Introduction
Welcome to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) website for the environmental review of the proposed Happy Valley Telephone Company (Happy Valley) d.b.a. TDS Telecom Olinda Last Mile Underserved Broadband Project (proposed project). The proposed project includes construction and installation of a fiber-optic network to extend high-speed internet service to communities in Happy Valley, Olinda, Igo, and other areas of unincorporated Shasta County. The proposed project is subject to review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the CPUC is the CEQA Lead Agency. A CEQA review is being performed to evaluate the potential environmental impacts associated with the proposed project. 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
- Resolution T-17411, dated October 3, 2013, approving the funding of the TDS Grant Application for the project
- Resolution T-17517, dated May 12, 2016, conditionally approving funding to complete the project
- Proponent’s Environmental Assessment (PEA) dated August 3, 2015
- PEA (4 MB)
- PEA Appendices
- Appendix A – Project Plans (15.1 MB)
- Appendix B – CalEEMod Results
- Appendix C – Biological Resources Evaluation (20.1 MB)
- Appendix D – Waterway Delineation and Assessment Report (44.5 MB)
- Appendix E – Class III Cultural Resources Survey Report and Cultural Resource Correspondence (10.2 MB)
- Appendix F – EDR Corridor Study
- Deficiencies, Data Requests, and Responses
- CEQA Environmental Review Calendar
- Draft IS/MND
Project Description
The proposed project involves the construction of a second-generation, very-high-bit-rate digital subscriber line (VDSL2) fiber-optic network capable of 25 Mps/5 Mps (megabit-per-second download/upload) speed. Approximately 24.6 km (15.3 miles) of new fiber-optic cable would be buried within protective conduit along existing roads in southwestern Shasta County.
The proposed project is partly funded by the California Advance Services Fund (CASF). On December 20, 2007, in Decision 07-12-054 established the CASF program to provide grants that support projects that will a) provide broadband services to areas currently without broadband access and b) build out facilities in underserved areas, if funds are still available. CPUC Resolution T-17411 approved funding in the amount of $1,833,689 from the CASF for the proposed project. Additional funding of $399,853.20 or $469,978 to complete the proposed project was approved in CPUC Resolution T-17517. Links to Resolutions T-17411 and T-17517 are provided above.
Project Location
The proposed project is located approximately 11 miles south of Redding in Shasta County. The proposed project area includes components throughout the unincorporated communities of Olinda, Igo, and Happy Valley, west of the City of Anderson and the Sacramento River. The majority of the project area is used for agriculture with limited residential and commercial properties dispersed throughout. Public land managed by the Bureau of Land Management lies near the western end of the project area.
Environmental Review
On February 1, 2013, TDS Telecom submitted an application for CASF funding in the underserved areas of Olinda, Anderson, and other unincorporated areas of Shasta County. Resolution T-17411 stipulates that prior to receiving funds from the CASF grant, the proponent is required to provide a Proponent’s Environmental Assessment (PEA) and the CPUC must complete CEQA review. TDS Telecom provided the CPUC with their PEA on August 5, 2015. The approximate schedule for the subsequent CEQA processes following the PEA submittal are described below, in the CEQA Environmental Review Calendar.
CEQA Environmental Review Calendar
| Status | Action Item | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Complete | PEA review | October 2016 |
| Complete | Application deemed complete by CPUC | March 2017 |
| Complete | AB 52 notification and consultation process | April 2017 - February 2019 |
| Complete | Draft IS/MND publication | April 2019 |
| Close of 30-Day Draft IS/MND comment period | May 2019 | |
| Final IS/MND publication | June 2019 | |
| CPUC adoption of IS/MND and Resolution | September 2019 |
Deficiencies, Data Requests, and Responses
The CPUC is currently reviewing the application and PEA to identify additional data needed from the Applicant to complete the environmental review process. The CPUC 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 | TDS’s Response | Attachments |
|---|---|---|
| Deficiency Letter No. 1 (Submitted 11/1/2016) |
Deficiency Response No. 1 (Received 12/20/2016) |
Attachments A and B (Received 12/202/2016) |
| Deficiency Letter No. 2 (Submitted 01/17/2017) |
Deficiency Response No. 2 (Received 02/22/2016) |
Attachments A to D (Received 2/22/2017) |
| PEA Completeness Letter (Submitted 03/20/2017) |
PEA Completeness Letter | |
| Data Request Letter No. 1 (Submitted 4/24/2017) |
Responses to Data Request No. 1 (Received 05/16/2017) |
Attachments A and B (Received 05/16/2017) |
| Data Request Letter No. 2 (Submitted 08/02/2018) |
Responses to Data Request No. 2 (Received 08/22/2018) |
Attachment A (Received 08/22/2018) |
AB 52 Consultation
Pursuant to Assembly Bill 52 (AB 52) and Public Resources Code Section 21080.3.1, the CPUC sent formal notification letters to California Native American tribes that have requested, in writing, to be informed about proposed projects under review by the Commission. In addition, notification letters were sent to organizations and individuals identified by the Native American Heritage Commission (NAHC) as traditionally and culturally affiliated with the geographic area of the proposed project. The 30-day formal notification process ran from April 3rd to May 3rd 2017. Additional AB 52 notification letters were sent to two additional tribes that requested notification by the CPUC about new projects in Northern California. Consultation with interested tribes began June 2017 and was finalized in February 2019.
Draft IS/MND
On April 30, 2019, the CPUC released a Notice of Intent (NOI) to adopt a Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND) for the Olinda Last Mile Underserved Broadband Project. The Draft IS/MND was circulated from April 30, 2019 through May 31, 2019. Links to view the Draft IS/MND are provided below:
Draft IS/MND (main document)
- Table of Contents
- Mitigated Negative Declaration
- 1.0 Initial Study Checklist
- 2.0 Environmental Factors Potentially Affected
- 3.0 Environmental Determination
- 4.0 Project Description (4.1 MB)
- 5.0 Environmental Setting and Impacts
- 5.1 Aesthetics (10.7 MB)
- 5.2 Agriculture and Forest Resources
- 5.3 Air Quality
- 5.4 Biological Resources
- 5.5 Cultural Resources
- 5.6 Energy
- 5.7 Geology and Soils
- 5.8 Greenhouse Gases
- 5.9 Hazards and Hazardous Materials
- 5.10 Hydrology and Water Quality
- 5.11 Land Use and Planning
- 5.12 Mineral Resources
- 5.13 Noise
- 5.14 Population and Housing
- 5.15 Public Services
- 5.16 Recreation
- 5.17 Transportation
- 5.18 Tribal Cultural Resources
- 5.19 Utilities and Service Systems
- 5.20 Wildfire
- 5.21 Mandatory Findings of Significance
- 6.0 Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Plan
Draft IS/MND Appendices
- Appendix A: List of Preparers
- Appendix B: References
- Appendix C: Air Quality and Greenhouse Gas Emission Calculations
- Appendix D: Biological Resources Reports (46.8 MB)
- Appendix E: Cultural Resources Consultation Documentation (24.5 MB)
The public may present comments about the project and Draft IS/MND. Written comments must be postmarked or received by fax or email no later than May 31, 2019. Please be sure to include your name, address, and telephone number in correspondence. Send written comments to:
Olinda Last Mile Underserved Broadband Project
c/o Ecology and Environment, Inc.
Attn: Silvia Yanez, Project Manager
One Embarcadero Center, Suite 500
San Francisco, CA 94111
Email: Olinda.CPUC@ene.com
Telephone (Toll-Free Voicemail): (415) 398-5326
Fax: (415) 796-0846
Availability of Draft IS/MND
Hardcopies of the Draft IS/MND will be available for review at the following public access locations:
Shasta Public Library: Anderson Branch
3200 West Center Street
Anderson, CA 96007
Phone: (530) 365-7685
Shasta Public Library: Redding Branch
1100 Parkview Avenue
Redding, CA 96001
Phone: (530) 245-7250
Shasta County Department of Resource Management
Planning Division
1855 Placer Street, Suite 103
Redding, CA 96001
Phone: (530) 225-5532
If you would like to request a hard copy of the Draft IS/MND, please call: 1(844) 442-9692, or email: Olinda.CPUC@ene.com
Additional Information
Additional information will be posted as it becomes available. The CPUC, through its Environmental Review Team, is conducting an environmental review of the project. To request additional information, ask a question, or be added to the project mailing list, please contact us by email, fax, phone, or mail, as follows:
Email:
Olinda.CPUC@ene.com
Fax:
(415) 796-0846
Toll-Free Voicemail: (844) 578-9456
U.S. Mail or Courier:
Connie Chen
c/o Ecology and Environment, Inc.
One Embarcadero Center, Suite 500
San Francisco, CA 94111
The CPUC Project Manager is:
Connie Chen
Energy Division
Infrastructure Permitting and CEQA
505 Van Ness Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94102