McCullough-Victorville Lines 1 and 2 Upgrade Project
3 Documents in Project
Summary
SCH Number
2024040144
Lead Agency
Los Angeles Department of Water and Power
Document Title
McCullough-Victorville Lines 1 and 2 Upgrade Project
Document Type
NOD - Notice of Determination
Received
Posted
10/24/2024
Document Description
McCullough-Victorville (MCC-VIC) Transmission Lines 1 and 2 are two existing 500 kilovolt (kV) electrical power lines which run parallel to each other and are supported on approximately 1,740 single-circuit towers and spanning over 160 miles from McCullough Switching Station in Nevada, through several mountain ranges, into the Mojave Desert and ending at the Victorville Switching Station in California. The proposed project would upgrade the McCullough-Victorville Transmission Lines 1 and 2 circuits to newly rate them as 570kV at 2500 Amperes (A)/3000A from their current rating of 500kV at 1600A/2400A.
The upgrade of the existing McCullough-Victorville Transmission Lines would provide critical transmission capacity and is required to accommodate incoming renewable energy resources along the west of Colorado River Path 46 transmission corridor to ensure the continued safe and reliable operation of the lines. This proposed project supports LADWP’s goal to transition to a clean energy future, with ongoing efforts to transition from coal to renewable energy, influenced by Los Angeles City Council’s vote in 2021 to commit to 100% carbon-free energy. The additional 475 megawatts (MW) would contribute over 15% towards LADWP’s Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) as part of LADWP’s commitment to be 100% carbon-free by 2035, 10 years ahead of the State’s target.
The Project would consist of modifications and/or replacement of existing insulators and hardware assemblies, raising existing transmission towers as needed to mitigate any ground clearance violations, replacing towers as needed within the footprints of existing tower sites, repairing or replacing damaged structural members, replacing conductors, ground wire, and re-tensioning conductors, repairing/retrofitting existing main access roads and spur roads, and replacing or reinforcing tower foundations where needed.
Construction of the Proposed Project is anticipated to begin in mid-2026 and continue through 2028. The upgraded transmission lines are anticipated to be fully operational by the end of 2028.
The proposed Project would upgrade the two existing single-circuit transmission lines to increase their capacity to newly rate them at approximately 570 kV from their current rating of 500 kV. The Project spans 162 miles from Boulder City, Nevada to the Victorville Switching Station in Victorville, California and consists of modifications and/or replacement of existing insulators and hardware assemblies, raising existing transmission towers as needed, replacing towers as needed within the footprints of existing tower sites, repairing or replacing damaged structural members, replacing conductors, ground wire, and re-tensioning conductors, repairing/retrofitting existing main access roads and spur roads, and replacing or reinforcing tower foundations where needed.
Contact Information
Name
Matthew Kerby
Agency Name
Los Angeles Department of Water and Power
Job Title
Environmental Specialist
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency / Project Applicant / Parties Undertaking Project
Phone
Email
Location
Coordinates
Cities
Barstow, Unincorporated, Victorville
Counties
San Bernardino
Regions
Unincorporated
Cross Streets
Various
Zip
Various
Total Acres
1437
Parcel #
Various
State Highways
I-15, I-40, SR-247, SR-127
Railways
Amtrak Thruway, BNSF Railroad
Airports
Barstow-Dagget
Schools
Baker Valley Unified School District
Waterways
Mojave River
Township
Many
Range
Many
Section
Many
Other Location Info
Project location is Powerline Rd., our ROW for our transmission towers located West of the I-15 freeway throughout San Bernardino County, Southeast of I-15 for a portion south of Barstow.
Other Information
Please see project location maps for additional location details.
Notice of Determination
Approving Agency
Los Angeles Department of Water and Power
Approving Agency Role
Lead Agency
Approved On
County Clerk
San Bernardino
Final Environmental Document Available at
111. N Hope St., Room 1044, Los Angeles, CA 90012 and www.ladwp.com/reports/environmental-reports
Determinations
(1) The project will have a significant impact on the environment
Yes
(2a) An Environmental Impact Report was prepared for this project pursuant to the provisions of CEQA
Yes
(2b) A Mitigated or a Negative Declaration was prepared for this project pursuant to the provisions of CEQA
No
(2c) An other document type was prepared for this project pursuant to the provisions of CEQA
No
(3) Mitigated measures were made a condition of the approval of the project
Yes
(4) A mitigation reporting or monitoring plan was adopted for this project
Yes
(5) A Statement of Overriding Considerations was adopted for this project
Yes
(6) Findings were made pursuant to the provisions of CEQA
Yes
Attachments
Final Document(s) [Approved_Certified draft environmental documents]
Notice of Determination
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