Devers Palo Verde No 2
NEPA Document Collection for: Devers Palo Verde No 2
EIS
EIS/EIR Devers-Palo Verde No. 2 500kV Transmission Line Project
Proposed Action
Southern California Edison (SCE) filed an application (Application Number A.05-04-015) for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN), accompanied by its Proponent’s Environmental Assessment (PEA), with the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) on April 11, 2005 for the Devers–Palo Verde 500 kV No. 2 (DPV2) Transmission Line Project (Proposed Project). The CPUC identifies the DPV2 Project as Application A.05-04-015. This Draft Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement (Draft EIR/EIS) has been prepared by the California Public Utilities Commission as Lead Agency under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to inform the public and to meet the needs of local, State, and federal permitting agencies to consider the project proposed by SCE (or "the Applicant").
The Proposed Project would traverse federal BLM land in both California and Arizona. Although the Proposed Project would be located primarily within SCE’s existing easement, there may be some areas where additional ROW would need to be acquired. Therefore, SCE has also submitted an application for a Right-of-Way Grant Permit from BLM to implement the project and comply with NEPA. In addition, because approximately 106 miles of the proposed alignment would traverse lands in Arizona (the majority of which would be on BLM lands and under federal jurisdiction), pursuant to Arizona Revised Statute 40-360 et seq., the ACC must issue a Certificate of Environmental Compatibility (CEC) to SCE based on environmental review and an analysis of purpose and need in order for SCE to construct a transmission line. Therefore, SCE has stated its intention to file its application for a CEC with the ACC in late April 2006. This application would serve the same general purpose as the PEA submitted to the CPUC.
Conditions of Approval
An amended ROW grant was issued to Southern California Edison (SCE) by BLM for a term of 30 years with a right of renewal so long as the holder is complying with the lease/grant and applicable laws and regulations. The ROW grant will allow SCE the right to use, occupy, and develop the described public lands to construct, operate, maintain, and decommission a 500 kV transmission line, substation, telecommunications system, and associated facilities. The special use easement will be issued to SCE by the FS for a term of 50 years. The special use easement does not provide for renewal; however a new easement may be issued at the end of the term at the discretion of the authorized officer. The special use easement will authorize SCE to occupy and use National Forest System lands for electric transmission lines and associated facilities.
The ROW grant is conditioned on implementation of mitigation measures and monitoring programs as identified in the Final EIR/EIS, the Biological Opinion (BO) issued by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) on January 11, 2011, the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) Section 106 Programmatic Agreement (PA), the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) Conditions of Certification, and the issuance of all necessary local, state, and federal approvals, authorizations, and permits.
Data Completion Notes
BLM project website: http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/palmsprings/devers_paloverde.html CPUC project website: http://www.cpuc.ca.gov/Environment/info/aspen/dpv2/dpv2.htm
NEPA Resource Analysis Updated: May 2016.
Documents
EA/EIS Report:- Devers Palo Verde No2-FEIS 0 Executive Summary.pdf
- Devers Palo Verde No2-FEIS A Introduction.pdf
- Devers Palo Verde No2-FEIS B Description of Proposed Project.pdf
- Devers Palo Verde No2-FEIS B1 Description of Proposed Project Figures.pdf
- Devers Palo Verde No2-FEIS B2 Description of Proposed Project Figures.pdf
- Devers Palo Verde No2-FEIS C Alternatives.pdf
- Devers Palo Verde No2-FEIS C1 Alternatives Figures C-1a and C-1b.pdf
- Devers Palo Verde No2-FEIS C2 Alternatives Figures C-2a and C-2b.pdf
- Devers Palo Verde No2-FEIS D1 Introduction to Environmental Analysis.pdf
- Devers Palo Verde No2-FEIS D2 Biological Resources.pdf
- Devers Palo Verde No2-FEIS D2a Biological Resources Figures.pdf
- Devers Palo Verde No2-FEIS D3 Visual Resources.pdf
- Devers Palo Verde No2-FEIS D3a Visual Resources Figures D03-01A thru D03-01G.pdf
- Devers Palo Verde No2-FEIS D3b Visual Resources Figures D03-02 thru D03-20.pdf
- Devers Palo Verde No2-FEIS D3c Visual Resources Figures D03-21 thru D03-40.pdf
- Devers Palo Verde No2-FEIS D3d Visual Resources Appendix 1 Summary of Analysis.pdf
- Devers Palo Verde No2-FEIS D3e Visual Resources Appendix 2 Scenic Quality Field Inventory Forms.pdf
- Devers Palo Verde No2-FEIS D3f Visual Resources Appendix 3 Visual Resource Management Classification Forms.pdf
- Devers Palo Verde No2-FEIS D3g Visual Resources Appendix 4 Visual Contrast Rating Data Sheets.pdf
- Devers Palo Verde No2-FEIS D4 Land Use.pdf
- Devers Palo Verde No2-FEIS D5 Wilderness Recreation.pdf
- Devers Palo Verde No2-FEIS D5a Wilderness Recreation Appendix Figures 1-2.pdf
- Devers Palo Verde No2-FEIS D5b Wilderness Recreation Appendix Figures 3-4.pdf
- Devers Palo Verde No2-FEIS D6 Agriculture.pdf
- Devers Palo Verde No2-FEIS D7 Cultural and Paleontological Resources.pdf
- Devers Palo Verde No2-FEIS D8 Noise.pdf
- Devers Palo Verde No2-FEIS D9 Transportation and Traffic.pdf
- Devers Palo Verde No2-FEIS D10 Public Health and Safety.pdf
- Devers Palo Verde No2-FEIS D11 Air Quality.pdf
- Devers Palo Verde No2-FEIS D12 Hydrology and Water Resources.pdf
- Devers Palo Verde No2-FEIS D13 Geology Mineral Resources and Soils.pdf
- Devers Palo Verde No2-FEIS D14 Socioeconomics.pdf
- Devers Palo Verde No2-FEIS E Comparison of Alternatives.pdf
- Devers Palo Verde No2-FEIS F Cumulative Scenario and Impacts.pdf
- Devers Palo Verde No2-FEIS G Other CEQA and NEPA Requirements.pdf
- Devers Palo Verde No2-FEIS H Mitigation Monitoring.pdf
- Devers Palo Verde No2-FEIS I Public Participation.pdf
- Devers Palo Verde No2-FEIS J Glossary.pdf
- Devers Palo Verde No2-FEIS K Index.pdf
- Devers Palo Verde No2-FEIS L Comments and Responses to Comments combined.pdf
- Devers Palo Verde No2-FEIS M Appendix 1 Alternatives Screening Report.pdf
- Devers Palo Verde No2-FEIS M1 Appendix 1 Fig 1-01 and 1-01a.pdf
- Devers Palo Verde No2-FEIS M2 Appendix 1 Fig 1-02 and 1-02a.pdf
- Devers Palo Verde No2-FEIS M3 Appendix 1 Fig 1-03 and 1-04.pdf
- Devers Palo Verde No2-FEIS M4 Appendix 1 Fig 1-05 thru 1-07.pdf
- Devers Palo Verde No2-FEIS M5 Appendix 1 Fig 1-08 and 1-10.pdf
- Devers Palo Verde No2-FEIS M6 Appendix 1 Fig 1-11 and 1-12.pdf
- Devers Palo Verde No2-FEIS N Appendix 2 Policy Screening Report.pdf
- Devers Palo Verde No2-FEIS O Appendix 3 Tower Height Tables.pdf
- Devers Palo Verde No2-FEIS P Appendix 4 EIR-EIS Information Contacts.pdf
- Devers Palo Verde No2-FEIS Q Appendix 5 Preparers and Reviewers.pdf
- Devers Palo Verde No2-FEIS R Appendix 6 EMF Design Guidelines for Electrical Facilities.pdf
- Devers Palo Verde No2-FEIS S Appendix 7 Biological Resources.pdf
- Devers Palo Verde No2-FEIS T Appendix 8 Cultural Resources-Tribal Consultation.pdf
- Devers Palo Verde No2-FEIS U Appendix 9 Air Quality Data.pdf
- ROD
- Final EIS
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CloseSite construction workers would be staged offsite at or near paved intersections and workers would be shuttled in crew vehicles to construction sites. As part of the construction contract, SCE would require bidders to submit a con- struction transportation plan describing how workers would travel to the job site.
At all highway and recreation routes-of-travel crossings, including the Colorado River, towers will be placed at the maximum feasible distance, and when feasible, [except in locations where matching existing tower spacing is deemed appropriate]. (BLM B-6.3) [From “and where feasible,” the BLM text reads “...at right angles, from the crossing.” SCE has replaced this phrase in the bracketed text.] At all highway and recreation routes-of-travel crossings, including the I-10 crossing, towers would be placed at the maximum feasible distance, except in locations where matching existing tower spacing is deemed appropriate, and when feasible, at 90 degree angles from the crossing. |
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Runoff from roadways will be collected and diverted from steep, disturbed, or otherwise unstable slopes.
Cut and fill slopes will be minimized by a combination of benching and following natural topography where possible.
Along Link 10 in the Palo Verde Valley, H-frame structures, similar to the existing DPV1 structures, would be installed in this segment to reduce the amount of farmland permanently removed from production and minimize impacts to farm operations. Where feasible, additional mitigation measures would include matching tower spans, and aligning towers adjacent or parallel to field boundaries.
The line will be located to minimize the disruption of any active mining operations. Individual Ttransmission towers will not be sited on nor straddle the mapped traces of any known fault that has been tower site area before clearing, and will check the tower footing holes for any trace of a previously unmapped fault. If manifestations of a fault are found, construction will immediately stop at that site and the Holder will consult with the Holder’s Geologist and the BLM Authorized Officer. The Holder’s Geologist and the BLM Authorized Officer will determine if it is a fault trace and if so, will ascertain if it is active, potentially active, or inactive. Towers will be located so that the line will span the surface traces of active and potentially active faults such that a relative lateral surface displacement would shorten the span between towers, and thus avoid potential line breaks. Where this is not feasible, the Holder will incorporate slack spans to bridge the fault(s) such that the projected lateral surface displacement, as forecast by the Holder’s geologist Geologist and accepted by the BLM Authorized Officer, will not structurally affect the associated towers.
Towers will be located to avoid areas of highly sensitive dune sand areas. Where these areas cannot be avoided, towers will be located to minimize disturbance to the deposits at a site approved by the BLM Authorized Officer. (BLM B-2.5. Note: Text here omits references to specific figures and maps in the original.
SCE will provide a list of sites where helicopter construction is recommended. The Authorized Officer may require, on a site-specific basis, helicopter assisted construction in sensitive areas. Sensitive areas are those that exhibit both (1) high erosion potential and/or slope instability; and (2) a lack of existing access stub roads within a reasonable distance of the tower site (generally no more than 1⁄4 mile), or existing access that is not suitable for upgrading to accommodate conventional tower construction or line stringing equipment, and where it is determined that, after field review, the issues of erosion and/or slope instability cannot be successfully mitigated through implementation of accepted engineering practices. Mitigation of potentially significant impacts to the western end of the proposed transmission line due to (1) potential surface fault rupture along the Banning, Mission Creek, and Mecca Hills faults, and (2) potential for severe seismic shaking can be achieved by standard design methods listed below: a. Individual Ttowers will be sited so as not to straddle active fault traces. The alignment will be designed to cross an active fault such that future rupture on the fault would not cause excessive stress on the line or the towers. c. Standard foundation and structural design measures will be utilized to minimize the impact from severe seismic shaking. Appropriate design of tower foundations will be used to reduce the potential for settlement and compaction.
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Individual Ttransmission towers will not be sited on nor straddle the mapped traces of any known fault that has been designated active or potentially active. In areas where known faults are present, the Holder5 will visually check the tower site area before clearing, and will check the tower footing holes for any trace of a previously unmapped fault. If manifestations of a fault are found, construction will immediately stop at that site and the Holder will consult with the Holder’s Geologist and the BLM Authorized Officer. The Holder’s Geologist and the BLM Authorized Officer will determine if it is a fault trace and if so, will ascertain if it is active, potentially active, or inactive. |
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CloseNew access road construction will be kept to a minimum. (BLM B 1.2) |
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CloseAccess - To the maximum extent possible, access for transmission line construction and maintenance should occur from public roads and designated routes.
Disturbed areas - To the maximum extent possible, transmission pylons and poles, equipment storage areas, and wire-pulling sites should be sited in a manner that avoids desert tortoise burrows. Restoration - Whenever possible, spur roads and access roads and other disturbed sites created during construction should be recontoured and restored. Ravens - All transmission lines should be designed in a manner that would reduce the likelihood of nesting by com- mon ravens. Each transmission line company should remove any common raven nests that are found on its structures. Transmission line companies must obtain a permit from USFWS's Division of Law Enforcement Migratory Birds to take common ravens or their nests. No clearing of or other disturbance to riparian habitats. If unavoidable, riparian habitats must be replaced or restored. This action will benefit several riparian bird species including summer tanager, yellow warbler, yellow breasted chat, least Bell's vireo, and southwestern willow flycatcher. Avoid impact to mesquite-dominated habitats to protect crissal thrasher. Minimize impact to or removal of creosote bush to benefit Le Conte's thrasher. Avoid any alterations to the vegetation structure of Washington fan palm oases to benefit southern yellow bat. Avoid any alterations of mesquite hummock habitat to benefit Coachella Valley round-tailed squirrel. Wash communities along the entire route and sand dune communities in the Coachella Valley (see Map 10-AZ in the Draft SEIS and Figure 4.5-1 in the CPUC Draft EIR, 1987) will be spanned to the extent possible. Prior to construction activities, the Holder shall have a qualified tortoise biologist present a class or briefing to con- struction workers. Subjects addressed shall include tortoise sensitivity to human disturbance, daily and seasonal activity patterns, and proper handling for removal from roadways. The Holder shall hire a qualified tortoise biologist to conduct daily inspections of roads and work areas within tortoise habitat during the tortoise season of activity (February 15 to June 15, July 15 to October 15). Tortoises found to be in jeopardy will be removed to a nearby site. Tortoises may be held for short periods, if judged necessary, to allow con- struction crews to pass through an area. The Holder will provide proper facilities for such temporary holding. The Holder shall restrict the speed on all roads within tortoise habitat to a maximum of 25 miles per hour. The Holder is responsible for ensuring compliance with this limit by its employees. Within tortoise habitat in California, spur roads shall not be bladed except where necessary to allow access for con- struction vehicles. Required vehicles shall enter on one pathway which is flagged and developed only by the passage of vehicles crushing vegetation. The spur shall be flagged by a qualified tortoise biologist prior to use. The spur shall avoid tortoise burrows and large perennial plants, yet be as short as possible within these requirements. Due to the presence of silty soils in Arizona, blading may occur. Any desert tortoise observed on access roads or work areas will be moved immediately 100 yards away from the roadway into safe areas. In areas considered to comprise suitable tortoise habitat, or other areas where tortoise are observed, all access roads and tower construction sites will be surveyed by a qualified biologist to delineate burrows or individuals for protection. Burrows near construction sites will be clearly delineated on the ground. Road, footing, and work area alignments should be modified to the extent possible to avoid aversely affecting any tortoise burrows encountered during these surveys. Where tortoise burrows will be unavoidably destroyed, they should be excavated carefully using hand tools, under the supervision of a field biologist with demonstrated prior experience with this species. See Map 11-AZ in Appendix F in the Draft EIS (1988) and Figure 4.5-2 in the Devers–Palo Verde No. 2 EIR (1987). Also see Appendix E for link and milepost descriptions and mitigation measures. |
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CloseScreening vegetation shall be planted along the east side of Salome Highway between mile markers 39 and 40. Vegetation shall be comprised of native species and shall be selected to achieve heights and screen effectiveness comparable to that shown in Figure D.3-30B (see enclosed CD). SCE shall submit a Screening Plan demonstrating compliance with this mea- sure to the CPUC for review and approval at least 90 days prior to installing the landscape screening. If the CPUC notifies SCE that revisions to the Plan are needed before the Plan can be approved, within 30 days of receiving that notification, SCE shall prepare and submit for review and approval a revised Plan. The Screening Plan shall include but not necessarily be limited to:
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