Land Use and Public Recreation
L-5 Establish Agreement and Coordinate Construction Activities with Agricultural Landowners. Sixty (60) days prior to the start of Project construction, SCE shall secure a signed agreement with property owners of Farmland (Prime Farmland, Farmland of Statewide Importance, Unique Farmland) that will be used for construction and operation of the Project, access and spur roads, staging areas, and other project-related activities. The purpose of this agreement will be to set forth the use of Prime Farmland, Farmland of Statewide Importance, and Unique Farmland during construction in order to: (1) schedule proposed construction activities at a location and time when damage to agricultural operations would be minimized, and (2) ensure that any areas damaged or disturbed by construction are restored to a condition mutually agreed upon by the landowner and SCE.
SCE shall coordinate with the agricultural landowners in the affected areas where Farmland will be temporarily disturbed in order to determine when and where construction should occur in order to minimize damage to agricultural operations. This includes avoiding construction during peak planting, growing, and harvest seasons. If damage or destruction does occur, SCE shall perform restoration activities on the disturbed area in order to return the area to a pre-determined condition or the pre-construction condition, whichever option is agreed upon by the landowner and SCE. This could include activities such as soil preparation, regrading, and reseeding. This measure applies to agricultural landowners with land that is impacted by the Project. SCE shall provide proof of the continued use of Farmland through the submittal of a signed agreement between an individual property owner and SCE. Thirty (30) days prior to the start of construction, copies of the signed agreements shall be submitted to the CPUC for review and approval prior to the start of construction.
L-6 Locate Transmission Towers and Pulling/Splicing Stations to Avoid Agricultural Operations. SCE shall site transmission towers and pulling/splicing stations in locations that minimize impacts to active agricultural operations. Specifically, SCE shall comply with the following measures when siting transmission towers and splicing/pulling stations within areas where active cultivated farmland would be removed through the presence of structures:
· SCE shall avoid orchards, row crops, and furrow-irrigated crops where towers would interfere with irrigation and harvest activities.
· SCE shall avoid irrigation canals and ditches.
· SCE shall align towers adjacent to field boundaries and parallel to rows (if located in row crops), and shall avoid diagonal orientations and angular alignments within agricultural land.
SCE shall document and provide proof of compliance with the above listed items 90 days prior to the start of proposed Project construction. This documentation shall be submitted to the CPUC for review and approval prior to the start of construction, and reviewed with affected landowners during coordination activities described in Mitigation Measure L-5 (Establish Agreement and Coordinate Construction Activities with Agricultural Landowners).
R-1a Coordinate Construction Schedule with the Authorized Officer for the Recreation Area. No less than 40 days prior to construction, SCE shall coordinate construction activities and the Project construction schedule with the authorized officer of the recreation areas listed below. SCE shall schedule construction activities to avoid heavy recreational use periods, including major holidays, in coordination with, and at the discretion of the authorized officer. SCE shall prepare a public notice of construction activities consistent with Mitigation Measure N-1b (Provide Advanced Notification of Construction), which shall be distributed to ranger stations within the ANF as well as published in local newspapers. SCE shall document its coordination efforts with the authorized officer, and provide this documentation to the CPUC and the USDA Forest Service 30 days prior to construction.
· Angeles National Forest · Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail · Mountainview Park · Ritter Ranch · California Poppy Trail · Northside Trail |
· Cliffie Stone Trail · Bouquet Canyon Trail · Leona Valley Loop Trail · Vasquez Loop Trail · Acton Community Trail · Mint Canyon Trail |
R-1b Identify Alternative Recreation Areas. No less than 40 days prior to construction, SCE shall coordinate with the authorized officer for the recreation areas listed below in order to identify alternative recreation sites (i.e., trails, parks) that may be used by the public during construction. SCE shall post a public notice at ranger stations within the ANF and at other recreation facilities that would be closed or limited during construction, which shall provide information on alternative recreation facilities. SCE shall document its coordination with the authorized officer, and submit this documentation to the CPUC and the USDA Forest Service 30 days prior to construction.
· Angeles National Forest · Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail · Mountainview Park · Ritter Ranch · California Poppy Trail · Northside Trail |
· Cliffie Stone Trail · Bouquet Canyon Trail · Leona Valley Loop Trail · Vasquez Loop Trail · Acton Community Trail · Mint Canyon Trail |
R-1c Temporary Closure of Off-Highway Vehicle Routes. During Construction. SCE shall coordinate with the Forest Service and shall post a public notice consistent with Mitigation Measure N-1b (Provide Advanced Notification of Construction). The notice shall be posted in local newspapers, ranger stations within the ANF, and at adjacent recreation facilities, and shall include a list of the specific off-highway vehicle (OHV) routes to be closed during construction. SCE shall maintain these postings throughout the temporary OHV route closure period. SCE shall document its coordination with the authorized officer, and submit this documentation to the CPUC and the USDA Forest Service 30 days prior to construction.
R-1d Temporary Upgrades to Forest System Roads. SCE shall submit its plans of proposed road maintenance work to the Forest Service Engineer for review and approval, which shall be incorporated into a temporary Special Use or Road Use Authorization to be issued by the USDA Forest Service. The proposed maintenance work shall include a road restoration plan and restoration schedule to ensure that the Forest System roads are restored at the designated Maintenance Level (i.e., Level 2) following Project construction, in order to allow for their continued use by OHV recreationalists.
R-3 Avoid Upgrades to Forest System Road Maintenance Levels. SCE shall implement the requirements for road improvements and maintenance as mandated by the conditions in the Special Use or Road Use Authorization to be issued by the USDA Forest Service for the proposed Project. For all designated Maintenance Level 2 Forest System roads, SCE shall adhere to the Management Prescription Guidelines for Level 2 as delineated in the Forest Service Handbook (FSH 7709.58), which includes maintaining the road prism to provide for the passage of high clearance vehicles. Plans for any proposed road maintenance work during Project operation shall be submitted to the Forest Engineer for review and approval prior to maintenance activities.
R-4 Permanent Closure and Re-vegetation of Construction Roads. Access roads built and re-opened for construction of the Project, which are not part of the Forest System roads, shall be blocked from vehicle access and rehabilitated to a near natural condition. The USDA Forest Service shall consider authorizing to SCE the use of access roads that are demonstrated not to introduce unmanaged recreation, erosion, invasive plan species, or impacts to scenic values. SCE shall prepare a Restoration and Revegetation Plan for Project access and spur roads, consistent with Mitigation Measure B-1a (Provide Restoration/Compensation for Impacts to Native Vegetation Communities). The Restoration and Revegetation Plan shall include resource protection measures that reestablish former drainage patterns, stabilize slopes, block illegal road access, install water bars, remove culverts, remove unstable fill, pull back road shoulders, and eliminate the roadbed by restoring natural contour and slope. The Restoration and Revegetation Plan shall be submitted to the CPUC and the USDA Forest Service for prior approval, and shall be incorporated into the Special Use Authorization to be issued by the USDA Forest Service.
