Welcome to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) web site for the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) review of Pacific Gas and Electric's (PG&E's) proposed Cressey-Gallo 115 kV Power Line Project. An application for this project was submitted to the CPUC on November 30, 2011 (A.11-11-020) This site provides access to public documents and information relevant to the CEQA review process..

Background

Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) is proposing to construct the Cressey-Gallo 115 Kilovolt (kV) Power Line Project, a new, approximately 14.4-mile-long, single-circuit power line needed to improve transmission system reliability for customers in north-central Merced County, California.

The project consists of constructing a new 115 kV power line between Cressey and Gallo substations to form a power line loop with two other area substations (Livingston and Atwater). The new transmission loop will allow power to flow from another direction when there is an outage on a line feeding the loop, avoiding customer service interruptions from single-line outages in this area. As proposed by PG&E, the project includes:

• Constructing a new, approximately 14.4-mile, single-circuit 115 kV power line interconnecting Cressey Substation and Gallo Substation.
  
  
• Upgrading the bus configurations at Cressey Substation and replacing the existing radial power line transition into the substation within the existing substation property.
  
  
• Expanding Gallo Substation to add switchgear and upgrade the bus configurations.

The project is located in the San Joaquin Valley in Merced County near the City of Livingston, California. The project route is oriented primarily east to-west between Cressey Substation and Gallo Substation, intersecting with State Route 99 south of the City of Livingston. The project will connect Cressey Substation (located at the southeast corner of West Lane and Meadow Drive, approximately 2 miles east of the community of Cressey) to an expanded Gallo Substation (located on the property of the Gallo Winery facility at 18000 River Road, approximately 4 miles west of the City of Livingston).

Proponent's Environmental Assessment (PEA)

PG&E filed a PEA with the Application in November 2011. The PEA provides a starting point for the independent environmental review process conducted by the CPUC.

Environmental Review Process

PG&E's Application and PEA were deemed complete for review by the CPUC on December 21, 2011.

Draft Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration

The CPUC has determined that an Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration (IS/MND) appears to be the appropriate CEQA document to prepare for this project. After it is prepared, the Draft IS/MND will be published and the public and agencies will have an opportunity to comment on the document.

Final Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration

After the close of the comment period, CPUC will prepare a Final Mitigated Negative Declaration for the Cressey-Gallo Project. If study shows that the Proposed Project, as mitigated, would not have any significant effects on the environment, it is anticipated that the IS/MND would be adopted by the CPUC. The Final MND would provide details on the Proposed Project, evaluate and describe its potential environmental impacts, identify those impacts that could be significant, and present mitigation measures to avoid or minimize these impacts. The Final IS/MND will be available through this website.

If the Initial Study shows that there may be significant impacts, an Environmental Impact Report may be required.

CPUC Actions After Final Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration (IS/MND) Publication

There is no comment period following issuance of the Final IS/MND. The CPUC will determine the adequacy of the Final IS/MND, and, if adequate, will adopt the document as being compliant with CEQA. If adequate, the CPUC will issue a Proposed Decision on the Application, which will be announced and published concurrent with a scheduled Commission meeting. After the Commission makes the decision on the Application, a Notice of Determination will be mailed to the State Clearinghouse within 5 days of the Decision. The 30-day statute of limitations for court challenges begins after the Notice of Determination is filed.

Mitigation Monitoring

Mitigation Monitoring, Compliance, and Reporting Plan

Following CPUC approval, a Mitigation Monitoring, Compliance, and Reporting Plan (MMCRP) will be prepared to ensure compliance with applicant proposed measures (APMs) and mitigation measures approved in the Final IS/MND. This MMCRP will be developed to provide guidelines and standardize procedures for environmental compliance during project implementation. The procedures will be developed in coordination with PG&E and CPUC and will define the reporting relationships, the roles and responsibilities of the project's environmental compliance team members, compliance reporting procedures, and the communication protocol.

For Additional Information

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: