The Gateway West Transmission Line project was initiated by Idaho Power and Rocky Mountain Power in fall 2007. This project proposes to build and operate approximately 1,100 miles of new high-voltage transmission lines between the Windstar substation near Glenrock, Wyoming and the Hemingway substation near Melba, Idaho.
This project is currently engaged in the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the lead federal agency. The BLM held a public comment period on the project draft environmental impact statement (EIS) from July 29, 2011 to October 28, 2011. This document analyzed and disclosed the effects of the proposed project and its alternatives.
Line segments of the project are scheduled to be completed in phases between 2015 and 2018.
- May – Companies filed form SF 299, Application for Utility Systems and Facilities on Federal Lands, with the BLM.
- September - Companies submitted preliminary Plan of Development to BLM.
- October – Revised SF 299 filed by companies.
- Companies began collecting existing data for the preliminary routing process.
- Companies met with elected officials, community leaders and other interested parties to brief them on the project.
- May 12 - Companies filed Notice of Intent (NOI) to proceed with the project.
- June 3 - 12 - Public scoping meetings held by the BLM. Companies participated in the scoping meetings.
- August 23 - Companies filed comprehensive Plan of Development and revised SF 299 form.
- August 25 –Revised Plan of Development filed with BLM.
- August 29 - Scoping report containing summary of public comments released.
- September 15 - Companies submitted Siting Study to BLM.
- October 23 - Addendum to Siting Study released.
- December 10 - 17 - Companies held project landowner meetings.
- January - SF 299 for geotechnical studies filed with BLM.
- March and April - Companies held public landowner meetings in Idaho and Wyoming.
- May 19 - Revised Plan of Development and revised SF 299 form submitted.
- June 2 - July 22 - Companies held public landowner meetings in Idaho.
- September 14 - 17 - Companies held public landowner meetings in Wyoming.
- November 4 - December 15 - Companies held public landowner meetings in Idaho.
- December 22 - Scoping report update published.
- December 31 - Revised Siting Study released.
- January 26 - BLM announces routes that will be studied in the draft EIS.
- January 27 - Revised Plan of Development and revised SF 299 form submitted to BLM.
- January 28 - BLM acceptance memo with changes for revised siting study sent to companies.
- July - Environmental Assessment for Geotechnical Drilling released by BLM.
- July 26 - Finding of No Significant Impact for Geotechnical Drilling released by BLM.
- August 31 - Revised Plan of Development submitted.
- September 9 - BLM approved right of way grant to allow for geotechnical studies to be conducted on BLM-managed land.
- July 29 - BLM publishes Federal Register Notice of Availability (NOA) announcing draft EIS release, followed by a 90-day public comment period.
- September/October 2011 - BLM hosts 17 public open houses on the draft EIS throughout the project area.
- October 28 – Draft EIS public comment period closes at midnight.
- February - Idaho Power and Rocky Mountain Power announce changes to Segments 1, 2 and 4, including removing from the proposed project Segment 1E (between the Windstar substation near Glenrock, Wyoming to the Aeolus substation near Medicine Bow, Wyoming).
- Companies continue to meet with interested groups, communities and elected officials.
- Continue with field work and permitting activities as necessary.