BLM News Release

1. For Release: May 23, 2006
Contact: Doran Sanchez (951) 697-5220; E-mail: Doran_Sanchez@ca.blm.gov
CA-CDD-06-68

Draft Environmental Document for Proposed Electric Transmission Line Available for Public Review
Workshops and Public Hearings Scheduled

2. The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) have released a joint draft environmental impact report/environmental impact statement (EIR/EIS) analyzing a proposed electrical transmission line project between southern California and Arizona for public review and comment.

Southern California Edison (SCE) is proposing to construct a new 230-mile long, 500-kilovolt (kV) electrical transmission line between SCE's Devers substation, located near Palm Springs, California, and the Harquahala generating station switchyard, located near the Palo Verde nuclear generating station, west of Phoenix, Arizona. In addition, SCE is proposing to upgrade over 48 miles of existing 230 kV transmission lines between the Devers substation, west to the San Bernardino and Vista substations, located in the San Bernardino, California vicinity.

The draft EIR/EIS analyzes the proposed project, potential environmental impacts associated with the construction and operation, mitigation measures and the range of alternatives, including a "No-Action" alternative. To help the public understand the proposed project, the BLM and CPUC have scheduled workshops and public hearings as opportunities to speak with the specialists who wrote the draft EIR/EIS and submit written and oral public comments. Written comments may be submitted at the workshops, and oral and written comments will be accepted at the public participation hearings. The public workshops and hearings are scheduled as follows:

- Tuesday, June 6

Workshops 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Harquahala Valley Irrigation District
402 S. Harquahala Valley Road
Tonopah, AZ 85354

- Wednesday, June 7

Workshops 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Public Participation Hearing 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.,
City of Beaumont Civic Center Council Chambers
550 E. 6th St.,
Beaumont, CA 92223

- Thursday, June 8:

workshop 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Public Participation Hearing 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
UC Riverside Palm Desert Campus, Rooms B-114 and B-117
75080 Frank Sinatra Drive
Palm Desert, CA 92211

Together, the proposed 500 kV line and the 230 kV transmission facility upgrades are known as DPV2. The proposed route crosses public, private and federal lands managed by the BLM and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) in Arizona and California. The entire project would span 278 miles, with approximately 176 miles in California and 102 miles in Arizona. If approved, both federal agencies would issue rights-of-way grants to SCE.

Construction of DPV2 would add 1,200 megawatts (MW) of transmission import capacity from the southwestern United States to California, which would reduce energy costs throughout California and enhance the reliability of California's energy supply. The BLM identified issues that are addressed in this analysis, including the impacts of the proposed project on visual resources, agricultural lands, air quality, plant and animal species, cultural resources, and watersheds. Other issues identified are impacts to the public in the form of noise, traffic, accidental release of hazardous materials, and impacts to urban, residential, and recreational areas.

Publication of the Federal Register Notice announcing the availability of the document will initiate the 60-day public review and comment period. Submit comments to the Bureau of Land Management, Palm Springs-South Coast Field Office; Attention: Greg Hill, P.O. Box 581260, North Palm Springs, Calif. 92258. All comments must be postmarked by July 5, 2006 and will be incorporated into the final EIR/EIS that will be used to make a final decision on the access road proposals.

The draft EIR/EIS is available online at the BLM web site: www.blm.gov/ca/palmsprings.

Copies of the document also can be viewed at the BLM Palm Springs-South Coast Field Office, 690 West Garnet Ave., North Palm Springs, Calif. 92258; at public libraries in Buckeye and Quartzite, Arizona; and Redlands, Banning, Beaumont, Calimesa, Cathedral City, Loma Linda, Riverside, Coachella, Colton, Desert Hot Springs, Grand Terrace, Indio, Mentone, Palm Desert, Palo Verde, Rancho Mirage, San Bernardino, and Yucaipa, California.

For more information and to obtain a printed copy of the draft EIS/EIR, contact Greg Hill, planning and environmental coordinator, at (760) 251-4840.

-BLM-

California Desert District Office
22835 Calle San Juan De Los Lagos
Moreno Valley, California
(951) 697-5220

Page last updated: 2006-05-23 08:23:17.34