On February 7, 2002, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC)
approved Broadwing Communications Services, Inc.'s application for the
California Fiber Optic Expansion Project and issued a Certificate of
Public Convenience and Necessity.
Under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the CPUC is
the designated lead agency for this project. The communication network
consists of fiber optic cable routes and associated facilities, to be
installed via trenching, plowing, directional boring, and bridge attachments
in street, highway, railroad, or other utility rights-of-way and, in
some cases, on private property. The project requires laying fiber optic
conduits in trenches dug in these rights-of-way and will include construction
of two regeneration/optical amplification stations.
The CPUC prepared a Draft Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration
(IS/MND), which described the project and its potential impacts on the
environment. This Draft IS/MND was avaialable for public review and
comment for 30 days. Incorporating comments received during the review
period, the CPUC has prepared a Final IS/MND, which concludes that any
significant impacts that may result from the project can be either avoided
or reduced to a less-than-significant level by the adoption and implementation
of specified mitigation measures.
