Sunrise Powerlink

The USDA Forest Service has authorized the construction, operation, and maintenance of the Sunrise Powerlink on the Cleveland National Forest.

The signed Record of Decision adopts the California Public Utilities Commission/Bureau of Land Management Final Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement (EIR/EIS).

"Throughout the deliberative process, the Forest Service sought to balance California’s renewable energy needs with minimizing impacts to the environment to the greatest extent possible," said Will Metz, Forest Supervisor of the Cleveland National Forest. "The Forest Service's decision to authorize the project provides future access to renewable energy, improves energy system reliability, and will reduce transmission congestion in the greater San Diego area. The citizens of Southern California will benefit from implementation of Sunrise Powerlink and it is in the national interest to allow Forest lands to be utilized for this project."

The decision adopts the comprehensive mitigation measures detailed in the Final EIR/EIS and the Fish and Wildlife Service's Biological Opinion. Fire mitigation will include the construction and maintenance of defensible space on Forest land adjacent to communities at risk along the route of the transmission line, and the funding to plan, design and construct fire suppression facilities and improvements. The decision also provides for additional mitigation measures on Forest lands to further minimize the impacts of the project on the environment.

The decision amends the Cleveland National Forest Land Management Plan (LMP) to provide a project-specific exception to the Forest LMP requirements regarding scenic integrity along the transmission line route, riparian conditions and biological resource condition goals in Riparian Conservation Areas, and for the construction of the transmission line in a Back-Country Non-motorized area.

"We carefully considered the public comments, and reviewed the information contained in the Supplemental Information Report in determining that further environmental analysis is not needed," added Metz. "A Special Use Permit will be issued to SDG&E contingent on resolution of any potential appeals to my decision, and project certification under the Clean Water Act by the State of California Water Resources Control Board."

Publication of the legal notice in the Union Tribune concerning the Forest Supervisor’s decision established the 45-day Administrative Review Period (appeal period) that ended on August 30, 2010. Twelve appeals were filed with the Appeal Deciding Officer, Randy Moore, Regional Forester. Issues raised in the appeals include concerns with fire risk, and impacts to visual, wildlife and watershed resources. 

Related Documents (Most recent on top)

 

Inactive Golden Eagle Nest Site Concurrence Letter – Bell Bluff and Thing Valley, April 6, 2012.  (237 KB PDF)

• This concurrence letter is effective only until Dec 1, 2012, unless earlier revised. 

Notice to Proceed Letter, August 9, 2011 (122 KB PDF)

Special Use Permit

• Special Use Permit Issued (784 KB PDF)

Record of Decision

• Cover Letter - July 9, 2010 (101 KB PDF)
• Record of Decision - July 9, 2010 (205 KB PDF)
• Mitigation Measures Report (630 KB PDF)
• Supplemental Information Report (1,384 KB PDF)
• Question and Answers (18 KB PDF)

News Releases

• Special Use Permit Issued for the Sunrise Powerlink December 15, 2010 (21 KB PDF)
• Forest Service Makes Decision on Sunrise Powerlink July 13, 2010 (17 KB PDF)
• Forest Service to Complete Additional Work on Sunrise Powerlink Proposal - May 15, 2010 (29 KB PDF)

Public Notice

• This document (22 KB PDF) is a copy of the public notice that was published in the Union Tribune on July 14, 2010.
• This document (30 KB PDF) is a copy of the public notice that was published in the Union Tribune on May 15, 2010.
• Public Notice Map: This map (2,229 KB PDF) was referenced in the public notice and shows the selected alternative.

Supporting Documents 

• Management Indicator Species Report - WARNING THIS IS A HUGE FILE (78,452 KB PDF)
• Biological Evaluation - WARNING THIS IS A HUGE FILE (82,261 KB PDF)

Final Project Modification Report

SDG&E revised the Project Modification Report (PMR) in response to comments from the Forest Service and other agencies and the Forest Service received copies of the report on May 17, 2010. The Final PMR describes changes to the selected alternative, new information about resource conditions associated with the changes, and new environmental effects associated with the changes. Copies of the Final PMR are available for review at the Rancho Bernardo and Alpine Forest Service offices. The Final PMR will be used as a source of information for the Forest Service application review.

• Final Project Modification Report - May 14, 2010 (Everything except Attachment D - Figures) (4,674 KB PDF) 
• Attachment D - Figures 1-44: WARNING THIS IS A LARGE FILE - See below for each individual figure (26,956 KB PDF)
  • Figure 1: Imperial Valley Substation (494 KB PDF)
  • Figure 2: Structures EP363-1 to EP333 (385 KB PDF)
  • Figure 3: Structures EP333 to EP324 (307 KB PDF)
  • Figure 4: Structures EP324 to EP301 (444 KB PDF)
  • Figure 5: Structures EP301 to EP276-1 (463 KB PDF)
  • Figure 6: Structures EP276-1 to EP255-2 (591 KB PDF)
  • Figure 7: Structures EP255-2 to EP252A-1 (613 KB PDF)
  • Figure 8: Structures EP252A-1 to EP239-1 (677 KB PDF)
  • Figure 9: Structures EP239-1 to EP229-1 (762 KB PDF)
  • Figure 10: Structures EP229-1 to EP221A (888 KB PDF)
  • Figure 11: Structures EP221A to EP219-1 (799 KB PDF)
  • Figure 12: Structures EP219-1 to EP206-1 (778 KB PDF)
  • Figure 13: Structures EP206-1 to EP196-1 (693 KB PDF)
  • Figure 14: Structures EP196-1 to EP170 (571 KB PDF)
  • Figure 15: Structures EP170 to EP141 (478 KB PDF)
  • Figure 16: Structures EP141 to EP122 (527 KB PDF)
  • Figure 17: Structures EP122 to EP108-2 (655 KB PDF)
  • Figure 18: Structures EP108-2 to EP99-2 (707 KB PDF)
  • Figure 19: Structures EP105-2 (Rees) (676 KB PDF)
  • Figure 20: Structures EP99-2 to EP79 (733 KB PDF)
  • Figure 21: Structures EP79 to EP67 (542 KB PDF)
  • Figure 22: Structures EP67 to EP62A-1 (555 KB PDF)
  • Figure 23: Structures EP62A-1 to EP47-2 (688 KB PDF)
  • Figure 24: Structures EP47-2 to EP39-1 (669 KB PDF)
  • Figure 25: Structures EP39-1 to EP22-1 (634 KB PDF)
  • Figure 26: Structures EP22-1 to EP12-3 (706 KB PDF)
  • Figure 27: Structures EP12-3 to EP9-1 (579 KB PDF)
  • Figure 28: Structures EP9-1 to EP1-3 (710 KB PDF)
  • Figure 29: Suncrest Substation (597 KB PDF)
  • Figure 30: Structures CP109-1 to CP106-1 (532 KB PDF)
  • Figure 31: Structures CP106-1 to CP98-1 (626 KB PDF)
  • Figure 32: Structures CP98-1 to CP95-1 (571 KB PDF)
  • Figure 33: Structures CP95-1 to CP87-1 (851 KB PDF)
  • Figure 34: Structures CP87-1 to CP64-2 (690 KB PDF)
  • Figure 35: Structures CP64-2 to CP53-1 (744 KB PDF)
  • Figure 36: Structures CP53-1 to CP44-1 (917 KB PDF)
  • Figure 37: Structures CP44-1 to CP37-2 (641 KB PDF)
  • Figure 38: Structures CP37-2 to CP31-2 (644 KB PDF)
  • Figure 39: Structures CP31-2 to CP12-1 (598 KB PDF)
  • Figure 40: Structures CP12-1 to CP3 (578 KB PDF)
  • Figure 41: Structures CP3 to SSDE-1 (434 KB PDF)
  • Figure 42: Sycamore - Pomerado (631 KB PDF)
  • Figure 43: Sycamore - Elliott (751 KB PDF)
  • Figure 44: Sycamore - Scripps (728 KB PDF)