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Yelm request for secondary accessPUGET SOUND ENERGY May 6, 2010 City of Yelm Community Development Department 105 Yelm Avenue West Yelm, WA 98597 Attention: Tami Merriman, Associate Planner Re: PSE's request for access to NP Road over public trail and railroad. Dear Ms. Merrriman Puget Sound Energy, Inc. (PSE) is respectfully requesting secondary access to the Yelm Substation onto NP road and over Yelm's public trail and railroad. This access will be used to provide necessary access to the electrical facilities a) during construction of the proposed project; b) under emergency conditions; and c) for vegetation maintenance (field mowing) activities during the growing season. The primary access to the substation will continue to be from Railroad Avenue. PSE anticipates that the vast majority of all substation maintenance and emergency access to the site will be via this primary access. However, under potential emergency situations it is imperative to get electric service back on line as soon as possible. There could be a need to have significant heavy equipment including cranes, lift trucks, etc all working simultaneously at the substation. The placement and function of the various types of equipment demand that secondary access be available to meet the immediate needs and to bring the substation and/or transmission line(s) back on line as soon as possible. This secondary access is typical for PSE switching substations. PSE is proposing a combination of gates and landscaping features at the front of the substation and a gate at the proposed secondary access designed to prohibit illicit dumping at the site. As such, PSE's vegetation management would gain access through the proposed secondary road to the rear portions of the parcel during the growing season. PSE is prepared to construct the secondary access, including railroad crossing to meet all reasonable requirements set forth by the City of Yelm. We do not anticipate that the limited use of this secondary access will create any traffic or pedestrian impacts to existing City facilities. The written request is in response to your email dated May 4, 2010 requesting a written description justifying the need of the access. I am available to attend the Transportation Committee meeting to answer any additional questions this committee may have regarding this request. Please contact me at (253) 476- 6295 or by email at andy.markos(a~pse.com if you have any additional questions or concerns on this matter. I look forward to working with you on the approval processes for our project. Sincerely, Puget Sound Energy, Inc. Andy Markos, AICP Sr Planner Cc: C Kraut