Welcome to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) website
for the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) review of proposed
construction of the DeversPalo Verde No. 2 (DPV2) Transmission
Line Project. An application for this project was submitted to the
CPUC on April 11, 2005. The application was determined to be
complete and in compliance with CPUC requirements on September 30,
2005. The CPUC approved the DPV2 Project on January 25, 2007 in
Decision
D.07-01-040 and certified the EIR as being in compliance with
the requirements of CEQA. The CPUC approved construction of the
expanded Colorado River Substation on July 14, 2011 in Decision
D.11-07-011.
On May 14, 2008, SCE filed a Petition for Modification (PFM) of
the existing Certificate for Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN)
approved per Decision D.07-01-040. SCE requested that the CPUC authorize
SCE to construct DPV2 facilities in only the California portion
of DPV2 and the Midpoint Substation near Blythe, California. The
CPUC approved SCE’s PFM on November 20, 2009 in Decision
D.09-11-007. The BLM issued its Record
of Decision approving the project on July 19, 2011.
This site provides access to public documents and information relevant
to the CEQA review process.
Construction Progress and Mitigation
Monitoring
Construction of the Devers-Palo Verde No. 2 Project began
in June 2011 with the establishment of some construction and helicopter
yards. The majority of construction started in late 2011/early 2012
after the CPUC and BLM issued NTPs for the overhead transmission
line and substation construction. Notices to Proceed (NTPs) were
issued by the CPUC for each construction activity. Issuance of NTPs
were contingent upon SCE compliance with pre-construction requirements
as specified by the approved mitigation measures and responsible
agency permitting requirements. NTPs that have been issued to SCE
by the CPUC are noted in the table below. BLM issued NTPs for construction
of the Red Bluff and Colorado River Substations and the overhead
transmission line on its lands in September 2011. The U.S. Forest
Service also issued its NTP for construction on Forest lands.
Most construction was completed by September 2013, including final
cleanup. Site restoration at some locations was conducted in early
2014. A Final Report documenting construction and compliance activities
is available here (6.5MB).
Site restoration work will con-tinue into 2015 and beyond until
such time that restoration success criteria are met. Construction
of the access road to Red Bluff Substation started in August 2014
and will be completed by May 2015.
Work Package
|
Description
|
Jurisdiction
|
Type
|
NTP Request Submitted
|
NTP Issued
|
Construction Authorized¹
|
Colorado River-Red Bluff |
Colorado River Substation (CRD MP0) to Red Bluff
Substation |
CPUC
BLM |
500 kV Overhead |
NTPR submitted to CPUC on 10/8/11 |
NTP #8 for CRS-RB issued 12/2/11;
BLM issued NTP in Sept 2011 |
1/16/12
|
Red Bluff-Devers |
Red Bluff Substation to Devers Substation (CRD MP109.6) |
CPUC
BLM |
500 kV Overhead |
NTPR submitted to CPUC on 10/8/11 |
NTP #9 for RB-Devers issued 12/2/11;
BLM issued NTP in Sept 2011
|
1/16/12
|
Devers-Valley |
Devers Substation (DV MP0) to Valley Substation (DV
MP42) |
CPUC
BLM
USFS
|
500 kV Overhead |
NTPR submitted to CPUC on 10/8/11 |
NTP #10 for Devers-Valley issued 12/2/11;
BLM issued NTP in Sept 2011;
USFS issued NTP on 8/2/12
|
1/16/12
|
Colorado River Substation |
Colorado River Substation construction (CRS MP0) |
CPUC
BLM
|
New 500/230 kV Substation |
Not yet submitted. CPUC approved SCE's PTC application
in July 2011 |
BLM issued NTP in September 2011 |
September 2011
|
Devers Substation Improvements |
Devers Substation improvements
(CRS MP109.6/DV MP0)
|
CPUC
BLM |
Substation Upgrades |
NTPR submitted to CPUC 4/12/12 |
CPUC NTP #13 for Devers Substation issued 5/9/12 |
6/8/12
|
Valley Substation Improvements |
Valley Substation improvements
(DV MP42)
|
CPUC
BLM
|
Substation Upgrades |
NTPR submitted to CPUC 6/12/12
(3.2MB) |
CPUC NTP #14 for Valley Substation issued 6/19/12 |
7/12/12
|
Construction and Helicopter Yards |
Along Colorado River-Devers & Devers-Valley |
CPUC |
Material storage, marshalling, tower assembly, batch
plants, and helicopter staging |
Revised NTPR submitted to CPUC on 5/20/11
(4.9MB) |
CPUC NTP #1 for construction yards issued 6/23/11
|
7/18/11
|
Exclusionary Fencing
(CRS-Devers) |
Exclusionary fencing at 41 work areas |
CPUC
BLM
|
Fencing |
NTPR submitted to CPUC on 8/5/11
(21.0MB) |
CPUC NTP #2 for exclusionary fencing issued
9/9/211 |
9/15/11
|
Beaumont #2 Yard |
New storage/material yard along Devers-Valley |
CPUC |
Construction yard |
NTPR submitted to CPUC on 8/26/11
(3.3MB) |
CPUC NTP #3 for Beaumont #2 Yard issued 9/19/11 |
11/21/11
|
Indio Yard |
New storage/material yard along CRS-Devers |
CPUC |
Construction yard |
NTPR submitted to CPUC on 9/9/11
(4.1MB) |
CPUC NTP #4 for Indio Yard issued 9/20/11 |
10/6/11
|
Red Bluff Distribution Line
|
Upgrade existing 12 kV line for substation light
& power
|
CPUC |
12 kV distribution line |
NTPR submitted to CPUC on 9/16/11 |
CPUC NTP #5 for Red Bluff Distribution issued 10/11/11
|
11/7/11
|
CRS Distribution Line
|
Extend 33 kV distribution line, install telecom line,
access road improvements to serve CRS |
CPUC |
33 kV distribution line, telecom line, access road |
NTPR submitted to CPUC on 9/19/11 |
CPUC NTP #6 for CRS Distribution issued 10/17/11 |
10/25/11
|
CRS-Blythe SE Telecom Line |
New Southeast Telecom Line on private property between
the CRS and the Blythe Service Center |
CPUC |
Optical Ground Wire & All-Dielectric Self-Supporting
fiber optic line |
NTPR submitted to CPUC on 7/16/12 |
CPUC NTP #15 issued on 11/15/12 |
12/10/12
|
Mirage Substation Loop-Ins |
Installation of new fiber optic cables to Mirage
Substation to provide diverse routing of telecommunications
services |
CPUC |
Optical Ground Wire & All-Dielectric Self-supporting
fiber optic line |
NTPR submitted to CPUC on 11/7/12 |
CPUC NTP #16 issued on 12/3/12 |
2/8/13
|
Devers-Valley #1 Minor Relocation |
Relocation of 4 lattice steel towers; construction
of stub roads and foundations; and assembly of steel & interconnecting
wires |
CPUC |
500 kV Overhead |
NTPR submitted to CPUC on 9/8/11 |
CPUC NTP #7 issued on 12/1/11 |
1/16/12
|
Devers #2 and Indio #2 Yards |
New storage/material yards along CRS-Devers |
CPUC |
Construction yards |
NTPR submitted to CPUC on 11/8/11 |
CPUC NTP #11 issued on 12/10/11 |
12/14/11
|
Desert Center #3 Yard |
New storage/material yard along CRS-Devers |
CPUC |
Construction yard |
NTPR submitted to CPUC on 1/20/12 |
CPUC NTP #12 issued on 2/3/12 |
3/5/12
|
1 - Compliance with all remaining pre-construction
mitigation measures and NTP conditions satisfied
The CPUC, in conjunction with SCE, BLM, USFS, and other Responsible
Agencies, drafted a Mitigation Monitoring Compliance and Reporting
Program (MMCRP) to ensure compliance with mitigation measures approved
in the Final EIR/EIS, as well as with the terms and conditions associated
with the BLM right-of-way. The final version of the MMCRP document
and attachments, including a map
of the approved route, can be found here.
CPUC Environmental Monitors (EMs) monitored construction activities
to ensure that they were conducted in accordance with the approved
mitigation measures and permit conditions. Weekly reports documenting
construction status and compliance activities are posted here.
As defined by the MMCRP, at various times throughout project construction,
the need for extra workspace or additional access roads was identified.
Similarly, changes to the project requirements (e.g., mitigation
measures, specifications, etc.) were needed to facilitate construction
(e.g., nighttime construction in response to a planned power outage)
or provide more effective protection of resources (e.g., installation
of additional erosion control outside of approved disturbance areas).
The CPUC Project Manager, along with the CPUC EMs, implemented the
variance procedures defined in the MMCRP to evaluate each proposed
project change for its potential for creating significant environmental
effects to determine whether supplemental CEQA and/or NEPA review
is required. Variance Requests processed for the project are provided
in the table below.
Variance
Request
|
Date
Requested
|
Date
Issued
|
Segment
|
Description |
#1
|
5/6/11
|
|
Devers-Valley
|
Variance from Mitigation Measures V-3a
and V-40a to allow for construction of traditional
lattice towers instead of “Tetra” towers at two locations |
#2
|
4/21/11
|
|
All
|
Variance from Mitigation Measure B-7d
pertaining to seasonal restrictions in Coachella Valley fringe-toed
lizard and flat-tailed horned lizard habit |
#3
|
7/12/11
|
|
DC-1 and DC-2 Yards
|
Variance to utilize offsite well location area for
filling water trucks |
#4
|
7/6/11
|
|
Menifee Yard
|
Variance to add the western portion of the parcel
(approximately 5 acres) to make additional area available for
material storage and other activities |
#5
|
4/22/11
|
|
Substations & Series Capacitor
|
Variance for modification of APM A-7 regarding carpooling
for construction at substations |
#6
|
7/8/11
|
|
All
|
Variance to remove Mitigation Measures B-13a, B-13b
and to modify B-1a, B-1a(rev) and B-7e regarding Western Riverside
County MSHCP compliance |
#7
|
8/11/11; revised 8/18/11
|
|
Perris, Beaumont, Blythe & Menifee Yards
|
Variance to utilize offsite water sources (existing
fire hydrants) for filling water trucks |
#8
|
8/23/11
|
|
Beaumont Yard
|
Variance for installation of seeded jute netting
along the property frontage |
#9
|
9/1/11
|
|
DC-2 Yard
|
Variance for temporary power at the DC-2 Yard |
#10
|
8/29/11
|
|
Devers & Summit Yards
|
Variance to utilize offsite water sources (existing
fire hydrants) for filling water trucks |
#11
|
9/26/11
|
|
CRS-Devers
|
Variance to utilize two offsite water sources (existing
fire hydrants) for exclusionary fencing work |
#12
|
10/13/11
|
|
CRS-Devers
|
Parking/temporary staging vehicles along the existing
disturbed access route for areas within the Coachella Valley
Preserve |
#13
|
10/28/11
|
|
Devers Yard
|
Variance for temporary power at the Devers Yard |
#14
|
11/11/11
|
|
CRS
|
Variance for increased groundwater usage |
#15
|
12/13/11; modified 4/25/12
|
|
Summit Yard
|
Variance for temporary power at the Summit Yard |
#16
|
12/8/11
|
|
All
|
Variance for extended construction work hours |
#17
|
1/4/12
|
|
DPV2
|
Variance for water sources for transmission line
construction |
#18
|
10/26/11
|
|
All
|
CPUC denied SCE's variance request to formalize changes
to DPV2 MM B-1a, MM B-1a(rev), MM
V-2b, and MM H-1a and Red Bluff MM-BIO-4
and AM-BIO-5 |
#19
|
1/6/12
|
|
Devers-Valley
|
Variance for revised helicopter landing zone HLZ
H9-DV |
#20
|
1/13/12
|
|
Devers-Valley
|
Variance to utilize two offsite water sources in
Cabazon |
#21
|
1/20/12; modified 3/16/12
|
|
CRS-Devers
|
Variances to utilize an offsite water source at Lake
Tamarisk Golf Resort |
#21 MOD
|
9/25/12
|
|
CRS-Devers
|
Variance for egress widening on Oasis Road at the
Lake Tamarisk water source |
#22
|
1/25/12
|
|
CRS-Devers
|
Variance for water stand tank locations |
#23
|
1/27/12
|
|
DPV2
|
Variance for additional helicopter construction |
#24
|
2/8/12
|
|
CRS-Devers
|
Variance regarding Colorado River Water Credits |
#25
|
2/10/12
|
|
DPV2
|
Variance for additional parking along access roads |
#26
|
3/9/12
|
|
Red Bluff
|
Variance for new water source for construction of
Red Bluff Substation |
#27
|
2/23/12
|
|
DPV2
|
Variance for revised disturbance areas due to engineering
modifications |
#28
|
3/22/12
|
|
CRS-Devers
|
Variance for use of Gasline Road for construction
access |
#29
|
3/22/12
|
|
Devers-Valley
|
Variance for revised pull sites to support the Devers-Valley
#1 minor relocation outage |
#30
|
3/23/12
|
|
CRS-Devers
|
Variance for modifications to pull sites along CRS-Devers
segment |
#31
|
4/24/12
|
|
Devers-Valley
|
Variance for revised helicopter landing zone HLZ
H2-DV |
#32
|
3/16/12: additional info submitted 5/3/12
|
|
Devers-Valley
|
Variance for revised helicopter landing zone HLZ
H7-DV |
#33
|
4/26/12
|
|
DPV2
|
Variance for additional offsite water sources |
#34
|
4/12/12
|
Retracted by SCE
|
DPV2
|
Variance for extension of pre-construction survey
validity from 14 days to 30 days |
#35
|
5/11/12
|
|
Devers Substation
|
Variance per Mitigation Measure V-1a
to eliminate construction screening of the Devers Substation
expansion area |
#36
|
5/17/12
|
|
DPV2
|
Variance for three additional stand tank locations |
#37
|
6/20/12
|
|
Devers-Valley
|
Variance for engineering modifications to Tower 1013 |
#38
|
7/9/12; modified 8/9/12
|
|
CRS-Devers
|
Variance for an additional water source in Thousand
Palms |
#39
|
8/14/12; modified 8/16/12
|
|
DPV2
|
Variance for stub roads at Towers 2103, 2112, and
2260 |
#40
|
8/22/12
|
|
Devers-Red Bluff
|
Variance for stub road at Tower 2242 |
#41
|
9/10/12
|
|
Devers-Valley
|
Variance for additional access routes to Towers 1118-1122
and HLZ H9-DV |
#42
|
8/14/12
|
|
Devers-Valley
|
Variance for road use for helicopter picking operations
near Tower 1031 |
#42 MOD
|
3/1/13
|
|
Devers-Valley
|
Variance for use of existing road surface in addition
to trailers for helicopter picking operations near Tower 1031 |
#43
|
9/5/12;
modified 9/18/12
|
|
Devers-Red Bluff
|
Variance for pull site revisions along Devers to
Red Bluff transmission line segment. |
#44
|
9/24/12
|
|
Devers-Valley
|
Variance for revised stub road at Tower 1147 |
#45
|
9/25/12
|
|
Devers-Valley
|
Variance for revised access roads |
#46
|
9/20/12
|
|
Devers-Valley
|
Variance for road use for helicopter picking operations
near Towers 1112 and 1108 |
#47
|
10/4/12
|
|
Devers-Red Bluff
|
Variance for Guard Structures GS53B and GS53C |
#48
|
10/2/12
|
|
DPV2
|
Variance for an additional water source on Charlette
Lane in unincorporated Riverside County |
#49
|
11/2/12
|
|
Devers-
Red Bluff
|
Variance for a temporary work area at Tower 2000X |
#50
|
10/19/12; modified
11/2/12
|
|
CRS-
Red Bluff
|
Variance for expansion of Splice Site #57 and shift
of Splice Site #64 |
#51
|
10/24/12
|
|
Devers-
Red Bluff
|
Variance for three temporary helicopter platform
sites (two on private and one on BLM land) |
#52
|
11/13/12
|
|
Devers-
Red Bluff
|
Variance for revision of DC Fiber Optic Pull Site
#59 |
#53
|
10/30/12
|
|
CRS
|
Variance for installation of CRS access road slope
protection and improvements |
#54
|
11/27/012;
modified 12/3/12
|
|
Devers-Valley
|
Variance for pull site revisions along Towers 1061
to 1051 |
#55
|
11/6/12; modified 11/28/12
|
|
Devers-
Red Bluff
|
Variance for pull site revisions (Part
III-B) at Splice Site 12 & Access Road, Splice Site 14 &
Access Road, Splice Site 15, Secondary Location Wire Site 18
Extension, Pull Site 24 Extension, Splice Site 18 & Associated
Access Road, Splice Site 20, Splice Site 28, Wire Site 40, Splice
Site 29, Pull Site 42, Wire Site 43, Pull Site 41, Splice Site
31, Splice Site 32 & Access Road, Splice Site 34, Wire Site
47, Pull Site 48, Splice Site 35, Splice Site 36 |
#56
|
12/18/12
|
|
Devers-
Valley
|
Variance for an additional helicopter work area adjacent
to Tower 1051 |
#57
|
1/3/13; modified 1/9/13
|
|
Devers-
Red Bluff
|
Variance for revisions to temporary disturbance areas |
#58
|
1/4/13
|
|
Devers-
Red Bluff
|
Variance for 10 pull site revisions (Priority Package 2) |
#59
|
1/8/13
|
|
Mirage Substation
|
Variance for temporary work areas for Mirage Sub
Telecom Loop-In |
#60
|
1/18/13
|
|
CRS Telecom
|
Variance for additional disturbance area for anchor
rod installation along the CRS SE Telecom Route |
#61
|
1/18/13
|
|
CRS Telecom
|
Variance for authorization to use Gravel Pit Road
to access pole installation locations east of Tower M123-T1 |
#62
|
1/30/13
|
|
Devers-Valley
|
Variance for disturbance area modifications for D-V
Pull 102 for Towers 1002-1010 |
#63
|
1/30/13
|
|
Devers-Valley
|
Variance for disturbance area modifications for D-V
Pulls 103 for Towers 1010-1019 |
#64
|
1/29/13
|
|
Devers-Valley
|
Variance for disturbance area modifications for D-V
Pulls 104-105 for Towers 1019-1031 |
#65
|
1/31/13
|
|
Devers-Valley
|
Variance for disturbance area modifications for D-V
Pull 101 for Towers 1000-1002 |
#65 MOD
|
3/22/13
|
3/25/13
|
Devers-Valley
|
Variance for expansion of Guard Structures DV-GS3
and DV-GS4 |
#66
|
2/14/13
|
|
Devers-Valley
|
Variance for disturbance area expansion at D-V
Tower 1077 |
#67
|
2/25/13
|
|
Devers-Valley
|
Variance for adjacent access road watering at Helicopter
Landing Zones H2 & H2A |
#68
|
2/13/13; modified 3/5/13
|
|
Devers-Valley
|
Variance for disturbance area modifications for D-V
Pull 109 for Towers 1083-1090 |
#69
|
3/7/13; modified 3/8/13
|
|
Devers-Red Bluff
|
Variance for use of D-RB Gasline Access Road to Tower
2249 |
#69MOD
|
3/26/13
|
|
Devers-Red Bluff
|
Variance for modification of D-RB Gasline Access
Road to Tower 2249 |
#70
|
3/5/13
|
|
Devers Substation Telecom
|
Variance for additional access road at Devers Substation
for telecom work |
#71
|
3/8/13
|
|
Devers-Valley
|
Variance for D-V HLZ H7-DV entrance
turning radius modifications |
#72
|
3/13/13
|
|
Devers-Valley
|
Variance for disturbance area modifications for DV
Pull 115 for Towers 1132-1143 |
#73
|
3/13/13
|
|
Devers-Valley
|
Variance for disturbance area modifications for D-V
Pulls 110-113 for Towers 1090-1122 |
#74
|
3/22/13
|
|
Devers-Valley
|
Variance for disturbance area modifications for D-V
Pull 116-117 for Towers 1143-1157 |
#75
|
3/22/13
|
|
Devers-Valley
|
Variance for disturbance area modifications for D-V
Pulls 107-108 for Towers 1065-1082 |
#76
|
3/28/13
|
|
Devers-Valley
|
Variance for disturbance area modifications for D-V
Wire Site No 42 |
#77
|
4/4/13
|
|
Devers-Valley
|
Variance for disturbance area modifications for Guard
Structures D-V GS22A and D-V GS22B |
#78
|
4/5/13
|
|
Devers-Valley
|
Variance for disturbance area modifications for D-V
Fiber Optic Optional Setup 34 |
#79
|
4/11/13
|
|
Devers-Valley
|
Variance for use of D-V Power Line Road
alternate access route |
#80
|
4/16/13
|
|
Devers-Valley
|
Variance for disturbance area modifications for Guard
Structures D-V GS52A & GS52B |
#81
|
4/23/13
|
|
Devers-Valley
|
Variance for disturbance area modifications for Guard
Structures D-V GS89A and D-V GS89B |
#82
|
4/23/13
|
|
Devers-Valley
|
Variance for D-V Walking Paths from
Towers 1031 to 1032, 1034 to 1037 and 1048 to 1051 |
#83
|
5/2/13
|
|
Devers-Valley
|
Variance for expansion of DV-GS92, DV-GS97 and DV-GS100A |
#84
|
5/8/13
|
|
Devers-Valley
|
Variance for expansion of Helicopter Landing Zone
(HLZ) H2A-DV, located northeast of Tower 1051 |
#85
|
3/11/13; modified 5/14/13
|
|
DPV2
|
Variance to leave improvements permanently in place
at Beaumont 1, Perris, Indio 1, Desert Center 1 and Desert Center
2 Yards |
#86
|
5/29/13
|
|
Devers-Valley
|
Variance for Highway 79 southbound turnout |
#87
|
6/6/13
|
|
Devers-Valley
|
Variance for DV-GS54 extension |
#88
|
6/11/13
|
|
Devers-Valley
|
Variance for revised expansion of DV-GS54 due to
nesting birds |
#89
|
6/14/13
|
|
Devers-Valley
|
Variance for expansion of DV-GS89B |
#90
|
6/14/13
|
|
Devers-Valley
|
Variance for modifications to DV-GS56 and DV-GS57 |
#91
|
7/11/13
|
|
Devers-Valley
|
Variance for modifications to DV-GS70, DV-GS76B,
DV-GS77, DV-GS80, and DV-GS84 |
#92
|
7/15/13
|
|
Devers-Valley
|
Variance for modification of DV Fiber Reel Site 38
to an alternate pull site location (DV Fiber Reel Site 38ALT) |
#93
|
2/4/14
|
|
CRS-Devers & Devers-Valley
|
Variance for rock entrance "aprons"to remain
in place following construction at 37 locations on unpaved access
roads along CRS-Devers and Devers-Valley |
Project Refinements Report
The CPUC has published a Mitigation
Consistency Determination Memorandum on SCE's proposed Project
Refinements. After careful review of the proposed modifications,
as documented in the Mitigation Consistency Determination Memorandum,
the CPUC has determined that the changes to the DPV2 Project are
within the scope of the Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity
issued by the CPUC.
Background: After the California-only project was approved by CPUC
in November 2009, SCE began the process of completing final project
design and engineering. As is common, some project components were
modified as engineering was completed. Modifications result from
compliance with adopted mitigation measures requiring resource avoidance
to minimize or avoid environmental impacts and final engineering
design requirements. In addition, project components may be relocated
to accommodate landowner location preferences where possible in
compliance with mitigation requirements.
Information regarding final project design was provided by SCE
to the CPUC and BLM in two Project Refinements Reports, dated August
2010 and October 2010. In addition to the refinements outlined in
the August 2010 and October 2010 Project Refinements Reports, SCE
proposed two additional construction yards in April 2011.
The Project Refinements Reports define changes made to the project
along the entire route after publication of the Final EIR/EIS, explain
the reason for each change, and present the comparative environmental
impacts of the project components analyzed in the Final EIR/EIS
and those presented in the Project Refinements Reports. SCE's Project
Refinements Reports are found here.
Addendum/Environmental
Assessment
October 2012
An Addendum to the Focused Final Supplemental EIR was prepared
in October 2012 and is available here
(8.1MB). The Addendum/EA analyzed
the installation of hazard lights on some transmission towers and
marker balls on some conductor spans; these had not been considered
in the original EIR and were included in a subsequent Petition to
Modify the project submitted by SCE. The CPUC approved the PFM on
November 29, 2012 in Decision D.12-11-026.
Focused Final Supplemental Environmental
Impact Report Released April 29, 2011
The Draft Supplemental EIR was released on February 22, 2011
and is available here. The comment period
on the Draft Supplemental EIR closed on April 8, 2011. Twelve
comment letters were received and are available here.
The Final Supplemental EIR was released on April 29, 2011
and is available here. The Final Supplemental
EIR includes all comments and responses to comments that were submitted
during the comment period on the Draft Supplemental EIR.
The CPUC certified the Final Supplemental EIR and approved SCE’s
Permit to Construct application for the Colorado River Substation
Expansion on July 14, 2011 in Decision D.11-07-011.
Background. After the CPUC's 2009 Decision regarding the
PFM, several large solar power projects were proposed in the Blythe
area. Two of these projects, the Blythe Solar Power Project and
the Genesis Solar Energy Project, have requested interconnection
to the electricity grid at the Desert Southwest–Midpoint Substation.
As a result, the solar developers and SCE developed a plan to expand
the Midpoint Substation, now known as the Colorado River Substation,
to allow the required space for generation tie lines to be interconnected
with the SCE 500 kV transmission system. SCE filed a Permit to Construct
application addressing the substation expansion (A.10-11-005).
This expansion was not covered in the original EIR/EIS because the
solar power projects had not yet been proposed.
During 2009 to 2010, the Blythe Solar Power Project and the Genesis
Solar Energy Project have been evaluated under CEQA and NEPA by
the BLM and the California Energy Commission. The environmental
review documents addressed the Colorado River Substation expansion
but they did not adequately cover all issues that the CPUC requires
to be addressed in accordance with CEQA. Therefore, the CPUC prepared
a Focused Supplemental EIR to address only the specific issues not
yet covered for its purposes by the previous environmental review.
A Notice of Preparation (NOP) was sent to interested agencies
and members of the public in October 2010 and can be accessed here.
The CPUC held a 30-day scoping period soliciting information regarding
the topics that should be included in the Focused Supplemental EIR
for the Colorado River Substation expansion. Copies of all letters
received and a summary of the scoping process and scoping comments
are included in a Scoping Report (December 2010), which can be accessed
here.
All documents filed as part of the CPUC’s proceeding (A.10-11-005)
can be accessed here.
Draft and Final Environmental
Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement
The CPUC and BLM released the Draft Environmental
Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement (Draft EIR/EIS)
for the proposed project on May 4, 2006.
The submittal period for public comments on the Draft EIR/EIS was
extended from July 5, 2006 to August 11, 2006.
The Final Environmental Impact Report/Environmental
Impact Statement (Final EIR/EIS) was issued on October 24,
2006. The Final EIR/EIS consists of three volumes. Volumes I and
II are completely re-printed from the Draft EIR/EIS. Changes made
to the Draft EIR/EIS are marked in Volumes I and II: inserted
text is underlined and deleted text is shown in strikeout.
Volume III consists of all comments in the Draft EIR/EIS and responses
to comments.
Over 475 pages of comments on the Draft EIR/EIS were submitted
to the BLM and the CPUC, including transcripts from the July 2006
Public Participation Hearings.
NEPA Process and BLM Record of
Decision
The BLM published a Notice of Availability of the Final EIR/EIS
for DPV2 on March 15, 2007 in the Federal Register (Volume 72,
Number 50; page 12185). BLM published a Notice of Availability
of the Record of Decision
approving the DPV2 project on July 19, 2011 in the Federal Register
(Volume 76, Number 138, page 42725).
The Department of the Interior (DOI) Control No. for the EIS is
FES-06-48.
Other Documents Available
Notice of Preparation of an Environmental Impact
Report (EIR) and Notice of Public Scoping Meetings (October 21,
2005)
Notice of Intent (December 7, 2005; Federal
Register Vol. 70, No. 234)
Scoping Report (December 2005)
Addendum to the Scoping Report
(February 2006)
Notice of Availability (October 24, 2006)
SCE’s Application and Proponent’s Environmental
Assessment (April 11, 2005)
For Additional Information
For additional information please contact the CPUC's Project Manager:
Billie Blanchard, CPUC Project Manager
California Public Utilities Commission
505 Van Ness Avenue
San Francisco CA 94102
Tel. (415) 703-2068
Fax (415) 703-2200
Email: bcb@cpuc.ca.gov
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