Table Mountain Substation 4 Extension Project, Butte County
Summary
SCH Number
2005068411
Public Agency
Regional Water Quality Control Board, Region 5 (Central Valley), Redding
Document Title
Table Mountain Substation 4 Extension Project, Butte County
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
6/27/2005
Document Description
The Table Mountain Substation is being expanded to accommodate new circuit breakers and transmission line that provide protection to the high voltage lines entering the substation. The project is part of the larger plan to upgrade PG&E's protection system for the high voltage electrical grid to minimize the chance for wide scale electrical interruptions. The physical expansion of the existing yard is necessary so the existing circuit breakers may remain in operation until the new breakers are installed. Once the new breakers are operational, the old breakers will be removed from the site. The equipment being replaced serves the same purpose as the new breaker and there will be no increase in electrical transmission capacity as a result of the project. The only space available within the existing substation to accommodate the new circuit breakers is along the southeast side of the site. The property east of the substation is presently privately owned rangeland that supports cattle grazing. There is a large vernal pool complex that occupies most of the private property and the pools are potential habitat for two federally listed vernal pool shrimp species. [No state-listed species will be affected by the project.] As such, a physical expansion to the east is the least environmentally desirable alternative given the permanent impacts that would occur and the mitigation that would be required. The proposed transmission line connection along the southeast side of the site minimizes permanent impacts and, with careful planning, minimizes temporary construction impacts to these sensitive resources. This project will have both direct and indirect impacts to vernal pools; therefore, PG&E will purchase 3.189 acres of vernal pool credits at the Dove Ridge Mitigation Bank in Butte County.
Contact Information
Name
Scott A. Zaitz
Agency Name
Regional Water Quality Control Board, Region 5 (Central Valley),
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Location
Counties
Butte
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Section 15302
Reasons for Exemption
Class 2 consists of replacement or reconstruction of existing structures and facilities where the new structure will be located on the same site as the structure replaced and will have substantially the same purpose and capacity at the structure replaced, including but not limited to:
(a) Replacement or reconstruction of existing schools and hospitals to provide earthquake resistant structures which do not increase capacity more than 50 percent.
(b) Replacement of a commercial structure with a new structure of substantially the same size, purpose, and capacity.
(c) Replacement or reconstruction of existing utility systems and/or facilities involving negligible or no expansion of capacity.
(d) Conversion of overhead electric utility distribution system facilities to underground including connection to existing overhead electric utility distribution lines where the surface is restored to the condition existing prior to the undergrounding.
This project is categorically exempt because it involves the replacement or reconstruction of an existing facility where the new structure will be located on the same site as the existing structure.
Disclaimer: The document was originally posted before CEQAnet had the capability to host attachments for the public. To obtain the original attachments for this document, please contact the lead agency at the contact information listed above. You may also contact the OPR via email at state.clearinghouse@opr.ca.gov or via phone at (916) 445-0613.