Welcome to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) website for the environmental review of the proposed El Casco System Project (Proposed Project). The Proposed Project would include construction of the El Casco Substation; upgrades to the Zanja and Banning Substations; transmission line upgrades and installation from the new El Casco Substation, located within the Norton Younglove Reserve, east to the Banning Substation in the City of Banning; and telecommunications improvements.

The objective of SCE's Proposed Project is to build the electrical facilities necessary to serve forecasted demand in Calimesa, Beaumont, and the surrounding areas of unincorporated northern Riverside County, and to maintain safe and reliable service to customers in the area.

The Proposed Project is subject to review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). This site provides access to public documents and information relevant to the CEQA environmental review process.

Notice of Preparation

In accordance with CEQA, a Notice of Preparation (NOP) of an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the El Casco System Project was issued on July 16, 2007 (also see the list of Available Documents below). The NOP summarizes the Proposed Project and advises the public and interested parties of the scoping process for the upcoming environmental impact review. The dates, locations, and times of the CPUC's pre-hearing conference and scoping meetings are identified in the NOP.

CEQA Process and CPUC General Proceeding

CEQA requires the CPUC to take into account the environmental impacts that could result from the Proposed Project, and requires the preparation of an EIR if the Project has the potential to result in significant impacts to the environment. CEQA also requires that the EIR development process include public notice of the Proposed Project and address relevant environmental concerns that the public may have regarding the Proposed Project.

The initial public scoping and comment period for the Proposed Project will extend for 30 days per CEQA requirements, from July 16, 2007, until August 14, 2007. During this period, public comments will be accepted and two public scoping meetings and a pre-hearing conference will be held, prior to selection of alternatives and the preparation of the analysis documented in the EIR. The intent of the scoping process is to obtain input from affected agencies and members of the public on the scope and content of the EIR.

The Draft EIR will include an objective analysis of the potential environmental impacts of the Proposed Project. In addition, the Draft EIR will provide a discussion of alternatives, including a comparison of each alternative to the Proposed Project. When completed, the Draft EIR will be distributed for a 45-day public review period per CEQA requirements. A notice of completion (NOC) of the Draft EIR will be filed with the State Clearinghouse by the CPUC. The CPUC will consider all comments on the Draft EIR and revise the document as necessary prior to issuance of a Final EIR. The Final EIR will include responses to comments received on the Draft EIR during the public review period.

Available Documents

• Notice of Preparation of an Environmental Impact Report for the El Casco System Project Proposed by Southern California Edison Company prepared by the CPUC (July 16, 2007)
  
  
• Fact Sheet - El Casco System Project and General Location Map, prepared by CPUC (June 2007)
  
  
• Southern California Edison's Proponent's Environmental Assessment (PEA) (March 14, 2007)
  
  Note: The link above provides access to 59 manageably sized files comprising the PEA. The complete PEA is also available for download from the Southern California Edison website as a single very large file (155 MB). This file size means a very long download time, not advisable for anyone with a dialup connection.
  
  SCE's Application (8.2 MB) is also available for download at the same link.

Project Description

Construction of the El Casco Substation. The new 14-acre El Casco 220/115/12 kV Substation would be located on a 28-acre plot within the Norton Younglove Reserve in Riverside County. This component would include associated 220 kV and 115 kV interconnections and new 12 kV distribution line connections (getaways). The substation would be designed with a low profile (structures no taller than 40 feet). Landscaping around the substation would incorporate primarily native vegetation and would be designed to screen views of the substation site. Once constructed, the substation would be an unattended, automated 220/115/12 kV substation.

Upgrades to the Zanja and Banning Substations. The 115 kV switchracks within the Zanja and Banning Substations, located in the Cities of Yucaipa and Banning, respectively, would be rebuilt to accommodate the new 115 kV subtransmission line, thereby allowing for at least two subtransmission lines to serve each substation at all times. This would reduce the likelihood of temporary power outages, which currently occur due to the fact that each substation is served by only one 115 kV subtransmission line at a time. If there is a problem with the primary (or "preferred") line, a brief delay currently occurs before the secondary (or "emergency") line can be connected. The upgrades to the Zanja and Banning Substations would eliminate this delay by providing a connection for a second 115 kV subtransmission line for each substation that would be active at all times. Replacement of the switchracks in both substations would occur within the existing fenced-in areas.

Transmission Line Upgrades and Installation. These upgrades would include replacement of existing single-circuit 115 kV subtransmission lines with new, higher capacity lines; tying existing 115 kV and 220 kV lines into the new El Casco Substation (looping in); and installation of new 12 kV distribution line getaways at the El Casco Substation.

The proposed upgrades of the existing single-circuit subtransmission lines would include the following:

• Approximately 13 miles of single-circuit 115 kV lines would be replaced with 115 kV double-circuit lines between the new El Casco Substation and the Banning Substation, traversing the Cities of Banning, Beaumont, and unincorporated Riverside County. Single-circuit 115 kV structures would be replaced with 115 kV double-circuit structures.
  
  
• Approximately 1.9 miles of single-circuit 115 kV subtransmission line would be replaced with new, higher capacity single-circuit 115 kV subtransmission lines and new support structures within existing SCE rights-of-way (ROWs) in the City of Beaumont and unincorporated Riverside County.
  
  
• Approximately 0.5 miles of single-circuit 115 kV subtransmission line would be replaced with new, higher capacity single-circuit 115 kV subtransmission lines on existing support structures in the City of Beaumont.

The existing San Bernardino–Maraschino 115 kV subtransmission line would be looped into the new El Casco Substation 115 kV switchrack on two new approximately 900-foot line segments between the existing ROW and the 115 kV switchrack. The Devers–San Bernardino No. 2 220 kV transmission line would be looped into the new 220 kV switchrack at the El Casco Substation on two new approximately 500-foot line segments between the existing ROW and the 220 kV switchrack. Two approximately 400-foot underground duct banks would be constructed for the 12 kV distribution line getaways, traversing beneath San Timoteo Creek and the railroad tracks. These distribution lines would eventually be connected to future distribution lines in the area.

Telecommunications Improvements. Proposed improvements to the telecommunications systems as part of the Proposed Project include the construction of a microwave system at the proposed El Casco Substation and SCE's existing Mill Creek Communications Site in the San Bernardino National Forest, as well as installation of fiber optic cables within public streets and on existing SCE structures in the Cities of Banning, Beaumont, Calimesa, Redlands, and Yucaipa, as well as unincorporated parts of Riverside and San Bernardino Counties.

Additional maps and figures for the Proposed Project and alternatives are can be found in the Proponent's Environmental Assessment.

For Additional Information

The CPUC, through its Environmental Review Team, is conducting an environmental review of the Proposed Project. To request additional information or to be added to the mailing list, please contact us by email, fax, or phone, as follows:

The CPUC's Project Manager is:

Juralynne Mosley, CPUC Project Manager
California Public Utilities Commission
505 Van Ness Avenue
San Francisco CA 94102
Tel. (415) 703-2210
Fax (415) 703-2200
Email: jbm@cpuc.ca.gov