Project History

Preparation of an EIR

On December 6, 2007 - Decision 07-12-018 OPINION GRANTING PACIFICORP'S REQUEST FOR A PERMIT TO CONSTRUCT SOUTHERN PORTION OF YREKA-WEED TRANSMISSION LINE AND WEED SEGMENT PROJECT AND CERTIFYING ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT, was approved by the CPUC. To read the text of the decision click here.p>Project construction was completed in September 2009. The Project is now complete.

The Commission published a Draft Environmental Impact Report (Draft EIR) on July 30, 2007. The Draft EIR was available for a 45-day public comment period July 31, 2007 through September 14, 2007.

On May 2, 2007, the Commission held a public scoping meeting in Weed. Click here to view the presentation slides from the meeting.

On April 13, 2007, the Commission published a Notice of Preparation of an EIR. A 30-day public scoping period held. This period ended on May 15, 2007. Click the NOP link at the left to read the full description.

On March 15, 2007, the Commission ruled on the Southern Portion in D.07-03-043, finding that "[e]valuation of other routes is necessary so the Commission may consider the full range of options in this proceeding." Accordingly, the Commission ordered that an EIR be prepared to evaluate alternative routes for the Southern Portion.

Commission Decision on Application A.05-12-011 and the Final MND

On October 19, 2006, in decision D.06-10-047, the CPUC adopted the Final Mitigated Negative Declaration (FMND) for the project and approved for construction all portions of the project north of Pole 15/44 (comprising approximately 17 miles of the 18.6-mile transmission line plus rebuilding of the Lucerne Substation). That decision left open for hearings and further evidentiary submissions a short piece of the route at the southern end, termed the "First Project/Southern Portion" (Southern Portion), which had been the subject of dispute among parties to the proceeding.

Construction of the approved portion of the project began in November 2006 and is now completed down to Pole 19/43. Completion of the remainder of the approved portion from Pole 19/43 south to 14/44 was planned to occur after a decision is made by the the Commission on the Southern Portion (see above).

Publication of a Final Mitigated Negative Declaration (FMND)

On October 17, 2006, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) prepared a Final Mitigated Negative Declaration (Final MND) under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) for consideration of PacifiCorp's Application to Construct the Yreka-Weed Transmission Line Upgrade Project (A.05-12-011). The Final MND detailed the Proposed Project and Weed Segment, evaluated and described its potential environmental impacts, identifies those impacts that could be significant, and presents mitigation measures to avoid or minimize these impacts.

Publication of a Draft Mitigated Negative Declaration (DMND)

The Commission published a Draft Mitigated Negative Declaration (DMND) on September 1, 2006. The Draft MND was available for a 30-day public comment period September 1, 2006 through October 2, 2006.

View the Notice of Intent to Adopt an MND for the DMND.

The CPUC held a public information meeting on Wednesday, September 20, 2006 at the College of the Siskiyous, 800 College Avenue, McCloud Hall, Room 3, Weed, California.