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Mayor Kelly – Good afternoon. I writing today because of the new I-1 or I-2 “industrial” sub-station that is being built in Great Falls between a commercial and residential zoned area in Clara Park. I asked NW Energy if they had completed an environmental impact assessment to determine the impact on the residents in the area and property value impact. I was told they didn’t conduct one. I asked about the noise that this new “industrial” plant was going create and ask if they did a sound assessment, again I was told they didn’t conduct one. In reviewing EIA regulations I believe that we have multiple environmental impacts that significantly affect the residents, our properties and the environment. In reviewing City Codes I noticed that they shouldn’t have been allowed to increase the size of the new industrial substation, but they did without providing little to any information to residents prior to construction about exactly how large this industrial sub-station would be. When I ask for a rendering of the industrial sub-station they sent me a map with a yellow outline of the property the City of Great Falls swapped with NW Energy.

Here’s just a short list of examples that I feel will have significant impact on the area and have never been addressed by NW Energy:

EIA Impacts:
1. Have a substantial, demonstrable negative aesthetic effect.
2. Disrupt or adversely affect an archaeological site or property of historic or cultural significance. (Lewis and Clark Portage)
3. Noise - Increase substantially the ambient noise levels for residents in the area.
4. Expose people or structures to major geological hazards
5. Obstruction of scenic views
6. EMF safety distance from high voltage power lines on metal poles is 700 feet. (Note they are less than 200 feet from my home!)
7. The tower height of the new industrial transmission towers exceed City code ordinances?
8. NWE should have been required to get the area rezoned into a I-1 Light industrial or I-2 Heavy industrial zone?

Here’s the email I sent to NW Energy back in May:

Good morning. I have major concerns about the lack of information provided to the residents about the new sub-station being built on the east end of Great Falls. At no time did we ever receive notice about the size of the project being constructed and the impact it would have on our property values. There are several concerns now that the you are moving the substation within a 100 feet of my house:
1. Is it even safe to be that close to a residence?
2. Have you completed any studies about the decrease in property values when building this large of a sub-station in a residential area?
3. What, if any landscaping will be completed around the facility?
4. What if any compensation will be made available due to this project for home owners directly affected by this construction and the devaluation of our properties?
5. Is NW energy willing to purchase the impacted property at fair market value?

I would love to have a conversation about options available as my property is 100 feet from your sub-station. You can reach me at 868-2355.

Again, the area residents have great concerns about how could NW Energy and the City of Great Falls allow an Industrial sized sub-station be built between a residential and commercially zoned area, in a City Park with historical significance without even having to even go through a process to get it re-zoned?

You can obviously tell I’m extremely frustrated and not sure what my next steps will need to be, but I thought I’d start with you since NEW has provided little clarification on this project since it began.

I can be reached at 406-868-2355.

Respectfully,

Bill Preston
4101 Ella Avenue
Great Falls, Montana
59405