Environmental Assessment for the CPS Energy Shepherd Substation Transmission Line, Bexar County, Texas SWCA Project Number 37946 Revised October 2017 SUBMITTED TO: CPS Energy 145 Navarro San Antonio, Texas 78205 SUBMITTED BY: SWCA Environmental Consultants 6200 UTSA Boulevard, Suite 102 San Antonio, Texas 78249 This page intentionally left blank. ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR THE CPS ENERGY SHEPHERD SUBSTATION TRANSMISSION LINE, BEXAR COUNTY, TEXAS Prepared for CPS ENERGY 145 Navarro San Antonio, Texas 78205 Prepared by SWCA ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANTS 6200 UTSA Boulevard Suite 102 San Antonio, Texas 78249 www.swca.com SWCA Project Number 37946 October 2, 2017 This page intentionally left blank. Environmental Assessment for the CPS Energy Shepherd Substation Transmission Line, Bexar County, Texas CONTENTS 1.0 DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSED PROJECT .................................................................................... 1 1.1 Scope of the Project ........................................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Purpose and Need.............................................................................................................................. 1 1.3 Description of Proposed Design ....................................................................................................... 1 1.3.1 Substation Design ........................................................................................................................ 1 1.3.2 Transmission Line Easement ....................................................................................................... 3 1.3.3 Structures ..................................................................................................................................... 3 1.3.4 Construction Process and Schedule ............................................................................................. 4 1.3.5 Operation and Maintenance ......................................................................................................... 5 2.0 EVALUATION OF ALTERNATIVE SUBSTATION LOCATIONS AND TRANSMISSION LINE ROUTES ........................................................................................................................................... 6 2.1 Objective of Study ............................................................................................................................. 6 2.1.1 Study Area Delineation ................................................................................................................ 6 2.2 Identification of Alternative Sites .................................................................................................... 6 2.2.1 Constraints Mapping .................................................................................................................... 6 2.2.2 Identification of Potential Substation Sites and Transmission Routes ......................................... 7 2.2.3 Identification of Primary Substation Sites and Transmission Routes .......................................... 7 2.3 Alternatives Analysis ...................................................................................................................... 11 3.0 ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING ....................................................................................................... 12 3.1 Physiography ................................................................................................................................... 12 3.2 Geology ............................................................................................................................................. 12 3.3 Soils ................................................................................................................................................... 13 3.3.1 Soil Associations ........................................................................................................................ 13 3.3.2 Prime Farmland Soils ................................................................................................................. 18 3.4 Water Resources ............................................................................................................................. 19 3.4.1 Surface Water ............................................................................................................................ 19 3.4.2 Floodplains ................................................................................................................................. 19 3.4.3 Groundwater .............................................................................................................................. 20 3.5 Vegetation ........................................................................................................................................ 20 3.6 Fish and Wildlife ............................................................................................................................. 20 3.7 Federally and State-Threatened and Endangered Species .......................................................... 21 3.7.1 Golden Orb ................................................................................................................................ 27 3.7.2 Texas Fatmucket ........................................................................................................................ 27 3.7.3 Texas Pimpleback ...................................................................................................................... 28 3.7.4 Texas Indigo Snake .................................................................................................................... 28 3.7.5 Critical Habitat ........................................................................................................................... 28 3.8 Socioeconomics ................................................................................................................................ 28 3.8.1 Population and Economic Trends .............................................................................................. 28 3.8.2 Environmental Justice ................................................................................................................ 29 3.9 Human Development ...................................................................................................................... 29 SWCA Environmental Consultants SWCA Project No. 37946 i Environmental Assessment for the CPS Energy Shepherd Substation Transmission Line, Bexar County, Texas 3.9.1 Transportation /Aviation / Communications Facilities .............................................................. 29 3.9.2 Land Use .................................................................................................................................... 30 3.9.3 Parks and Recreation.................................................................................................................. 31 3.10 Aesthetics ....................................................................................................................................... 31 3.11 Cultural Resources ........................................................................................................................ 31 4.0 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF THE PROJECT ..................................................................... 32 4.1 IMPACT ON NATURAL RESOURCES ..................................................................................... 32 4.1.1 Impact on Geological Resources ............................................................................................... 32 4.1.2 Impact on Soils .......................................................................................................................... 32 4.1.3 Impact on Water Resources ....................................................................................................... 34 4.1.3.1 Surface Water ...................................................................................................................... 34 4.1.3.2 Floodplain ........................................................................................................................... 34 4.1.3.3 Groundwater ....................................................................................................................... 35 4.1.4 Impact on Ecosystems................................................................................................................ 35 4.1.4.1 Vegetation ........................................................................................................................... 35 4.1.4.2 Wildlife ............................................................................................................................... 35 4.1.4.3 Endangered and Threatened Species ................................................................................... 37 4.2 IMPACT ON HUMAN RESOURCES.......................................................................................... 37 4.2.1 Socioeconomic Impact ............................................................................................................... 37 4.2.2 Impact on Land Use ................................................................................................................... 38 4.2.3 Impact on Recreation ................................................................................................................. 38 4.2.4