PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
ENERGY DIVISION
RESOLUTION E-4034
Resolution E-4034. Southern California Edison (SCE). This resolution approves SCE's Advice Letter 2005-E submitting notice pursuant to General Order 131-D (GO 131-D), Section XI, Subsection B.4 of the Construction of Facilities that are exempt from a Permit to Construct. GO 131-D was adopted by the California Public Utilities Commission (Commission) in Decision D. 94-06-014 and modified by D.95-08-038.
By Advice Letter 2005-E. Filed on May 23, 2006.
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SUMMARY
This Resolution approves SCE's Advice Letter 2005-E submitting notice pursuant to General Order 131-D (GO 131-D), Section XI, Subsection B.4 of the Construction of Facilities that are exempt from a Permit to Construct. GO 131-D was adopted by the California Pubic Utilities Commission (Commission) in Decision D. 94-06-014 and modified by D.95-08-038. This Resolution is effective immediately.
BACKGROUND
Southern California Edison Company (SCE) proposes to construct the Auld-Moraga No. 2 115 kV Subtransmission Line Project (Project) within existing SCE easements and along public streets in the cities of Temecula and Murrieta, and unincorporated areas of Riverside County to address system reliability overload conditions. The Project consists of the replacement of an existing single-circuit 115 kilovolt (kV) subtransmission line with a double-circuit 115 kV line.
The new double-circuit line will be constructed on wood and steel poles. Of the approximately 228 poles required for this Project, 122 will be wood and 106 will be steel. The typical height for the new poles will be approximately 70 feet tall. The conductor on the existing single circuit 115 kV line will be transferred from the existing poles to one side of the new double-circuit poles. The new Auld-Moraga No. 2 115 kV line will be strung with 954 Stranded Aluminum Conductor (SAC) and will be placed on the vacant side of the new double-circuit poles. The project will be 8.7 miles long and will connect with existing Auld Substation in Murrieta with the existing Moraga Substation in Temecula. The new double-circuit 115 kV line will begin at Auld Substation, located at Liberty Road and Clinton Keith Road. The line will continue east to Briggs Road, then south across Winchester Road (State Highway 79) to Benton Road. The new 115 kV line will continue east on Benton Road to Leon Road at which point it will proceed south across Murrieta Hot Springs Road, Nicholas Road, and Rancho California Road, before continuing west across Margarita Road to Southern Cross Road at Agena Street and then west to Moraga substation
Pursuant to Commission GO 131-D, Section III.B.1, the Project meets the specific conditions which exempt the Project from the Commission's requirement to file for an application requesting authority to construct. This project qualifies for the following exemption:
"g. power line facilities or substations to be located in an existing franchise, road-widening setback easement, or public utility easement; or in a utility corridor designated, precisely mapped and officially adopted pursuant to law by federal, state, or local agencies for which a final Negative Declaration or EIR finds no significant unavoidable environmental impacts."
This advice filing will not increase any rate or charge, cause the withdrawal of service, or conflict with any other rate schedule or rule.
NOTICE
Notice of AL 2005-E was made by publication in the Commission's Daily Calendar. SCE states that a copy of the Advice Letter was mailed and distributed in accordance with Section III-G of General Order 96-A.
PROTESTS
Advice Letter 2005-E was protested.
SCE's Advice Letter AL 2005-E was timely protested by Ron and Vicki Dobbs, Dan and Erin Lamb, Dennis and Lynn Wiersma, Jerry and Lupe Burns, Justin K.M. Roberts and Cecelia Webster, Jim Sommars and Roger and Sylvia Perez.
SCE responded on June 19, 2006 to the protests of Ron and Vicki Dobbs, Dan and Erin Lamb, Dennis and Lynn Wiersma, Jerry and Lupe Burns, Justin K.M. Roberts and Cecelia Webster, Jim Sommars and Roger and Sylvia Perez.
The protests raise questions about the Project in the following areas: (1) safety, including concerns related to potential lightning strikes, wind, earthquakes, fire, and electric and magnetic fields (EMF); (2) noise; (3) aesthetics and property valuation; (4) undergrounding; (5) Project noticing; and (6) Project location and alignment. In addition, Perez seeks information related to property restoration upon completion of the Project.
Although SCE addresses each of the issues raised in the Protests above, none of these questions qualifies as a condition specified in CEQA Guidelines 15300.2 and none of the Protests claim that such a condition exists. Since none of the above issues is grounds for a valid protest under Section XIII, the Protests are dismissed.
DISCUSSION
Energy Division has reviewed SCE's Advice Letter 2005-E submitting notice pursuant to General Order 131-D (GO 131-D), Section XI, Subsection B.4 of the Construction of Facilities that are exempt from a Permit to Construct. GO 131-D was adopted by the California Public Utilities Commission (Commission) in Decision D. 94-06-014 and modified by D.95-08-038.
Pursuant to Commission GO 131-D, Section III.B.1, the Project meets the specific conditions which exempt the Project from the Commission's requirement to file for an application requesting authority to construct. This project qualifies for the following exemption:
"g. power line facilities or substations to be located in an existing franchise, road-widening setback easement, or public utility easement; or in a utility corridor designated, precisely mapped and officially adopted pursuant to law by federal, state, or local agencies for which a final Negative Declaration or EIR finds no significant unavoidable environmental impacts."
COMMENTS
This Resolution is effective immediately.
FINDINGS
1. On May 23, 2006, Southern California Edison (SCE) filed Advice Letter 2005-E; Notice of Proposed Subtransmission Line Construction Project Pursuant to General Order 131-D, Auld-Moraga No. 2 115 kV.
2. Southern California Edison Company (SCE) proposes to construct the Auld-Moraga No. 2 115 kV Subtransmission Line Project (Project) within existing SCE easements and along public streets in the cities of Temecula and Murrieta, and unincorporated areas of Riverside County to address system reliability overload conditions.
3. The Project consists of the replacement of an existing single-circuit 115 kilovolt (kV) subtransmission line with a double-circuit 115 kV line.
4. The new double-circuit line will be constructed on wood and steel poles. Of the approximately 228 poles required for this Project, 122 will be wood and 106 will be steel.
5. The typical height for the new poles will be approximately 70 feet tall.
6. The conductor on the existing single-circuit 115 kV line will be transferred from the existing poles to one side of the new double-circuit poles.
7. The new Auld-Moraga No. 2 115 kV line will be strung with 954 Stranded Aluminum Conductor (SAC) and will be placed on the vacant side of the new double-circuit poles.
8. The project will be 8.7 miles long and will connect with existing Auld Substation in Murrieta with the existing Moraga Substation in Temecula.
9. The new double-circuit 115 kV line will begin at Auld Substation, located at Liberty Road and Clinton Keith Road. The line will continue east to Briggs Road, then south across Winchester Road (State Highway 79) to Benton Road. The new 115 kV line will continue east on Benton Road to Leon Road at which point it will proceed south across Murrieta Hot Springs Road, Nicholas Road, and Rancho California Road, before continuing west across Margarita Road to Southern Cross Road at Agena Street and then west to Moraga substation
10. SCE's Advice Letter AL 2005-E was protested within the protest period by Ron and Vicki Dobbs, Dan and Erin Lamb, Dennis and Lynn Wiersma, Jerry and Lupe Burns, Justin K.M. Roberts and Cecelia Webster, Jim Sommars and Roger and Sylvia Perez.
11. The protests raise questions about the Project in the following areas: (1) safety, including concerns related to potential lightning strikes, wind, earthquakes, fire, and electric and magnetic fields (EMF); (2) noise; (3) aesthetics and property valuation; (4) undergrounding; (5) Project noticing; and (6) Project location and alignment. In addition, Perez seeks information related to property restoration upon completion of the Project.
12. Pursuant to Commission GO 131-D, Section III.B.1, the Project meets the specific conditions which exempt the Project from the Commission's requirement to file for an application requesting authority to construct.
13. The Energy Division has independently reviewed the advice letter and has deemed that this project qualifies for the following exemption:
"g. power line facilities or substations to be located in an existing franchise, road-widening setback easement, or public utility easement; or in a utility corridor designated, precisely mapped and officially adopted pursuant to law by federal, state, or local agencies for which a final Negative Declaration or EIR finds no significant unavoidable environmental impacts."
THEREFORE IT IS ORDERED THAT:
1. The Notice of SCE of Proposed Subtransmission Line Construction Project as requested in Advice Letter AL 2005-E is approved.
I certify the foregoing under the authority of General Order 131-D. Dated October 11, 2006, at San Francisco, California
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STEVE LARSON
Executive Director
