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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
A list of frequently asked questions about the Baja California
Power - Termoeléctrica-U.S. EIS.
Below is a list of frequently asked questions about the Imperial-Mexicali 230-kV Transmission Lines Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). Click a
question below to see the answer.
Questions about the Imperial-Mexicali 230-kV Transmission Lines EIS
What is an EIS?
"EIS" is the abbreviation for environmental impact statement, a
document prepared to describe the effects of proposed activities on the environment. "Environment" in
this case is defined as the natural and physical environment and the relationship
of people with that environment. This means that the "environment" considered
in an EIS includes land, water, air, structures, living organisms, environmental
values at the site, and social, cultural, and economic factors.
An "impact" is a change or consequence that results from an activity. Impacts can be positive or negative, or both. An EIS describes impacts, as well as ways to "mitigate" impacts. To "mitigate" means to lessen or remove negative impacts.
Therefore, an EIS is a document that describes the impacts on the environment
as a result of a proposed action. It also describes impacts of alternatives,
as well as plans to mitigate the impacts.
For more information, visit Baja California
Power - Termoeléctrica-U.S. EIS.
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Why is an EIS needed for the Imperial-Mexicali 230-kV Transmission Lines
transmission line projects?
DOE and BLM originally determined the appropriate level of NEPA environmental
review for both the BCP and SER proceedings to be an environmental assessment
(EA). DOE and BLM prepared a single EA that assessed the potential environmental
impacts that would accrue in the United States from the two transmission lines
and from the operation of the two related Mexican power plants. DOE relied
on this EA to issue a finding of no significant impacts (FONSI) document and
presidential permits to both BCP and SER, authorizing each to construct, operate,
maintain, and connect electric transmission facilities crossing the international
border between the United States and Mexico. BLM issued two FONSIs based upon
the EA for the projects and two Decision Records to grant the rights-of-way.
BCP and SER placed the Mexican power plants in commercial operation in July
2003.
On March 19, 2002, the Border Power Plant Working Group sued the DOE and BLM, alleging violations of NEPA and the Administrative Procedure Act. On May 2, 2003, the court held that the EA and the FONSI did not comply with NEPA. The court sent the matter back to DOE and BLM for additional NEPA review.
In light of the concerns raised by the court in its decisions, and to increase opportunities for public and stakeholder participation in the environmental review of this proposal, DOE and BLM have decided to prepare an EIS.
For more information, visit Why the EIS Was Needed.
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What is covered in the Imperial-Mexicali 230-kV Transmission Lines
EIS?
The Imperial-Mexicali 230-kV Transmission Lines EIS addressed Baja
California Power's (BCP's) and Sempra Energy Resources' (SER's) transmission
line projects; focusing on whether to grant or deny presidential permits and
rights-of-way to BCP and SER, as if the transmission lines did not exist.
For more information, visit What's
in the Imperial-Mexicali 230-kV Transmission Lines EIS.
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What alternatives and impacts are addressed in the Imperial-Mexicali 230-kV Transmission Lines EIS?
In order to consider the complete range of reasonable alternatives, DOE and BLM propose the following preliminary alternatives:
- No action. Deny both permit and corresponding
right-of-way applications. This will present the environmental impacts in
the United States as if the lines had never been constructed and will provide
a baseline against which the impacts in the United States of the action alternatives
can be measured in the absence of presidential permits and corresponding rights-of-way.
- Grant one or both permits and corresponding right(s)-of-way.
This will set forth the impacts in the United States of constructing and operating
the line(s) from Mexican power plants as those plants are presently designed.
This is DOE's and BLM's preferred alternative.
- Alternative technologies. Grant one or both permits and
corresponding right(s)-of-way to authorize transmission lines that connect
to power plants that employ more efficient emissions controls and alternative
cooling technologies, such as "dry cooling" or a combination of wet
and dry cooling that will minimize environmental and health impacts in the
United States.
- Mitigation measures. Grant one or both permits and corresponding
right(s)-of-way to authorize transmission lines whose developers employ off-site
mitigation measures to minimize environmental impacts in the United States.
(For example, off-site mitigation could include off-sets, such as paving roads
and retiring older automobiles.)
DOE and BLM also propose to consider alternative routes for the transmission lines within the United States under the action alternatives described above.
In addition to the issues identified by the court ((1) the potential for public controversy; (2) water impacts; (3) impacts from ammonia and carbon dioxide; (4) the range of alternatives; and (5) cumulative impacts), DOE and BLM propose to analyze the following potential environmental issues:
- Impacts on protected, threatened, endangered, or sensitive species
of animals or plants, or their critical habitats in the United States
(e.g., the Flat-tailed Horned Lizard);
- Impacts on floodplains and wetlands in the United States;
- Impacts on cultural or historic resources in the United States;
- Impacts on human health and safety in the United States;
- Impacts on air, soil, and water resources in the United States (e.g., the Salton Sea and the New River);
- Visual impacts in the United States; and
- Disproportionately high and adverse impacts on minority and low-income
populations in the United States.
This list is not intended to be all inclusive or to imply any predetermination of impacts, and DOE and BLM invite interested parties to suggest other issues to be considered.
For more information, visit What's
in the Imperial-Mexicali 230-kV Transmission Lines EIS.
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How long will it take to complete the Imperial-Mexicali 230-kV Transmission Lines
EIS?
Preparation of the Imperial-Mexicali 230-kV Transmission Lines EIS
is a multi-step process, and will include publication of a Draft EIS, a Final EIS and a Record of Decision.
Approximate dates for important steps in the EIS process are as follows:
- Public Scoping Comment Period: Oct. – Dec. 2003
- Draft EIS Published: May 2004
- Draft EIS Public Comment Period: May – July 2004
- Final EIS Published: Dec. 2004
- Record of Decision Published: Jan. 2005
For up-to-date schedule information, visit EIS Schedule.
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