Welcome to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) website
for the environmental review of the proposed El Casco System Project
(Proposed Project). The Proposed Project includes construction of
the El Casco Substation; upgrades to the Zanja and Banning Substations;
transmission line upgrades and installation from the new El Casco
Substation, located within the Norton Younglove Reserve, east to
the Banning Substation in the City of Banning; and telecommunications
improvements.
The objective of Southern California Edison's (SCE's) Proposed
Project is to build the electrical facilities necessary to serve
forecasted demand in Calimesa, Beaumont, and the surrounding areas
of unincorporated northern Riverside County, and to maintain safe
and reliable service to customers in the area.
The Proposed Project was subject to review under the California
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and was approved by the CPUC on
December 18, 2008 in
Decision 08-12-031. The CPUC, as Lead agency under CEQA, prepared a Supplemental Environmental Impact Report (EIR) in response to SCE's Petition to Modify the approved El Casco System Project, which was submitted on August 29, 2011 following completion of final engineering. A Supplemental Draft EIR (November 30, 2011) and Supplemental Final EIR (February 17, 2012) were completed to assess the changes in Segments 2 and 4 necessitated by final engineering, as detailed in SCE's Petition to Modify. The CPUC granted approval of SCE's Petition to Modify Decision 08-12-031 on March 22, 2012 in Decision 12-03-035.
Supplemental Final Environmental Impact Report
The CPUC, as Lead Agency under CEQA, has prepared a Supplemental Final Environmental Impact Report (EIR) in response to Southern California Edison Company's (SCE) Petition to Modify (August 29, 2011) on the approved El Casco System Project (Project). The Supplemental Final EIR has been prepared in compliance with CEQA (CEQA Guidelines §15163).
The Supplemental Final EIR includes the Supplemental Draft EIR (November 2011) in its entirety, with revisions resulting from comments received on the Supplemental Draft EIR shown in underline text for additions and strikeout text for deletions, as well as all comment letters received during the public review period for the Supplemental Draft EIR (November 30, 2011 to January 17, 2012) and responses to those comments (see Section F).
The Supplemental Final EIR was released for public review on February 17, 2012 and is available for review at several area libraries (see "Repository Sites" below) and on this Project website.
Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Report
The CPUC, as Lead agency under CEQA, prepared a Supplemental
Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) in response to SCE's
Petition to Modify the approved El Casco System Project (submitted
on August 29, 2011).
The Supplemental Draft EIR was prepared to inform the public of
changes to the approved Project and the associated environmental
impacts resulting from new design information provided by SCE for
the 115 kV subtransmission line. SCE provided this information subsequent
to the CPUC certifying the Final EIR and approving the Project on
December 18, 2008.
The Supplemental Draft EIR contains a new Executive Summary and
Introduction (Section A) which summarize the environmental review
process completed thus far for the El Casco System Project, summarize
the approved Project and the proposed changes to the approved Project,
explain why a Supplemental Draft EIR is being prepared, and summarize
the results of the environmental analysis of the proposed changes.
An updated Visual Resources analysis (Section C.1 - Visual Resources)
is provided, which analyzes the visual impacts of the revised design
of the 115 kV subtransmission line. A discussion of those issue
areas where the proposed changes to the approved Project would not
result in a substantial change in the impacts previously analyzed
for the approved Project is also provided (Section C.2 - Issue Areas
Where Modifications Result In No Substantial Change).
The Supplemental Draft EIR was released for public review on November
30, 2011.The review period ended on January 17, 2012.
Recirculated
(Revised) Final Environmental Impact Report
The CPUC, as Lead agency under CEQA, prepared the Recirculated
Final Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for consideration of
SCE's Proposed El Casco System Project. The Recirculated Final EIR
was prepared in compliance with CEQA, and includes responses to
comments received during the Recirculated Draft EIR comment period
(July 9, 2008 through August 22, 2008), updates to the
original Final EIR resulting from new information presented in the
Recirculated Draft EIR, and any text changes resulting from the
comments submitted and a feasibility review of mitigation measures.
The Recirculated Final EIR was released for public review on October 17,
2008 and made available for review at several
area libraries and on this Project website. The Recirculated
Draft EIR, the original Draft EIR, and the original Final EIR were
also made available in their entirety on the Project website (see
below). Copies of these documents were also made available on CD-ROM
and could be requested by phone, fax, or by e-mail.
Recirculated
(Revised) Draft Environmental Impact Report
The CPUC, as Lead agency under CEQA, prepared a Recirculated
Draft Environmental Impact Report (Draft EIR) for consideration
of Southern California Edison Company's (SCE) Proposed El Casco
System Project (Proposed Project).
The Recirculated Draft EIR for the Proposed Project was prepared
to inform the public of changes to the document resulting from new
information provided by SCE regarding the ambient noise levels adjacent
to the existing single-circuit 115 kV subtransmission line.
This information was received subsequent to the CPUC publishing
the Final EIR on April 11, 2008.
The Recirculated Draft EIR contains an updated noise analysis (Section
D.9) reflecting the new information received from SCE; an updated
cumulative noise effects analysis (also in Section D.9), an updated
Comparison of Alternatives analysis (Section E) the includes
a revised discussion of the Environmentally Superior Alternative;
and an updated Executive Summary summarizing the changes to the
above mentioned sections. Only those sections that have changed
from the original Draft EIR published in December 2007 (discussed
below) are included in the recirculated EIR, per CEQA Guidelines
§15088.5(c).
The Recirculated Draft EIR was released for public review for 45
days on July 9, 2008. The Recirculated Draft EIR public review
period ended on August 22, 2008.
Original
Environmental Impact Reports
The CPUC prepared a Draft Environmental
Impact Report (Draft EIR) in December 2007. The Draft EIR details
the Proposed Project, evaluates and describes the potential environmental
impacts associated with the construction and operation of the Proposed
Project, identifies those impacts that could be significant, and
presents mitigation measures, which, if adopted by the CPUC or other
responsible agencies, could avoid or minimize these impacts. The
Draft EIR also evaluated alternatives to the Proposed Project, including
the No Project Alternative, as required by CEQA. The Draft EIR was
released for public review for 45 days on December 12, 2007.
The Draft EIR public review period ended on January 25, 2008.
The CPUC published the Final Environmental Impact Report (Final
EIR) on April 11, 2008. The Final EIR was prepared in compliance
with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), and included
responses to comments received during the original Draft EIR comment
period from December 12, 2007 through January 25, 2008
and any text changes resulting from the comments submitted.
Public Meetings and Hearings
The CPUC held one Pre-Hearing Conference and four public meetings
to provide information on the Project and to take public comments.
During the scoping period (July 16, 2007 through August 14,
2007), the CPUC held one Pre-Hearing Conference and two public scoping
meetings in two locations in northern Riverside County on August 1,
2007, as follows:
Pre-Hearing Conference
Location |
Banning City Hall Council Chambers |
Date |
August 1, 2007 |
Time |
1:00 to 2:30pm |
Address & Phone |
99 East Ramsey Street
Banning, CA 92220
(951) 922-3102 |
Public Scoping Meetings
Location |
Banning City Hall Council Chambers |
Beaumont Civic Center Council Chamber |
Date |
August 1, 2007 |
August 1, 2007 |
Time |
2:30 to 4:30pm |
6:30 to 8:30pm |
Address |
99 East Ramsey Street
Banning, CA 92220 |
550 East Sixth Street
Beaumont, CA 92223 |
During the Draft EIR public review period, the CPUC held public
workshops and public participation meeting in the City of Banning
on January 9, 2008 as follows:
Location |
City of Banning Council
Chambers |
Day, Date |
Wednesday, January 9, 2008 |
Time |
1:30 to 2:30 PM Workshop
3 to 4 PM Public Participation Meeting |
5:30 to 6:30 PM Workshop
7 to 8 PM Public Participation Meeting |
Address,
Phone |
99 East Ramsey Street
Banning, CA 92220
(951) 922-3102 |
Scoping
Report
In September 2007, a comprehensive Scoping
Report was issued that summarized the issues and concerns received
from the public and various agencies during the scoping period (July
16, 2007 through August 14, 2007), and presents copies of all
written comments received. Approximately 15 letters and emails were
received during the NOP scoping period from public agencies and
private citizens.
The Appendices to the Scoping Report are available here:
Notice of Preparation
In accordance with CEQA, a Notice of Preparation
(NOP) of an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the El Casco System
Project was issued on July 16, 2007 (also see the list of Available
Documents below). The NOP summarizes the Proposed Project and
advises the public and interested parties of the scoping process
for the upcoming environmental impact review. The dates, locations,
and times of the CPUC's pre-hearing conference and scoping meetings
are identified in the NOP.
Repository
Sites
All project-related documents were made available for review at
the following project information repository locations (Call to verify hours):
Repository Sites |
Site |
Location |
Phone |
Hours of Operation |
Yucaipa
Branch Library |
12040 5th St.
Yucaipa CA 92399 |
(909) 790-3146 |
Sun Closed.
Mon-Wed 11am-7pm
Thurs-Fri 10am-6pm
Sat 9am-5pm |
Banning
Public Library |
21 W. Nicolet St.
Banning, CA 92220 |
(951) 849-3192 |
Sun Closed.
Mon-Thurs 9am-7pm
Fri-Sat 9am-5pm |
Calimesa Branch
Library |
974 Calimesa Blvd.
Calimesa, CA 92320 |
(909) 795-9807 |
Sun, Mon Closed.
Tues,Thurs, Fri 10am-6pm
Wed 12pm-8pm
Sat 9am-5pm |
Beaumont
Library |
125 E 8th Street
Beaumont, CA 92223 |
(951) 845-1357 |
Sun 1pm-6pm.
Mon, Wed, Fri, Sat 10am-6pm
Tues,Thurs 10am-8pm |
University of
Redlands
Armacost
Library |
1200 East Colton Avenue
Redlands, CA 92373-0999 |
(909) 748-8081 |
Mon-Thurs 8am-midnight
Fri 8am-7pm
Sat 10am-7pm
Sun 1pm-midnight
(Jan. 3-April 29, 2012)
|
CEQA Process and CPUC General
Proceeding
CEQA requires the CPUC to take into account the environmental impacts
that could result from the Proposed Project, and requires the preparation
of an EIR if the Project has the potential to result in significant
impacts to the environment. CEQA also requires that the EIR development
process include public notice of the Proposed Project and address
relevant environmental concerns that the public may have regarding
the Proposed Project.
The initial public scoping and comment period for the Proposed
Project was 30 days per CEQA requirements, from July 16, 2007,
until August 14, 2007. During this period, public comments
were accepted and two public scoping meetings and a pre-hearing
conference were held, prior to selection of alternatives and the
preparation of the analysis documented in the EIR. The intent of
the scoping process was to obtain input from affected agencies and
members of the public on the scope and content of the EIR.
The Draft EIR includes an objective analysis of the potential environmental
impacts of the Proposed Project. In addition, the Draft EIR provides
a detailed discussion of alternatives, including a comparison of
each alternative to the Proposed Project. Per CEQA requirements,
the Draft EIR was distributed for a 45-day public review period.
A notice of completion (NOC) of the Draft EIR was filed with the
State Clearinghouse by the CPUC. The CPUC considered all comments
on the Draft EIR, prepared responses to comments, and revised the
document (as necessary) prior to issuance of the Final EIR on April 11,
2008. The Final EIR included responses to comments received on the
Draft EIR during the original public review period.
The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) also prepared
a Recirculated Draft EIR for consideration of the Proposed El Casco
System Project. The Recirculated Draft EIR was prepared to inform
the public of changes to the document resulting from new information
provided by SCE regarding the ambient noise levels adjacent to the
existing single-circuit 115 kV subtransmission line. SCE provided
this information subsequent to the CPUC publishing the Final EIR
on April 11, 2008. The Recirculated Draft EIR was released
for public review for 45 days on July 9, 2008. The Recirculated
Draft EIR public review period ended August 22, 2007. A NOC
was filed with the State Clearinghouse by the CPUC.
On October 17, 2008, the CPUC released the Recirculated Final EIR
for the Proposed El Casco System Project. The Recirculated Final
EIR was prepared in compliance with the California Environmental
Quality, and includes responses to comments received during the
Recirculated Draft EIR comment period (July 9, 2008 through
August 22, 2008), updates to the original Final EIR resulting
from new information presented in the Recirculated Draft EIR, and
any text changes resulting from comments submitted and a feasibility
review of mitigation measures.
The CPUC approved the Proposed El Casco System Project in Decision
08-12-031 on December 18, 2008.
On August 29, 2011 SCE submitted a Petition to Modify to change
the design of portions of the 115 kV subtransmission line. A Supplemental
Draft EIR was prepared to inform the public of changes to the approved
Project and the associated environmental impacts resulting from
these changes. The public review period for the Supplemental Draft
EIR started November 30, 2011 and ended on January 17, 2012.
On February 17, 2012, the CPUC released the Supplemental Final
EIR for the El Casco System Project. The Supplemental Final EIR
has been prepared in compliance with the California Environmental
Quality Act, and includes the Supplemental Draft EIR (November 2011)
in its entirety, with revisions resulting from comments received
on the Supplemental Draft EIR shown in underline text for additions
and strikeout text for deletions, as well as all of the comment
letters received during the public review period for the Supplemental
Draft EIR (November 30, 2011 to January 17, 2012) and responses
to those comments (see Section F).
The Supplemental Draft and Final EIRs supplement the Final EIR,
which is comprised of the original Draft EIR published in December
2007, the Final EIR (Responses to Comments) published in April 2008,
the Recirculated Draft EIR published in July 2008, and the Recirculated
Final EIR (Responses to Comments) published in October 2008.
Other Available
Documents
- Notice of Preparation of an Environmental
Impact Report for the El Casco System Project Proposed by Southern
California Edison Company prepared by the CPUC (July 16,
2007)
- Fact Sheet - El Casco System Project
prepared by CPUC (June 2007)
- Southern California Edison's Proponent's
Environmental Assessment (PEA) (March 14, 2007)
Note: The link above provides access to 59 manageably sized files
comprising the PEA. The complete PEA is also available for download
from the Southern
California Edison website as a single very large file (155 MB).
This file size means a very long download time, not advisable
for anyone with a dialup connection.
Project Description
The El Casco System Project includes the proposed El Casco Substation
site, upgrades to the Zanja and Banning Substations and the SCE's
Mill Creek Communications Site, upgrades to
a total of 15.4 miles of existing
115 kV subtransmission line and associated structures, and the installation
of fiber optic cables within existing conduits in public streets and
on existing SCE structures between the Cities of Redlands and Banning.
All portions of the Proposed Project are located within Riverside
and San Bernardino Counties, California. The main project components
are described below and indicated on the General
Location Map.
Construction of the El Casco Substation. The new 14-acre
El Casco 220/115/12 kV Substation would be located on a 28-acre
plot within the Norton Younglove Reserve in Riverside County. This
component would include associated 220 kV and 115 kV interconnections
and new 12 kV distribution line connections (getaways). The substation
would be designed with a low profile (structures no taller than
40 feet). Landscaping around the substation would incorporate primarily
native vegetation and would be designed to screen views of the substation
site. Once constructed, the substation would be an unattended, automated
220/115/12 kV substation.
Upgrades to the Zanja and Banning Substations. The 115 kV
switchracks within the Zanja and Banning Substations, located in
the Cities of Yucaipa and Banning, respectively, would be rebuilt
to accommodate the new 115 kV subtransmission line, thereby allowing
for at least two subtransmission lines to serve each substation
at all times. This would reduce the likelihood of temporary power
outages, which currently occur due to the fact that each substation
is served by only one 115 kV subtransmission line at a time. If
there is a problem with the primary (or "preferred") line,
a brief delay currently occurs before the secondary (or "emergency")
line can be connected. The upgrades to the Zanja and Banning Substations
would eliminate this delay by providing a connection for a second
115 kV subtransmission line for each substation that would be active
at all times. Replacement of the switchracks in both substations
would occur within the existing fenced-in areas.
Transmission Line Upgrades and Installation. These upgrades
would include replacement of existing single-circuit 115 kV subtransmission
lines with new, higher capacity lines; tying existing 115 kV and
220 kV lines into the new El Casco Substation (looping in); and
installation of new 12 kV distribution line getaways at the El Casco
Substation.
The proposed upgrades of the existing single-circuit subtransmission
lines would include the following:
- Approximately 13 miles of single-circuit 115 kV lines would
be replaced with 115 kV double-circuit lines between the new El
Casco Substation and the Banning Substation, traversing the Cities
of Banning, Beaumont, and unincorporated Riverside County. Single-circuit
115 kV structures would be replaced with 115 kV double-circuit
structures.
- Approximately 1.9 miles of single-circuit 115 kV subtransmission
line would be replaced with new, higher capacity single-circuit
115 kV subtransmission lines and new support structures within
existing SCE rights-of-way (ROWs) in the City of Beaumont and
unincorporated Riverside County.
- Approximately 0.5 miles of single-circuit 115 kV subtransmission
line would be replaced with new, higher capacity single-circuit
115 kV subtransmission lines on existing support structures in
the City of Beaumont.
The existing San BernardinoMaraschino 115 kV subtransmission
line would be looped into the new El Casco Substation 115 kV switchrack
on two new approximately 900-foot line segments between the existing
ROW and the 115 kV switchrack. The DeversSan Bernardino No. 2
220 kV transmission line would be looped into the new 220 kV switchrack
at the El Casco Substation on two new approximately 500-foot line
segments between the existing ROW and the 220 kV switchrack. Two
approximately 400-foot underground duct banks would be constructed
for the 12 kV distribution line getaways, traversing beneath San
Timoteo Creek and the railroad tracks. These distribution lines
would eventually be connected to future distribution lines in the
area.
Telecommunications Improvements. Proposed improvements to the telecommunications
systems as part of the Proposed Project include the construction
of a microwave system at the proposed El Casco Substation and SCE's
existing Mill Creek Communications Site in the San Bernardino National
Forest, as well as installation of fiber optic cables within public
streets and on existing SCE structures in the Cities of Banning,
Beaumont, Calimesa, Redlands, and Yucaipa, as well as unincorporated
parts of Riverside and San Bernardino Counties.
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 can be found in the Proponent's Environmental
Assessment, which is provided as a link.
Commission Decisions
D12-03-035 - Issued March 22, 2012
Attachment A - CPUC CEQA Findings of Fact
D.08-12-031
- Issued December 18, 2008
Attachment
A - CPUC CEQA Findings of Fact
Project Construction Activities
Subsequent to CPUC Approval
On December 18, 2008, CPUC approved the El Casco System Project.
Compliance review for pre-construction mitigation measures identified
in the Mitigation Monitoring Plan as presented in the Final EIR
is being conducted by CPUC. This plan ensures that the approved
project will be conducted as defined, and that all adopted mitigation
measures and Applicant Proposed Measures will be implemented in
order that effects on the environment do not exceed those described
in the Final EIR. CPUC Notices to Proceed will be issued for each
project component, as requested by SCE, after compliance with pre-construction
mitigation requirements is satisfied by SCE. A CPUC Environmental
Monitor will monitor construction activities to ensure that they
are conducted in accordance with the approved mitigation measures
and permit conditions. Reports documenting this monitoring activity
are available here.
For Additional Information
The CPUC, through its Environmental Review Team and per CEQA requirements,
is conducting the environmental review process for the El Casco
System Project. To request additional information or to comment
on the Supplemental Draft EIR, please contact us by project email,
fax, or phone, as follows:
The CPUC's Project Manager is:
Juralynne Mosley, CPUC Project Manager
California Public Utilities Commission
505 Van Ness Avenue
San Francisco CA 94102
Tel. (415) 703-2210
Fax (415) 703-2200
Email: jbm@cpuc.ca.gov |