Residents say towers along east bench of the Oquirrhs would blight views, endanger urban areas

Maxine Grimm has lived in the foothills of Tooele, near the mouth of Middle Canyon, for nearly 60 years. She loves her views across the valley, the greenery of the undeveloped hillsides, and the wildlife that passes through her property.

But Grimm, 95, is worried she’ll lose all that if Rocky Mountain Power’s proposed Mona-to-Oquirrh transmission line passes along the east side of Tooele Valley.

“I’m really concerned because they might be putting it through my property,” she said. “This is such a beautiful valley and the scenery is so wonderful, and you put those enormous poles and wires in — it would detract totally from all the rest. Not only that but they make a lot of noise and there can be dangers from the tremendous amount of electricity that’s in those wires.”

Grimm is only one of a growing number of Tooele residents who are concerned about the power project passing along the Oquirrhs’ east bench.

Randy Christensen, of Tooele, said a group opposing the east-bench route was formed after a few residents attended a Rocky Mountain Power meeting about the project.

“We just started making phone calls, asking people if they were willing to help and serve on this committee to fight this,” he said.

A meeting held at Brad and Kaye Pratt’s home on Deer Hollow Road in Tooele brought out more than 50 people and lasted well into the morning hours. The group has expanded rapidly since, Christensen said.

“We had 54 at the initial meeting, but it’s hard to say how many there are now because it’s growing,” Christensen said. “It’s like wildfire.”

Christensen said if the line has to come through Tooele Valley, they’d prefer it not damage any pristine mountain or foothills along the city’s bench.

The group is planning on doing a mass distribution of fliers door-to-door this weekend. In addition, the group has been circulating a petition against routes through the southeast mountainside of the Tooele Valley — a petition that currently has at least 1,000 signatures, according to Brad Pratt.

The 500/345kV transmission line would run from Mona in Juab County to a proposed Limber Substation to be built in the Tooele Valley. From there, two separate lines are proposed to run from the proposed 500/345/138kV Limber Substation to the existing Oquirrh Substation in West Jordan and the existing Terminal Substation in Salt Lake City.

According to the draft EIS, the line would initially be 345kV voltage starting from the Mona Substation, but in the future it would be upgraded to 500kV as necessary. A 345kV steel structure can range from 125 to 150 feet high, with a right of way of 150 feet. A 500kV steel structure can range from 170 to 200 feet with a right of way of 300 feet.

The Bureau of Land Management has released a draft environmental impact statement on the project that includes Rocky Mountain Power’s proposed routes, the BLM’s preferred routes, and other alternative routes.

Residents opposing power lines on Tooele’s east bench are concerned about routes from the Limber Substation, which has been proposed to be built on the west side of Mormon Trail Road about 1 mile southwest of the Tooele Army Depot, to the Oquirrh Substation. There are six possible routes for this portion of the line, including Rocky Mountain Power’s proposed route and the BLM’s preferred route.

Martie Leo, customer and community manager for Rocky Mountain Power, said at this point none of the routes have been finalized.

“We’re still in the comment period and people need to make sure we’re aware of their concerns,” she said. “We’re still looking at everything.”

Christensen said the opposition group is opposed to routes that essentially travel from SR-36 near Settlement Canyon eastward.

“Everybody’s interested and concerned and opposed to the route that Rocky Mountain Power has proposed to take this transmission corridor through,” said Kaye Pratt. “We agree we need power, but it doesn’t need to go where it’s populated, developed, and in an established community. It needs to go on the outskirts. We have plenty of barren land.”

Christensen said the group would prefer an alternative route that after leaving the Limber Substation and along South Mountain, extends northeast, crossing SR-36 north of Tooele City and travels east of Stansbury Park before rounding the north point of the Oquirrhs.

Kaye said the foothills of Tooele aren’t a fit area for power lines.

“These are the only foothills left without any mining or destruction,” she said. “They should be preserved for open space, wildlife and the view.”

Christensen, whose family owns more than 400 acres in Corner Canyon, said his property could be directly impacted.

“I’m not opposed to the project itself, just this route which goes through our foothills,” he said, adding he understands the need for power. “It seems like it’s one of the few areas of our valley, of our county really, that has not been affected by mine tailings, lots of roads, lots of power poles. It’s very pristine up there. It’s one of the few jewels that we have left as citizens of Tooele.”

Some residents have expressed concerns about toppled lines causing wildfires so near an urban area. Others worry about the line obscuring and cutting off access to Tooele High School’s “T.”

Tooele City Mayor Patrick Dunlavy said because no decision has been made as to the route of the proposed transmission line, the city does not have a position on the project at this point.

“We’re going to let [concerned citizens] come in the first city council meeting in July and we’ll also have Rocky Mountain Power there so they can answer questions,” Dunlavy said.

Tooele County Commissioner Colleen Johnson believes the project would be beneficial in terms of getting more power to the valley for economic development. She added she has heard there are residents concerned about the towers and lines going across property, and concerned about areas near the Mormon Trail Road and near the new USU expansion, in addition to the southeast side of Tooele in the foothills.

“Hopefully they’ll work with us and hopefully be able to move it in some different spots where it won’t impact as many people,” Johnson said, adding the project will benefit the valley overall. “I think there’s some misunderstanding that all this power is going to Salt Lake. A lot of it is for Tooele County.”

Rocky Mountain Power’s Leo said community input will be a factor when considered when finalizing routes.

The BLM will be holding a public meeting about the project June 23 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Tooele County building.

The public comment period on the draft EIS is ongoing until Aug. 12. Submit comments via the following: E-mail at UT_M2OTL_EIS@blm.gov, fax to 801-977-4397 or 435-743-3135, or mail to Mike Nelson, BLM Salt Lake Field Office, 2370 South 2300 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84119 or Clara Stevens, BLM Fillmore Field Office, 35 East 500 North, Fillmore, UT 84631. For more information, visit http://www.blm.gov/ut/st/en/fo/salt_lake/planning/mona_to_oquirrh_transmission.html.

Sarah Miley: swest@tooeletranscript.com