Supplemental Environmental Impact
Statement/Environmental Impact Report
Sacramento Area Voltage Support
Western Area Power Administration, Sacramento, California

Burleson coordinated a team of consultants to compete for the Sacramento Area Voltage Support (SVS) Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) and Environmental Impact Report (EIR). Under Aspen's General Services Administration (GSA) contract, Burleson, Aspen, and CH2M Hill were selected as the consultants of choice for this project. The project proponents included: Western Area Power Administration (Western), Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD), and the City of Roseville.

The supplemental document was required to analyze new alternatives under consideration and to comply with both National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). About 100 miles of transmission line was evaluated and surveyed for cultural and biological resources. Burleson's responsibilities included:

  Project Management and Scheduling
  Alternatives Development
  Biological and Cultural Resource Surveys
  Public Involvement
  Draft/SEIS and EIR Preparation

  Burleson
  coordinated agency   consultation with
  U.S. Fish and
  Wildlife Service
  (USFWS), U.S.
  Army Corps of
  Engineers (USACE),   and California
  Department of Fish and Game (CDFG). Burleson completed a wetland assessment and Section 404 permit application for construction of transmission line structures within wetlands. The challenges of this project included obtaining consensus between the proponents while meeting federal and state requirements, as well as maintaining project continuity and momentum, particularly following the resignation of Western's Project Manager.