PACE Finding Flaws in
SCE Line Route Choice

By Miles Shuper

Visalia - Although mum about specifics of its response to the final Environmental Report on the proposed Southern California Edison high voltage transmission line, the 350-member Protecting Agriculture, Communities and Environment (PACE) says it is continuing to cite flaws in the report.

In addition, PACE is still pushing for Route 3A, which would pass near Stokes Mountain, a more northern route than Route 2 which goes through Elderwood and the path the Public Utilities Commission's EIR supports.

At the same time, farmers and other property owners are encouraged by the PUC's requirement that any wells and water systems affected by the route must be replaced before the new lines can be energized. Construction could be done while the wells are relocated. Only wells under the power lines will have to be moved.

Shirley Kirkpatrick, spokesperson for PACE, said the organization will meet today's deadline for response to the final EIR that came out nearly two weeks ago. Results of all responses will be released by the PUC March 23.

Kirkpatrick said PACE didn't want other responders to be able to counter their responses before the deadline.

The Tulare County Farm Bureau is among more than a dozen groups and individuals allowed to respond. Patricia Stever, Farm Bureau executive director, also indicated the bureau's response would be filed at deadline, a maneuver she expects all those responding to follow.

Edison plans to construction a 220-kv transmission line from its main transmission lines along the foothills to its Rector Substation in Visalia. The project, officially called the Cross Valley Loop Transmission Project, is needed to serve growing electricity needs in Tulare County, SCE says.

Edison's preferred Route 1 would run along a section of Highway 198 and through or near Exeter and Farmersville. Route 1 was the cheapest, estimated at about $96 million, but an aggressive campaign by PACE, other property owners, city and county officials has all but killed that selection.

While PACE members and others are boosted by the EIR's rejection of Route 1, they claim the report favoring Route 2 is flawed and inadequately addresses issues such as ruining productive farm land, damaging property value and hurting wildlife habitat, among other issues.

Without tipping PAC's hand to the specific points of the response, Kirkpatrick said their response will address specific reasons in addition to urging reconsideration and selection of Route 3A as the best alternative.

The PUC has the final say, but EIRs most generally are key factors in the decision process.

Kirkpatrick sees the water well and water supply systems mitigation factors contained in the EIR as a victory of sorts. During several Tulare County public hearings a number of farmers and other property owners cited concern over what impact the transmission lines will have on wells, pumps and irrigation systems. Farm Bureau officials agree the water well mitigation requirements along with the Route 1 rejection are big steps forward in the route selection fight.

The EIR states: “Prior to construction, SCE shall coordinate with affected property owners to conduct an inventory of the groundwater wells (including wagon-wheel type wells) that are within the proposed ROW (right of way). To the extent feasible, SCE shall adjust the propped ROW such that centerline of the ROW shall be no closer than 50 linear feet from any existing well.”

Regarding situations where it is not feasible to relocate wagon wheel wells, (wells with lateral shafts emerging from a vertical shaft) SCE “shall adjust the spacing and/or height of adjacent tower or pole structures to provide sufficient vertical clearance such that well maintenance activities may be safely conducted on any wagon wheel well within the ROW.”

Cal OSHA regulations prohibit wagon wheel wells to be developed due to health and safety concerns. But existing wells of that type are allowed.

Stever said the Farm Bureau response will also push for Route 3A. The rejection of Route 1 and the adoption of the well and water mitigation items makes her “cautiously optimistic” the responses could make an impact on a final decision. If route 3A were to be selected, Stever said, that would be “a grand slam.”

Route 2 follows the existing high-voltage power line path from Visalia north, then it will take a new path east from Elderwood to the Big Creek Power line that runs along the foothills. It is that path that will cut through farmland, mostly citrus.

The EIR states that trees no taller than 15-feet might be allowed under the lines, but farmers like Brian Blain believe SCE will push to have the land under the lines vacant of any farming, especially trees.

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