STATE OF CALIFORNIA
PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION

Southern California Gas Company
Aliso Canyon Turbine Replacement Project

(Application No. A.09-09-020)

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Introduction

Welcome to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) website for the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) review of the proposed construction of the Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGas) Aliso Canyon Turbine Replacement Project (Aliso Canyon Project, or project). An application for this project was submitted to the CPUC on September 28, 2009 ( Application A.09-09-020). This site provides access to public documents and information relevant to the CEQA review process.

Background

SoCalGas has filed an application with the CPUC to construct the Aliso Canyon Project. The CPUC is the CEQA lead agency.

The Aliso Canyon Project, as proposed by SoCalGas, includes the removal from service of the existing gas turbine-driven compressor (TDC) station located at the Aliso Canyon natural gas storage field (storage field) in Northridge, California. The TDC station would be replaced with three variable frequency compression trains and installed in a new compressor station (Central Compressor Station). Other on-site and off-site associated facilities would be upgraded as a result. SoCalGas's application also requests approval under Section 851 of the Public Utilities Code for the enlargement of an existing Southern California Edison (SCE) electrical easement on SoCalGas property, which constitutes an additional element of the project under CEQA.

SoCalGas's application for constructing the Aliso Canyon Project is required in order to meet the terms of a Settlement Agreement (SA) between SoCalGas and parties to Phase 1 of the 2009 Biennial Cost Allocation Proceeding (BCAP) in D.08-12-020. The SA requires that SoCalGas replace the TDCs and expand the overall injection capacity at the storage field by approximately 145 million cubic feet per day (MMcfd), an increase of almost 50 percent. The project includes the following components:

1. Construction of the proposed on-site Central Compressor Station and installation of new equipment including three variable frequency drive compressor trains, compressors, piping, coolers, and other additional required equipment.
2. Relocation of on-site office trailer facilities and an on-site guard house. The existing trailers would be replaced by new trailers at a site in proximity to the proposed Central Compressor Station. The guard house would be relocated approximately 500 feet north of the existing facility to relieve traffic congestion at the facility entrance.
3. Construction of a new on-site, four circuit, approximately 2,000-foot 12-kilovolt (kV) Plant Power Line (PPL) that would provide dedicated electric services to the proposed Central Compressor Station. The proposed PPL would be interconnected from the proposed SCE Natural Substation to the proposed Central Compressor Station. The PPL would be owned by SoCalGas and designed to San Diego Gas and Electric (SDG&E) standards.
4. Construction of the proposed on-site SCE Natural Substation including foundation and equipment pads, electrical equipment, installation of security perimeter wall/chain link fence, access road, and capacitor bank (additional elements may be included). The proposed SCE Natural Substation would be 56 MVA, 66/12-kV with a pre-fabricated mechanical electrical and engineering room. This project component would be constructed by SCE.
5. Construction of both on-site and off-site electric modifications to two existing SCE 66-kV subtransmission lines (up to approximately 12 miles long) in order to serve the proposed Central Compressor Station's load. Modifications would also include replacement of existing towers and H-frame structures with new tubular steel poles (TSP), and installation of telecommunication lines on the poles. This project component would be constructed and owned by SCE.
6. Conduct off-site substation modifications at three existing SCE substations (Newhall, Chatsworth, and San Fernando Substations) that support two existing SCE 66-kV subtransmission lines. Proposed modifications include: construction of a loop-in interconnection at San Fernando to provide for two new positions and installation of new relay systems and ancillary equipment within the substation to provide advanced electrical service protection. This project component would be constructed and owned by SCE.

The main project site (storage field) is approximately 3,600 acres in size. The project would involve coordination between SoCalGas, SDG&E, and SCE, and project components would pass through unincorporated Los Angeles, the City of Los Angeles, the City of Santa Clarita (in Los Angeles County), the City of Mission Hills (in Los Angeles County), and unincorporated Ventura County.

The environmental review will be conducted pursuant to the provisions of CEQA and CPUC procedures.

Figure 1: Project Overview and Figure 2: Project Components Within the Storage Field show an overview of the project area and components.

Application and Proponent's Environmental Assessment (PEA)

The application and PEA for the Aliso Canyon Project may be viewed here (39 MB). The application was deemed complete by CPUC on March 24, 2010.

Other Documents Available

• Application Deemed Complete Letter (March 24, 2010)
• Revised Notice of Preparation (October 26, 2010)
• Errata Sheet for Notice of Preparation (October 26, 2010)
• Scoping Report (TBD)
• Notice of Availability (TBD)

Environmental Impact Report (EIR)

The Draft Environmental Impact Report (Draft EIR) and Final Environmental Impact Report (Final EIR) for the project will be presented here, when available.

Commission Decision

The results of the Commission decision on the project will be presented 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 and Reporting 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 email, fax, or phone, as follows:

Project email: AlisoCanyonNG@ene.com
Project fax: (415) 981-0801
Project voicemail: (877) 676-8678

The CPUC Project Manager is:

Andrew Barnsdale, CPUC Project Manager
California Public Utilities Commission
505 Van Ness Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94102
Tel. (415) 703-3221
Fax (415) 703-1758
Email: andrew.barnsdale@cpuc.ca.gov

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