[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 184 (Monday, September 23, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58270-58272]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-22904]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Cleveland National Forest, California, SDG&E Master Special Use
Permit and Permit To Construct Power Line Replacement Projects EIR/EIS
AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare a joint Environmental Impact
Report/Environmental Impact Statement.
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SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental
Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), as amended, notice is hereby given that the
Cleveland National Forest (CNF), together with the California Public
Utilities Commission (CPUC), intends to prepare a joint Environmental
Impact Report and Environmental Impact Statement (EIR/EIS), for the San
Diego Gas & Electric Company (SDG&E) Master Special Use Permit and
Permit to Construct Power Line Replacement Projects. The Master Special
Use Permit would authorize SDG&E to upgrade and/or relocate certain
electric powerlines on National Forest System lands, while providing
for the operation and maintenance of the SDG&E electric powerline
system. The project area is located in multiple locations within the
Trabuco, Palomar, and Descanso Ranger Districts, Cleveland National
Forest, Orange and San Diego Counties, California. This action is
needed because the existing authorizations are expired, and the
existing powerlines are needed to supply power to local communities,
residents, businesses, and government owned facilities located within
and adjacent to the National Forest. The project study area not only
traverses National Forest System lands, but due to the patchwork of
land ownership in the project study area, also traverses the National
System of Public Lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM);
tribal lands of the La Jolla, Campo, Inaja, and Viejas Indian
Reservations managed by the respective tribes and held in trust by the
Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA); Cuyamaca Rancho State Park lands
managed by California State Parks (CSP); and private holdings within
unincorporated San Diego County amongst others.
DATES: All scoping comments must be received by November 7, 2013.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments to Lisa Orsaba, California Public
Utilities Commission, and Will Metz, Forest Supervisor, Cleveland
National Forest by either of the following methods:
Email: [email protected].
Mail: c/o Dudek, 605 Third Street, Encinitas, California 92024.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Information can be requested by
leaving a voice message at 866-467-4727 or by checking the project Web
site at http://www.cpuc.ca.gov/environment/info/dudek/CNF/CNF.htm.
Individuals who use telecommunication devices for the deaf (TDD)
may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339
between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern Time, Monday through Friday.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In 2005, in consultation with the Forest
Service, SDG&E submitted an initial application to obtain a Master
Special Use Permit (MSUP). The purpose of the MSUP was to consolidate
SDG&E's rights and responsibilities in connection with the continued
operation of its electric lines and other existing facilities located
within the CNF. As part of the NEPA review process, the Forest Service
circulated an Environmental Assessment (EA) for public comment in
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2009. In response to public comments received on that EA, the Forest
Service determined that additional fire risk reduction measures within
the CNF (including fire hardening) and additional undergrounding should
be evaluated as part of the MSUP review process and that, as a result,
an environmental impact statement (EIS) was required.
SDG&E has expanded the scope of the proposed MSUP to include fire
hardening, undergrounding and relocation as proposed in the power line
replacement projects discussed in their application to the CPUC. The
proposed power line replacement projects will require approval from the
CPUC.
The CPUC, Forest Service, BLM, BIA, and CSP have independent
jurisdiction and approval authority for the project segments within
their areas of jurisdiction. The CPUC is the lead agency under
California law and the Forest Service is the lead federal agency. As
joint lead agencies, the CPUC and Forest Service have developed and
signed a Memorandum of Understanding (January 2012) that will direct
the preparation of a joint Environmental Impact Report (EIR) to comply
with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and an
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to comply with the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The joint document will be called the
``SDG&E Master Special Use Permit and Permit to Construct Power Line
Replacement Projects EIR/EIS. The BLM and BIA are joining the Forest
Service as federal cooperating agencies under NEPA, and the CSP is
participating as a responsible agency under CEQA.
Purpose and Need for Action
The Forest Service purpose is to authorize the powerlines and
associated facilities needed to continue electric service to a variety
of users within and adjacent to the CNF through a Master Special Use
Permit in a manner that is consistent with the CNF Land Management Plan
(LMP). This action is needed because the 70 individual permits or
easements for the existing facilities have expired, and a permit is
required for the continued occupancy and use of National Forest System
lands.
Permits issued by the Forest Service are required by law to be
consistent with the LMP. The LMP identifies suitable uses within
various land use zones, describes desired conditions based on the LMP
goals and objectives, and sets resource management standards. The
Forest Service proposed action is designed to be consistent with the
LMP requirements. The Forest Service purpose and need will guide the
development of alternatives considered on National Forest System lands.
The BLM purpose is to authorize the powerlines and associated
facilities needed to continue electric service to a variety of users
within and adjacent to the National System of Public Lands in a manner
that is consistent with the South Coast Resource Area Plan. This action
is needed because the Right-of-Way (ROW) grants for the existing
facilities have expired or were never issued, and a ROW grant is
required for the continued occupancy and use of Public Lands.
The BIA purpose is to authorize the powerlines and associated
upgrades needed to continue electric service to a variety of users
within and adjacent to the Indian trust lands in a manner that is
consistent with tribal land use goals and policies. The action is
needed to amend the existing easements to include the proposed fire
hardening measures and locations and to extend their term.
Proposed Action
The Forest Service proposed action would combine over 70 existing
use permits for electric line facilities within the CNF into one MSUP.
The MSUP would allow the continued maintenance and operation of more
than 50 miles of 69 kV power lines and 12 kV distribution lines and
ancillary facilities that are required to operate and maintain existing
electric facilities located within the administrative boundary of the
CNF. The Project would also replace several existing 69 kV power lines
and 12 kV distribution lines located within and outside of the CNF.
Replacement would include fire hardening (wood to steel pole
replacement), along with removal, relocation, undergrounding and single
to double circuit conversion along certain segments. Specific
components of the Forest Service proposed action include relocating
transmission line (TL) number 626 out of the Cedar Creek undeveloped
area, relocating distribution line 79 out of the Sill Hill Inventoried
Roadless Area, and relocating distribution line 157 out of the Hauser
Wilderness Area. A more detailed description of the proposed action is
available in the Notice of Preparation posted on the project Web site.
The BLM proposed action would authorize one electric line and issue
new ROW grants for two electric lines, and authorize the fire hardening
upgrades. This action includes portions of TL 629, TL 6923, and TL 625.
The BIA proposed action would authorize the fire hardening upgrades
and amend the term and location of the existing easements. This action
includes portions of TL 629 and TL 682.
Possible Alternatives
The EIR/EIS will describe and evaluate the comparative merits of a
reasonable range of alternatives to the proposed action and associated
Powerline Replacement Projects. Alternatives to be analyzed in the EIR/
EIS will be developed during the environmental review process and will
consider input received during scoping, and will include the no action
alternative as required by law.
Responsible Official
The Responsible Official for the Forest Service decision is Will
Metz, Forest Supervisor, Cleveland National Forest.
The Responsible Official for the BLM decision is John Kalish, Field
Manager, Palm Springs South Coast Field Office.
The Responsible Official for the BIA decision is Amy L. Dutschke,
Regional Director, BIA Pacific Region.
The Commissioners appointed to the CPUC are the deciding body for
the Permit to Construct.
The Responsible Official for the CSP decision is Dan Falat,
Colorado Desert District Superintendent.
Nature of Decision To Be Made
Each agency has independent decision authority within their
jurisdictional area. The federal responsible officials, as well as the
CSP, will decide whether or not to authorize their portions of the
project, and if so, under what conditions. The CPUC has independent
jurisdiction over power lines and will determine if a Permit to
Construct will be issued, and if so, under what conditions.
Preliminary Issues
The Forest Service and CPUC have identified potential issues and
impacts to the existing environment require a detailed analysis in the
EIR/EIS. Those issues and impacts include aesthetics, air quality,
biological resources, cultural and paleontological resources,
greenhouse gas emissions, fire, water quality, land use, noise, public
services, recreation, wilderness, and transportation. No determinations
have yet been made as to the significance of these potential impacts;
such determinations will be made in the environmental analysis
conducted in the EIR/EIS after the issues are considered thoroughly.
This overview is presented to assist the public and
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agencies in preparing written scoping comments.
Invitation to Cooperating Agencies
The Forest Service invites other federal agencies or tribes to join
as cooperating agencies. Requests for cooperating agency status may be
submitted to Forest Supervisor Will Metz, Cleveland National Forest,
10845 Rancho Bernardo Road, Suite 200, San Diego, CA 92127-2107.
Scoping Process
The CPUC and Forest Service are initiating the joint CEQA/NEPA
scoping process with this Notice of Intent and associated Notice of
Preparation. The comments received during scoping will help guide the
development of the EIR/EIS. Two public workshops will be held during
the scoping process to answer questions about the proposed action.
Workshops will be held at the Julian Elementary School, 1704 Cape Horn,
Julian, California, on Tuesday, October 22, 2013 at 5:00 p.m., and at
the Alpine Community Center, 1830 Alpine Boulevard, Alpine, California,
on Wednesday, October 23, 2013 at 5:00 p.m.
It is important that reviewers provide their comments at such times
and in such a way that they are useful to the CPUC and Forest Service
preparation of the EIR/EIS. Therefore, comments should be provided
prior to the close of the comment period and should clearly articulate
the reviewer's concerns and contentions.
Comments received during scoping, including names and addresses of
those who comment, will be part of the public record for this proposed
project. Comments submitted anonymously will be accepted and
considered; however, anonymous comments will not provide the respondent
with standing to participate in subsequent administrative review or
judicial review of the Forest Service decision. This project will
follow the predecisional administrative review process pursuant to 36
CFR 218, Subparts A and B.
Dated: September 16, 2013.
William Metz,
Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 2013-22904 Filed 9-20-13; 8:45 am]
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