NEPA Environmental Assessments

Transmission Line Construction and Replacement, Toppenish, Washington

Yakama Power, a tribal land enterprise, is a utility company operating within the bounds of the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation lands. As a portion of providing affordable and reliable electric energy Yakama Power has undertaken a variety of restoration and new construction projects that incorporate one or more federal nexus. Fulcrum has assisted Yakama Power during the planning phase of various restoration and new construction projects by facilitating the preparation of Environmental Assessments under the National Environmental Policy Act compliant with the United States Department of the Interior (DOI) Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) requirements. Environmental Assessment project scope has ranged from one-quarter mile extensions of existing service lines associated with small step-down skid mounted substations to combination service and transmission lines in excesses of 10 miles in length.

Yakama Nation Housing Authority Environmental Review Record, Toppenish, Washington

Yakama Nation Housing Authority owns and manages in excess of 800 residential housing units throughout the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation lands. As an established and growing housing authority, Fulcrum has assisted Yakama Nation Housing Authority with pre-purchase assessment to fulfill appropriate due diligence; pre-project environmental assessments to fulfill National Environmental Policy Act requirements that involve multiple agencies; pre-renovation hazardous building material assessments to fulfill standard of care prior to a renovation or demolition project; hazardous building material abatement related specifications and construction oversight, and indoor air quality; and mold and moisture assessment, design and remediation associated with existing units.

Connell Dental Clinic, Connell, Washington

In 2009, working with the Columbia Basin Health Association and KDF Architecture, Fulcrum completed a NEPA Environmental Assessment in support of funding assistance from a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) grant. The proposed project involved the development of a permanent dental clinic site for the Connell Dental Clinic. As with all temporary projects, the previous manufactured dental clinic was insufficient to service the number of patients and provide the level of service needed in the community. With no privately practicing dentists in Connell, the nearest services were offered more than 50 miles away. Fulcrum’s NEPA EA assisted the project in identifying and evaluating the potential environmental impacts from the proposed project.

Colville Indian Housing Authority, Omak, Washington

In 2009, Fulcrum assisted the Colville Indian Housing Authority with preparation of an Environmental Assessment for proposed construction of housing units on a 20 acre parcel of real property near Omak, Washington. The EA was prepared as a portion of site acquisition and in preparation of future build-out. Additional housing in the Omak area was identified as a need for the Colville Indian Housing Authority.  Working with U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Colville Indian Housing Authority and Fulcrum were able to review the site and through research and public involvement document that no significant impact would occur as a result of the proposed housing development.

Transmission Line Extension, White Swan, Washington 

Working with our subconsultant Landau Associates, Fulcrum assisted Yakama Power, an independent corporation of the Yakama Nation, and the Benton Rural Electric Association (Benton REA) with completion of an Environmental Assessment of a proposed 10.25-mile new 115 kV transmission line, originally designed to operate at 34.5 kV. Population growth and increased electrical loads in the area were identified as having created a need for additional power capacity. The new transmission line will also provide a needed alternative method of supply to the existing 34.5 kV transmission system, which is currently a radial facility, resulting in increased emergency power or temporary power outage options.

The line’s purpose is to provide additional capacity to Benton REA’s 34.5 kV transmission system from the 115 kV to 34.5 kV source at the Benton REA White Swan Substation. The ultimate project objective is to convert the 34.5 kV system to 115 kV as area electrical loads in the project area increase and the conversion becomes cost effective.