SCH Number 2023120696

Project Info

Title

Lugo-Victorville Remedial Action Scheme Project

Description

The proposed Project by Southern California Edison (SCE) (Applicant) aims to prevent thermal overloading of the existing Lugo-Victorville 500kV Transmission Line to reliably interconnect and integrate multiple renewable generation projects in the eastern California and southern Nevada area onto the California Independent System Operator controlled grid. The proposed Project includes the installation of a new telecommunication path in the existing utility corridor, including the replacement of overhead ground wire (OHGW), optical fiber nonconducting riser (OFNR) cable, and/or all-dielectric self-supporting (ADSS) fiber-optic cable between the existing Eldorado Substation in Nevada, and Cima, Pisgah, and Gale Substations in California. The Project would replace 34 existing poles and install 17 new telecommunication poles along the existing transmission corridor. New and replacement pole risers, anchors, and manholes would also be installed as part of the project. Existing access roads would be utilized to the extent possible. The Project is subject to CEQA and requires an Incidental Take Permit (ITP) under the California Endangered Species Act (CESA) for the protection of the Mojave desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) and the gilded flicker (Colaptes chrysoides). The ITP, if issued by CDFW subject to certain conditions, would remain in effect for 30 years. The Project also requires that the Applicant notify CDFW under section 1602 of the Fish and Game Code to obtain a CDFW-executed Lake and Streambed Alteration Agreement (LSAA) authorizing impacts to Fish and Game Code section 1602 resources associated with the Project. An LSAA is required between CDFW and an entity proposing to substantially divert or obstruct the natural flow or substantially change the bed, channel, or bank of any river, stream, or lake. The LSAA is designed to protect the fish and wildlife resources of a river, stream, or lake. CDFW, consistent with their obligation as the CEQA lead agency, has analyzed and disclosed the environmental effects of the proposed Project as part of the “whole of the action” in the Draft IS/MND. Notwithstanding the proposed exercise of CDFW’s regulatory authority under the California Fish and Game Code, the Draft IS/MND addresses other potential environmental impacts across the resource spectrum that may result from construction, operations, and maintenance of the Project over the 30-year period and are relevant under CEQA. The primary objectives of the proposed Project are to reliably interconnect and integrate multiple renewable energy generation projects in the eastern California and southern Nevada area onto the California Independent System Operator controlled grid and ensure adherence to rigorous environmental standards. Regional access to the Project area is provided by I-40, I-15, SR-247, SR-95, and SR-164. The majority of roadways spanned by the Project area consist of local unpaved roadways. Pioneer Road, Newberry Road, Daggett-Yermo Road, and Nipton Road would be used to access Project components and construction yards. Segment 1 of the proposed Project runs parallel to I-40 from the Gale to Pisgah Substations and is accessible from Route 66. Segment 2 of the proposed Project would be accessed primarily by helicopters based at Hesperia Airport, Barstow-Daggett Airport, Baker Airport, Jean Airport, and staged at construction yards, including the Daggett Construction Yard. The portion of Segment 2 in Clark County can be accessed via SR-164. Up to 121 construction personnel may be present at any given time over the 1-year construction period between Segment 1 and Segment 2 combined. Construction is anticipated to begin in 2024. Construction crews would generally work Monday through Saturday for approximately 10 hours per day. Project construction activities would generally occur between 5:00 a.m. and 7:30 p.m., depending on time of year, including travel time. Crews may travel to and set up at sites before sunrise or clean up and travel from sites after sunset. Noise-generating construction activities on private land will occur between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., consistent with the San Bernardino County Development Code and the mitigation measures in the Draft IS/MND. Nighttime construction work is not anticipated for the proposed Project; however, if temporary artificial nighttime lighting is required, it will be consistent with the mitigation measures in the Draft IS/MND. Operations and maintenance activities are currently implemented by SCE within the Lugo-Victorville Project ROW on the existing infrastructure, which would continue to be maintained on a similar schedule following implementation of the proposed Project.

3 documents in project