Introduction
Welcome to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) website for the environmental review of proposed TL674A Reconfiguration and TL666D Removal Project. The proposed project will address the safety, environmental, and reliability concerns in San Diego Gas and Electric’s (SDG&E) existing Del Mar Substation area, and ensure that the substation and associated components meet the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) criteria. The applicant proposes to meet NERC criteria by replacing an overhead 69 kV power line (TL666D) that is currently operated in the open position with a new line (TL6974D) of a higher voltage rating, to be renamed TL6973D. The substation and proposed new distribution lines are located in coastal San Diego County, within the jurisdictions of the City of San Diego and the City of Del Mar. Proposed project activities would occur between the existing Del Mar Substation immediately northwest of the intersection of Interstate 5 and Via De La Valle, and an existing steel pole near the intersection of Vista Sorrento Parkway and Pacific Plaza Drive. The application for the Permit to Construct (PTC) was submitted on June 28, 2017 (A. 17-06-029). This site provides access to public documents and information relevant to the CEQA review process. Additional project information and documentation will be posted as it becomes available.
Quick Links
- Project Description
- Project Location
- Application and Proponent’s Environmental Assessment
- Data Requests and Responses
- Draft IS/MND
Project Description
The Proposed Project would address safety, environmental, and reliability concerns in the Del Mar Substation area. Line TL666D – a 69 kV line extending approximately six miles from the Del Mar Substation to the Del Mar Tap – has experienced multiple outages since 2012, and includes segments within environmentally sensitive areas. The Proposed Project would eliminate the need to access these environmentally sensitive areas to perform maintenance activities. Additionally, the Proposed Project would prevent North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) thermal and voltage deviation violations on line TL674C, and at both the Del Mar and Encinitas Substations, therefore improving operational flexibility to SDG&E’s Grid Operation Department.
Major components of the TL674A Reconfiguration and TL666D Removal Project include the following:- Reconfigure the existing overhead 69 kV powerline TL674A:
- Remove 700 feet of existing overhead alignment.
- Install 1.1 miles of underground 69 kV cable encased in PVC and concrete conduit from a new steel riser pole to the Del Mar Substation.
- Install four underground splice vaults to facilitate pulling and splicing during installation, inspection, maintenance, and repair.
- Remove an existing 70-foot-tall tap pole (Pole 1) approximately 500 feet north of Via De La Valle.
- Install an 85-foot-tall 69 kV steel riser pole (Pole 2) adjacent to Via De La Valle within the Del Mar Horsepark, on a concrete foundation.
- Install a 65-85-foot-tall 69 kV direct-buried steel pole (Pole 3) within the Del Mar Horsepark.
- Remove the existing 69 kV Line TL666D:
- Remove existing 69 kV wood poles located within the San Dieguito and Peñasquitos Lagoons and the Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve Extension by cutting the poles at ground level, leaving the pole bases intact.
- Remove all conductor associated with line TL666D.
- C510 Conversion from an overhead to underground configuration:
- Construct approximately 3,600 feet of duct bank, approximately five hand holes, and one pad-mounted transformer and fuse cabinet.
- Remove five distribution poles adjacent to Racetrack View Drive.
- Install one directly buried new wood riser pole (Pole 28) at the northwest end of the conversion and one foundation-mounted steel pole (Pole 35) at the southeast end of the conversion to connect to the existing overhead line to the new underground duct bank.
- Install one new wood pole (Pole 26) approximately 100 feet northwest of Pole 28.
- Install two additional directly buried wood riser poles (Pole 37 and Pole 41) along the underground route to maintain electrical service in the area.
- Install two temporary wood poles (Pole 122 and Pole 128) to support and spread the existing 12 kV conductors during the installation of Pole 28 and Pole 35.
- C738 conversion from an overhead to underground configuration:
- Construct approximately 630 feet of duct bank
- Remove two wood poles (Pole 124 and Pole 125) adjacent to the Sorrento Valley Pedestrian/Multi-Use Path.
- Install one new directly buried wood riser pole (Pole 107) and reconfiguring one existing wood pole as a riser pole (Pole 108) to connect the existing overhead line to the new underground duct bank.
- Convert one existing foundation-mounted steel distribution pole (Pole 127) to a guy pole.
Project Location
The Proposed Project is located in the northwestern portion of the City of San Diego and in the City of Del Mar, with portions of the proposed project located within the San Dieguito Lagoon, Los Peñasquitos Lagoon, and Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve. Activities would occur along the approximately six miles of existing overhead power line between the existing Del Mar Subtstation northwest of the intersection of Interstate 5 and Via De La Valle, and an existing steel pole located near the intersection of Vista Sorrento Parkway and Pacific Plaza Drive. Project components would be installed underground beneath San Dieguito Drive and Racetrack View Drive in the cities of Del Mar and San Diego, and beneath the Sorrento Valley Pedestrian/Multi-Use Path.
Application and Proponent’s Environmental Assessment
SDG&E filed an application (A. 17-06-029) for a PTC and Proponent’s Environmental Assessment (PEA) on June 28, 2016. The PEA provides information to begin the independent environmental review process conducted by the CPUC.
- SDG&E Application
- PEA
- PEA appendices
Deficiencies, Data Requests, and Responses
The CPUC has reviewed the proponent’s application and PEA to identify additional data needed from the Applicant to complete the environmental review process. The CPUC has submitted data requests to the applicant for specific information to support the environmental review process. Those requests and the Applicant’s responses are included below.
| CPUC Report/Request | SDG&E’s Response | Attachments |
|---|---|---|
| Deficiency Letter #1 (7/26/2017) |
SDG&E’s Response to Deficiency Letter #1 (8/28/2017) |
|
| CPUC Application Completeness Letter |
N/A | N/A |
| Data Request #1 (11/9/2017) | SDG&E’s Response to Data Request #1 | N/A |
| Data Request #2 (12/12/2017) | SDG&E’s Response to Data Request #2 |
|
| Data Request #3 (5/21/2018) | SDG&E’s Response to Data Request #3 |
|
| N/A – Verbal request for estimated project-related water use | Project Water Use Estimate Memorandum (4.8 MB) | N/A |
Draft IS/MND
On December 6, 2018, the CPUC released a Notice of Intent (NOI) to adopt a Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND) for the TL674A Reconfiguration and TL666D Removal Project, The Draft IS/MND was circulated on December 6, 2018, and opens a public comment period that will extend from December 6, 2018 through January 7, 2019. Links to view the Draft IS/MND are provided below:
Draft IS/MND (main document)- Cover
- Table of Contents
- 1.0 Mitigated Negative Declaration
- 2.0 Environmental Determination
- 3.0 Introduction to the Initial Study
- 4.0 Project Description (7 MB)
- 5.0 Environmental Setting and Impacts
- 5.1 Aesthetics
- 5.2 Agriculture and Forest Resources
- 5.3 Air Quality
- 5.4 Biological Resources (20.5 MB)
- 5.5 Cultural Resources
- 5.6 Geology and Soils (4.9 MB)
- 5.7 Greenhouse Gases
- 5.8 Hazards and Hazardous Materials
- 5.9 Hydrology and Water Quality (3.2 MB)
- 5.10 Land Use and Planning
- 5.11 Mineral Resources
- 5.12 Noise (6.3 MB)
- 5.13 Population and Housing
- 5.14 Public Services (6.2 MB)
- 5.15 Recreation (3.2 MB)
- 5.16 Transportation and Traffic (3.3 MB)
- 5.17 Tribal Cultural Resources
- 5.18 Utilities and Service Systems
- 5.19 Mandatory Findings of Significance
- 6.0 Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Plan
- 7.0 List of Preparers
- Appendix A: Air Quality Emissions Report
- Appendix B: Biological Survey Reports (85.1 MB)
- Appendix C: Master Species Table
- Appendix D: Cultural Resources Survey Report (6.2 MB)
- Appendix E: Greenhouse Gases
- Appendix F: Hazards and Hazardous Materials (5.6 MB)
- Appendix G: Land Use Policy Matrix
- Appendix H: Tribal Cultural Resources Correspondence (5.3 MB)
- Appendix I: Paleontological Technical Study (18 MB)
- Appendix J: Detailed Project Components Maps (8.6 MB)
TL674A Reconfiguration and TL666D Removal Project
c/o Ecology and Environment, Inc.
Attn: Silvia Yanez, Project Manager
505 Sansome Street, Suite 300
San Francisco, CA 94111
Fax: (415) 398-5326
Email: TL674A.CPUC@ene.com
Availability of Draft IS/MND
Hardcopies of the Draft IS/MND will be available for review at the following public access locations:
San Diego County Public Library, Del Mar Branch
1309 Camino Del Mar
Del Mar, CA 92014
(858) 755-1666
San Diego County Public Library, Central Library
330 Park Boulevard
San Diego, CA 92101
(619) 236-5800
If you would like to request a hard copy of the Draft IS/MND, please call: 1 (844) 422-9692, or email: TL674A.CPUC@ene.com.
Following the public comment period, the CPUC will prepare a Final IS/MND that will address comments received on the Draft IS/MND.
Additional Information
Additional information will be posted as it becomes available. The CPUC, through its Environmental Review Team, in conducting an environmental review of the project. To request additional information, ask a question, or be added to the project mailing list, please contact:
Email:
TL674A.CPUC@ene.com
Fax: (415) 398-5326
Voicemail: (844) 422-9692 (toll-free)
U.S. Mail or Courier:
John Forsythe
California Public Utilities Commission
c/o Ecology and Environment, Inc.
505 Sansome Street, Suite 300
San Francisco, CA 94111