San Diego Gas & Electric – South Bay Substation Relocation Project

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) South Bay Substation Relocation Project located in the City of Chula Vista, California, in the southwesterly portion of San Diego County, California. SDG&E submitted an application to the CPUC on June 16, 2010 (Application A.10-06-007). The proposed project is subject to review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). This site provides access to public documents and information relevant to the CEQA review processes.

Background

SDG&E filed an application for a Permit to Construct the South Bay Substation Relocation Project with CPUC. The CPUC, as lead agency under California law, will prepare environmental documentation to comply with CEQA.

The South Bay Substation Relocation Project, as proposed by SDG&E, includes the following major components:

• Construction of a 230/69/12-kilovolt (kV) substation (Bay Boulevard Substation) in the City of Chula Vista
• Construction of a 230 kV loop-in, an approximately 1,000-foot-long underground interconnection and an approximately 300-foot-long overhead interconnection of the existing 230 kV tie-line, located east of the proposed Bay Boulevard Substation
• Relocation of six 69 kV transmission lines and associated communication cables to the proposed Bay Boulevard Substation, requiring the relocation of approximately 7,500 feet of overhead line and the construction of approximately 4,100 feet of underground line
• A 138 kV extension of an approximately 3,800-foot underground and approximately 200-foot overhead span from one new steel cable pole to an existing steel lattice structure
• Demolition of the existing 138/69 kV South Bay Substation

The Proposed Project would be located in the City of Chula Vista, California, in the southwesterly portion of San Diego County (see Regional Map). The Proposed Project primarily involves relocation of the existing South Bay Substation to a new site approximately 0.5 mile south. The existing South Bay Substation would be relocated to the proposed Bay Boulevard Substation site, which is situated approximately 2 miles south of the City of National City, approximately 5 miles northeast of the City of Imperial Beach, and approximately 7 miles southeast of downtown San Diego (see Project Location Map).

The South Bay Substation is an aging 138/69 kV substation that was originally built to accommodate the adjacent South Bay Power Plant (SBPP) in the City of Chula Vista. The South Bay Substation was originally constructed in 1961 and consists of equipment that was not built to modern seismic standards. The existing 138 kV bus is undersized for current transmission system conditions. The 69 kV bus is also configured in such a way that overloads of the 69 kV transmission line occur in the South Bay region caused by 69 kV bus outages at the South Bay Substation.

With the potential retirement of the SBPP, a replacement bulk power source is being proposed to connect to the existing 230 kV transmission lines in the area (Otay Metro Power Loop (OMPL) Project (formerly referred to as the Otay Mesa Power Purchase Agreement Project)).

In October 2004, SDG&E and the City of Chula Vista entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) regarding several energy issues (see MOU). One of the objectives of the City of Chula Vista in the MOU was the relocation of the existing South Bay Substation after the retirement of the SBPP. SDG&E’s projected schedule is to have the Bay Boulevard Substation energized and transmission line connections completed, so that decommissioning and demolition of the existing South Bay Substation can occur after the potential retirement of the SBPP. Construction is scheduled for March 2011 with the intent to be in service by December 2013.

Public Meeting

To help understand the Proposed Project and explain how the public can participate in the CPUC’s decision-making process, CPUC held a public meeting on Wednesday, December 15, 2010, at Chula Vista Civic Center Council Chambers, 430 F Street, Chula Vista, California, starting at 6:00 p.m. The public notice is available here. The meeting presentation is available here.

Application and Proponent’s Environmental Assessment (PEA)

Click the following links to view the application and PEA for the South Bay Substation Relocation Project.

Cover
Table of Contents
Chapter 1 – PEA Summary
Chapter 2 – Project Purpose and Need
Chapter 3 – Project Description
Chapter 4 – Environmental Impact Assessment
Chapter 4.1 – Aesthetics
Chapter 4.2 – Agricultural Resources
Chapter 4.3 – Air Quality
Chapter 4.4 – Biological Resources
Chapter 4.5 – Cultural Resources
Chapter 4.6 – Geology, Soils and Mineral Resources
Chapter 4.6 – Geotechnical Report
Chapter 4.7 – Hazards and Hazardous Materials
Chapter 4.8 – Hydrology and Water Quality
Chapter 4.9 – Land Use and Planning
Chapter 4.10 – Noise
Chapter 4.11 – Population and Housing
Chapter 4.12 – Public Services
Chapter 4.13 – Recreation
Chapter 4.14 – Transportation and Traffic
Chapter 4.15 – Utilities and Service Systems
Chapter 4.16 – Cumulative Analysis
Chapter 5.0 – Significant Impacts

The CPUC sent SDG&E a deficiency letter on July 14, 2010, that requested additional information from SDG&E to satisfy CPUC’s Information and Criteria List. Click the following link to view the letter.

First Deficiency Letter (July 14, 2010)

First Deficiency Letter Response (August 16, 2010)

First Deficiency Letter Response (August 24, 2010)

First Deficiency Letter Response (August 27, 2010)

Application deemed complete on September 8, 2010. Letter can be viewed here.

Environmental Review Process

As the lead CEQA agency, the CPUC will prepare an environmental document in accordance with CEQA. The environmental document will describe the proposed project and evaluate potential impacts. The draft environmental document will be published here when available.

Commission Decision

The commission’s decision will be posted here when available.

Construction Progress and Mitigation Monitoring

Reports issued by the CPUC, reports on construction progress, and reports issued as part of the Mitigation Monitoring Program will be published here, when available.

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 e-mail, fax, or phone, as follows:

Project email: southbaysub@dudek.com
Project fax and voicemail: (800) 930-8275

The CPUC's project manager is:

Jensen Uchida, CPUC Project Manager
California Public Utilities Commission
505 Van Ness Avenue
San Francisco CA 94102
Tel. (415) 703-5484
Fax (415) 703-2200

 

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