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Welcome to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) website
for the permitting and construction of the Southern California Edison
(SCE) Antelope-Pardee 500 kV Transmission Line Project. This project
included a 25.6-mile 500-kV single-circuit transmission line which
replaced an existing 66-kV line between the Antelope Substation
in Lancaster and the Pardee Substation in Santa Clarita, in northern
Los Angeles County, including approximately 13 miles within the
Angeles National Forest (ANF). The project also included electrical
interconnections at the existing Antelope and Pardee Substations,
as well as an expansion of the Antelope Substation and relocation
of several existing 66-kV subtransmission lines in the vicinity
of the Antelope Substation. SCE submitted an application for a Certificate
of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) for this project to the
CPUC on December 9, 2004. SCE also submitted an application for
a Special Use Easement to the USDA Forest Service. The Project was
reviewed under both the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)
and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
This site provides access to public documents and information relevant
to the permitting, CEQA and NEPA review processes, and construction
of the Project.
PROJECT STATUS
The Final Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement
(Final EIR/EIS) was certified and a Certification of Public Convenience
and Necessity (CPCN) was granted by CPUC (Docket #A.04-12-007, SCH
#2005061161) on March 1, 2007. The USDA Forest Service issued
a Record of Decision (ROD) on August 23, 2007. Project construction
occurred between March 2008 and September 2009.
Pre-Construction Compliance
Notices to Proceed (NTPs) were issued by CPUC by subsection of
the project as requested by SCE. A summary of NTPs issued for
the Antelope-Pardee Project is provided in Table 1 below, as well
as any NTP modifications/addendums and Forest Service approvals.
Issuance of NTPs was contingent upon SCE's compliance with pre-construction
requirements as specified by the approved mitigation measures and
responsible agency permitting requirements.
TABLE 1: NOTICES TO PROCEED
|
NTP #
Permit
|
Date Requested
|
Date
Issued
|
Segment
|
Description
|
#1
|
10/10/07
|
|
1
|
Use of the Mojave Marshalling Yard to store construction
equipment and materials. |
#2
|
11/16/07
|
|
1
|
Antelope Substation construction and expansion,
and use of two adjacent contractor laydown yards. |
#2 Mod
|
12/21/07
|
|
1
|
Grading at Antelope Substation site and yards.
Replacement of an existing 80 foot microwave tower with a new
120 foot tower within the fenced area of the Antelope Substation. |
#3
|
1/10/08
|
|
1
|
Use of five contractor laydown yards: Pumpkin
Yard, Pottery Yard, Pardee Substation Yard, Mechanics Yard and
Avenue I Yard. |
#4
|
1/29/08
|
|
1
|
Use of the Racetrack Marshalling Yard. |
#5
|
2/19/08
|
|
1
|
Shoofly Construction, Section 1. |
#5 Mod #1
|
3/11/08
|
|
1
|
Use of a new soil disposal site for the Shoofly
construction, Section 1. |
#5 Mod #2
|
3/24/08
|
|
1
|
Removal of the 66 kV conductors on the Del Sur-Saugus
line during the outage scheduled for March 27, 2008.s |
#6
|
3/19/08
|
|
1
|
Use of three additional construction yards, Rodeo,
Blue Cloud, and Pumpkin expansion. Rodeo yard approved under
NTP #9. |
#7
|
4/03/08
|
|
1
|
Section 1 Construction. |
#8
|
5/01/08
|
|
1
|
10 acre marshalling yard near Antelope Substation. |
#9
|
3/18/08
|
|
1
|
Rodeo Yard |
#10
|
6/02/08
|
|
1
|
12 kV line (Hughes Lake Distribution Line). |
#11
|
6/03/08
|
|
1
|
Section 3 construction. |
#12
|
6/27/08
|
|
1
|
Hydrant Yard |
#13
|
7/17/08
|
|
1
|
Removal of the 66 kV conductors within the ANF,
Phase 1, from tower 7-3 (near southern Forest boundary) to 16-3
(near Bouquet Reservoir). |
#15
|
9-24-08
|
|
1
|
Removal of the 66 kV conductors within the ANF,
Phase 2. |
#16
|
10/01/08
|
|
1
|
Section 3, Reitano Marshalling yard. |
#18
|
10/24/08
|
|
1
|
Section 2 Construction (Angeles National Forest) |
#CPUC Addendum #1
|
8/04/09
|
|
1
|
Reclassify several roads as permanent and leave
several existing foundations in place. |
#24
|
10/07/09
|
|
1
|
Relocation of 66kV lines for Antelope Substation
expansion. |
#CPUC Addendum #2
|
11/06/09
|
|
1
|
Reclassify several roads for Antelope 66kV relocation
and Reitano property as permanent. |
#26
|
12/18/09
|
|
1
|
Expansion of Antelope Substation |
#CPUC Addendum #3
|
12/21/09
|
|
1
|
Permanent refueling basin at Hydrant Yard |
#29
|
2/10/10
|
|
1
|
Relocation of the Sagebrush Transmission Line
at the Antelope Substation expansion area |
#CPUC Addendum #4
|
4/16/10
|
|
1
|
Installation of fiber optics surrounding the Antelope
Expansion |
#CPUC Addendum #5
|
5/25/10
|
|
1
|
Permanent overland travel routes for Operation
and Maintenance inspections |
USDA Forest Service Permtting & Modifications
(ANF lands only)
|
|
11/29/07
|
12/14/07
|
1
|
Radio Repeater - installation of a temporary radio
repeater site on Sierra Pelona Ridge to provide communication
during construction activities tied to the project. Improvement
installation began Jan. 11 |
|
9/27/07
|
12/14/07
|
1
|
Geotechnical testing - 23 geotechnical borings
are authorized on National Forest lands to provide additional
information that will be used in the design of the transmission
towers. Notice to proceed was signed Jan 31 to begin work the
week of Feb. 3 |
|
|
7/14/08
|
1
|
Removal of the 66 kV conductor within the ANF,
from tower 7-3 (near southern Forest boundary) to 16-3 (near
Bouquet Reservoir) Phase I. |
|
|
9/23/08
|
1
|
Removal of the 66 kV conductor within the ANF,
Phase II |
|
|
10/23/08
|
1
|
Construction of the 500 kV transmission line and
wreck out of the 66 kV towers in the ANF, Section 2. |
Other responsible agency permits required for construction, and
their amendments, are listed here. Major
compliance plans requiring CPUC and/or permit agency review and
approval included the following.
- Sensitive Biological Habitat Survey Reports
- Bird Nesting Survey Reports
- Restoration Plans
- Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plans (SWPPPs)
- Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasure Plans (SPCCs)
- Fugitive Dust Control Plans
- Paleontological Resources Discovery and Management Plans
- Cultural Resources Treatment Plans
- Phase I and II Site Investigation Reports
- Waste Characterization and Management Plans
- Worker Environmental Awareness Program Plans
- Health and Safety Plans
- Construction Safety and Emergency Response Plans
- Fire Prevention Plans
- Construction Transportation/Traffic Plans
Construction Monitoring & Variance Review
CPUC Environmental Monitors monitored construction activities to
ensure that construction was conducted in accordance with the approved
mitigation measures and permit conditions. Weekly reports documenting
construction and monitoring activities are posted here.
As final engineering was completed and as construction necessitated,
Variance Requests were submitted for the Project. A summary of the
Variance Requests is provided in Table 2 below. Each of these requests
was reviewed by CPUC to ensure that no new impacts or increase in
impact severity would result from the requested change.
TABLE 2: VARIANCE REQUESTS
|
Variance
Request
|
Date Requested
|
Date
Issued
|
Segment
|
Description
|
VR #1
|
4/01/08
|
|
1
|
Temporary road along Shoofly portion. |
VR #2
|
4/18/08
|
|
1
|
Several expanded stringing sites, new staging
areas, and guard structure installation sites for the removal
of the 220 kV line. |
VR #3
|
4/24/08
|
|
1
|
Weekend work along the Shoofly portion of Section
1, within the City of Santa Clarita and Los Angeles County,
and at the Antelope Substation, Avenue J, in the City of Lancaster.
|
VR #4
|
5/08/08
|
|
1
|
Weekend work along the 66 kV line in Section 1
|
VR #5
|
7/15/08
|
|
1
|
Wreck-out Tower and Guard Poles |
VR #6
|
7/30/08
|
|
1
|
Modification to the notice and review requirements
under Mitigation Measures L-5 and L-6. |
VR #7
|
8/12/08
|
|
1
|
Wire Stringing site in Section 1 between NC 11
and 12. |
VR #8
|
8/20/08
|
|
1
|
Guard structures at Haskell Canyon outside of
approved disturbance areas. |
VR #9
|
8/19/08
|
|
1
|
Valuzet Movie Ranch Helicopter Landing Zone, Section
1. |
VR #10
|
8/21/08
|
|
1
|
Permission to leave one tower foundation in place
at wreck out tower 24/2 in Section 1, due to likelihood of slope
failure. |
VR #11
|
9/12/08
|
|
1
|
New temporary road construction to NC 97 in Section
3. |
VR #13
|
9/16/08
|
|
1
|
Turn around for equipment at NC 28 in Section
1 |
VR #15
|
9/20/08
|
|
1
|
Access road changes, Section 3 |
VR #17
|
10/14/08
|
|
1
|
Extended weekend work hours between NC 22 & 23
Haskell Canyon utility crossings |
VR #18
|
10/15/08
|
|
1
|
Wreck-out Tower 25/5 disturbance area and access
road and footing removal. Segment 1, Section 3. |
VR #19
|
11/05/08
|
|
1
|
Use of existing disturbance areas as helicopter
landing zones, Section 1 |
VR #20
|
11/05/08
|
|
1
|
Use of existing disturbance areas as helicopter
landing zones, Section 3 |
VR #21
|
11/24/08
|
|
1
|
Approved to leave two foundations in place at
wreck-out tower 25/1 |
VR #23
|
1/07/09
|
|
1
|
Additional disturbance area near Tower 25 and
Wire Stringing Site 14 on Section 1 |
VR #24
|
1/08/09
|
|
1
|
Underground fiber optic line for Tower 13 on Section
1 |
MOD
VR #24
|
2/20/09
|
|
1
|
Modify fiber optic line alignment to Tower 13 |
VR #25
|
1/13/09
|
|
1
|
Work on Sunday, January 18, during LADWP outage
over Haskell Canyon |
VR #26
|
1/20/09
|
|
1
|
Permanent lift Tower M88-T1A southwest side Antelope
Substation |
VR #27
|
1/29/09
|
|
1
|
Extension of approved construction work hours
Towers 22 and 23 (Haskell Canyon Crossing) |
VR #28
|
2/02/09
|
2/04/09
|
1
|
Second wire stringing site for Tower 16 |
VR #32
|
3/03/09
|
|
1
|
Nighttime wire removal across Newhall Ranch Road,
City of Santa Clarita |
VR #33
|
3/04/09
|
|
1
|
Hydrant Yard nighttime emergency helicopter repairs
Monday through Saturday |
VR #34
|
3/12/09
|
|
1
|
Sunday work on March 15th - permanent transfer
of temporary shoo-fly transmission towers to the new permanent
A-P 500kV double-circuit T/L (Section 1) |
VR #36
|
3/09/09
|
|
1
|
Heavy-lift helicopter (sky crane) Section 2 -
Upper Pumpkin Yard, Hydrant and Reitano Yard use. |
VR #37
|
3/30/09
|
|
1
|
Installation of an underground conduit near Tower
11 (Section 1) |
VR #42
|
4/28/09
|
|
1
|
Expansion of Wire Stringing Site 13 (Section 1) |
VR #45
|
4/28/09
|
|
1
|
Use of alternate access near Bouquet Reservoir
to access Wire Stringing Site 23 |
VR #53
|
7/29/09
|
|
1
|
Modification to existing Tower M24-T1 (Section
1) |
VR #60
|
10/15/09
|
|
1
|
Modification to MM PH-6, notification timing for
energization |
VR #65
|
12/18/09
|
|
1
|
66 kV relocation shoo-fly |
VR #66
|
1/11/10
|
|
1
|
Modify the requirements of MM B-1a to fulfill
a request from the property owner |
VR #68
|
4/09/10
|
|
1
|
Release restoration requirements on road to wreck-out
Tower 20-4 (Section 3) |
VR #69
|
5/04/10
|
|
1
|
Contractor Yards surrounding Antelope Substation |
MOD
VR #69
|
7/29/10
|
|
1
|
Additional space for storage at Antelope Substation
for material being delivered for Antelope, Vincent and Whirlwind
Substations |
VR #70
|
6/02/10
|
|
1
|
Additional disturbance areas adjacent to tower
erections for 220 kV Sagebrush relocation work around Antelope
Substation |
VR #71
|
6/22/10
|
|
1
|
Change in construction work hours for work on
the Sagebrush 220 kV T/L |
MOD #1
VR #71
|
6/24/10
|
|
1
|
Expansion of construction hours for Sagebrush
220 kV T/L and foundation installation work at Antelope Substation |
MOD #2
VR #71
|
7/08/10
|
|
1
|
Further expansion of construction hours for Antelope
Substation construction |
MOD #3
VR #71
|
11/18/10
|
|
1
|
Further expansion of construction hours for Antelope
Substation construction |
VR #72
|
2/07/12 Revised 6/06/12
|
|
1
|
Exemption of restoration requirements in areas
where livestock grazing has occurred |
VR #74
|
7/30/14
|
|
1
|
Exemption of restoration requirements for selected
locations |
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BACKGROUND
Final Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement
In accordance with CEQA and NEPA, an Environmental Impact Report/Environmental
Impact Statement was prepared for the proposed Project. The Final
Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement (Final
EIR/EIS) was certified and a Certification of Public Convenience
and Necessity (CPCN) was granted by CPUC (Docket #A.04-12-007, SCH
#2005061161) on March 1, 2007. The CPUC approved a project
alignment that included the originally proposed alignment (northern
and southern ends) and a combination of Alternatives 2 and 4. Maps
of the approved alignment are provided below, in the link provided
to the Final EIR/EIS.
The Final EIR/EIS was prepared in December 2006 and issued in early
January 2007. The Final EIR/EIS consists of two volumes. Volume
I is a re-printed version of the Draft EIR/EIS. Changes made to
the Draft EIR/EIS in Volume I are identified as follows: inserted
text is underlined and deleted text is shown in strikeout. Volume
II consists of all comments received on the Draft EIR/EIS and responses
to those comments, as well as the mitigation monitoring plan.
The CPUC released the Draft EIR/EIS for the proposed Project on
July 21, 2006. The public comment period for this document
ended on October 3, 2006. All comments received on the Draft EIR/EIS
were responded to in the Final EIR/EIS, Volume II, as discussed
above.
CEQA requires that the CPUC provide written responses to public
agency comments at least 10 days prior to certifying an EIR (Public
Resource Code 21092.5(a)). This was accomplished by sending the
Final EIR to all agencies that commented.
NEPA Process and USDA Forest Service Record of Decision
The U.S. EPA's Office of Federal Activities published a Notice
of Availability of the Final EIS in the Federal Register on January 19,
2007. The USDA Forest Service issued a Record of Decision (ROD)
on August 23, 2007, which states the decision, identifies all
alternatives considered, and describes applicable mitigation. The
Forest Service also approved an alignment comprised of a combination
of Alternatives 2 and 4. Two Notices of Appeal were filed on the
ROD. On November 19, 2007, the USDA Forest Service Appeal Reviewing
Officer (ARO) found that the Forest Supervisor's decision was appropriate
and complied with existing laws, policies, and regulations.
OTHER DOCUMENTS AVAILABLE
Final
Decision Granting a CPCN
USDA Forest Service Record
of Decision (August 23, 2007)
Notice of Availability of the Final EIR/EIS
(December 29, 2006)
Notice of Extension of the Draft EIR/EIS
review period (September 13, 2006)
Notice of Availability of the Draft
EIR/EIS (July 21, 2006)
Federal Register Notice of Intent to prepare
a joint environmental impact statement/report (June 28,
2005)
Notice of Preparation of an EIR/EIS (June
24, 2005)
SCE's Proponent's Environmental Assessment
(December 9, 2004)
More
Construction photos
Informational
Video (26MB)
For Additional Information
To request
additional information, please contact CPUC as follows:
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