20080428Revised Seppi Direct.pdf

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In the matter of the Application of )
Rocky Mountan Power for a Certificate )
of Convenience and Necessity Authorizing )
Constrction of the Populus to Terminal )
345 kV Transmission Line Project )
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BEFORE THE IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSid~)iff;iNo t)J'f~'lll: 31
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DIRECT TESTIMONY OF .'
SHAON L. SEPPI
CASE NO. PAC-E-08- ó3
Direct Testimony of Sharon L. Seppi
APRIL 2008
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Please state your name, business address and present position.
My name is Sharon L. Seppi. My business address is 1407 West Nort Temple,
Salt Lake City, Uta 84116. My present position is Managing Director of
Constrction Services.
How long have you been in your present position?
I have been in my present position since June 2005.
Please describe your education and business experience.
I received a Bachelor of Science degree in electrcal engineering from Uta State
University in 1985, a Masters of Business Administration from Uta State
University in 2003 and Project Management Professional certification in 1998. I
was fist employed by Utah Power in 1982 and have held varous positions in
engineering and asset management, project management and constrction
servces.
What is the purpose of your testimony?
The purose of my testimony is to describe the route for the Populus to Termal
Transmission Line, the analysis used to determine the route, the permitting
requirements and the schedule and estimated cost of the Trasmission Line and
associated substation outside Downey, Idaho (collectively referred to in this
testimony as the "Transmission Project.")
Please describe the beginning and termination points for the Transmission
Project.
The route commences from the existing Terminal Substation southwest of the Salt
Lake International Airport and extends along an existing transmission line
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corrdor to the existing Ben Lomond Substation in southern Box Elder County,
Uta. The transmission line then proceeds from the Ben Lomond Substation to a
point near Downey, Idao, where it will termnate at the new Populus Substation.
The segment of the Trasmission Line between the Ben Lomond and Populus
substations will be sited in a new transmission line corrdor. A map showing the
route that was selected for the Transmission Line is provided by Mr. Cupparo as
Exhbit No. A.
What factors were considered in identiing the route for the Transmission
Line Project?
Reliability, engineering, constrctability, environmental impacts, schedule,
impacts on local communties and landowners, and overall project effciency were
the primar factors considered in determining the route for the Transmission
Project.
How were these factors applied in selecting the route?
When analyzig the feasibility of varous potential routes between the existing
Terminal Substation and the Populus Substation, the Company considered a set of
criteria that included safety, reliability and overall effciency, which encompasses
cost and meeting the goals for the Transmission Line Project. The Company
excluded varous potential routes that were in proximty to the Company's
existing 345 kV transmission lines to reduce potential reliabilty problems and
impacts to the overall transmission system caused by natual events such as fie,
windstorms, earhquake, and human-caused damages. The Company also
considered the cost and constrctabilty of each potential route though analyses
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corrdor to the existing Ben Lomond Substation in southern Box Elder County,
Uta. The transmission line then proceeds from the Ben Lomond Substation to a
point near Downey, Idaho, where it will terminate at the new Populus Substation.
The segment of the Transmission Line between the Ben Lomond and Populus
substations will be sited in a new transmission line corrdor. A map showing the
route that was selected for the Transmission Line is provided by Mr. Cupparo as
Exhbit No. A.
What factors were considered in identifying the route for the Transmission
Line Project?
Reliability, engineering, constrctability, environmental impacts, schedule,
impacts on local communties and landowners, and overall project effciency were
the primar factors considered in determining the route for the Transmission
Project.
How were these factors applied in selectig the route?
When analyzing the feasibility of varous potential routes between the existing
Terminal Substation and the Populus Substation, the Company considered a set of
criteria that included safety, reliability and overall effciency, which encompasses
cost and meeting the goals for the Transmission Line Project. The Company
excluded varous potential routes that were in proximity to the Company's
existing 345 kV transmission lines to reduce potential reliability problems and
impacts to the overall trsmission system caused by natual events such as fie,
windstorms, earhquake, and human-caused daages. The Company also
considered the cost and constrctability of each potential route though analyses
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of geographic and geologic considerations; environmenta constraints; existing
and expected futue development; potential for utilzing existing linear corrdors
where feasible, such as major arerial roadways and rail lines; and avoidance of
sensitive areas that had cultural and local governental agency planng and land
use stadards and criteria that would be problematic. Generally, these factors are
balanced, with no single factor being determinative as to whether a paricular
route should be selected.
Please describe the public involvement in selecting the route for the
Transmission Project.
Early in the planng process the Company conducted initial briefings with
staeholders and agencies throughout the study area to introduce the project and
gather feedback. Following the selection of the transmission line route, the
Company conducted another round of briefings with potentially impacted
staeholders and agencies to inform them about the Transmission Project and
gather additional inormation. These meetings were conducted at varous
locations along the selected Transmission Line route. The briefings presented
information about the Transmission Project specific to each local governenta
jursdiction and addressed land use, zoning, and general plan information, along
with clarfications of the permitting process. A project newsletter was mailed in
December 2007 to communty leaders/staeholders and property owners located
within 600 feet on either side of the Transmission Line corrdor. The mailng list
was generated using information from the county ta assessor database. The
newsletter provided information about the Transmission Project, including the
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purose and need, overall project description, planng process and schedule, and
public involvement opportties such as open house meetings that were
conducted in Downey, Idaho; Malad City, Idaho; Garland, Utah; and Brigham
City, Utah in Janua 2008. Opportity for public comment was given at these
open house meetings and specific questions and concerns were addressed
personally by Company representatives. Additional opportty for public
comment was provided through the use of a dedicated project phone line
dedicated for the Transmission Project and via e-maiL.
What land rights wil need to be acquired for the Transmission Project?
The Company holds nearly all of the necessar land rights, either in easements or
fee ownership, between the Ben Lomond Substation and the Terminal Substation.
This corrdor was acquired nearly thee decades ago in preparation for an
additional high voltage transmission line. New fee parcels or rights of way and
easements wil be acquired for that portion of the transmission line between Ben
Lomond and the Populus Substation. Land for the Populus Substation wil be
acquired in fee.
When wil land rights be acquired?
In order to maintan the project schedule, which provides for work to be
performed in sequenced stages, easements must be acquired or the Company must
have a legal right of occupancy for certain portions before September 2008. The
balance of corrdor acquisition for the remainig segments should be completed in
phases no later than early Februar, 2009. Rocky Mountain Power is using
experienced appraisers to determine property valuation for negotiations with
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individual landowners. The Company will exercise the power of emient domai
where necessar.
What permits are required by local governmental authorities for the
construction of the Transmission Project?
The Company holds a frchise agreement with each muncipality and county
withn the Transmission Line route that grants the necessary rights for the
constrction of the Transmission Line. In addition, conditional use permts are
required by certin cities and counties. Applications for conditional use permits
will be filed by the end of May 2008.
What other land rights and permits required for the construction of the
Transmission Project?
Permits are required by the U.S. Ary Corps of Engineers for constrction withn
jursdictional wetlands, aviation permts are required by the Federal Aviation
Authority for constrction of the Trasmission Project near Salt Lake
International Airport, and crossing permts are required for railroad and roadway
crossings. Such permits wil be acquired prior to commencement of constrction.
What is the projected construction schedule for the Transmission Project?
Constrction is scheduled to begin in July 2008, and project completion and
commercial operation is scheduled for June 2010. Surey of the selected route
and determination ofland ownership was initiated in Januar 2008. Easement
and land acquisition and vegetation clearng will commence in May 2008. Final
design of the transmission line will be done between June 2008 and December
2008.
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What is the estimated cost of the Transmission Project?
The tota cost of the project has been estimated to be approximately $750 milion.
The Company has issued an engineering, procurement and constrction request
for proposal to potential bidders. All bids were due for submittal in Februar
2008, with an award planed for June 2008.
Does this conclude your testimony?
Yes.
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Rocky Mountain Power