Categorical Exclusion Determination
Office of NEPA Policy and Compliance
September 26, 2017
Estimated Read Time min
Bonneville Power Administration proposes to upgrade the existing digital Ultra High Frequency radios between Albeni Falls Radio Station in Bonner County, Idaho and Mount Spokane Radio Station in Spokane County, Washington with 7/8 Gigahertz microwave radios. This project is in an emergency status because of the radio outages being operationally significant: failure of the Albeni Falls-Pine Street transfer trip (a power system protection circuit that routes over this radio link) now requires that the line section be removed from service when the radio fails. Upgrading the system would allow for redundancy, and thus ensure the dependability of power flow. Adding to the urgency is the need to complete the work before significant snowfall in the area.