CPUC Seal

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Introduction

Welcome to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) website for the environmental review of proposed Sanger Substation Expansion Project. The proposed project will expand Pacific Gas & Electric’s (PG&E) existing Sanger Substation to accommodate a new breaker-and-a-half (BAAH) bus configuration. The substation is located southeast of the City of Fresno in unincorporated Fresno County, at the northwest corner of the intersection of East Jensen Avenue and South McCall Avenue. The application for the Permit to Construct (PTC) was submitted on September 30, 2015 (A. 15-09-012). 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

Sanger Substation, which was built in 1920, is integral to the Central Valley 115 kV transmission system because it serves as a strategic hub for routing Fresno’s hydro- and natural gas-generated electricity to the Manchester, Barton, Airways, California, Malaga, McCall, and Reedley substations. Sanger Substation’s twelve 115 kV power lines have the capacity to carry approximately 200 MW of generation annually, providing a critical energy path between Fresno metropolitan north and south areas. Sanger Substation will be expanded onto approximately 7 acres adjacent to and generally north and west of the existing substation.

PG&E is proposing to expand the existing Sanger Substation in unincorporated Fresno County, California, to contain a new breaker-and-a-half bus configuration. As proposed by PG&E, the project includes:

The proposed project would increase reliability of electric service by upgrading the equipment at the existing substation to be in conformance with PG&E internal design standards as well as industry standards.

Project Location

The proposed project is located in unincorporated Fresno County, approximately 2 miles west of Sanger, California and approximately 3 miles southeast of Fresno. The existing Sanger Substation occupies an approximately 4.5-acre parcel at the northwest corner of East Jensen Avenue and South McCall Avenue. The expansion would cover approximately 7-acres adjacent to and generally north and west of the existing substation. The surrounding area is predominately agriculture and the existing substation is surrounded by vineyards and row crops. The closest rural residence is 200 feet north of the proposed expanded substation.

Application and Proponent’s Environmental Assessment

PG&E filed an application (A.15-09-012) for a PTC and Proponent’s Environmental Assessment (PEA) on September 30, 2015. The PEA provides information to begin the independent environmental review process conducted by the CPUC.

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 PG&E’s Response Attachments
Deficiency Report No. 1
(Submitted 10/30/2015)
Deficiency Response No. 1
(Received 11/30/2015)
Attachments A to F
(Received 11/30/2015)
Deficiency Report No. 2
(Submitted 12/11/2015)
Deficiency Response No. 2
(Received 01/07/2016)
Attachments A to C (16.5 MB)
(Received 01/07/2016)
PEA Completeness Letter
(Submitted 01/26/2016)
   
Data Request No. 1
(Submitted 02/04/2016)
Applicant’s Response to Data Request #1 (Received 03/04/2016)

Additional Applicant Response to Data Request #1
Attachment A – Revised Visual Simulation VP7
Attachment B – EDR Radius Map Report with GeoCheck
Attachment C – California Environmental Reporting System (CERS) Submittal Summary
Attachment D – Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasure (SPCC) Plan
Attachment E – Revised Table 3.16-3: Estimated Truck Trips
Data Request No. 2
(Submitted 04/15/2016)
Applicant’s Response to Data Request #2
(Received 04/29/2016)
Attachment A – General Arrangement Illustration
Data Request No. 3
(Submitted 05/03/2016)
Applicant’s Response to Data Request #3
(Received 05/13/2016)
Attachment A – Response to #1 Revised Figure 2-4 & Typical Microwave Tower Schematic
Response Data Request No. 1 - Q39
Revised Visual Simulations
Data Request No. 4
(Submitted 06/02/2016)
Applicant’s Response to Data Request #4
(Received 06/08/2016)
 

Draft IS/MND

On January 20, 2017, the CPUC released a Notice of Intent (NOI) to adopt a Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND) for the Sanger Substation Expansion Project. Links to view the Draft IS/MND are provided below:

The Draft IS/MND was circulated on January 20, 2017 through February 20, 2017.

The following comments were received on the Draft IS/MND:

Written Comments Received on the Draft IS/MND
Name Affiliation Date Received
Robert Pennell Tribal Cultural Resources Director Table Mountain Rancheria Tribal Government Office January 31, 2017
Christina Monfette, Planner Development Services Division County of Fresno February 17, 2017
Michael Calvillo Senior Land Planner Pacific Gas & Electric Company February 20, 2017

Final IS/MND

The Final IS/MND consists of a single volume with the Mitigated Negative Declaration statement to be adopted by the CPUC, and the Initial Study, which evaluates the potential significance of project impacts. The Initial Study also contains the Mitigation, Monitoring, Reporting, and Compliance Plan to be approved by the CPUC. A new chapter (Chapter 7) has been added to the Initial Study that presents the written comments received during the public review period, and written responses to those comments. The Final IS/MND is available electronically by clicking the link below:

Availability of Final IS/MND

Hardcopies of the Final IS/MND will be available for review at the following Fresno County Public Library locations:

Fresno County Public Library, Fresno Branch
2420 Mariposa Street
Fresno, CA 93721
(559) 600-7323
Fresno County Public Library, Sanger Branch
1812 Seventh Street
Sanger, CA 93657
(559) 875-2435

Copies of the Final IS/MND on CD may be requested by e mail at Sanger.CPUC@ene.com or by calling at 1 (844) 433-2844. The CPUC also has a limited number of hard copies of the complete Final IS/MND document available to the public upon request at the above addresses and numbers.

Commission Decision

On July 13, 2017 the Commission voted and granted PG&E a Permit to Construct the Sanger Substation Expansion Project, with mitigation measures identified in the Final MND (Decision 17-07-008). The mitigation measures and applicant-proposed measures (APMs) described in the Final MND were adopted by the CPUC as conditions of project approvals. A Notice of Determination was submitted to the State Clearinghouse (SCH #2017012039). The Commission Decision (Decision 17-07-008) can be viewed here.

Construction and Mitigation Monitoring

The first phase of construction began on November 5, 2018. The Notice to Proceed (NTP) approved for the project and is posted below and monthly compliance reports will be posted to this website are posted below.

Mitigation, Monitoring, Compliance, and Reporting Program

The CPUC developed a Mitigation Monitoring, Compliance, and Reporting Program (MMCRP) in coordination with PG&E to provide guidance and procedures for environmental monitoring during project construction. The MMCRP is a tool to ensure compliance with the applicant proposed measures (APMs) and mitigation measures approved in the Final EIR. The MMCRP was approved in May 2018. Version 2 of the MMCRP, with minor revisions, was approved on October 10, 2018.

The original MMCRP can be viewed here.

The revised MMCRP (version 2) can be viewed here.

Pre-Construction Plans and Other Mitigation Compliance Documents

Required pre-construction plans and other mitigation compliance documents that have been reviewed and approved by the CPUC are listed below. The applicant has developed additional plans and strategies, and obtained additional permits and approvals, that are not subject to direct CPUC approval, and are therefore not listed below.

Notices to Proceed

The CPUC issues Notice to Proceed (NTPs) to the applicant (PG&E) for each phase of construction activity, after confirming that PG&E has complied with all applicable pre-construction environmental requirements. PG&E requests NTP issuance through a Notice to Proceed Request (NTPR) that is submitted to the CPUC for review. Each approved NTP for the project is listed in the table below.

NTP No. Description Date CPUC Approval
NTP #1 Initial mobilization, temporary laydown/staging area setup, installation of various components/facilities (driveways, fences, foundations, substation equipment), expansion of the substation area, and installation of a microwave tower. November 2, 2018

Minor Project Refinements

PG&E may submit Minor Project Refinements (MPRs) for project changes that are not major enough to warrant potential revision of the certified CEQA document. The CPUC will review any MPRs submitted by PG&E per the process described in the MMCRP, and will issue MPR approvals on an individual basis. Each MPR request submitted for the project is listed in the table below.

MPR No. Description Date CPUC Approval
001 Change in location and quantity of poles to adjust for an existing gas line in the area June 12, 2018
002 Use of additional temporary staging area July 20, 2018
003 Use of a well along the irrigation canal for water to be used for dust suppression activities November 14, 2018

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:

Voicemail: 1 (844) 433-2844 (toll free)
Fax: (415) 396-5326
U.S. Mail or Courier: Billie Blanchard
California Public Utilities Commission
c/o Ecology and Environment, Inc.
505 Sansome Street Suite 300
San Francisco, CA 94111
Email: Sanger.CPUC@ene.com