Environmental Data Update and Review Process

Environmental Data Update and Review Process

Environmental Data Update and Review Process

1.Introduction

2.Overview of the Environmental Data Task Force

2.1.EDTF Data Products and Use

3.Environmental Data Update and Review Process

3.1.Open Biennial Process

3.2.Identification of Data Workarounds

3.3.Review of Comparison Process Results and Updates to Risk Classification Category Designations

3.4.Ongoing Updates to Existing Data Sets

3.5.Data Set Update Finalization

Appendix A—Data Update Process Flow

Appendix B—Glossary

Appendix C—Referenced EDTF Documents

1.Introduction

This document describes the Environmental Data Task Force’s (EDTF) process for updating its inventory of environmental and cultural data (referred to as the Data Sets) appropriate for use in long-term, regional transmission planning for the Western Interconnection. Data in this case are defined as Geographic Information System (GIS) files for spatially explicit polygon areas.[1] The data determined as suitable for use in transmission planning based on the standards outlined in the EDTF Data Quality Process are referred to as “preferred” data. Section 2 provides an Overview of the Environmental Data Task Force, including its function within the Western Electricity Coordinating Council’s (WECC) Transmission Expansion Planning Policy Committee (TEPPC) and a description of its current Data Set-related products. Section 3 describes The Environmental Data Update and Review Process, focusing on the procedural steps the EDTF uses to update and maintain its Data Sets[2]. Outlined within each step in Section 3 is:

• Responsible party,
• Anticipated product of the step,
• Timeline,
• Next steps in the process.

All EDTF documents referenced in this document can be accessed through the hyperlinks in the text and the footnotes or through the URLs provided in Appendix C.

2.Overview of the Environmental Data Task Force

WECC created TEPPC to manage the Regional Transmission Expansion Planning (RTEP) process for the Western Interconnection. Among TEPPC’s work products are biannual 10-Year Regional Transmission Plans(10-Year Plans) and20-Year Regional Transmission Target Plans (20-Year Plans).

The Scenario Planning Steering Group (SPSG), a group created by TEPPC that was tasked with developing future scenarios for the Western Interconnection, formed the EDTF in June 2010 to “develop recommendations on the type, quality, and sources of data on land, wildlife, cultural, historical, archaeological, and water resources (in coordination with work conducted via the State-Provincial Steering Committee), exploring ways to transform that data into study cases and into the models.”[3] Since the 2011 publication of the EDTF report “Environmental Recommendations for Transmission Planning,” the EDTF has continued its efforts to:

• Identify a catalog of existing spatially explicit (GIS) environmental and cultural data sets for the purpose of planning and evaluating potential transmission alternatives;
• Develop a process for ensuring that the catalog is managed and updated as appropriate; and
• Incorporate the data into the WECC long term planning tools (LTPT).

This document outlines an efficient update process to ensure the quality and usability of the data over time. The processrelies heavily on stakeholder input, ensuring that the EDTF data is obtained from and vetted through a variety of sources and is applicable to the needs of the RTEP planning process.

2.1.EDTF Data Products and Use

The EDTF data products consist of the preferred Data Sets, catalogued in the Data Inventory Spreadsheet, and the Land Classification System. The EDTF recommended that these products be used in the TEPPC’s 10-year and 20-year biennial transmission planning process,[4] in particular as inputs to the LTPT. The Land Classification System assigns a Risk Classification Category of 1 (lowest risk) through 4 (highest risk) to each data layer, which describes the relative risk of developing transmission in that area based on the environmental or cultural resources present. The EDTF User’s Manualdetails the method for combining the EDTF’s preferred data sets and risk classifications to create a single, spatial data layer showing relative risk across the Western Interconnection.

The EDTF has developed, and the SPSG has approved, a Comparison Processfor evaluating transmission alternatives. The Comparison Process applies the risk metrics (derived from the Risk Classification Categories)to transmission alternatives, resulting in a set of relative risk scores for each alternative.[5]The Comparison Process applies to both the 10- and 20-year planning horizons.

3.Environmental Data Update and Review Process

The Environmental Data Update and Review Process(referred to herein as the “Update Process”)ensures that the environmental and cultural data used in the RTEP process is up to date, is in a usable form, and is of acceptable quality. The Update Processprocessaddresses:

• Incorporating data from new sources into the Data Sets;
• Updating existing data in the Data Sets;
• Assigning and updating risk classifications to new and existing data in the Data Sets; and
• Archiving outdated data or data that are not preferred.

There are three situations which require revising the Data Sets:

1. Identification of new data from stakeholder input or other sources;
2. Modification of existing data based on stakeholder input; and
3. Updates of existing data from data providers.

Once new or updated data are identified, they arereviewed by the EDTF (with expert guidance, if appropriate). The data are vetted through the Data Quality Validation Process; if the data are preferred, the EDTF assignsrisk classifications using the EDTF Land Classification System.Finally, the preferred dataare added to the Preferred Data Sets in the Data Set Inventoryand described, along with their associated risk classifications, in the User’s Manual.

The following section outlines the Update Process, which integrates with the biennial TEPPC RTEP process.

The Update Process ensures that the Preferred Data Sets and associated risk classifications in the RTEP process contain the most current and appropriate data. A graphic describing the information flow of the Update Processis presented in Appendix A. A Glossary of Terms is included for reference in Appendix B.

3.1.Open Biennial Process

Biennially, WECC publicizes and manages an open process to solicitupdated or new environmental and cultural data sets and associated risk classifications. This process is supported by a stakeholder feedback form and a guide detailing the purpose of the EDTF data and the type of data needed for each Data Set and associated Risk Classification Category,and is outlined in the Comparison Process, Appendix D. As part of the open process, WECC reaches out to stakeholders, owners of potential data sources, and providers of data already included in the Data Sets.

WECC collects submissions and provides them tothe Data Manager for processing with the Data Quality Validation Process. The EDTF reviews preferred-quality data sets to determine their appropriateness for inclusion in the list of EDTF Data Sets. The selected data sets are added to the Data Inventory Spreadsheet, and noted in the Change Log forthe Data Set Update Finalization Step (see page 6). The Data Manager archives any data that is not preferred, including a rationale for why the data was not added to the list of EDTF Preferred Data Sets.

Any proposed data submissions received by WECC outside of the Open Process time window are logged and held for consideration until the next Open Process.

3.2.Identification of Data Workarounds

In some cases, the EDTF has identified gaps in its list of preferred data sets. Where preferred-quality data are not available for given topics, the EDTF convenes broadly knowledgeable experts to identify ways to fill the data gaps or in some way incorporate relevant information into the regional transmission planning process. These workshops are not conducted on a set schedule, but when the EDTF identifies data gaps to be filled. The data workarounds process is outlined in detail in the Comparison Process, Appendix D.

The EDTF reviewsthe results from these data workaround workshops and selects potential workaroundsor suitable datato fill gaps. If appropriate, the Data Manager processes potential data with the Data Quality Validation Process. Preferred data is added to the Data Inventory Spreadsheet and noted in the Change Log for the Data Set Update Finalization Step (see page 6). The Data Manager archives any data that is not preferred.

3.3.Review of Comparison Process Results and Updates to Risk Classification Category Designations

In September to December annually, after the Comparison Process is run, the EDTF convenesa stakeholder meeting to review Comparison Process results and identifyinstances in which the assigned risk classification categories do not appropriately capture levels of environmental and cultural risk.Where issues are identified,meeting participants propose modifications to the assigned risk classification categories and documentthe rationale for any changes (see Comparison Process, Step 3).The EDTF reviews the changes, and provides approved Risk Classification Category updates to the Data Manager. Changes to the Risk Classification Categoryassignments are noted in the Change Log forthe Data Set Update Finalization Step (see page 6).

3.4.Ongoing Updates to Existing Data Sets

The Data Manager will periodically be in contact with existing data providers to identify updates to existing preferred data sets and potentially appropriate new data sets. In coordination with the EDTF, the Data Manager processesthese data sets through the Data Quality Validation Process, incorporates the updates into the Data Inventory Spreadsheet, and notes them in the Change Log for the Data Set Update Finalization Step (see page 6). The Data Manager archives any outdated data or new data that is not preferred.The Data Manager ensures that updates to preferred data sets are incorporated into the LTPT.

3.5.Data Set Update Finalization

From April-June of the odd year of the biennial RTEP process, the EDTF finalizes a set of recommended changes to the EDTF Data Sets and risk classifications using the Change Log updates from each of the above steps. The Data Manager then:

1)Revises the User’s Manual with the data additions/revisions adopted by the EDTF

2)Submits the completed Data Sets, associated risk classifications, and User’s Manual to WECC for use in the LTPT.

Appendix A—Data Update Process Flow

Figure 1: Environmental Update and ReviewProcess Flow Chart

Appendix B—Glossary

Term / Acronym / Definition
Area Type / A land area with specific geospatial, environmental and/or cultural characteristics.
Data Inventory Spreadsheet / A document that identifies the environmental and cultural data that comprises all data that have been reviewed and considered by the EDTF, including both “preferred” and non-preferred data.
Data Manager / The person identified as the central point for receiving and processing recommended additions, deletions or changes to the EDTF Preferred Data Sets.
Data Quality Validation Process / An EDTF document that contains criteria for evaluating data sets to determine whether they are “preferred,” or suitable for use in WECC regional transmission planning
EDTF User’s Manual / A document that explains how to apply the EDTF Data Sets and associated Risk Classification Categories.
Environmental Data Task Force / EDTF / A task force created by the SPSG to develop recommendations on the type, quality, and sources of data on land, wildlife, cultural, historical, archaeological, and water resources, exploring ways to transform that data into a form usable in WECC’s study cases and 10-year and long-term planning models.
Geographic Information System / GIS / A tool that integrates hardware, software, and data for capturing, managing, analyzing, and displaying all forms of geographically referenced information.
Long-Term Planning Tool / LTPT / A tooldeveloped for WECC that identifies transmission expansion alternatives in the 20-year planning horizon, based on inputs of resource, load and transmission characteristics.
Network Expansion Tool / NXT / One of two primary components of the LTPT. The NXT optimizes outputs from the SCDT to create a recommended transmission expansion plan for each long-term study case.
Preferred Environmental / Cultural Data / Environmental and/or cultural data that meets criteria specified in the EDTF Data Quality Validation Process
Risk Classification Category / One of four categories identified by the EDTF to define the relative risk that a transmission alternative may encounter environmental and/or cultural risks.
Scenario Planning Steering Group / SPSG / A 25-member stakeholder body thatprovides strategic guidance to TEPPC on (1) scenarios to be modeled in transmission planning studies, (2) the modeling tools to be used, and (3) key assumptions to be used in creating and reviewing the scenarios.
Study Case Development Tool / SCDT / One of two primary components of the LTPT. The SCDT creates technically feasible transmission expansion segments, based on resource, load and transmission inputs.
Transmission Alternative / A potential wire solution to a transmission challenge that involves two or more substations, and may or may not involve defined transmission corridors or WECC Paths.
Transmission Expansion Planning Policy Committee / TEPPC / A committee created by the WECC Board of Directors to (1) oversee database management, (2) provide policy and management of the planning process, and (3) guide the analyses and modeling for Western Interconnection economic transmission expansion planning.
Western Electricity Coordinating Council / WECC / The Regional Entity responsible for coordinating and promoting bulk electric system reliability in the Western Interconnection
Western Interconnection / WI / One of the two major alternating current (AC) power grids in North America, stretching from Western Canada to Baja California, Mexico, within which the high-voltage electric transmission grid is electrically connected during normal operations.
Regional Transmission Expansion Planning / RTEP / The summation of WECC’s activities, managed by TEPPC, that evaluate long-term regional transmission needs. RTEP evaluates needs based on many variables including electric demand, generation resources, energy policies, technology costs, impacts on transmission reliability, and emissions.

Appendix C—Referenced EDTF Documents

The EDTF documents referenced in this process can be accessed at the following locations:

Document / URL
Change Log /
Data Inventory Spreadsheet /
Data Quality Validation Process /
Environmental Recommendations for Transmission Planning /
Land Classification System /
Process for Using Environmental and Cultural Information to Compare Electric Transmission Alternatives at the Planning (not siting) Level /
User’s Manual /

Last Update 08-13-2012Page 1 of 11

[1] This is also referred to as data layers

[2] Implementation of this Environmental Data Update and Review Protocol hinges upon WECC approval and sufficient WECC funding. If funding is not available to implement the entirety of the Protocol, WECC will work with the EDTF to revise the Protocol appropriately.

[3]Scope of Work for SPSG Environmental Data Task Force Version 1.1

[4]Environmental Recommendations for Transmission Planning

[5] Transmission alternatives are transmission options that result from the RTEP process, see Glossary for detailed definition