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USFS approves final stretch of Sunrise Powerlink
By Christy Scott
The Alpine Sun
SAN DIEGO — In a Forest Service Record
of Decision filed last Friday, July 9, the last 19-mile stretch
of San Diego Gas & Electric’s Sunrise Powerlink transmission
line project was approved by Cleveland National Forest
supervisor William Metz.
Alpine awoke Tuesday morning to news of the approval,
which is a hit to residents and business-owners who have been
fighting the project. The USFS approval was the last roadblock
for a huge construction project that will tear up the length of
Alpine Boulevard for more than two years and cut swaths of giant
towers along a 120-mile path through the Back Country.
“My decision to approve the Sunrise Powerlink is made
with full recognition of the changes this development will bring
to the character of the Cleveland National Forest,” said Metz.
“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.”
The decision adopts the mitigation measures detailed in
the project’s Final Environmental Impact Report 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.
Metz said he read more than 650 comments from the
public in the past couple of months as he was pondering whether
to grant SDG&E’s request or demand a more thorough environmental
review.
He decided that an earlier joint review by the California Public
Utilities Commission and the Bureau of Land Management was
sufficient.
“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.”
A 50-year special use permit will sidestep forest
regulations and allow construction, operation and maintenance of
the project facilities. The decision amends the Cleveland
National Forest Land Management Plan (LMP) to provide a
project-specific exception 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.
“I know the character of the Cleveland National Forest
is going to be changed by this project,” said Metz. “This
decision I do not make lightly.”
“We are not surprised by Metz’s decision, although we
are disappointed,” said a representative from the East County
Community Action Coalition (ECCAC), an organization representing
79,000 people opposed to Powerlink.
“From the beginning, many have said that the only place
this project can be stopped is in the courtroom. This is
unfortunate, but proving to be true. Our public comments this
past month strengthened our legal standing and will be critical
in our appeal. The foundation for a lawsuit, if needed, was set
over a year ago. Our attorney is already poised and ready to
move forward, and we have raised the money to continue this
fight.”
A lawsuit in state court by UCAN already challenges the
California Public Utilities Commission’s (CPUC) approval of the
powerlink project in late 2008, while a federal suit from local
groups hopes to overturn the early 2009 Bureau of Land
Management’s (BLM) support.
“I’m deeply disappointed by the United States Forest
Service’s decision to approve the Sunrise Powerlink, but not
surprised,” said San Diego County Supervisor Dianne Jacob, who
represents Alpine and residents along the majority of the
proposed route. “The approval ignores the lasting consequences
that will result from the line, particularly the severe fire
danger.”
“There is a trail of pressure by SDG&E and political
influence that has followed this project since its inception and
the decision by the Forest Service is no exception,” Jacob said.
“Although we had hoped for a favorable decision, it has always
been my belief that this matter would ultimately be settled by
the courts. I’m confident in the case that will be presented by
the opponents. The facts and evidence in the record are on our
side.”
SDG&E president and chief operating officer Michael
Niggli , praised the decision, calling it a “great day for clean
air, renewable energy and our customers.”
SDG&E will step in to defend the decision, Niggli said.
“We’re very confident we’ll prevail if challenged,” he
said. “It’s the most reviewed, most studied project in the
history of California from a transmission standpoint. … It’s met
every test and every challenge to date.”
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger said that he “applauds
the U.S. Forest Service for approving this important project
that will play a critical role in bringing clean, renewable
electricity to the cities where people live and work and
improving our power grid’s reliability. These are exactly the
types of projects California needs to transition to a brighter
clean-energy future.”
According to Niggli, construction on the project will
begin in September with completion planned for the summer of
2012.
To read the entire Record of Decision online go to
gis.fs.fed.us/r5/cleveland/projects/sunrise-powerlink.
Opponents have a 45-day Administrative Review Period
(appeal period) for the decision. Appeals must be filed with the
Appeal Deciding Officer, Randy Moore, Regional Forester, USDA
Forest Service, 1323 Club Drive, Vallejo, CA 94592, Attn:
APPEALS.
 E-mail
Christy Scott
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