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Welcome to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) website for the environmental review of Pacific Gas and Electric Company’s (PG&E’s) proposed Atascadero – San Luis Obispo 70kV Power Line Reconductoring Project (Project). The proposed Project would improve transmission system reliability and provide peak-period voltage support to the San Luis Obispo County service area. This proposed project includes replacing the existing deteriorating conductors and supporting structures with new light-duty steel (LDS) poles, tubular steel poles (TSPs), and lattice steel towers along an existing 15.5 miles segment of a 70kV power line.
The objective of the proposed Project is to provide high-quality, reliable service to customers along the existing Atascadero – San Luis Obispo 70kV power line. The current configuration of this line segment, as well as the regional climate, contributed to the accelerated deterioration of this power line. Installing upgraded conductors and replacing existing poles and towers would substantially improve the long-term reliability of this line segment, as well as service to the area.
The proposed Project is subject to review under California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), and the CPUC is the CEQA Lead Agency. A CEQA review will be performed to evaluate the potential environmental impacts associated with this Project. This website provides access to public documents and information relevant to the CEQA environmental review process.
Application
PG&E’s Application and associated Proponent’s Environmental Assessment (PEA) for the Atascadero – San Luis Obispo 70kV Power Line Reconductoring Project may be viewed here.
Project Description
PG&E is proposing to replace the existing deteriorating conductors and supporting structures with new, LDS poles, TSPs, and lattice steel towers along an existing 15.5 mile segment of the Atascadero – San Luis Obispo 70 kV power line.
The project is located in San Luis Obispo County, California, between the cities of Atascadero and San Luis Obispo. The project right-of-way (ROW) is aligned roughly north to south, paralleling Highway 101 (US 101) between State Route (SR) 41 and the City of San Luis Obispo. This line connects the Atascadero Substation (located at the intersection of Santa Rosa Road and SR 41/Morro Road in Atascadero) to the San Luis Obispo Substation (located at the intersection of Orcutt Road and Johnson Avenue in San Luis Obispo).
The primary project elements are summarized below:
- Replacing the existing aluminum conductors with a new 715.5 KCmil non-specular all aluminum conductor.
- Modifying 137 of the 139 existing poles along the power line. Two existing LDS poles do not need to be replaced. Pole modifications include:
- Replace 131 existing wood poles with LDS poles
- Remove the top section of five existing wood poles that provide support for existing distribution conductor
- Install five new LDS poles, approximately 30 feet away from the aforementioned poles, within the existing alignment
- Remove one existing wood pole
- Install one new LDS pole in a new location within the existing power line alignment
- Replacing 41 of the existing 45 lattice steel towers with 36 new lattice steel towers and five TSPs along power line. Two of the existing towers would be eliminated and two existing towers do not need to be replaced.
- Developing construction access and work areas, which will include re-establishing existing access roads and constructing associated temporary work areas, including helicopter landing zones, equipment laydown areas, and pull and tension sites.
Environmental Review
PG&E’s Application and PEA were deemed complete by the CPUC on May 18, 2010. The CPUC determined that an Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration (IS/MND) will be the appropriate CEQA document to evaluate potential environmental issues associated with this project.
On October 25, 2010, the CPUC released a Notice of Intent to Adopt a MND for the Atascadero – San Luis Obispo 70kV Power Line Reconductoring Project. The Draft IS/MND demonstrates the proposed project, as mitigated, would not have any significant effects on the environment.
The Draft IS/MND can be viewed here (58 MB).
Hardcopies of the Draft IS/MND are available at the following locations:
Martin Polin Regional Library
6850 Morro Rd.
Atascadero, CA 93422
Santa Margarita Library
9630 Murphy Ave.
Santa Margarita, CA 93453
San Luis Obispo Library
995 Palm St.
San Luis Obispo, CA 93403
Oceano Library
1551 17th St.
San Luis Obispo, CA 93403
Public Review Period
The Draft IS/MND will undergo a public review period from October 25, 2010, through November 24, 2010. Comments on the Draft IS/MND must be received in writing by 5:00 p.m. on November 24, 2010, at the following address:
Billie Blanchard, California Public Utilities Commission
c/o RMT, Inc.
4 West 4th Avenue, Suite 303
San Mateo, CA 94402
Comments may also be faxed to (650) 373-1211 or e-mailed to atascadero@rmtinc.com
For Additional Information
The CPUC, through its Environmental Review Team, is conducting an environmental evaluation 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: atascadero@rmtinc.com
Project fax number: (650) 373-1211
Project voicemail: (650) 340-4860
The CPUC’s Project Manager is:
Billie Blanchard, CPUC Project Manager
California Public Utilities Commission
505 Van Ness Avenue, 4th Floor
San Francisco CA 94102
Tel: (415) 703-2068
Fax: (415) 703-2200
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