California High-Speed Rail Central Valley Photovoltaic and Battery Energy Storage System Project

California High-Speed Rail Central Valley Photovoltaic and Battery Energy Storage System Project

The California High-Speed Rail Authority (Authority), as the Lead Agency for the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) process for a proposed California High-Speed Rail (CAHSR) system, is issuing this Notice of Preparation (NOP) for preparing an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for a Photovoltaic (PV) and Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) Project to be located in the Central Valley, California (Central Valley PV/BESS Project).The purpose of the Central Valley PV/BESS Project is for the Authority to operate the HSR System on 100 percent renewable energy through solar generation and battery storage on Authority-owned land. The PV will produce the energy to power the system while the BESS will provide energy backup in the event of an outage and reduce peak-demand during normal train operations. The Authority also intends to publish a Notice of Intent (NOI) for initiating public scoping under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) needed for preparing the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). Ultimately, the Authority intends to publish a joint EIR/EIS document. This NOP initiates the State CEQA process and the preparation of an EIR for the Central Valley PV/BESS Project. The Authority is issuing this NOP to solicit public and agency input on the development of the scope of the EIR and to advise the public that outreach activities will be conducted by the Authority and its representatives in the preparation of an EIR/EIS.

Bowles, Hanford, Merced, Wasco

Fresno, Kern, Kings, Merced

Countywide, Unincorporated

California Air Resources Board (ARB), California Department of Conservation (DOC), California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR), California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Central Region 4 (CDFW), California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE), California Department of Parks and Recreation, California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC), California Department of Transportation, District 6 (DOT), California Department of Transportation, Division of Aeronautics (DOT), California Department of Transportation, Division of Transportation Planning (DOT), California Department of Water Resources (DWR), California Energy Commission, California Governor's Office of Emergency Services (OES), California Highway Patrol (CHP), California Natural Resources Agency, California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), California Regional Water Quality Control Board, Central Valley Fresno Region 5 (RWQCB), California San Joaquin River Conservancy (SJRC), California State Lands Commission (SLC), Central Valley Flood Protection Board, Department of General Services (DGS), Office of Historic Preservation, State Water Resources Control Board, Division of Drinking Water, State Water Resources Control Board, Division of Water Quality, State Water Resources Control Board, Division of Water Rights, California Native American Heritage Commission (NAHC)

California Native American Heritage Commission (NAHC)

Transportation:Rail (High-Speed Rail), Power:Solar (Megawatts 9.3)

Public Works

Aesthetics, Agriculture and Forestry Resources, Air Quality, Biological Resources, Cultural Resources, Cumulative Effects, Drainage/Absorption, Economics/Jobs, Energy, Fiscal Impacts, Flood Plain/Flooding, Geology/Soils, Growth Inducement, Hazards & Hazardous Materials, Hydrology/Water Quality, Land Use/Planning, Mineral Resources, Noise, Population/Housing, Public Services, Recreation, Schools/Universities, Septic System, Sewer Capacity, Solid Waste, Transportation, Tribal Cultural Resources, Vegetation, Wetland/Riparian, Wildfire, EMF/EMI, Safety & Security