Final Environmental Impact Statement Issued for West of Devers Electrical Transmission Upgrade Project
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MORENO VALLEY, Calif. – The Bureau of Land Management today published a Notice of Availability of a Final Environmental Impact Statement for the West of Devers Upgrade Project in Riverside and San Bernardino Counties, California.
Southern California Edison is proposing to upgrade and adjust existing 220 kilovolt transmission lines and other infrastructure improvements within the existing West of Devers right-of way corridor. Of the overall 48-mile length of the transmission corridor, approximately 6 miles would cross the reservation of the Morongo Band of Mission Indians and approximately 1 mile is on BLM-administered public lands. The public lands are located east of Banning and west of Desert Hot Springs in Riverside County. These upgrades will increase transmission capacity in the area, providing much needed capacity to transport renewable energy to load centers helping make progress towards California's Renewable Portfolio Standard goals.
BLM, as the lead agency under the National Environmental Policy Act, prepared the Final EIS to analyze the site-specific impacts of the proposed action and alternatives. The California Public Utilities Commission, as the lead agency under the California Environmental Quality Act, will analyze the project in support of required state permits and development of the Certificate of Public Necessity and Convenience.
The BLM will not issue a Record of Decision on the West of Devers Upgrade Project for a minimum of 30 days after the date that the Environmental Protection Agency publishes its Notice of Availability in the Federal Register.
Copies of the Final EIS have been sent to affected Federal, State, and local government agencies, tribes, and to other stakeholders. Copies of the Final EIS are available for public inspection at the Palm Springs/South Coast Field Office, 1201 Bird Center Drive, Palm Springs, CA 92262. Interested persons also may review the Final EIS at:http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/palmsprings/transmission/WestOfDeversProject.html.
For further information contact: Frank McMenimen, Project Manager, telephone 760-833-7150; address 1201 Bird Center Drive, Palm Springs, CA 92262; email fmcmenimen@blm.gov.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.