Transmission System Vegetation Management Program
Office of NEPA Policy and Compliance
June 23, 2000
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Bonneville Power Administration Transmission System Vegetation Management Program
Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) is responsible for maintaining a network of 24,000 kilometers or 15,000 miles of electric transmission lines and 350 substations in a region of diverse vegetation. This vegetation can interfere with electric power flow, pose safety problems for us and the public, and interfere with BPA's ability to maintain these facilities. BPA needs to (1) keep vegetation away from BPA electric facilities; (2) increase program efficiency and consistency; (3) review herbicide use (under increased public scrutiny); and (4) maximize the range of tools that BPA can use while minimizing environmental impact (Integrated Vegetation Management). The Final EIS establishes Planning Steps for managing vegetation for specific projects (to be tiered to this EIS). In addition to No Action (current practice), alternatives are presented for Rights-of-way, Electric Yards, and Non-electric Facilities (landscaping, work yards).
For more information, see Transmission System Vegetation Management Program.