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Centinela Solar Energy Project DEIR/EA Cover County Imperial of BLM DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT/ ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT for the CENTINELA SOLAR ENERGY PROJECT SCH. No. 2010111056 Conditional Use Permit: CUP #10-0017 Variance: #V10-0006 BLM Right-of-Way Application: Serial No. CACA 52092 EA Number: DOI-BLM-CA-D070-2011-0028-EA October 2011 DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT/ ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT for the CENTINELA SOLAR ENERGY PROJECT SCH. No. 2010111056 Conditional Use Permit: CUP #10-0017 Variance: #V10-0006 BLM Right-of-Way Application: Serial No. CACA 52092 EA Number: DOI-BLM-CA-D070-2011-0028-EA Prepared for County of Imperial 801 Main Street El Centro, CA 92243 and Bureau of Land Management 1661 South 4th Street El Centro, CA 92243 Prepared by 418 Parkwood Lane, Suite 200 Encinitas, CA 92024 (858) 353-7073 October, 2011 DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT/ ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT CONTENTS CENTINELA SOLAR ENERGY PROJECT CHAPTER 1.0 INTRODUCTION 1.1 PURPOSE OF THE DOCUMENT ......................................................................................................1. 0-1 1.2 PROJECT BACKGROUND ................................................................................................................1. 0-1 1.3 Project Overview ...........................................................................................................................1. 0-2 1.3.1 Project Location ...............................................................................................................1. 0-2 1.4 OBJECTIVES AND PURPOSE AND NEED FOR THE PROPOSED ACTION ..........................................1. 0-2 1.4.1 Applicant ..........................................................................................................................1. 0-3 1.4.2 Imperial County ................................................................................................................1. 0-4 1.4.3 BLM Purpose and Need ....................................................................................................1. 0-5 1.5 JOINT CEQA/NEPA DOCUMENT ....................................................................................................1. 0-5 1.5.1 CEQA EIR...........................................................................................................................1. 0-5 1.5.2 NEPA EA ............................................................................................................................1. 0-6 1.5.3 Review & Certification Process ........................................................................................1. 0-7 1.6 AGENCY ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES ........................................................................................1. 0-9 1.6.1 Imperial County ................................................................................................................1. 0-9 1.6.2 Bureau of Land Management ........................................................................................1. 0-10 1.6.3 Other Agency Reviews and/or Consultations ................................................................1. 0-10 1.7 POSSIBLE BENEFITS OF THE PROPOSED ACTION.........................................................................1. 0-13 1.7.1 Social and Environmental Benefits ................................................................................1. 0-13 1.7.2 Promoting Stable Electricity Prices ................................................................................1. 0-13 1.7.3 Job Creation ...................................................................................................................1. 0-14 1.7.4 Minimal Use of Imported Fuels ......................................................................................1. 0-14 1.7.5 Protecting Public Health ................................................................................................. 1.0-14 1.7.6 Improving Air Quality .....................................................................................................1. 0-14 1.7.7 Benefits to Communities with a Plurality of Minority or Low-Income Populations ................................................................................................1. 0-14 1.8 RELATIONSHIP TO STATUTES, REGULATIONS AND OTHER PLANS ..............................................1. 0-15 1.8.1 Federal............................................................................................................................1. 0-15 1.8.2 State ...............................................................................................................................1. 0-17 1.8.3 Local ...............................................................................................................................1. 0-18 1.9 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION OPPORTUNITIES/COMMENTS AND COORDINATION ........................... 1.0-19 1.9.1 Notice of Preparation .....................................................................................................1. 0-19 1.9.2 Scoping Meeting.............................................................................................................1. 0-21 1.9.3 Airport Land Use Commission Meeting .........................................................................1. 0-21 1.10 AVAILABILITY OF REPORTS ..........................................................................................................1. 0-22 1.11 STRUCTURE OF THIS EIR/EA ........................................................................................................1. 0-22 1.11.1 Draft EIR/EA ...................................................................................................................1. 0-22 1.11.2 Technical Appendices .....................................................................................................1. 0-23 1.12 ISSUES TO BE ADDRESSED ...........................................................................................................1. 0-23 1.13 ISSUES SCOPED OUT FROM FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW .............................................1. 0-24 CHAPTER 2.0 PROPOSED ACTION AND ALTERNATIVES 2.1 PROPOSED ACTION AND ALTERNATIVES ......................................................................................2. 0-1 2.1.1 Introduction .....................................................................................................................2. 0-1 2.1.2 Project Background ..........................................................................................................2. 0-1 2.1.3 Purpose and Need / Objectives........................................................................................2. 0-2 2.1.4 Alternatives Development and Screening .......................................................................2. 0-2 2.1.5 Overview of Alternatives Considered in Detail ................................................................2. 0-3 2.2 ACTION ALTERNATIVES INCLUDING THE PROPOSED ACTION ..................................................2.0 -128 2.2.1 Proposed Action ...........................................................................................................2.0 -128 2.2.2 Alternative 1 – Double Circuit Gen-tie Line Structures ................................................2.0 -128 2.2.3 Alternative 2 – Reduced CSE Facility Site .....................................................................2.0 -128 2.2.4 Alternative 3 - Use Existing Electric Line Towers and 230-kV Line Looping and Undercrossing .............................................................................................................. 2.0-134 2.3 NO ACTION ALTERNATIVE .........................................................................................................2.0 -138 2.3.1 Alternative 4 – No Action/No project Alternative .......................................................2.0 -138 2.4 COMPARISON OF IMPACTS BY ALTERNATIVE ...........................................................................2.0 -138 2.5 CEQA ENVIRONMENTALLY SUPERIOR ALTERNATIVE ................................................................2.0 -139 2.6 ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED BUT ELIMINATED FROM DETAILED ANALYSIS ............................2.0 -155 2.6.1 Single Circuit Gen-tie Line Shifted Eastward ................................................................2.0 -155 2.6.2 Double Circuit Gen-tie Line Shifted Eastward ..............................................................2.0 -155 2.6.3 Gen-tie Line Undercrossing ..........................................................................................2.0 -155 2.6.4 Use Existing Electric Towers and 230-kV Line Looping South of SR 98 ........................ 2.0-155 2.6.5 Reduced Encroachment on Federal Land while Still Interconnecting at Imperial Valley Substation .................................................................................................................... 2.0-156 2.6.6 Interconnection to the 500-kV Line via a New Substation on Private Lands ...............2.0 -156 2.6.7 Interconnection to the 230-kV Lines South of Imperial Valley Substation via a New Substation on Federal Lands ....................................................................... 2.0-156 2.6.8 Interconnection to Imperial Valley Substation at Alternative Voltages (e.g., 500-kV or <230-kV) ....................................................................................................................... 2.0-157 2.7 INTENDED USES OF THE EIR/EA/AUTHORIZING ACTIONS ................................................. 2.0-157 2.7.1 Discretionary
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