STATE OF CALIFORNIA PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION San Diego Gas and Electric's Vine 69/12-kV Substation Project (Application A.14-05-021 filed May 27, 2014)

Welcome to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) website for San Diego Gas & Electric's (SDG&E) Vine Substation Project. This website will provide information on the status of the CPUC's environmental review of the project, as Lead Agency, under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). SDG&E submitted an application for a Permit to Construct Electrical Facilities with Voltages between 50 kV and 200 kV to the CPUC on May 27, 2014. Concurrently, SDG&E also filed its Proponent's Environmental Assessment (PEA) for the project on this date. A Supplemental PEA was filed February 25, 2015, which revised the proposed alignment of the 12-kV distribution line.

A Draft Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND) was released on September 21, 2015. Following the close of the review period (October 20, 2015), SDG&E informed the CPUC of a potential conflict with a planned sewer pipeline project. Therefore, SDG&E proposed an approximately 1,030-foot realignment option which would instead reroute the 12-kV line along India Street between West Redwood Street and West Palm Street, and then along West Palm Street to Columbia Street, thereby avoiding the segment of Columbia Street between West Redwood Street and West Palm Street. The MND and supporting Initial Study (IS/MND) were revised to address this alignment option, as well as comments received on the original Draft IS/MND (see details below).

This website provides access to public documents and information relevant to the CEQA review of the Vine Substation Project.

Background

The Vine Substation Project is proposed to be located within the southwestern portion of the City of San Diego, California near the San Diego International Airport. The documents noted above provide more detail regarding the proposed location and key components of the Project. A summary of SDG&E's proposed Project is provided below:

• Construct a new 69/12-kV Vine Substation at the southwestern corner of the intersection of Vine Street and Kettner Boulevard, just west of Interstate 5 (I-5).
• Relocate approximately nine existing 12-kV distribution circuits utilizing a combination of existing and new underground distribution conduit. The relocated distribution circuits would generally be placed within the franchise portion of City of San Diego public streets (public rights-of-way) in the Project area.
• Loop in an existing 69-kV power line (TL604) to the proposed Vine Substation, which includes removing two existing wood poles and one stub guy pole near the corner of California Street and Vine Street, replacing one existing distribution pole with a new self-supported tubular steel pole (TSP), and installing two new TSPs adjacent to the eastern lane of Pacific Highway.
• To connect the proposed Vine Substation and Kettner Substation to SDG&E's telecommunication system, additional fiber optic cable would be installed generally within the underground 12-kV distribution duct banks (approximately 2,850 feet), with an overhead connection (100 feet) into the proposed Vine Substation.

Application

Proponent's Environmental Assessment

• Proponent's Environmental Assessment, Part I (Chapter 1 - Section 4.0)
• Proponent's Environmental Assessment, Part II (Sections 4.1 to 4.18 & Chapter 5)
• Proponent's Environmental Assessment, Attachments Part 1 (Attachment 4.6-A: Preliminary Geotechnical and Geologic Hazards Investigation)
• Proponent's Environmental Assessment, Attachments Part 2 (Attachment 4.6-A cont. & Attachment 4.8-A: Phase I Environmental Site Assessment )
• Proponent's Environmental Assessment, Attachments Part 3 (Attachment 4.8-A cont.)
• Proponent's Environmental Assessment, Attachments Part 4 (Attachment 4.8-A cont. & Attachment 4.8-B: Water Quality Construction Best Management Practices Manual)

Proponent's Environmental Assessment Supplement

• Proponent's Environmental Assessment Supplement (15 MB)

SDG&E’s Application was deemed complete by the CPUC on May 4, 2015. The CPUC determined that a Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND) will be the appropriate document to be prepared for this project.

Revised Draft Mitigated Negative Declaration

A Draft Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND) was released on September 21, 2015. Following the close of the review period (October 20, 2015), SDG&E informed the CPUC of a potential conflict with a planned sewer pipeline project. The sewer line project includes replacement, rehabilitation, and realignment of 6- and 8-inch concrete pipe and vitrified clay sewer mains, and replacement of a 10-inch parallel cast iron pipe, within Columbia Street, from West Quince Street to Laurel Street, and within portions of Quince, Palm, Olive, Union, and State Streets. Due to the presence of existing underground utilities along with the proposed sewer line, the potential exists that a portion of Columbia Street would be too constrained to allow for installation of the proposed 12-kV distribution line. As such, SDG&E has proposed an approximately 1,030-foot realignment option which would reroute a portion of the 12-kV line along India Street between West Redwood Street and West Palm Street, and then along West Palm Street to Columbia Street, thereby avoiding the segment of Columbia Street between West Redwood Street and West Palm Street.

On December 4, 2015 the CPUC released a revised Notice of Intent to Adopt a Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND) for the Vine Substation Project, showing that the Proposed Project, as revised to incorporate the realignment option, would not have any significant effects on the environment. The Revised Draft IS/MND is available here for review. It is also available at the same repositories as the original Draft IS/MND (listed below).

Review Period: The Revised Draft IS/MND public review period extends from December 4, 2015 to January 4, 2016. Comments must be received in writing by 5:00 p.m. on January 4, 2016.

Comment Submittal:

Comments may be submitted by email at: Vine-Substation-Project@aspeneg.com

Comments may be submitted by U.S. Mail to:

CPUC Vine Substation Project
c/o Aspen Environmental Group
5020 Chesebro Road, Suite 200
Agoura Hills, CA 91301

Draft Mitigated Negative Declaration

On September 21, 2015 the CPUC released a Notice of Intent to Adopt a Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND) for the Vine Substation Project, showing that the Proposed Project, as mitigated, would not have any significant effects on the environment. The Draft MND with the supporting Initial Study (Draft IS/MND) is available here for review or at the following repositories:

Public Meeting: The CPUC held a public meeting on Wednesday October 7, 2015 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina, located at 1380 Harbor Island Drive. The public meeting provided an opportunity to learn about the Proposed Project, ask questions about the content of the Draft IS/MND, and provide comments. Written comments were accepted during the meeting.

Review Period: The Draft IS/MND public review period extended from September 21, 2015 to October 20, 2015.

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