FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 16, 2003

MEDIA CONTACT: David Christy, 916-353-4436, christy@wapa.gov

FOLSOM, Calif.—Western Area Power Administration has released the Final Environmental Impact Statement outlining potential upgrades to its transmission system in the Sacramento area.

The proposed action in the Sacramento Area Voltage Support Final EIS is to construct a 230-kV transmission line from O’Banion Substation near Marysville to Elverta Substation north of Sacramento, and upgrade existing 230-kV lines from Elverta to Tracy Substation.

The proposed action contains an alternative route in addition to the route described in the Draft EIS to avoid encroaching on Pleasant Grove Cemetery and some residential areas north of Sacramento. Other alternatives considered in the EIS contained combinations of new construction and upgrades to existing lines.

The findings from the EIS will form a basis for decisions on whether to proceed and, if so, how to proceed with transmission system upgrades. Actual construction is contingent on funding.

Western will prepare and publish a Record of Decision no sooner than 30 days after notice of this Final EIS is published in the Federal Register, scheduled for Sept. 19. The Final EIS can be obtained from Western by:

Toll-free hotline: 1-877-913-4440

Web site: www.wapa.gov/SN

E-mail: mcmahon@wapa.gov

Please include: “SVS Comments” in the subject line.

Mail: Loreen McMahon

Environmental Project Manager

Western Area Power Administration

Sierra Nevada Region

114 Parkshore Drive

Folsom, CA 95630-4710