Attachment 4 ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSES and REPORTS Attached

Attachment 4 ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSES AND REPORTS Attached

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ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS SUMMARY FOR THE SUNCREST 2020–2021 WILDFIRE MITIGATION IMPLEMENTATION PROJECT

Prepared for Horizon West Transmission, LLC One California, Suite 16 San Francisco, CA 94111 Attn: Patti Murphy

Prepared by Megan Peterson, B.A. SWCA Environmental Consultants 60 Stone Pine Road, Suite 100 Half Moon Bay, California 94019 (650) 440-4160 www.swca.com

SWCA Project No. 59772

July 2020

4-2 Suncrest 2020–2021 Wildfire Mitigation Implementation Environmental Findings Summary

CONTENTS

1 Introduction ...... 1 2 Project Understanding and Background ...... 1 3 Project Location ...... 1 4 Project Description ...... 4 5 Construction ...... 5 6 Regulatory Compliance...... 6 7 Applicable CEQA Exemptions ...... 6 8 Findings Supporting the Applicable CEQA Exemptions ...... 7 8.1 Aesthetics...... 7 8.2 Agriculture and Forestry Resources ...... 8 8.3 Air Quality ...... 8 8.4 Biological Resources ...... 9 8.5 Cultural Resources ...... 10 8.6 Energy ...... 11 8.7 Geology, Soils, and Seismicity ...... 11 8.8 Greenhouse Gas Emissions...... 12 8.9 Hazards and Hazardous Materials ...... 12 8.10 Hydrology and Water Quality ...... 12 8.11 Land Use and Planning ...... 13 8.12 Mineral Resources ...... 13 8.13 Noise and Vibration ...... 13 8.14 Population and Housing ...... 14 8.15 Public Services and Utilities ...... 14 8.16 Recreation ...... 15 8.17 Transportation ...... 15 8.18 Tribal Cultural Resources ...... 15 8.19 Wildfire ...... 16 8.20 Mandatory Findings of Significance ...... 17 9 Literature Cited ...... 18

Figures

Figure 1. General Vicinity Map...... 2 Figure 2. Project Location Map...... 3

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1 INTRODUCTION SWCA Environmental Consultants (SWCA) has prepared this Environmental Findings Summary Report for Horizon West Transmission, LLC (HWT) in support of the Suncrest 2020–2021 Wildfire Mitigation Implementation Project (Project) located in San Diego County, California. As part of the Wildfire Mitigation Plan (WMP) approved by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) in June 2020, HWT proposes to implement minor modifications to the Suncrest Dynamic Reactive Power Support Project (Suncrest SVC Project) to minimize potential ignition sources during high fire hazard conditions. These improvements include undergrounding the existing 230-kilovolt (kV) overhead transmission line segment located north of San Diego Gas and Electric Company’s (SDG&E) Suncrest Substation, replacing the chain-link perimeter fence around the newly constructed Suncrest SVC facility with a precast concrete wall, and making additional minor modifications to the facilities. These existing facilities were recently constructed and put into service as part of Suncrest SVC Project.

The analysis is based on the review of existing CEQA documentation for the Suncrest SVC Project, including biological and cultural technical reports, SWCA’s understanding of the Project, and a Biological Resources Report, Rare Plant Survey Report, and Cultural Resources Report completed in spring of 2020 for the Project.

2 PROJECT UNDERSTANDING AND BACKGROUND HWT obtained a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) from the CPUC to construct the Suncrest SVC Project on October 2, 2018 in Decision (D.) 18-09-030. HWT subsequently received Notice to Proceed on December 12, 2018, began construction of the Suncrest SVC Project on February 25, 2019 and put the facility in service on February 29, 2020. Upon issuance of the CPCN, HWT also became subject to PU Code § 8386 requirements. HWT developed and submitted WMPs to the CPUC in 2019 and 2020 to fulfill the applicable mandates from PU Code § 8386 and the CPUC’s implementation decisions and rulings. The CPUC approved HWT’s 2019 WMP in D.19-05-041 issued June 3, 2019, and also issued a guidance decision that applies to all utilities, including HWT, in D.19-05-036. In accordance with D.19-05-036, associated guidance issued for WMPs, and CPUC Resolution WSD-001, HWT’s 2020 WMP identified additional wildfire risk reduction measures for implementation at the Suncrest SVC Project, including grid hardening measures to reduce or mitigate risks and enhance resiliency. The CPUC approved HWT’s 2020 WMP on June 11, 2020.

HWT is now moving forward with the 2020–2021 WMP Implementation to implement the identified wildfire risk mitigation activities in the WMP as soon as possible, including several that HWT proposes to place in service in advance of the 2020 highest risk period for fires starts, i.e., before September 2020. The specific elements of the 2020–2021 WMP Implementation are designed to increase resiliency and minimize risk year-round but especially during high fire hazard conditions.

3 PROJECT LOCATION The Project is located in unincorporated San Diego County, on private land adjacent to the Cleveland National Forest, west of Japatul Valley Road and south of Interstate 8 (Figure 1). Nearby unincorporated communities include Descanso, approximately 3.78 miles to the northeast, and Alpine, approximately 5.75 miles to the west. The city of El Cajon is approximately 13.36 miles west of the Project. The Project is located on the Viejas Mountain, California U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) 7.5-minute topographic quadrangles. The Project is located on privately owned parcels including land owned by SDG&E (see Figure 2).

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Figure 1. General Vicinity Map.

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Figure 2. Project Location Map.

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The Project includes eight components that can be divided into three geographic categories including: (1) modifications to the SVC site, (2) along the existing, approximately 1-mile, 230 kV underground transmission line, and (3) at the point of interconnection adjacent to SDG&E (Figure 2). Of these, only two areas of work will require new ground disturbance. Activities along the underground transmission line will use existing manholes for access. The majority of Project activities will occur at and adjacent to the existing Suncrest SVC pad and at the interconnection point to the SDG&E Suncrest Substation where the existing overhead conductor will be undergrounded. The Project footprint associated with the new underground alignment is situated approximately 26 feet north of the north side of the existing SDG&E Suncrest Substation in the area of the existing riser pole and interconnection pole and is partially within Bell Bluff Truck Trail (BBTT). Portions of the Project overlap with both permanent and temporary impact areas associated with HWT’s Suncrest SVC Project that was put into service in February 2020. Specifically, the Project overlaps with work areas previously disturbed during installation of the overhead electrical transmission line segment of the Suncrest SVC Project where the line transitions from underground and interconnects into SDG&E’s existing Suncrest Substation, and at the Suncrest SVC pad.

4 PROJECT DESCRIPTION The Project will occur on portions of the existing Suncrest SVC Project site and is designed to implement modifications related to wildfire mitigation and grid hardening measures for the Suncrest SVC Project. The modifications will occur primarily at the SVC pad and at the point where the transmission line enters the Suncrest Substation. In addition, the Project will add a sensor cable to the existing underground transmission line and duct bank along the BBTT. This cable will be added using existing manholes along BBTT to access the duct bank and will not require new excavation or ground disturbance.

More specifically, the Project includes the following WMP Implementation activities:

At the existing Suncrest SVC pad: • Install temporary chain link fence outside existing fence; • Replace the current chain link perimeter fence with a precast concrete wall; • Install transformer oil gas monitoring systems; • Install a weather station; • Install seismic pads under two existing power transformers (2021); and • Build fire blast walls around two existing power transformers (2021).

Along the 230 kV underground duct bank: • Install distributed temperature and partial discharge monitoring on the proposed new and existing 230 kV underground cable.

At the point of interconnection: • Underground the final 115-foot segment of HWT-owned overhead transmission line; • Remove the existing riser pole and intermediate pole and relocate the riser pole downslope to the location of the intermediate pole; and • Install a mast-mounted camera and ground-mounted solar panel and control box.

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Proposed work at the SVC will take place within the existing, previously disturbed 2.59-acre SVC pad. Ground disturbance within the SVC pad will be limited to 0.23 acre. The Project will also utilize a 0.35-acre portion of the previously used laydown area along the west side of the existing SVC pad as shown in Figure 2 This acreage is entirely within the previous disturbance area and will be restored following Project implementation.

At the west end of the Project, the overhead segment will be converted to an underground segment on the same parcel as HWT’s existing easement located just north of the Suncrest Substation. The proposed point of interconnection work area is 1.03 acres. However, ground disturbance (grading and excavation) within that work area will be limited to 0.85 acre and will be restored following Project implementation.

5 CONSTRUCTION At the site of the existing Suncrest SVC pad, the Project will first install a temporary perimeter fence, then remove the existing perimeter fence and replace it with a precast concrete perimeter wall. The concrete wall with require excavation of foundation holes approximately 24 inches in diameter to a depth of approximately 6 to 7 feet for the supporting pillars. Equipment and materials will be trucked to the site using flatbed trucks. Excavation and setting the wall and pillars will require a mini excavator with drill and skid steer, and a 330 excavator. No blasting is anticipated. All improvements at the SVC pad will occur within the confines of the existing property.

At the point of interconnect work area, the overhead line will be converted to underground by tapping into the existing duct bank and extending the duct bank downhill from BBTT to the new underground to overhead transition or riser pole alongside SDG&E’s substation access road at the bottom of the slope. To facilitate this duct bank extension, the Project will excavate a trench approximately 215 feet long, 3 feet wide and between 8 and 15 feet deep. Approximately 200 cubic yards (CY) of soil will be excavated from the trench and conduits for the underground cable installed. Excess soil will be hauled to a disposal site on Alpine Road, and the trench will be backfilled with concrete (from bottom of trench to between 3 and 6 inches above conduit), Fluidized Thermal Backfill (from top of concrete to 12 inches below finish grade), and native soil, topsoil, or repaving existing roadway surfaces (for the final 12 inches). All surfaces above the conduit will be restored to original existing surfaces. To facilitate construction, cranes and bucket trucks will perform aerial work surrounding the existing riser and intermediate poles. No additional ground disturbance will occur in this area.

Additionally, a temporary road with equipment benches will be constructed on the slope above the SDG&E Suncrest Substation, which will allow equipment to access Project work areas safely. Excavation of approximately 2,000 CY of soil will be required for this benching and equipment access. The portion of the soil that is not used in building the temporary access road will be temporarily stockpiled at the laydown area adjacent to the SVC site. The temporary road and benches will be returned to original grade and revegetated following construction.

On the north side of BBTT, a new camera mast and solar array will be constructed. The camera mast will require a 2-foot-wide foundation and excavation of one hole, approximately 39 inches deep and 24 inches in diameter. The solar array dimensions will be 10 feet by 10 feet and require excavation of 6 foundation holes, approximately 30 inches deep and 12 inches in diameter. Construction will require a mini excavator with drill and skid steer, and a 330 excavator, potentially with a hammer on the end, for excavating through rock, or a water-powered rock drill. No blasting will be allowed near the SDG&E Suncrest Substation.

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Water for dust control, fire prevention, emergency storage, and other construction uses will be purchased by HWT from local suppliers and trucked onto the site. Construction will require between 6,000 and 8,000 gallons of water.

6 REGULATORY COMPLIANCE General Order (GO) 131-D. Rules Related to the Planning and Construction of Electric Generation, Transmission/Power/Distribution Line Facilities and Substations Located in California, specifies which utility transmission projects require CPUC approval. The conversion of overhead lines to underground is one of the exceptions to GO 131-D, Section III(A) which pertains to the requirements for Certificates of Public Convenience and Necessity. Specifically, Section III(A) provides that a CPCN is required for “major” transmission line facilities of 200 kV or more “except for the replacement of existing power line facilities or supporting structures with equivalent facilities or structures, the minor relocation of existing power line facilities, the conversion of existing overhead lines to underground, or the placing of supporting structures already built” (emphasis added). The italicized exception applies because this is a conversion of an existing overhead line to underground. Even if newly built, the underground segment is approximately 115 feet long and does not constitute a “major” transmission line facility that would require a CPCN.

Similarly, work within the SVC substation property (such as replacing the chain link fence with a precast concrete wall, installing seismic pads, and installing a transformer oil gas monitoring system) does not require a CPCN or PTC under GO 131-D. Such work is not a major transmission facility that would require a CPCN under GO 131-D Section III(A), nor is it a power line or substation between 50 kV and 200 kV or a new or upgraded substation with a high side voltage over 50 kV under GO 131-D, Section III(B). Therefore, these improvements are not subject to CPUC jurisdiction.

7 APPLICABLE CEQA EXEMPTIONS The 2020-21 WMP Implementation does not require California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) review. CEQA applies to discretionary projects proposed to be carried out or approved by public agencies, including the CPUC (Pub. Res. Code § 21080).

Even if discretionary CPUC approval were required, however, the 2020-21 WMP Implementation falls squarely within the following CEQA exemptions: • Section 15269 of the State CEQA Guidelines specifies that the CEQA statutory exemption for emergency projects exempts specific actions necessary to prevent or mitigate an emergency, including where “fire or catastrophic risk mitigation or modifications to improve facility integrity . . . are proposed for existing facilities in response to an emergency at a similar existing facility.” This statutory exemption applies to the whole of the 2020-21 WMP Implementation because its physical elements, including the conversion of the one overhead transmission line segment to underground, are required by HWT’s WMP and are being implemented as fire or catastrophic risk mitigation and to improve facility integrity. • Additionally, Class 1 and Class 2 Categorical Exemptions in Section 15300 of the State CEQA Guidelines apply to the Project. o The Class 1 Categorical exemption applies to the modifications at the Suncrest SVC pad and the monitoring equipment to be installed on the underground cable. This exemption includes minor alterations of existing public and private facilities involving negligible or no expansion of existing or former use. The key consideration under this exemption

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is whether the Project involves negligible or no expansion of use. Under Section 15301(b), the exemption applies to existing facilities of both investor and publicly-owned utilities used to provide electric power, natural gas, sewerage, or other public utility services. This exemption applies to the modifications at the Suncrest SVC pad and the monitoring equipment to be installed on the underground cable. o The Class 2 categorical exemption applies to the conversion of the one overhead transmission line segment to underground because it is (A) a replacement or reconstruction of existing structures and facilities where the new structure will be located on the same site and have substantially the same purpose and capacity, (B) a replacement or reconstruction of existing utility systems that involves no expansion of capacity, and (C) a conversion of overhead facilities to underground where the surface will be restored to its prior condition. o Notably, none of the circumstances set forth in Section 15300.2 of the State CEQA Guidelines, which identify exceptions to the categorical exemptions, apply here. For example, the wildfire mitigation activities will not occur in an environmentally sensitive area, will not result in “unusual circumstances” creating the reasonable possibility of significant effects, and will not result in impacts to scenic resources. The findings below support this conclusion.

8 FINDINGS SUPPORTING THE APPLICABLE CEQA EXEMPTIONS

There has been a substantial amount of CEQA documentation related to the Suncrest Dynamic Reactive Power Support Project (Suncrest SVC Project). The Suncrest SVC Project was analyzed in an FEIR (SCH# 2016011004) and no significant and unavoidable impacts were identified for that larger Project. Following an evaluation of the Suncrest 2020-2021 Wildfire Mitigation Plan Improvements Project, it has been determined that the Project will not result in any significant effects on the environment. This determination is based on the following findings regarding Project impacts on the resource areas listed in Appendix G of the State CEQA Guidelines.

8.1 Aesthetics (e.g., damage scenic resources or vistas, degrade the existing visual character of the site and its surroundings, or create sources of light or glare)

The Project will replace a section of overhead transmission line with an underground transmission line, install a camera mast and solar panel, replace the chain link fence around the substation with a concrete wall, and install additional equipment within the SVC pad. The Project is located within a gated portion of BBTT and is not visible to the public. The Project will not alter any Project components, such as equipment or features, that are visible from public views. Since the Project will make negligible changes to existing infrastructure, impacts will be less than significant.

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8.2 Agriculture and Forestry Resources (e.g., convert Farmland to nonagricultural use, or create a conflict with existing agricultural zoning or a Williamson Act)

The Project occurs on land mapped as “Other Land” by the Farmland Mapping and Monitoring Program and is not located on land zoned for forest land, timberland, or timberland zoned for Timberland Production. Therefore, there will be no impacts to agriculture or forestry resources.

8.3 Air Quality (e.g., produce criteria air pollutant emissions, or expose sensitive receptors to addition pollutants)

The Project’s construction air pollutant emissions will occur for a short period, approximately 30 weeks, and will be well below the magnitude that will cause air quality standard violations or contribute substantially to existing or projected air quality standard violations that are measured in San Diego County. Many of the Project activities will occur on the SVC pad.

The Project will include excavation of a new trench for the underground cable, yielding approximately 200 CY of soil that will be disposed of offsite. This will require approximately 20 truck trips assuming a 10 CY capacity dump truck. The trench will be backfilled with concrete. The Project will also require excavation of approximately 2,000 CY of soil for building a temporary access road and benching of the slope for equipment. This soil will be stored on site and replaced one the Project is complete.

The Project will involve 0.23 acre of ground disturbance at the SVC, 0.35 acre at the staging area, and 0.85 acre for the undergrounding. This minimal amount of disturbance will result in less than significant impacts to air quality from Project construction. Project construction will comply with all applicable requirements of the San Diego Air Pollution Control District, including, but not limited to, the following: (1) Airborne Dust Beyond the Property Line: No person shall engage in construction or demolition activity subject to this rule in a manner that discharges visible dust emissions into the atmosphere beyond the property line for a period or periods aggregating more than 3 minutes in any 60 minute period. (2) Track-Out/Carry-Out: Visible roadway dust as a result of active operations, spillage from transport trucks, erosion, or track-out/carry-out shall: (i) be minimized by the use of any of the following or equally effective track out/carry-out and erosion control measures that apply to the Project or operation: track-out grates or gravel beds at each egress point, wheel-washing at each egress during muddy conditions, soil binders, chemical soil stabilizers, geotextiles, mulching, or seeding; and for outbound transport trucks: using secured tarps or cargo covering, watering, or treating of transported material; and (ii) be removed at the conclusion of each workday when active operations cease, or every 24 hours for continuous operations. If a street sweeper is used to remove any track- out/carry-out, only PM10-efficient street sweepers certified to meet the most current South Coast Air Quality Management District Rule 1186 requirements shall be used. The use of blowers for removal of track-out/carry-out is prohibited under any circumstances.

There will be no permanent air emissions as a result of the Project.

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8.4 Biological Resources (e.g., have an adverse effect on sensitive or special-status species; impact riparian, wetland, or any other sensitive habitat; or conflict with local policies or ordinances protecting biological resources)

The majority of the Project area is within the construction footprint for the Suncrest SVC Project. The Suncrest SVC Project was placed online in February 2020 and the areas of temporary disturbance will be restored as part of the Restoration and Revegetation Plan for the Suncrest Dynamic Reactive Power Support Project (SWCA 2020). SWCA prepared the Biological Resources Report for the Suncrest 2020- 2021 Wildfire Mitigation Implementation Project and April 2020 Rare Plant Survey Report for the Suncrest 2020-2021 Wildfire Mitigation Implementation Project in spring of 2020 for the Project, both of which are included as attachments to this document. According to the results of those surveys: • Construction within the point of interconnect work area will affect Chamise Chaparral and restored California Buckwheat Scrub located immediately north of the SDG&E Suncrest Substation. Neither of these habitats are considered sensitive and will be restored following Project implementation. • Based on an assessment of the habitat requirements of the sensitive species with recorded occurrences in the larger vicinity, a total of 15 sensitive animals, as described in the Biological Resources Report, were determined to have the potential to be present at the Project. These included one invertebrate, five reptiles, two birds, and seven mammals. Only one sensitive animal—coast horned lizard (Phrynosoma blainvillii)—was observed within the Project footprint during surveys for this report. In addition, nesting and breeding birds are likely to utilize the Project and surrounding areas that could be affected by Project activities. • Approximately 56 San Diego County sunflower individuals (which were introduced during restoration efforts associated with the SDG&E Sunrise Powerlink Project) could be impacted by Project activities through removal or crushing of plants. However, San Diego County sunflower occurs in the Project area only because it was added to the revegetation seed mix developed as part of the SDG&E Sunrise Powerlink Project in 2012. Since this species was introduced to the Project area, restoration of this species will not be required. • Although the rushlike bristleweed occurs near Project disturbance areas on the north side of BBTT at the location of the proposed camera mast and solar array (see Figure 3), the Project can likely be constructed while avoiding impacts to this species. If these plants are impacted by construction, they will be replaced in accordance with the Restoration and Revegetation Plan for the Suncrest Dynamic Reactive Power Support Project. • SWCA’s assessment of the potential habitat, species and rare plants impacts from the Project are consistent with those identified in the Suncrest SVC Project’s BRTR and past rare plant surveys (SWCA 2015). HWT intends to follow their own internal best practices as well as similar best practices implemented during the construction of the Suncrest SVC Project (e.g., environmental awareness training, preconstruction surveys, flagging of sensitive resources, and monitoring) and restore work areas to preconstruction conditions. HWT will also amend the Restoration and Revegetation Plan for the Suncrest Dynamic Reactive Power Support Project to ensure areas disturbed by construction are restored in a manner consistent with the Suncrest SVC Project. As such, impacts to biological resources resulting from implementation of this Project will be less than significant.

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8.5 Cultural Resources (e.g., cause an adverse change to a significant historical, archeological, or paleontological resource)

SWCA completed a literature review and intensive pedestrian cultural survey for HWT in support of the Project. The survey included the point of interconnect work area plus a 50-foot buffer for a total survey area of approximately 1.81 acres. All other portions of the Project area had been subjected to intensive pedestrian survey for cultural resources within the past 5 years (Hoffman and Treffers 2015). The purpose of the survey was to assess the unsurveyed portion of the Project area for known cultural resources or archaeologically sensitive areas that could be affected by the Project. SWCA prepared a report to summarize the history of previous work in the Project vicinity, describe the methods SWCA archaeologists used to survey the Project area, and present the results as they relate to HWT’s proposed wildfire improvements. This report is included as an attachment.

No new records search was conducted for the Project, as the results of a records search conducted in 2015 for the Suncrest Dynamic Reactive Power Support Project (Suncrest SVC Project) encompass the Project area. SWCA’s survey of the Project area at the point of connection was negative, and no cultural resources were identified. Two previously recorded resources in the Project area have been recommended ineligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places and California Register of Historical Resources. However, these sites are considered a Tribal Cultural Resource of the Viejas Band of Kumeyaay Indians.

In the vicinity of the SVC pad, the Project will require excavations for piles approximately 6-7 feet deep and 24 inches in diameter. The excavations for the camera mast and solar panel will be approximately 39 inches deep. The new underground conduit at the point of interconnection will require a trench that is approximately 215 feet long, 3 feet wide, and 8 to 15 feet deep. The work at the SVC pad and underground conduit excavations may exceed excavation depths for the Suncrest SVC Project.

The presence of known archaeological sites both within the Proposed Project SVC area and along the BBTT indicates that the area is sensitive for archaeological resources. HWT will retain a qualified archaeological monitor and Native American monitor to monitor ground-disturbing activities below previous excavation depths at the SVC pad. If any prehistoric or historic-era features, or human remains, are exposed during construction, the archaeological monitor will have the authority to stop work in the vicinity of the finds and implement HWT’s unanticipated discovery protocol. Under HWT’s unanticipated discovery protocol, all cultural resources accidentally uncovered during construction within the project site will be evaluated for eligibility for inclusion in the CRHR or as a tribal cultural resource (TCR). Native American consultation is required if an archaeological site is determined to be a TCR. Implementation of avoidance or treatment measures will be required before resuming any construction activities with potential to affect identified eligible resources at the site.

Furthermore, archaeological resources may also contain previously unidentified human remains. Although it would be unlikely for human remains to be disturbed during construction, given the previously disturbed nature and geology of the location, the possibility, though remote, exists that burials could be encountered. If human remains are encountered during construction-related ground disturbance, the requirements of California Health and Human Safety Code section 7050.5 will be followed. Excavation will halt in the location where remains are discovered, with a minimum radius of 100 feet, and the County Coroner will be notified. The Coroner is required to examine all discoveries of human remains within 48 hours of receiving notice of a discovery on private or state lands (Health and Safety Code § 7050.5[b]). If the Coroner determines that the remains are those of a Native American, he or she must contact the Native American Heritage Commission (NAHC) by phone within 24 hours of making that determination (Health and Safety Code § 7050[c]). Pursuant to the provisions of Public Resources Code

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section 5097.98, the NAHC will identify a Most Likely Descendent (MLD). The MLD designated by the NAHC shall have at least 48 hours to inspect the site and propose treatment and disposition of the remains and any associated grave goods. HWT will work with the MLD to ensure that the remains are removed to a protected location and treated with dignity. As such, impacts related to cultural and tribal resources will be less than significant.

8.6 Energy (e.g., result in wasteful, inefficient, or unnecessary consumption of energy resources, during project construction or operation, or conflict with or obstruct a state or local plan for renewable energy or energy efficiency)

Construction of the Project will result in indirect energy consumption from construction traffic and the use of construction materials. The primary energy demand during construction will occur from use of gasoline- and diesel-powered mobile construction equipment and vehicles to transport workers and materials to and from the construction site. Electricity will also be used for construction lighting, field services, and electrically driven construction devices such as air compressors, pumps, and other equipment. The amount of transportation fuel and potential electricity use required for the Project is not considered an inefficient or wasteful use of energy, and construction impacts will be less than significant.

The Project will add wildfire mitigation measures to the existing Suncrest SVC Project. The cameras will be powered by the onsite solar panel that will be installed as part of the Project. Added monitoring equipment (e.g., the weather station, oil gas monitoring system and distributed temperature and partial discharge monitoring on the proposed new and existing 230 kV underground cable) will use a minimal amount of electrical power. The Project will not result in a change to the energy characteristics of the Suncrest SVC Project, therefore there will be no operational energy impact.

8.7 Geology, Soils, and Seismicity (e.g., cause or expose people or structures to geologic or soil hazards, including erosion or loss of topsoil, seismic-related ground shaking, landslides)

The Project will replace a section of overhead transmission line with an underground transmission line, install a camera mast and solar panel, replace the chain link fence around the SVC facility with a concrete wall, and make additional modifications to improve seismic and wildfire resilience of the Suncrest SVC Project. The Project involves approximately 0.23 acre of ground disturbance at the SVC pad, 0.35 acre at the laydown area, and 0.85 acre of ground disturbance at the point of interconnect work area, and therefore will require coverage under the State Water Resources Control Board’s General Construction Stormwater Permit and the development of a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP). The SWPPP will provide the best management practices required onsite to prevent and minimize soil erosion and sedimentation during construction and measures for site stabilization following construction. HWT will also amend the Restoration and Revegetation Plan for the Suncrest Dynamic Reactive Power Support Project to ensure that topsoil is restored and areas disturbed by construction are restored in a manner consistent with the Suncrest SVC Project.

The Project will also involve excavation on a steep slope near the Suncrest Substation. To reduce the potential for geological hazards such as slope failure, landslide, or rockfall, HWT proposes to bench the slope for equipment safety and removal of excavated material to a designated staging area near the SVC. As such, impacts to public safety as a result of soil erosion, soil loss, and geologic hazards will be less than significant.

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8.8 Greenhouse Gas Emissions (e.g., generate a substantial amount of greenhouse gas [GHG] emissions, conflict with an applicable plan, policy, or regulation adopted for the purpose of reducing emissions or GHGs)

The Project’s construction greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions will occur for a short period, approximately 32 weeks, and will be well below the magnitude that will cause GHG standard violations or contribute substantially to existing or projected GHG standard violations that are measured in San Diego County. Construction-phase GHG emissions will occur directly from the off-road heavy-duty equipment and on-road motor vehicles used during construction. These construction-phase emissions will be minimal, will fall well under the California Air Pollution Control Officers Association (CAPCOA) recommended threshold of 900 metric tons per year of carbon monoxide equivalents (CO2e), and will result in minimal impacts to air quality from Project construction. Project construction will comply with all requirements of the San Diego Air Pollution Control District and impacts will be less than significant. There will be no permanent GHG emissions as a result of the Project.

8.9 Hazards and Hazardous Materials (e.g., create or increase the exposure of people or structures to hazardous materials, involve the use of additional hazardous materials or equipment, or interfere with an adopted emergency plan)

Construction of the Project will involve the transport, use, and disposal of hazardous materials in small quantities, including hazardous liquid materials such as fuel. The transport, use, and disposal of these hazardous materials will be done in compliance with all applicable laws, regulations, and guidelines designed to prevent accidents, injury, or other damages to the public or environment. These will include, but not be limited to: • Hazardous materials will be stored in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations, and crews will be trained on handling hazardous materials. • Spills will be cleaned up immediately, and contaminated soils will be disposed of properly. • Vehicles/equipment will be inspected for leaks (e.g., fuel, oil, hydraulic fluids, etc.) daily and repaired prior to work. • Fueling will not be conducted near a drainage feature. • Spill kits/absorbent clean-up materials will be available on site and, if used, disposed of properly.

As a result, construction of the Project will not pose a threat to the environment or public related to hazardous materials and impacts will be less than significant.

8.10 Hydrology and Water Quality (e.g., degrade water quality, discharge waste or sediment, deplete groundwater, alter the existing drainage pattern, create additional runoff water or polluted runoff, place structure in a 100-year flood hazard area, or expose people or structures to a significant risk involving flooding)

Construction of the Project could result in erosion and runoff to downstream water bodies. As stated above, the Project will involve ground disturbance of more than 1 acre and will therefore require coverage under the SWRCB’s General Construction Stormwater Permit and the development of a SWPPP. The SWPPP will include Best Management Practices (BMPs) to prevent erosion and sedimentation and therefore will reduce potential downstream impacts to hydrology and water quality. The Project will

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adhere to the requirements and BMPs identified in the SWPPP; therefore, the Project will not violate any water quality standards or waste discharge requirements. Implementation of the SWPPP will ensure that any construction-related impacts to water quality will be less than significant.

The Project is not located in a 100-year flood hazard area and will not add impervious surface area to the SVC facility site as it is taking place within a previously disturbed and compacted pad. The Project will add a minimal amount of impervious surface area at the point of interconnection, including the foundations for the camera mast and solar panel. The duct bank trench would be backfilled to 12 inches below grade with native soil or topsoil, or road surface to match previous conditions, and will not contribute additional impervious surface. All work at the SVC pad will remain within existing impervious surface areas. The new impervious surface area will be minimal and will not appreciably alter existing drainage patterns or create additional runoff. The Project will maintain or replace and improve existing stormwater systems. Therefore, impacts to drainage patterns will be less than significant and have no impacts related to flooding.

Depth to groundwater in the area makes it unlikely that groundwater will be encountered during construction. The addition of a minimal amount of impervious surface will not impact groundwater recharge in the area. There will be no impacts to groundwater.

8.11 Land Use and Planning (e.g., physically divide an established community; conflict with a land use plan, policy, or regulation of an agency with jurisdiction over the project, or conflict with a habitat conservation plan)

The Project involves minor structural changes to the existing SVC facility and transmission line and will occur on the same parcels as for the Suncrest SVC Project. No impacts related to land use, plans, or policies will occur.

8.12 Mineral Resources (e.g., result in the loss of known mineral resources of regional and/or state value, or availability of locally-important mineral resource recovery site delineated on a local general plan, specific plan, or other land use plan)

No mineral resources are known to occur at the Project site. The Project is not located on, or in the vicinity of, a locally important mineral resource recovery site, nor will it result in the loss of such a site. Therefore, there will be no impacts to mineral resources.

8.13 Noise and Vibration (e.g., expose sensitive receptors to additional noise or vibration, exposure of persons to or generation of excessive ground-borne noise or vibration)

Construction of the Project will involve the use of a mini excavator with drill and skid steer, 330 excavator with hammer, water-powered rock drill, pickup trucks, flat-bed truck, water truck and heavy machinery. Excavation will require approximately 20 truck trips to remove excavated soil. Construction activities (e.g., ground-disturbing activities, including movement of heavy construction equipment) may generate localized ground-borne noise and vibration. Blasting is not allowed close to the SDG&E Suncrest Substation and is not anticipated during construction of the Project. Generally, construction-related ground-borne vibration is not expected to extend beyond 25 feet from the generating source. The new riser pole at the point of interconnection will be located approximately 28 feet north

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of the SDG&E Suncrest Substation perimeter fence and no excavation will occur within 25 feet of the perimeter fence.

The Project is located in a rural area with little residential development. The closest sensitive receptor is a ranch residence approximately 0.6 mile southeast of the Suncrest SVC pad. Construction will occur from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., 4 days per week for approximately 30 weeks. Therefore, although the construction phase of the Project will generate noise, the Project will comply with the San Diego County Noise Ordinance and construction noise impacts will be less than significant.

There will be no new operational sources of noise or vibration, and with the installation of a new perimeter wall surrounding the SVC facility, the existing operational noise from the SVC equipment will be minimized. HWT will be performing additional noise study to determine the operational noise benefit as a result of this Project.

8.14 Population and Housing (e.g., directly or indirectly induce substantial population growth in an area, or displace substantial numbers of people or existing housing)

The Project will make minor structural changes to the existing SVC facility and transmission line. The Project will be short-term in nature and will not induce population growth or displace people or housing. No impact will occur.

8.15 Public Services and Utilities (e.g., result in substantial adverse physical impacts on government facilities that provide a public service; require or result in the construction of new water, wastewater treatment, or stormwater drainage facilities; have insufficient water supplies or wastewater treatment capacity available to the project from existing entitlements and resources; be served by a landfill with insufficient permitted capacity to accommodate the project’s need; or fail to comply with federal, state, and local statutes and regulations for solid waste)

The Project will make minor structural changes to the existing SVC facility and transmission line. The Project will not alter public services or utilities required for operation of the existing facilities. By implementing wildfire risk reduction measures at the Suncrest SVC Facility, the Project will provide beneficial impacts to emergency response services such as California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE), which provides fire protection to the Project area, by reducing risks associated with wildfire.

Construction will require a minimal amount of water for workers, dust control, and slurry mixing. The amount of water required will be minimal, lasting only the duration of construction, which is expected to be approximately 30 weeks. HWT will purchase 6,000 to 8,000 gallons of water for construction workers and dust control from local sources and truck it to the Project site, therefore, the Project will not result in the need for new or expanded water facilities. The Project will produce minimal wastewater from portable toilets. Local water and wastewater facilities have adequate capacity to supply the Project, therefore the Project will not result in the construction of new or expanded water or wastewater facilities and no impact will occur.

The only existing stormwater infrastructure in the area are the “v-ditches” and culverts along and underneath BBTT. Stormwater generated and discharged by the SVC facility flows via natural drainages to Taylor Creek and/or Sweetwater River. The proposed improvements and revised drainage at the SVC

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facility will not create new impervious surface area or substantially alter the facility’s drainage plan. Undergrounding the approximately 115-foot segment of transmission line will not add new impervious surface area, as the trench will be backfilled with soil or road surface to 12 inches below grade to equal existing conditions. Therefore, the Project will not significantly alter the existing volume of stormwater flow and no impact to stormwater drainage facilities will occur.

Any solid waste materials or excess spoils from the Project will be disposed of in a permitted landfill/disposal site with sufficient permitted capacity. Disposal of any solid waste materials from the Project will comply with necessary statutes and regulations related to solid waste. No impact will occur.

8.16 Recreation (e.g., increase the use of, or cause adverse effects on, existing parks or other recreational facilities)

The Project will not impact the use of any existing parks or recreational areas as the Project area is located on a gated portion of BBTT and is not accessible to the general public. Similarly, the Project does not involve growth inducing impacts and will not require the use or expansion of any existing recreational facilities. No impact will occur.

8.17 Transportation (e.g., increase traffic congestion or degrade performance of the circulation system, taking into account all modes of transportation, or increase hazards due to a design feature)

The Project is located on a gated portion of BBTT, which is primarily used by SDG&E and HWT employees for access to the Suncrest Substation and Suncrest SVC Facility. The Project will generate construction-related traffic, consisting primarily of daily commutes by construction workers and periodic delivery and removal of materials and equipment to and from the site over the course of the 30-week construction period. The addition of construction traffic to roadway volumes could result in minor increases in roadway traffic and delay for vehicles. Furthermore, the presence of construction truck traffic will temporarily reduce roadway capacity because of the slower travel speeds and larger turning radii of trucks. Undergrounding the segment of transmission line at the point of interconnection will require some excavation in BBTT, however the Project will maintain traffic control if necessary, coordinate with SDG&E during excavation, and will not close the road to all traffic. Therefore, temporary impacts related to construction and construction traffic will be less than significant.

The Project does not include construction of new roads and will not increase hazards due to a road design feature or new incompatible uses. No permanent impacts will occur.

8.18 Tribal Cultural Resources (e.g., cause substantial adverse change in the significance of a tribal cultural resource)

The Project is primarily located on the site of the previous Suncrest SVC Project. The Viejas Band of Kumeyaay Indians indicated interest in and performed cultural monitoring for the Suncrest Project. Cultural and Native American monitoring of the Suncrest Project uncovered 49 artifacts associated with SUN-S-1012, a known cultural resource associated with the Viejas Band of the Kumeyaay Indians, during construction. The artifacts that were recovered did not constitute a change in eligibility for the resources within the project area; that is to say that the resources within the project were previously recommended to be ineligible for listing in the California Register of Historical Resources (CRHR); further the identified resources did not meet the eligibility criteria identified in Public Resources Code section 5024.1

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or CEQA section 21083.2(g). However, the Viejas Tribe indicated that they would like to receive these items and they were handed over to the tribe.

In the vicinity of the SVC pad, the Project will require excavations for piles approximately 6-7 feet deep and 24 inches in diameter. The excavations for the camera mast and solar panel will be approximately 39 inches deep. The new underground conduit at the point of interconnect work area will require a trench that is approximately 215 feet long, 3 feet wide, and 8 to 15 feet deep. The work at the SVC pad and underground conduit excavations may exceed excavation depths for the Suncrest SVC Project. Excavations that exceed previous depths may have the potential to expose previously unknown Tribal Cultural Resources (TCR).

The presence of known archaeological sites both within the Proposed Project SVC area and along the BBTT indicates that the area is sensitive for Tribal Cultural Resources. As a result, a qualified Native American monitor will monitor alongside a qualified archaeological monitor when excavation exceeds previous excavation depths at the SVC. The Native American monitor will work with the archeological monitor (see Section 8.5, Cultural Resources) and under the supervision of the principal investigator. If any prehistoric or historic-era features, or human remains, are exposed during construction, the archaeological monitor and Native American monitor will have the authority to stop work in the vicinity of the finds and implement HWT’s unanticipated discovery protocol (see Section 8.5, Cultural Resources).

8.19 Wildfire (e.g. if located in an area state responsibility area classified as a very high fire severity zone - exacerbate wildfire risks, expose people to pollutants concentrations from wildfire, expose people or structures to significant post-fire risks due to flooding or land instability, or interfere with an emergency response plan)

The SVC facility is located in a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone in a State Responsibility Area. The Project will reduce hazards related to wildfire by implementing wildfire risk reduction measures at the Suncrest SVC Project, including grid hardening measures to reduce or mitigate risks and enhance resiliency to wildfire. As a result, implementation of the Project will have a beneficial impact and reduce risk related to wildfire at the SVC facility and along the transmission line.

HWT has retained Capstone Fire & Safety Management to oversee and implement standard best management practices and fire safe working conditions to reduce the risk of wildfire during construction. These measures will include:

• All work vehicles will be required to carry fire suppression equipment. Workers will be trained in the use of equipment for incipient stage fire suppression. • Smoking will be confined to vehicles or approved smoking areas where fire suppression equipment and appropriate disposal facilities are present. All smoking materials will be disposed of in appropriate disposal bins. • All on-road vehicle parking will be restricted to paved or graveled surfaces unless parking is required during an emergency or required for worker safety. • Require spark arrestors on all off-road equipment. • Restrict work activities during Red Flag Warnings issued by the National Weather Service to the extent possible. Where it is not possible to stop or restrict work activities due to safety or time sensitive activities, work activities will be limited to those needed to complete the current task

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and establish safe working conditions. During Red Flag Warnings a crew member will be assigned to fire watch for each separate and distinct active work area. • Weather and fire danger will be monitored on a daily basis. • Fire suppression equipment such as backpack water pumps or water buffaloes will be kept on-site at a minimum of 50 feet from each separate and distinct active work area.

Therefore, implementation of the Project will have a net benefit impact on wildfire risk and will not pose additional threats to the environment or public related to wildfire.

8.20 Mandatory Findings of Significance (e.g., degrade the quality of the environment, substantially reduce the habitat of a fish or wildlife species, cause a fish or wildlife population to drop below self-sustaining levels, threaten to eliminate a plant or animal community, reduce the number or restrict the range of a rare or endangered plant or animal or eliminate important examples of the major periods of California history or prehistory)?

A significant impact may occur only if a project will have an identified potentially significant impact for any of the above issues. The Project is primarily located within the same footprint as the existing Suncrest SVC Project. The Project will have no impact on historic resources. The Project will have a less than significant impact on cultural resources, paleontological resources, and human remains. The Project will not degrade the quality of the environment, reduce, or threaten any fish or wildlife species (endangered or otherwise), or eliminate important examples of the major periods of California history or pre-history. Therefore, impacts from the Project will be less than significant.

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9 LITERATURE CITED Hoffman, L., and S. Treffers. 2015. Suncrest Dynamic Reactive Power Support Project Cultural Resources Technical Report, Alpine, San Diego County, California. Prepared for NextEra Energy Resources, LLC. SWCA Environmental Consultants, Half Moon Bay, California.

Horizon West Transmission, LLC. 2020. Wildfire Mitigation Plan 2020. Submitted to the California Public Utilities Commission. Available at: https://www.cpuc.ca.gov/uploadedFiles/CPUCWebsite/Content/About_Us/Organization/Divisio ns/WSD/R1810007%20(WMP)-HWT%202020%20WMP-Amended_2_18_2020.pdf. Accessed June 26, 2002.

San Diego Air Pollution Control District. 2009. Regulation IV. Rule 55. Fugitive Dust Control. Available at: https://www.sdapcd.org/content/dam/sdc/apcd/PDF/Rules_and_Regulations/Prohibitions/APCD _R55.pdf. Accessed June 26, 2020.

San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board. 2020. Phase I Regional Municipal Separate Storm Sewer (MS4) Program). Regional MS4 Permit. Available at: https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/sandiego/water_issues/programs/stormwater/sd_stormwater.ht ml. Accessed June 25, 2020.

SWCA Environmental Consultants (SWCA). 2020. Cultural Resources Report for the Suncrest 2020- 2021 Wildfire Mitigation Implementation Project. Prepared by Cheryle Hunt, B.A. and Alex Wesson, B.A. Prepared for Horizon West Transmission, LLC. June 2020.

———. 2020. Biological Resources Report for the Suncrest 2020-2021 Wildfire Mitigation Implementation Project. Prepared for Horizon West Transmission, LLC. June 2020.

———. 2020. Rare Plant Survey Report for the Suncrest 2020-2021 Wildfire Mitigation Implementation Project. Prepared for Horizon West Transmission, LLC. June 2020.

18 4-22

BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES REPORT FOR THE SUNCREST 2020–2021 WILDFIRE MITIGATION IMPLEMENTATION PROJECT

Prepared for Horizon West Transmission, LLC One California, Suite 16 San Francisco, CA 94111 Attn: Patti Murphy

Prepared by Ryan Myers, B.S. SWCA Environmental Consultants 60 Stone Pine Road, Suite 100 Half Moon Bay, California 94019 (650) 440-4160 www.swca.com

SWCA Project No. 59772

July 2020

4-23 Suncrest 2020–2021 Wildfire Mitigation Implementation Project Biological Resources Report

CONTENTS

1 Introduction ...... 1 1.1 Project Location ...... 1 1.2 Project Description ...... 4 2 Methods ...... 7 2.1 Literature Review ...... 7 2.2 Vegetation Mapping ...... 7 2.3 Field Surveys ...... 7 3 Results – Existing Conditions ...... 8 3.1 Habitats and Natural Communities ...... 8 3.1.1 Critical Habitat ...... 8 3.1.2 Vegetation Communities and Cover Types ...... 8 3.2 Common and Special-Status Species ...... 9 3.2.1 Common Wildlife ...... 9 3.2.2 Sensitive Species ...... 10 4 Discussion ...... 10 5 Literature Cited ...... 13

Appendices

Appendix A. Faunal Compendium Appendix B. Photo Documentaton

Figures

Figure 1. General vicinity map...... 2 Figure 2. Project location map...... 3 Figure 3. Land cover types identified at the SVC facility perimeter and in the SVC pad work area...... 5 Figure 4. Vegetation communities and land cover types identified at the point of interconnect work area ...... 6

Tables

Table 1. Sensitive Species and Their Potential for Occurrence on the Project Site ...... 11

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1 INTRODUCTION Horizon West Transmission, LLC (HWT) retained SWCA Environmental Consultants (SWCA) to conduct a biological assessment and survey in support of the Suncrest 2020–2021 Wildfire Mitigation Implementation Project (Project) located in San Diego County, California. HWT proposes to construct the Project to comply with the Wildfire Management Plan (WMP) that was approved by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) in June 2020 (HWT 2020). The Project will be constructed within and immediately adjacent to HWT’s existing Static Var Compensator 230-kilovolt electrical transmission line, recently constructed as part of the Suncrest Dynamic Reactive Power Support Project (Suncrest SVC Project).

This report documents the existing biological resources in the Project area and summarizes applicable past survey results from reports prepared for HWT’s Suncrest SVC Project. Biological resources considered in this report include, but are not limited to, sensitive and common wildlife and their habitats, as well as sensitive natural communities. This report describes the methodologies used to assess the biological resources known to occur and potentially occurring within the Project area, and includes references to the Suncrest SVC Project’s Biological Resources Technical Report (BRTR) (SWCA 2015) as applicable. A rare plant survey was also conducted for the same Project areas; however, the results of the rare plant survey are provided under separate cover in April 2020 Rare Plant Survey Report for the Suncrest 2020–2021 Wildfire Mitigation Implementation Project (SWCA 2020a).

The Project includes eight components that can be divided into three geographic categories including: (1) modifications to the SVC site, (2) along the existing, approximately 1-mile, 230 kV underground transmission line, and (3) at the point of interconnection adjacent to SDG&E (Figure 2). Of these, only two areas of work will require new ground disturbance. Activities along the underground transmission line will use existing manholes for access. The majority of Project activities will occur at and adjacent to the existing Suncrest SVC pad and at the interconnection point to the SDG&E Suncrest Substation where the existing overhead conductor will be undergrounded. Portions of the Project overlap with both permanent and temporary impact areas associated with HWT’s Suncrest SVC Project that was put into service in February 2020. Specifically, the Project overlaps with work areas previously disturbed during installation of the overhead electrical transmission line segment of the Suncrest SVC Project where the line transitions from underground and interconnects into SDG&E’s existing Suncrest Substation (Figure 2), and at the Suncrest SVC pad.

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Figure 1. General vicinity map.

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Figure 2. Project location map.

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1.2 Project Description The Project will occur on portions of the existing Suncrest SVC Project site and is designed to implement modifications related to wildfire mitigation and grid hardening measures for the Suncrest SVC Project. The modifications will occur primarily at the SVC pad and at the point where the transmission line enters the Suncrest Substation. In addition, the project will add a sensor cable to the existing underground transmission line and duct bank along the BBTT. This cable will be added using existing manholes along BBTT to access the duct bank and will not require new excavation or ground disturbance.

More specifically, the Project includes the following WMP Implementation activities:

Along the 230 kV underground duct bank: • Install distributed temperature and partial discharge monitoring on the proposed new and existing 230 kV underground cable.

At the point of interconnection: • Underground the final 115-foot segment of HWT-owned overhead transmission line; • Remove the existing riser pole and intermediate pole and install a new riser pole downslope at the location of the intermediate pole; and • Install a mast-mounted camera and ground-mounted solar panel and control box.

Proposed work at the SVC will take place within the existing, previously disturbed 2.59-acre SVC pad. Ground disturbance within the SVC pad will be limited to 0.23 acre. The Project will also utilize a 0.35-acre portion of the previously used laydown area along the west side of the existing SVC pad as shown in Figure 3. This acreage is entirely within the previous disturbance area and will be restored following Project implementation.

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Figure 3. Land cover types identified at the SVC facility perimeter and in the SVC pad work area.

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Figure 4. Vegetation communities and land cover types identified at the point of interconnect work area

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2 METHODS SWCA conducted a biological resources study using a combination of literature review, review of results of prior biological studies for the Suncrest SVC Project, and current field surveys to document the biological resources at the Project.

2.1 Literature Review

SWCA biologists reviewed existing databases to confirm previously identified special-status species and their habitats, and sensitive resources that could occur on or in the immediate vicinity of the Project. Database searches included the nine USGS 7.5-minute quadrangles at and surrounding the Project: El Cajon Mountain, Tule Springs, Cuyamaca Peak, Alpine, Viejas Mountain, Descanso, Dulzura, Barrett Lake, and Morena Reservoir. Site-specific information reviewed included, but was not limited to, the following sources: • California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) California Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB) (CDFW 2020) • California Native Plant Society (CNPS) Inventory of Rare and Endangered Plants of California (CNPS 2020) • eBird database (eBird 2020) • California Herps (Nafis 2020)

Additional database and mapping resources included U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) species lists (USFWS 2020) and critical habitat maps, aerial imagery, vegetation and land-use mapping, and Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) Soil Surveys (NRCS). Many biological surveys were conducted at and around the Project as part of the studies completed for the Suncrest SVC Project, which overlap almost entirely. Results from the BRTR, Bat Survey Report, and Hermes Copper Butterfly (HCB) Habitat Survey Report for the Suncrest SVC Project (SWCA 2015, 2018a, 2018b) were also reviewed.

2.2 Vegetation Mapping Mapping of on-site vegetation communities was conducted through desktop analysis and by reviewing past survey results related to Suncrest SVC Project studies. Vegetation communities were subsequently field verified, and any changes were documented. Vegetation communities were classified using A Manual of California Vegetation (Sawyer, Keeler-Wolf, and Evens 2009), as further modified for the County of San Diego (Evens and San 2005; AECOM et al. 2011).

2.3 Field Surveys SWCA biologists Ryan Myers and Malek Al-Marayati conducted a reconnaissance survey on April 28 and 29, 2020. The surveys included plant and wildlife inventories, general habitat assessments, and vegetation mapping. Surveyors noted and recorded all wildlife species encountered directly through observation, indirectly through sign (e.g., scat, remains, tracks), and for birds, by direct observation or their species-specific vocalizations. The use of binoculars also facilitated wildlife identification. A focused rare plant survey was conducted in conjunction with the reconnaissance survey, which is discussed in a separate report (SWCA 2020a).

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The survey area includes a 100-foot buffer around the Project work areas except for a 500-foot buffer for nesting raptor surveys (see Figures 3 and 4). Surveys were conducted by walking meandering transects throughout the survey area. Areas that were inaccessible by the surveyors (e.g., due to steep terrain or unsafe conditions, and/or private property access restrictions at the SVC facility and Suncrest Substation) were surveyed using high-powered binoculars.

3 RESULTS – EXISTING CONDITIONS The Project is located approximately 30 miles from the Pacific Ocean and situated in the Laguna Mountains of the Peninsular Ranges. Topography in the vicinity of the Project is undulating, with steep hills interspersed by narrow valleys and deep canyons with steeply incised drainage corridors. Elevations in the vicinity of the Project range between approximately 3,000 and 3,200 feet above mean sea level.

3.1 Habitats and Natural Communities 3.1.1 Critical Habitat

As described in the Suncrest SVC Project BRTR (SWCA 2015), there is no federally designated critical habitat for Endangered Species Act (ESA)-listed species within or immediately adjacent to the Project. Current critical habitat maps were reviewed for the Project area and it was determined that there have been no changes since the original BRTR was produced. The results for federally designated critical habitat are consistent with the Suncrest SVC Project BRTR finding for critical habitat, as no new critical habitat area designations have occurred since the completion of the Suncrest SVC Project.

3.1.2 Vegetation Communities and Cover Types

The original 2015 Suncrest SVC Project BRTR, which is incorporated by reference into this document, described the vegetation communities of the area surrounding the Suncrest SVC Project (SWCA 2015). The 2015 BRTR identified the following vegetation communities: undisturbed Chamise Chaparral (Adenostoma fasciculatum Shrubland Alliance), California Buckwheat Scrub (Eriogonum fasciculatum Shrubland Alliance), Engelmann Oak-Coast Live Oak/Poison Oak/Grass Association (Quercus engelmannii-Q. agrifolia/Toxicodendron diversilobum Association), Bigberry Manzanita – Chamise Chaparral Association (Arctostaphylos glauca – Adenostoma fasciculatum Association), Ruderal, and Urban/Developed. See the 2015 BRTR for a complete description of vegetation communities. The field survey for the Project confirmed the presence of those communities and identified some changes in vegetation due to the Suncrest SVC Project. These changes are identified below.

The surrounding area of the Project generally consists of undeveloped chaparral scrub and oak woodlands, with pockets of disturbance dominated by nonnative grasses and forbs. The point of interconnect work area has two primary vegetation communities. The northern portion of the point of interconnect work area occurs mostly within undisturbed Chamise Chaparral Association (see Figure 3). This association is not a sensitive natural community. The southern portion of the point of interconnect work area includes the restored slope cuts immediately north of the Suncrest Substation that were initially disturbed by the construction of the substation. These slopes are best classified as California Buckwheat Scrub. California Buckwheat Scrub occurs on the slope cuts immediately north of the substation. This entire area was disturbed during the construction of the Suncrest Substation and was previously classified as ruderal as part of the studies for the Suncrest SVC Project. Since then, California buckwheat (Eriogonum fasciculatum) has increased in percent cover enough to be classified as a distinct community in this area (see Figure 3). Other species occurring on the slope cuts include deerweed (Acmispon glaber), white sage (Salvia apiana), and the special-status plant San Diego County

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sunflower (Bahiopsis laciniata; California Rare Plant Rank [CRPR] 4.3). San Diego County sunflower was introduced as part of the restoration after the completion of the Suncrest Substation for SDG&E’s Sunrise Powerlink Project. Prior to the construction of the Suncrest SVC Project, the entire site (overhead area and BBTT) was part of a restoration project for the SDG&E Sunrise Powerlink Project and included mostly planted California buckwheat. Remnant stands of the restored California Buckwheat Scrub are located southeast of the Suncrest SVC Project area. This association is not a sensitive natural community. The overhead area was disturbed as part of the Suncrest Day 1 Project and is therefore included in Restoration and Revegetation Plan for the Suncrest Dynamic Reactive Power Support Project (Restoration Plan; SWCA 2020b). In the area of the existing riser and intermediate pole, California Buckwheat Scrub will be reseeded with a native grassland seed mix under the Restoration Plan.

The vegetation communities in the vicinity of the SVC pad consist of existing Engelmann Oak-Coast Live Oak/Poison Oak/Grass Association and ruderal areas. The SVC facility is Urban/Developed land cover while the surrounding, continuously disturbed work areas are classified as Ruderal (see Figure 4). The Urban/Developed category is reserved for portions of the study area no longer covered by vegetation. It includes roads, permanent facilities, and other sites paved or built upon that exclude plants. This cover type occurs along the paved roads (BBTT), the SVC facility, and the Suncrest Substation. Engelmann Oak Habitat exists to the north of the SVC pad. Ruderal areas surround the SVC facility perimeter where vegetation has been cleared and graded for many years. Some of this ruderal area was California Buckwheat Scrub that was disturbed as part of the Suncrest Day 1 Project and is therefore included in the Restoration Plan (SWCA 2020b). Under this plan, in the vicinity of the SVC pad, California Buckwheat Scrub and Engelmann Oak Habitat will be restored with a native grassland seed mix. Therefore, the vegetation surrounding the SVP pad will change overtime as the Restoration Plan is implemented.

3.2 Common and Special-Status Species 3.2.1 Common Wildlife

Biologists conducting surveys at the Project recorded all vertebrate wildlife encountered. A complete list of species observed is included in Appendix A, Faunal Compendium.

Reptiles observed at the Project included western fence lizard (Sceloporus occidentalis) and granite spiny lizard (S. orcutti). Past surveys efforts have observed other common species, including side-blotched lizard (Uta stansburiana) and southwestern speckled rattlesnake (Crotalus mitchellii pyrrhus).

Common year-round bird species observed include common raven (Corvus corax), bushtit (Psaltriparus minimus), California thrasher (Toxostoma redivivum), house finch (Haemorhous mexicanus), mourning dove (Zenaida macroura), oak titmouse (Baeolophus inornatus), wrentit (Chamaea fasciata), and western scrub-jay (Aphelocoma californica). Neotropical migrants that could breed in summer at the Project include ash-throated flycatcher (Myiarchus cinerascens), lazuli bunting (Passerina amoena) black-headed grosbeak (Pheucticus melanocephalus), house wren (Troglodytes aedon), lesser goldfinch (Spinus psaltria), Anna’s hummingbird (Calypte anna), and western kingbird (Tyrannus verticalis). Red-tailed hawks (Buteo jamaicensis) were also observed soaring overhead.

Common mammal species detected through sign (burrows, dens, tracks, or scat) or observed directly include coyote (Canis latrans), mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus), and California ground squirrel (Otospermophilus beecheyi).

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3.2.2 Sensitive Species

SWCA biologists reviewed the species with recorded occurrences in the records search area and evaluated their potential for occurrence at the Project.

3.2.2.1 SPECIAL-STATUS ANIMALS

For the purpose of this report, special-status animals include species or subspecies listed as endangered, threatened, or candidate for listing as endangered or threatened under the federal ESA, the California Endangered Species Act (CESA), or both. All wildlife species designated by the CDFW as Fully Protected, Species of Special Concern, Watch List species, and other wildlife included in the most current CDFW “Special Animals” list are also included (CDFW 2019)

Based on an assessment of the habitat requirements of the sensitive species with recorded occurrences in the larger vicinity, a total of 15 sensitive animals, as described in Table 1, Sensitive Species and Their Potential for Occurrence on the Project Site, were determined to have the potential to be present at the Project. These included one invertebrate, five reptiles, two birds, and seven mammals. Other sensitive animals were determined to have potential for the Suncrest SVC Project but were excluded from this assessment due to the smaller project footprint and lack of suitable habitat. Each of these species is discussed individually below. The Project overlaps almost entirely with previously impacted areas for both the construction of the Suncrest Substation and the Suncrest SVC Project. These overlapping areas have been included in habitat assessments and focused surveys for special-status wildlife over the past several years for previous projects.

Only one sensitive animal—coast horned lizard (Phrynosoma blainvillii)—was observed within the Project footprint during surveys for this report.

4 DISCUSSION The Project areas are similar to, and in some cases identical to, the Suncrest SVC Project areas. At the SVC, Project work areas are located entirely within the disturbance area for the Suncrest SVC project and no additional permanent impacts are anticipated. Temporary disturbance will occur in the proposed laydown area; however, this area is still disturbed from the construction of the Suncrest SVC Project and will be restored following Project activities. No sensitive communities or habitat will be impacted as a result of the Project at the SVC site.

Although the new proposed point of interconnect work area for the Project is located approximately 90 feet south and west of the Suncrest SVC Project work area, the habitat is essentially in the same as the habitat analyzed in the Suncrest SVC Project’s BRTR. Implementation of the Project at the point of interconnect work area will affect Chamise Chaparral and the restored California Buckwheat Scrub located immediately north of the SDG&E Suncrest Substation. This area will be restored according to the Restoration and Revegetation Plan for the Suncrest Dynamic Reactive Power Support Project following Project implementation.

The same wildlife species as identified in the Suncrest SVC Project BRTR could potentially occur and/or be affected by Project activities. One special-status animal was observed within the Project during the spring 2020 survey—coast horned lizard. However, several other special-status wildlife species have potential to occur within the Project, including red-diamond rattlesnake and San Diego desert woodrat (see Table 1). In addition, nesting and breeding birds are likely to utilize the Project and surrounding areas that could be affected by Project activities.

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Table 1. Sensitive Species and Their Potential for Occurrence on the Project Site

Potential for Common Name Scientific Name Status Habitat Occurrence

Invertebrates

Hermes copper Lycaena hermes FC Species occupies any woody (mature) spiny redberry (Rhamnus crocea) shrub with California buckwheat Moderate butterfly within 15 feet. A few spiny redberries were observed in the Project portion proposed for undergrounding; however, none were within 15 feet of California buckwheat. Prior habitat assessments conducted have found multiple areas within suitable habitat, especially around the SVC facility; however, Hermes copper butterfly has never been observed on-site (SWCA 2018b).

Reptiles and Amphibians

Orange-throated Aspidoscelis SSC Species occupies coastal scrub, chamise chaparral, mixed chaparral, and valley-foothill hardwood habitats, Moderate whiptail hyperythra usually where there is sandy soil, at elevations up to 3,400 feet.

Red-diamond Crotalus ruber SSC Species inhabits open scrub, chaparral, woodland, and grassland vegetation types. High rattlesnake

Coast (San Diego) Phrynosoma SSC Species occurs in open or sparse scrub and chaparral communities and prefers loose soils for burrowing at Present horned lizard blainvillii elevations from sea level to approximately 8,000 feet. The species was observed at the undergrounding footprint.

Coronado Island Plestiodon SSC Species inhabits grassland, chaparral, pinyon-juniper and juniper sage woodland, pine-oak, and pine Moderate skink skiltonianus forests in the Coast Ranges of southern California. This species prefers early successional stages or open interparietalis areas. It is commonly found in rocky areas close to streams and on dry hillsides from sea level up to approximately 8,300 feet.

Coast patch-nosed Salvadora SSC Species inhabits open sandy areas and rocky outcrops in scrub, chaparral, grassland, and woodland Moderate snake hexalepis virgultea vegetation types from sea level to about 7,000 feet.

Birds

Golden eagle Aquila chrysaetos SFP Species occurs throughout California in a variety of habitats including grasslands, open scrublands, and Moderate for woodlands. This species typically nests on cliff faces or in large trees or tall artificial structures such as foraging; low for electrical transmission towers (eBird 2020). nesting

Swainson’s hawk Buteo swainsoni ST Species breeds in a wide range of open habitats with low vegetation throughout the western United States, Low including grasslands, riparian areas, savannahs, and agricultural and ranch lands.

Mammals

Pallid bat Antrozous pallidus SSC Species most commonly occurs in mixed oak and grassland habitats, and roosts in rock crevices and in Low cavities of trees, especially oaks.

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Potential for Common Name Scientific Name Status Habitat Occurrence

Dulzura California Chaetodipus SSC Species occurs in a variety of habitats including coastal scrub, chaparral, and grassland in San Diego Moderate pocket mouse californicus County, and is commonly attracted to grass-chaparral edges. femoralis

Northwestern San Chaetodipus fallax SSC Species inhabits a variety of habitats with sandy areas with herbaceous vegetation and moderate canopy Low Diego pocket mouse cover, at elevations up to 6,000 feet. Vegetation communities occupied include coastal scrub, chamise chaparral, mixed chaparral, sagebrush, pinyon-juniper woodlands, annual grasslands, and several desert habitat types. In San Diego County, this species is typically found in arid coastal and desert border areas.

Townsend’s big- Corynorhinus SSC Species occurs in a variety of habitats throughout California, but it is most commonly associated with Low eared bat townsendii desert scrub, mixed conifer forest, and pinyon-juniper or pine forest habitat.

Western mastiff bat Eumops perotis SSC Species is found in many open semi-arid to arid habitats including conifer and deciduous woodlands, Low californicus coastal scrub, grasslands, palm oases, chaparral, desert scrub, and urban. It typically forages in open areas with high cliffs and roosts in small colonies in crevices on cliff faces.

San Diego desert Neotoma lepida SSC Species occurs in woodlands, chaparral, sagebrush, and desert habitats at elevations up to 8,500 feet. High woodrat intermedia

American badger Taxidea taxus SSC Species is found in open woodlands, desert scrub, grasslands, and open communities, generally. Low Agricultural fields are also suitable if there is a small mammal prey base. Badgers require friable soils for digging out their small mammal prey, and for constructing dens.

Status Codes: Federal: FC = Candidate for listing State: SC = Candidate for Listing; SFP = State Fully Protected; SSC = Species of Special Concern; ST = Threatened

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5 LITERATURE CITED AECOM, California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG) Vegetation Classification and Mapping Program, and the Conservation Biology Institute. 2011. Vegetation Classification Manual for Western San Diego County. First Edition. Prepared for San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG). February 2011. Available at: https://sdmmp.com/upload/projects/20160330_2357_94.pdf. Accessed April 2020.

California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW). 2019. Special Animals List. Periodic publication. 67 pp. August. Available at: https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=109406. Accessed April 2020.

———. 2020. California Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB). California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Sacramento, CA.

California Native Plant Society (CNPS). 2020. Inventory of Rare and Endangered Plants (online edition, v8-03 0.39). California Native Plant Society Rare Plant Program, Sacramento, CA. Available at: http://www.rareplants.cnps.org. Accessed April 2020. eBird. 2020. eBird: An online database of bird distribution and abundance [web application]. eBird, Ithaca, New York. Available at: http://www.ebird.org. Accessed April 2020.

Evens, J., and S. San. 2005. Vegetation Alliances of the San Dieguito River Park Region, San Diego County, California. California Native Plant Society, Sacramento, CA. 265 pp.

Horizon Water and Environment. 2018. Final Environmental Impact Report, NextEra Energy Transmission West’s Proposed Suncrest Dynamic Reactive Power Support Project. January. Available at: https://www.cpuc.ca.gov/environment/info/horizonh2o/suncrest/docs/CPUC%20Suncrest%20FE IR_Volume%201_Combined.pdf. Accessed May 22, 2020.

Horizon West Transmission, LLC (HWT). 2020. Horizon West Transmission, LLC Wildfire Mitigation Plan 2020. February. Available at: https://www.cpuc.ca.gov/uploadedFiles/CPUCWebsite/Content/About_Us/Organization/Divisio ns/WSD/R1810007%20(WMP)-HWT%202020%20WMP-Amended_2_18_2020.pdf. Accessed May 26, 2020.

Nafis, G. 2020 California Herps - A Guide to the Amphibians and Reptiles of California. Available at: http://www.californiaherps.com/. Accessed April 2020.

Sawyer, J. O., T. Keeler-Wolf, and J. M. Evens. 2009. A Manual of California Vegetation. Second Edition. California Native Plant Society Press, in collaboration with California Department of Fish and Game, Sacramento, California.

SWCA Environmental Consultants. 2015. Suncrest Dynamic Reactive Power Support Project Biological Resource Technical Report. Prepared for NextEra Energy Transmission West, LLC. August.

———. 2018a. Suncrest Dynamic Reactive Power Support Project Bat Survey Report. Prepared for NextEra Energy Transmission West, LLC. September.

———. 2018b. Suncrest Dynamic Reactive Power Support Project Hermes Copper Butterfly Habitat Survey Report. Prepared for NextEra Energy Transmission West, LLC. September.

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———. 2020a. April 2020 Rare Plant Survey Report for the Suncrest 2020–2021 Wildfire Mitigation Implementation Project. Prepared for NextEra Energy Transmission West, LLC. June.

———. 2020b. Restoration and Revegetation Plan for the Suncrest Dynamic Reactive Power Support Project. Prepared for NextEra Energy Transmission West, LLC. February.

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). Web Soil Survey. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Soil Survey Staff. Available at: http://websoilsurvey.nrcs.usda.gov/. Accessed April 2020.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 2020. Information for Planning and Conservation (IPaC) report for the Proposed Project. Available at: https://ecos.fws.gov/ipac/project/4NBYJ-X2Q3R- EWBKL-JN6D3-JEQLVU. Accessed April 2020.

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APPENDIX A

Faunal Compendium

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Table A-1. Faunal Compendium

Scientific Name Common Name

CLASS REPTILIA REPTILES

Phrynosomatidae Zebra-Tailed, Earless, Fringe-Toed, Spiny, Tree, Side-Blotched, and Horned Lizards

Phrynosoma blainvillii coast horned lizard

Sceloporus occidentalis western fence lizard

Sceloporus orcutti granite spiny lizard

Uta stansburiana side-blotched lizard

Crotalidae Pit Vipers

Crotalus mitchellii pyrrhus* southwestern speckled rattlesnake

CLASS AVES BIRDS

Cathartidae New World Vultures

Cathartes aura turkey vulture

Accipitridae Hawks, Kites, and Eagles

Accipiter cooperii Cooper's hawk

Buteo jamaicensis red-tailed hawk

Odontophoridae New World Quail

Callipepla californica California quail

Oreortyx pictus* mountain quail

Charadriidae Plovers

Charadrius vociferus killdeer

Columbidae Pigeons and Doves

Zenaida macroura* mourning dove

Trochilidae Hummingbirds

Calypte anna Anna’s hummingbird

Calypte costae* Costa’s hummingbird

Picidae Woodpeckers

Colaptes auratus* northern flicker

Tyrannidae Tyrant Flycatchers

Myiarchus cinerascens* ash-throated flycatcher

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Scientific Name Common Name

Sayornis saya* Say's phoebe

Tyrannus verticalis* western kingbird

Alaudidae Larks

Eremophila alpestris horned lark

Corvidae Jays and Crows

Aphelocoma californica California scrub jay

Corvus corax common raven

Paridae Chickadees and Titmice

Baeolophus inornatus* oak titmouse

Hirundinidae Swalllows

Petrochelidon pyrrhonota* cliff swallow

Aegithalidae Bushtits

Psaltriparus miniumus bushtit

Troglodytidae Wrens

Troglodytes aedon house wren

Polioptilidae Gnatcatchers

Polioptila caerulea blue-gray gnatcatcher

Sylviidae Old World Warblers

Chamaea fasciata wrentit

Turdidae Thrushes

Sialia mexicana* western bluebird

Mimidae Mockingbirds and Thrashers

Toxostoma redivivum* California thrasher

Sturnidae Starlngs

Sturnus vulgaris* European starling

Ptiliogonatidae Silky Flycatchers

Phainopepla nitens* Phainopepla

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Scientific Name Common Name

Icteridae Blackbirds

Agelaius phoeniceus red-winged blackbird

Passerellidae New World Sparrows

Chondestes grammacus lark sparrow

Melospiza melodia song sparrow

Melozone crissalis California towhee

Pipilo maculatus spotted towhee

Spizella atrogularis black-chinned sparrow

Cardinalidae Cardinals

Passerina amoena Lazuli bunting

Pheucticus melanocephalus black-headed grosbeak

Fringillidae Finches

Haemorhous mexicanus house finch

Spinus psaltria lesser goldfinch

CLASS MAMMALIA MAMMALS

Sciuridae Squirrels

Otospermophilus beecheyi* California ground squirrel

Canidae Wolves and Foxes

Canis latrans*† coyote

Muridae Mice, Rats, and Voles

Neotoma sp. *† woodrat

Cervidae Deer

Odocoileus hemionus*† mule deer

* Observed during prior survey effort † Observed indirectly

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A-4 4-44

APPENDIX B

Photo Documentation

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Photo B-1. View of riser pole in survey area proposed for undergrounding, facing west. Work at this location will entail removal of the existing riser pole and foundation and installation of a camera mast and solar panel.

Photo B-2. Representative photo of vegetation located north of the Suncrest Substation, facing northeast.

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Photo B-3. View of the SVC facility, facing west. HTW proposes to replace the chain-link perimeter fence with a precast concrete wall.

Photo B-4. View of the SVC facility and disturbance area, facing east.

B-2 4-47

RARE PLANT SURVEY REPORT FOR THE SUNCREST 2020–2021 WILDFIRE MITIGATION IMPLEMENTATION PROJECT

Prepared for Horizon West Transmission, LLC One California, Suite 16 San Francisco, CA 94111 Attn: Patti Murphy

Prepared by Ryan Myers, B.S. SWCA Environmental Consultants 60 Stone Pine Road, Suite 100 Half Moon Bay, California 94019 (650) 440-4160 www.swca.com

SWCA Project No. 59772

July 2020

4-48 Suncrest 2020–2021 Wildfire Mitigation Implementation Project April 2020 Rare Plant Survey Report

CONTENTS

1 Introduction ...... 1 1.1 Project Location ...... 1 1.2 Project Description ...... 4 2 Methods ...... 6 2.1 Literature Review ...... 6 2.2 Field Surveys ...... 6 3 Results...... 8 4 Discussion ...... 8 5 Literature Cited ...... 10

Appendices

Appendix A. Floral Compendium Appendix B. Photo Documentaton

Figures

Figure 1. General vicinity map...... 2 Figure 2. Project location map...... 3 Figure 3. Previously observed rare plant observations at and near the SVC facility work area...... 5 Figure 4. Rare plant observations at the Project point of interconnect work area and buffer...... 7

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1 INTRODUCTION Horizon West Transmission, LLC (HWT) retained SWCA Environmental Consultants (SWCA) to conduct rare plant survey in support of the Suncrest 2020–2021 Wildfire Mitigation Implementation Project (Project) located in San Diego County, California. HWT proposes to construct the Project to comply with the Wildfire Management Plan (WMP) that was approved by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) in June 2020 (HWT 2020). The Project will be constructed within and immediately adjacent to HWT’s existing Static Var Compensator 230-kilovolt electrical transmission line, recently constructed as part of the Suncrest Dynamic Reactive Power Support Project (Suncrest SVC Project). The purpose of this report is to document the results of the rare plant surveys conducted by SWCA botanists Ryan Myers and Malek Al-Marayati on April 28 and 29, 2020, and summarize and confirm their consistency with past survey results for the Suncrest SVC Project. The rare plant surveys were conducted at the same time as the biological resource surveys, which covered faunal species provided under separate cover in Biological Resources Report for the Suncrest 2020–2021 Wildfire Mitigation Implementation Project (SWCA 2020). Floristic surveys conducted before construction commenced on the Suncrest SVC Project included Suncrest SVC Project work areas plus a 100-foot buffer that overlapped with all Project areas. Prior to construction on the Suncrest SVC Project, SWCA biologists conducted focused rare plant surveys in April and August 2017 (SWCA 2017a,b) and April and August 2018 (SWCA 2018a,b). These surveys were conducted to determine the presence or absence of rare plants within a 100-foot radius from the Suncrest SVC Project construction areas. Additionally, rare plant surveys for the Suncrest SVC Project were refreshed in January and August of 2019 (SWCA 2019a, 2019b, 2019c). As such, the locations where the proposed Project activities will occur were previously surveyed for rare plants on numerous occasions and during different times of the year prior to and during construction of the Suncrest SVC Project.

1.1 Project Location The Project is located in unincorporated San Diego County, on private land adjacent to the Cleveland National Forest, west of Japatul Valley Road and south of Interstate 8 (Figure 1). Nearby unincorporated communities include Descanso, approximately 3.78 miles to the northeast, and Alpine, approximately 5.75 miles to the west. The city of El Cajon is approximately 13.36 miles west of the Project. The Project is located on the Viejas Mountain, California U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) 7.5-minute topographic quadrangles. The Project is located on privately owned parcels including land owned by SDG&E (see Figure 2). The Project includes eight components that can be divided into three geographic categories including: (1) modifications to the SVC site, (2) along the existing, approximately 1-mile, 230 kV underground transmission line, and (3) at the point of interconnection adjacent to SDG&E (Figure 2). Of these, only two areas of work will require new ground disturbance. Activities along the underground transmission line will use existing manholes for access. The majority of Project activities will occur at and adjacent to the existing Suncrest SVC pad and at the interconnection point to the SDG&E Suncrest Substation where the existing overhead conductor will be undergrounded. Portions of the Project overlap with both permanent and temporary impact areas associated with HWT’s Suncrest SVC Project that was put into service in February 2020. Specifically, the Project overlaps with work areas previously disturbed during installation of the overhead electrical transmission line segment of the Suncrest SVC Project where the line transitions from underground and interconnects into SDG&E’s existing Suncrest Substation (Figure 2), and at the Suncrest SVC pad.

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Figure 1. General vicinity map.

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Figure 2. Project location map.

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More specifically, the Project includes the following WMP Implementation activities:

Along the 230 kV underground duct bank: • Install distributed temperature and partial discharge monitoring on the proposed new and existing 230 kV underground cable.

Proposed work at the SVC will take place within the existing, previously disturbed 2.59-acre SVC pad. Ground disturbance within the SVC pad will be limited to 0.23 acre. The Project will also utilize a 0.35-acre portion of the previously used laydown area along the west side of the existing SVC pad as shown in Figure 3. This acreage is entirely within the previous disturbance area and will be restored following Project implementation.

At the west end of the Project, the overhead segment will be converted to an underground segment on the same parcel as HWT’s existing easement located just north of the Suncrest Substation. The proposed point of interconnect work area is 1.03 acres. However, ground disturbance (grading and excavation) within that work area will be limited to 0.85 acre and will be restored following Project implementation.

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Figure 3. Previously observed rare plant observations at and near the SVC facility work area.

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2 METHODS SWCA conducted a rare plant survey using a combination of literature review, review of results of prior biological studies for the Suncrest SVC Project, and current field surveys to document the biological resources at the Project.

2.1 Literature Review

A desktop review of all potential special-status plants was reviewed in April 2020. The desktop analysis included queries of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) California Natural Diversity Data Base (CNDDB) (CDFW 2020), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Information for Planning and Conservation (IPaC) Report for the study area (USFWS 2020), and California Native Plant Society (CNPS) Rare Plant Inventory (CNPS 2020). This list and past survey results were referenced by the SWCA botanists prior to conducting the focused rare plant surveys.

2.2 Field Surveys The surveys were performed in accordance with Protocols for Surveying and Evaluating Impacts to Special Status Native Plant Populations and Natural Communities (CDFW 2018). SWCA botanists conducted the focused rare plant surveys within the project footprint north of the Suncrest Substation for the proposed undergrounding of the overhead segment (construction area and 100-foot survey area buffer; see Figure 3) and the Suncrest SVC facility (see Figure 4). Given that all the work proposed at the SVC facility will occur within the previously developed perimeter of the facility or within the facility itself, surveys focused on the pad work area and proposed laydown easement. The survey area surrounding the SVC pad was heavily disturbed during construction of the Suncrest SVC Project and is currently undergoing restoration.

Botanists walked transects that were approximately 30 feet (9 meters) apart and visually surveyed to achieve 100% coverage. Transect spacing was variable based on visibility, with transects closer together in areas with poor visibility due to dense shrub cover. The use of binoculars facilitated plant identification in areas with steep terrain that were inaccessible by foot. Plant species were identified to the highest taxonomic level possible when encountered. Plants that could not be identified in the field were collected and later identified using The Jepson Manual: Vascular Plants of California, Second Edition (Baldwin et al. 2012). Sensitive plant species observed during the survey were documented by counting individuals or estimating numbers for larger populations and recorded using a submeter Global Positioning System (GPS) location.

The appropriate blooming periods for rare plant species with potential to occur on-site were referenced prior to conducting the surveys. For past botanical surveys conducted for the Suncrest SVC Project, surveys were conducted within two separate time frames to coincide with plant blooming periods: April and July/August. The two surveys conducted for this report were conducted only in April 2020. However, because the most recent rare plant survey conducted for the Suncrest SVC Project was August 2019 (SWCA 2019a, 2019b), the blooming periods for all rare plants with potential to occur on-site have been evaluated when the 2019 and 2020 surveys are considered together. Although references consulted differ on the blooming period for sticky desertsunflower (Geraea viscida) and ashy spike moss (Selaginella cinerascens), sticky desertsunflower is detectable regardless of whether it is blooming, and ashy spike moss is easily differentiated from more common members of the genus by the absence of awns or presence of inconspicuous awns (SWCA 2018).

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Figure 4. Rare plant observations at the Project point of interconnect work area and buffer.

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3 RESULTS Three special-status species were found within the survey area during the focused plant surveys: rushlike bristleweed (Xanthisma junceum; California Rare Plant Rank [CRPR] 4.3), Engelmann oak (Quercus engelmannii; CRPR 4.2), and San Diego County sunflower (Bahiopsis laciniata; CRPR 4.3).

Approximately 205 rushlike bristleweed individuals were observed, including four within the work area of the proposed point of interconnect (see Figure 3). Almost all were found within bare openings of the chamise (Adenostoma fasciculatum)-dominated south-facing slope. Approximately 667 individuals were found in similar habitat during the rare plant surveys in July and August 2019.

Approximately 67 San Diego County sunflowers were observed during this survey (see Figure 3). San Diego County sunflowers have been identified during past survey efforts as well. However, this species was introduced to the Project area when a restoration seed mix was used for revegetation after construction of the Suncrest Substation. As such, the species is prominent on the restored slopes dominated by California buckwheat (Eriogonum fasciculatum) immediately north of the substation.

Two Engelmann oaks were located within SVC facility work area; however, as many as 93 Engelmann oak individuals have been identified during past survey efforts. The oaks in proximity to the Suncrest SVC facility are well buffered and clearly flagged/fenced from past construction activities. The locations of these oak trees near the Suncrest SVC facility are mapped in Figure 4.

During past surveys, populations of felt-leaved monardella (Monardella hypoleuca ssp. lanata; CRPR 1B.2) were identified along BBTT and the known species locations have been well documented in past surveys. However, the Project work areas do not overlap with the known populations and none were found within the survey areas conducted for this report.

No special-status or rare plants were observed within work areas at the SVC pad. However, the areas surrounding the SVC pad contained the same rare plants as identified in past reports for the Suncrest SVC Project. As such, no new occurrences of rare plants were observed within the survey area at the SVC pad.

A complete inventory of all plant species observed within the survey area is included in Appendix A, Floral Compendium.

Additionally, the locations where the Project activities will occur were previously surveyed for rare plants on numerous occasions and during different times of the year prior to and during construction of the Suncrest SVC Project. The results of the 2020 rare plant surveys described herein are consistent with those from past rare plant surveys, as no new rare plant species were identified, and the rare plant species identified during the spring 2020 surveys were located in the same general areas as described in past reports.

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Approximately 56 San Diego County sunflower individuals (which were introduced during restoration efforts associated with the SDG&E Sunrise Powerlink Project) could be impacted by Project activities through removal or crushing of plants. However, San Diego County sunflower occurs in the Project area only because it was added to the revegetation seed mix as part of the Wilson Yard Revegetation Plan developed for the SDG&E Sunrise Powerlink Project in 2012. Since this species was introduced to the Project area, restoration of this species will not be required. Although the rushlike bristleweed occurs near Project disturbance areas on the north side of BBTT at the uppermost riser pole work area (see Figure 3), the Project can likely be constructed while avoiding impacts to this species. If these plants are impacted by construction, they will be replaced in accordance with the Restoration and Revegetation Plan for the Suncrest Dynamic Reactive Power Support Project (SWCA 2020b). The other rare plants identified in the Project area, namely felt-leaved monardella and Engelmann oak, are far enough away from work areas and/or already protected with exclusion fencing that impacts to those species will be avoided during Project implementation.

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5 LITERATURE CITED Baldwin, B.G., D.H. Goldman, D.J. Keil, R. Patterson, T.J. Rosatti, and D.H. Wilken (eds). 2012. The Jepson Manual: Vascular Plants of California, second edition. University of California Press, Berkeley

California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW). 2018. Protocols for Surveying and Evaluating Impacts to Specials Status Native Plant Populations and Natural Communities. Sacramento, CA. Available at: https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=18959&inline.

———. 2020. California Natural Diversity Database. California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Sacramento, CA.

Horizon Water and Environment. 2018. Final Environmental Impact Report, NextEra Energy Transmission West’s Proposed Suncrest Dynamic Reactive Power Support Project. State Clearinghouse (SCH) No. 2016011004. January 2018. Available at: https://www.cpuc.ca.gov/environment/info/horizonh2o/suncrest/docs/CPUC%20Suncrest%20FE IR_Volume%201_Combined.pdf. Accessed May 22, 2020.

SWCA Environmental Consultants. 2015. Suncrest Dynamic Reactive Power Support Project Biological Resources Technical Report. Prepared for NextEra Energy Transmission West, LLC. September.

———. 2017a. Results from Focused Plant Survey for the Suncrest Reactive Power Support Project, San Diego County, California. Prepared for NextEra Energy Transmission West, LLC. May.

______. 2017b. Results from Focused Plant Survey for the Suncrest Reactive Power Support Project, San Diego County, California. Prepared for NextEra Energy Transmission West, LLC. August.

______. 2018a. Results from Focused Plant Survey for the Suncrest Reactive Power Support Project, San Diego County, California. Prepared for NextEra Energy Transmission West, LLC. May.

———. 2018b. Suncrest Dynamic Reactive Power Support Project. Rare Plant Survey Report. Prepared for NextEra Energy Transmission West, LLC. October.

———. 2019a. Pre-construction Survey Results for NextEra Energy Transmission West’s Suncrest Dynamic Reactive Power Support Project, San Diego County. Prepared for NextEra Energy Transmission West, LLC. January.

———. 2019b. Pre-construction Survey Results for NextEra Energy Transmission West’s Suncrest Dynamic Reactive Power Support Project, San Diego County. Prepared for NextEra Energy Transmission West, LLC. August.

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———. 2019c. July and August Rare Plant Survey Results, Suncrest Dynamic Reactive Power Support Project. San Diego County. Prepared for NextEra Energy Transmission West, LLC. August.

———. 2020a. Biological Resources Report for the Suncrest 2020–2021 Wildfire Mitigation Implementation Project. Prepared for Horizon West Transmission, LLC. June.

———. 2020b. Restoration and Revegetation Plan for the Suncrest Dynamic Reactive Power Support Project. Prepared for NextEra Energy Transmission West, LLC. February.

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APPENDIX A

Floral Compendium

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Table A-1. Floral Compendium

Scientific Name Common Name Life Form

Lycophytes

Selaginellaceae Spike-Moss Family

Selaginella bigelovii Bigelow's spike-moss lycophyte

Ferns

Pteridaceae Brake Family

Pellaea mucronata var. mucronata bird's foot cliff-brake pteridophyte

Angiosperms (Eudicots)

Anacardiaceae Sumac or Cashew Family

Malosma laurina laurel sumac tree/shrub

Rhus ovata sugar bush shrub

Apiaceae Carrot Family

Apiastrum angustifolium wild celery annual herb

Daucus pusilus rattlesnake weed annual herb

Asteraceae Sunflower Family

Ambrosia acanthicarpa annual bursage annual herb

Ambrosia psilostachya western ragweed perennial herb

Artemisia californica California sagebrush shrub

Artemisia dracunculus tarragon shrub

Artemisia tridentata ssp. tridentata¹ big sagebrush shrub

Baccharis salicifolia ssp. salicifolia mule fat shrub

Baccharis sarothroides broom baccharis shrub

Bahiopsis laciniata¹† San Diego County sunflower shrub

Carduus pycnocephalus ssp. pycnocephalus* Italian thistle annual herb

Centaurea melitensis* tocalote annual herb

Cirsium occidentale var. californicum California thistle perennial herb

Corethrogyne filaginifolia sand-aster perennial herb

Deinandra fasciculata clustered tarweed annual herb

Encelia farinosa¹ brittlebush shrub

Erigeron canadensis horseweed annual herb

Erigeron foliosus var. foliosus leafy daisy perennial herb

Eriophyllum confertiflorum var. confertiflorum long-stem golden-yarrow shrub

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Scientific Name Common Name Life Form

Eriophyllum wallacei Wallace's woolly daisy annual herb

Gazania linearis* treasure flower perennial herb

Glebionis coronaria* crown daisy annual herb

Gutierrezia californica California matchweed perennial herb/shrub

Hazardia squarrosa var. grindelioides gum plant goldenbush shrub

Hedypnois cretica* crete hedypnois annual herb

Heterotheca grandiflora telegraph weed perennial herb

Hypochaeris glabra* smooth cat’s-ear annual herb

Lactuca serriola* prickly lettuce annual herb

Lasthenia gracilis common goldfields annual herb

Logfia filaginoides California cottonrose annual herb

Logfia gallica* narrow-leaf filago annual herb

Pseudognaphalium biolettii two-color rabbit-tobacco perennial herb

Pseudognaphalium californicum California everlasting perennial herb

Rafinesquia californica California chicory annual herb

Sonchus asper ssp. asper* prickly sow thistle annual herb

Sonchus oleraceus* common sow thistle annual herb

Stylocline gnaphaloides everlasting nest straw annual herb

Uropappus lindleyi silver puff annual herb

Xanthisma junceum† rushlike bristleweed perennial herb

Boraginaceae Borage Family

Amsinckia intermedia common fiddleneck annual herb

Cryptantha intermedia common forget-me-not annual herb

Cryptantha muricata prickly cryptantha annual herb

Phacelia parryi Parry's phacelia annual herb

Brassicaceae Mustard Family

Hirschfeldia incana* shortpod mustard perennial herb

Lepidium nitidum shining pepper-grass annual herb

Caryophyllaceae Pink Family

Cerastium glomeratum* mouse-ear chickweed annual herb

Silene gallica* common catchfly annual herb

Spergularia bocconi* Boccone’s sandspurrey annual herb

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Scientific Name Common Name Life Form

Cistaceae Rock-Rose Family

Crocanthemum scoparium var. vulgare peak rush-rose shrub

Crassulaceae Stonecrop Family

Crassula connata pygmy-weed annual herb

Convolvulaceae Morning-Glory Family

Calystegia macrostegia ssp. intermedia south coast morning glory perennial herb/vine

Cuscuta californica California dodder annual herb/vine (parasitic)

Ericaceae Heath Family

Arctostaphylos glauca bigberry manzanita shrub

Euphorbiaceae Spurge Family

Croton setiger turkey-mullein perennial herb

Fabaceae Legume Family

Acmispon americanus var. americanus Spanish clover annual herb

Acmispon glaber var. brevialatus short-wing deerweed perennial herb

Acmispon micranthus San Diego lotus annual herb

Acmispon strigosus strigose lotus annual herb

Lathyrus vestitus var. alefeldii San Diego sweet pea perennial herb

Lupinus bicolor miniature lupine annual herb

Lupinus hirsutissimus stinging lupine annual herb

Medicago polymorpha* bur clover annual herb

Melilotus indicus* annual yellow sweetclover annual herb

Trifolium hirtum* rose clover annual herb

Trifolium microcephalum maiden clover annual herb

Fagaceae Oak Family

Quercus engelmannii† Engelmann oak tree

Quercus x acutidens Hybrid: Q. engelmannii, Q. cornellius-mulleri shrub

Geraniaceae Geranium Family

Erodium botrys* broad-lobed filaree annual herb

Erodium cicutarium* red-stemmed filaree annual herb

Lamiaceae Mint Family

Salvia apiana white sage shrub

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Scientific Name Common Name Life Form

Salvia clevelandii fragrant sage shrub

Salvia columbariae chia annual herb

Montiaceae Miner's Lettuce Family

Calandrinia ciliata red maids annual herb

Myrsinaceae Myrsine Family

Lysimachia arvensis* scarlet pimpernel annual herb

Onagraceae Evening Primrose Family

Camissonia strigulosa field evening primrose annual herb

Camissoniopsis bistorta California sun cup annual herb

Camissoniopsis hirtella field sun cup annual herb

Clarkia purpurea ssp. quadrivulnera four-spot annual herb

Eulobus californicus California primrose annual herb

Orobanchaceae Broom-Rape Family

Aphyllon tuberosum chaparral broomrape perennial herb (parasitic)

Castilleja exserta ssp. exserta purple owl's-clover annual herb

Castilleja foliolosa woolly Indian paintbrush perennial herb

Cordylanthus rigidus ssp. setiger bristly bird's-beak annual herb (hemiparasitic)

Phrymaceae Lopseed Family

Diplaucus brevipes Wide-throat yellow monkeyflower annual herb

Plantaginaceae Plantain Family

Plantago ovata var. insularis desert plantain annual herb

Polemoniaceae Phlox Family

Eriastrum filifolium lavender eriastrum annual herb

Polygonaceae Buckwheat Family

Chorizanthe fimbriata var. fimbriata fringed spineflower annual herb

Eriogonum fasciculatum var. foliolosum inland California buckwheat shrub

Eriogonum fasciculatum var. polifolium¹ Mojave Desert California buckwheat shrub

Polygonum aviculare ssp. depressum* common knotweed, doorweed annual/perennial herb

Pterostegia drymarioides California thread-stem annual herb

Rumex crispus* curly dock perennial herb

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Scientific Name Common Name Life Form

Rhamnaceae Buckthorn Family

Ceanothus leucodermis chaparral whitethorn shrub

Rhamnus crocea spiny redberry shrub

Rosaceae Rose Family

Adenostoma fasciculatum var. fasiculatum chamise shrub

Rubiaceae Madder Family

Galium angustifolium ssp. angustifolium narrow leaved bedstraw perennial herb

Galium aparine goose grass annual herb

Galium porrigens var. porrigens climbing bedstraw vine/shrub

Angiosperms (Monocots)

Agavaceae Agave Family

Chlorogalum parviflorum smallflower soap plant perennial herb

Hesperoyucca whipplei our lord's candle shrub

Cyperaceae Sedge Family

Carex triquetra triangular fruit sedge perennial grasslike herb

Iridaceae Iris Family

Sisyrinchium bellum blue-eyed grass perennial herb

Juncaceae Rush Family

Juncus bufonius var. bufonius toad rush annual herb

Juncus sp. rush perennial herb

Liliaceae Lily Family

Calochortus sp. mariposa lily perennial herb

Poaceae Grass Family

Avena barbata* slender wild oat annual/perennial grass

Avena fatua* wild oat annual grass

Bromus diandrus* ripgut grass annual grass

Bromus hordeaceus* soft chess annual grass

Bromus madritensis ssp. rubens* red brome annual grass

Cynodon dactylon* Bermuda grass perennial grass

Festuca myuros* fescue annual grass

Lamarckia aurea* goldentop grass annual grass

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Scientific Name Common Name Life Form

Muhlenbergia rigens¹ deergrass perennial grass

Pennisetum setaceum* fountaingrass perennial grass

Phalaris minor* Mediterranean canary grass annual grass

Polypogon monospilensis* rabbitfoot grass annual grass

Schismus barbatus* Mediterranean schismus annual grass

Stipa cernua nodding needlegrass perennial grass

Stipa coronata giant needlegrass perennial grass

Stipa pulchra purple needlegrass perennial grass

Themidaceae Brodiaea Family

Dichelostemma capitatum ssp. capitatum blue dicks perennial herb

* Non Native Species † Special-Status Species ¹ Restoration seed/container mix

A-6 4-69

APPENDIX B

Photo Documentation

4-70 Suncrest 2020–2021 Wildfire Mitigation Implementation Project April 2020 Rare Plant Survey Report

Photo B-1. View of upper riser pole work area, facing west. Work at this location will entail removal of the existing riser pole and installation of a camera mast and solar panel.

Photo B-2. Representative photo of vegetation north of Suncrest Substation, facing northeast.

B-1 4-71 Suncrest 2020–2021 Wildfire Mitigation Implementation Project April 2020 Rare Plant Survey Report

Photo B-3. View of SVC facility, facing west. HWT proposes to replace chain-link perimeter fence with a precast concrete wall.

B-2 4-72 CULTURAL RESOURCES REPORT FOR THE SUNCREST 2020–2021 WILDFIRE MITIGATION IMPLEMENTATION PROJECT

Prepared for Horizon West Transmission, LLC One California, Suite 16 San Francisco, CA 94111 Attn: Patti Murphy

Prepared by Cheryle Hunt, B.A. and Alex Wesson, B.A.

Principal Investigator Chris Millington, M.A., RPA SWCA Environmental Consultants 60 Stone Pine Road, Suite 100 Half Moon Bay, California 94019 (650) 440-4160 www.swca.com

SWCA Project No. 59772

July 2020

4-73 Suncrest 2020–2021 Wildfire Mitigation Implementation Project Cultural Resources Report

CONTENTS

1 Introduction ...... 1 2 Project Location and Description ...... 1 2.1 Project Location ...... 1 2.2 Project Description ...... 4 2.3 Relationship to Existing Infrastructure ...... 4 2.3.1 Point of Interconnect Work Area ...... 4 2.3.2 SVC Work Area ...... 5 3 Environmental Setting ...... 5 4 Background ...... 5 4.1 Records Search ...... 7 4.1.1 Previous Cultural Resources Studies ...... 7 4.1.2 Previously Recorded Cultural Resources ...... 8 4.2 Previously Recorded Resources Within the Project Area ...... 10 5 Cultural Resources Survey ...... 11 5.1 Methodology ...... 11 5.2 Results ...... 11 6 References Cited ...... 12

Appendices

CONFIDENTIAL Appendix A. Cultural Resources Location Map

Figures

Figure 1.Project vicinity map...... 2 Figure 2. Project location map...... 3 Figure 3. Point of interconnect work area...... 6

Tables

Table 1. Previously Conducted Cultural Resources Studies within Approximately 1 Mile of the Project Area ...... 7 Table 2. Previously Recorded Cultural Resources within Approximately 1 Mile of the Project Area ...... 9

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1 INTRODUCTION SWCA Environmental Consultants (SWCA) has completed a literature review and intensive pedestrian cultural survey for Horizon West Transmission, LLC (HWT) in support of the Suncrest 2020–2021 Wildfire Mitigation Implementation Project (Project) located in San Diego County, California (Figure 1). HWT proposes to construct the Project to comply with the Wildfire Management Plan (WMP) that was approved by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) in June 2020 (HWT 2020). The Project will be constructed within and immediately adjacent to HWT’s existing Static Var Compensator 230-kilovolt electrical transmission line, recently constructed as part of the Suncrest Dynamic Reactive Power Support Project (Suncrest SVC Project).

The purpose of the survey was to assess the Project area for known cultural resources or archaeologically sensitive areas that could be affected by the Project. This report summarizes the history of previous work in the Project vicinity, describes the methods SWCA archaeologists used to survey the Project area, and presents the results as they relate to HWT’s proposed improvements.

2 PROJECT LOCATION AND DESCRIPTION

2.1 Project Location

The Project is located in unincorporated San Diego County, on private land adjacent to the Cleveland National Forest, west of Japatul Valley Road and south of Interstate 8 (Figure 1). Nearby unincorporated communities include Descanso, approximately 3.78 miles to the northeast, and Alpine, approximately 5.75 miles to the west. The city of El Cajon is approximately 13.36 miles west of the Project. The Project is located on the Viejas Mountain, California U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) 7.5-minute topographic quadrangles. The Project is located on privately owned parcels including land owned by SDG&E (see Figure 1).

The Project includes eight components that can be divided into three geographic categories including: (1) modifications to the SVC site, (2) along the existing, approximately 1-mile, 230 kV underground transmission line, and (3) at the point of interconnection adjacent to SDG&E (Figure 2). Of these, only two areas of work will require new ground disturbance. Activities along the underground transmission line will use existing manholes for access. The majority of Project activities will occur at and adjacent to the existing Suncrest SVC pad and at the interconnection point to the SDG&E Suncrest Substation where the existing overhead conductor will be undergrounded. Portions of the Project overlap with both permanent and temporary impact areas associated with HWT’s Suncrest SVC Project that was put into service in February 2020. Specifically, the Project overlaps with work areas previously disturbed during installation of the overhead electrical transmission line segment of the Suncrest SVC Project where the line transitions from underground and interconnects into SDG&E’s existing Suncrest Substation (Figure 2), and at the Suncrest SVC pad.

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Figure 1.Project vicinity map.

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Figure 2. Project location map.

3 4-78 Suncrest 2020–2021 Wildfire Mitigation Implementation Project Cultural Resources Report

2.2 Project Description The Project will occur on portions of the existing Suncrest SVC Project site and is designed to implement modifications related to wildfire mitigation and grid hardening measures for the Suncrest SVC Project. The modifications will occur primarily at the SVC pad and at the point where the transmission line enters the Suncrest Substation. In addition, the project will add a sensor cable to the existing underground transmission line and duct bank along the BBTT. This cable will be added using existing manholes along BBTT to access the duct bank and will not require new excavation or ground disturbance.

More specifically, the Project includes the following WMP Implementation activities:

Along the 230 kV underground duct bank: • Install distributed temperature and partial discharge monitoring on the proposed new and existing 230 kV underground cable.

Proposed work at the SVC will take place within the existing, previously disturbed 2.59-acre SVC pad. Ground disturbance within the SVC pad will be limited to 0.23 acre. The Project will also utilize a 0.35-acre portion of the previously used laydown area along the west side of the existing SVC pad as shown in Figure 3. This acreage is entirely within the previous disturbance area and will be restored following Project implementation.

At the west end of the Project, the overhead segment will be converted to an underground segment on the same parcel as HWT’s existing easement located just north of the Suncrest Substation. The proposed point of interconnect work area is 1.03 acres. However, ground disturbance (grading and excavation) within that work area will be limited to 0.85 acre and will be restored following Project implementation.

2.3 Relationship to Existing Infrastructure 2.3.1 Point of Interconnect Work Area

The Project area includes a point of interconnect work area situated approximately 26 feet north of the existing Suncrest Substation, on the same parcel as HWT’s existing easement and partially within Bell

4 4-79 Suncrest 2020–2021 Wildfire Mitigation Implementation Project Cultural Resources Report

Bluff Truck Trail (BBTT). Portions of the point of interconnect work area overlap both permanent and temporary impact areas associated with the Suncrest SVC Project, which was put into service in February 2020. Specifically, the Project overlaps work areas that had been previously disturbed during installation of the overhead electrical line segment of the Suncrest SVC Project (Figure 3).

SWCA surveyed the majority of the point of interconnect work area as part of the 2015 cultural resources investigation (Hoffman and Treffers 2015). Therefore, only the point of interconnect work area plus a 50-foot buffer (approximately 1.81acres) was surveyed for this report. Both the 2015 and the 2020 survey areas are shown on Figure 3.

2.3.2 SVC Work Area

The Project area also includes the fenced area surrounding the existing SVC facility (located approximately 1 mile west of the existing Suncrest Substation along BBTT), where the chain-link fence will be replaced with a concrete wall. Additionally, the Project area includes a portion of the previous laydown area used by the Suncrest SVC Project. This laydown area is located immediately west of the existing SVC facility, which was built as part of the Suncrest SVC Project (see Figure 2).

All activities proposed around the SVC facility will take place within previously disturbed areas. SWCA surveyed the SVC facility and laydown area for cultural resources in 2015 for the Suncrest SVC Project (Hoffman and Treffers 2015). As such, only the point of interconnect work area described above was surveyed for this Project.

3 ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING The elevation in the Project area varies between 3,000 to 3,200 feet above mean sea level. The local climate is mild, with an annual mean temperature of 63.4 degrees Fahrenheit (°F) (IDcide 2020). Summers are warm, with average maximum temperatures peaking at 76 degrees Fahrenheit (°F) in August, and winters are cool, reaching the lowest average minimum temperatures in December at 54°F. The average annual precipitation in Alpine is 14.7 inches, with most of the rainfall occurring in the winter and spring (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 2020). Vegetation in the vicinity consists of a mixture of chaparral scrub and oak woodlands, with pockets of disturbance dominated by non-native grasses and forbs. Dominant species include chamise (Adenostoma fasciculatum) and several varieties of live oak (Quercus spp.), along with smaller shrubs and various grasses, including manzanita (Arctostaphylos manzanita), red brome (Bromus madritensis), and buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum).

4 BACKGROUND In 2015 SWCA conducted a literature review, search of the California Historical Resources Information System (CHRIS) at the South Coastal Information Center (SCIC), and search of the Sacred Lands File through the Native American Heritage Commission (NAHC). The work was conducted as part of the Suncrest SVC Project, for which SWCA also conducted a cultural resources survey and evaluated the California Register of Historical Resources (CRHR) eligibility for the identified resources. The results of the work were prepared as a cultural resources technical report and submitted to the CPUC (Hoffman and Treffers 2015).

5 4-80 Suncrest 2020–2021 Wildfire Mitigation Implementation Project Cultural Resources Report

Figure 3. Point of interconnect work area.

6 4-81 Suncrest 2020–2021 Wildfire Mitigation Implementation Project Cultural Resources Report

From February 2019 to February 2020, SWCA conducted archaeological monitoring for the construction phase of the Suncrest SVC Project, which resulted in the recovery of 54 archaeological artifacts. Newly identified artifacts associated with known sites were described in updates to site records. The remaining artifacts were recorded as a series of three isolated finds (SUN-ISO-1029, SUN-ISO-1030, and SUN-ISO- 31). Forty-one of these artifacts were identified on the ground surface once vegetation had been cleared, and the other eight were identified below the surface in previously disturbed sediment (Martinez and Gibson 2020).

4.1 Records Search In February 2015, the SCIC at San Diego State University completed a records search within approximately 1 mile of the Suncrest SVC Project. The results of the records search are listed below and include previous cultural resources studies and previously recorded cultural resources. The records search results presented below include the findings from two aforementioned SWCA studies conducted as part of the Suncrest SVC Project. Previous survey coverage and the locations of known cultural resources within approximately 1 mile of the Project area are depicted in Confidential Appendix A.

4.1.1 Previous Cultural Resources Studies

Twenty-three cultural resources studies have been previously conducted within approximately 1 mile of the Project area (Table 1; see Appendix A). Of these, 21 were identified in the 2015 SCIC records search, and two were reports prepared by SWCA for the Suncrest SVC Project (Hoffman and Treffers 2015; Martinez and Gibson 2020).

Table 1. Previously Conducted Cultural Resources Studies within Approximately 1 Mile of the Project Area

Report Author Year Study Title Number

SD-00293 Carrico, Richard Unknown Archaeological Investigation of TPM 13476 Willows Road, Alpine, California

SD-00614 Fink, Gary R. 1974 Archaeological Survey for the Proposed Descanso Landfill, Descanso California, Project No. UJ0112

SD-00617 Fink, Gary R. 1973 Archaeological Survey of the Descanso Landfill Site

SD-01261 Isham, Dana 1974 An Archaeological Survey of Some Rock Circles in the Japatul Valley, San Diego County, California

SD-01551 Swenson, James D., and Phillip J. 1980 An Assessment of Cultural Resources Located on the Viejas Wilke Indian Reservation, San Diego County, California

SD-01648 Welch, Patrick 1977 Archaeological Reconnaissance of the Proposed Alpine Recreational Vehicle Park

SD-02116 TMI Environmental Services 1989 Draft Environmental Impact Report Tully General Plan Amendment Alpine Community Plan Update (GPA 89-03)

SD-04221 Crouthamel, Steven J. 1994 An Archaeological Survey of The Viejas Indian Reservation of 10 Scattered Housing Sites, CA 80-60, in the Viejas Mountain, Quadrangle (7.5 minute)

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Report Author Year Study Title Number

SD-05851 Crouthamel, Steven J. 1991 Archaeological Site Survey of the Viejas Indian Reservation San Diego County, California, Proposed House Sites, CA 80-56

SD-06425 Carrico, Richard 1990 Historic Resources Inventory Sweetwater Valley

SD-07107 Welch, Pat 1977 An Archaeological Survey of the Claus Property, Escondido

SD-07825 Nighabhlain, Sinead, and Drew 2000 Archaeology Survey for the Viejas Water Distribution System Pallette Improvement Project Viejas Indian Reservation, California

SD-07827 Nighabhlain, Sinead, and Drew 2000 Cultural Resource Survey of Four Properties for the Viejas Fee- Pallette To-Trust Transfer Application, Alpine, California

SD-10217 Rosen, Martin D., and Lori 2005 Qwest Viejas Relocation Project Historic Property Survey Report Harrington and Negative Archaeological Survey Report

SD-10476 Carrico, Richard L. 1974 Archaeological Reconnaissance of Rezone Request R74-53

SD-10551 Arrington, Cindy 2006 Cultural Resources Final Report of Monitoring and Findings for the Qwest Network Construction Project, State of California

SD-10997 Carrico, Richard L., Theodore G. 2003 Final Archaeological Overview for the Cleveland National Forest, Cooley, and Laura J. Barrie California

SD-11997 SWCA Environmental Consultants 2008 Final Cultural Resources Survey of Alternatives for the Sunrise Powerlink Project in Imperial, Orange, Riverside, and San Diego Counties, California

SD-12046 Noah, Anna C. 2008 Cultural Resources Study of the Modified Route D Substation and Access Road for the SDG&E Sunrise Powerlink Project, San Diego County, California

SD-12181 Mitchell, Patricia 2009 Sunrise Powerlink Incident Report of Findings

SD-12711 Garcia-Herbst, Arleen, David 2010 Final Inventory Report of the Cultural Resources Within the Iversen, Don Laylander, and Brian Approved San Diego Gas & Electric Sunrise Powerlink Final Williams Environmentally Superior Southern Route, San Diego and Imperial Counties, California

Pending Hoffman, Laura, and S. Treffers 2015 Suncrest Dynamic Reactive Power Support Project Cultural Resources Technical Report, Alpine, San Diego County, California

Pending Martinez, Mandi, and H. Gibson 2020 Archaeological Monitoring Report for the Suncrest Reactive Power Project, San Diego County, California

4.1.2 Previously Recorded Cultural Resources

In total, 34 cultural resources have been previously recorded within approximately 1 mile of the Project area, including 20 prehistoric archaeological sites, seven prehistoric isolated finds, three historic archaeological sites, two historic isolated finds, and two historic built environment resources (Table 2; see Appendix A). The 2015 records search results identified 21 previously recorded cultural resources located within approximately 1 mile of the Suncrest SVC Project area, which consist of 17 prehistoric sites, one prehistoric isolated find, and three historic sites. In 2015 SWCA updated records for three previously recorded resources and documented 10 new resources (Hoffman and Treffers 2015).

8 4-83 Suncrest 2020–2021 Wildfire Mitigation Implementation Project Cultural Resources Report

An additional three resources were recorded during construction monitoring. These three resources were isolated, and as such are ineligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) and CRHR (Martinez and Gibson 2020). Primary numbers and trinomials are not yet available for the resources recorded in 2015 and in 2019; as such, temporary numbers are provided for these 13 resources. Two previously recorded cultural resources are located within the Project area: SUN-BSO-1002 and SUN-S-1012. In 2015 SWCA recommended SUN-BSO-1002 and SUN-S-1012 ineligible for the NRHP and CRHR (Hoffman and Treffers 2015). The 2019/2020 monitoring found that the subsurface component of site SUN-S-1012 identified during monitoring was also ineligible for the NRHP or CRHR (Martinez and Gibson 2020).

Table 2. Previously Recorded Cultural Resources within Approximately 1 Mile of the Project Area

Temporary Within Project Primary Number Trinomial Type Recorder and Year Number Area?

P-37-009194 CA-SDI-009194 N/A Prehistoric site Unknown No

P-37-009841 CA-SDI-009841 N/A Prehistoric site Unknown No

P-37-029773 CA-SDI-019036 N/A Prehistoric site SWCA Environmental No Consultants 2008

P-37-029774 CA-SDI-019037 N/A Prehistoric site SWCA Environmental No Consultants 2008

P-37-029775 CA-SDI-019038 N/A Prehistoric site SWCA Environmental No Consultants 2008

P-37-030222 CA-SDI-019254 N/A Prehistoric site Gallegos & Associates No 2008

P-37-030375 CA-SDI-019307 N/A Prehistoric site Gallegos & Associates No 2008

P-37-031198 CA-SDI-019771 N/A Prehistoric site ASM Affiliates, Inc. 2010 No

P-37-031199 CA-SDI-019772 N/A Prehistoric site ASM Affiliates, Inc. 2010 No

P-37-031200 CA-SDI-019773 N/A Prehistoric site ASM Affiliates, Inc. 2010 No

P-37-031202 CA-SDI-019775 N/A Prehistoric site ASM Affiliates, Inc. 2010 No

P-37-031203 CA-SDI-019776 N/A Prehistoric site ASM Affiliates, Inc. 2010 No

P-37-031204 CA-SDI-019777 N/A Prehistoric site ASM Affiliates, Inc. 2010 No

P-37-031206 CA-SDI-019779 N/A Historic site ASM Affiliates, Inc. 2010 No

P-37-031212 N/A N/A Historic site ASM Affiliates, Inc. 2010 No

P-37-031221 CA-SDI-020166 N/A Prehistoric site ASM Affiliates, Inc. 2010 No

P-37-031717 N/A N/A Prehistoric isolated find ASM Affiliates, Inc. 2010 No

P-37-031744 CA-SDI-020166 N/A Prehistoric site ASM Affiliates, Inc. 2011 No

P-37-031970 CA-SDI-020239 N/A Prehistoric site ASM Affiliates, Inc. 2011 No

P-37-033363 CA-SDI-020984 N/A Prehistoric site ASM Affiliates, Inc. 2013 No

P-37-033365 N/A N/A Historic site ASM Affiliates, Inc. 2013 No

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Temporary Within Project Primary Number Trinomial Type Recorder and Year Number Area?

Pending Pending SUN-ISO-1001 Historic isolated find SWCA Environmental No Consultants 2015

Pending Pending SUN-S-1002 Historic built environment SWCA Environmental Yes (point of resource Consultants 2015 interconnect work area)

Pending Pending SUN-S-1004 Prehistoric site SWCA Environmental No Consultants 2015

Pending Pending SUN-S-1005 Prehistoric site SWCA Environmental No Consultants 2015

Pending Pending SUN-ISO-1006 Prehistoric isolated find SWCA Environmental No Consultants 2015

Pending Pending SUN-S-1011 Historic built environment SWCA Environmental No resource Consultants 2015

Pending Pending SUN-S-1012 Prehistoric site SWCA Environmental Yes (SVC Consultants 2015 Facility Perimeter)

Pending Pending SUN-ISO-1016 Historic isolated find SWCA Environmental No Consultants 2015

Pending Pending SUN-ISO-1017 Prehistoric isolated find SWCA Environmental No Consultants 2015

Pending Pending SUN-ISO-1028 Prehistoric isolated find SWCA Environmental No Consultants 2015

Pending Pending SUN-ISO-1029 Prehistoric isolated find SWCA Environmental No Consultants 2019

Pending Pending SUN-ISO-1030 Prehistoric isolated find SWCA Environmental No Consultants 2019

Pending Pending SUN-ISO-1031 Prehistoric isolated find SWCA Environmental No Consultants 2019

4.2 Previously Recorded Resources Within the Project Area The point of interconnect work area is bisected by SUN-BSO-1002 (BBTT), which is a historic built environment resource formally recorded by SWCA in 2015 and recommended ineligible for the NRHP and CRHR (Hoffman and Treffers 2015). Located partially within the SVC facility perimeter, SUN-S- 1012 is a prehistoric archaeological site recorded by SWCA in 2015 and recommended ineligible for the NRHP and CRHR (Hoffman and Treffers 2015). The archaeological monitoring conducted by SWCA in 2019 and 2020 found that the subsurface component of site SUN-S-1012 identified during monitoring was also ineligible for the CRHR or NRHP (Martinez and Gibson 2020).

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5 CULTURAL RESOURCES SURVEY

5.1 Methodology

SWCA archaeologist Cheryle Hunt conducted an intensive pedestrian survey of the point of interconnect work area plus a 50-foot buffer (approximately 1.81acres) on April 29, 2020 (see Figure 3). All other portions of the Project area had been subjected to intensive pedestrian survey for cultural resources within the past 5 years (Hoffman and Treffers 2015). The intensive pedestrian survey was conducted using transects spaced 5 meters apart and generally oriented north–south. SWCA examined all exposed ground surface for artifacts (e.g., flaked stone tools and tool-manufacture debris, ground stone tools, ceramic sherds, fire-affected rock), ecofacts (marine shell, bone), soil discoloration that could indicate the presence of a cultural midden, soil depressions, and features indicative of the former presence of structures or buildings (e.g., standing exterior walls, postholes, foundations) or historic debris (e.g., metal, glass, ceramic sherds, cut bone). Ground disturbances such as burrows and drainages were visually inspected. Photographs and notes documenting the Project site and survey are maintained by SWCA.

5.2 Results

No cultural resources were identified within the survey area (point of interconnect work area). The point of interconnect work area is partially developed (approximately 20 percent) with a graded asphalt access road (segment of SUN-BSO-1002 [BBTT]) and concrete drainage ditch running roughly east–west and bisecting the Project area, as well as the developed pads for the existing riser pole (to be removed) and new riser pole location. The existing Suncrest Substation is situated directly to the south (see Figure 2). Surface visibility was poor (less the 5 percent) within the paved roadway (paving obscures the ground surface beneath) and grassy areas, and was fair (approximately 50 percent) within the areas characterized by grasses, cacti, and shrubs in the southwestern portion of the Project area.

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6 REFERENCES CITED

Hoffman, Laura, and Steven Treffers 2015 Suncrest Dynamic Reactive Power Support Project Cultural Resources Technical Report, Alpine, San Diego County, California. Prepared for NextEra Energy Resources, LLC. SWCA Environmental Consultants, Half Moon Bay, California.

Horizon West Transmission, LLC (HWT) 2020 Horizon West Transmission, LLC Wildfire Mitigation Plan 2020. February. Available at: https://www.cpuc.ca.gov/uploadedFiles/CPUCWebsite/Content/About_Us/Organization/Divi sions/WSD/R1810007%20(WMP)-HWT%202020%20WMP-Amended_2_18_2020.pdf. Accessed May 26, 2020.

IDcide 2015 Alpine, California, Weather. Available at: http://www.idcide.com/weather/ca/alpine.htm. Accessed May 14, 2020.

Martinez, Mandi, and Heather Gibson 2020 Archaeological Monitoring Report for the Suncrest Reactive Power Project, San Diego County, California. Prepared for California Public Utilities Commission, on behalf of NextEra Energy Resources. [March]. SWCA Environmental Consultants, Pasadena, California.

National Atmospheric and Oceanic Administration 2015 National Climatic Data Center, Alpine, CA. US GHCND:USC00040136. Monthly Statistics (mean temperature and total precipitation) period of record, 1953–2015. Available at: https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/cdo- web/datasets/GHCNDMS/stations/GHCND:USC00040136/detail. Accessed May 14, 2020.

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CONFIDENTIAL APPENDIX A

Cultural Resources Location Map

4-88 Suncrest 2020–2021 Wildfire Mitigation Implementation Project Cultural Resources Report

Figure A-1. Resource location map.

A-1 4-89 Suncrest 2020–2021 Wildfire Mitigation Implementation Project Cultural Resources Report

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A-2 4-90