During the informational portion of the FSEC hearing, multiple public speakers urged that the Cascade Renewable Transmission Project undergo a full environmental impact review and flagged a range of environmental, health and cultural concerns.

Fred Grief, who identified several fisheries and recreation concerns, told the council he "strongly believe[s] an EIS is needed" and urged that a no‑action alternative be fully analyzed. He said studies should examine magnetic fields, temperature effects and other impacts on people who use the river for fishing, windsurfing and swimming.

Mary Rappar and other residents cited cumulative impacts on the Columbia River Gorge, ongoing cleanup sites such as Bradford Island, and the need for robust tribal consultation. "The cumulative impacts are so big already that doing this one more thing … is just the impact on fish," one speaker said, urging the project be scrutinized under NEPA/SEPA.

Debbie Ellinger, who identified herself as a cancer survivor, expressed concern about health effects from power lines, saying "there's no studies right now on what you're planning on doing" and asking for additional research on land ownership and impacts.

Columbia Riverkeeper representatives raised two related issues: incomplete application information under WAC 463 (they argued the filing lacks required details about habitat and alternatives), and an allegation that the applicant has presented the project as aligning with the Columbia Intertribal Fish Commission's energy vision when CRITFC has told journalists that is not accurate. Taryn Yazdani asked FSEC to publicly address evidence of that alleged misrepresentation.

Speakers repeatedly asked FSEC to keep the administrative record open longer to allow written comment in response to hearing testimony. Several conservation lawyers and advocates said the published hearing notice and online portal windows were insufficiently clear and too short to permit robust written response.

FSEC staff acknowledged the concerns and told attendees that SEPA scoping would include a public comment period if a determination of significance is made; staff encouraged people to sign up for notifications and to submit written comments through the portal. No agency decisions on the scope of environmental review, tribal consent, or the need for an EIS were announced at the meeting.

Provenance: topicintro SEG 1104; topfinish SEG 1203