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Staff Reporter
cmacho@oakdaleleader.com
209-847-3021, ext. 8128
A group of concerned Oakdale area and Stanislaus County residents have scheduled a meeting for Thursday, June 11 regarding the Transmission Agency of Northern California (TANC) and plans to construct and upgrade roughly 600 miles of high-voltage electric transmission lines and associated facilities in Northern California.
The meeting Thursday, where Allen Short, Chairman of TANC and MID General Manager is scheduled to speak, will begin at 7 p.m. at the Almond Pavilion, 151 So. Sierra Ave. in Oakdale.
TANC recently extended the public scoping comment period for the proposed project for an additional 60 days, until July 30, 2009.
TANC and the Western Area Power Administration are planning on building or upgrading approximately 600 miles of high voltage transmission lines in Northern California to improve electrical system reliability and providing a path for renewable energy resources. The comment, or ‘scoping’ period allows for those who want to provide information for the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).
The proposed path of the project shows TANC will run transmission lines and towers along Highway 120/108 as it enters the Oakdale area from New Melones Reservoir. The path of the proposed lines and towers then turns south on Wamble Road to Sierra Road, where it proceeds west for about 2,500 feet, where it turns south through farmland. The route passes within about 2,500 feet east of the Oakdale Airport, and eventually reaches a junction area south of the Oakdale city limits.
While the project proposes to make it easier to bring ‘green’ energy to Northern California population centers, it has brought stark opposition by a number of property owners, farmers, and agencies. The Ripon City Council recently opposed the project due to the impact it may have on Ripon area farms and homes, and a group of concerned residents in Shasta and Tehama counties have launched a website in opposition to the project.
The City of Oakdale is also concerned about the impact TANC might have on the city airport. Dave Myers, Oakdale’s acting public works director, said the city is researching how the project’s 150-foot towers might affect air traffic.
“The tower heights are measured above ground level and the protected flight operations are measured by elevation, so it is possible that the towers will be below the airport approach,” Myers said.
Myers said the city will ask TANC to evaluate whether or not their projected route will fall within the airport’s protected area, which is set by the Federal Aviation Administration.
“The city will be responding with comments on the TANC project and we will be including comments regarding the airport. The Airport Land Use Commission (ALUC) in Stanislaus County has included the Oakdale Airport in their jurisdiction and they will be commenting also,” Myers said.
Comments can be submitted through July 30, 2009 in writing via mail to Mr. David Young, National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Document Manager, Western Area Power Administration, Sierra Nevada Region, 114 Parkshore Drive, Folsom, CA 95630; by email to TTPEIS@wapa.gov; or by fax to 916-353-4772. For information related to the proposed project, visit the NEPA/CEQA website at www.wapa.gov/transmission/ttp/htm and the TANC project website at www.tanc.us. For further information or with questions, call the project hotline at 916-353-4777.
The Shasta and Tehama opposition group website may be found at http://www.stoptanc.com/
The meeting Thursday, where Allen Short, Chairman of TANC and MID General Manager is scheduled to speak, will begin at 7 p.m. at the Almond Pavilion, 151 So. Sierra Ave. in Oakdale.
TANC recently extended the public scoping comment period for the proposed project for an additional 60 days, until July 30, 2009.
TANC and the Western Area Power Administration are planning on building or upgrading approximately 600 miles of high voltage transmission lines in Northern California to improve electrical system reliability and providing a path for renewable energy resources. The comment, or ‘scoping’ period allows for those who want to provide information for the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).
The proposed path of the project shows TANC will run transmission lines and towers along Highway 120/108 as it enters the Oakdale area from New Melones Reservoir. The path of the proposed lines and towers then turns south on Wamble Road to Sierra Road, where it proceeds west for about 2,500 feet, where it turns south through farmland. The route passes within about 2,500 feet east of the Oakdale Airport, and eventually reaches a junction area south of the Oakdale city limits.
While the project proposes to make it easier to bring ‘green’ energy to Northern California population centers, it has brought stark opposition by a number of property owners, farmers, and agencies. The Ripon City Council recently opposed the project due to the impact it may have on Ripon area farms and homes, and a group of concerned residents in Shasta and Tehama counties have launched a website in opposition to the project.
The City of Oakdale is also concerned about the impact TANC might have on the city airport. Dave Myers, Oakdale’s acting public works director, said the city is researching how the project’s 150-foot towers might affect air traffic.
“The tower heights are measured above ground level and the protected flight operations are measured by elevation, so it is possible that the towers will be below the airport approach,” Myers said.
Myers said the city will ask TANC to evaluate whether or not their projected route will fall within the airport’s protected area, which is set by the Federal Aviation Administration.
“The city will be responding with comments on the TANC project and we will be including comments regarding the airport. The Airport Land Use Commission (ALUC) in Stanislaus County has included the Oakdale Airport in their jurisdiction and they will be commenting also,” Myers said.
Comments can be submitted through July 30, 2009 in writing via mail to Mr. David Young, National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Document Manager, Western Area Power Administration, Sierra Nevada Region, 114 Parkshore Drive, Folsom, CA 95630; by email to TTPEIS@wapa.gov; or by fax to 916-353-4772. For information related to the proposed project, visit the NEPA/CEQA website at www.wapa.gov/transmission/ttp/htm and the TANC project website at www.tanc.us. For further information or with questions, call the project hotline at 916-353-4777.
The Shasta and Tehama opposition group website may be found at http://www.stoptanc.com/
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