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Last Update: February 20, 2014
Welcome to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) website for the environmental review of the proposed construction of the San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) Tie-Line (TL) 637 Wood-to-Steel Project located in central San Diego County, near the communities of Ramona and Santa Ysabel, California. An application for this project was submitted to the CPUC on March 13, 2013 (Application A.13-03-003) and a Decision was issued on February 5, 2014 (Decision D.14-02-04). This site provides access to public documents and information relevant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) review process.
Background
SDG&E filed an application for a Permit to Construct the TL 637 Wood-to-Steel Project with the CPUC. The CPUC is the CEQA lead agency for this project. The project proposes to fire-harden approximately 14 miles of the existing 69-kilovolt (kV) wood pole power line (TL 637) between the Creelman and Santa Ysabel Substations. SDG&E’s purpose for the project is to increase fire safety and service reliability of the 69 kV power line in a high fire risk area of San Diego County. As proposed by SDG&E, the project would fire-harden the existing system by replacing the existing 69 kV wood pole structures with new weathering steel poles. Work would also be conducted at the Creelman and Santa Ysabel Substations to allow for the wood-to-steel conversions of TL 637. Further, SDG&E is proposing to install a new SDG&E-owned and operated fiber optic cable between the substations on the new TL 637 steel poles.
The proposed project is located in unincorporated San Diego County, between the communities of Ramona and Santa Ysabel, in central San Diego County, California. The location of the proposed project is shown in the Project Location Map.
Application and Proponents Environmental Assessment
SDG&E's application and proponent's environmental assessment (PEA) for the TL 637 Wood-to-Steel Project was submitted March 13, 2013, and is available online in the following links:
As needed during the environmental review process, the Environmental Review Team will provide SDG&E with data requests for specific information during preparation of the CEQA document. These requests and SDG&E’s responses will be published below, as they are available.
PEA Completeness Review and Data Request No. 1
The CPUC deemed SDG&E’s application complete on May 20, 2013. In addition, the CPUC identified additional data needs to support the environmental review process and provided SDG&E with Data Request No. 1. Click the following links to view the letter deeming the application complete and Data Request No. 1, as well as SDG&E’s response.
Environmental Review
Final Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration (IS/MND) Publication
On January 21, 2014, the CPUC prepared a Final Mitigated Negative Declaration (Final MND) under CEQA for consideration of the Tie-Line 637 Wood-to-Steel Replacement Project. The information in the Final MND describes the Proposed Project and potential environmental impacts, identifies those impacts that could be significant, and presents mitigation measures to avoid or minimize potentially significant impacts.
The Final IS/MND incorporates all comments received during the public review period for the Draft IS/MND, as well as revisions discussed and agreed upon during various discussions with the applicants and the CPUC. The responses to comments are provided in Attachment B of the Final IS/MND. Revisions to the Draft IS/MND are shown in strikeout/underline in the Final IS/MND. No substantial changes to the environmental document analyses or conclusions resulted from evaluation of the comments received during the public review period. No substantial revisions that would merit recirculation as defined by 15073.5(b) of Title 14 of CEQA were made to the project or analyses after public comment.
Draft Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration (IS/MND) Publication
On October 8, 2013, the CPUC released a Notice of Intent (NOI) to Adopt a MND for the TL 637 Project, showing that the proposed project, as mitigated, would not have any significant effects on the environment. The NOI and Draft IS/MND are available by clicking on the following links:
Public Involvement and Comment Period
The Draft IS/MND is also available for review at the following libraries:
Ramona Branch Library
1275 Main Street
Ramona, California 92065 |
Julian Branch Library
1850 Highway 78
Julian, California 92036 |
On October 17, 2013, the CPUC conducted a public meeting regarding the Tie-Line 637 Wood-to-Steel Replacement Project MND. The meeting was held at the Ramona Community Center, located at 434 Aqua Lane, Ramona, California. Click the following links to view the meeting agenda and public meeting presentation. In addition, a copy of the written comment form is available here for download.
Comments on the Draft IS/MND were accepted until 5:00 p.m. on November 7, 2013.
The CPUC voted on February 5, 2014 to grant SDG&E a permit to construct the Tie- Line 637 Wood-to-Steel Pole Replacement Project.
Decision granting Permit to Construct to SDG&E
Reports issued by the CPUC, reports on construction progress, and reports issued as part of the Mitigation Monitoring Program will be published here, when available.
Tie- Line 637 Wood-to-Steel Pole Replacement Project- Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program
To request additional information, please contact the CPUC Project Manager identified below:
Eric Chiang
California Public Utilities Commission
505 Van Ness Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94102
Tel. (415) 703-1956
 Please report any problems to the Energy Division web coordinator.
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