4. Description of Project Alternatives

The EIR evaluated SCE's proposed project, a "no project" alternative (Alternative 1), and five additional alternatives incorporating different route configurations and/or substation siting.

The proposed project would be located in southwestern Riverside County, and would primarily consist of the construction, operation, and maintenance of a new 25-mile 115 kV subtransmision line to connect the existing Valley and Ivyglen Substations and the construction of the new Fogarty Substation. The proposed subtransmission line would traverse Perris, Lake Elsinore, and the Glen Ivy/Corona Lake area, connecting the Valley Substation, located approximately 1.25 miles east of Perris, and the Ivyglen Substation, located on the south side of Temescal Canyon Road. The line would exit from the Valley Substation and run approximately 7.5 miles west along an existing 500 kV transmission line right of way, and then proceed southwest along Highway 74 to Conard Avenue. Here, it would turn north and generally run through a residential area and then west around it to Interstate 15. Here, it would cross Interstate 15 and proceed northwest for approximately four miles through the Pacific Clay Mine until again meeting Interstate 15. Here, it would continue approximately four miles along Interstate 15 and into the Ivyglen Substation. The Fogarty Substation would be located on approximately 6.6 acres in the northern portion of Lake Elsinore across from the temporary Dryden Substation.

Under Alternative 1, the "no project" alternative, the project would not be built.

Under Alternative 2, the Middle Corridor alternative, the subtransmission line would generally proceed due west from the Valley Substation toward the Ivyglen Substation along the existing Valley-Serrano 500 kV right of way through a sparsely developed corridor north of the proposed project.

Under Alternative 3, the Central Region Route Segment alternative, the subtransmission line would be as described under the proposed project except that, rather than proceeding southwest along Highway 74 to Conard Avenue, it would run north and parallel to it, travelling through less densely populated residential areas until meeting the proposed project route at the north of the residential area.

Alternative 4, the Fogarty Substation Site alternative, is as described under the proposed project except that the Fogarty Substation would be constructed on a 5.7 acre parcel in Lake Elsinore; the temporary Dryden Substation is currently located on the parcel's northeast corner.

Alternative 5, the Warm Springs-Pacific Clay alternative, would begin as described under the proposed project but, after proceeding along Highway 74 to Conard Avenue, it would continue southwest and cross over to the south of Interstate 15, then turn northwest paralleling the interstate until meeting the proposed project route. It would continue as described under the proposed project until it enters the Pacific Clay Mine, where it would proceed north of the proposed project route to meet Interstate 15 sooner and thereby skirt the mining operation.

Alternative 6, the Eastern Region Route Segment alternative, is as described under Alternative 5 except that the initial segment from the Valley Substation would be located farther north and run along State Route 74 for a longer distance.