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Environmental Review and Project Information

Application and Proponent's Environmental Assessment

On December 3, 2015, PG&E filed an application (A.15-12-005) for a PTC, which included a Proponent's Environmental Assessment (PEA). The PEA is a starting point for the independent environmental review process conducted by the CPUC.

The CPUC submitted Deficiency Reports to PG&E requesting specific information that was not included with the Application or PEA. PG&E addressed the CPUC's comments and provided material identified in the Deficiency Reports. The CPUC deemed the Application complete on April 29, 2016. The Application and PEA can be viewed here. Deficiency Reports for the application and PG&E’s responses are available here.

The CPUC submitted Data Needs requests to PG&E during the environmental review process to support the preparation of the IS/MND. Data Needs for the project and PG&E’s responses are available here.

Proposed Project Overview

PG&E proposes to reinforce the electric transmission system in central Sonoma County by replacing the conductor on a 9.9-mile-long section of the Fulton-Hopland 60-kV Power Line (Fulton-Hopland line) between Fulton Substation and Fitch Mountain Substation. The project includes replacing poles and conductor along the Fulton-Hopland line and making modifications to Fitch Mountain Substation. The project alignment is comprised of the Southern Segment, Northern Segment, and Fitch Mountain Substation. The proposed project includes the following actions:

• Southern Segment. Replace 1.8 miles of 60-kV conductor and 1.4 miles of 230-kV conductor co-located on existing tubular steel poles (TSPs). Insulators on the TSPs would be replaced, but the poles would remain in place.
• Northern Segment. Replace 8.1 miles of 60-kV conductor located on primarily wood poles. Approximately 70 existing poles would be replaced at a roughly 1-to-1 ratio with approximately 59 light duty steel poles (LDSPs) and 7 TSPs. New poles would be between 3 to 30 feet taller than existing poles, depending on the pole location.
• Fitch Mountain Substation. Modify the existing substation by replacing motor switches, control building, conductor, and conductor support structures to accommodate the higher rated conductor that would be installed for the Fulton-Hopland line. The gravel surface of the substation would also be paved.

Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration

Informational Meeting

After deeming the application complete, the CPUC held an informational meeting for the public on August 24, 2016 to describe PG&E’s proposed project and the CEQA process. The presentation slides from the meeting are available here.

Draft IS/MND

On July 21, 2017, the CPUC released a Notice of Intent (NOI) to adopt a Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND) (available here) for the proposed project based on the findings of an Initial Study (IS) that was prepared pursuant to California Public Resources Code § 21000 et seq. The Draft IS/MND showed that all project-related environmental impacts would be reduced to less-than-significant levels with the incorporation of minor revisions to the proposed project and feasible mitigation measures. A Draft IS/MND was circulated for a 30-day public review period. The comment period closed on August 21, 2017. The Draft IS/MND is available here.

Final IS/MND

The CPUC responded to comments on the Draft IS/MND and prepared a Final IS/MND. The Final IS/MND was published on October 11, 2017 and is available here. The CPUC’s responses to comments are presented in Chapter 5 of the Final IS/MND. The conclusions of the Draft IS/MND remain unchanged in the Final IS/MND; the proposed project would not have a significant effect on the environment.

On December 14, 2017, the CPUC issued its Decision (D.17-12-012) to approve the project and grant PG&E a PTC. The CPUC’s decision is available here.

Petitions for Modification

Petition for Modification 1

On June 29, 2018, PG&E submitted a Petition for Modification (PFM) to the CPUC requesting changes to the approved project, including replacing 21 existing TSPs in the Southern Segment between Fulton Substation and Shiloh Ranch Regional Park. The approved project included replacing conductor but did not include replacing the TSPs. PG&E's PFM 1 request is available here. Data Needs requests for PFM 1 and PG&E’s responses are available here.

On June 7, 2019, the CPUC issued a Notice of Intent (NOI) to Adopt a Supplemental Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration (IS/MND) (available here) to address PG&E's proposed modifications to the Southern Segment of the approved project. The Draft Supplemental IS/MND is available here.

The CPUC held a public meeting on June 18, 2019, to help interest parties understand PG&E's proposed modifications, the findings presented in the Draft Supplemental IS/MND, and how to participate in the CPUC's decision-making process. The presentation slides from the meeting are available here.

The Draft Supplemental IS/MND was circulated for a 30-day public review and comment period from June 15 through July 15, 2019. Comment letters were recieved from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and the California Department of Transportation; the comment letters are available here.

The Final Supplemental IS/MND was issued on August 13, 2019 and is available here. The Final Supplemental IS/MND includes a response to comments received on the Draft IS/MND. On September 12, 2019, the CPUC issued its Decision (A. 15-12-005) to adopt the Final Supplemental IS/MND and grant PG&E's Petition for Modification.

Petition for Modification 2

On October 31, 2018, PG&E submitted a PFM to the CPUC requesting changes to the approved project to use an alternate access road to a construction staging area near the intersection of Faught Road and Shiloh Road in the Northern Segment of the approved project. PG&E's PFM 2 request is available here.

The CPUC prepared an Addendum to the Final IS/MND to evaluate the potential environmental impacts associated with PG&E's PFM that were not addressed in the 2017 Final IS/MND. The CPUC issued its Decision (D.19-02-015) to approve PFM 2 on February 21, 2019. The Addendum to the Final IS/MND for PFM 2 is available here. The CPUC's decision is available here.

Mitigation Monitoring

Mitigation Monitoring, Compliance, and Reporting Plan

A Mitigation Monitoring, Compliance, and Reporting Plan (MMCRP) was prepared by the CPUC to ensure compliance with applicant proposed measures and mitigation measures approved in the Final Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration (IS/MND). The MMCRP provides guidelines and procedures for environmental compliance during project implementation. The MMCRP is available here.

Mitigation Plans

Mitigation plans for the project are available here.

Notices to Proceed

PG&E must obtain a Notice to Proceed (NTP) from the CPUC prior to initiating construction activities in accordance with the procedures outlined in the MMCRP. NTP requests and approvals are provided in the table below:

NTP #	Description	Date Submitted	Date Approved
NTP 1	Initiation of limited site development and staging activities at two locations. Includes a request for Minor Project Refinement #1.	05/14/18; 05/31/18 (revised)	06/18/18
NTP 2	Initiation of all project activities associated with Fitch Mountain Substation, TAP Staging Area (Staging Area [SA] 5), Helicopter landing zone (LZ)-6, Pull sites (PS)-10 and 12, Poles 62-109, and associated access roads. Includes a request for Minor Project Refinement #3.	07/03/18	07/20/18
NTP 3	Initiation of all project activities associated with PS-6, 7, and 9, LZ-4, Poles 23-61, and associated access roads.	08/13/18	08/22/18
NTP 4	Initiation of all remaining project activities, including activities associated with Fulton Substation, PS-1, 2, 3, 5, LZ-1, LZ-2, SA-1, SA-2, Poles 1-22, and associated access roads.	09/12/19	09/16/19

Minor Project Refinements

The CPUC reviews PG&E’s requests for Minor Project Refinements (MPRs) in accordance with the procedures outlined in the MMCRP. MPR requests and approvals are summarized below:

MPR #	Description	Date Submitted	Date Approved
MPR 1	Add a new approximately 4.15-acre staging area between Poles 72 and 73.	04/23/18	06/18/18
MPR 2	Use an alternate existing access road from Faught Road to Staging Area LZ-3.	05/24/18	Denied
MPR 3	Relocate TAP Staging Area (SA-5) approximately 360 feet northwest of its original location.	07/03/18	07/20/18
MPR 4	Use an alternate access route to Pole Locations 27 and 28.	08/03/18	Withdrawn
MPR 5	Use an alternate access route to Pole Location 68.	08/03/18	Denied
MPR 6	Create a truck pull-out area on the access road to LZ-6.	08/03/18	08/08/18
MPR 7	Create a truck pull-out area on the access road to Pull Site 10.	08/22/18	08/27/18
MPR 8	Use an alternate access route to Pole 74.	09/06/18	09/12/18
MPR 9	Use an alternate access route from Pole 53 to Pole 54.	09/11/18	09/13/18
MPR 10	Leave geotextile fabric and gravel at LZ-6 and PS-12 for landowner use.	01/07/19	01/11/19
MPR 11	Underground an approximately 100-foot-long distribution feeder line.	01/08/19	Withdrawn
MPR 12	Use a new helicopter landing zone north of LZ-3.	01/17/19	01/23/19
MPR 13	Use a new access route to Pole 21 off of Faught Road, just east of PS-5, including travel over a culverted crossing.	06/07/19	Withdrawn
MPR 14	Use a new staging area and access route to PS-2 and Poles 5, 6, 7a, and 7b from Fulton Substation, as well as utilize additional staging areas adjacent to the access route	9/17/19	Withdrawn
MPR 15	Remove vegetation between Poles 23 and 25.	10/25/19	02/06/20
MPR 16	Install grounding lines and replace insulators at Geyser #17-Fulton 230-kV Tower 100 located east of Pole 23.	11/15/19	11/25/19
MPR 17	Install an anchor and guy wire at a distribution pole located between Poles 20 and 21.	11/22/19	12/10/19
MPR 18	Leave 0.27 acre of geotextile fabric and gravel at LZ-2 and transfer the remaining gravel to a neighboring landowner.	03/24/20	04/01/20

For Additional Information

All documents related to the environmental review and construction monitoring processes are posted on this site as they become publicly available. To request additional information, ask a question, or be added to the project mailing list, please contact:

Email	fulton2fitch@panoramaenv.com
Fax	(650) 373 - 1211
CPUC Project Manager Mailing Address	Lisa Orsaba California Public Utilities Commission 505 Van Ness Ave, 4th Floor San Francisco CA, 94102
Formal Comment Mailing Address	California Public Utilities Commission Attn: Fulton-Fitch Mountain c/o Panorama Environmental, Inc. 717 Market Street, Suite 650 San Francisco, CA, 94103