McNary-Roundup Transmission Line Rebuild Project

PROJECT DESCRIPTION:

BPA proposes to rebuild its existing 38.5-mile-long, McNary to Roundup No.1 230- kilovolt (kV) transmission line in Umatilla County, Oregon. The wood-pole line connects the BPA McNary Substation in Umatilla, Oregon, to the BPA Roundup Substation near Pendleton, Oregon. The transmission line has been in service for about 70 years and needs to be rebuilt to ensure reliable electric service and the safety of the public and transmission workers who operate and maintain the line. 

Along the existing transmission line corridor, the work would include replacing the H-frame wood pole structures, conductors, crossarms, guy lines and anchors, overhead ground wires, and all hardware. The transmission line right-of-way would be cleared of certain vegetation and access roads would be improved and reconstructed and small sections of new access roads would be constructed. 

The transmission line would be replaced in the existing right-of-way and would continue to be operated at 230 kV. The proposed project would also involve related work within BPA’s McNary and Roundup substation electrical yards. 

An interactive project location map is available at the link below. Directions about how to use the online project map are available on the landing page.

https://bpagis.maps.arcgis.com/apps/instant/media/index.html?appid=f433980a219f45f8bf2e269d88af32f0 

ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW:

BPA prepared a categorical exclusion (CX) determination documenting that the project would fit within the US Department of Energy’s (DOE) categorical exclusions that are listed in Appendix B of its NEPA regulations at 10 CFR Part 1021 and in Appendix B of its DOE NEPA Implementing Procedures (February 2026). BPA held a public comment period in the spring of 2024 to solicit comments to inform the proposed project’s environmental review. The CX determination assessed the potential environmental impacts of this proposal and identified minimization measures to avoid or lessen these impacts.  To support the CX analysis, BPA prepared a resource report based on natural resource surveys and the public comments to further describe anticipated impacts to natural and human resources.  Based on the CX determination analysis and minimization measures to help lessen impacts, BPA concluded that the project is categorically excluded from further NEPA review. A copy of the CX determination and supporting resource report can be found below. 

CURRENT STATUS:

BPA has completed the CX determination.  Construction is scheduled to begin in the spring of 2027.

CONTACT:

For project information, contact:
Rusty Ludt, Transmission Project Manager
Bonneville Power Administration - TIPL-TPP-1
PO Box 3621 Portland, OR 97208-3621
Toll-free: 800-622-4519
Direct line: 360-619-6280
Email: wjludt@bpa.gov

For environmental information, contact:
Douglas Corkran, Environmental Protection Specialist
Bonneville Power Administration - ECT-4
PO Box 3621 Portland, OR 97208-3621
Toll-free: 800-622-4519
Direct line: 503-230-7646
Email: dfcorkran@bpa.gov

DOCUMENTS

CATEGORICAL EXCLUSION DETERMINATION:

CX Determination (May 27, 2026)
Resource Report (May 2026)

SCOPING:

Comments Received
Public Letter (February 22, 2024)
Project Map (February 22, 2024)
Comment Form  (February 22, 2024)