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Background

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 the Fulton Substation and Fitch Mountain Substation. The project would include replacing poles along 8.1 miles of the Fulton-Hopland line, replacing conductor on 1.3 miles of the Geysers #12-Fulton 230 kV Transmission Line (Geysers #12-Fulton line), and making modifications to Fitch Mountain Substation.

The proposed project is subject to CEQA review because the CPUC has been presented with a discretionary action to approve or deny PG&E’s PTC application. Before making a decision about PG&E’s application, the CPUC is required to analyze potential environmental impacts associated with the project and present the findings in an environmental document for public review and comment. This website provides access to public documents and information relevant to the CEQA review process.

Project Overview

The 9.9-mile-long project alignment is comprised of the Southern Segment (1.8 miles), Northern Segment (8.1 miles), and Fitch Mountain Substation. Proposed project components at each location are summarized as follows:

• Southern Segment/Fulton-Shiloh Segment. Replace 1.8 miles of 60 kV conductor and 1.3 miles of 230 kV conductor collocated on existing tubular steel poles (TSPs). Insulators on the TSPs would be replaced, but the poles would remain in place. 
• Northern Segment/Shiloh-Fitch 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 Modifications. 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.  

Application and Proponent's Environmental Assessment

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

Deficiency Reports and Data Needs

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

The CPUC will submit Data Needs requests to PG&E as necessary during the environmental review process to support the preparation of an environmental document. Data Needs for the project and PG&E’s responses are summarized in the following table.

CPUC Deficiency Report	PG&E Response and Status
Deficiency Report #1 (December 23, 2015)	Response #1 (January 22, 2016) Table of Responses #1 Attachment: Revised Typical Structure Drawings Attachment: Air Quality and Greenhouse Gas Calculations Attachment: EDR Report Attachment: New Affected Properties Spreadsheet Response #1A (January 25, 2016) Letter #1A Attachment: Biological Resources Technical Report (GANDA 2012) (Confidentiality Withdrawn) Attachment: Addendum #1 to the Biological Resources Technical Report (TRC 2015) (Confidentiality Withdrawn) Attachment: Raptor Survey (TRC 2015) (Confidentiality Withdrawn) Attachment: Bat Survey (TRC 2015) (Confidentiality Withdrawn) Attachment: Wetland Delineation Report (TRC 2015) (Confidentiality Withdrawn) Attachment: Water Crossing Mapping (GANDA 2016) (Confidentiality Withdrawn) Attachment: Cultural Resources Reports and GIS data (NCRM 2011, TRC 2015, and Quercus 2015) (Confidential) Attachment: Paleontological Report (TRC 2015) (Confidentiality Withdrawn) Attachment: GIS data for project elements, biological resources, and wetland and water resources (Confidential) Response #1B (January 29, 2016) Letter #1B Attachment: Detailed Map Book (Confidentiality Withdrawn) Attachment: Existing General Arrangement Plans (Confidentiality Withdrawn) Attachment: GIS data for project elements, biological resources, and wetland and water resources (Confidential) Response #1C (February 5, 2016) Email #1C Attachment: Project Map Response #1D (February 26, 2016) Attachment: Detailed Project Map Response #1E (July 8, 2016) Letter #1E Attachment: Cultural Survey Memo (TRC 2016) (Confidential) Attachment: Addendum #2 to the Biological Resources Technical Report (TRC 2016) (Confidentiality Withdrawn)
Deficiency Report #2 (February 19, 2016)	Response #1 (March 18, 2016) Table of Responses #1 Attachment: GIS data for alternate workspaces and access routes (Confidential) Response #2 (April 1, 2016) Attachment: Preliminary Helicopter Use Plan Response #3 (April 22, 2016) Attachment: Revised DRAFT Wetland Delineation Report (TRC 2016) (Confidentiality Withdrawn)
Deficiency Report #3 (April 7, 2016)	Response #1 (April 26, 2016) Letter #1 Attachment: Cultural Memo RE P-49-001179 and APM CR-1 (Confidential Information Redacted)
Letter Regarding Public Disclosure of CEQA Information (August 2, 2016)	Response (August 23, 2016) Letter #1 (Note: Materials where PG&E withdrew claims of confidentiality under PUC Section 583 are marked above)

CPUC Data Needs	PG&E Response and Status
Data Needs #1 (June 9, 2016)	Response #1 (July 8, 2016) Table of Responses #1 Summary of Project Emissions: Air Quality, Greenhouse Gas Helicopter Emissions Calculations: Air Quality, Greenhouse Gas SF6-Insulated Breaker Emissions: Greenhouse Gas Construction Equipment List

Environmental Document

The CPUC will prepare an environmental document in compliance with CEQA. The Draft and Final environmental documents will be published here when they are available.

Public Meetings, Questions, and Comments

Public Meetings

An informational meeting for the public was held on August 24, 2016 to describe PG&E’s proposed project and the CEQA process. The presentation slides from the meeting can be viewed here.

Questions and Comments

Questions about the scope of the project or the environmental review process may be submitted to the CPUC’s environmental team through the email address or fax number provided below. A formal comment period will commence once the CPUC releases the Draft environmental document. Comments submitted during the formal comment period, will be addressed in the Final environmental document, as required by CEQA.

To receive updates on the progress of the project, please send a request to be added to the project mailing list using the email address or fax number provided below.

Comments submitted during the formal comment period should include a name, address, and telephone number of a contact person for any future correspondence. Individual respondents may request that their names and contact information be withheld from public review by prominently stating such at the beginning of each written comment. Such requests will be honored to the extent allowed by law. All submissions from organizations and businesses, and from individuals identifying themselves as representatives or officials of organizations or businesses, will be made available for public review in their entirety. Anonymous comments will not be considered. Comments may be submitted by email, fax, or U.S. mail.

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. 1 Embarcadero Center, Suite 740 San Francisco, CA, 94111