STATE OF CALIFORNIA
PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION

Southern California Edison's
Antelope Transmission Project
Segments 2 and 3

(Application A.04-12-008)
 

     

Welcome to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) website for the permitting, environmental review, and construction of the Antelope Transmission Project, Segments 2 and 3. This Project (Segments 2 and 3 collectively) includes a series of 220-kilovolt (kV) and 500-kV transmission line upgrades between Vincent Substation in Los Angeles County and the Tehachapi Wind Resource Area in southern Kern 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 the Antelope Transmission Project, Segments 2 and 3, to the CPUC on December 9, 2004. The Project was subject to review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).

This site provides access to public documents and information relevant to the permitting, CEQA review, and construction of the Antelope Transmission Project.

The Antelope Transmission Project, Segments 2 and 3, was permitted and constructed in conjunction with the Antelope-Pardee 500 kV Transmission Line Project (Segment 1) and Tehachapi Renewable Transmission Project (Segments 4-11). Information regarding these projects is available at the following links:

PROJECT STATUS

The Final Environmental Impact Report (Final EIR) was certified and a Certification of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) was granted by CPUC (Docket #A.04-12-008, SCH #2006041160) on March 15, 2007. Construction of Segments 2 and 3 occurred between October 2008 and December 2012.

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 Transmission Project is provided in Table 1 below, as well as any NTP modifications/addendums and Final Engineering Concurrences (FECs). 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
SEGMENT 2
#14
7/11/08
2
Segment 2 construction
CPUC Addendum #1
1/29/09
2
Modifications to Sagebrush Structures in Segment 2, addition of a 12 kV distribution line at Windhub Substation
#20
3/20/09
2
R-8 Marshalling Yard, City of Palmdale
CPUC Addendum #5
6/26/09
2
Reclassify access roads AR 12B and AR 62 to permanent roads.
CPUC Addendum #7
12/21/09
2
Reclassify access road AR 19 to permanent road (also Reclassify spur road 34A in Segment 3A).
CPUC Addendum #8
1/25/10
2
Reclassification of two temporary roads to permanent and relocation of transposition poles.
Revised CPUC Addendum #8
2/10/10
2/19/10
2
Relocate two previously approved transposition towers from Const 110 to Const 105
CPUC Addendum #11
5/25/10
2
Permanent overland travel routes for Operation and Maintenance inspections
SEGMENT 3
#17
9/12/08
3A
Segment 3A Construction
#19
10/31/08
3
Windhub Substation Construction
CPUC Addendum #1
1/29/09
3
Addition of a 12 kV distribution line at Windhub Substation (same as above).
CPUC Addendum #2
3/12/09
3
Addition of a water well at Windhub Substation
NTP #21
4/15/09
3B
Modifications to Wilderness Structure in Segment 3B
CPUC Addendum #3
4/15/19
3B
Modification to Wilderness Structure in Segment 3B
CPUC Addendum #4
4/24/09
3B
Change towers 78 and 79 from tubular steel poles to lattice steel towers.
#22
6/03/09
3
12 kV distribution line to Windhub Substation.
#23
7/29/09
3B
Use of the Oaks Creek Energy laydown yard along Willow Springs Road.
CPUC Addendum #6
8/20/09
3A
Reclassify several roads in Segment 3A as permanent.
#25
11/20/09
3
Expansion of Windhub substation from 220 kV to 500 kV.
#27
12/23/09
3B
Oak Peak Communication Site
CPUC Addendum #7
12/21/09
3B
Reclassify spur road 34A to permanent (same as above).
#28
2/10/10
3B
Highwind Marshalling Yard
#28 Mod
5/21/12
3B
Entrance road and fence relocation.
CPUC Addendum #9
3/17/10
3A
Vertical mulching, capping of a portion of the existing roadway, and making this overland route a permanent access for O&M to Const 43
CPUC Addendum #10
4/06/10
3B
Elimination of transposition towers in Segment 3B
CPUC Addendum #12
11/23/10
3
Place additional riprap at the channel outlet at Windhub Substation, to mitigate for downstream erosion resulting from 2009/2010 rains
#30
12/01/11
3B
Construction of Segment 3B Towers 1-14
#30 MOD
3/21/12
3B
Use of alternate existing access road and change of road improvement designation
#31
1/16/12
3B
Construction of Highwind Substation, Kern County
Final Engineering
2/04/15
revised
3/23/15
3B
Installation of a perimeter wall, gate design change, and drainage improvements at the Highwind Substation
#32
12/01/11
3B
Construction of Segment 3B Towers 15-75
CPUC Addendum #13
12/02/11
3B
Installation of cathodic protection for neighboring pipelines
#32 MOD
5/11/12
3B
Road changes to Segment 3B Towers 15-78 and shift in Tower 39
Final Engineering #1
6/15/12
3B
Gas pipeline cathodic protection changes
Final Engineering #2
6/22/12
3B
Telecommunication equipment at Monolith Substation
Final Engineering #3
6/12/12
3B
Gas pipeline cover
Final Engineering #4
8/03/12
3B
Road and grading changes and storm drain installation
Final Engineering #5
9/06/12
3B
Use of existing roads for stringing and gradient control mat
Final Engineering #6
9/28/12
3B
AC mitigation ground rod testing and relocation of test site
Final Engineering #7
10/19/12
3B
Additional AC mitigation zinc ribbons and ground rods
Final Engineering #8
12/13/13
3B
Additional gradient control mats for pipeline protection
Final Engineering #9
9/05/14
3B
Permanent O&M access roads and work areas
Final Engineering #10
4/07/15
3B
AC Mitigation - 5 ground rods
MOD to Final Engineering #10
6/12/15
3B
Modification to Final Engineering Request for relocation of one ground rod
Final Engineering #11
5/25/15
3B
Burial of high pressure gas pipeline for additional cathodic protection

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
SEGMENT 2
VR #12 (revised)
9/17/08
Withdrawn
2
Permanent access roads for Segment 2 (see NTP #14)
VR #14
9/18/08
Denied
9/25/08
(verbal)
2
Permanent and temporary access roads in excess of 10% gradient on Segment 2 (see NTP #14).
VR #14 (revised)
10/03/08
Withdrawn
2
Temporary access roads in excess of 10% gradient on Segment 2.
VR #22
12/08/08
2
Use of existing disturbance areas as helicopter landing zones, Segment 2.
VR #30
2/02/09
2
New dead-end lattice tower, New Tower 115.
VR #31
2/19/09
2
Modify road alignment for Access Road 56 to Tower 67
VR #35
3/21/09
2
New Access Road to Tower 83
VR #38
4/06/09
2
Wire removal Tower 27-1 to existing Tower 18-3 on the Eagle Rock-Vincent Transmission Line near the Vincent substation
VR #39
4/06/09
2
Guard structure relocation near hijack Towers 34A and 3
VR #40
4/14/09
2
Sunday work on April 19th and 26th, May 3rd and 10th, to take advantage of a scheduled outage
VR #40 MOD
4/14/09
4/15/09 (verbal)
2
Sunday work on May 17th and 24th
VR #41
4/24/09
2
Three additional wire stringing sites between Towers 106-108
VR #49
7/17/09
2
Additional space for wire splicing near Towers 6-8, and Towers 15-16
VR #50
7/21/09
2
Sunday work to conduct wire stringing
VR #54
8/13/09
2
Additional Wire Stringing and Guard Structure Sites, and extended work hours
VR #55
8/31/09
2
New wire splice sites between Tower 86-88, new wire stringing site between Tower 95-96 and near Tower 113
VR #55 MOD
11/06/09
2
Disturbance Area shift that was needed for conductor splicing near Towers 86 and 88.
VR #56
9/10/09
2
Temporary relocation of the 12 kV distribution line Bootlegger, at the Vincent Substation
VR #56 MOD
11/06/09
2
Leave underground bypass in place for future anticipated construction related to TRTP. Add access road covered in previously approved TEWS.
VR #61
10/21/09
2
Work on Sunday, December 26 and November 1
VR #64
12/01/09
2
Cut the stub angles of two footers and cut the remaining two footers to ground level at a wreck-out tower adjacent to Tower 34A
SEGMENT 3
VR #16
9/26/08
Withdrawn
3
Permanent access roads for Segment 3A
VR #29
1/29/09
3A
Use of existing disturbance areas as helicopter landing zones
VR #43
5/01/09
3A
Changes to cultural resource mitigation and changes to access roads to avoid sites
VR #44
5/15/09
3
Waive <15 mph speed restriction for site preparation at Windhub Substation
VR #46
6/02/09
3A
New construction access to towers to avoid LADWP right-of-way
VR #47
5/28/09
6/17/09 Pond Only
3
Installation and use of pond at Windhub Substation and two water tanks of private property
VR #48
6/26/09
3A
Realignment of existing access road to Towers 3A-2 and 3A-3 to avoid AT&T utility vault
VR #51
7/23/09
3A
Reduction of the 60-day requirement to securing agreements prior to construction (MM Ag-3)
VR #52
7/27/09
3A
Change in proposed access to Tower 43 from overland travel to vegetation removal
VR #57
9/15/09
3A
Temporary transmission line bypass and access road at Windhub Substation
VR #58
9/16/09
3A
Additional Wire Stringing Sites
VR #59
10/08/09
3A
Additional Wire Stringing Site Towers 48 and 49
VR #61
10/21/09
3A
Work on Sunday, December 26 and November 1
VR #62
11/16/09
3A
Additional and expanded wire setup and fiber work sites
VR #63
11/18/09
3A
Additional Wire Stringing Sites
VR #67
1/15/10
3A
Modify requirements of MM B-27b and APMs BIO-2 and BIO-7 to preserve cut Joshua trees onsite instead of off-site disposal to the extent possible for habitat creation purposes
VR #73
3/07/14
3B
Increase gradient mat work areas at two locations


BACKGROUND

Project Description

SCE had 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.

The main project components are described below. Highwind Substation and Windhub Substation, 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 Windhub Substation and Antelope Substation, are collectively referred to as Segment 3 of the 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 Project. SCE constructed the following new transmission system components as part of the proposed Project:

  • Highwind Substation, 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 Highwind Substation and Windhub Substation (Segment 3).

  • Windhub Substation, a 500/220/66-kV substation located southeast of Highwind Substation, 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 Windhub Substation 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 Project does not traverse any Federal lands. Segment 3 was constructed in both Los Angeles and Kern Counties. Segment 2 was constructed completely within Los Angeles County and parallels existing SCE transmission line corridors for most of its length between SCE's existing Antelope and Vincent Substations. The 500-kV transmission lines were initially energized at 220-kV. The 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 included in the link provided to the Final EIR (see below).

Final Environmental Impact Report

In accordance with CEQA, an Environmental Impact Report was prepared for the proposed Project. The Final Environmental Impact Report (Final EIR) was certified and a Certification of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) was granted by CPUC (Docket #A.04-12-008, SCH #2006041160) on March 15, 2007.

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 were responded to in the Final EIR, 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.

Other Documents Available

CPUC Final Decision Granting a CPCN

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)


For Additional Information

To request additional information, please contact CPUC as follows:
John Boccio, CPUC Project Manager
505 Van Ness Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94102

john.boccio@cpuc.ca.gov

 

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