Welcome to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) website for the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) review of Pacific Gas and Electric's (PG&E) proposed Seventh Standard Substation Project. An application for this project was submitted to the CPUC on March 2, 2009 (A.09-03-004). This site provides access to public documents and information relevant to the CEQA review process.

Background

The proposed Seventh Standard Substation Project is located in northwest Bakersfield, Kern County, California. The proposed 4.9-acre substation is located south of Seventh Standard Road and west of the Calloway Canal, approximately 2.5 miles west of State Route 99. It would be on land that is currently an almond orchard.

The new electric substation would be an automated, low-profile facility. Electrical power would enter the substation by tapping the Rio Bravo–Kern Oil 115 kV power line that parallels the south side of Seventh Standard Road. Electrical power would leave the substation as 21 kV via distribution feeder lines, which would interconnect with the distribution network. Construction would involve the installation of the following components:

• A new, three-bank 115/21 kV distribution substation;
  
  
• A single tubular steel pole (TSP) to be located midway between the substation and Seventh Standard Road, and two other TSPs (dead-end structures) to be located nearer to and east of the substation;
  
  
• Two drop-down structures on the east side of the substation;
  
  
• Up to nine distribution circuits (at full buildout) exiting the substation in underground conduit and transitioning to the overhead position or remaining underground; and
  
  
• A paved access road from Seventh Standard Road to the substation.
  

Proponent's Environmental Assessment (PEA)

PG&E filed a PEA with the Application in March 2009. This document provided a starting point for the environmental review process conducted by the CPUC. In addition, PG&E's Notice of an Application for a Permit to Construct can be found here.

Environmental Review Process

PG&E's Application and PEA were deemed complete by the CPUC on April 1, 2009.

The CPUC has determined that an Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration (IS/MND) will be the appropriate CEQA document to be prepared for this project. A final document will be published before the CPUC makes a decision on the proposed Project. The final document will be published on this website as it becomes available.

Draft Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration

On August 11, 2009, the CPUC released a Notice of Intent to Adopt a Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND) for the Seventh Standard Substation Project, showing that the Proposed Project, as mitigated, would not have any significant effects on the environment. The Draft Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration (IS/MND) can be viewed here.

The Proposed IS/MND will undergo a public review period from August 11, 2009, through September 11, 2009. Comments must be received in writing by 5:00 p.m. on September 11, 2009, at the email, fax, or project mailing address (see "For Additional Information" below).

Public Informational Meeting

In order to help affected communities understand the Proposed Project and the Proposed IS/MND and to explain how the public can participate in the CPUC’s decision-making processes, the CPUC will hold an informational workshop on August 25, 2009. This informal workshop is an opportunity to ask questions about the content of the Draft IS/MND. While written comments may be submitted during these workshops, there will be no facilities to record oral comments.

For Additional Information

The CPUC, through its Environmental Review Team, is conducting an environmental review of the project. To request additional information or to be added to the mailing list, please contact us, as follows:

The CPUC's Project Manager is: