CPUC Approves SCE West of Devers Upgrade Project and Certifies the EIR

On August 18, 2016, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) approved Southern California Edison Co.’s West of Devers Upgrade Project (Riverside and San Bernardino Counties).  The project, one of the tens of major transmission lines assessment conducted by Aspen,  is located within an existing 45-mile long SCE transmission right-of-way. The re-built transmission facilities would increase transmission capacity by 3,200 MW from the desert in eastern Riverside County to the San Bernardino area.

Aspen provided technical assistance in preparation of the Draft EIR/EIS for the CPUC and the Bureau of Land Management, then a Final EIR for the CPUC (December 2015) and a Final EIS for the BLM (August 2016). The CPUC certified the EIR as being compliant with CEQA requirements. The BLM will issue a Record of Decision in the next few months.  Aspen will also perform construction monitoring, ensuring that all mitigation measures adopted by the CPUC and BLM are implemented.

The EIR and EIS describe the SCE Proposed Project and three alternatives: Tower Relocation Alternative, Iowa Street 66 kV Underground Alternative, Phased Build Alternative. The first two alternatives were included in the CPUC approved project, and are identified by the BLM as the Agency Preferred Alternative.

For more information about the project, check out the CPUC website or the BLM website.