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Introduction

Welcome to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) website for the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) review of proposed construction of the Southern California Edison (SCE) Alberhill System Project. An application for this project was submitted to the CPUC on September 30, 2009 (Application A.09-09-022). SCE filed an amendment to the application on March 15, 2010 (Application A.09-09-022, amended) and filed amended sections of the Proponent's Environmental Assessment (PEA) on April 11, 2011. The amended sections of the PEA propose modifications to the two 500-kV transmission line alignments included in the original PEA. The modified alignments would avoid the Lake Mathews-Estelle Mountain Stephens’ Kangaroo Rat core reserve. This site provides access to public documents and information relevant to the CEQA review process.

Background

The Alberhill System Project would serve the cities of Lake Elsinore, Canyon Lake, Perris, Menifee, Murrieta, Hot Springs, Temecula, and Wildomar as well as surrounding unincorporated areas of Riverside County. The proposed project would include the following:

The Alberhill Substation is proposed to be built on approximately 34-acres of a 124-acre property located on the northwest corner of the intersection of Temescal Canyon Road and Concordia Ranch Road in unincorporated western Riverside County. The two 500-kV transmission lines would each extend approximately 1 mile northeast to connect to the existing Serrano–Valley 500-kV transmission line. The 115-kV subtransmission line modifications and construction would occur southeast from the Alberhill Substation to Skylark Substation (approximately 11.5 miles) and from Skylark Substation to Newcomb Substation (approximately 9 miles). To view a map showing the proposed project location click here (map updated July 28, 2011).

Telecommunications lines would be installed primarily on the overhead structures modified or constructed as part of the proposed project. In addition, a 120-foot microwave antenna tower would be installed at the proposed Alberhill Substation that would direct signals to a new dish antenna located approximately 7 miles to the southwest at the existing Santiago Peak Communications site. From there, another new dish antenna would direct signals to a new dish antenna installed at the Serrano Substation.

SCE designed the proposed project to meet long-term forecasted electrical demand in the proposed project area and increase electrical system reliability. SCE estimates that construction would take approximately 23 months and has proposed that the Alberhill System Project be operational by summer 2014.

Application and Proponent's Environmental Assessment

Click the following links to view the application and PEA for the Alberhill System Project.

The CPUC sent SCE a deficiency letter on October 22, 2009, that requested additional information from SCE to satisfy the CPUC's Information and Criteria List. The CPUC reviewed the additional information that SCE submitted and determined the application to be complete on March 26, 2010.

During the CPUC's CEQA review process, the Alberhill System Project was found to be infeasible as proposed. On January 24, 2011, the CPUC sent SCE a letter withdrawing its previous determination of completeness and requested a new PEA. SCE submitted an amended PEA on April 11, 2011, and the CPUC deemed the amended PEA complete on May 26, 2011.

Environmental Impact Report (EIR) and the Environmental Review Process

As the lead CEQA agency, the CPUC will prepare a Draft and Final EIR in accordance with CEQA. The EIR will describe the proposed project and evaluate potential impacts. The EIR will also discuss and analyze alternatives to the proposed project.

The CPUC circulated a Notice of Preparation (NOP) of an EIR for the proposed project and sent it to the State Clearinghouse, responsible and trustee agencies, other agencies, tribes, elected officials, organizations, owners and occupants of contiguous properties, residents, and other interested parties. The NOP opened a 30-day comment period on the scope and content of the EIR and announced a public scoping meeting.

Following circulation of the Draft EIR, there will be 45-day public review period during which the CPUC will hold another public meeting to take comments on the Draft EIR. The CPUC will then prepare a Final EIR that will include and respond to comments received.

When completed, the Draft and Final EIRs will be posted here. The Draft and Final EIRs will also be available for review at the following public libraries:

Lake Elsinore Library
600 West Graham Avenue
Lake Elsinore, CA 92530
(951) 674-4517

Canyon Lake Library
31516 Railroad Canyon Road
Canyon Lake, CA 92587
(951) 244-9181

Paloma Valley Library
31375 Bradley Road
Menifee, CA 92584
(951) 301-3682

Public Comment

On April 13, 2010, the CPUC circulated an NOP of an EIR for the proposed project, which opened a 30-day public comment period on the scope and content of the EIR from April 15 through May 14, 2010. On July 28, 2011, the CPUC circulated a second NOP after determining that the amended PEA was complete on May 26, 2011. Circulation of the second NOP opened a 30-day public comment period on the scope and content of the EIR that extends from July 28 through August 26, 2011. The CPUC will base the information and extent of the analysis to be presented in the EIR on input and comments received during the public comment periods.

The CPUC hosted a public meeting on the Alberhill System Project in April 2010 at the Lake Elsinore Cultural Arts Center. The CPUC will host a second public meeting (open house format) regarding the modified 500-kV transmission line routes proposed in the amended PEA as follows:

Date: Thursday, August 18, 2011
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Location:   Lake Elsinore Cultural Arts Center
183 North Main Street
Lake Elsinore, CA 92530

You are invited to submit written comments at the public meeting or during the public comment period. Comments must be postmarked or received by fax or email no later than Friday, August 26, 2011. Please include your name, address, and telephone number in correspondence, and send comments to:

Alberhill System Project
c/o Ecology and Environment, Inc.
Attn: Karen Ladd, Project Manager
130 Battery Street, 4th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94111
Fax: (415) 981-0801
Email: alberhill@ene.com
Project voicemail (toll-free): (877) 313-5385

For Additional Information

The CPUC's Environmental Review Team is conducting an environmental review of the proposed project. To request additional information or to be added to the mailing list, please contact us by email, fax, or phone, as follows:

Project email: alberhill@ene.com
Project fax: 415-981-0801
Project voicemail: 877-313-5385 (toll free)

The CPUC's Project Manager is:

Mr. Jensen Uchida, CPUC Project Manager
California Public Utilities Commission
505 Van Ness Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94102
Email: JMU@cpuc.ca.gov
Tel.: (415) 703-5484
Fax:   (415) 703-2200