Proposed Amended Rule (PAR) 1135 – Emissions of Oxides of Nitrogen from Electricity Generating Facilities

San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) owns and Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGas) operates an integrated natural gas delivery system consisting of pipelines, storage fields, compressor stations, and regulator stations which are interconnected and jointly managed as a single system. In accordance with the requirements to reduce emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx) according to the specified timelines as set forth in South Coast AQMD South Coast AQMD Rule 1110.2 – Emissions from Gaseous- and Liquid-Fueled Engines, Rule 1100 – Implementation Schedule for NOx Facilities, and Rule 1134 – Emissions of Oxides of Nitrogen from Stationary Gas Turbines, SoCalGas and SDG&E have jointly proposed the Moreno Compressor Modernization Project (MCM Project) to modify and modernize the Moreno Compressor Station (MCS). The MCM Project is comprised of two components: 1) the SDG&E Component to upgrade the existing compressor system and make other ancillary improvements primarily located within the MCS that will be constructed and operated by SDG&E; and 2) the Southern California Edison (SCE) Component to make improvements to the electric utilities located around the MCS that will be constructed and operated by SCE. The SDG&E Component seeks to construct new Plant 4 to be comprised of: 1) a new compressor building to house: a) two new compressor gas turbines, each rated at 5,825 horsepower (HP) (South Coast AQMD Application Numbers (A/Ns) 629922 and 629924); b) two Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) systems with oxidation catalyst, and a Continuous Emissions Monitoring System for NOx (A/Ns 629923 and 629925); and c) new connections to an existing storage tank under South Coast AQMD Permit Number (P/N) G73134 to supply aqueous ammonia to the new SCR systems; 2) another new compressor building to house two new electric-motor-driven reciprocating compressors, each rated at 4,250 HP, which do not require South Coast AQMD permits because no emissions are expected; 3) a concrete pad adjacent to the new compressor building with: a) two new natural gas-fired emergency engines, each rated at 824 HP, (A/Ns 629926 and 629928); and b) two Non-Selective Catalytic Reduction systems (A/Ns 629927 and 629929); and 4) other ancillary improvements. After the new equipment becomes fully operational, the following equipment will be decommissioned: nine existing compressors referred to as Units D1 to D4 under P/N E03678, Unit D5 under P/N G21244, Unit D6 under P/N G21245, Unit D7 under P/N G21246, Unit D8 under P/N G21247, and Unit D9 under P/N G21248; and four existing natural gas-fired emergency engines referred to as Unit D12 under P/N D41508, Unit D13 under P/N G32495, Unit D14 under P/N D41509, and Unit D15 under P/N G35582. All decommissioned equipment will be abandoned in place. The environmental impacts from the SDG&E Component were previously analyzed in the Final Subsequent Environmental Assessment for Proposed Amended Rule 1110.2 – Emissions from Gaseous- and Liquid-Fueled Engines, and Proposed Amended Rule 1100 – Implementation Schedule for NOx Facilities (November 2019 Final SEA for PAR 1110.2 and PAR 1100), which was certified by the South Coast AQMD Governing Board on November 1, 2019, and the Final Subsequent Environmental Assessment for Proposed Amended Rule 1134 – Emissions of Oxides of Nitrogen from Stationary Gas Turbines (April 2019 Final SEA for PAR 1134), which was certified by the South Coast AQMD Governing Board on April 5, 2019. Both of these documents tier off of the Final Program Environmental Impact Report for the 2016 Air Quality Management Plan (March 2017 Final Program EIR for the 2016 AQMP), which was certified by the South Coast AQMD Governing Board on March 3, 2017. Notices of Decision for the November 2019 Final SEA for PAR 1110.2 and PAR 1100, and for the April 2019 Final SEA for PAR 1134 were filed with the Office of the Secretary for Resources for posting, and a Notice of Determination for the March 2017 Final Program EIR for the 2016 AQMP was filed and posted with the Clerks of the Counties of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino and the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research – State Clearinghouse. As such, the CEQA evaluation of the SDG&E Component is complete and is not the focus of the Addendum to the November 2019 Final Subsequent Environmental Assessment for Proposed Amended Rule 1110.2 and Proposed Amended Rule 1100, the April 2019 Final Subsequent Environmental Assessment for Proposed Amended Rule 1134, and the March 2017 Final Program Environmental Impact Report for the 2016 Air Quality Management Plan (Addendum) which has been prepared for the SCE Component of MCM Project or this Notice of Determination. The SCE Component proposes the following three phases of modifications to the existing Ginger 12 kilovolt (kV) circuit: A. Temporary construction power: Extend the existing Ginger 12-kV circuit from the existing electrical poles on Virginia Street to specifically provide electricity to the temporary construction laydown areas in support of the construction of the MCM Project. Temporary construction power will be located completely within the Facility and will involve: 1) less than 50 feet of underground trenching; 2) installation of temporary power poles, metering equipment, and a step-down transformer to be located adjacent to the eastern boundary of the MCS; 3) removal and replacement of one existing distribution pole; 4) installation of one new permanent distribution pole; and 5) installation of one temporary distribution pole that will be removed after construction is complete. B. Ginger 12-kV super circuit: Upgrade/enhance the existing Ginger 12-kV circuit to a 12-kV “super circuit” to increase the reliability and resilience of the electrical supply to the MCS by: 1) installing approximately three miles of additional 12-kV circuit along portions of an approximately six-mile segment of the existing 12-kV circuit; 2) installing approximately eight new wood or composite fiberglass distribution poles; and 3) replacing approximately 50 distribution poles, and replacement of approximately five existing joint distribution/subtransmission poles with five wood joint distribution/subtransmission poles. Additionally, the Ginger 12-kV super circuit includes making additional circuit improvements along an approximately three-mile portion of the existing Ginger 12-kV circuit which include: 1) installation of a new conductor outside of SCE’s existing Moreno Substation; 2) installation of new cable within new and existing ducts along Ironwood Avenue; 3) installation of new overhead conductors; 4) replacing a switch along Ironwood Avenue; and 5) installing a voltage regulator south of Ironwood Avenue. In total, the additional circuit improvements involve replacing two existing joint distribution/subtransmission poles and installing three new wood or composite distribution poles along Ironwood Avenue. C. Permanent circuit upgrades: Install approximately 4,800 feet of new overhead conductor on up to 35 poles that currently carry one 115-kV circuit and one 12-kV circuit; potentially replace all 35 poles depending on their condition; and install one new 12-kV rated switch on one of the poles. SCE will also make minor circuit configuration adjustments, as needed, to integrate the Ginger 12-kV super circuit into the final grid configuration. The permanent circuit upgrades will occur subsequent to the Ginger 12-kV super circuit upgrades described in Section B. The SCE Component of the MCM Project was not previously analyzed in the November 2019 Final SEA for PAR 1110.2 and PAR 1100, the April 2019 Final SEA for PAR 1134, and the March 2017 Final Program EIR for the 2016 AQMP. Thus, South Coast AQMD has prepared an Addendum specific to the SCE Component of the MCM Project which tiers off of the November 2019 Final SEA for PAR 1110.2 and PAR 1100, April 2019 Final SEA for PAR 1134, and March 2017 Final Program EIR for the 2016 AQMP. As such, the SCE Component of the MCM Project is the focus of this Notice of Determination.