Aspen Continues To Add To Extensive Transmission Experience In 2014
Aspen Environmental Group is recognized as one of California’s most experienced firms in conducting CEQA and NEPA analysis for transmission lines. In 2014, Aspen bolstered that massive experience with several additional major transmission projects throughout California, Arizona, and Nevada. Some of Aspen’s current transmission projects are summarized below.
Coolwater-Lugo Transmission Project
The Coolwater-Lugo Transmission Project is a proposal by Southern California Edison to build a new 64-mile, high-voltage transmission in the High Desert between Daggett and Hesperia. The project also includes the construction of a new substation in the Apple Valley area. Aspen is providing technical assistance to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in preparing an EIR/EIS for the project. Scoping meetings were conducted in August 2014 and the Draft EIR/EIS will be published in the first quarter of 2015.
San Luis Transmission Project
Under contract to Western Area Power Administration and with the San Luis & Delta-Mendota Water Authority as the CEQA lead agency, Aspen is providing technical assistance in preparing an EIS/EIR for a new 82-mile, 500-kV and 230-kV transmission line in the San Joaquin Valley. In addition to the EIS/EIR, Aspen managed intensive biological and cultural resource surveys and is providing comprehensive permitting support.
West of Devers Upgrade Project
Aspen is providing technical assistance to the CPUC and BLM in preparing an EIR/EIS to evaluate the impacts of southern California’s West of Devers Upgrade Project. Public scoping for the project was completed in July 2014 and the Draft EIR/EIS is now being completed.
Parker-Davis Transmission System Routine Operations and Maintenance (O&M) Project and Proposed Integrated Vegetation Management (IVM) Program Environmental Assessment (PEA)
In November 2014, Aspen completed a PEA for Western Power Administration, Desert Southwest Region. The PEA analyzes the effects of Western’s O&M activities and IVM Program along with the Parker-Davis Transmission System, which traverses lands within 11 counties in southern Nevada, Arizona, and southeastern California, and includes 53 substations and 1.534 miles of transmission line, containing 9,993 transmission structures.