California Public Utilities Commission
505 Van Ness Ave., San Francisco

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE PRESS RELEASE Media Contact: Terrie Prosper, 415.703.1366, news@cpuc.ca.gov Docket #: A.06-08-010

CPUC ISSUES FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT IN
SUNRISE TRANSMISSION LINE PROCEEDING

SAN FRANCISCO, October 14, 2008 -- The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), in coordination with the United States Bureau of Land Management (BLM), today released the Final Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement (Final EIR/EIS) regarding San Diego Gas and Electric Company's (SDG&E) proposed 150-mile Sunrise Powerlink Transmission Project.

The Final EIR/EIS is intended to inform the public and CPUC and BLM decision makers, but does not dictate the outcome of their decisions. Thus, the document does not make a recommendation regarding the approval or denial of SDG&E's proposed project. The Final EIR/EIS is purely informational and will be used by the CPUC and BLM in considering whether to approve the proposed project or any of the alternatives analyzed in the document.

The Draft EIR/EIS, released January 3, 2008, contained over 7,500 pages in six volumes. It analyzed the impacts of the proposed project, future expansions, alternatives to the proposed project, and "connected actions" likely to be constructed if Sunrise is approved. A 90-day comment period on the Draft EIR/EIS ended April 11, 2008. Nine workshops and five Public Participation Hearings were held in the area of the proposed project and its alternatives during the comment period, and nearly 2,300 pages of written comments were submitted. After the comment period, two additional Public Participation Hearings were held on May 12, 2008, in Borrego Springs, California.

A Recirculated Draft EIR/Supplemental Draft EIS was published on July 11, 2008. The 45-day public comment period ended on August 25, 2008. Two workshops were held on August 4, 2008, in Jacumba, CA. Nearly 900 pages of written comments were submitted responding to that document.

The Final EIR/EIS consists of the Draft EIR/EIS and the Recirculated Draft EIR/Supplemental Draft EIS, as revised in response to comments received on those documents. Additionally, it consists of all comments on the draft documents and responses of the Lead Agencies to all comments. Comprehensive "General Responses" to issues raised frequently in comments are presented in the final document, in addition to responses to individual comments.

The CPUC will determine the adequacy of the Final EIR/EIS, and if adequate, will certify the document as compliant with the California Environmental Quality Act. The CPUC will issue a Proposed Decision on the Sunrise Powerlink Project shortly, and a decision on the issue is anticipated before the end of the year. Any Commissioner may draft an Alternate Decision presenting differing conclusions or opinions for consideration by the full CPUC.

The BLM's decision regarding the approval of any route and plan amendment would be made in a Record of Decision, also expected to occur in late 2008. The Final EIR/EIS and Proposed Land Use Plan Amendment will be available for review for 30 calendar days from the date the Environmental Protection Agency publishes the Notice of Availability in the Federal Register, which is expected to occur on October 17, 2008. A formal protest of the BLM's proposed plan amendment may be made within the 30-day review period.

Electronic copies of the Final EIR/EIS are available at www.cpuc.ca.gov/Environment/info/aspen/sunrise/sunrise.htm.

A limited number of hard copies of the Final EIR/EIS are available and can be requested by phone or fax at (866) 711-3106 or by e-mail at sunrise@aspeneg.com.

The Notice of Availability, which provides detailed instructions on the protest process, is available at

www.cpuc.ca.gov/Environment/info/aspen/sunrise/sunrise.htm and www.cpuc.ca.gov/PUC/hottopics/1Energy/A0512014.htm.

For information on the CPUC's decision making process, please call the CPUC Public Advisor at (866) 849-8390 or (415) 703-2074 or email public.advisor@cpuc.ca.gov.

For more information on the CPUC, please visit www.cpuc.ca.gov.

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