San Luis Transmission Project
Project Specifications
Client: Western Area Power Administration
Location: San Joaquin County
Services: Environmental Review & Permitting, Air Quality & Climate, Client Support
In September 2010, Aspen was awarded a contract to provide on-call National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and other Environmental Services for Western Area Power Administration (WAPA), Sierra Nevada Region (SNR). One of the projects under the on-call contract included the preparation of an EIS/EIR for the San Luis Transmission Project (SLTP), a proposed 62-mile transmission line between WAPA SNR’s Tracy and San Luis Substations and an 18-mile transmission line between San Luis Substation and Dos Amigos Substation. The SLTP was proposed to provide the electricity to economically and reliably deliver federal water supplies to water customers in the Central Valley and Bay Area while benefiting from reliable grid operations in the region. The project area crosses the Delta-Mendota Canal, which is operated by Bureau of Reclamation and the San Luis & Delta Mendota Water Authority (Authority).
Aspen engaged in a successful partnership with WAPA SNR, the Authority, and other stakeholders to move the environmental process forward. In addition, because of our strong experience with linear infrastructure projects, we were able to anticipate environmental issues that are specific to these types of projects and to address them through a comprehensive and robust environmental review process.
Aspen developed a wide range of alternatives to avoid and minimize conflicts with habitat conservation easements, impacts to visual resources, and disruption of recreational opportunities within the San Luis Reservoir State Recreation Area. Seven alternatives, including the No Action/No Project Alternative, were retained for consideration in the EIS/EIR and seven were eliminated. Aspen delivered the EIR/EIS and associated technical studies on schedule and under budget. The project received agency support and had minimal opposition.