W E S T E R N E L E C T R I C I T Y C O O R D I N A T I N G C OU N C I L

EDTF Work Plan & Ocean/Coastal Data

Byron Woertz, WECC; Janet Thomson, Kearns & West; Nate

Wagoner, ICF

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Agenda

• Update on Recent EDTF Activities– Platts Transmission Line Data Use– WECC Data Viewer Version 2.0

• Review of Draft 2015 EDTF Work Plan• Review/Approval of Revised Ocean/Coastal

Data Sets• Reminder: TEPPC Open Season• Upcoming Activities

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Recent EDTF Activities

• Revisions to Platts transmission data use in Data Viewer– WECC, Platts, and ICF have negotiated a method

for displaying transmission line data– ICF is building this into the latest Data Viewer

update• WECC Data Viewer Version 2.0– ICF will release version 2.0 this month– ICF will seek feedback by 12/31/14

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Draft 2015 EDTF Work Plan

• Initial draft developed by EDTF Planning Team• Distributed to EDTF 11/14 for review• EDTF will review, modify, and approve today• SPSG will review and consider approval – Tentative plan: send to SPSG week of December

15th and request approval by January 9, 2015

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Draft 2015 EDTF Work Plan

• High priority items:– Receive new/updated data sets through TEPPC

Open Season (by 1/31/15)– Review data gaps and determine potential

changes to EDTF risk classifications and area types (ongoing); refresh Data Viewer as needed to include revised data/inputs

– Continue to work with BLM to incorporate visual resource and other regional data sets into the WECC Data Layer, where possible

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Draft 2015 EDTF Work Plan

• High priority items (cont.)– As needed, work with WECC to conduct a review

of planning results, including Candidate Corridors (note: timing is uncertain)

– Work with WECC on description of WECC Candidate Corridors from an environmental perspective

– Contribute to regional transmission planning information published in 2015, as appropriate

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Draft 2015 EDTF Work Plan

• Medium priority items– Determine need for any new Data Viewer

adjustments or functionality improvements; continue to coordinate with other regional data viewer operators to determine opportunities for cross-linking or combining data viewers

– Continue to gather cultural resources data from State Historic Preservation Offices (SHPOs)

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Draft 2015 EDTF Work Plan

• Medium priority items (cont.)– Continue to conduct outreach about EDTF products

and processes (blog posts, presentations, distribution of fact sheet)

– Continue to support SPSG, as appropriate – Consider conducting comparison process of

transmission corridors – Develop EDTF Charter, if needed, to support WECC

activities – Review and update EDTF Scope of Work, as needed

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Draft 2015 EDTF Work Plan

• Low Priority Items– Submit any high-priority 2014-2015 EDTF study

requests to SPSG/TEPPC (by 1/31/15)– Work with SPSG/TEPPC to develop 2014-2015

EDTF study cases, if developed – Review EDTF study case results when available – Maintain parking lot items for annual review,

including: archaeological predictive modeling, prime farmland data sets, proposed conservation areas data sets

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Draft 2015 EDTF Work Plan

• Any proposed modifications to the Work Plan?

• Does the EDTF approve this 2015 Work Plan for review/final approval by the SPSG?

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Ocean/Coastal Data

• List of draft Area Types and Risk Classifications discussed at July and October EDTF meetings

• Basis for current recommendations:– Resource expert and developer webinars– One-on-one conversations with experts, including• State of California and State of Oregon• Federal Agencies, e.g., NPS Marine Protected Area lead• Other recommended industry experts and NGOs

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Ocean/Coastal Data – 2014 Schedule

• Approve Area Types and Risk Classifications• Compile Ocean Risk Classification Data Layer– Separate from existing Environmental Risk

Layer• Add Ocean Risk Classification Data Layer to

WECC Data Viewer• Create a “parking lot” list– Area types where no consensus exists– Area types without geospatial data

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Proposed Risk Class 4 Area TypesArea Types Notes

Marine Protected Areas (MPA) - Subject to No Impact or No Access Restrictions Most resource use-restrictive MPAs**

Restricted Areas for Military Use – United States

To protect military and public from military exercises. Likely to preclude transmission

**MPAs include national marine sanctuaries, national parks and wildlife refuges, many state parks and conservation areas, and a variety of fishery management closures. Management for MPAs varies based on the reason for their designation.

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Proposed Risk Class 3 Area TypesArea Types Notes

Marine Protected Areas (MPA) - Subject to No Take Restrictions

MPAs that allow human access or use in at least part of the MPA.

Hard Benthic Substrate1/Rocky Reef Areas

Areas generally unsuitable for the burial of transmission lines.

Habitat Areas of Particular Concern – United States

Subsets of Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) that provides extremely important ecological functions or are especially vulnerable to degradation.

Commercial Benthic Fishery Commercial fishing for benthic species may result in damage to cable or gear; cable development likely to cause additional public conflict.

1 The biogeographic region that includes the bottom of a lake, sea, or ocean

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Decision: Class 3/4 Area TypesArea Types NotesAnchorage Areas Frequent anchorage by large vessels could

damage subsea cables and create conflicts during cable construction and maintenance.

Dredge Material Disposal Sites Areas where placement of dredged material occurs. Active dredge material disposal sites may conflict with cable construction and maintenance.

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Proposed Risk Class 2 Area TypesArea Types NotesMarine Protected Area (MPA)- Managed for Multiple Use or with an Undetermined Level of Protection

MPAs where specific management/regulations are unlikely to substantially delay development; increased public scrutiny may still occur.

High Vessel Density Areas Areas of high vessel density may create conflicts for the placement and maintenance of subsea cables.

Existing Submarine Cable and Pipeline ROW

May represent reduced conflict areas for transmission , but likely not opportunity areas. Potential to use as an information layer only?

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Decision: Class 2/3 Area TypesArea Types NotesDe facto Marine Protected Areas for Public Health and Safety

Intended to protect public from environmental hazards or government activities; includes anchorage areas, traffic separation schemes, regulated navigation areas, shipping safety fairways, vessel traffic service areas

Groundfish Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) Regulations do not specifically mention submarine transmission; potential for increased project scrutiny from fisherman, but most important areas likely addressed by Commercial Benthic Fishery Area Type.

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Decision: Class 2/3 Area TypesArea Types Notes

Kelp Forests Placement of subsea cables is likely to be restricted in kelp beds to prevent disturbance of these sensitive ecosystems and avoid potential conflicts with commercial harvest.

Seagrass Beds Important habitat for aquatic species and perform ecosystem services in coastal zones; placement of subsea cables may be restricted or delayed.

Pinniped Rookeries and Haul Outs May require in seasonal restrictions on construction and avoidance of breeding areas.

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Proposed “Parking Lot” Items

• Tribal and First Nations traditional use areas• Cultural resource sites• Canadian data and Area Type review– Limited participation in this effort to date

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Ocean/Coastal Data Sets

• Confirm incorporation of ocean/coastal area types, data sets, and risk classifications, for submission to SPSG?

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Reminder: TEPPC Open Season

• TEPPC Open Season runs through 1/31/15• WECC seeks submissions of cultural &

environmental data sets• WECC seeks proposed study cases for 2015– Does EDTF want to submit any study cases for

2015?

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Upcoming Activities

• EDTF outreach materials will be available next week– Fact sheet– PowerPoint slides– 2015 outreach plan

• EDTF future meetings for 2015– January webinar or meeting– Future quarterly meeting dates

• EDTF/BLM webinar on USFWS Golden Eagle Conservation Data – January 16, 2015

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Questions?

That’s it for 2014.

Happy holidays from WECC, Kearns & West, and ICF!