[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 184 (Monday, September 23, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58270-58272]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-22904]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Cleveland National Forest, California, SDG&E Master Special Use 
Permit and Permit To Construct Power Line Replacement Projects EIR/EIS

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare a joint Environmental Impact 
Report/Environmental Impact Statement.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), as amended, notice is hereby given that the 
Cleveland National Forest (CNF), together with the California Public 
Utilities Commission (CPUC), intends to prepare a joint Environmental 
Impact Report and Environmental Impact Statement (EIR/EIS), for the San 
Diego Gas & Electric Company (SDG&E) Master Special Use Permit and 
Permit to Construct Power Line Replacement Projects. The Master Special 
Use Permit would authorize SDG&E to upgrade and/or relocate certain 
electric powerlines on National Forest System lands, while providing 
for the operation and maintenance of the SDG&E electric powerline 
system. The project area is located in multiple locations within the 
Trabuco, Palomar, and Descanso Ranger Districts, Cleveland National 
Forest, Orange and San Diego Counties, California. This action is 
needed because the existing authorizations are expired, and the 
existing powerlines are needed to supply power to local communities, 
residents, businesses, and government owned facilities located within 
and adjacent to the National Forest. The project study area not only 
traverses National Forest System lands, but due to the patchwork of 
land ownership in the project study area, also traverses the National 
System of Public Lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM); 
tribal lands of the La Jolla, Campo, Inaja, and Viejas Indian 
Reservations managed by the respective tribes and held in trust by the 
Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA); Cuyamaca Rancho State Park lands 
managed by California State Parks (CSP); and private holdings within 
unincorporated San Diego County amongst others.

DATES: All scoping comments must be received by November 7, 2013.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments to Lisa Orsaba, California Public 
Utilities Commission, and Will Metz, Forest Supervisor, Cleveland 
National Forest by either of the following methods:
    Email: [email protected].
    Mail: c/o Dudek, 605 Third Street, Encinitas, California 92024.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Information can be requested by 
leaving a voice message at 866-467-4727 or by checking the project Web 
site at http://www.cpuc.ca.gov/environment/info/dudek/CNF/CNF.htm.
    Individuals who use telecommunication devices for the deaf (TDD) 
may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339 
between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern Time, Monday through Friday.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In 2005, in consultation with the Forest 
Service, SDG&E submitted an initial application to obtain a Master 
Special Use Permit (MSUP). The purpose of the MSUP was to consolidate 
SDG&E's rights and responsibilities in connection with the continued 
operation of its electric lines and other existing facilities located 
within the CNF. As part of the NEPA review process, the Forest Service 
circulated an Environmental Assessment (EA) for public comment in

[[Page 58271]]

2009. In response to public comments received on that EA, the Forest 
Service determined that additional fire risk reduction measures within 
the CNF (including fire hardening) and additional undergrounding should 
be evaluated as part of the MSUP review process and that, as a result, 
an environmental impact statement (EIS) was required.
    SDG&E has expanded the scope of the proposed MSUP to include fire 
hardening, undergrounding and relocation as proposed in the power line 
replacement projects discussed in their application to the CPUC. The 
proposed power line replacement projects will require approval from the 
CPUC.
    The CPUC, Forest Service, BLM, BIA, and CSP have independent 
jurisdiction and approval authority for the project segments within 
their areas of jurisdiction. The CPUC is the lead agency under 
California law and the Forest Service is the lead federal agency. As 
joint lead agencies, the CPUC and Forest Service have developed and 
signed a Memorandum of Understanding (January 2012) that will direct 
the preparation of a joint Environmental Impact Report (EIR) to comply 
with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and an 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to comply with the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The joint document will be called the 
``SDG&E Master Special Use Permit and Permit to Construct Power Line 
Replacement Projects EIR/EIS. The BLM and BIA are joining the Forest 
Service as federal cooperating agencies under NEPA, and the CSP is 
participating as a responsible agency under CEQA.

Purpose and Need for Action

    The Forest Service purpose is to authorize the powerlines and 
associated facilities needed to continue electric service to a variety 
of users within and adjacent to the CNF through a Master Special Use 
Permit in a manner that is consistent with the CNF Land Management Plan 
(LMP). This action is needed because the 70 individual permits or 
easements for the existing facilities have expired, and a permit is 
required for the continued occupancy and use of National Forest System 
lands.
    Permits issued by the Forest Service are required by law to be 
consistent with the LMP. The LMP identifies suitable uses within 
various land use zones, describes desired conditions based on the LMP 
goals and objectives, and sets resource management standards. The 
Forest Service proposed action is designed to be consistent with the 
LMP requirements. The Forest Service purpose and need will guide the 
development of alternatives considered on National Forest System lands.
    The BLM purpose is to authorize the powerlines and associated 
facilities needed to continue electric service to a variety of users 
within and adjacent to the National System of Public Lands in a manner 
that is consistent with the South Coast Resource Area Plan. This action 
is needed because the Right-of-Way (ROW) grants for the existing 
facilities have expired or were never issued, and a ROW grant is 
required for the continued occupancy and use of Public Lands.
    The BIA purpose is to authorize the powerlines and associated 
upgrades needed to continue electric service to a variety of users 
within and adjacent to the Indian trust lands in a manner that is 
consistent with tribal land use goals and policies. The action is 
needed to amend the existing easements to include the proposed fire 
hardening measures and locations and to extend their term.

Proposed Action

    The Forest Service proposed action would combine over 70 existing 
use permits for electric line facilities within the CNF into one MSUP. 
The MSUP would allow the continued maintenance and operation of more 
than 50 miles of 69 kV power lines and 12 kV distribution lines and 
ancillary facilities that are required to operate and maintain existing 
electric facilities located within the administrative boundary of the 
CNF. The Project would also replace several existing 69 kV power lines 
and 12 kV distribution lines located within and outside of the CNF. 
Replacement would include fire hardening (wood to steel pole 
replacement), along with removal, relocation, undergrounding and single 
to double circuit conversion along certain segments. Specific 
components of the Forest Service proposed action include relocating 
transmission line (TL) number 626 out of the Cedar Creek undeveloped 
area, relocating distribution line 79 out of the Sill Hill Inventoried 
Roadless Area, and relocating distribution line 157 out of the Hauser 
Wilderness Area. A more detailed description of the proposed action is 
available in the Notice of Preparation posted on the project Web site.
    The BLM proposed action would authorize one electric line and issue 
new ROW grants for two electric lines, and authorize the fire hardening 
upgrades. This action includes portions of TL 629, TL 6923, and TL 625.
    The BIA proposed action would authorize the fire hardening upgrades 
and amend the term and location of the existing easements. This action 
includes portions of TL 629 and TL 682.

Possible Alternatives

    The EIR/EIS will describe and evaluate the comparative merits of a 
reasonable range of alternatives to the proposed action and associated 
Powerline Replacement Projects. Alternatives to be analyzed in the EIR/
EIS will be developed during the environmental review process and will 
consider input received during scoping, and will include the no action 
alternative as required by law.

Responsible Official

    The Responsible Official for the Forest Service decision is Will 
Metz, Forest Supervisor, Cleveland National Forest.
    The Responsible Official for the BLM decision is John Kalish, Field 
Manager, Palm Springs South Coast Field Office.
    The Responsible Official for the BIA decision is Amy L. Dutschke, 
Regional Director, BIA Pacific Region.
    The Commissioners appointed to the CPUC are the deciding body for 
the Permit to Construct.
    The Responsible Official for the CSP decision is Dan Falat, 
Colorado Desert District Superintendent.

Nature of Decision To Be Made

    Each agency has independent decision authority within their 
jurisdictional area. The federal responsible officials, as well as the 
CSP, will decide whether or not to authorize their portions of the 
project, and if so, under what conditions. The CPUC has independent 
jurisdiction over power lines and will determine if a Permit to 
Construct will be issued, and if so, under what conditions.

Preliminary Issues

    The Forest Service and CPUC have identified potential issues and 
impacts to the existing environment require a detailed analysis in the 
EIR/EIS. Those issues and impacts include aesthetics, air quality, 
biological resources, cultural and paleontological resources, 
greenhouse gas emissions, fire, water quality, land use, noise, public 
services, recreation, wilderness, and transportation. No determinations 
have yet been made as to the significance of these potential impacts; 
such determinations will be made in the environmental analysis 
conducted in the EIR/EIS after the issues are considered thoroughly. 
This overview is presented to assist the public and

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agencies in preparing written scoping comments.

Invitation to Cooperating Agencies

    The Forest Service invites other federal agencies or tribes to join 
as cooperating agencies. Requests for cooperating agency status may be 
submitted to Forest Supervisor Will Metz, Cleveland National Forest, 
10845 Rancho Bernardo Road, Suite 200, San Diego, CA 92127-2107.

Scoping Process

    The CPUC and Forest Service are initiating the joint CEQA/NEPA 
scoping process with this Notice of Intent and associated Notice of 
Preparation. The comments received during scoping will help guide the 
development of the EIR/EIS. Two public workshops will be held during 
the scoping process to answer questions about the proposed action. 
Workshops will be held at the Julian Elementary School, 1704 Cape Horn, 
Julian, California, on Tuesday, October 22, 2013 at 5:00 p.m., and at 
the Alpine Community Center, 1830 Alpine Boulevard, Alpine, California, 
on Wednesday, October 23, 2013 at 5:00 p.m.
    It is important that reviewers provide their comments at such times 
and in such a way that they are useful to the CPUC and Forest Service 
preparation of the EIR/EIS. Therefore, comments should be provided 
prior to the close of the comment period and should clearly articulate 
the reviewer's concerns and contentions.
    Comments received during scoping, including names and addresses of 
those who comment, will be part of the public record for this proposed 
project. Comments submitted anonymously will be accepted and 
considered; however, anonymous comments will not provide the respondent 
with standing to participate in subsequent administrative review or 
judicial review of the Forest Service decision. This project will 
follow the predecisional administrative review process pursuant to 36 
CFR 218, Subparts A and B.

    Dated: September 16, 2013.
William Metz,
Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 2013-22904 Filed 9-20-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-P