The Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) wants to hear what people think about a proposed transmission line rebuild project in western Montana. BPA is hosting a public meeting next week to discuss the environmental impacts for the Libby-Troy transmission line rebuild project in Lincoln County, Mont.

A line rebuild is needed because the aging line has deteriorated to the point that it poses reliability risks in delivery of electricity to key towns between Libby, Montana, and Albeni Falls, Idaho. The transmission line runs west from Flathead Electric Cooperative's Libby Substation just north of the town of Libby to BPA's Troy Substation, east of Troy, Montana.

The meeting will be on Aug. 15. The purpose is to discuss the draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).

The draft EIS identifies BPA’s preferred plan of action, which is to rebuild and improve 17 miles of single-circuit 115-kV transmission line within an existing transmission corridor, except where the line crosses the KootenaiRiver. An alternative for the KootenaiRiver crossing was identified to minimize visual, cultural, and fish and wildlife impacts to the KootenaiFalls area. The realignment would move the river crossing about three-quarters of a mile to the east and away from KootenaiFalls. If constructed, the new transmission line crossing would no longer be visible from the falls.

BPA is particularly interested in receiving written suggestions and comments about the environmental analysis in the draft EIS, which describes the proposed project and the environmental effects expected from construction, operation and maintenance of the transmission line. The final EIS is scheduled for completion in early 2008. BPA expects to issue a record of decision in the late winter of 2008 on whether to implement the project.