Cooperating Agencies
When a project could involve more than one federal or state agency, those agencies often work together during the planning and decision-making process. The agency primarily responsible for preparing the environmental impact statement is identified as the lead agency, and the other participating agencies are identified as cooperating agencies. The Council on Environmental Quality regulations for implementing the National Environmental Policy Act also allow for the designation of state and local agencies and Indian tribes as cooperating agencies where appropriate.
BPA will be the lead agency for preparation of the EIS. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) is a federal agency and will participate in preparation of the EIS. The Corps will help BPA evaluate alternative transmission line routes and identify other interests or issues that should be evaluated in the EIS. The Corps would use the EIS to help meet requirements for the 404(b)(1) analysis, help develop mitigation measures and issue permits under Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbor Act and Section 404 of the Clean Water Act.
In furtherance of existing cooperative agreements with BPA, the States of Washington and Oregon, the Washington Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council and the Oregon Energy Facility Siting Council will participate in preparation of the EIS. Among other things, these state agencies will assist BPA in evaluating alternative transmission line routes and identifying state interests that should be addressed in the EIS. Additional cooperating agencies for the EIS may be identified as the proposed project proceeds through the NEPA process.
If you have a question about the Corps participation in the EIS, please contact:
Danette L. Guy
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Seattle District
Regulatory Branch
Southwest Washington Field Office
2108 Grand Blvd
Vancouver, WA 98661
360-906-7274
If you have a question about Washington's or Oregon's participation in the EIS, please contact:
Al Wright, EFSEC Manager
Washington Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council
905 Plum Street SE
PO Box 43172
Olympia, WA 98504-3172
(360) 956-2152
Diana Enright
Oregon Energy Facility Siting, Oregon Department of Energy
Oregon Department of Energy
625 Marion St. NE
Salem, OR 97301-3737
Phone: 503-378-8278
Fax: 503-373-7806
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I-5 Corridor Reinforcement Project
