Description of Construction Process

Constructing the transmission line would begin with the development of unpaved
access roads to facilitate entry to individual structure sites. Where possible,
access roads would be contained within the 330-foot-wide transmission line right
of way. Typically, 24-foot-wide roadways at straight sections and curves are
required to allow safe movement of construction equipment and vehicles. The
road bed itself would be 14 feet, with 5-foot wing ditches on each side.
Vegetation would be mostly crushed, and cleared only when necessary.
Construction roads across areas that are not required for future maintenance
access would be rehabilitated to the extent feasible. Gates would be installed
where required at fenced property lines to restrict general vehicular access from
or to the right-of-way.
After access roads are developed, preparation of individual structure sites would
be required to install the structures. These areas would provide a safe working
space for placing equipment, vehicles and materials, and assembling and
erecting towers. Vegetation would be mostly crushed, and cleared only when
necessary. It is anticipated that an area approximately 200 feet by 200 feet Gust
under one acre) would be needed for construction activities at most tower
locations. However, many tower sites would be considerably smaller depending
on the size of the tower, the terrain, biological resource considerations, etc.
At tower sites where solid rock is encountered, additional equipment would be
required to remove the rock from the desired excavation. This could include rock hauling
equipment or blasting.
Tower foundations would typically consist of drilled concrete piers. The
foundation process would start with the boring of four holes for each lattice
structure. The holes would be bored using truck-mounted excavators with various
diameter augers to match diameter and depth requirements of the foundation
sizes.
For a typical suspension lattice tower, each hole would typically be 2.5 feet in
diameter and 20 feet deep, depending on soil conditions. For the larger angle or
dead-end structures, foundation holes could be up to five feet in diameter and 30
or more feet deep, depending on soil conditions. Each foundation would extend
above the ground line between six inches and four feet.
Following excavation of the foundation holes, reinforcing steel would be installed
and concrete would be set. Reinforcing steel cages would be assembled at
laydown yards and delivered to each structure location by flatbed truck. Typical
suspension structures would require approximately 25 to 40 cubic yards of
concrete and 120 cubic yards for dead-end structures. Approximately 2,825
truckloads of concrete would be required for all the structure foundations.
Lattice towers would be assembled at each site, erected and bolted to the
foundations. Steel members for each structure would be delivered to each
location by flatbed truck. Steel structures would be bolted together and
assembled on the ground. Assembly would be facilitated with a small truck mounted

crane. Following assembly, the tower would be lifted onto the

foundation with a large crane that would move along the right-of-way for tower
erection purposes.
Some of the structure erection activities may be conducted with a helicopter. Use
of a helicopter for structure erection may be driven by various factors, including
access to the structure locations, construction schedule and/or construction
economics.

If helicopter construction were employed, towers would be assembled in roadless

construction staging areas and flown to each structure location with a helicopter.
With the assistance of ground crews, the helicopter would place each tower on
its foundation. Each structure erected using a helicopter typically requires two
trips due to structure weight and lifting capacity of available helicopters.
Helicopter construction activities would be based at a roadless construction
staging area and would include a fueling truck, maintenance truck and operation
crew to support the helicopter.
Conductor and fiber optic shield wire stringing would begin with the installation of
insulators and stringing sheaves. Sheaves are rollers, temporarily attached to the
lower end of the insulators that allow the conductor to be pulled, or "strung,"
along the line. Temporary clearance structures, typically consisting of vertical wood poles
with cross arms, may be installed at road crossings and at crossings of energized existing
overhead electric and communication lines to prevent conductors from sagging onto
existing facilities during the stringing operation.
The initial stringing operation would consist of pulling a "sock line" through the
sheaves along the line. Pulling the sock line is accomplished by either pulling it
with a vehicle traveling along the right of way or, at the construction contractor's
choosing, with a small helicopter flying the right of way. The sock line would then
be attached to the conductor and used to pull the conductor into place.
Pulling and tensioning sites would be required approximately every two to three
miles along the line route. To the greatest extent practical, pulling and tensioning
sites would be located within the transmission right-of-way. However, some
pulling and tensioning sites may occur outside the right-of-way. Each of these
sites would require an area of approximately 2.3 acres (300 feet by 330 feet).
The sites are needed to set up the tractors and trailers with the spooled reels that
hold the conductors, as well as the trucks with the tensioning equipment.
Depending on topography, some incidental grading may be required at pulling
and tensioning sites to create level pads for equipment.
After installing the conductor and fiber optic shield wire, sagging and clipping
activities are performed. This process involves adjusting tension of the
conductors and shield wires, removing stringing sheaves and permanently
attaching the conductor to the insulators with specialized hardware.
At the conclusion of construction, the right-of-way is cleaned of packing crates,
hardware and all construction debris. Disturbed areas not required for access

roads and maintenance areas around structures would be restored by

hydroseeding, if required by a permitting agency.
General equipment required for constructing the transmission line would include
bulldozers, graders, back hoes, drill rigs, truck-mounted augers, flatbed trucks,
forklifts, rigging and mechanic trucks, air compressors and generators, small wheeled
cranes, concrete trucks and crew trucks. Assembling and erecting
lattice towers would require a larger crane. Stringing operations would require
pullers, tensioners and wire reel trailers. Helicopters may be used to string the
sock line and to install towers where other access to tower sites is not available.
It is anticipated that several staging areas would be required for storing materials,
construction equipment and construction vehicles. Staging areas would be
located at various locations along the proposed line route, and would require an
area of approximately 0.5-2 acres for staging areas along the route, 40 and 60
acres for staging areas at the proposed substations, and 2-4 acres at the
roadless construction staging areas. Some staging areas may need to be
scraped by a bulldozer; however, vegetation would be crushed in most cases
and not bladed. The project proponent would negotiate with landowners for
specific locations of the staging areas.
The total construction time for the line is estimated to be approximately 20
months. A longer time frame may be required to accommodate biological
mitigation measures or delays due to inclement weather.
During the initial access road development, approximately 10 construction
workers would be required. During foundation development, structure assembly,
and erection, the work force would be approximately 150 personnel. At the peak
of construction, when all phases of construction may be occurring concurrently
along the line route, the estimated workforce would be approximately 300
personnel. These numbers may change as design of the project progresses.
However, construction of the project will be analyzed in greater detail during
preparation of the EIR/EIS.
(f) Access roads to, and along, right-of-way during construction would consist of 24footwide roadways to allow safe movement of construction equipment and
vehicles. The road bed itself would be 14 feet, with 5-foot wing ditches on each
side. Vegetation would be mostly crushed, and cleared only when necessary. In
flat terrain, turnouts from the main access road would be constructed. In
mountainous terrain, spur roads linking the main access road to each tower site
would be developed.
(g) Helicopters would likely be used for stringing conductors and framing towers and
would follow the right-of-way path.
(h) The size of framing pads (assembly sites) is approximately 40,000 square feet
and turn-around pads (tower sites and pull and tensioning sites) is approximately
99,000 square feet. The location of these sites has not yet been determined.
(i) Access to the framing pads would consist of either a turnout or spur road.

(j) During construction, the contingency planning contact for LADWP would be Mr.
Mohammed Beshir, Manager of Transmission Planning, Engineering, and
Contracts, who can be reached at 213-367-0237. Ms. Joan Petrovsky would be
the contact for the BLM.
(k) The construction or maintenance crew foreman would ensure that all applicable
health and safety laws are obeyed. A health and safety plan would be developed
as part of the Construction, Operation and Maintenance Plan during the
engineering and preconstruction phase of the project.
(I) Petroleum products such as gasoline, diesel fuel, helicopter fuel, crankcase oil,
lubricants, and cleaning solvents would be present within the transmission line corridor
during construction. These products would be used to fuel, lubricate, and
clean vehicles and equipment. Hazardous materials would be confined in fuel
trucks or other approved containers. When not in use, hazardous materials would
be properly stored to prevent drainage or accidents. Material Safety Data Sheets
for hazardous materials would be made available for review by all construction
personnel.
All construction, operation, and maintenance activities would comply with all
applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations regarding the use of
hazardous substances. Every precaution would be taken so that hazardous
materials would not be released onto the ground or into streams or drainage
areas. Totally enclosed containment would be provided for all trash. All
construction waste including trash and litter, garbage, other solid waste,
petroleum products, and other potentially hazardous materials would be removed to a
disposal facility authorized to accept such waste.