If Pursuit is successful in securing the permits and building a tram up Columbia Mountain, it might be the only structure of its type that transports humans over Bonneville Power Administration transmission lines, a BPA spokesman noted last week.

In addition to any Forest Service permits the company could need, it will also need permits from the BPA to cross over the high voltage transmission lines that run from the Hungry Horse Dam along the base of the mountain.

While it’s fairly common for power lines to cross each other at safe distances across the BPA power grid, the administration did not have “any other scenario where we have public conveyance above our transmission lines,” noted BPA spokesman Kevin Wingert.

Unlike the transmission line that goes to one’s house, BPA lines have no insulation and instead are insulated by the air and distance. Structures need to be at least 50 feet from BPA’s poles, structures or guy wires, whether it be vegetation, roads, fences, utilities, pipelines, or any other improvements.  There also needs to be at least 25 feet of clearance from the top of any vegetation and the lowest point of BPA’s wires.

In this case, the BPA maintains the right of way under the Hungry Horse Dam lines to just shrubs and grasses. Trees are cleared and cut down on a regular basis,

Since the lines can contain hundreds of thousands of volts of electricity, the agency has a host of conditions for any structure located near the lines or utilities running under the lines.

According to literature provided by the administration, no buildings or structures are generally allowed under the lines.

“Structures including buildings, building extensions and additions (homes, businesses, garages, barns) are generally prohibited in BPA’s right-of-way because they interfere with BPA’s operation of its transmission system,” the agency notes in its safety literature.

Even underground utilities need to be properly installed and grounded, it notes.

“Proper positioning of underground utilities is required to prevent an unusual condition that may cause electricity to arc from the high-voltage wire to the tower and then to ground. This could produce a dangerous voltage on underground piping or cable system,” the BPA notes.

While farmers have been growing crops under BPA lines for years, it still urges great caution near lines and notes that anything extending more than 14 feet above the ground has the potential to be dangerous.

The agency even highly discourages metal fencing under its lines, for example.

BPA provides about one-third of the electricity used in the Pacific Northwest and operates more than 15,000 circuit miles of transmission lines.The tram would transport people to a shoulder on the Northwest side of the mountain. A tram could hold up to 100 people at a time. The company, in it literature, said the tram could cover the 3,000 feet of elevation gain in 6 minutes. It plans on having other amenities at the top, like a restaurant and paved trails, if approved.

The company said that it has not yet applied for a permit from BPA, but it claims that going over power lines is not uncommon.

“We have been in contact with BPA; however, at this time a formal application would be premature. We have also reviewed with the lift manufacturers as constructing and operating over power lines and other infrastructure is not uncommon,” Gary, Rogers Chief Operating Officer, Pacific Northwest said in a statement.