PG&E Land Transfers
View the Draft Mitigated Negative Declaration
STATE OF CALIFORNIA
PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94102-3298
NOTICE OF PUBLICATION OF A NEGATIVE DECLARATION
To All Interested Parties:
On May 15, 2000, Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) applied to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) for approval to market value and exchange certain lands for equivalently valued lands owned by the California Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR). The application (A00-05-030) also addressed Pacific Gas and Electric Company’s proposal to subsequently transfer the land received from the DPR to a non-profit entity known as the California Waterfowl Association (CWA). The lands that Pacific Gas and Electric Company will transfer to DPR are commonly known as "Burney Falls" and "Bowman Ditch." The land that Pacific Gas and Electric Company will receive from DPR and then transfer to CWA is referred to as the "Ahjumawi Property." All of the lands are located within Shasta County.
In a separate but related action, PG&E filed an application (A00-05-029) with the CPUC to market value and transfer certain property to the CWA. The property consists of land in Shasta County commonly referred to as McArthur Swamp, the Glenburn Dredge Site, and a dredge used to maintain certain levees associated with those properties. The transaction includes a Conservation Easement and other terms designed to maintain existing land uses, enhance habitats, and preserve cultural and historical resources.
In accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the CPUC conducted an Initial Study of potential impacts related to PG&E’s divestiture application. The Commission used the Initial Study as a "decision point" document to determine that issuing a Mitigated Negative Declaration is the appropriate action under CEQA. Through this document, the CPUC determined that the actions taken as a result of approving PG&E’s divestiture application would not have significant impact on the environment. In the limited instances where the environment could be potentially affected by divestiture, appropriate mitigation measures are recommended for adoption.
Documents Available for Review
The Commission’s proposed Mitigated Negative Declaration and Initial Study conducted on the PG&E divestiture application area available for review at the following locations:
Eastern Shasta County Library
37038 Siskiyou Street
Burney, CA 96031
530-335-4317
Fall River Mills Main Library
PO Box 176
Fall River Mills, CA 96028
530-336-6445
The full text of these documents will also be made directly available on the Internet at the following address: http://www.pgedivest.com; or by accessing the CPUC’s website at the following address: http://www.cpuc.ca.gov. From the CPUC’s home page click on the "Regulated Industries" link. Once there then click on the "Environmental" link and then click on the "Current Projects" link. You may then select this project from the list of projects presented on this "Current Projects" page.
Time for Review:
This Negative Declaration and Initial Study will undergo a public review process from October 30, 2001, to November 29, 2001. Comments on the documents must be received in writing by 5:00 pm (Pacific Standard Time) on November 29, 2001, at the following address:
Billie C. Blanchard, CPUC
c/o Environmental Science Associates
700 University Ave., Ste. 130
Sacramento, California 95825
Comments can also be submitted by the same deadline by voicemail at 877-779-2782, or by facsimile to: (916) 564-4501.