Dominion Virginia Power wants to rebuild the Mount Storm-Doubs 500kV Transmission Line. The line goes through Loudoun County, Virginia and Jefferson County, West Virginia. The National Park Service (NPS) is preparing an environmental assessment of the proposal, which is required under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969.
The plan would include removing three towers and associated conductors in Harpers Ferry National Historical Park and the National Appalachian Scenic Trail. The steel lattice towers, all built before 1966, are corroded and the lines need updating.
Dominion proposes to replace them with the new line, which would go in its existing right-of-way.
NPS is taking public comment on the plan through March 19 for consideration in its assessment. It will consider thoughts on the environmental impact of the construction and any ideas for alternatives.
The line runs 99.26 miles from the Mt. Storm Power Station in Grant County, West Virginia to First Energy's Dobs Substation in Maryland.
Dominion is planning to upgrade the entire line, which it says will increase capacity by two-thirds. It needs NPS permission to go through park land.
For details, see http://parkplanning.nps.gov/projectHome.cfm?projectID=38219.
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