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Pacific Gas & Electric

Fulton-Fitch Mountain Reconductoring Project

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

Last Update: June 13, 2016

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Welcome to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) website for the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) review of Pacific Gas and Electric Company’s (PG&E’s) proposed Fulton-Fitch Mountain Reconductoring Project (project). PG&E submitted an application to the CPUC for a Permit to Construct (PTC) for this project on December 3, 2015. This site provides access to public documents and information relevant to the CEQA environmental review process.


QUICK LINKS

Background

Project Description

Proponent's Environmental Assessment (PEA)

Deficiencies, Data Needs, and Responses

Environmental Review

For Additional Information


Upcoming Public Meetings

Public Meeting

None scheduled at this time.

Background

PG&E proposes to reinforce the electric transmission system in Sonoma County by replacing the conductor on a 9.9-mile-long section of the Fulton-Hopland 60 kilovolt (kV) Power Line between the communities of Fulton and Healdsburg. The project would also include replacing existing poles along 8.1 miles of the Fulton-Hopland Power Line, removing the first pole and replacing the second pole of the Fitch Mountain #1 Tap 60 kV Power Line, replacing conductor on 1.3 miles of the Geysers #12-Fulton 230 kV Transmission Line, and making modifications to the 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 Description

The project would be located in Sonoma County between the communities of Fulton and Healdsburg on the eastern margin of the Santa Rosa Valley.  The project originates at Fulton Substation in Fulton and travels north through residential neighborhoods, rural residential, regional parks, vineyards, rangeland, woodland, and open space to the second pole along the Fitch Mountain #1 Tap, located on a ridge on the Minaglia Ranch, south of Bailhache Avenue.  Project activities will also occur at Fitch Mountain Substation, east of the City of Healdsburg, between the Russian River and Bailhache Avenue.

The proposed project would include the following primary components:
  • Southern Segment ("Fulton-Shiloh Segment") - Replace conductors on the existing tubular steel poles (TSP) along 1.8 miles of the Fulton-Hopland 60 kV Power Line and 1.3 miles of the 230 kV Geysers #12-Fulton Transmission Line. 
  • Northern Segment ("Shiloh-Fitch Segment") - Replace wood poles with taller light-duty steel (LDS) poles or TSPs between the Geysers-Fulton 230 kV Transmission Line and the Fitch Mountain #1 Tap (8.1 miles).
  • Fitch Mountain Substation -  Several substation facilities at the Fitch Mountain Substation will be replaced and upgraded to connect the reconductored line into the existing system.  

Proponent's Environmental Assessment (PEA)

PG&E filed an application (A.15-12-005) for a PTC and 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. The application was deemed complete on April 29, 2016.

The application and PEA can be viewed here.

Deficiencies, Data Needs, and Responses

The CPUC Environmental Review Team submitted deficiency reports to PG&E for specific information to support the environmental review process. Those reports and PG&E's responses are listed below.

CPUC Deficiency Report
PG&E Response and Status
Deficiency Report #1
(December 23, 2015)

Response #1 (January 22, 2016)
*
Table of Responses #1
Attachment PD-08: Revised Typical Structure Drawings
Attachment AQ/GHG-01: Air Quality and Greenhouse Gas Calculations
Attachment HHM-01: EDR Report
Attachment LUP-01: New Affected Properties Spreadsheet

Response #1A (January 25, 2016)*

Letter #1A
Attachment PD-06: Detailed Workspaces and Facility Locations (Confidential)
Attachment PD-07: Structure Locations, Details, and Unique IDs (Confidential)
Attachment PD-09: Substation Modifications (Confidential)
Attachment PD-11: Staging Areas (Confidential)
Attachment PD-12: Access Roads and Footpaths (Confidential)
Attachment PD-14: Vegetation Clearance (Confidential)
Attachment BR-01: Wetland Delineation Report (Confidential)
Attachment BR-02: Biological Survey Reports (Confidential)
Attachment C/PR-01: Cultural Resources Report (Confidential)
Attachment C/PR-02: Paleontological Report (Confidential)

Response #1B (January 29, 2016)

Letter #1B
Attachment: Detailed Map Book (Confidential)
Attachment: Existing General Arrangement Plans (Confidential)

Response #1C (February 5, 2016)

Email #1C
Attachment: Project Map

Response #1D (February 26, 2016)
Attachment: Detailed Project Map


Deficiency Report #2
(February 19, 2016)


Response #2 (March 18, 2016)
Table of Responses #2
Attachment: Preliminary Helicopter Use Plan


Deficiency Report #3
(April 7, 2016)

Response #3 (April 25, 2016)
Letter #3
*Attachment numbers correspond to the Deficiency Request ID number.

CPUC Data Needs
PG&E Response and Status
Data Needs #1
(June 9, 2016)
Pending

Environmental Review

The CPUC will prepare an environmental document in compliance with CEQA. The document will be published here when it is available.

For Additional Information

Additional information will be posted at this site as it becomes publicly available.

The CPUC, through its Environmental Review Team, is 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 or Fax

v:(650) 373 - 1200, f: (650) 373 - 1211

U.S. Mail or Courier

Lisa Orsaba
California Public Utilities Commission
505 Van Ness Ave, 4th Floor
San Francisco CA , 94102

c/o Panorama Environmental, Inc.
1 Embarcadero Center, Suite 740
San Francisco, CA, 94111

Email

fulton2fitch@panoramaenv.com

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


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