STATE OF CALIFORNIA
PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION

Southern California Edison
Proposed Viejo System Project

(Application A.03-03-043, filed March 21, 2003)

Welcome to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) website for the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) review of the proposed construction of Southern California Edison's (SCE) Viejo System Project. An application for this project was submitted to the CPUC on March 21, 2003 (Application A.03-03-043). This site provides access to public documents and information relevant to the CEQA review.

Background

The purpose of the Viejo System Project is to improve reliability and meet projected electrical load requirements in the rapidly urbanizing south Orange County area. SCE proposes to construct a 220/66/12 kilovolt (kV) substation (Viejo Substation) on a 12.5-acre site located in the City of Lake Forest and a 3.1-mile 66 kV subtransmission line along the corridor between the proposed Viejo Substation and the existing Chiquita Substation located in the City of Mission Viejo. In addition, the project would include the replacement of 20 double-circuit tubular steel poles with 13 H-frame structures capable of carrying four 66 kV circuits, and the installation of two optical ground wires. The project components are listed below:

• Construction of the Viejo Substation on a 12.5-acre site adjacent to State Route 241 in the City of Lake Forest
  
  
• Addition of a new 3.1-mile 66 kV line between the Chiquita and Viejo Substations
  
  
• Replacement of 20 double-circuit tubular steel poles with 13 H-frame structures
  
  
• Replacement of three 220 kV lattice towers to relocate 0.3 miles of 220 kV line into the Viejo Substation.
  

In accordance with Public Utilities Code Section 1001, SCE is seeking approval of a Permit to Construct from the CPUC, identifying the selected route based on environmental review of the proposed route and alternatives and authorizing construction of the project.

Proposed Route

The proposed route can be viewed at the two links following:

Regional Vicinity Map
Proposed Substation Site and 66 kV Subtransmission Line Route

Proponent's Environmental Assessment (PEA)

The PEA may be viewed online here.

Mitigated Negative Declaration

The CPUC intends to adopt a Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND) for SCE's proposed Viejo System Project, and has prepared a Proposed MND and supporting Initial Study (IS) describing the proposed project and its potential environmental effects. Based on the IS, it has been determined that the proposed project, as modified with mitigation, would not have any significant effects on the environment, as defined by the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The complete MND/IS and related documents prepared by SCE are available for public review for thirty (30) days, from March 10 through April 9, at the repositories listed below, during the hours shown.

The MND/IS may also be viewed online here.

Environmental Review

Public Information Meeting

The CPUC will hold, consecutively, a Prehearing Conference before the Administrative Law Judge and a Public Participation Hearing, as shown below:

For Additional Information

The CPUC, through its Environmental Review Team, is managing the environmental review of the project. The CPUC's Project Manager in the Energy Division's CEQA unit is:

Michael Rosauer, CPUC Project Manager
California Public Utilities Commission
505 Van Ness Avenue
San Francisco, CA  94102
Tel. (415) 703-2579
Fax (415) 703-2200

To request additional information, please contact us via e-mail, fax, or phone, as follows:

Project e-mail: viejosystem@aspeneg.com
Project fax and voicemail: (949) 606-8494

Fact Sheet on EMF Safety

The State of California Department of Health Services and the Public Health Institute have prepared a short fact sheet on electric and magnetic field (EMF) safety issues as part of the California Electric and Magnetic Fields Program. This Short Factsheet on EMF answers some common questions about the safety of powerlines and appliances.

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