These reports are generated in compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and can be read or downloaded from this page, in PDF format. (Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader, which can be downloaded for free from the Adobe Web site.)
Note: These documents may be large and take a while to download on a dial-up connection. If you cannot access these documents, or to make a comment on any report, please contact Ron Scott, rscott@smud.org, for assistance.
Draft Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration for the SMUD OptiSolar 69-kV Line Project
SMUD proposes to construct/rebuild and operate a 1.05-mile overhead double-circuit subtransmission line and remove up to 3,200 feet of existing subtransmission line. The proposed subtransmission line is required to serve a dedicated customer substation at OptiSolar. The proposed project would consist of constructing a 1,500-foot section of double-circuit subtransmission line along the east side of Winters Street, rebuilding to a double-circuit subtransmission line with 12-kV underbuild along a 2,000-foot section of existing utility line located on the north and/or south side of Bell Avenue, and a 1,300-foot section of existing 12-kV line located along the east side of Parker Avenue.
Additionally, a 700-foot section of double-circuit subtransmission line would be constructed along the south side of Dean Street and connected to the dedicated customer substation on the south side of the OptiSolar building. As part of the proposed project, approximately 1,500 feet of existing 69-kV subtransmission line located on the west side of Winters Street and up to 1,700 feet of existing 69-kV subtransmission line on the south side of Bell Avenue would be de-energized and removed, and the top 8 to 10 feet of the poles would be removed within 12 months of completing construction of the proposed project.
Written comments should be submitted or e-mailed to Kim Crawford, Environmental Project Manager, SMUD, P.O. Box 15830, MS B203, Sacramento, Ca., 95852-1830 before 5 p.m. on June 27, 2008.
A public meeting will be held at 6 p.m. June 3 at the Arcade Library, 2443 Marconi Ave., Sacramento, to discuss the draft Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration and answer questions. Hard copies of the document may be reviewed at the following locations:
The SMUD Board of Directors will consider adoption of the Negative Declaration for the project at two meetings: August 6 (4:30 p.m.) and August 7 (6 p.m.). Both meetings will be held in the SMUD Headquarters Building, 6201 S Street, Sacramento. The public is invited to attend these meetings and make comments.
View or print Draft Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration
Proposed Power Line-Elkhorn Substation Capacity Expansion Project Final Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration
The Sacramento Municipal Utility District proposes to expand an existing distribution substation located on Power Line Road (approximately 1.25 miles north of Interstate 5) along the east side of the Sacramento International Airport in northern Sacramento County.
The proposed Power Line-Elkhorn substation capacity expansion project would increase the footprint of the substation by approximately 0.5 acre (from approximately 0.62 acres to approximately 1.12 acres). An additional 80‑foot-wide by 270-foot-long area located south adjacent of the existing substation will be required for the Power Line-Elkhorn substation capacity increase project. The additional land will be leased from the Sacramento International Airport.
The proposed project would replace a 3.75-megavolt-ampere (MVA) transformer with a 25‑MVA transformer, and a 12.5-MVA transformer with a 25-MVA transformer, thus increasing the capacity of the substation from 16.25 to 50 MVA. Additional improvements include a 69,000-volt (69-kV) bus structure and three 69-kV circuit breakers, new switchgear, new cement slabs for the equipment and grounding, and fencing to encompass the footprint of the substation. The proposed capacity increase would mainly serve the Sacramento International Airport’s terminal modernization project as well as serve some load in Metro Air Park development.
The SMUD Board of Directors will consider adoption of the Mitigated Negative Declaration for this Project at two meetings at which the public may make oral comments. The Board will take no action at the Integrated Resources and Customer Service Committee meeting. Both public meetings will be held at: SMUD Headquarters Building, 6201 S Street, Sacramento, CA 95817.
SMUD’s Integrated Resources and Customer Service Committee Meeting is April 2, 2008 at 4:30 p.m. in the HCC meeting room. SMUD Board of Directors Meeting is April 3, 2008 at 6:00 p.m. in the Auditorium. Accommodations are available for disabled individuals. If you need a For further information, contact Ron Scott, Environmental Project Manager, at (916) 732-5114.
View Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration
Draft Rancho Seco Power Plant Wastewater Treatment Artificial Wetland Project Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration
SMUD proposes to modify the Rancho Seco Power Plant wastewater treatment and disposal system by constructing an artificial wetland that would provide additional wastewater treatment onsite eliminating the need to discharge wastewater offsite. The artificial wetland would be constructed in an existing, concrete-lined service spray basins (measuring 330 by 165 feet at the bottom of each basin). The basin would be divided into three cells separated by constructed levees, with two vegetative cells located next to each other and a third cell for water storage.
Treated wastewater would be conveyed to the wetland in the first cell, allowed to flow by gravity through the wetland, then to the second cell, and any remaining water would be directed to the adjacent storage cell. Water from the storage cell would be used to irrigate the grass in a1.5-acre irrigation area located between the two existing basins.
The artificial wetland would be constructed in two phases; the first phase would construct the wetland in the western basin and the second phase, if needed, would utilize the eastern basin for additional water storage. Water in the eastern basin would be used to irrigate a second 1.5-acre irrigation area.
A public meeting will be held March 12 at 6 p.m. at the Rancho Seco Power Plant Security Building located at 14440 Twin Cities Road/State Route 104 in the City of Herald, to discuss the draft Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration and answer questions.
Hard copies of the document may be reviewed at the following locations:
Written comments should be submitted to Ron Scott, Environmental Project Manager, SMUD, P.O. Box 15830, MS B203, Sacramento, Ca., 95852-1830 before 5 p.m. on March 31, 2008. The SMUD Board of Directors will consider adoption of the Negative Declaration for the project at two meetings: April 30 at 4:30 p.m. and May 1 at 6 p.m. Both meetings will be held in the SMUD Headquarters Building, 6201 S Street, Sacramento. The public is invited to attend these meetings and make comments.
View of print Draft Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration
Proposed Sacramento Area Voltage Support Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement and Environmental Impact Report
The Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) and the Western Area Power Administration (Western) propose that Western construct and operate approximately 31 to 38 miles of new double-circuit, 230-kilovolt (kV) overhead transmission line between Western's O'Banion Substation and the area just south of SMUD's Elverta Substation and reconstruct SMUD's existing 230-kV/115-kV transmission line between SMUD's Elverta and Natomas Substations.
The proposed Project is needed to maintain the greater Sacramento-area transmission system's voltage stability and reliability. The Project includes transmission facilities currently owned and operated by SMUD. Western is responsible for compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and SMUD, as lead State agency, is responsible for compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). As such, Western and SMUD have prepared a joint Sacramento Area Voltage Support (SVS) Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) and Environmental Impact Report (EIR). Western and SMUD will issue separate decisions. The proposed Project would be constructed using three route segments in Sutter, Sacramento, and Placer Counties.
SMUD and Western released the Draft SEIS and EIR for circulation on July 13, 2007, pursuant to concerned resource agencies and to interested parties for a 45-day public review period that ended August 27, 2007. Public comment was received at two public meetings and written comments were received from resource agencies and interested parties. The SEIS and EIR evaluates the environmental impacts associated with the construction and operation of the proposed Project. Seventeen environmental factors were the subject of analysis in the SEIS and EIR: Air Quality, Biological Resources, Cultural Resources, Electric and Magnetic Fields, Environmental Justice, Floodplains, Geology, Health and Safety, Land Use, Noise, Paleontological Resources, Socioeconomics, Soils, Traffic and Transportation, Visual Resources, Water Resources, and Wetlands.
The Final SEIS and EIR identifies SMUD and Western's Preferred Alternative, reviews environmental consequences of implementing the Project analyzed in the Draft SEIS and EIR, identifies and discusses mitigation options and Project Alternatives. The Final SEIS and EIR also contains responses to comments on environmental issues received from persons who reviewed the Draft SEIS and EIR.
The SMUD Board of Directors will consider certification of the Final SEIS and EIR for this proposed Project and approval of the Project and the Project Mitigation Monitoring Report Plan at two meetings at which the public may make oral comments. The Board will take no action at the Integrated Resources and Customer Services Committee meeting. Both public meetings will be held at SMUD Headquarters Building
6201 S Street, Sacramento, CA 95817
View Draft Supplement Environmental Impact Statement and Environmental Impact Report
View Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement and Environmental Impact Report (reissued March 2008)
Draft Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration for the SMUD Advanced Data Center 69-kV Line Project
SMUD proposes to construct and operate an overhead 2,400-foot 69-kV double-circuit subtransmission power line. The proposed subtransmission line is required to serve a dedicated substation at Advanced Data Center.
The proposed project would consist of constructing a double-circuit subtransmission line along the east side of Winters Street extending approximately 1,100 feet from North Avenue to 400 feet north of McClellan Park Drive. In addition, the proposed project would consist of constructing a 1,300-foot section of double-circuit subtransmission line along the north or south side of McClellan Park Drive from Winters Street to the dedicated substation at Advanced Data Center. The proposed subtransmission line would be located within landscaping/utility easements adjacent to Winters Street and McClellan Park Drive.
The proposed project would include one overhead crossing of Winters Street and one overhead crossing of North Avenue. The existing 69-kV circuit located on the west side of Winters Street would be de-energized and removed within 12 months of completing construction of the double-circuit subtransmission power line on the east side of Winters Street. In addition, the top 8 to 10 feet of the poles along the west side of Winters Street from North Avenue to McClellan Park Drive would be removed after the 69-kV circuit is removed. A portion of the existing overhead utilities located on the west side of Winters Street would remain in place for the residences and businesses along Winters Street. The overhead utilities to remain in place include 12-kV and 120-V electrical circuits, phone and cable service lines, pole-mounted transformers and service drops.
Written comments should be submitted or e-mailed to Kim Crawford, Environmental Project Manager, SMUD, P.O. Box 15830, MS B203, Sacramento, Ca., 95852-1830 before 5 p.m. on March 8, 2008.
A public meeting will be held February 13 at 6:30 p.m. at the Arden-Dimick Library, 891 Watt Avenue, Sacramento, to discuss the draft Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration and answer questions. Hard copies of the document may be reviewed at the following locations:
The SMUD Board of Directors will consider adoption of the Negative Declaration for the project at two meetings: April 30 at 4:30 p.m. and May 1 at 6 p.m. Both meetings will be held in the SMUD Headquarters Building, 6201 S Street, Sacramento. The public is invited to attend these meetings and make comments.
View or print Draft Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration
View or print Final Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration
Final Environmental Impact Report for the SMUD Solano Wind Project Phase 3
SMUD proposes to construct and operate the third phase of the Solano Wind Project, which will add up to 128 megawatts (MW) of clean, renewable energy to SMUD's generation mix.
The project is located north of the confluence of the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers, approximately six miles southwest of Rio Vista, and 16 miles southeast of Fairfield. SMUD has prepared a final Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for phase 3 of the proposed Solano Wind Project. The EIR identifies potentially significant unmitigated environmental impacts to aesthetics, air quality (during construction) and biological resources.
All other potential impacts have been determined to be less than significant after mitigation.
Hard copies of the document may be reviewed at the following locations:
The SMUD Board of Directors will consider adoption of the final EIR and the project at two meetings where the public can make verbal comments. The Board will take no approval action at the first meeting, which is the Finance Committee meeting. Both meetings will be held at the SMUD Headquarters, 6201 S St., Sacramento:
Additional information may be received by calling Lonn Maier, Environmental Project Manager at SMUD (916) 732-6566.
View or print Final Environmental Impact Report
Proposed Promenade Neighborhood Electric Distribution Project Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration
SMUD proposes to construct and operate a new neighborhood distribution substation and add a second 69,000 volt (69-kV) circuit to an existing overhead 69-kV subtransmission line with a 12-kV underbuild. The proposed 0.68-acre substation would be located approximately 3,400 feet south of the intersection of West Stockton Blvd. and Poppy Ridge Road within the 295-acre Lent Ranch Marketplace Special Planning Area, and west adjacent of the new Promenade Parkway. The proposed additional 69-kV circuit would be added to a 1.35-mile-long section of existing overhead single-circuit 69-kV with 12-kV underbuild along the west side of West Stockton Blvd. from Kammerer Road to approximately 600 feet north of the proposed substation.
Written comments should be submitted or e-mailed to Kim Crawford, Environmental Project Manager, SMUD, P.O. Box 15830, MS B203, Sacramento, Ca., 95852-1830 before 5 p.m. on Nov. 30, 2007. A public meeting will be held Nov. 7 at 6 p.m. at the Laguna Town Hall, 3020 Renwick Ave., Elk Grove, to discuss the draft Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration and answer questions.
The project will be heard by the SMUD Integrated Resources & Customer Services Committe on Jan. 9, 2008, and at the SMUD Board of Directors meeting on Jan. 10. Both meetings will be held in the SMUD Headquarters Building, 6201 S St., Sacramento.
For further information, contact Kim Crawford at (916) 732-5063.
View or print final Environmental Impact Report