STATE OF CALIFORNIA
PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION

Southern California Edison's
Ivanpah-Control Project

Application A.19-07-015, filed July 17, 2019

Welcome to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) website for the environmental review of Southern California Edison's (SCE's) Ivanpah-Control Project (I-C Project). The project is located in incorporated and unincorporated portions of Inyo, Kern, and San Bernardino, Counties, California; a map is provided here. SCE submitted a Permit to Construct (PTC) application for the Project to the CPUC on July 17, 2019 (Application A.19-07-015), and submitted an Amended Application (51MB) on April 13, 2020.

The Proposed Project will be reviewed under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The CPUC is the CEQA lead agency and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will be preparing a separate environmental document as the NEPA lead agency.

This website provides access to public documents and information relevant to the CEQA environmental review processes. An overview of the proposed Project is provided below.

For additional information on the CPUC proceeding, contact the Public Advisor's Office.

PROJECT SCOPING: SEPTEMBER 1 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30, 2020

Participate in a Virtual Public Scoping Meeting

The CPUC has issued a Notice of Preparation for an Environmental Impact Report. We will conduct two public scoping meetings (see Table 1), conducted through Zoom and accessible through an Internet connection or a phone call. The purpose of the scoping meetings is for the CPUC to present information about the Proposed Project and its decision -making processes. All verbal comments made at the scoping meetings will be recorded. Written comments will also be accepted throughout the month of September.

Table 1. Public Scoping Meetings
	Virtual Meeting #1	Virtual Meeting #2
Day & Date	Thursday, September 3, 2020	Thursday, September 10, 2020
Time	Afternoon: 2:00 to 3:30 p.m.	Evening: 6:30 to 8:00 p.m.
How to Participate	Via Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86439196759 or by Phone: (669) 900-6833, then enter Webinar ID: 864 3919 6759	Via Zoom : https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86867547120 or by Phone: (669) 900-6833, then enter Webinar ID: 868 6754 7120

Project Information

The following information will be presented or made available during the Scoping Meetings:

1. PowerPoint presentation explaining the Ivanpah-Control Project, the CEQA Schedule, and the scoping process
   
   
2. Ivanpah-Control Project Fact Sheet
   
   
3. Detailed Project Maps by Segment:
   1. Segment 1: Control Substation (Bishop) to Inyokern Substation (8.3MB)
   2. Segment 2: Inyokern Substation to Kramer Substation
   3. Segment 3N: Kramer Substation to Coolwater Substation (Daggett)
   4. Segment 3S: Kramer Substation to Tortilla Substation (Barstow) to Coolwater Substation (Daggett)
   5. Segment 4: Coolwater Substation to Ivanpah Substation (6.6MB)

Submit Scoping Comments by September 30, 2020

You may make comments by: (1) electronic mail, (2) U.S. mail, or (3) providing oral comments at a Virtual Scoping Meeting.

By Electronic Mail to Ivanpah-Control@aspeneg.com. Please include your name and mailing address in the email message.

By U.S. Mail: Please use first class mail and include your name and a return address. Send written comments to:

DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPOSED PROJECT

According to SCE, the Project is needed in order to meet the transmission line safety and reliability requirements defined by the CPUC and the North American Electric Reliability Corporation. The Project would involve the demolition and replacement of some or all of SCE's existing 115 kV transmission lines between the Ivanpah and Control Substations.

SCE anticipates that the I-C Project will be operational by June 2026, with construction occurring between the first quarter of 2023 and finished by the second quarter of 2026.

In its April 2020 Amended Application and PEA, SCE describes that its preferred scope for the IC Project would involve fully rebuilding three subtransmission line segments (i.e., Segments 1, 2 and 3S) while "derating" (i.e., reducing the amount of current that wires are allowed to carry) conductors in other segments (i.e., Segment 3N and Segment 4).

Nevertheless, SCE continued to analyze alternative methods for remediating discrepancies on these circuits, even after the Original Application was filed. As a result of that effort, SCE determined that certain methods would accomplish the necessary remediation with less environmental impact than the scope of work described in the Original Application. Therefore, SCE has revised its preferred and proposed scope of work for the IC Project to consist of the following components:

SCE proposes to remediate discrepancies along 262 miles of existing 115 kV subtransmission circuits in five segments. Detail of SCE's proposal is provided in Amended PEA Chapters 1 through 3 (15MB). The proposal includes:

• Full rebuild of Segment 1 (Control Substation to Inyokern Substation);
  
  
• Full rebuild of Segment 2 (Inyokern Substation to Kramer Substation)
  
  
• Reconductor and replace structures on Segment 3N (Kramer Substation to Coolwater Substation, northern route) and on Segment 3S (Kramer Substation to Coolwater Substation, southern route)
  
  
• Derate and replace structures on Segment 4.

Along distribution circuits, SCE would remove existing distribution conductor and appurtenances and install new distribution conductor and appurtenances on replacement structures.

SCE would install new optical groundwire or fiber optic cable to allow telecommunications and system protection, on existing and replacement structures and within and outside of existing substations. At substations, SCE would disconnect the existing conductor and connect the new conductor, connect the telecommunications, and install new cables between existing breakers, relay and protection racks.

ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW

Proponent's Environmental Assessment (PEA) and Application

SCE filed an application and PEA for the I-C Project on July 17, 2019. On April 13, 2020, SCE filed an Amended Application (51MB) and PEA.

The CPUC completed a completeness/deficiency review of the July application and PEA in August 2019. The CPUC is now conducting a completeness/deficiency review of the amended application and PEA. This review will result in the definition of PEA deficiency items that will be detailed in a letter to SCE.

Environmental Review

The environmental review process for the I-C Project has not yet started. Each step will be documented on this website. The next steps will involve:

• Writing and distributing a Notice of Preparation
• Holding public scoping meetings and meeting with local agencies
• Preparing a Scoping Report
• Preparing a Draft EIR

COMMENTS & QUESTIONS

If you have comments, complaints, or questions regarding the project, please contact us using the CPUC's I-C Project e-mail or voicemail, as follows:

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