SDG&E Power Line Update

 

POSSIBLE TALKING POINTS TO INCLUDE IN YOUR COMMENTS

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In addition to requesting an EIR be conducted here are some topics you may want to include in your

comments to the five Commissioners:

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Any personal story about impacts over the years that are connected to the power lines. This includes:

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- Wildfire experiences: evacuations, school closing, work related issues, etc.

 

- Aesthetic enjoyment of public spaces such as Simmons Family Park (Rancho Dorado) or Quarry

  Trail (San Elijo Hills) or even on your drive to and from home.

 

- Property valuations: Impact financially due to power lines presence. We know there is an

  impact but what is it? It is hard to quantify but if you have a story please share with the

  Commissioners.

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- Issues over homeowner’s insurance: Cancellations, changes in rates or other issues related to

living in high fire areas which are impacted by the existing power lines and will only worsen with

new additional above ground transmission lines.

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The following are general issues you are welcome to mention in your comments as well. Two analysis

of the impact on the environment that have been issued by the CPUC to date: the Initial Study/

Mitigated Negative Declaration (IS/MND) and the Final Study/ Mitigated Negative Declaration (Final

MND). The IS/MND was issued in April of 2019 and public comments were submitted on that initial

report by the end of May 2019. The Final MND was issued in January of 2020 and was supposed to have

taken our comments into account. If you chose to use some of these talking points please use your

words and don’t copy and paste these in your comments.

 

- Despite hundreds of comments concerned over the increased danger due to wildfires and the

fact the CPUC admits the wildfire danger will increase due to these new power lines, they are

implementing no new strategies to mitigate this increased wildfire danger once the power lines

are installed. Mitigation will be done during construction including appropriate fire suppression

training and equipment but no mitigation is required by SDG&E once the project is completed.

 

- The IS/MND when analyzing the aesthetic impact omitted the most obvious public space

affected, Simmons Family Park which is less than 50 feet to the west of the new transmission

lines.

 

- As a result of comments the Final MND did consider Simmons Family Park but instead of

analyzing the impact on the panoramic view to the Pacific Ocean from the viewing bench and

hill they selected a view to the southwest from the picnic area that features a hill (just west of

Alga and Melrose). From this picture they determined the new power lines would not create a

significant impact on the views from the park. In other words, they never considered the impact

of the power lines on the view to the west of the Pacific Ocean.

 

- When they included Simmons Family Park they listed its views as, “Elevated views of Rancho La

Costa Preserve and the City of Carlsbad.” No mention of the Pacific Ocean and its coastline,

Batiquitos Lagoon, San Clemente and Catalina islands, and the spectacular sunsets.

 

- While they left out Simmons Family Park in the IS/MND they did list Diamond Trail Preserve as a

scenic vista with a view of “Pacific Ocean”. However this location is inaccessible to the public

and does not have a scenic view of the Pacific Ocean which was pointed out in the public

comment period and yet in the Final MND it was still listed as a scenic vista with views of the

Pacific Ocean.

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- In the Final MND they mention the fact that over 1,000 public comments were received

regarding the findings and recommendation of the IS/MND; however, they never said whether

those comments were in support or opposition to building the new transmission lines. Reality is

those comments were, if not unanimous extremely close (99%+) to being unanimous. Why did

they leave out this important piece of information? Based on this statement (which is on the

public record for anyone to read) no one would know the public sentiment toward the building

of the proposed project.

- In the IS/MND there was no mention of Quarry trail (just west of San Elijo Hills) other than

stating it would be impacted during construction. When pointed out there would be a negative

impact on the Quarry trail long-term the reply was it ran directly under the power lines so the

view to the west would not be impacted. This downplay of the impact is one thing, but it is also

true that the majority of the trail is east of the power lines and therefore the west facing view

would be impacted by the new power lines.