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Welcome
to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) website for the
environmental review of Pacific Gas and Electric Company’s
(PG&E’s)
proposed Atascadero – San Luis Obispo 70kV Power Line Reconductoring
Project (Project). The proposed Project would improve transmission
system reliability and provide peak-period voltage support to the San
Luis Obispo County service area. This proposed project includes
replacing the existing deteriorating conductors and supporting
structures with new light-duty steel (LDS) poles, tubular steel poles
(TSPs), and lattice steel towers along an existing 15.5 miles segment
of a 70kV power line.
The objective of the proposed
Project is to
provide high-quality, reliable service to customers along the existing
Atascadero – San Luis Obispo 70kV power line. The current configuration
of this line segment, as well as the regional climate, contributed to
the accelerated deterioration of this power line. Installing upgraded
conductors and replacing existing poles and towers would substantially
improve the long-term reliability of this line segment, as well as
service to the area.
The proposed Project is subject to
review
under California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), and the CPUC is the
CEQA Lead Agency. A CEQA review was performed to evaluate the potential
environmental impacts associated with this Project. This website
provides access to public documents and information relevant to the
CEQA environmental review process.
Application
PG&E’s Application and associated Proponent’s
Environmental
Assessment (PEA) for the Atascadero – San Luis Obispo 70kV Power Line
Reconductoring Project may be viewed here.
Project Description
PG&E
is proposing to replace the existing deteriorating conductors and
supporting structures with new, LDS poles, TSPs, and lattice steel
towers along an existing 15.5 mile segment of the Atascadero – San Luis
Obispo 70 kV power line.
The project is located in San
Luis Obispo County, California, between the cities of Atascadero and
San Luis Obispo. The project right-of-way (ROW) is aligned roughly
north to south, paralleling Highway 101 (US 101) between State Route
(SR) 41 and the City of San Luis Obispo. This line connects the
Atascadero Substation (located at the intersection of Santa Rosa Road
and SR 41/Morro Road in Atascadero) to the San Luis Obispo Substation
(located at the intersection of Orcutt Road and Johnson Avenue in San
Luis Obispo).
The primary project elements are summarized below:
- Replacing the existing aluminum conductors with a
new 715.5 KCmil non-specular all aluminum conductor.
- Modifying
137 of the 139 existing poles along the power line. Two existing LDS
poles do not need to be replaced. Pole modifications include:
- Replace 131 existing wood poles with LDS poles
- Remove the top section of five existing wood
poles that provide support for existing distribution conductor
- Install five new LDS poles, approximately 30
feet away from the aforementioned poles, within the existing alignment
- Remove one existing wood pole
- Install one new LDS pole in a new location
within the existing power line alignment
- Replacing
41 of the existing 45 lattice steel towers with 36 new lattice steel
towers and five TSPs along power line. Two of the existing towers would
be eliminated and two existing towers do not need to be replaced.
- Developing
construction access and work areas, which will include re-establishing
existing access roads and constructing associated temporary work areas,
including helicopter landing zones, equipment laydown areas, and pull
and tension sites.
Environmental Review
PG&E’s
Application and PEA were deemed complete by the CPUC on May 18, 2010.
The CPUC determined that an Initial Study/Mitigated Negative
Declaration (IS/MND) was the appropriate CEQA document to evaluate
potential environmental issues associated with this project.
On October 25, 2010, the CPUC released a Notice of
Intent to Adopt a
MND for the Atascadero – San Luis Obispo 70kV Power Line Reconductoring
Project. The findings of the Draft IS/MND are that the proposed
project, as mitigated, would not have any significant effects on the
environment.
The Draft IS/MND can be viewed here (58 MB).
Public Review Period
The Draft IS/MND underwent a public review period from
October 25, 2010, through November 24, 2010.
Final Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration
Comments
on the Draft IS/MND were submitted to the CPUC during the public review
period ending on November 24, 2010. The CPUC’s responses to the
comments received are presented in Chapter 5 of the Final IS/MND. The
Final IS/MND was published on February 10, 2011. The conclusions of the
Draft IS/MND remain unchanged in the Final IS/MND; the proposed project
would not have a significant effect on the environment.
The Final IS/MND can be viewed here (63 MB).
Hardcopies of the Final IS/MND are available at the
following locations:
Martin Polin Regional Library
6850 Morro Rd.
Atascadero, CA 93422
Santa Margarita Library
9630 Murphy Ave.
Santa Margarita, CA 93453
San Luis Obispo Library
995 Palm St.
San Luis Obispo, CA 93403
Oceano Library
1551 17th St.
San Luis Obispo, CA 93403
CPUC Actions After Final Initial Study/Mitigated
Negative Declaration (IS/MND) Publication
There
is no comment period following issuance of the Final IS/MND. The CPUC
will determine the adequacy of the Final IS/MND, and, if adequate, will
adopt the document as being compliant with CEQA. If adequate, the CPUC
will issue a Proposed Decision on the Application, which will be
announced and published concurrent with a scheduled Commission meeting.
After the Commission makes the decision on the Application, a Notice of
Determination will be mailed to the State Clearinghouse within 5 days
of the Decision. The 30-day statute of limitations for court challenges
begins after the Notice of Determination is filed.
Mitigation Monitoring
Mitigation Monitoring, Compliance, and Reporting Plan
A
Mitigation Monitoring, Compliance, and Reporting Plan (MMCRP) was
prepared to ensure compliance with applicant proposed measures (APMs)
and mitigation measures approved in the Final IS/MND. This MMCRP was
developed to provide guidelines and standardize procedures for
environmental compliance during project implementation. The procedures
were developed in coordination with PG&E and CPUC and define
the
reporting relationships, the roles and responsibilities of the
project’s environmental compliance team members, compliance reporting
procedures, and the communication protocol.
The MMCRP can be viewed here (15 MB).
Notices to Proceed
PG&E
is required to document any proposed deviation from the approved
project, adopted mitigation measures, or APMs and submit a written
variance request to CPUC for review and approval. Variances are
strictly limited to minor project changes that will not trigger other
permit requirements unless the appropriate agency has approved the
change. Before approving a variance, the CPUC must ensure that the
proposed deviation is consistent with CEQA requirements in that it does
not increase the severity of an impact or create a new impact without
appropriate agency approval, and complies with the intent of any
applicable mitigation measures. PG&E will submit multiple
variance
requests during the construction process, primarily to cover changes
related to construction access or pole, tower, or work site
modifications. Variance requests processed to date are listed below.
The Notice to Proceed #1 can be viewed here (1 MB).
The Notice to Proceed #2 can be viewed here (15 MB).
The Notice to Proceed #3 can be viewed here (1 MB).
Variances
PG&E is required to document any proposed
deviation from the
approved project, adopted mitigation measures, or APMs and submit a
written variance request to CPUC for review and approval. Variances are
strictly limited to minor project changes that will not trigger other
permit requirements unless the appropriate agency has approved the
change. Before approving a variance, the CPUC must ensure that the
proposed deviation is consistent with CEQA requirements in that it does
not increase the severity of an impact or create a new impact without
appropriate agency approval, and complies with the intent of any
applicable mitigation measures. PG&E will submit multiple
variance
requests during the construction process, primarily to cover changes
related to construction access or pole, tower, or work site
modifications. Variance requests processed to date are listed below.
The approval for Variance Request #1 can be viewed here (1 MB).
The approval for Variance Request #2 can be viewed here (1 MB).
The approval for Variance Request #3 can be viewed here (1 MB).
The approval for Variance Request #4 can be viewed here (1 MB).
The approval for Variance Request #5 can be viewed here (1 MB).
The approval for Variance Request #6 can be viewed here (1 MB).
The approval for Variance Request #7 can be viewed here (1 MB).
The approval for Variance Request #8 can be viewed here
(1 MB).
The approval for Variance Request #9 can be viewed here
(1 MB).
The approval for Variance Request #10 can be viewed here
(1 MB).
The approval for Variance Request #11 can be viewed here
(1 MB).
The approval for Variance Request #12 can be viewed here
(1 MB).
The approval for Variance Request #13 can be viewed here
(1 MB).
The approval for Variance Request #14 can be viewed here
(1 MB).
The approval for Variance Request #15 can be viewed here
(1 MB).
The approval for Variance Request #16 can be viewed here
(1 MB).
Mitigation Compliance Determination Memorandum
Final
project design and engineering commenced after the Final IS/MND was
approved by CPUC in April 2011. Some project components were modified
as engineering was completed, as is common. On May 3, 2011,
PG&E
submitted a 2011 Work Plan, which included a list of project
refinements based on PG&E’s review of final engineering plans
and
designs. PG&E expects to submit subsequent 2012 and 2013 Work
Plans
that will include additional project modifications for each respective
year.
The CPUC review the PG&E 2011 Work Plan for
consistency with the Final IS/MND issued by the CPUC (Decision Number
11-04-014). The 2012 and 2013 Work Plans will be reviewed by the CPUC
in the same manner as the 2011 Work Plan. The CPUC has determined that
the project refinements requested in the PG&E 2011 Work Plan
are
consistent with the Final IS/MND. The proposed refinements do not
involve any new significant environmental effects or any substantial
increases in the severity of previously identified significant effects,
nor do they trigger the need to prepare a supplemental or subsequent
negative declaration or EIR.
The CPUC has published the
Mitigation Compliance Determination Memorandum on PG&E's 2011
Work
Plan and PG&E 2011 Work Plan as supporting documents to NTP#2.
The
Mitigation Compliance Determination Memorandum on PG&E's 2011
Work
Plan and PG&E 2011 Work Plan and can be viewed at the NTP#2
link
above.
June 2013 Project Construction Update
Remaining construction
activities for the project consist of finalizing pole and tower
replacement, replacing power line conductor, and restoring completed
work sites. Project construction is expected to be complete in
September 2013. Restoration and revegetation of work sites will take
place once construction is complete. Compliance monitoring will
continue
until project work areas have been restored to conditions described in
the IS/MND.
For Additional Information
The
CPUC, through its Environmental Review Team, is conducting an
environmental evaluation 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:
Project email: atascadero@rmtinc.com
Project fax number: (650) 373-1211
Project voicemail: (650) 340-1200
The CPUC’s Project Manager is:
Lisa Orsaba , CPUC Project Manager
California Public Utilities Commission
505 Van Ness Avenue, 4th Floor
San Francisco CA 94102
Tel: (415) 703-1966
Fax: (415) 703-2200
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