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ATTACHMENT 4 June 3, 2009 David Young, NEPA Document Manager Western Area Power Administration Sierra Nevada Region 114 Parkshorc Drive Folsom, CA 95630 RE: Comments on Notice of Preparation of a Joint Environmental Impact Report /Environmental Impact Statement for the Transmission Authority of Northern California (TANC) and Western Area Power Administration, an agency of the U.S. Department of Energy Dear Mr. Young: This letter outlines the City of Pleasanton's concerns related to the proposal of the Transmission Agency of Northern California (TANC) to build and upgrade 230 -kV and 500 -kV transmission lines, substations, and related facilities along a 600 -mile total route in California. Of particular concern to the City of Pleasanton is that portion of the West Segment that traverses the Pleasanton Planning Area from the vicinity of Sunol traveling north -east roughly following the alignment of Route 84 to the junction of Vallecitos Road and East Vineyard Avenue. Based on the information provided at the Public Scoping Meeting held in Santa Clara on April 1, and on information available on the TANC websitc and in the Notice of Preparation (NOP), there appears to be potential significant environmental impacts to Pleasanton and the Tri- Valley region that will need to be analyzed in the EIR/EIS. Although the NOP states that the proposed routes were selected in order to "avoid, to the extent possible, residential and known environmentally sensitive areas Attachment 1 to the NOP includes a lengthy list of potential impacts or issues, including Aesthetic /Visual, Agricultural Resources, Biological Resources, Electric and Magnetic Fields, Land Usc and Recreation, Noise, and Socioeconomics. The City of Pleasanton is particularly concerned that the following potential impacts be thoroughly analyzed in the EIR/EIS: The proposed alignments of power lines and towers directly impact the Ruby Hill neighborhood in the vicinity of Vallecitos Road and Isabel Avenue. The direct impacts including visual /acsthetic, noise, health, and socioeconomic on these residents must be analyzed.