Aspen Completes EIR For POLB And SCE Transmission Line Replacement Project
Aspen recently applied its extensive transmission line experience in completing an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the Port of Long Beach (POLB) on the Southern California Edison Transmission Line Replacement Project. The EIR was unanimously certified and the project approved by the POLB’s Board of Harbor Commissioners on December 11, 2017. This project includes replacing the existing SCE transmission facilities (transmission towers and conductor) that cross the Cerritos Channel northwest of where the new Gerald Desmond Bridge is currently being constructed within the POLB. One of the objectives for replacing the Gerald Desmond Bridge was to provide sufficient vertical clearance for the safe navigation of larger container ships through the Back Channel to the Inner Harbor, which would also provide access to the Cerritos Channel. The existing power lines crossing the Cerritos Channel, however, were built in the 1920s when the vertical clearance under the lines was set for the masts of sailing ships. As such, this clearance is now insufficient to accommodate the larger container ships currently in service and planned for the future with the raising of the Gerald Desmond Bridge.
SCE’s project will replace and raise the existing 66 kilovolt (kV) and 12 kV lines crossing the Cerritos Channel, and remove the existing 220 kV lines between the Harborgen Substation (Pier A) and Long Beach Substation (Pier S/Terminal Island) that are no longer necessary.
Some of the issues the EIR analysis had to take into consideration included the historic nature of the existing transmission lines, as well as the constraints of Section 10 of the River and Harbors Act of 1899, which prohibits unauthorized impediments to navigation, and California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) General Order 95 (GO 95), Rule 31.6, Abandoned Lines, which requires permanently abandoned lines to be removed.
Removal of the existing towers as part of the project will require the use of helicopters, which will produce high noise levels at the project site and along the routes between the local airports where refueling activities would occur, as well as create air quality emissions that will exceed the South Coast Air Quality Management District thresholds. Aspen worked with the POLB and SCE, to ensure adequate and feasible mitigation to reduce air emissions associated with the use of helicopters. It was determined that the medium and heavy-lift helicopters would only be required for lifts over 200 feet. As such, a mitigation measure was developed that minimizes the use of these helicopters for both demolition and construction of the towers for heights over 200 feet above ground. To reduce significant noise impacts, the hours of helicopter use was also restricted to ensure conformance with the Long Beach Municipal Code and a Flight Plan will be required to help avoid noise-sensitive receptors, such as schools and hospitals.
Aspen’s unparalleled experience with transmission lines, CPUC requirements, and our ability to closely work with the POLB and SCE to fully understand the project and the permitting and regulatory constraints, as well as develop practical and feasible alternatives, allowed us to effectively produce a high-quality, legally defensible EIR on behalf of the POLB. This EIR was completed in just over one year (NOP issued October 24, 2016, and Final EIR issued November 30, 2017). The POLB’s Project Manager, Kirsten Berg, complimented Aspen following the Board of Harbor Commissioners meeting noting that “Lisa [Blewitt] and the team were able to jump in on anything and everything I needed help with, and under tight deadlines. The team was able to make suggestions when needed and react to changing project components without issue. Will [Walters]’s air quality knowledge was top notch as always, and essential to finding our way to the finish line. The team went above and beyond on this project and I am forever grateful.” We are so happy to have another satisfied client!