Welcome to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) website for the environmental review of the proposed Segments 2 and 3 of the Antelope Transmission Project. This proposed Project (Segments 2 and 3 collectively) includes a series of 220-kilovolt (kV) and 500-kV transmission line upgrades between the Tehachapi Wind Resource Area in southern Kern County and Vincent Substation in Los Angeles County, as well as two new substation facilities in Kern County. Southern California Edison (SCE) submitted an application for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) for Segments 2 and 3 to the CPUC on December 9, 2004. Segment 1 of the Antelope Transmission Project was addressed in a separate CPCN application (No. 04-12-007). The proposed Project is subject to review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). This site provides access to public documents and information relevant to the CEQA review process.
Final Environmental Impact Report
The Final Environmental Impact Report (Final EIR) was issued on December 26, 2006.
The Final EIR consists of two volumes. Volume I is a re-printed version of the Draft EIR. Changes made to the Draft EIR 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 and responses to those comments.
The CPUC released the Draft EIR for the proposed Project on August 23, 2006. The public comment period for this document ended on October 16, 2006. All comments received on the Draft EIR have been responded to in the Final EIR, Volume II, as discussed above.
CEQA Process and CPUC General Proceeding
CEQA requires that the CPUC provide written responses to public agency comments at least 10 days prior to certifying the EIR (Public Resource Code 21092.5(a)). This is accomplished by sending the Final EIR to all agencies that commented.
The CPUC will determine the adequacy of the Final EIR, and if adequate, will certify the document as compliant with CEQA. The CPUC will issue a decision on the Proposed Project, which will be announced and published concurrent with a scheduled CPUC Meeting. The final decision is expected by the end of January 2007. Within 30 days after the decision is issued by the CPUC, parties can apply for rehearing.
Other Documents Available
- Notice of Extension of the Draft EIR review period (October 4, 2006)
- Notice of Availability of the Draft EIR (August 23, 2006)
- Notice of Preparation of an EIR (April 27, 2006)
- SCE's Proponent's Environmental Assessment (December 2004)
Background
SCE has filed an application with the CPUC to construct the proposed Project, which consists of new transmission line infrastructure between SCE's existing Vincent Substation in Los Angeles County, California, and the Tehachapi Wind Resource Area in southern Kern County, California. The proposed Project would help to accommodate anticipated new wind generation in the Tehachapi Wind Resource Area north of Antelope Substation. The 500-kV transmission lines would initially operate at 220 kV and would serve to reduce increasing loading on SCE's Antelope-Mesa 220-kV transmission line. Segments 2 and 3 of the Antelope Transmission Project are part of SCE's plans to interconnect and integrate potential wind energy projects to SCE's electrical system. Segment 2 has the potential added benefit of improving overall electric system reliability by increasing capacity between Antelope Substation and Vincent Substations.
Project Description
The main project components are described below. Substation Two and Substation One, in addition to the 9.6 miles of 220-kV transmission line facilities connecting them and the 25.6 miles of 500-kV transmission line facilities between Substation One and Antelope Substation, are collectively referred to as Segment 3 of the proposed Project. The 21.0 miles of 500-kV transmission line facilities and the 0.6 miles of 220-kV transmission line facilities between Antelope and Vincent Substations are referred to as Segment 2 of the proposed Project. SCE is proposing to construct the following new transmission system components as part of the proposed Project:
- Substation Two, a 220/66-kV substation located near SCE's existing Monolith Substation, northwest of Cal Cement Substation in the Tehachapi Wind Resource Area of southern Kern County (Segment 3).
- 9.6 miles of 220-kV transmission line between Substation Two and Substation One (Segment 3).
- Substation One, a 500/220/66-kV substation located southeast of Substation Two, near the Western Area Power Administration's existing Cal Cement Substation in the Tehachapi Wind Resource Area of southern Kern County (Segment 3)
- 25.6 miles of 500-kV transmission line between Substation One in the Tehachapi Wind Resource Area and Antelope Substation in the City of Lancaster (Segment 3).
- Approximately 21.0 miles of 500-kV transmission line between Antelope Substation in the City of Lancaster and Vincent Substation, near the community of Acton in unincorporated Los Angeles County, as well as 0.6 miles of 220-kV transmission line connecting to Vincent Substation (Segment 2).
The proposed Project would not traverse any Federal lands. Segment 3 would be constructed in both Los Angeles and Kern Counties. The portion of Segment 3 between Antelope Substation and Substation One would follow planned 105th, 107th, and 103rd Streets for the majority of its length, with part of the route also running parallel to the western border of the proposed Del Sur Ranch development in western Lancaster. The 9.6-mile portion of Segment 3 between Substation One and Substation Two would be constructed through a largely rural area of the Tehachapi Wind Resource Area in southern Kern County. Segment 2 would be constructed completely within Los Angeles County and would parallel existing SCE transmission line corridors for most of its length between SCE's existing Antelope and Vincent Substations.
The 500-kV transmission lines would initially be energized at 220-kV. The proposed Project includes electrical interconnections at the existing Antelope Substation (Segments 2 and 3) and the existing Vincent Substation (Segment 2).
The following link provides a general Project map: Map 1 - General Location (2.5MB)
Additional maps and figures for the proposed Project and alternatives are provided below, in link provided to the Final EIR.
For Additional Information
The CPUC, through its Environmental Review Team, is conducting an environmental review of the proposed Project. To request additional information or to be added to the mailing list, please contact us by e-mail, fax, or phone, as follows:
The CPUC's Project Manager is:
Junaid Rahman, CPUC Project Manager
California Public Utilities Commission
505 Van Ness Avenue
San Francisco CA 94102
Tel. (415) 355-5492
Fax (415) 703-2200
Email: jnr@cpuc.ca.gov