Approved in September of 2012, LADWP is constructing the Barren Ridge Renewable Transmission Project (BRRPT) to access clean, renewable energy resources in the Tehachapi Mountain and Mojave Desert areas of Southern California. The project is in Kern and Los Angeles Counties, and is approximately 75 miles in length from Barren Ridge Switching Station to Rinaldi Substation and 12 miles in length from Castaic Power Plant to the proposed Haskell Switching Station. The project consists of:
- Construction of a 230 kilovolt (kV) transmission line from the LADWP Barren Ridge Switching Station to Haskell Canyon on double-circuit structures (involving approximately 13 miles of National Forest System lands and 4 miles of Bureau of Land Management (BLM) managed public lands)
- Addition of a 230 kV circuit on the existing double-circuit structures from Haskell Canyon to the Castaic Power Plant (involving approximately 4 miles of National Forest System lands and 300 feet of BLM managed public lands)
- Upgrade the existing Barren Ridge – Rinaldi 230 kV transmission line with larger capacity conductors between the Barren Ridge Switching Station to Rinaldi Substation (involving approximately 13 miles of National Forest System lands and 4 miles of BLM managed public lands)
- Construction of a new electrical switching station at Haskell Canyon.
- Expansion of the existing Barren Ridge Switching Station.
This site will be updated periodically throughout the construction of the project and also serves as repository of information about this project from its early planning and environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
Project Timeline
Public Release of Draft EIS/EIR - August 26, 2011
Formal Public Meetings - Late September 2011
Final EIS/EIR - August 10, 2012
LADWP Board Consideration of Final EIR - September 5, 2012
NOD/ROD - Late Summer 2012
Design & Engineering - 2012 – 2014
Construction - 2013 – 2016
Target In-Service Date - 2016
Environmental Review
Based on the nature and scope of the proposed project, the LADWP determined that the proposed project is a major federal and state action that may have a significant adverse impact to the environmental from construction, operation, and maintenance of the project. Both the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) are concerned with identifying, analyzing, and disclosing the potential environmental effects of a proposed project prior to its implementation. The United States Forest Service (FS), United States Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and the LADWP prepared a joint EIS/EIR for the Barren Ridge Renewable Transmission Project. The FS and BLM were the NEPA co-lead agencies in the preparation of the Environmental Impact Study (EIS). LADWP is the lead agency for compliance with CEQA and preparation of the Environmental Impact Report (EIR).
See below for Final EIS/EIR documents.
Project Newsletters
Newsletter Number 1 – April 2008
Newsletter Number 2- December 2008
Newsletter Number 3 (Postcard) – January 2009
Newsletter Number 4 - January 2010
Newsletter Number 5 – July 2010
Newsletter Number 6 (Notice of Availability) – August 2011
Newsletter Number 7 (Postcard) – August 2012
Final Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report
LADWP, the Forest Service, and BLM prepared a joint Environmental Impact Statement and Environmental Impact Report (EIS/ EIR) for the proposed BRRTP. Public participation was included in the environmental review process. The Draft EIS/EIR was released for a 60-day public comment period beginning on August 26, 2011 and ending on October 25, 2011. The document was made available online, and at numerous repository sites.
The Final EIS/EIR (Released August 2012) contains comments and written responses to comments on the Draft EIS/EIR. The Final EIS/EIR document is available for review here. A Notice of Availability was published in the Federal Register on August 10, 2012.
After the publication of the notice for the Final EIS, the Forest Service and BLM each prepared and signed a Record of Decision to document their decision on the project. LADWP considered the certification of the Final EIR and approval of BRRTP at the meeting of the Board of Water and Power Commissioners on September 18, 2012 and subsequently filed a Notice of Determination.
Notice of Determination for the Environmental Impact Report
The Bureau of Land Management's Record of Decision on the project is available at the following BLM web address: http://www.blm.gov/pgdata/etc/medialib/blm/ca/pdf/ridgecrest/barren_rid…
The USFS' Record of Decision on the project is available at the USFS website at the following addres: http://www.fs.usda.gov/projects/angeles/landmanagement/projects
Other Documents Related to CEQA/NEPA
All public documents related to the CEQA and NEPA review process for the Barren Ridge Renewable Transmission Project will be available on this website. A Notice of Intent to prepare an EIS was published in the Federal Register on April 9, 2008. Agencies, elected officials, organizations, Native American Tribes, and interested individuals were also sent a Notice of Preparation of an EIR.
On August 26, 2011 the Draft Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report (DEIS/EIR) was released for public comment and review. All DEIS/EIR Documents were made available for download and viewing on this page starting August 26, 2011.
CEQA Notice of Availability for the draft EIR.
Lead Agency and Decision Makers Contact Information
Lead Agency Contacts
Charles Holloway
Manager of Environmental Assessment
Los Angeles Department of Water and Power
111 North Hope Street, Room 1044
Los Angeles, CA 90012
[email protected]
Justin Seastrand
Special Use Coordinator
USDA, Forest Service
701 N. Santa Anita Avenue
Arcadia, CA 91006
[email protected]
Lynnette Elser
Planning and Environmental Coordinator/BLM Project Manager
Bureau of Land Management
22835 Calle San Juan De Los Lagos
Moreno Valley, CA 92553
[email protected]
BRRTP Project Team
Forest Service/BLM/LADWP
c/o POWER Engineers, Inc.
731 E. Ball Road, Suite 100
Anaheim, CA 92805
www.ladwp.com/barrenridge
[email protected]
(877) 440-3592 toll-free
BRRTP Project Decision Makers
Following the completion of the environmental review and planning process and release of the Final Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report (EIS/EIR), anticipated in summer 2012, the lead agencies’ decision makers will make a final determination on the project and which alternative is approved for construction. The information outlined within the EIS/EIR, which includes, but is not limited, to summaries of potential impacts to land uses, biological resources, cultural resources, noise, traffic, air quality as well as summaries of public comment and feedback collected during the environmental review process, will be used to inform and guide the decision makers on their determination.
The United States Forest Service (FS), from whom the LADWP is seeking a Special Use Authorization, will make a decision for portions of the project on National Forest System Lands administered by the FS.
The United States Bureau of Land Management (BLM), from whom the LADWP is seeking a Right-of-Way Grant, will make a decision for portions of the project on federal lands administered by the BLM.
LADWP’s Board of Commissioners will make a decision and determination on the project in relation to all other lands.
The names and contact information of primary decision makers at each of the three agencies is outlined below.
Angeles National Forest – NEPA Co-Lead Agency
Supervisor's Office
701 N. Santa Anita Avenue
Arcadia, CA 91006
Thomas A. Contreras, Forest Supervisor
Phone: (626) 574-1613
Fax (626) 574-5233
United States Bureau of Land Management – NEPA Co-Lead Agency
Teri Raml
District Manager
California Desert District
Bureau of Land Management
22835 Calle San Juan De Los Lagos
Moreno Valley, CA 92553
Phone: (951) 697-5200
Fax: (951) 697-5299
City of Los Angeles Board of Water and Power Commissioners – CEQA Lead Agency
Thomas S. Sayles, President
Eric Holoman, Vice President
Richard F. Moss, Commissioner
Christina Noonan, Commissioner
Jonathan Parfrey, Commissioner
[Los Angeles Department of Water and Power
Room 1555-H, 15th Floor
111 North Hope Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Phone: (213) 367-4211
Fax: (213) 367-1423
Public Involvement Update (March 2009)
Public involvement activities and opportunities from May 2008 to March 2009 are documented in the following Public Involvement Update, March 2009, and related appendices, below:
Appendix A: Public Meeting Fact Sheet
Appendix B 1: Boards from Feb 2009 Public Meeting
Appendix B 2: Meeting Question and Comment Summary
Appendix D 1: December 2008 Newsletter
Appendix D 2: February 2009 Postcard
Appendix E 1: Newspaper Advertisement
Appendix E 2: Spanish Newspaper Advertisement
February 2009 Public Information Meetings
Based on the nature and scope of the proposed project, the LADWP determined that the proposed project was a major federal and state action that may have a significant adverse impact to the environmental from construction, operation, and maintenance of the project. Both the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) are concerned with identifying, analyzing, and disclosing the potential environmental effects of a proposed project prior to its implementation. The United States Forest Service (FS), United States Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and the LADWP prepared a joint EIS/EIR for the Barren Ridge Renewable Transmission Project. The FS and BLM were the NEPA co-lead agencies in the preparation of the Environmental Impact Study (EIS). LADWP is the lead agency for compliance with CEQA and preparation of the Environmental Impact Report (EIR).
Final EIS/EIR Documents:
LADWP, the Forest Service, and BLM prepared a joint Environmental Impact Statement and Environmental Impact Report (EIS/ EIR) for the proposed BRRTP. Public participation was included in the environmental review process. The Draft EIS/EIR was released for a 60-day public comment period beginning on August 26, 2011 and ending on October 25, 2011. The document was made available online, and at numerous repository sites.
The Final EIS/EIR (Released August 2012) contains comments and written responses to comments on the Draft EIS/EIR. The Final EIS/EIR document is available for review here. A Notice of Availability was published in the Federal Register on August 10, 2012.
After the publication of the notice for the Final EIS, the Forest Service and BLM each prepared and signed a Record of Decision to document their decision on the project. LADWP considered the certification of the Final EIR and approval of BRRTP at the meeting of the Board of Water and Power Commissioners on September 18, 2012 and subsequently filed a Notice of Determination for the Environmental Impact Report.
The Bureau of Land Management's Record of Decision on the project is available at the following BLM web address: http://www.blm.gov/pgdata/etc/medialib/blm/ca/pdf/ridgecrest/barren_rid…
The USFS' Record of Decision on the project is available at the USFS website at the following addres: http://www.fs.usda.gov/projects/angeles/landmanagement/projects
Other Documents Related to the CEQA/NEPA Process
All public documents related to the CEQA and NEPA review process for the Barren Ridge Renewable Transmission Project are available on this website. A Notice of Intent to prepare an EIS was published in the Federal Register on April 9, 2008. Agencies, elected officials, organizations, Native American Tribes, and interested individuals were also sent a Notice of Preparation of an EIR.
On August 26, 2011 the Draft Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report (DEIS/EIR) was released for public comment and review. All DEIS/EIR Documents were made available for download and viewing on this page starting August 26, 2011.
CEQA Notice of Availability for the draft EIR.
Scoping Report (August 2008)
The Scoping Report summarizes the public scoping effort conducted for the BRRTP EIS/EIR and documents issues and concerns expressed during the public scoping period. Over 200 comments were received from the public and agencies during the BRRTP scoping period. All comments received through July 2008 were incorporated into the Scoping report. The following is a summary of the issues and comments raised by the public and agencies:
Public Comments
Residents submitted many recommendations including:
- Using tubular steel mono poles and/or underground lines
- Using a one tower-system (multi-circuits)
- Alternate routes
- Using Direct Current (DC) lines
- LADWP share or combine lines with other utility companies
- Use of Niobium wire
- Generating electricity within the City of Los Angeles
- Use line easements for trails and community farms, open space, soccer fields, etc.
- Purchase nature preserves
- Extending public comment and review period
- Increased notification to property owners
Residents also commented on or provided comments regarding:
- The transmission of renewable energy to the Los Angeles basin
- The amount of renewable energy available to the LADWP
- Determining criteria for future energy requirements and needs
- Other renewable energy projects that could meet the needs of the BRRTP
- Increased EMF emissions
- Adverse affects on fire suppression efforts (in and adjacent to the Angeles National Forest)
- Acquisition of private property
- Increased noise levels
- Decreased property values
- Impacts to public health and the environment
- Illegal off-road activity along transmission
- Effects of multiple siting of high voltage transmission lines
- New waste and hazardous waste generation
- Construction traffic
Agency Comments
The BLM and Forest Service inquired about upgrading the electrical transmission system to a 500 kV instead of 230 kV. Concerns from agencies such as the BLM, Forest Service, Air Quality Management District, Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG), Pacific Crest Trail Association, Department of Transportation, City of Lancaster and the Regional Water Quality Control Board included (but were not limited to) the potential for impacts to:
- Cultural, Biological, Paleontological, Mineralogical and Recreational resources
- Rare, threatened, endangered and special status species and habitats
- Increased raptor predation of sensitive species
- Wildlife movement and migration paths
- Air quality
- Fire suppression flight paths and staging areas
- Wildernesses, Wildlife corridors and open space
- Wild and Scenic River Corridors
- The Antelope Valley California Poppy Natural Reserve, the Angeles National Forest, the Pacific Crest Trial, and the San Andreas Rift Zone Significant Ecological Area (SEA)
- Future projects and developments in the project area (cumulative impacts)
- Consistency with SCAG’s Regional Comprehensive Plan and Guide
- Increased illegal off-highway vehicle use, illegal hunting, plant-collecting and other unauthorized access
- Encroachment upon State transportation facilities and local roads, and increased construction traffic
- Sensitive areas from long-term maintenance plans for access roads
- Spread of invasive plant species (including noxious weeds) during construction
- Trash and micro-trash generation during construction
- Storm water run-off, drainages, wetlands, Waters of the State, Waters of the U.S. and blue-line streams
- From grading and sub-grading roads for maintenance
Comments received during the public scoping period assisted the Forest Service, BLM and LADWP to determine the scope and significant issues to be analyzed in the Draft EIS/EIR. These significant issues are:
| Resource | Potential Significant Issues |
| Biological Resources | - Potential for adverse effects to rare, threatened, and endangered and special status species. - Considerable concern for Riparian Conservation Areas and the spread of noxious weeds throughout Angeles National Forest lands. - Impacts to avian species and increased raptor predation of sensitive species due to the use of lattice towers. - Potential for loss of habitat. |
| Cultural Resources | - Impacts to historical, cultural and archaeological resources in the Project area. |
| Earth Resources | - Adverse impacts to soils throughout the proposed Project area, including sedimentary rocks and fossils. |
| Fire Management and Safety | - Impacts to fire suppression efforts. |
| Water Resources | - Impacts to drainages, wetlands, Waters of the State, Waters of the U.S., and blue-line streams. |
| Land Use | - Acquisition of private property, eminent domain, and the expansion of transmission line right-of-way and easements. - Decreased property values with additional transmission lines. - Conflicts with land use and recreation policies of the Forest Plan. |
| Recreation | - Impacts to recreational facilities and trails. - Impacts to the quality of the Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve, Pacific Crest Trail, Wild and Scenic River Corridor and wilderness. |
| Visual Resource | - Adverse affects to visual resources of the area, especially those important to the character of the ridgelines, as well as from homes, communities, businesses, trails, State Parks, Angeles national Forest, BLM-Managed Lands, and other public lands. |
Public Scoping Meetings (April/May 2008)
Scoping is a process for determining the issues to be addressed, and identifying the range of actions, alternatives, mitigation measures, and significant effects to be analyzed in depth in an EIS/EIR. The Forest Service, BLM, and LADWP conducted a public scoping period to allow the regulatory agencies and the public an opportunity to comment on the project. The public scoping period began April 7, 2008 when a Notice of Preparation (NOP) was issued, and the Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare a joint EIS/EIR was published in the Federal Register. Newsletter #1 was sent out to agency representatives, elected officials, Native American Tribes, interested parties and organizations, and property owners within 500 feet of both sides of the proposed project and preliminary alternatives in Los Angeles and Kern Counties. The newsletter contained the project description, purpose and need for the project, a map, description of the environmental review process, announcement of the public scoping meetings, and contact information.
From April 22 through May 1, 2008, the LADWP, Forest Service, and BLM conducted seven public scoping meetings in the cities of Santa Clarita, Agua Dulce, Castaic, Lake Hughes, Lebec, Palmdale and California City. The purpose of these meetings was to share information regarding the proposed project and the decision-making processes, and to listen to public and agency views on the range of issues to be considered during the preparation of the Draft EIS/EIR.
The meetings consisted of a several hand outs, a brief formal presentation (video), and several stations located around the room representing different topics and aspects of the project. (Welcome, Purpose and Need, Project Description, Environmental Review Process, Alternative Routes Development.) There were also several handouts. The meeting materials are all available in the Appendix of the Scoping Report.
The formal presentation consisted of the following 16 minute video available for viewing below: