Project Description
The Energize Eastside EIS is being led by the City of Bellevue in cooperation with the jurisdictions of Kirkland, Newcastle, Redmond, and Renton. It will provide environmental review of PSE’s proposed Energize Eastside project. Although there has been extensive outreach done by PSE and by the City to date on the Energize Eastside project, the EIS process is a separate requirement that must be completed before any permits may be issued.
What is the Energize Eastside Project?
Energize Eastside is PSE’s proposal to build a new electric substation and approximately 18 miles of high capacity electric transmission lines from Renton to Redmond. The project is intended to address an electrical transmission capacity deficiency that could begin in 2017. Learn more about PSE’s proposal for the Energize Eastside project.
What is an EIS?
An EIS is an evaluation of potential significant environmental impacts associated with a proposed project and project alternatives. It also presents design and construction measures that would eliminate or reduce the likely environmental impacts of the project. The Energize Eastside EIS is a legally-mandated document that will comply with requirements of the Washington State Environmental Policy Act, the Washington Administrative Code, the Revised Code of Washington and the Bellevue Environmental Procedures Code. The Energize Eastside EIS is not a permit--it is one of many sets of information permitting agencies will consider as they decide whether to approve the project and issue necessary permits.
What is the Process for the Energize Eastside EIS?
Preparation of the EIS began with issuance of a “determination of significance” for the Energize Eastside project, which PSE agreed to and which the City of Bellevue published in Spring 2015. The Energize Eastside EIS will take place in two phases. Phase 1 will include an environmental review that will describe the transmission capacity deficiency that is determining the need for the project, and evaluate the potential environmental impacts of various approaches to meeting that need, including the proposed transmission line and substation project as well as other approaches. Phase 2 will include a more specific and detailed review of a smaller number of alternatives based on the outcomes of Phase 1.
Each phase will include a scoping process to determine the specific project alternatives and aspects of the environment that should be studied in detail in the EIS. A thorough analysis of each alternative and their likely impacts will be documented in a Draft EIS for each phase. The Draft EIS for each phase will also list measures that would eliminate or reduce the likely environmental impacts of the alternatives evaluated. The Final EIS will respond to public and agency comments on both the Phase 1 and Phase 2 Draft EISs.
Phases of the Energize Eastside EIS are shown below.
What is the Energize Eastside Project?
Energize Eastside is PSE’s proposal to build a new electric substation and approximately 18 miles of high capacity electric transmission lines from Renton to Redmond. The project is intended to address an electrical transmission capacity deficiency that could begin in 2017. Learn more about PSE’s proposal for the Energize Eastside project.
What is an EIS?
An EIS is an evaluation of potential significant environmental impacts associated with a proposed project and project alternatives. It also presents design and construction measures that would eliminate or reduce the likely environmental impacts of the project. The Energize Eastside EIS is a legally-mandated document that will comply with requirements of the Washington State Environmental Policy Act, the Washington Administrative Code, the Revised Code of Washington and the Bellevue Environmental Procedures Code. The Energize Eastside EIS is not a permit--it is one of many sets of information permitting agencies will consider as they decide whether to approve the project and issue necessary permits.
What is the Process for the Energize Eastside EIS?
Preparation of the EIS began with issuance of a “determination of significance” for the Energize Eastside project, which PSE agreed to and which the City of Bellevue published in Spring 2015. The Energize Eastside EIS will take place in two phases. Phase 1 will include an environmental review that will describe the transmission capacity deficiency that is determining the need for the project, and evaluate the potential environmental impacts of various approaches to meeting that need, including the proposed transmission line and substation project as well as other approaches. Phase 2 will include a more specific and detailed review of a smaller number of alternatives based on the outcomes of Phase 1.
Each phase will include a scoping process to determine the specific project alternatives and aspects of the environment that should be studied in detail in the EIS. A thorough analysis of each alternative and their likely impacts will be documented in a Draft EIS for each phase. The Draft EIS for each phase will also list measures that would eliminate or reduce the likely environmental impacts of the alternatives evaluated. The Final EIS will respond to public and agency comments on both the Phase 1 and Phase 2 Draft EISs.
Phases of the Energize Eastside EIS are shown below.
When Can I Comment?
The Public Scoping Comment Period for Phase 1 commences April 30, 2015 and closes at 5pm on June 15, 2015. Visit our Scoping Page to learn about the variety of ways you can provide comments, or go directly to our online public scoping comment form. A summary of comments will be made available on this website following completion of the scoping phase. Comments will inform the alternatives to be included in the Draft EIS. Comments will also help to define the environmental issues to be studied in the Draft EIS. Individual responses will not be provided.
You will also be able to provide comments on the Phase 1 Draft EIS after it is published, on the scoping for the Phase 2 Draft EIS, and on the Phase 2 Draft EIS after it is published.
