Docket 370

DOCKET NO. 370 CSC/EFSB Joint Hearing Materials

Related Materials from WMECO's Petition to EFSB

SECTION 1.0 PROJECT OVERVIEW

1.6 Route and Ancillary Facility Selection 1-16
1.6.1 WMECO’s Review of Configuration and Siting Alternatives 1-16

1.6.2 WMECO’s Route Selection Methodology 1-17
1.6.3 North Bloomfield Substation to Ludlow Substation Preferred Northern and Noticed-Alternative Southern Routes 1-17

1.7 Comparison of Preferred and Noticed-Alternative 345-kV Line Routes 1-22

SECTION 1 EXHIBITS

EX. 1.2: Overview of Route on USGS Maps

SECTION 3.0 PROJECT APPROACHES TO MEET NEED

3.4 Comparison of the Four Finalist Transmission Alternatives on the Basis of Costs, Impacts and Reliability: Variation 6a or 6b on the Northern and the Southern Route 3-49
3.4.2 Northern Route Versus Southern Route: Select North Principally on Basis of Costs and Impacts 3-56

3.5 Final Cost Comparisons for Options 6a North (with and without cables), 6a South (with and without cables), 6b South (with and without cables) and 7a South 3-68

SECTION 4.0 ROUTE AND ANCILLARY FACILITY SITE SELECTION FOR 345-kV TRANSMISSION LINES

4.1 Standard of Review: "Other Site Locations" 4-1

4.2 Overview of Siting Methodology 4-2
4.2.1 The Project 4-2
4.2.2 Summary of Route and Ancillary Facility Selection Process 4-5

4.3 Study Area and 345-kV Route Options 4-6

4.4 Route Selection Objectives 4-8

4.5 Route Selection Options 4-11

4.6 Criteria Analysis of the Feasible Route Options 4-12

4.6.1 Route Evaluation Criteria and Scoring 4-13

4.6.2 Description of Potential Routes 4-17

4.6.3 Analysis and Criteria Scoring of Route Options 4-24

4.6.4 Cost Estimates 4-32

4.6.5 Reliability 4-33

4.6.6 Impact, Cost, and Reliability Conclusions on 345-kV Line-Route Selection 4-34

4.6.7 Description and Selection of Potential 345-kV Underground Line Route for the Noticed-Alternative Southern Route – South Agawam Switching Station to Agawam Substation (Section 2) 4-36

SECTION 4 EXHIBITS

EX. 4.1: Photographs along the Preferred Northern Route and Noticed-Alternative Southern Route

SECTION 5.0 COMPARISON OF PROPOSED 345-kV FACILITIES ALONG PREFERRED NORTHERN AND NOTICED-ALTERNATIVE SOUTHERN ROUTES

5.1 Introduction 5-1

5.2 Standard of Review 5-3

5.3 Environmental Comparison of Preferred Northern and Noticed-Alternative Southern Routes 5-4

5.3.1 Traffic/Transportation Infrastructure 5-4

5.3.2 Land Use 5-10

5.3.3 Noise 5-21

5.3.4 Visual and Aesthetics 5-25

5.3.5 Wetlands and Vernal Pools 5-41

5.3.6 Protected Species and Habitats 5-55

5.3.7 Surface Waters 5-61

5.3.8 Drinking Water Supplies 5-69

5.3.9 Environmental Screening - Potential Sites of Environmental Concern (OHM) 5-73

5.3.10 Electric and Magnetic Fields 5-83

5.3.11 Tree Clearing 5-92

5.3.12 Historic and Archaeological Resources 5-96

5.4 Substations 5-100
5.4.1 Ludlow Substation 5-101

5.4.2 Agawam Substation 5-103

5.5 Overhead Construction Methods and Schedule 5-103
5.5.1 Construction Methods 5-104

5.6 Noticed-Alternative Southern Route - Summary Comparison of Underground and Overhead 345-kV Variation 5-106
5.6.1 345-kV Underground Line Route Variation – Reliability Comparison to Overhead Alternative 5-107
5.6.2 345-kV Underground Line Route Variation – Cost Comparison to Overhead Alternative 5-107
5.6.3 345-kV Underground Line Route Variation – Impacts Comparison to Overhead Alternative 5-108

5.7 Cost of Preferred Northern and Noticed-Alternative Southern Routes and Substations 5-109

5.8 Reliability of Preferred Northern and Noticed-Alternative Southern Routes 5-111
5.9 Conclusion 5-111

SECTION 5 EXHIBITS

Exhibit 5.1: Typical Cross-Sections and Photo Simulations

Exhibit 5.2: Aerial Photographs – 400 Scale

Exhibit 5.3: EMF and Health: Review and Update of the Scientific Research December 2007 – June 2008

Exhibit 5.4: Electric and Magnetic Fields: Level Summary Tables

Exhibit 5.5: Electric and Magnetic Fields: Profiles

Exhibit 5.6: Environmental Sound Assessment Study

Exhibit 5.7: Ludlow Substation Drawing

Exhibit 5.8: Agawam Substation Drawing

Exhibit 5.9 Representative Construction Photos

Connecticut Siting Council