Sunrise Powerlink Project Appendix 1 Appendix 1 – Description and Analysis from Draft EIR/EIS Contents Appendix 1 – Description and Analysis from Draft EIR/EIS ..................................... 1 Description of SCE La Rumorosa Wind Project .................................................. 1 B.6.2.1 SCE La Rumorosa Wind ............................................................................. 1 Impact Analysis for SCE La Rumorosa Wind Project..........................................12 D.2.19.5 Biological Resources - La Rumorosa Wind Project........................................... 12 D.3.12.5 Visual Resources - La Rumorosa Wind Project ............................................... 32 D.4.12.5 Land Use - La Rumorosa Wind Project......................................................... 36 D.5.12.5 Wilderness and Recreation - La Rumorosa Wind Project.................................... 38 D.6.12.5 Agriculture - La Rumorosa Wind Project ...................................................... 40 D.7.16.5 Cultural Resources - La Rumorosa Wind Project ............................................. 42 D.7.35.5 Paleontological Resources - La Rumorosa Wind Project..................................... 47 D.8.12.5 Noise - La Rumorosa Wind Project ............................................................. 48 D.9.12.5 Transportation and Traffic - La Rumorosa Wind Project .................................... 51 D.10.12.5 Public Health and Safety - La Rumorosa Wind Project..................................... 56 D.11.12.5 Air Quality - La Rumorosa Wind Project ..................................................... 59 D. 12.12.5 Water Resources - La Rumorosa Wind Project .............................................. 61 D.13.12.5 Geology, Mineral Resources, and Soils - La Rumorosa Wind Project................... 67 D.14.12.5 Socioeconomics, Services, and Utilities - La Rumorosa Wind Project................... 72 D.15.14.5 Fire and Fuels Management - La Rumorosa Wind Project................................. 77 Description of Jacumba Substation ..................................................................80 B.6.1.4 Jacumba Substation................................................................................... 80 Impact Analysis for Jacumba Substation...........................................................83 D.2.19.4 Jacumba Substation – Biological Resources .................................................... 83 D.3.12.4 Jacumba Substation – Visual Resources......................................................... 91 D.4.12.4 Jacumba Substation – Land Use.................................................................. 93 D.5.12.4 Jacumba Substation – Wilderness and Recreation............................................. 95 D.6.12.4 Jacumba Substation - Agriculture ................................................................ 96 D.7.16.4 Jacumba Substation – Cultural Resources ...................................................... 96 D.7.35.4 Jacumba Substation – Paleontological Resources.............................................. 99 D.8.12.4 Jacumba Substation - Noise ..................................................................... 101 D.9.12.4 Jacumba Substation – Transportation and Traffic ........................................... 102 D.10.12.4 Jacumba Substation – Public Health and Safety............................................ 102 D.11.12.4 Jacumba Substation – Air Quality ............................................................ 105 D.12.12.4 Jacumba Substation – Water Resources ..................................................... 107 D.13.12.4 Jacumba Substation – Geology and Minerals ............................................... 110 D.14.12.4 Jacumba Substation – Socioeconomics and Utilities....................................... 114 D.15.14.4 Jacumba Substation – Fire and Fuels Management........................................ 119 Sunrise Powerlink Project Appendix 1 This page intentionally blank. Sunrise Powerlink Project Appendix 1 Appendix 1 – Description and Analysis from Draft EIR/EIS This document includes two parts excerpted from the Draft EIR/EIS: 1. Description of the La Rumorosa Wind Development Project and Jacumba Substation as defined in Section B of the Sunrise Draft EIR/EIS (January, 2008). 2. Impact analysis from each discipline for the La Rumorosa Wind Development Project and Jacumba Substation (Section D in the Sunrise Draft EIR/EIS) The section numbers shown below are the sections from the Draft EIR/EIS in which each discussion was originally presented. Description of SCE La Rumorosa Wind Project B.6.2.1 SCE La Rumorosa Wind The project evaluated in this EIR/EIS is called “Rumorosa Wind Developers II” and is a 250 MW wind facility located in Mexico close to the San Diego / Imperial County lines. The project would intercon- nect to a new substation (presumed to be the Jacumba Substation defined in Section B.6.1.4 above) located in southeastern San Diego County that would be interconnected with the existing 500 kV South- west Powerlink. The developer has indicated that transmission upgrades would be needed to intercon- nect the project. It is assumed, based on current technology, that a 250 MW wind facility would be constructed using 125 2-MW turbines. Assuming that turbines of this size generally require between 5 to 17 acres per turbine, this wind facility would require between 625 and 2,125 acres. No maps are available to illustrate the specific site and configuration of this project, but Figure B-48 illus- trates the general area of the La Rumorosa wind resource area. Figure B-49 maps the quality of wind resources available and Figure B-50 includes photographs of the landscape in the La Rumorosa project area. Background La Rumorosa is a small town (pop. 1,615) located in the Municipality of Tecate, in Baja California (Mex- ico Census, 2005). It is located on Kilometer 78 (Milepost 48) of Mexico Highway 2 that joins Mexi- cali and Tijuana (Mexicali, 2007). La Rumorosa is situated among the Sierra de Juárez Mountains, an extension of the San Diego Mountains. It borders on the Sonoran Desert, which comprises the majority of the northeastern region of Baja California (GobBC, 2007). Figure B-48 illustrates the approximate loca- tion of La Rumorosa and its surrounding area, and the location of the La Rumorosa Substation. A report published by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in 2004 identifies the La Rumorosa region’s wind resource areas by classifications that range between Wind Classes 3 (Fair) and 7 (Superb) for wind power density at 50 meters (W/m²) and wind speed at 50 m (m/s) (see Figure B-49). (Cali- fornia Energy Commission, 2005) The NREL drew upon the Kenetech Wind-Power (U.S. Wind- Power) data, as well as Vestas Wind Systems A/S which installed several anemometric towers in the area in 2002-2003. After the State of Oaxaca, the La Rumorosa region has the second highest potential for wind energy in Mexico. July 2008 Ap.1-1 Recirculated Draft EIR/Supplemental Draft EIS Sunrise Powerlink Project Appendix 1 According to press releases, two potential wind projects are currently being considered in La Rumorosa. One project is being considered by Unión Fenosa, a Spanish company, which purchased 50% of the Mexican company Zemer Energía, with the goal of completing a wind project in the La Rumorosa region with the capacity of between 500 MW and 1000 MW (BizNews, 2007). Unión Fenosa is consid- ering selling this wind-power to Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) and Southern California Edison (SCE) and has also begun the permitting process to gain access to transmission within California (BizNews, 2007). Unión Fenosa already has use permits for the area and for the exportation of energy, according to their president, Pedro López Jiménez. Unión Fenosa is the third largest independent energy producer in Mexico (BizNews, 2007). The second potential wind project is the “La Rumorosa Wind Energy Projects” (RWEP) and is evaluated in this EIR/EIS as an indirect effect of the Proposed Project. The RWEP is being eval- uated because of the agreement that was signed between Sempra Generation and SCE in which Sempra Generation has agreed to sell SCE up to 250 MW of power from the La Rumorosa wind power facility under development (Sempra, 2007). Mexican Environmental Regulations The Government of Baja California signed the Environmental Protection Law (Ley de Protección al Ambiente) on November 30, 2001 to complement the already existing Federal Environmental Code (Ley General del Equilibrio Ecológico y la Protección al Ambiente) ratified in 1988. Both laws are dedicated to preserving and protecting the environment, and dictate guidelines for the use of natural resources. In addition, the Federal Environmental Code sets out pollution prevention and control methods for the national territory. Both Mexican and international companies and facilities are subject to Mexican envi- ronmental law. Mexican Electric Commission The Mexican Federal Electricity Commission (Comisión Federal de Electricidad, or CFE) is respon- sible for siting and constructing transmission lines throughout Mexico and in Baja California. The CFE is subject to regulations designed to preserve both the environmental and historical integrity of the regions traversed by their infrastructure. The CFE is required to identify any possible implications of their work that may be subject to the Federal Environmental Code (Ley General del Equilibrio Ecológico y la Protección al Ambiente), the Law of Sustainable