JVR Energy Park

PDS2018-MUP-18-022; Log No. PDS2018-ER-18-22-001

The Project includes a Major Use Permit (PDS2018-MUP-18-022).

ADMINISTRATIVE RECORD

Pursuant to Public Resources Code section 21167.6.2, the County is preparing the administrative record concurrently with the administrative process for the project. The County will update the administrative record in accordance with Public Resources Code section 21167.6.2(a). All documents and other materials included in the administrative record shall be posted on and be downloadable from the following links:

JVR Energy Park Administrative Record (11-16-2018 to 10-7-2020)

JVR Energy Park Administrative Record (10-7-2020 to Present)

JVR ENERGY PARK DRAFT FINAL EIR

The JVR Energy Park Project in the Draft Final Environmental Impact Report involves the operation and construction of a 90 megawatt (MW) solar energy facility and a battery energy storage system of up to 90 MW (360 MWh). The Project components include approximately 300,000 bifacial photovoltaic modules fitted on single axis trackers, a battery energy storage system, inverter/transformer platforms, an underground electrical collection system, a collector substation, Switchyard Facilities, security fencing, and internal access. The development footprint of the proposed solar facility is approximately 623 acres. Eventual decommissioning would occur at the end of the Project’s operational life, which is 35 years under the Major Use Permit (MUP). All Project components would be decommissioned except the Switchyard Facilities, which would be transferred to San Diego Gas & Electric after construction. 

The Draft Final Environmental Impact Report (EIR) is now available for review.

(*) Document links with an asterisk have been revised since the Public Review Period of the Draft EIR.

(**) Document links with two asterisks have been revised since the July 9, 2021 Planning Commission Hearing, See Appendix W.

During public review of the Draft EIR from October 8, 2020 to December 7, 2020, the County received comments from individuals, organizations, public agencies, Native American tribes, and others. As a result of these public comments, the Draft EIR has been revised.

Also, as a result of comments from community members in Jacumba Hot Springs, the Proposed Project in the Draft Final EIR has been revised to include increased setbacks from Old Highway 80 and Jacumba Community Park.

In addition, the Community Buffer Alternative has also been revised to include these increased setbacks from Old Highway 80 and the park.

Changes to the Draft EIR are shown in strikeout/underline.

The 1,356-acre Project site is located within unincorporated southeastern San Diego County, within the Mountain Empire Subregion. The Project site is located adjacent to the community of Jacumba Hot Springs and the Jacumba Airport, and south of Interstate 8 (I-8).  Primary access would be provided from I-8 with local access from Carrizo Gorge Road and Old Highway 80.

The DEIR identifies significant environmental impacts to the following environmental factors: Aesthetics; Air Quality; Biological Resources; Cultural Resources; Geology, Soils, and Seismicity; Hazards and Hazardous Materials; Hydrology and Water Quality; Mineral Resources, Noise; Paleontological Resources; Tribal Cultural Resources; and Wildfire. Impacts to Aesthetics, even with mitigation measures, and impacts to Mineral Resources (due to the biological open space easement for the Project) would remain significant and unavoidable. All other potential significant impacts would be reduced to less than significant with implementation of mitigation measures.

Project Contact: Nicholas Koutoufidis | Nicholas.Koutoufidis@sdcounty.ca.gov | (619) 323-7905

Project Environmental Coordinator: Susan Harris | Susan.Harris@sdcounty.ca.gov

(*) Document links with an asterisk have been revised since the Public Review Period.

(**) Document links with two asterisks have been revised since the July 9, 2021 Planning Commission Hearing, See Appendix W.

Volume I

*Title Page

**Table of Contents

*Acronyms and Abbreviations

**Summary

*CHAPTER 1 - Project Description

CHAPTER 2 - Significant Environmental Effects of the Proposed Project

*2.1 Aesthetics
*2.2 Air Quality
*2.3 Biological Resources
*2.4 Cultural Resources
*2.5 Geology, Soils, and Seismicity
*2.6 Hazards and Hazardous Materials
*2.7 Hydrology and Water Quality
*2.8 Mineral Resources
*2.9 Noise
*2.10 Paleontological Resources
*2.11 Tribal Cultural Resources
*2.12 Wildfire

CHAPTER 3 - Environmental Effects Found Not to be Significant

*3.1.1 Agricultural Resources
*3.1.2 Energy
*3.1.3 Greenhouse Gas Emissions
*3.1.4 Land Use and Planning
*3.1.5 Parks and Recreation
*3.1.6 Public Services
*3.1.7 Transportation
*3.1.8 Utilities and Service Systems
3.2 Effects Found Not to be Significant During Initial Study

*CHAPTER 4 - Project Alternatives

*CHAPTER 5 - Mitigation Measures

*CHAPTER 6 - Other CEQA Considerations

*CHAPTER 7 - List of References

*CHAPTER 8 - List of EIR Preparers and Persons Contacted

TECHNICAL APPENDICES

FEIR DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

1 Project Description
FCC Policy on Human Exposure to Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields
Direct Normal Irradiance (DNI) throughout San Diego County

2.2 Air Quality
California Department of Public Health Jacumba Community Sanitation District 2010 Sanitary Survey
Coccidioidomycosis Case Counts and Rates by Zip Codes

2.3 Biological Resources
Bat Conservation International
Native Vegetation Performance under a Solar PV Array at the National Wind Technology Center
California Fish and Game Commission Notice of Findings - Mountain Lion
California Native Plant Society Policy on Mitigation Guidelines Regarding Impacts to Rare, Threatened, and Endangered Plants
North and East County MSCP Planning Agreement
Tricolored Blackbird
Solar Farms Shine a Ray of Hope on Bees and Butterflies by Jodi Helmer (2019)
The Lives of Desert Animals in Joshua Tree National Monument
California Amphibian and Reptile Species of Special Concern
Biotelemetry Data for Golden Eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) Captured in Coastal Southern California, November 2014-February 2016
Biotelemetry Data for Golden Eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) Captured in Coastal Southern California, February 2016-February 2017
Bat Inventory of the Multiple Species Conservation Program Area in San Diego County, California, 2002-2004
A preliminary assessment of avian mortality at utility-scale solar energy facilities in the United States
Long-Term Use of Artificial Roosts by Maternity Colonies of Pallid Bat (Antrozous pallidus) and Mexican free-tailed Bats (Tadarida brasiliensis) Including Cautionary Notes

2.4 Cultural Resources
Jacumba Valley Ranch Cultural Resources Inventory and Evaluation (Mooney 1991)

2.5 Geology, Soils, and Seismicity
Quarterly Groundwater Monitoring Fourth Quarter 2010
Final Semi-Annual Groundwater Monitoring Report, Fourth Quarter 2015

2.6 Hazards and Hazardous Materials
Jacumba Texaco Unauthorized Release #H02688-003 January 26, 2012
County of San Diego 2020 Consolidated Fire Code
Emergency Operations Plan September 2018

2.7 Hydrology and Water Quality
Jacumba Valley Water Basin
FEMA Fact Sheet for Stakeholders Understanding Zone D
The Groundwater Hydrology of Jacumba Valley, California and Baja California (Swenson, 1981)

2.9 Noise
Roadway Construction Noise Model
Tractor Noise
Airport Land Use Compatibility Plan for Jacumba Aiport, Administrative Draft, February 2020

2.12 Wildfire
Post-Fire Soil Erosion and How to Manage It
California's Forests and Rangelands: 2010 Assessment
CalFire Fire Perimeters 2017
Final Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement and Proposed Land Use Amendment for the Sunrise Powerlink Project
County of San Diego General Plan - Land Use Element
County of San Diego Report Format and Content Requirements - Wildland Fire and Fire Protection
NFPA 855 Standard for the Installation of Stationary Energy Solar Systems 2020
Wildland Fire in Ecosystems - Effects of Fire on Flora (December 2000)
Wildland Fire in Ecosystems - Effects of Fire on Fauna (January 2000)
Wildland Fire in Ecosystems - Effects of Fire on Soil and Water (September 2005)
WRCC California Climate
Campo California Climate Summary

3.1 Effects Found Not Significant
County of San Diego Guidelines for Determining Significance Website
County of San Diego General Plan Housing Element
County of San Diego General Plan HJousing Element Update
SAMDAG 6th Cycle Regional Housing Needs Assessment Plan

3.1.1 Agricultural Resources
Mountain Empire Subregional Plan
USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map

3.1.2 Energy
Executive Order N-79-20

3.1.3 Greenhouse Gas Emissions
SB 100 Joint Agency Report
California Natural Resources Agency Final Statement of Reasons for Regulatory Action (December 2009)
California Natural Resources Agency Final Statement of Reasons for Regulatory Action (November 2018)
AB 341 Report to the Legislature (August 2015)
California Air Resources Board Greenhouse Gas Inventory Glossary
Comprehensive Renewable Energy Plan (CREP) Phase One Report (February 15,2017)

3.1.4 Land Use and Planning
Specific Plan for Jacumba Valley Ranch

3.1.5 Parks and Recreation
Climate model shows large-scale wind and solar farms in the Sahara increase rain and vegetation

3.1.6 Public Services
County of San Diego Branch Libraries Map
Mountain Empire Unified School District Part 1
Mountain Empire Unified School District Part 2

3.1.8 Utilities and Service Systems
CalRecycle Sycamore Landfill SWIS Facility/Site Summary
CalRecycle Otay Landfill SWIS Facility/Site Summary

4 Alternatives
Airport Land Use Compatibility Plan for Jacumba Airport Administrative Draft, February 2020
ITE Draft Guidelines for Transportation Impact Studies in the San Diego Region, January 2019

COMMENTS AND RESPONSES TO COMMENTS
RECEIVED DURING PUBLIC REVIEW OF DRAFT EIR

Volume II

Title Page

**Volume II Introduction

Global Responses

Global Response 1 - Socioeconomic Impacts and Environmental Justice
Global Response 2 - Photovoltaic Heat Island Effects
Global Response 3 - Biological Resources
Global Response 4 - Electromagnetic Field Impacts
Global Response 5 - Airport Impacts
Global Response 6 - Alternatives

Tribal

T1 - Members of Viejas Band of Indians (Response)
T2 - Members of Campo Band of Mission Indians (Response)
T3 - Member of the Manzanita Band of Indians (Response)

Agencies

A1 - California Department of Transportation (Response)
A2 - California Department of Fish and Wildlife (Response)
A3 - California Department of Parks and Recreation (Response)
A4 - United States Fish and Wildlife Service (Response)
A5 - San Diego Association of Governments (Response)

Organizations

O1 - Imperial Valley Desert Museum (Response)
O2 - San Diego Gas & Electric (Response)
O3 - Imperial Valley Desert Museum (Response)
O4 - Anza Borrego Foundation (Response)
O5 - Backcountry Against Dumps (Response)
O6 - Boulevard Planning Group (Response)
O7 - Donna Jones Law on behalf of We Are Human Kind LLC (Response)

Individuals

Late Letters

L1 - David Moss (Response)
L2 - Sandra Chappel (Response)

RESPONSE TO COMMENTS DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

Response to Comments Documents Incorporated by Reference

Airport Land Use Compatibility Plan for Jacumba Airport, Administrtative Draft, February 2020
Health Issues Related to the Static and Power-Frequency Electric and Magnetic Fields (EMFs) of the Soitec Solar Energy Farms - Memorandum on Scientific Information Related to Human Health Effects
Reducing Avian Collisions with Powerp Lines
Native Vegetation Performance undera Solar PV Array at the National Wind Technology Center
California Environmental Protection Agency - Designation of Disadvantaged Communitys Pursuant to Senate Bill 535
Environmental Justice at the Local and Regional Level Legal Background
Staff Report on Burrowing Owl Mitigation - State of California Natural Resources Agency Department of Fish and Game (March 7, 2012)
California Department of Fish and Wildlife - Rarefind Viewer
California Native Plant Society Policy on Mitigation Guidelines Regarding Impacts to Rare, Threatened, and Endangered Plans
County of San Diego Environmental Impact Report Format and General Content Requirements
County of San Diego Guidelines for Determining Significannce and Report Formant and Content Requirements - Biological Resources
County of San Diego Health and Human Services - Public Health Position Statement - Human Health Effects of Wind Turbines
County of San Diego Zoning Ordinance Section 1350
Mountain Empire Subregional Plan
North and East County Multiple Species Conservation Program Plans: Natural Community Conservation Program Plans and Habitat Conservation Plans Planning Agreement (March 2021)
PUC Actions Regarding EMFs
The Cornell Lab of Ornithology Birds of the World - Burrowing Owl
Federal Aviation Administration - Technical Guidance for Evaluating Selected Solar Technologies on Airports
FEMA Fact Sheet for Stakeholders Understanding Zone D
Soitec EIR Chapter 1 Project Description
Analysis of the Potential for a Heat Island Effect in Large Solar Farms
Property Value Impacts of Commercial-Scale Solar Energy in Massachusetts and Rhode Island (September 2020)
Special-Status Plant Propagation: Mojave and Colorado Desert Species (September 2017)
Desert Habitat Restoration on SCE's Eldorado-Ivanpah Transmission Project (September 2018)
Fact sheet on stormwater guidance for solar farm projects
Report of the Independent Science Advisors on the San Diego East County MSCP - Recommendations Following the Workshop, February 2006
OEHHA Cal Enviroscreen Maps and Data
OEHHA SB 535 Disadvantaged Communities Map
A Landowner's Guide to Wildlife Friendly Fences: How to Build Fence with Wildlife in Mind (2012)
A New Vision for California State Parks - Recommendations of the Parks Forward Initiative
The Sunrise Powerlink Special Status Plan Restoration Program
Regular Meeting of the Board of Directors of San Diego Community Power (May 27, 2021)
San Diego County Code of Regulatory Ordinances Division 11 - Flood Damage Prevention
San Diego County Hydrology Manual (June 2003)
San Diego County Hydraulic Design Manual (September 2014)
SDGE Understanding electric and magnetic fields
SDGE Presentation Changing Regulatory Landscape CPUC Section 851 & Tribal Land Policy (July 2020)
The Photovoltaic Heat Island Effect: Larger solar power plants increase local temperatures (October 2016)
Anti-Reflective Coating Materials: A Holistic Review from PV Perspective (May 2020)
SWOT Analysis of Solar PV Systems in Airport Environment
California Amphibian and Reptile Species of Special Concern
Biotelemetry Data for Golden Eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) Captured in Coastal Southern California, November 2014-February 2016
Biotelemetry Data for Golden Eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) Captured in Coastal Southern California, February 2017-February 2017
U.S. Customs and Border Protection Comment Period Extended for San Diego County Border Barrier Projects (April 2020)
US Fish and Wildlife Service Geodatabase (2019)
A preliminary assessment of avian mortality at utility-scale solar energy facilities in the United States
World Health Organization - Extremely Low Frequency Fields
California Wildlife Habitat Relationships System - California Department of Fish and Wildlife - California Interagency Wildlife Task Group Species References

PROJECT DOCUMENTS

See Planning Commission Hearing Report Website Page: CLICK HERE

Plot Plans as detailed in Planning Commission Report Attachment

Notice of Availability of Draft EIR (Legal Ad)

An online/phone-in public meeting teleconference was held on Wednesday, October 28, 2020 at 4:00 p.m. The presentation from the meeting regarding the Draft EIR can be found at the link below:

JVR Energy Park DEIR Public Meeting Presentation 10-28-2020

Title Page

Table of Contents

Acronyms and Abbreviations

Executive Summary

CHAPTER 1 - Project Description

CHAPTER 2 - Significant Environmental Effects of the Proposed Project

2.1 Aesthetics
2.2 Air Quality
2.3 Biological Resources
2.4 Cultural Resources
2.5 Geology, Soils, and Seismicity
2.6 Hazards and Hazardous Materials
2.7 Hydrology and Water Quality
2.8 Mineral Resources
2.9 Noise
2.10 Paleontological Resources
2.11 Tribal Cultural Resources
2.12 Wildfire

CHAPTER 3 - Environmental Effects Found Not to be Significant

3.1.1 Agricultural Resources
3.1.2 Energy
3.1.3 Greenhouse Gas Emissions
3.1.4 Land Use and Planning
3.1.5 Parks and Recreation
3.1.6 Public Services
3.1.7 Transportation
3.1.8 Utilities and Service Systems
3.2 Effects Found Not to be Significant During Initial Study

CHAPTER 4 - Project Alternatives

CHAPTER 5 - Mitigation Measures

CHAPTER 6 - Other CEQA Considerations

CHAPTER 7 - List of References

CHAPTER 8 - List of EIR Preparers and Persons Contacted

TECHNICAL APPENDICES

PROJECT DOCUMENTS

Plot Plans

Plot Plans (Smaller File Size)

Grading Plans

Fire Services Agreement

Local Mobility Analysis

Stormwater Quality Management Plan

NOTE: Since the Public Review Period of the Notice of Preparation, the General Plan Amendment and Zone Reclassifications have been withdrawn.

PDS2018-MUP-18-022; Log No. PDS2018-ER-18-22-001

The Project includes a Major Use Permit (PDS2018-MUP-18-022).

The JVR Energy Project involves the operation and construction of a 90 megawatt (MW) solar energy facility and a 20-MW energy storage system. The Project components include approximately 300,000 photovoltaic modules fitted on single axis trackers, an underground electrical collection system, a substation, an overhead gen-tie line, and access roads. The development footprint of the proposed facilities is approximately 691 acres. The Project would require a General Plan Amendment, a Rezone, and a Major Use Permit. Eventual decommissioning would occur at the end of the Project’s useful life. The Project site, approximately 1,345 total acres, is in unincorporated southeastern San Diego County. The area is located within the Mountain Empire Subregion of the County. The Project site is located adjacent to the community of Jacumba Hot Springs and the Jacumba Airport, and to the south of Interstate 8 (I-8). Primary access would be provided from I-8 with local access from Carrizo Gorge Road and Old Highway 80.

A public scoping meeting will be held to solicit comments on the EIR. The meeting will be held on March 21, 2019 at 6:00 p.m. at the Highland Community Center, 44681 Old Highway 80,Jacumba Hot Springs.

Project Contact: Nicholas Koutoufidis | (858) 495-5329 (General Project Questions)

Project Environmental Coordinator: Susan Harris | Susan.Harris@sdcounty.ca.gov | (858) 694-3064

Notice of Preparation and Initial Study

Notice of Preparation Legal Ad

Notice of Completion & Environmental Document Transmittal