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PUC > Energy > California Environmental Quality Act > Current Projects

Pacific Gas and Electric Company

Fulton-Fitch Mountain Reconductoring Project

(Application No. A.15-12-005)

Last Update: July 18, 2019

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Introduction

Welcome to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) website for the environmental review and monitoring of Pacific Gas and Electric Company’s (PG&E’s) Fulton-Fitch Mountain Reconductoring Project (project). On December 3, 2015, PG&E filed an application (A.15-12-005) with the CPUC for a Permit to Construct (PTC) the project pursuant to General Order 131-D. The linear project alignment is 9.9 miles long and located in unincorporated Sonoma County and the Town of Windsor.

This website provides access to public documents and information relevant to the CPUC’s environmental review and decision-making process for the project in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Information about the CPUC’s proceedings for the project are available here.

Current Project Status

Notice of Intent to Adopt a Supplemental Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration

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). The Supplemental IS/MND addresses PG&E-proposed modifications to the Southern Segment of the approved project, including replacing 21 existing tubular steel poles (TSPs). The approved project included replacing conductor but did not include replacing the TSPs. The Draft Supplemental IS/MND is available here.

The CPUC held a public meeting on June 18, 2019 to help interested 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 received 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 reponse to comments received on the Draft IS/MND.

Construction of the Approved Project

On December 14, 2017, the CPUC issued its Decision (D.17-12-012) to approve the proposed project and grant PG&E a PTC. Construction of the Northern Segment of the approved project was completed between June 2018 and May 2019. Modifications to Fitch Mountain Substation are in process and anticipated to be complete by August 2019. Construction of the Southern Segment has not been initiated. PG&E proposes to construction the Southern Segment from approximately October 2019 to June 2020.

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.

As discussed above, the CPUC prepared a Supplemental IS/MND to evaluate the potential environmental impacts associated with PG&E’s PFM that were not addressed in the 2017 Final IS/MND. Consistent with the 2017 Final IS/MND, the Supplemental IS/MND addresses the environmental impacts of PG&E’s proposed modifications. All potentially significant impacts would be similar to those addressed for the approved project and would be avoided or minimized with the application of mitigation measures.

The CPUC issued a NOI to adopt the Supplemental IS/MND on June 7, 2019 (available here). The Draft Supplemental IS/MND is being circulated for a 30-day public review and comment period from June 15 through July 15, 2019. Written comments will be accepted through July 15, 2019. Refer to instructions in the NOI for submitting comments and information on a public meeting that will be held on June 18, 2019. The Draft Supplemental IS/MND is available here.

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 standardizes procedures for environmental compliance during project implementation. The procedures define the reporting relationships, the roles and responsibilities of the project's environmental compliance team members, compliance reporting procedures, and the communication protocol. The final MMCRP is available here.

Mitigation Plans

Construction mitigation plans approved by the CPUC, including the Construction Fire Prevention Plan, 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 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 Pull Sites 6, 7, and 9, LZ-4, Poles 23-61, and associated access roads. 08/13/18 08/22/18


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

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
Related Links:
CPUC Proceeding
A.15-12-005 - Proceeding

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