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 would include 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 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 is subject to review under the California
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). This site provides access to public
documents and information relevant to the CEQA environmental review
process.
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.
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 will extend for 30 days per CEQA requirements, from July 16,
2007, until August 14, 2007. During this period, public comments
will be accepted and two public scoping meetings and a pre-hearing
conference will be held, prior to selection of alternatives and
the preparation of the analysis documented in the EIR. The intent
of the scoping process is to obtain input from affected agencies
and members of the public on the scope and content of the EIR.
The Draft EIR will include an objective analysis of the potential
environmental impacts of the Proposed Project. In addition, the
Draft EIR will provide a discussion of alternatives, including a
comparison of each alternative to the Proposed Project. When completed,
the Draft EIR will be distributed for a 45-day public review period
per CEQA requirements. A notice of completion (NOC) of the Draft
EIR will be filed with the State Clearinghouse by the CPUC. The
CPUC will consider all comments on the Draft EIR and revise the
document as necessary prior to issuance of a Final EIR. The Final
EIR will include responses to comments received on the Draft EIR
during the public review period.
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
and General Location Map,
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.
SCE's Application (8.2 MB) is also available for download
at the same link.
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.
Additional maps and figures for the Proposed Project and alternatives
are can be found in the Proponent's Environmental
Assessment.
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 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
|