short trees (up to 25 feet
Gateway West Transmission Line Draft EIS
Appendix B Transmission Line and Substation
Components Common to All Action Alternatives
B-68

Figure B-16. Live-line Maintenance Space Requirements, 230 kV
Gateway West Transmission Line Draft EIS
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Components Common to All Action Alternatives
B-69

Figure B-17. Live-line Maintenance Space Requirements, Single-Circuit 500 kV
Gateway West Transmission Line Draft EIS
Appendix B Transmission Line and Substation
Components Common to All Action Alternatives
B-70

Figure B-18. Live-line Maintenance Space Requirements, Double-Circuit 500 kV
Gateway West Transmission Line Draft EIS
Appendix B Transmission Line and Substation
Components Common to All Action Alternatives
B-71
high at maturity), grasses, and forbs. These cover plants benefit the ROW by
competing with and excluding undesirable plants. The width of the wire and border
zones is depicted in Figure B-19 for the 230-kV H-frame and single- and double-circuit
tower line segments. During operations, vegetation growth would be monitored and
managed to maintain the wire-border zone objectives. Idaho Powers approach is to
remove all tree species within the ROW where the conductor ground clearance is less
than 50 feet, leaving grasses, legumes, herbs, ferns, and low-growing shrubs within the
ROW. When conductor ground clearance is greater than 50 feet, for example a canyon
or ravine, the Proponents make provisions for allowing trees and shrubs to remain,
provided they do not violate minimum clearance thresholds set forth by their respective
companies.
Vegetation would be removed using mechanical equipment such as chain saws, weed
trimmers, rakes, shovels, mowers, and brush hooks. Clearing efforts in heavy growth
areas would use equipment such as a Hydro-Ax or similar. The duration of activities
and the size of crew and equipment required would depend on the amount and size of
the vegetation to be trimmed or removed.
In selected areas, herbicides may be used to control noxious weeds and to meet
vegetation management objectives. All herbicide applications would be performed in
accordance with federal, state, and local regulations, and in compliance with managing
land agency requirements.
3.1.6 Substation and Regeneration Station Maintenance
Substation and regeneration station monitoring and control functions are performed
remotely from the Proponents central operations facilities located at PacifiCorps
operation center in Portland, Oregon, and by Idaho Power from their operation center in
Boise, Idaho. Unauthorized entry into substations or regeneration stations is prevented
with the provision of fencing and locked gates. Warning signs would be posted and
entry to the operating facilities would be restricted to authorized personnel. Gateway
West substations and regeneration stations would not be staffed; however, a remotely
monitored security system would be installed. Several forms of security are planned for
each of the locations, although the security arrangements at each of the substations or
regeneration stations may differ somewhat. Security measures may include fire
detection in the control building via the remote monitoring system; alarming for forced
entry; and a perimeter security system coupled with remote sensing infrared camera
equipment in the fenced area of the station to provide visual observation/confirmation to
the system operator of disturbances at the fence line.
Maintenance activities include equipment testing, equipment monitoring and repair, and
emergency and routine procedures for service continuity and preventive maintenance.
It is anticipated that maintenance at each substation would require approximately six
trips per year by a 2- to 4-person crew. Routine operations would require one or two
workers in a light utility truck to visit the substations monthly. Typically, once per year a
major maintenance inspection would take place requiring up to 15 personnel for 1 to 3
weeks. Regeneration stations would be visited every 2 to 3 months by one individual in
a light truck to inspect the facilities. Annual maintenance would be performed by a two
man crew in a light truck over a 2- to 5-day period. If substation landscaping is required
Gateway West Transmission Line Draft EIS
Appendix B Transmission Line and Substation
Components Common to All Action Alternatives
B-72

Single Circuit 230 kV

Single-Circuit 500 kV

Double-Circuit 500 kV
Figure B-19. Right-of-Way Vegetation Management
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Components Common to All Action Alternatives
B-73

Figure B-20. Right-of-Way Vegetation Management in Steep Terrain

by the permitting agency, drought-tolerant plant materials would be used to minimize
watering requirements after plant establishment.
Safety lighting at the substations would be provided inside the substation fence for the
purpose of emergency repair work. Because night activities are not expected to occur
more than once per year, the safety lighting inside the substation fence would normally
be turned off. One floodlight, mounted near the entry gate to safely illuminate the
substation entry gate, may be left on during nighttime hours.
3.2 Emergency Response
The operation of the system is remotely managed and monitored from control rooms at
PacifiCorps operation center in Portland, Oregon, and by Idaho Power from their
operation center in Boise, Idaho. Electrical outages or variations from normal operating
protocols would be sensed and reported at these operation centers. As well, the
substations are equipped with remote monitoring, proximity alarms, and in some cases
video surveillance.
Zone Plant Species
Zone A: Grasses, legumes, herbs,
ferns and low growing shrubs.
Zone B: all deciduous and conifer
trees.
Zone Definition
Zone A: When the conductor to ground clearance
is less than 50, all tree species should be
removed.
Zone B: When the conductor to ground clearance
is greater than 50, all tree species should be
removed if they have less than 50 of clearance,
25 minimum.
Gateway West Transmission Line Draft EIS
Appendix B Transmission Line and Substation
Components Common to All Action Alternatives
B-74
The implementation of routine operation and maintenance activities on powerlines
would minimize the need for most emergency repairs. Emergency maintenance
activities are often those activities necessary to repair natural hazard, fire, or human-
caused damages to a line. Such work is required to eliminate a safety hazard, prevent
imminent damage to the powerline, or restore service if there is an outage. In an
emergency, the Proponents must respond as quickly as possible to restore power.
The equipment necessary to carry out emergency repairs is similar to that necessary to
conduct routine maintenance, in most cases. Emergency response to outages may
require additional equipment to complete the repairs. For example, where the site of
the outage is remote, helicopters may be used to respond quickly to emergencies.
In practice, as soon as an incident is detected, the control room dispatchers would notify
the responsible operations staff in the area(s) affected and crews and equipment would
be organized and dispatched to respond to the incident.
Fire Protection
All federal, state, and county laws, ordinances, rules, and regulations pertaining to fire
prevention and suppression would be strictly adhered to. All personnel would be
advised of their responsibilities under the applicable fire laws and regulations.
When working on Public Lands, the Proponents employees and contractors would carry
required suppression tools and equipment. The Proponents or their construction
contractor would notify local fire authorities and the BLM or Forest Service (as
appropriate) if a Project-related fire occurs within or adjacent to a construction area.
If the Proponents become aware of an emergency situation that is caused by a fire on
or threatening BLM-managed or NFS lands and that could damage the transmission
lines or their operation, they would notify the appropriate agency contact. Specific
construction-related activities and safety measures would be implemented during
construction of the transmission line to prevent fires and to ensure quick response and
suppression if a fire occurs. Typical practices to prevent fires during construction and
maintenance/repair activities include brush clearing prior to work, stationing a water
truck at the job site to keep the ground and vegetation moist in extreme fire conditions,
enforcing red flag warnings, providing fire behavior training to all pertinent personnel,
keeping vehicles on or within designated roads or work areas, and providing fire
suppression equipment and emergency notification numbers at each construction site.
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Appendix B Transmission Line and Substation
Components Common to All Action Alternatives
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4 DECOMMISSIONING
The proposed transmission line would have a projected operational life of 50 years or
longer. At the end of the useful life of the Project and if the facility were no longer
required, the transmission line would be removed from service. At such time,
conductors, insulators, and hardware would be dismantled and removed from the ROW.
Structures would be removed and foundations removed to below ground surface.
Following abandonment and removal of the transmission line structures and equipment
from the ROW, any areas disturbed during line dismantling would be restored and
rehabilitated. In the same way, if a substation is no longer required, the substation
structures and equipment would be dismantled and removed from the site. The station
structures would be disassembled and either re-used at another station or sold for
scrap. Major equipment such as breakers, transformers, and reactors would be
removed, refurbished, and stored for use at another facility. Foundations would be
either abandoned in-place or cut off below ground level and buried.
The Proponents describe roads necessary for the operation and maintenance of
transmission lines as either access roads or service roads. The sole purpose of service
roads is to provide maintenance crews access to the transmission lines. These roads
would not exist if the transmission lines did not exist. In contrast, access roads serve a
broader purpose, such as contributing to the federal, county, or state road systems.
Access roads provide direct or indirect access to the transmission lines, but that access
is not their primary purpose. The Proponents are responsible for the reclamation of
service roads following abandonment and in accordance with the landowners direction,
but are not responsible for reclamation of access roads unless mutually agreed upon by
the Proponents and the landowner or required by the land management agency.
Service roads would be decommissioned following removal of the structures and lines
and may be decommissioned while the lines are in-service if they are determined to no
longer be necessary.
The Proponents may decommission service roads by 1) entering into an agreement with
the BLM or Forest Service under which the agencies restore the road located on federal
lands and are reimbursed for costs by the Proponents, or 2) the Proponents or their
contractor implement restoration measures as described below.
When a service road has been identified as no longer necessary, the road will be
reclaimed and seeded as soon as possible during the optimal seeding season. In some
cases, reseeding may not be necessary, given the existing amount of soil compaction
and vegetation currently in place. Where required by the land management agency,
compacted areas would be ripped and appropriate sediment control measures would be
implemented.
The seed mix used for any restoration and revegetation project would be determined in
consultation with the landowner or land management agency. All seed and plant
material used on federal lands would be approved by the land management agency. All
seed would meet all of the requirements of the Federal Seed Act and applicable Idaho
and Wyoming laws regarding seeds and noxious weeds. Only seed certified as
noxious weed free would be used. If requested, the Proponents or their contractor
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would provide the landowner with evidence of seed certification. Any seed mixture
would not contain aggressive, non-native species that might invade the site. Where
necessary, the surface of the ground would be prepared prior to seeding. Where
practical, the Proponents would follow these guidelines for preparing the seedbed:
1. The road surface would be cleared of foreign materials, such as garbage, paper,
and other materials, but all rocks, limbs, or minor woody debris would be left in
place. The Proponents or their contractor would prepare the seedbed
immediately prior to seeding.
2. Under favorable soil-moisture conditions, a standard disk or spring bar harrow
would be used (where ripping is not required) to roughen the topsoil layer to
create the desired surface texture before the seed is applied. Dirt clods and
chiseled voids resulting from the roughening process increase the surface area
for water collection and provide microsites for seed establishment. The soil
should be disked or harrowed to no more than 2 inches deep at a time when soil
moisture allows the surface to remain rough, with clods approximately 2 to
4 inches in diameter.
3. Ripping, disking, or harrowing would be performed parallel to surface contours.
In this way, downslope alignment of furrows can be avoided. In areas that
already have the desired soil characteristics, the seedbed does not need to be
prepared.
After the seedbed has been prepared, the Proponents or their contractor would
broadcast the seed on the disturbed area, after which the seed would be lightly
harrowed into the roadbed or raked into the ground. Mulch and fertilizers would be
added if necessary. An area would not be seeded when wind velocities prohibit the
seed mix from being applied evenly. If the seed does not germinate and establish to an
agreed-upon level of vegetation cover (e.g., consistent with adjacent site conditions)
after two growing seasons, the Proponents or their contractor would reseed during a
period acceptable to the landowner. On NFS lands, the Proponents would be
responsible for monitoring the effectiveness of soil protection and restoration measures
and would take corrective measures as needed to ensure long-term soil protection.
Other seeding methods, such as drilling, hydroseeding, or aerial application, may be
used depending on the area that requires reclamation and site conditions.