Assignment of Proceeding

Dian M. Grueneich is the assigned Commissioner and Hallie Yacknin is the assigned Administrative Law Judge in this proceeding.

Findings of Fact

1. The Simonson Substation is deteriorating and must be replaced in order to ensure continued reliable service to PacifiCorp's customers and the safety of its maintenance crews.

2. The current site of the Simonson Substation is too small to allow for rebuilding it to current design standards and to allow mobile substation access.

3. The proposed Morrison Creek Substation, which would replace the Simonson Substation, would be located along the eastern side of Highway 101 on private land previously used by a lumber mill operation, accessed from Highway 101 by an existing driveway.

4. The Commission staff has prepared a Final MND for the project.

5. The Commission has considered the contents and conclusions of the Final MND.

6. The Final MND finds that approval of the project will have no impact, or less-than-significant impact, on the environment in several areas and, to the extent that approval of the project would have potentially significant impacts in other areas, it identifies specific mitigation to avoid the impact or reduce it to a less-than-significant level.

7. PacifiCorp has agreed to the mitigation measures contained in the Final MND.

8. With the adoption of the mitigation measures contained in the Final MND, the project will not have a significant effect on the environment.

Conclusions of Law

1. The preparation and contents of the Final MND for the construction of the Morrison Creek Substation and removal of the Simonson Substation comply with the requirements of CEQA.

2. The Final MND for this project should be adopted in its entirety, and incorporated by reference in this decision.

3. PacifiCorp's application for a permit to construct the Morrison Creek Substation and to remove the Simonson Substation, as described in the Final MND, should be approved.

4. Application 07-07-018 should be closed.

IT IS ORDERED that:

1. The Final Mitigated Negative Declaration for the Morrison Creek Substation project, including the removal of the Simonson Substation, is adopted and incorporated by reference in this decision.

2. The Mitigation Monitoring, Reporting and Compliance Program in the Final Mitigated Negative Declaration is adopted.

3. PacifiCorp is authorized to construct the Morrison Creek Substation and remove the Simonson Substation as described in the Final Mitigated Negative Declaration, subject to the mitigation measures and other conditions set forth in the Final Mitigated Negative Declaration.

4. Application 07-07-018 is closed.

This order is effective today.

Dated March 13, 2008, at San Francisco, California.

Previous PageTop Of PageGo To First Page