Southern California Edison's
Antelope-Pardee 500-kV Transmission Line Project

Welcome to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) website for the environmental review of a 500-kilovolt (kV) transmission line from the Antelope Substation in northern Los Angeles County to the Pardee Substation in the City of Santa Clarita. Southern California Edison (SCE) submitted an application for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) for this project to the CPUC on December 9, 2004. SCE also submitted an application for a Special Use Easement to the USDA Forest Service. The Project has been reviewed under both the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). This site provides access to public documents and information relevant to the CEQA and NEPA review processes.

Final Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement

In accordance with CEQA and NEPA, an Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement was prepared for the proposed Project. The Final Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement (Final EIR/EIS) was certified and a Certification of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) was granted by CPUC (Docket #A.04-12-007, SCH #2005061161) on March 1, 2007. The CPUC approved a project alignment that included the originally proposed alignment (northern and southern ends) and a combination of Alternatives 2 and 4. Maps of the approved alignment are provided below, in the link provided to the Final EIR/EIS.

The Final EIR/EIS was prepared in December 2006 and issued in early January 2007. The Final EIR/EIS consists of two volumes. Volume I is a re-printed version of the Draft EIR/EIS. Changes made to the Draft EIR/EIS in Volume I are identified as follows: inserted text is underlined and deleted text is shown in strikeout. Volume II consists of all comments received on the Draft EIR/EIS and responses to those comments, as well as the mitigation monitoring plan.

The CPUC released the Draft EIR/EIS for the proposed Project on July 21, 2006. The public comment period for this document ended on October 3, 2006. All comments received on the Draft EIR/EIS were responded to in the Final EIR/EIS, Volume II, as discussed above.

CEQA requires that the CPUC provide written responses to public agency comments at least 10 days prior to certifying an EIR (Public Resource Code 21092.5(a)). This was accomplished by sending the Final EIR to all agencies that commented.

NEPA Process and USDA Forest Service Record of Decision

The U.S. EPA's Office of Federal Activities published a Notice of Availability of the Final EIS in the Federal Register on January 19, 2007. The USDA Forest Service issued a Record of Decision (ROD) on August 23, 2007, which states the decision, identifies all alternatives considered, and describes applicable mitigation. The Forest Service also approved an alignment comprised of a combination of Alternatives 2 and 4. Two Notices of Appeal were filed on the ROD. On November 19, 2007, the USDA Forest Service Appeal Reviewing Officer (ARO) found that the Forest Supervisor's decision was appropriate and complied with existing laws, policies, and regulations.

Project Activities Subsequent to CPUC and USDA Forest Service Decisions

Compliance review for pre-construction mitigation measures identified in the Mitigation Monitoring Plan as presented in the Final EIR/EIS is currently being conducted by CPUC and the USDA Forest Service. This plan ensures that the approved project will be constructed as defined, and that all adopted mitigation measures and Applicant Proposed Measures will be implemented in order that effects on the environment do not exceed those described in the Final EIR/EIS. CPUC Notices to Proceed to Construct and separate USDA Forest Service permits for construction activities on ANF lands are being issued as compliance is satisfied by SCE. A CPUC Environmental Monitor and Forest Service personnel are monitoring construction activities to ensure that they are conducted in accordance with the approved mitigation measures and permit conditions. Weekly Reports documenting this monitoring activity are available here.

Other Documents Available

• Final Decision Granting a CPCN
• USDA Forest Service Record of Decision (August 23, 2007)
• Notice of Availability of the Final EIR/EIS (December 29, 2006)
• Notice of Extension of the Draft EIR/EIS review period (September 13, 2006)
• Notice of Availability of the Draft EIR/EIS (July 21, 2006)
• Federal Register Notice of Intent to prepare a joint environmental impact statement/report (June 28, 2005)
• Notice of Preparation of an EIR/EIS (June 24, 2005)
• SCE's Proponent's Environmental Assessment (December 9, 2004)

Project Background and other Project Information

SCE filed applications with the CPUC and the USDA Forest Service to construct a new, 25.6-mile 500-kV transmission line between SCE's existing Antelope and Pardee Substations in Los Angeles County, California. The 500-kV transmission line will replace an existing 66-kV line that generally follows the project route between Antelope Substation and Pardee Substation, including approximately 13 miles within the Angeles National Forest (ANF).

The 500-kV transmission line route also traverses residential developments in the Santa Clarita Valley, north and east of the existing Pardee Substation. The 500-kV transmission line will be energized initially at 220 kV. The Project will include electrical interconnections at the existing Antelope and Pardee Substations as well as an initial expansion of the Antelope Substation and relocation of several existing 66-kV sub-transmission lines in the vicinity of Antelope Substation (collectively, referred to as the Antelope-Pardee 500-kV Transmission Line Project). The Project also includes the acquisition and fencing of approximately 31 acres of land necessary for upgrades to the existing Antelope Substation.

Maps and figures for the Project and alternatives are provided above, in the link provided to the Final EIR/EIS.

For Additional Information

The CPUC and the USDA Forest Service, through their Environmental Review Team, are conducting an environmental review of this project. To request additional information or to be added to the mailing list, please contact us by email, fax, or phone, as follows:

Project E-mail: antelope-pardee@aspeneg.com
Project Fax and Voicemail: (661) 215-5152

The CPUC's Project Manager is:

John Boccio, CPUC Project Manager
California Public Utilities Commission
505 Van Ness Avenue
San Francisco CA 94102
Tel. (415) 703-2641
Fax (415) 703-2200
Email: jbx@cpuc.ca.gov