Welcome to the California Public Utilities Commission’s (CPUC) website for the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review of the Karuk and Yurok Tribes’ (the Tribes’) Klamath River Rural Broadband Initiative (KRRBI or proposed Project). A California Advanced Service Fund (CASF) grant was approved by the CPUC for the Karuk Tribe on October 17, 2013 (Resolution T-17418). On May 7, 2020, the CPUC adopted Resolution T-17690, approving supplemental CASF funding for KRRBI; additional supplemental CASF funding (among other provisions) was approved by the CPUC (Resolution T-17857) on April 30, 2026. This website provides access to all public documents related to the CEQA and NEPA environmental review of the proposed Project.
Background
The Karuk Tribe holds a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN number U-7235-C) and has initiated the proposed Project in order to provide broadband high-speed internet access to the rural, unserved and underserved communities in northern Humboldt County. The main Project objective is to bridge the divide that currently separates remote rural communities from others in the digitally-connected world. Implementation of the Project is expected to improve education, emergency response, health care, and business opportunities within the region. As the Lead Agency under CEQA, the CPUC analyzed potential environmental impacts associated with the Project and presented the findings in an environmental document for public review and comment. The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) served as, the federal lead agency under NEPA
Project Overview
The proposed Project would comprise installation of a “middle-mile” fiber optic network as well as “last- mile” wireless broadband networks to provide high-speed internet access to first responder agencies, anchor institutions, households and businesses in the towns of Orick, Orleans, Johnsons, Wautec, Weitchpec that are currently unserved or underserved. The proposed Project consists of above-ground and underground installation of fiber optic cables, a wireless tower in the town of Orick, a signal connection in Orleans, and placement of “last-mile” fiber cable and associated structures.
The proposed Project would extend approximately 73.5 miles through rural Humboldt County (see Location Map) and would be distributed into five segments. Proposed actions at each segment location are summarized as follows:
Segment 1: Orleans to Weitchpec (13.6 miles) Orleans to the northern boundary of the Yurok Reservation just
upriver on the Klamath from Weitchpec, following Highway 96. This segment includes a 0.5-mile spur that will serve Caltrans and the Karuk offices just north of the Orleans bridge along Highway 96. It also includes two short 0.1-mile spurs to:
- the existing Orleans broadband tower
- the existing Frontier landline central office in Orleans
Note: Segment 2 (as described in the IS/MND/EA within Yurok land) is no longer part of KRRBI. The area removed from KRRBI’s construction and left to the Yurok Tribe includes a short portion of Segment 1, all of Segment 2, and the portion of Segment 3 between Martins Ferry Bridge and the western boundary of the Yurok Reservation (30.8 miles).
Segment 3: Weitchpec to Elk Camp: (16.6 miles) Western boundary of the Yurok Reservation just above the Yurok wireless tower at Wiregrass to Elk Camp. The proposed route travels along Bald Hills Road to Elk Camp and includes a 0.1mile spur to the existing Elk Camp Fire Station.
Segment 4: Elk Camp to Orick Tower: (12.0 miles) This segment follows Bald Hills Road from Elk Camp to Highway 101 just north of Orick, then through the town of Orick to the proposed Orick Tower location. It includes four additional short spurs, all 0.1 mile or less, to: connecting to the proposed Orick Tower, the existing State Parks office at the Southern Operations Center facility (shared with the National Parks Service), the proposed visitors center (at the intersection of Bald Hills Road and Highway 101), and to the existing Frontier office in Orick.
Segment 5: Orick Tower to Fiber Network Meet-Me in McKinleyville: (31.3 miles) The proposed route follows Highway 101 overhead on existing distribution poles from the Orick Tower, through the town of Orick to the intersection of Highway 101 and Hiltons Road. It then continues overhead, south on the existing PG&E 60-kV transmission line poles, staying northeast of Freshwater Lagoon and following the old highway around Stone Lagoon, then paralleling Highway 101 to Big Lagoon. At Big Lagoon, the PG&E transmission line follows the old A-line railroad grade across Green Diamond land, closely paralleling and mostly adjacent to the Hammond Truck Road. The route, continuing overhead on the PG&E line, then turns southeast, away from the truck road, and angles southeast towards the Railroad Grade Road in Fieldbrook, then follows Humboldt County’s Murray Road near Fieldbrook. The route leaves the transmission line, following Murray Road overhead and underground west and south into McKinleyville, turning south overhead on Central Avenue, and ending at 1555 Railroad Drive in a short underground portion to the AT&T Central Office in McKinleyville. (Figure 2.4-5). There is a short (0.1 mile) fiber spur to serve the Tsunami Tower above Orick, another short (0.1 mile) spur to serve Stone Lagoon Visitor Center, and a small self-supporting Rohn tower established in the PG&E ROW to serve Sue Meg State Park Visitor Center wirelessly.
Environmental Review
| Project Milestones as May 2026 | |
|---|---|
| Milestone | Date |
| CASF Resolution Approved | October 17, 2013 |
| PEA submitted by Karuk Tribe | December 18, 2017 |
| Second CASF Resolution Approved | May 7, 2020 |
| Amended PEA submitted to CPUC | May 15, 2020 |
| CPUC Review of Amended PEA | June 2020 |
| Initial Study/Environmental Assessment | June 2022 |
| Public Review Period | June 24, 2022 to July 25, 2022 |
| Final MND/EA | September 2022 |
| Commission Decision Resolution T-17772 | December 1, 2022 |
| Third CASF Resolution T-17857 | April 30, 2026 |
| Notice to proceed with construction | Pending May 2026 |
| Construction | Anticipated 2026-2028 |
Public Review and Comment
The public review period for the proposed Project began June 24, 2022 and ended July 25, 2022. During this time, written comments on the Draft IS/MND/EA were submitted via mail or email to KlamathBroadbandCEQA@esassoc.com. During the public review period, the public draft ISMND/EA was made available for review through this project website, and hard copies were available at the McKinleyville Library 1606 Pickett Road McKinleyville, CA 95519.
Environmental Documents Available for Review
Public documents related to the proposed Project and PEA for the Klamath River Rural Broadband Initiative can be found here:
Minor Project Refinements:
| Minor Project Refinement (MPR) | Request Status | CPUC Response |
|---|---|---|
| MPR-1 | Approved | April 15, 2026 |
| MPR-2 | Approved | April 15, 2026 |
| MPR-3 | Approved | April 15, 2026 |
Findings of No Significant Impact (FONSI) BIA, BLM, NPS (December 12, 2022)
Final Mitigated Negative Declaration/Environmental Assessment
Notice of Completion (NOC) of the Final MND/EA (September 2022)
Final MND/EA for the Klamath River Rural Broadband Initiative (September 2022)
CPUC Resolution T-17772 Adopting Final MND/EA (December 1, 2022)
Notice of Determination (NOD) (December 2, 2022)
Initial Study Mitigated Negative Declaration/Environmental Assessment
Notice of Intent to Adopt an IS/MND and Notice of Availability of an Environmental Assessment
Klamath River Rural Broadband Initiative Public Draft ISMND/EA
Klamath River Rural Broadband Initiative ISMND/EA Appendices
Amended Proponent's Environmental Assessment (May 15, 2020) (20.3 mb)
Proponent’s Environmental Assessment (PEA) for KRRBI (December 18, 2017) (35.3 mb)
PEA Technical Appendices
PEA Appendix A- Air Quality (December 18, 2017)
PEA Appendix B- Biological Assessment (June, 2020)
PEA Appendix C- Confidential Cultural Reports
PEA Appendix D- EMF Report (December 18, 2017)
CPUC PEA Completeness Letter (January 18, 2018)
CPUC Data Request 1 (June 4, 2018)
Karuk Tribe Data Request 1 Response (July 7, 2018)
Attachment Service Interconnections
Attachment Revised Current Internet Access
Attachment Generator Specs
CPUC Data Request 2 (July 30, 2018)
Karuk Tribe Data Request 2 Response (August 9, 2018)
Attachment GIS
Attachment KMZ
CPUC Data Request 3 (March 18, 2021)
Karuk Tribe Data Request 3 Response (March 26, 2021)
Question #4 Attachment Cover Letter SF-299
Question #4 Attachment SF-299
Question #7 Attachment KRRBI APM SOIL1
Question #11 Attachments KRRBI APM Cultural
General Attachment KRRBI APM Hazards
Yurok Signal Connection Map