EDTF Work Plan & Ocean/Coastal Data Byron Woertz, WECC; Janet Thomson, Kearns & West; Nate Wagoner, ICF W ESTERN E LECTRICITY C OORDINATING C OUNCIL

Agenda Update on Recent EDTF Activities – Platts Transmission Line Data Use – WECC Data Viewer Version 2.0 Review of Draft 2015 EDTF Work Plan Review/Approval of Revised Ocean/Coastal Data Sets Reminder: TEPPC Open Season Upcoming Activities 2 W ESTERN E LECTRICITY C OORDINATING C OUNCIL

Recent EDTF Activities Revisions to Platts transmission data use in Data Viewer – WECC, Platts, and ICF have negotiated a method for displaying transmission line data – ICF is building this into the latest Data Viewer update WECC Data Viewer Version 2.0 – ICF will release version 2.0 this month – ICF will seek feedback by 12/31/14 3 W ESTERN E LECTRICITY C OORDINATING C OUNCIL

Draft 2015 EDTF Work Plan Initial draft developed by EDTF Planning Team Distributed to EDTF 11/14 for review EDTF will review, modify, and approve today SPSG will review and consider approval – Tentative plan: send to SPSG week of December 15 th and request approval by January 9, W ESTERN E LECTRICITY C OORDINATING C OUNCIL

Draft 2015 EDTF Work Plan High priority items: – Receive new/updated data sets through TEPPC Open Season (by 1/31/15) – Review data gaps and determine potential changes to EDTF risk classifications and area types (ongoing); refresh Data Viewer as needed to include revised data/inputs – Continue to work with BLM to incorporate visual resource and other regional data sets into the WECC Data Layer, where possible 5 W ESTERN E LECTRICITY C OORDINATING C OUNCIL

Draft 2015 EDTF Work Plan High priority items (cont.) – As needed, work with WECC to conduct a review of planning results, including Candidate Corridors (note: timing is uncertain) – Work with WECC on description of WECC Candidate Corridors from an environmental perspective – Contribute to regional transmission planning information published in 2015, as appropriate 6 W ESTERN E LECTRICITY C OORDINATING C OUNCIL

Draft 2015 EDTF Work Plan Medium priority items – Determine need for any new Data Viewer adjustments or functionality improvements; continue to coordinate with other regional data viewer operators to determine opportunities for cross-linking or combining data viewers – Continue to gather cultural resources data from State Historic Preservation Offices (SHPOs) 7 W ESTERN E LECTRICITY C OORDINATING C OUNCIL

Draft 2015 EDTF Work Plan Medium priority items (cont.) – Continue to conduct outreach about EDTF products and processes (blog posts, presentations, distribution of fact sheet) – Continue to support SPSG, as appropriate – Consider conducting comparison process of transmission corridors – Develop EDTF Charter, if needed, to support WECC activities – Review and update EDTF Scope of Work, as needed 8 W ESTERN E LECTRICITY C OORDINATING C OUNCIL

Draft 2015 EDTF Work Plan Low Priority Items – Submit any high-priority EDTF study requests to SPSG/TEPPC (by 1/31/15) – Work with SPSG/TEPPC to develop EDTF study cases, if developed – Review EDTF study case results when available – Maintain parking lot items for annual review, including: archaeological predictive modeling, prime farmland data sets, proposed conservation areas data sets 9 W ESTERN E LECTRICITY C OORDINATING C OUNCIL

Draft 2015 EDTF Work Plan Any proposed modifications to the Work Plan? Does the EDTF approve this 2015 Work Plan for review/final approval by the SPSG? 10 W ESTERN E LECTRICITY C OORDINATING C OUNCIL

Ocean/Coastal Data List of draft Area Types and Risk Classifications discussed at July and October EDTF meetings Basis for current recommendations: – Resource expert and developer webinars – One-on-one conversations with experts, including State of California and State of Oregon Federal Agencies, e.g., NPS Marine Protected Area lead Other recommended industry experts and NGOs 11 W ESTERN E LECTRICITY C OORDINATING C OUNCIL

Ocean/Coastal Data – 2014 Schedule Approve Area Types and Risk Classifications Compile Ocean Risk Classification Data Layer – Separate from existing Environmental Risk Layer Add Ocean Risk Classification Data Layer to WECC Data Viewer Create a “parking lot” list – Area types where no consensus exists – Area types without geospatial data 12 W ESTERN E LECTRICITY C OORDINATING C OUNCIL

Proposed Risk Class 4 Area Types Area TypesNotes Marine Protected Areas (MPA) - Subject to No Impact or No Access Restrictions Most resource use-restrictive MPAs ** Restricted Areas for Military Use – United States To protect military and public from military exercises. Likely to preclude transmission 13 W ESTERN E LECTRICITY C OORDINATING C OUNCIL **MPAs include national marine sanctuaries, national parks and wildlife refuges, many state parks and conservation areas, and a variety of fishery management closures. Management for MPAs varies based on the reason for their designation.

Proposed Risk Class 3 Area Types Area TypesNotes Marine Protected Areas (MPA) - Subject to No Take Restrictions MPAs that allow human access or use in at least part of the MPA. Hard Benthic Substrate 1 /Rocky Reef Areas Areas generally unsuitable for the burial of transmission lines. Habitat Areas of Particular Concern – United States Subsets of Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) that provides extremely important ecological functions or are especially vulnerable to degradation. Commercial Benthic FisheryCommercial fishing for benthic species may result in damage to cable or gear; cable development likely to cause additional public conflict. 14 W ESTERN E LECTRICITY C OORDINATING C OUNCIL 1 The biogeographic region that includes the bottom of a lake, sea, or ocean

Decision: Class 3/4 Area Types 15 W ESTERN E LECTRICITY C OORDINATING C OUNCIL Area TypesNotes Anchorage AreasFrequent anchorage by large vessels could damage subsea cables and create conflicts during cable construction and maintenance. Dredge Material Disposal SitesAreas where placement of dredged material occurs. Active dredge material disposal sites may conflict with cable construction and maintenance.

Proposed Risk Class 2 Area Types Area TypesNotes Marine Protected Area (MPA)- Managed for Multiple Use or with an Undetermined Level of Protection MPAs where specific management/regulations are unlikely to substantially delay development; increased public scrutiny may still occur. High Vessel Density AreasAreas of high vessel density may create conflicts for the placement and maintenance of subsea cables. Existing Submarine Cable and Pipeline ROW May represent reduced conflict areas for transmission, but likely not opportunity areas. Potential to use as an information layer only? 16 W ESTERN E LECTRICITY C OORDINATING C OUNCIL

Decision: Class 2/3 Area Types Area TypesNotes De facto Marine Protected Areas for Public Health and Safety Intended to protect public from environmental hazards or government activities; includes anchorage areas, traffic separation schemes, regulated navigation areas, shipping safety fairways, vessel traffic service areas Groundfish Essential Fish Habitat (EFH)Regulations do not specifically mention submarine transmission; potential for increased project scrutiny from fisherman, but most important areas likely addressed by Commercial Benthic Fishery Area Type. 17 W ESTERN E LECTRICITY C OORDINATING C OUNCIL

Decision: Class 2/3 Area Types Area TypesNotes Kelp ForestsPlacement of subsea cables is likely to be restricted in kelp beds to prevent disturbance of these sensitive ecosystems and avoid potential conflicts with commercial harvest. Seagrass BedsImportant habitat for aquatic species and perform ecosystem services in coastal zones; placement of subsea cables may be restricted or delayed. Pinniped Rookeries and Haul OutsMay require in seasonal restrictions on construction and avoidance of breeding areas. 18 W ESTERN E LECTRICITY C OORDINATING C OUNCIL

Proposed “Parking Lot” Items Tribal and First Nations traditional use areas Cultural resource sites Canadian data and Area Type review – Limited participation in this effort to date 19 W ESTERN E LECTRICITY C OORDINATING C OUNCIL

Ocean/Coastal Data Sets Confirm incorporation of ocean/coastal area types, data sets, and risk classifications, for submission to SPSG? 20 W ESTERN E LECTRICITY C OORDINATING C OUNCIL

Reminder: TEPPC Open Season TEPPC Open Season runs through 1/31/15 WECC seeks submissions of cultural & environmental data sets WECC seeks proposed study cases for 2015 – Does EDTF want to submit any study cases for 2015? 21 W ESTERN E LECTRICITY C OORDINATING C OUNCIL

Upcoming Activities EDTF outreach materials will be available next week – Fact sheet – PowerPoint slides – 2015 outreach plan EDTF future meetings for 2015 – January webinar or meeting – Future quarterly meeting dates EDTF/BLM webinar on USFWS Golden Eagle Conservation Data – January 16, W ESTERN E LECTRICITY C OORDINATING C OUNCIL

Questions? 23 W ESTERN E LECTRICITY C OORDINATING C OUNCIL That’s it for Happy holidays from WECC, Kearns & West, and ICF!