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San Diego Gas & Electric

Master Special Use Permit and Permit to Construct Power Line Replacement Projects

(Application No. A.12-10-009)

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Welcome to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) website for the environmental review of the proposed construction of the San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) Master Special Use Permit (MSUP) and Permit to Construct (PTC) Power Line Replacement Projects located in and around the Cleveland National Forest (CNF) in San Diego County, California.

The CPUC and the United States Forest Service (Forest Service) serve as joint lead agencies on the MSUP/PTC Projects and have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (completed on January 23, 2012) that governs the preparation of a joint Environmental Impact Report /Environmental Impact Statement (EIR/EIS) for the MSUP/PTC Projects. The CPUC, as the lead agency under California law, and the Forest Service, as the lead agency under federal law, will prepare a Draft and Final EIR/EIS to comply with both the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).

This site provides access to public documents and information relevant to the CEQA and NEPA review processes.

QUICK LINKS

Public Meetings

Background

Permit to Construct (PTC) Application and Plan of Development (POD)

Data Requests

Other Documents Available

Public Participation

Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement (EIR/EIS)

Record of Decisions

Commission Decision

Construction Progress and Mitigation Monitoring  (New)

For Additional Information

Background

San Diego Gas & Electric Company (SDG&E) is proposing to combine over 70 existing special use permits for SDG&E electric facilities within the Cleveland National Forest (CNF) into one Master Special Use Permit (MSUP) to be issued by the United States Forest Service (Forest Service). As shown in the Project Location Map, the CNF MSUP study area is located within the Trabuco Ranger District in Orange County, California and the Palomar and Descanso Ranger Districts in unincorporated areas of San Diego County, California.

In addition to requesting Forest Service authorization of the MSUP allowing for the continued operation and maintenance of SDG&E’s existing electric facilities within the CNF, SDG&E is proposing to replace certain existing 69 kV power lines and 12 kV distribution lines located within and outside of the CNF that will require a Permit to Construct (PTC) from the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC). The proposed Power Line Replacement Projects would primarily include fire hardening along with relocation and undergrounding of certain facilities. As shown in the Project Location Map, the power line and distribution facilities proposed to be replaced are located within the central portion of San Diego County approximately 4.5 miles north of the US Mexico Border, 14 miles east of the City of El Cajon, in the vicinity of the unincorporated communities of Alpine, Boulevard, Pine Valley, Descanso, Campo, Pauma Valley, Santa Ysabel, Julian, and Warner Springs.

The Forest Service has reviewed the application and accepted the proposal with modifications to certain actions on National Forest System lands. The federal proposed action has been modified from the action described in the Notice of Intent. Modifications to the federal proposed action were made in response to suggestions from the public and agencies during scoping, and by the cooperating federal agencies. Modifications consider five options for rerouting segments of TL626, two options for relocating C157 from designated wilderness areas (Hauser and Pine Creek Wilderness areas), additional undergrounding for C440, and undergrounding a segment of TL682 (proposed by BIA). Modifications of the proposed action (SDG&E’s proposed project) are consistent with the Forest Service NEPA regulations found at 36 CFR 220.5(e)(1). The federal proposed actions will be considered as alternatives in accordance with California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines (Section 15126.6; 14 CCR 15000 et seq.).

Permit to Construct (PTC) Application 

On October 17, 2012 SDG&E filed an application (A.12-10-009) along with the Preliminary Plan of Development (POD) for a PTC for the proposed Power Line Replacement Projects with the CPUC. On June 26, 2013, SDG&E filed an amended PTC application which included modifications to certain actions on National Forest System lands as requested by the Forest Service and described in the Revised POD.

SDG&E’s application was deemed complete by CPUC on August 7, 2013. Letter can be viewed here.

The amendment to application (Volume I of II) and the Revised POD (Volume II of II), supersede the original application and the Preliminary POD for the proposed project. Click on the following links to copies of these documents.

• Amendment to Application (June 26, 2013)
• Revised Plan of Development – Volume II of II (April 19, 2013)
  
           -Click here for a list of locations of where hard copies of Revised POD are available for review.
• Application A.12-10-009 – Volume I of II (October 17, 2012)
• Preliminary Plan of Development- Volume II of II (September 2012)
• Standard Form 299 (Forest Service) (September 6, 2012)

Data Requests

As needed during the environmental review process, the EIR/EIS team will provide SDG&E with data requests for specific information during preparation of the EIR/EIS. These requests and SDG&E’s responses are published here, when available:

• Data Request No. 1 (October 30, 2012) and SDG&E Response (December 3, 2012)
• Data Request No. 2 (December 20, 2012) and SDG&E Response (January 25, 2013)
• US Forest Service POD review comments (December 7, 2012) and SDG&E Response (February 15, 2013)
• Data Request No. 3 (February 27, 2013) and SDG&E’s Responses (April 19, 2013, April 22, 2013, and April 25, 2013, Supplemental Response). Also see the Revised POD.
           * SDG&E Response to Date Request 3 Alternatives Questions 1 and 2 (February 3, 2014)
                 Power Line TL626 Alternative Route Analysis (February 2014)
                 Power Line C157 Alternative Route Analysis (February 2014)
• Data Request No. 4 (December 19, 2013) and SDG&E Response (January 17, 2013); note that the response includes the Paleontological Resources Technical Report, which contains confidential information and is therefore not posted for public review.
• Data Request No. 5 (February 5, 2014) and SDG&E Responses (February 27 and March 4, 2014)
• Data Request No. 6  (March 21, 2014) and SDG&E Response (April 3, 2014).
• Data Request No. 7  (November 14, 2014). SDG&E Final Response (March 9, 2015)
• Data Request No. 8  (November 21, 2014) and SDG&E Response (December 19, 2014).
• Data Request No. 9  (January 22, 2015) and SDG&E Response (January 30, 2015, February 13, 2015, and February 24, 2015).
• Data Request No. 10  (February 27, 2015) and SDG&E Response (May 1, 2015).
• Data Request No. 11  (May 8, 2015) and SDG&E Response (May 15, 2015) and SDG&E Updated Question 6 Response (June 29, 2015).

Other Documents Available

Memorandum of Understanding - CPUC and Forest Service

In January 2012, the CPUC and Forest Service entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the purpose of documenting the cooperation between the CPUC and the Forest Service serving as joint lead agencies responsible for the CEQA and NEPA environmental analysis of SDG&E’s revised application for a Master Special Use Permit on the Cleveland National Forest and for related fire hardening in and around the Cleveland National Forest. A copy of the MOU is available here:

• Memorandum of Understanding (January 2012)

Public Participation

Draft EIR/EIS Public Comment Period (September 5, 2014 – November 4, 2014)

The Joint DEIR/DEIS was released for public review on September 5, 2014 for a 60-day comment period. The public review period ended November 4, 2014.

Supplemental Scoping

The CPUC and Forest Service implemented a supplemental scoping period (January 21 – March 7, 2014) to provide the public with an additional opportunity to comment on the topics and alternatives that should be included in the Draft Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement (EIR/EIS) being prepared for the subject project. On February 19, 2014, the CPUC and Forest Service held a supplemental scoping meeting at the Alpine Community Center, 1830 Alpine Boulevard, Alpine, California.

Provided in the links below are the public comments received during the supplemental scoping period, an updated list of issues to be addressed in the EIR/EIS, and the supplemental scoping notice mailed to stakeholders and posted in communities within the project area. In addition, the supplemental scoping meeting agenda, supplemental scoping meeting presentation, and a copy of the written comment form are provided in the links below.

• Supplemental Scoping Comments (March 2014)
• Updated List of Issues to be Addressed in EIR/EIS (March 2014)
• Supplemental Scoping Notice (January 21, 2014)
• February 19, 2014 Meeting Agenda
• Supplemental Scoping Meeting Presentation
• Written comment form

Supplemental scoping comments were accepted until March 7, 2014.

Scoping

On September 23, 2013, the CPUC published a Notice of Preparation (NOP) of an Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement (EIR/EIS) for the Master Special Use Permit Project and Permit to Construct Power Line Replacement Projects (A.12-10-009). The NOP had an extended public review period (45 days) from September 23, 2013 to November 7, 2013. All scoping comments were due by November 7, 2013. See page 11 of the NOP for a list of local libraries where hard copies of the NOP are available for review. In addition, a copy was delivered to the San Diego Public Library located at 330 Park Blvd, San Diego, California.

Click on the links below for the project scoping report, which provides a summary of the scoping comments received, the public notice, the NOP, and Notice of Intent.

• Scoping Report (January 16, 2014)
• Public Notice (September 23,2013)
• Notice of Preparation (NOP) (September 23, 2013)
• Notice of Intent (Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 184 / Monday, September 23, 2013)

On September 23, 2013 the Forest Service published the Notice of Intent in the Federal Register in conjunction with the NOP for preparation of a joint EIR/EIS.

Public Scoping Meetings (2013)

In order to provide the public and regulatory agencies with an opportunity to learn more about the project and to comment on the scope and content of the environmental information to be included in the Draft EIR/EIS, the CPUC and Forest Service held two public scoping meetings during the 45-day scoping period (at the following two locations below).

Click the following links to view the meeting agenda and public meeting presentation. In addition, a copy of the written comment form is available here for download.

• October 22 and 23, 2013 Meeting Agenda
• Public Meeting Presentation
• Written comment form

Scoping comments on the content of the environmental information to be included in the Draft EIR/EIS were accepted until November 7, 2013.
 

Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement (EIR/EIS)

Final EIR/EIS Errata

The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) and U.S. Forest Service published the EIR/EIS for the Master Special Use Permit and Permit to Construct Power Line Replacement Projects in June 2015. This errata provides clarification of Response to Document No. D4, Backcountry Against Dumps (Donna Tisdale), Dated November 4, 2014 in Volume 2 of the Final EIR/EIS and does not raise new issues about significant effects on the environment. Such clarifications are insignificant as the term is used in Section 15088.5(b) of the California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines, and under the National Environmental Policy Act and do not result in new significant circumstances or information relevant to environmental concerns, nor do they require analysis of a new alternative (40 C.F.R. § 1502.9(c)(1)(ii)).

• Errata #2 (January 6, 2016)

The CPUC and Forest Service released the EIR/EIS for the Master Special Use Permit and Permit to Construct Power Line Replacement Projects on July 10, 2015. Following publication, SDG&E identified several minor errors in the Final EIR/EIS Section B, Project Description and it was determined that these would be published as errata to the Final EIR/EIS. These errata items merely clarify existing text in the EIR/EIS and do not raise important new issues about significant effects on the environment. Such changes are insignificant as the term is used in Section 15088.5(b) of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines, and under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) do not result in new significant circumstances or information relevant to environmental concerns, or require analysis of a new alternative (40 CFR 1502.9(c)(1)(ii)).

• Errata #1 (August 31, 2015)

Final EIR/EIS

The Final EIR/EIS was released on July 10, 2015. The links below provide access to the public notices, the Final EIR/EIS (Volumes 1 and 2) and appendices, and the Forest Service’s Draft Record of Decision.

• Notice of Availability
• Legal Notice (San Diego Union Tribune)
• Federal Register Notice
• Final EIR/EIS and Appendices (June 2015)
• Forest Service Draft Record of Decision

The Final EIR/EIS is also available for review at the following library locations:

Draft EIR/EIS Comment Letters

Provided in the link below are the public comments received during the Draft EIR/EIS public review period (September 5 – November 4, 2014).

• Draft EIR/EIS comment letters

Draft EIR/EIS

The Draft EIR/EIS was released for public review on September 5, 2014, for a 60-day public review period ending November 4, 2014. Click on the links below for the Notice of Availability, Federal Register notice, Draft EIR/EIS and appendices.

• Notice of Availability and Public Meeting
• Federal Register Notice
• Draft EIR/EIS and Appendices

Record of Decisions

Forest Service Final Record of Decision

On March 11, 2016 the U.S. Forest Service, Cleveland National Forest, Forest Supervisor signed the Final Record of Decision for the San Diego Gas & Electric Master Special Use Permit Project in Orange and San Diego Counties, California.

• Final Record of Decision and Mitigation Appendix (March 11, 2016) (file set-up for double-sided printing)

Bureau of Indian Affairs Record of Decision

On March 30, 2016 the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs signed the Record of Decision for the San Diego Gas & Electric Power Line Replacement Projects on the La Jolla, Campo, and Pauma-Yuima Indian Reservations, San Diego County, California.

• Record of Decision (March 30, 2016)

Commission Decision

The Commission voted on May 26, 2016, to grant SDG&E a permit to construct the Cleveland National Forest Power Line Replacement Projects. The State Clearinghouse received the Notice of Determination on May 31, 2016. 

• Decision granting Permit to Construct to SDG&E.
• Notice of Determination

^New Construction Progress and Mitigation Monitoring

Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program

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 by email or phone, as follows:

Project email: CNFMSUP@dudek.com
Project voicemail: (866) 467-4727

The CPUC's project manager is:

Lisa Orsaba
California Public Utilities Commission
505 Van Ness Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94102
Tel. (415) 703-1966
Fax (415) 703-2200

The Forest Service Contacts:

Robert Hawkins/Jeff Heys
United States Forest Service
Cleveland National Forest
10845 Rancho Bernardo Road, Ste. 200
San Diego, CA 92127
Tel: (916) 849-8037 (Hawkins) / (858) 674-2959 (Heys)
Fax: (858) 524-0130

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