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 (drop-down structures) to be located nearer to and east of the substation;
  
  
• Two dead-end structures on the east side of the substation;
  
  
• Up to nine distribution circuits (at full build-out) 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. The Draft IS/MND was published on August 11, 2009 and the Final IS/MND was published on October 16, 2009.

CPUC Actions After Final MND Publication. There is no comment period following issuance of the Final MND. The CPUC will determine the adequacy of the Final MND, and, if adequate, will adopt the document as being compliant with CEQA. If adequate, the CPUC will issue a Proposed Decision on the Application, which will be announced and published concurrent with a scheduled CPUC commission meeting. After the CPUC makes the decision on the Application, a Notice of Determination will be mailed to the State Clearinghouse within 5 days of the Decision. After the Notice of Determination is filed, the 30-day statute of limitations for court challenges begins to run. A decision is by the CPUC is expected in fall 2009.

Final Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration

On October 16, 2009, the CPUC released a Final Mitigated Negative Declaration for the Seventh Standard Substation Project, showing that the Proposed Project, as mitigated, would not have any significant effects on the environment. The Final MND details the Proposed Project, evaluates and describes its potential environmental impacts, identifies those impacts that could be significant, and presents mitigation measures to avoid or minimize these impacts. The Final IS/MND can be viewed here.

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 underwent a public review period from August 11, 2009, through September 11, 2009. Comments should have been 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 held an informational workshop in Bakersfield on August 25, 2009. This informal workshop was an opportunity to ask questions about the content of the Draft IS/MND. While written comments may have been submitted during these workshops, there were 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: