Welcome to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) website
for the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) review of the
proposed Sunrise Powerlink Transmission Line Project. Applications
for this project were submitted to CPUC on December 14, 2005
(A.05-12-014) and August 4, 2006 (A.06-08-010). The Proponent's
Environmental Assessment was filed with the CPUC on August 4,
2006 and is available on SDG&E's
project website. This project was approved by the California
Independent System Operator on August 3, 2006. This site provides
access to public documents and information relevant to the CEQA
and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review processes. The
CPUC voted on December 18, 2008 to approve the Final Environmentally
Superior Southern Route (see Decision D.08-12-058)
and a Notice of Determination was
submitted to the State Clearinghouse. The Bureau of Land Management
(BLM) issued a Record of Decision approving
the same route on January 20, 2009.
Construction Progress and Mitigation
Monitoring
Construction of the Sunrise Powerlink Project began in September
2010 with the establishment of some construction yards and existing
substation upgrades. Notices to Proceed (NTPs) have been issued
by the CPUC for each of these activities. The majority of construction
is expected to start in November/December 2010 once the CPUC and
each applicable agency (BLM and/or USFS) issues NTPs for each segment.
Issuance of NTPs will be contingent upon SDG&E compliance with
pre-construction requirements as specified by the approved mitigation
measures and responsible agency permitting requirements. Approved
pre-compliance reports, permit applications, and other documents
are available in their final form here.
NTPs that have been issued to SDG&E arenoted in the table below.
SDG&E is constructing the Sunrise Powerlink Project in 25 transmission
segments and with several additional work areas and separate substations,
as follows:
Segment
|
Description
|
Jurisdiction
|
Type
|
NTP Request Submitted
|
NTP Issued
|
Construction Authorized²
|
Segment 1 |
Imperial Valley Substation |
BLM |
Substation Upgrades |
BLM request submitted 01/19/11 |
BLM NTP #1 issued 02/3/11
|
02/04/11
|
Segment 2 |
Imperial Valley Substation to Pyramid Mining (MP0
to MP19.2) |
CPUC
BLM |
500 kV Overhead |
CPUC request submitted 11/09/10
for non-federal lands only; 3/28/11; BLM request submited
03/25/11
|
CPUC NTP #13 issued 01/13/11
for non-federal lands only; modified 02/24/11;
BLM NTP #2 issued 04/04/11 (19.9MB) |
01/20/11
|
Segment 3 |
Pyramid Mining to Mountain Springs Grade (MP19.2
to MP23.2) |
CPUC
BLM |
500 kV Overhead |
CPUC request submitted 11/09/10
for non-federal lands only; BLM request submited 03/25/11
|
CPUC NTP #13 issued 01/13/11
for non-federal lands only; modified 02/24/11;
BLM NTP #2 issued 04/04/11 (19.9MB) |
01/20/11
|
Segment 4 |
Mountain Springs Grade to Jade (MP23.2 to MP30.3) |
CPUC
BLM |
500 kV Overhead |
CPUC request submitted 11/09/10
for non-federal lands only; BLM request submited 03/25/11
|
CPUC NTP #13 issued 01/13/11
for non-federal lands only; modified 02/24/11;
BLM NTP #2 issued 04/04/11 (19.9MB) |
01/20/11
|
Segment 5 |
Jade to I-8 (McCain Valley) (MP30.3 to MP39.7) |
CPUC
BLM |
500 kV Overhead |
CPUC request submitted 11/09/10
for non-federal lands only; BLM request submited 03/25/11
|
CPUC NTP #13 issued 01/13/11
for non-federal lands only; modified 02/24/11;
BLM NTP #2 issued 04/04/11 (19.9MB) |
01/20/11
|
Segment 6 |
I-8 (McCain Valley) to USFS (MP39.7 to MP52.5) |
CPUC
BLM
USFS |
500 kV Overhead |
CPUC request submitted 11/09/10
for non-federal lands only; BLM request submited 03/25/11
|
CPUC NTP #13 issued 01/13/11
for non-federal lands only; modified 02/24/11;
BLM NTP #2 issued 04/04/11 (19.9MB) |
01/20/11
|
Segment 7 |
USFS East (MP52.5 to MP61.3) |
CPUC
BLM
USFS |
500 kV Overhead |
CPUC request submitted 11/09/10
for non-federal lands only; BLM request submited 03/25/11
|
CPUC NTP #13 issued 01/13/11
for non-federal lands only; modified 02/24/11;
BLM NTP #2 issued 04/04/11 (19.9MB) |
01/20/11
|
Segment 8 |
USFS East to Cameron Substation (MP61.3 to MP65.4) |
CPUC
BLM |
500 kV Overhead |
CPUC request submitted 11/09/10
for non-federal lands only; BLM request submited 03/25/11
|
CPUC NTP #13 issued 01/13/11
for non-federal lands only; modified 02/24/11;
BLM NTP #2 issued 04/04/11 (19.9MB) |
01/20/11
|
Segment 9 |
MP65.4 to MP70.9 |
CPUC
BLM |
500 kV Overhead |
CPUC request submitted 11/09/10
for non-federal lands only; BLM request submited 03/25/11
|
CPUC NTP #13 issued 01/13/11
for non-federal lands only; modified 02/24/11;
BLM NTP #2 issued 04/04/11 (19.9MB) |
01/20/11
|
Segment 10 |
MP70.9 to MP74.8 |
CPUC
BLM
USFS |
500 kV Overhead |
CPUC request submitted 11/09/10
for non-federal lands only; BLM request submited 03/25/11
|
CPUC NTP #13 issued 01/13/11
for non-federal lands only; modified 02/24/11;
BLM NTP #2 issued 04/04/11 (19.9MB) |
01/20/11
|
Segment 11 |
MP74.8 to MP77.6 |
CPUC
BLM |
500 kV Overhead |
CPUC request submitted 11/09/10
for non-federal lands only; BLM request submited 03/25/11
|
CPUC NTP #13 issued 01/13/11
for non-federal lands only; modified 02/24/11;
BLM NTP #2 issued 04/04/11 (19.9MB) |
01/20/11
|
Segment 12 |
MP77.6 to MP90.0 |
CPUC
BLM
USFS |
500 kV Overhead |
CPUC request submitted 11/09/10
for non-federal lands only; BLM request submited 03/25/11
|
CPUC NTP #13 issued 01/13/11
for non-federal lands only; modified 02/24/11;
BLM NTP #2 issued 04/04/11 (19.9MB) |
01/20/11
|
Segment 13 |
Suncrest Substation (Modified Route D Substation) |
CPUC |
New 500/230 kV Substation |
10/20/10; 11/09/10
for non-federal lands only |
CPUC NTP #11 issued 12/15/10 |
12/17/10
|
Segment 14 |
Suncrest Substation to Alpine Boulevard (MP90.0 to
MP92.8) |
CPUC
USFS |
230 kV Overhead |
CPUC request submitted 11/09/10
for non-federal lands only; BLM request submited 03/25/11
|
CPUC NTP #13 issued 01/13/11
for non-federal lands only; modified 02/24/11;
BLM NTP #2 issued 04/04/11 (19.9MB) |
01/20/11
|
Segment 15 |
Alpine Boulevard Underground (MP92.8 to MP99.0) |
CPUC |
230 kV Underground |
10/13/10; 11/09/10
for non-federal lands only |
CPUC NTP #10 issued 11/23/10 |
11/30/10
|
Segment 16 |
Peutz Valley to El Monte Valley (MP99.0 to MP105.5) |
CPUC
BLM
USFS |
230 kV Overhead |
CPUC request submitted 11/09/10
for non-federal lands only; BLM request submited 03/25/11
|
CPUC NTP #13 issued 01/13/11
for non-federal lands only; modified 02/24/11;
BLM NTP #2 issued 04/04/11 (19.9MB) |
01/20/11
|
Segment 17 |
El Monte Valley to Highway 67 (MP105.5 to MP112.7) |
CPUC
BLM |
230 kV Overhead |
CPUC request submitted 11/09/10
for non-federal lands only; BLM request submited 03/25/11
|
CPUC NTP #13 issued 01/13/11
for non-federal lands only; modified 02/24/11;
BLM NTP #2 issued 04/04/11 (19.9MB) |
01/20/11
|
Segment 18 |
Highway 67 to Sycamore Canyon Substation (MP112.7
to MP118.1) |
CPUC |
230 kV Overhead |
CPUC request submitted 11/09/10
for non-federal lands only; BLM request submited 03/25/11
|
CPUC NTP #13 issued 01/13/11
for non-federal lands only; modified 02/24/11;
BLM NTP #2 issued 04/04/11 (19.9MB) |
01/20/11
|
Segment 19 |
Sycamore Canyon Substation |
CPUC |
Substation Upgrades |
CPUC request not yet submitted;¹ BLM request
submited 03/25/11 |
CPUC NTP #13 issued 01/13/11
for non-federal lands only; modified 02/24/11;
BLM NTP #2 issued 04/04/11 (19.9MB) |
01/20/11
|
Segment 20 |
Sycamore to Elliot 69 kV Reconductor |
CPUC |
69 kV Reconductoring |
CPUC request submitted 11/09/10;
BLM request submited 03/25/11
|
CPUC NTP #13 issued 01/13/11
for non-federal lands only; modified 02/24/11;
BLM NTP #2 issued 04/04/11 (19.9MB) |
01/20/11
|
Segment 21 |
Sycamore to Scripps 69 kV Reconductor |
CPUC |
69 kV Reconductoring |
CPUC request submitted 11/09/10;
BLM request submited 03/25/11
|
CPUC NTP #13 issued 01/13/11
for non-federal lands only; modified 02/24/11;
BLM NTP #2 issued 04/04/11 (19.9MB) |
01/20/11
|
Segment 22 |
Sycamore to Pomerado 69 kV Reconductor |
CPUC |
69 kV Reconductoring |
CPUC request submitted 11/09/10;
BLM request submited 03/25/11
|
CPUC NTP #13 issued 01/13/11
for non-federal lands only; modified 02/24/11;
BLM NTP #2 issued 04/04/11 (19.9MB) |
01/20/11
|
Segment 23 |
South Bay Substation Upgrades |
CPUC |
Substation Upgrades |
02/08/10 |
CPUC NTP #2 issued 04/29/10, updated 08/3/10 |
09/17/10
|
Segment 24 |
Encina Switchyard Upgrades |
CPUC |
Substation Upgrades |
05/26/10 |
CPUC NTP #6 issued 09/28/10 |
10/15/10
|
Segment 25 |
San Luis Rey Substation Upgrades |
CPUC |
Substation Upgrades |
02/04/10 |
CPUC NTP #1 issued 04/28/10, updated 08/3/10 |
09/17/10
|
N/A |
White Star Telecomm Site |
CPUC |
Telecomm Site |
05/28/10 |
CPUC NTP #7 issued 09/28/10 |
10/08/10
|
N/A |
Pomerado Substation Upgrade
(part of PMR submittal) |
CPUC |
Substation Upgrades |
06/09/10 |
CPUC NTP #8 issued 09/28/10 |
|
N/A |
Scripps Substation Upgrade
(part of PMR submittal) |
CPUC |
Substation Upgrades |
06/09/10 |
CPUC NTP #9 issued 09/28/10 |
|
Construction Yards and Other Workspace
|
Alpine Yard 18, Town of Alpine |
CPUC |
Construction Yard |
02/26/10 |
CPUC NTP #3 issued 05/20/10, updated 08/3/10 |
09/17/10
|
Alpine Yard 18A, Town of Alpine |
CPUC |
Construction Yard |
01/26/10 |
CPUC NTP #4 issued 05/28/10, updated 08/3/10 |
09/17/10
|
Rough Acres Phase I Yard, Boulevard
area, San Diego County |
CPUC |
Construction Yard |
02/18/10 |
CPUC NTP #5 issued 09/28/10 |
10/06/10
|
Rough Acres Phase II Yard, Boulevard area,
San Diego County
|
CPUC |
Construction Yard |
11/29/10 |
CPUC NTP #12 issued 12/28/10
|
Not yet authorized
|
1 - No NTP request submitted as of 04/04/11.
2 - Compliance with all remaining pre-construction mitigation measures
and NTP conditions satisfied
The CPUC, in conjunction with SDG&E, BLM, USFS and other Responsible
Agencies, drafted a Mitigation Monitoring Compliance and Reporting
Program (MMCRP) to ensure compliance with mitigation measures approved
in the Final EIR/EIS, as well as with the terms and conditions associated
with the BLM right-of-way. Although changes may be made to the document
as construction progresses, a current final version of the MMCRP
document and attachments, including a map
of the approved route with segments, is found here.
A CPUC Environmental Monitor (EM) is monitoring construction activities
to ensure that they are conducted in accordance with the approved
mitigation measures and permit conditions. Weekly reports documenting
construction status and compliance activities are posted here.
As defined by the MMCRP, at various times throughout project construction,
the need for extra workspace or additional access roads may be identified.
Similarly, changes to the project requirements (e.g., mitigation
measures, specifications, etc.) may be needed to facilitate construction
(e.g., nighttime construction in response to a planned power outage)
or provide more effective protection of resources (e.g., installation
of additional erosion control outside of approved disturbance areas).
The CPUC Project Manager, along with the CPUC EMs, will implement
the variance procedures defined in the MMCRP to evaluate each proposed
project change for its potential for creating significant environmental
effects to determine whether supplemental CEQA and/or NEPA review
is required. Variance Requests processed to date are provided in
the table below.
Variance
Request
|
Date
Requested
|
Date
Issued
|
Segment
|
Description |
#1
|
11/4/10
|
|
N/A
|
Thomas Yard, Imperial County |
#2
|
12/22/10
|
|
N/A
|
Sycamore Estates Construction Yard. Comments submitted
to SDG&E 01/06/11. |
#3
|
01/06/11
|
|
All
|
Variance from Mitigation Measure B-8a
to allow limited tree trimming to occur between January 1
and September 15. |
#3 MOD
|
01/21/11
|
|
All
|
Allow limited vegetation clearing between January 15
and September 15 |
#4
|
01/13/11
|
|
N/A
|
Helicopter Temporary Landing Pad area at the Alpine
Regional Field Offices |
#5
|
02/01/11
|
|
Link 3, Segment 13
|
Site improvements at the Wilson Construction Yard
and along Bell Bluff Trail |
#6
|
02/01/11
|
|
Link 5, Segment 16
|
Variance from Mitigation Measure H-1a
(CC) to allow work outside of the dry season |
#7
|
02/11/11
|
|
Link 3, Segment 13
|
Expand work limits along Bell Bluff Truck Trail |
#8
|
03/02/11
|
|
Link 2
|
Alternative access route to structure EP27 |
Project Modifications Report
Determination: The CPUC and BLM have published the CEQA
and NEPA Determination on SDG&E's proposed Project Modifications;
the supporting documents are available here.
After careful review of the proposed modifications, as documented
in the Determination Memorandum and BLM Determination of NEPA Adequacy
and in accordance with the CEQA and NEPA requirements, the CPUC
and BLM have determined that the changes to the Sunrise Powerlink
Project are within the scope of the Certificate of Public Convenience
and Necessity and Record of Decision issued by the CPUC and BLM
respectively.
Background: After the Final Environmentally Superior Southern
Route was approved by CPUC in December 2008 and BLM in January of
2009, SDG&E began the process of completing final project design
and engineering. As is common, some project components were modified
as engineering was completed. Modifications result from compliance
with adopted mitigation measures requiring resource avoidance to
minimize or avoid environmental impacts and final engineering design
requirements. In addition, some project components have been relocated
to accommodate landowner location preferences where possible in
compliance with mitigation requirements. As a part of this process,
SDG&E has been working with landowners regarding project components
and transmission line routes within their properties.
On January 22, 2010, SDG&E submitted to CPUC and BLM an internal
administrative draft of its Project Modification Report (PMR) that
defined changes made to the project along the entire route after
publication of the Final EIR/EIS. The document explained the reason
for each change, and presented the comparative environmental impacts
of the project components analyzed in the Final EIR/EIS and those
presented in the PMR. All changes included in the report were reviewed
by the lead agencies, CPUC and BLM, along with the cooperating,
responsible and resource agencies. The CPUC compiled and submitted
comments to SDG&E from the EIR/EIS Team and other agencies to
ensure that the PMR document included sufficient information to
make a determination for each reroute. SDG&E has since incorporated
comments, conclusions, and made required changes.
On May 14, 2010, SDG&E submitted to CPUC and BLM a final Project
Modifications Report that defines changes made to the project
along the entire route after publication of the Final EIR/EIS. Similar
to the administrative draft PMR, the final PMR document explains
the reason for each change, and presents the comparative environmental
impacts of the project components analyzed in the Final EIR/EIS
and those presented in the PMR. The final PMR document is found
here.
The CPUC accepted public comments on the Final PMR from May 14
to June 7, 2010, and reviewed all comments while evaluating
the proposed modifications.
Final EIR/EIS
The Final EIR/EIS was released to the public on October 13,
2008. The Final EIR/EIS is available here
and is also available at numerous area libraries
and government offices. Copies of the Executive Summary of the
Final EIR/EIS along with a DVD of the complete document may be requested.
CPUC and BLM also have a limited number of copies of the complete
four-volume Final EIR/EIS document available to the public. Requests
for documents should be made to (866) 711-3106 (phone or fax) or
via email to sunrise@aspeneg.com.
The Notice of Availability provides
further information on the approval processes for CPUC and BLM.
Pursuant to NEPA requirements, the Final EIR/EIS and Proposed Land
Use Plan Amendment will be available for review for 30 calendar
days from the date the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) publishes
the Notice of Availability (NOA) in the Federal Register, which
is expected to occur on October 17, 2008. The review period
would end on November 15, 2008.
Copies of the Executive Summary of the Final EIR/EIS along with
a DVD of the complete document may be requested. CPUC and BLM also
have a limited number of copies of the complete four-volume Final
EIR/EIS document available to the public. Requests for documents
should be made to (866) 711-3106 (phone or fax) or via email to
sunrise@aspeneg.com.
Draft EIR/EIS
CPUC and BLM published the Draft EIR/EIS in January 2008. Please
note that the Final EIR/EIS (described above) includes the entire
text of the Draft EIR/EIS, modified where necessary in response
to comments on the Draft EIR/EIS. The original text of the Draft
EIR/EIS document is available here.
EIR/EIS Alternatives
Throughout 2007, CPUC and BLM gathered information on alternatives
to the proposed Sunrise Powerlink Project through an extensive public
involvement process. Information and documents from that process
are available here.
Documents Available
In addition to the EIR/EIS, other documents that were published
during the CEQA and NEPA processes are available here.
Documents and letters that were compiled following publication of
the Final EIR/EIS, such as SDG&E Biological Assessment, USFWS
Biological Opinion, BLM Section 106 Programmatic Agreement, and
appeals to the BLM Interior Board of Land Appeals, are also included.
In response to concerns from the Lakeside community, a fact sheet
that summarizes past public notification and consideration of alternative
routes in the community of Lakeside is available here
(posted February 24, 2009). A similar fact sheet on public
notification was prepared for the Town of Alpine in January 2010
and is available here.
Data Requests
The EIR/EIS Team submits Data Requests to SDG&E and other entities
when it needs specific information to support EIR/EIS preparation.
These requests are available here at
the time they are issued.
Requests for Technical Information
Related to the Draft EIR/EIS
During the 90-day public comment period on the Draft EIR/EIS, various
parties submitted requests for technical information related to
that document. The information provided is available here.
For Additional Information
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:
Billie Blanchard, CPUC Project Manager
California Public Utilities Commission
505 Van Ness Avenue
San Francisco CA 94102
Tel. (415) 703-2068
Fax (415) 703-2200
Email: bcb@cpuc.ca.gov
|