Glenarm_BESS_Draft_IS-MND-011123.pdf

DRAFT INITIAL STUDY/

MITIGATED NEGATIVE

DECLARATION

Glenarm BESS Project

January 2023

Prepared for:

City of Pasadena Water and Power Department 150 South Los Robles Avenue, #200 Pasadena, California 91101

Glenarm BESS Project Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Section Page

Section 1.0 Introduction ...................................................................................................... 1-1

1.1 Purpose of Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration ......................... 1-1

1.2 Project Summary .................................................................................... 1-1

1.3 Summary of Environmental Impacts ....................................................... 1-2

Section 2.0 Environmental Setting ..................................................................................... 2-1

2.1 Project Location and Setting ................................................................... 2-1

2.2 Project Background and Need ................................................................ 2-1

2.3 Existing Conditions ................................................................................. 2-2

2.4 CEQA Review Process ........................................................................... 2-2

Section 3.0 Project Description .......................................................................................... 3-1

3.1 Project Components ............................................................................... 3-1

3.2 Project Construction ............................................................................... 3-2

3.3 Agency Approvals and Permits ............................................................... 3-2

Section 4.0 Environmental Assessment ............................................................................ 4-1

4.1 Aesthetics ............................................................................................... 4-4

4.2 Agriculture and Forest Resources .......................................................... 4-8

4.3 Air Quality ............................................................................................. 4-10

4.4 Biological Resources ............................................................................ 4-20

4.5 Cultural Resources ............................................................................... 4-24

4.6 Energy .................................................................................................. 4-31

4.7 Geology and Soils................................................................................. 4-34

4.8 Greenhouse Gas Emissions ................................................................. 4-40

4.9 Hazards and Hazardous Materials ....................................................... 4-45

4.10 Hydrology and Water Quality ................................................................ 4-53

4.11 Land Use and Planning ........................................................................ 4-56

4.12 Mineral Resources ................................................................................ 4-58

4.13 Noise .................................................................................................... 4-60

4.14 Population and Housing ........................................................................ 4-71

4.15 Public Services ..................................................................................... 4-72

4.16 Recreation ............................................................................................ 4-75

4.17 Transportation....................................................................................... 4-76

4.18 Tribal Cultural Resources ..................................................................... 4-80

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4.19 Utilities and Service Systems ............................................................... 4-85

4.20 Wildfire .................................................................................................. 4-88

4.21 Mandatory Findings of Significance ...................................................... 4-90

Section 5.0 Document Preparers and Contributors .......................................................... 5-1

Section 6.0 References ........................................................................................................ 6-1

LIST OF TABLES

Table Page

4-1 California and National Ambient Air Quality Standards ................................................ 4-11 4-2 Criteria Pollutant Designations in the South Coast Air Basin ....................................... 4-12 4-3 SCAQMD Regional Pollutant Significance Thresholds (lbs/day) ................................. 4-15 4-4 Estimated Maximum Daily Construction Emissions (lbs/day) ...................................... 4-16 4-5 Maximum Localized Construction Pollutant Emissions (lbs/day) ................................. 4-17 4-6 Peak Daily Net Operational Emissions ........................................................................ 4-18 4-7 Cultural Resources Studies within 1/2-Mile of the Project Site .................................... 4-25 4-8 Cultural Resources Within 1/2-Mile of the Project Site ................................................ 4-27 4-9 Energy Use During Construction .................................................................................. 4-32 4-10 Global Warming Potentials and Atmospheric Lifetimes ............................................... 4-41 4-11 GHG Emissions From Project Implementation ............................................................. 4-43 4-12 Hazardous Sites Listed Within One-Quarter Mile of the Project Site ........................... 4-49 4-13 Noise Levels For Common Events ............................................................................... 4-61 4-14 Vibration Damage Threshold Criteria ........................................................................... 4-66 4-15 Vibration Annoyance Criteria ....................................................................................... 4-66 4-16 Vibration Levels for Construction Equipment ............................................................... 4-67 4-17 Construction Noise Levels at Noise-Sensitive Uses .................................................... 4-68 4-18 Building Damage critera at Sensitive Uses .................................................................. 4-69 4-19 Vibration Annoyance Criteria at Sensitive Uses ........................................................... 4-70

LIST OF EXHIBITS

Exhibit Follows Page

1 Regional Location and Local Vicinity ............................................................................. 2-1 2 Aerial Photograph .......................................................................................................... 2-1 3 Site Plan ......................................................................................................................... 3-1 4a–c Site Photos ..................................................................................................................... 4-4

APPENDICES

Appendix

A Air Quality and Greenhouse Gas Emissions Modeling Data B Cultural and Tribal Cultural Resources Data C Energy Data D Supplemental Subsurface Investigation Report/Paleontological Records Search E Phase I Environmental Site Assessment/Environmental Data Resources Report F Noise Data and Calculations

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SECTION 1.0 INTRODUCTION

1.1 PURPOSE OF INITIAL STUDY/MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION

The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) (California Public Resources Code §21000 et seq.) and the State CEQA Guidelines (California Code of Regulations, Title 14, §15000 et seq.)

require that local government agencies, prior to taking action on projects requiring discretionary approval, consider the environmental consequences of such projects. Pursuant to Section 15367 of the State CEQA Guidelines, the City of Pasadena (City) is the Lead Agency for the Project. As the Lead Agency, the City has the principal responsibility for carrying out the Project and has the authority for approving the Project and its accompanying environmental documentation.

In accordance with CEQA, this Initial Study (IS) has been prepared as documentation to support a Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND) for the Glenarm BESS Project (Project) proposed by the City. This IS/MND includes a description of the Project; the location of the Project site; an evaluation of the potential environmental impacts of Project implementation; and recommended mitigation measures (MMs) to reduce or avoid impacts on the environment.

In addition to addressing the potential environmental impacts that would result from the proposed Project, this IS/MND serves as the primary environmental document for activities associated with the Project, including discretionary approvals requested or required for Project implementation.

The Project proposes to install a 25-megawatt (MW) Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) to charge and store electricity within the City’s existing Glenarm Power Plant, located at 72 East Glenarm Street, in the City of Pasadena, California.

As part of the evaluation of potential environmental impacts associated with Project implementation, the IS/MND identifies regulations applicable to the Project and sets forth MMs that would lessen or avoid significant impacts on the environment. The IS/MND concludes that, while implementation of the Project would have potentially significant environmental impacts, MMs have been incorporated that would reduce all identified impacts to levels considered less than significant (Section 15070 of the State CEQA Guidelines). Therefore, an IS/MND is the appropriate CEQA documentation. The reader is referred to the full text of this IS/MND and the technical appendices for a complete discussion and analysis of the Project’s potential environmental effects.

As the Lead Agency, the City has commissioned the preparation of this IS/MND and has reviewed and revised, as necessary, all submitted drafts and technical studies to reflect its independent judgment, including reliance on City staff for the review of all technical subconsultant reports. Data for this IS/MND was obtained from on-site field observations; discussions with affected agencies;

review of available technical studies, reports, guidelines, and data; and review of specialized environmental assessments prepared for the Project.

1.2 PROJECT SUMMARY

The City of Pasadena Water and Power (PWP) proposes to install a 25-MW utility-scale BESS on an approximately 0.59-acre site, located at 43 East State Street, in the City of Pasadena, California. The proposed Project would charge and store electricity, with a minimum storage capability of four hours. The BESS would be constructed at PWP’s existing Glenarm Power Plant.

A private entity would be selected to develop and maintain the BESS and sell the associated capacity and operational attributes to Pasadena under a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA). The PPA would include an option for Pasadena to purchase the BESS in the future, but no earlier than the sixth year after execution.

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1.3 SUMMARY OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS

Section 1.0 of this IS/MND provides the purpose of the IS/MND and a summary of the Project’s environmental impacts; Section 2.0 discusses the existing environmental setting, and Section 3.0 provides a discussion of the improvements proposed as part of the Project. Section 4.0 of this IS/MND evaluates the impacts that would occur with Project implementation. As analyzed, no impacts or less than significant impacts on Agriculture and Forest Resources, Aesthetics, Air Quality, Energy, Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Hydrology and Water Quality, Land Use and Planning, Mineral Resources, Noise, Population and Housing, Public Services, Recreation, Transportation, Utilities and Service Systems, and Wildfire would result with Project implementation.

To avoid and reduce other potentially significant Project impacts, MMs have been developed for Biological Resources, Cultural Resources, Geology and Soils, Hazards and Hazardous Materials, and Tribal Cultural Resources [TO BE DETERMINED UPON COMPLETION OF CONSULTATION]. With implementation of these MMs, Project’s potential impacts would be reduced to less than significant levels. The City will include these MMs in the Contractor Specifications, as appropriate, and verify their implementation as part of the Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program (MMRP) for the Project. These MMs are listed below.

Biological Resources

MM BIO-1 To the extent practical and feasible, Project construction shall be conducted between September 16 and January 31, which is outside the bird nesting season.

Construction conducted within this period shall be considered in compliance with the conditions set forth in the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) and California Fish and Game Code with methods approved by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) to protect active bird/raptor nests. If the nature of the proposed construction activities requires that work be conducted during the breeding season for nesting birds (March 15– September 15) or nesting raptors (February 1–June 30), in order to avoid direct impacts on active nests, a pre-construction survey shall be conducted by a qualified Biologist for nesting birds and/or raptors within 3 days prior to any Project construction or disturbance activities (i.e., within 300 feet for nesting birds and within 500 feet for nesting raptors). If the Biologist does not find any active nests within or immediately adjacent to the impact area, the construction work shall be allowed to proceed. If a lapse of more than three days occurs between outdoor disturbance activities, the nesting bird survey will need to be repeated as nesting activities may potentially occur in that time frame. Results of the surveys will be provided to the CDFW.

If the Biologist finds an active nest within or immediately adjacent to the construction area and determines that the nest may be impacted or breeding activities substantially disrupted, the Biologist shall delineate an appropriate buffer zone (at a minimum of 25 feet) around the nest depending on the sensitivity of the species and the nature of the construction activity. Any nest found during survey efforts shall be mapped on the construction plans. The active nest shall be protected until nesting activity has ended. To protect any nest site, the following restrictions to construction activities shall be required until nests are no longer active, as determined by a qualified Biologist: (1) disturbance limits shall be established within a buffer around any occupied nest (the buffer shall be 25–100 feet for nesting birds and 300–500 feet for nesting raptors), unless otherwise determined by a qualified Biologist and (2) access and surveying shall be restricted

R:\Projects\PAS_Pasaden\3PAS013700\Environmental Documentation\ISMND\Glenarm BESS Draft IS-MND-011123.docx 1-3 Introduction within the buffer of any occupied nest, unless otherwise determined by a qualified Biologist. Encroachment into the buffer area around a known nest shall only be allowed if the Biologist determines that the proposed activity would not disturb the nest occupants. Construction can proceed when the qualified Biologist has determined that fledglings have left the nest, or the nest has failed.

Cultural Resources

MM CUL-1 Prior to commencement of ground-disturbing activities, the City shall retain a qualified Archaeologist for on-call services in the event of a discovery of cultural resources (i.e., archaeological sites) below the ground surface. The Archaeologist shall be present at the pre-construction conference, and shall establish, in cooperation with the Contractor, procedures for temporarily halting or redirecting work to permit the sampling, identification, and evaluation of the artifacts. Should archaeological resources be found during ground-disturbing activities for the Project, the Archaeologist shall first determine whether it is a “unique archaeological resource” pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA, i.e., Section 21083.2[g] of the California Public Resources Code), a “historical resource” pursuant to Section 15064.5(a) of the State CEQA Guidelines.

If the above-mentioned resources are found during ground-disturbing activities, the Archaeologist shall formulate a report and a mitigation plan in consultation with the City of Pasadena and tribal representatives that satisfies the requirements of the above-referenced sections. The report shall follow guidelines of the California Office of Historic Preservation, and s/he shall record the site and submit the recordation form to the City of Pasadena and the California Historic Resources Information System (CHRIS) at the South-Central Coastal Information Center (SCCIC) located at California State University, Fullerton. The disposition of the resources shall be subject to approval by the City. If resources are discovered, work may proceed in other areas of the site, subject to the direction of the Archaeologist.

Geology and Soils

MM GEO-1 Prior to commencement of ground-disturbing activities, the City shall retain a qualified Paleontologist for on-call services in the event of a discovery of paleontological resources below the ground surface. The Paleontologist shall be present at the pre-construction conference; and shall establish, in cooperation with the Contractor, procedures for temporarily halting or redirecting work to permit the sampling, identification, and evaluation of the paleontological resources. Should these resources be found during ground-disturbing activities for the Project, the Paleontologist shall first determine whether it is a “unique paleontological resource” pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA, i.e., Section 21083.2[g] of the California Public Resources Code), or a significant paleontologically sensitive rock formation. If the above-mentioned resources are found during ground-disturbing activities, the Paleontologist shall formulate a report and a mitigation plan in consultation with the City of Pasadena that satisfies the requirements of the above-referenced sections. The disposition of the resources shall be subject to approval by the City. If resources are discovered, work may proceed in other areas of the site, subject to the direction of the Paleontologist.

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Hazards and Hazardous Materials

MM HAZ-1 A Phase II site investigation is recommended to determine the current conditions of TPH, VOC, and metals impacts at the site with a focus on future impacts to soil associated with the proposed redevelopment.

MM HAZ-2 Development of a contaminated soil management protocol (e.g., Soil Management Plan) is recommended for any subsurface work at the site during BESS development.

[THE FOLLOWING MEASURES WILL BE CONFIRMED IN CONSULTATION WITH THE

TRIBES AND LEVEL OF SIGNIFICANCE.]

Tribal Cultural Resources

MM TCR-1 Prior to commencement of ground-disturbing activities, the City of Pasadena (City) shall retain a qualified Native American Monitor (NAM) who is culturally affiliated with the Project area and/or otherwise approved by the Gabrieleño Band of Mission Indians-Kizh Nation Tribal Government to observe ground-disturbing activities, which may include, but are not limited to, pavement removal, pot-holing or augering, grubbing, tree removals, boring, grading, excavation, drilling, and trenching, within the Project Area. Additionally, per MM CUL-1, prior to commencement of ground-disturbing activities, the City shall retain a qualified Archaeologist for on-call services in the event of discovery of cultural resources.

Monitoring by the NAM is only to occur onsite when well drilling is scheduled below the ground surface (bgs) and is not to exceed five consecutive working days. The NAM shall complete daily monitoring logs providing descriptions of the day’s activities including construction activities, locations, soil, and any cultural materials identified. All discovered TCRs found during ground-disturbing activities for the Project shall be temporarily curated in a secure location on site by the Project Archaeologist. If removal of artifacts from the Project site is necessary, each artifact shall be catalogued, and an inventory will be provided to the Tribal monitor upon each addition. Following the completion of the Project, all TCRs shall be returned to the Tribe. Regardless of discovery, at the completion of all ground-disturbing activities, the Project Archaeologist shall formulate a Monitoring Report and submit said report to the City of Pasadena and the South-Central Coastal Information Center (SCCIC) located at California State University, Fullerton and the Gabrieleño Band of Mission Indians-Kizh Nation Tribal Government. The report will document all monitoring efforts and the NAM and be completed within 60 days of conclusion of all ground-disturbing activities. The disposition of the resources shall be subject to approval by the City. If resources are discovered, work may proceed in other areas of the site, subject to the direction of the Archaeologist or

NAM.

MM TCR-2 In accordance with Section 7050.5 of the California Health and Safety Code, if human remains are found within the Project site, the County Coroner shall be immediately notified of the discovery. No further excavation or disturbance of the site or any nearby area reasonably suspected to overlie adjacent remains, and no less than 150 feet from the discovery, shall occur until the County Coroner has determined, within two working days of notification of the discovery, the appropriate treatment and disposition of the human remains. To prevent any further disturbance, the remains shall be kept confidential and secure until treatment is complete. If the County Coroner determines that the remains are, or

R:\Projects\PAS_Pasaden\3PAS013700\Environmental Documentation\ISMND\Glenarm BESS Draft IS-MND-011123.docx 1-5 Introduction are believed to be, Native American, he or she shall contact, by telephone the Native American Heritage Commission (NAHC) in Sacramento within 24 hours, and California Public Resources Code (PRC), Section 5097.98 shall be followed.

In accordance with PRC 5097.98, the NAHC must immediately notify those persons it believes to be the most likely descendant (MLD) of the deceased Native American. Funerary objects, called associated grave goods in PRC 5097.98, are also to be treated according to this statute. The MLD shall complete his/her inspection within 48 hours of being granted access to the site. The designated MLD shall then determine, in consultation with the property owner, the disposition of the human remains. It is then at the MLD’s discretion which Tribal entities are consulted with regarding the treatment of human remains.

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SECTION 2.0 ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING

2.1 PROJECT LOCATION AND SETTING

The approximately 0.59-acre Project site is located at 43 East State Street in the City of Pasadena, California. As shown on Exhibit 1, Regional Location and Local Vicinity Map, the Project site is bordered by Glenarm Street, State Street and the Metro Gold Line, Fair Oaks Avenue, and the Arroyo Seco Parkway (SR-110). The Gold Line Filmore Station is located approximately 0.5 mile to the north and the Mission Station is located approximately 0.8 mile to the southwest in the City of South Pasadena.

As depicted on Exhibit 2, Aerial Photograph, the surrounding area is generally urban and characterized by a diverse mix of industrial, commercial, office, residential, educational, and community uses. Directly to the north of the Project site at the intersection of South Raymond Avenue and Glenarm Street is PWP’s dispatch and distribution station. Other uses on Glenarm Street include machinery repair, a car rental facility, surface parking lots, a five-story office building occupied by Jacob’s Engineering at the corner of Glenarm Street and the Arroyo Seco Parkway. South Raymond Street is also developed with facilities associated with Art Center College of Design’s South Campus. Land uses south of the Project site include the Metro Gold Line tracks, a Southern California Edison (SCE) facility, and multi-family residential uses above the Project site on Raymond Hill. To the east, beyond the Arroyo Seco Parkway, is Pasadena Unified School District’s Blair High School and Allendale Elementary School, the Pasadena Public Library (Allendale Branch), and Allendale Park. To the west is South Fair Oaks Avenue, which is characterized by a mix of commercial, office, and industrial uses, transitioning to single-family homes to the northwest and southwest.

2.2 PROJECT BACKGROUND AND NEED

The City of Pasadena is an ethnically diverse community that is home to approximately 141,029 people. Pasadena is the ninth-largest city in Los Angeles County. It is one of the primary cultural centers of the San Gabriel Valley. The City covers approximately 22.5 square miles, with an average of 10 residents per acre. The median age of its residents is approximately 36.9 years.

There are over 100,000 jobs in a wide variety of industries in the City of Pasadena.

Under its municipal charter, the City has operated a Water and Power Department since the early 20th century. Currently, PWP delivers about 1.1 million megawatt-hours (MWh) of energy annually to 65,000 retail customers, with a historical peak load of about 320 MW. PWP has assembled a portfolio of generating resources including gas-fired, large and small hydro, coal, nuclear, solar, wind, geothermal, and landfill gas; and holds partial shares of several of the resources to benefit from economies of scale and to share risks. PWP owns the gas-fired units at the Glenarm power plant, and a share of the Magnolia gas-fired unit in Burbank through an agreement with the Southern California Public Power Authority (SCPPA), while the other resources are purchased under long-term contracts. In addition, PWP has ownership and contract rights on various transmission lines, which were turned over to the California Independent System Operator (CAISO) in 2004 when Pasadena became a Participating Transmission Owner (PTO).

Decisions of the Pasadena City Council over the last ten years have demonstrated a commitment to accelerate the shift of Pasadena's energy supply portfolio to low-carbon and renewable resources. As a result, PWP’s 2018 Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) and 2021 IRP Update have led to Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) targets and greenhouse (GHG) reduction targets that exceed state mandates. Pasadena has also adopted a Climate Action Plan and is a leader in promoting energy efficiency.

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Lo s R ob les

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Wigmore Dr

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Fillmore St

Alpine St

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Regional Location and Local Vicinity Glenarm BESS Project

Exhibit 1

(Rev: 12/01/2022 JVR) R:\Projects\PAS_Pasaden\3PAS013700\Graphics\IS\ex_LV_RL.pdf

830 0 830415 Feet

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Aerial Location Glenarm BESS Project

Exhibit 2

(Rev: 12/01/2022 JVR) R:\Projects\PAS_Pasaden\3PAS013700\Graphics\IS\ex_Aerial_Location.pdf

Aerial Source: ESRI, Maxar 2022

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Following one of the recommendations identified in the 2021 IRP Update, PWP is pursuing the development of a utility-scale BESS Project at the Glenarm power plant in Pasadena. PWP anticipates that development of the BESS Project can produce several environmental, operational, and economic benefits, specifically, the avoidance of emissions associated with fossil-fueled peaking generating resources during system peak periods. Also, because the BESS Project site is located within PWP’s local retail electric service territory, it would also provide Resource Adequacy (RA) value in the CAISO markets. Finally, it is believed that the cost of power from the BESS Project can be attractive relative to the delivered cost of power for remote grid-based projects by storing energy during low energy/low-cost consumption periods and releasing for use during high energy/high-cost consumption periods. Construction and operation of the BESS Project would also create local jobs, support Pasadena's RPS and GHG reduction goals, and promote alternative energy innovation.

The City has identified a need of 50 MW of new capacity by 2025.

2.3 EXISTING CONDITIONS

2.3.1 GENERAL PLAN LAND USE AND ZONING

The Project site is located within the South Oaks Specific Plan area, and the General Plan Land Use Designation is SP-2 (SP-2 Overlay District). The Specific Plan Overlay District designates an area intended to support technology-based industries, including biomedical. The purposes of the SP-2 Overlay District, which implements the goals of the Specific Plan, are to: (1) create an attractive physical environmental for businesses that commercialize emerging technologies,

(2) integrate land use and transportation programs with the light rail station and Fillmore Street (located one block north of Glenarm Street), (3) support the retention and enhancement of local businesses, and (4) mitigate traffic impacts in the Specific Plan area and in adjacent residential neighborhoods.

Adopted in April 1998, the Specific Plan is roughly bounded by California Boulevard on the north and the common municipal boundary for the cities of Pasadena and South Pasadena on the south. The Specific Plan area encompasses the entire power plant property, extending east to the Arroyo Seco Parkway and is bounded by the Metro Gold Line tracks north of Glenarm Street.

The Specific Plan area includes properties lining the west side of Fair Oaks Avenue as well as the Huntington Memorial Hospital campus, which extends west to Pasadena Avenue. The SP-2 designation permits those land uses already permitted by underlying zoning, in addition to life/care facilities, extended care medical services, and some multi-family residential and general residential care uses. Major utilities are permitted on the Project site with a Conditional Use Permit

(CUP).

The site is zoned IG SP-2, HL “56” (General Industrial with a maximum height limit of 56 feet).

2.4 CEQA REVIEW PROCESS

This IS/MND has been prepared to analyze the impacts associated with construction and maintenance of the proposed Project. The City of Pasadena is the Lead Agency for the CEQA environmental review process and has submitted this IS/MND to responsible and trustee agencies, as well as other potentially affected agencies. A Notice of Intent to Adopt an MND (NOI) was sent to the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk. Additionally, the IS/MND and technical appendices along with the NOI were submitted electronically to the State Clearinghouse. The NOI has been distributed to the last known name and address of all organizations and individuals who have previously requested such notice in writing and

R:\Projects\PAS_Pasaden\3PAS013700\Environmental Documentation\ISMND\Glenarm BESS Draft IS-MND-011123.docx 2-3 Environmental Setting residences within a 500-foot radius of the Project site [PWP – PLEASE CONFIRM]. Additionally, the NOI was posted at the Project site.

In accordance with Section 15073 of the State CEQA Guidelines, a Negative Declaration (ND) or MND must be subject to a 30-day public review period when submitted to the State Clearinghouse for review by State agencies. Accordingly, the public review period for this IS/MND has been set from XX, 2022 to XX, 2022.

The IS/MND and associated technical reports can be viewed online at https://www.PWPweb.com/GarfieldWell or in-person at the PWP office (150 South Los Robles Avenue, Suite 200, Pasadena, CA 91101) during regular business hours and by appointment. An appointment for viewing the hardcopy may be requested by e-mail to Bob Botkin at rbotkin@cityofpasadena.net. In reviewing the IS/MND, the reviewer should focus on the sufficiency of the document in identifying and analyzing the potential impacts on the environment and ways in which the Project’s potentially significant effects are avoided or mitigated. Comments should be sent in writing and postmarked by XX, 2022, by mail or email to Bob Botkin at the City of Pasadena at the address below.

Broadway Power Plant 85 East State Street Pasadena, California 91105 Attn: Bob Botkin, P.E., CEM phone: (626) 744-4018 email: rbotkin@cityofpasadena.net

In accordance with Section 15074 of the State CEQA Guidelines, prior to approving the Project, Pasadena City Council will consider the IS/MND together with any comments received during the public review period. The City will adopt the IS/MND only if it finds that there is no substantial evidence in the record that the Project will have a significant adverse effect on the environment and that the IS/MND reflects the independent judgment and analysis of the City. A Notice of Determination (NOD) will be filed with the County Clerk and the State Clearinghouse after adoption of the MND.

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R:\Projects\PAS_Pasaden\3PAS013700\Environmental Documentation\ISMND\Glenarm BESS Draft IS-MND-011123.docx 3-1 Project Description

SECTION 3.0 PROJECT DESCRIPTION

3.1 PROJECT COMPONENTS

3.1.1 GLENARM BESS

The City of Pasadena Water and Power (PWP) proposes to install a 25-MW utility-scale BESS on an approximately 0.59-acre site, within PWP’s existing Glenarm Power Plant, located at 43 East State Street in the City of Pasadena, California as shown on Exhibit 3, Site Plan. The proposed Project would charge and store electricity, with a minimum storage capability of four hours. Design, construction, and maintenance of the BESS Project must adhere to all applicable local, State, and federal regulations and protocols.

A private entity would be selected to develop and maintain the BESS and sell the associated capacity and operational attributes to Pasadena under a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA). The PPA would include an option for Pasadena to purchase the BESS in the future, but no earlier than the sixth year after execution.

Interconnection to PWP

Due to the characteristics of PWP’s electric distribution system, and the need to maintain adequate voltage regulation and power quality, PWP would require interconnection of the BESS Project to the Glenarm Receiving Station C at 34.5 kilovolts (kV). The proposed Project would be limited to a 25-MW, 100 MWh BESS system connected to PWP’s distribution system. Voltage regulation and harmonic distortion would be in accordance with applicable IEEE Standards and City of Pasadena, PWP Regulations 21 and 23.

Engineering and Construction

PWP would be responsible for engineering, procurement, and construction from Glenarm Receiving Station to the BESS’ step-up transformer 34.5kV circuit breaker, which includes the following:

Installation of civil infrastructure (vaults and conduits) in the public right-of-way and within Glenarm Receiving Station. The developer would be responsible for installation of all civil infrastructure within the BESS Project site.

Installation of cabling from Glenarm Receiving Station to the BESS’ step-up transformer 34.5-kV circuit breaker disconnect termination lug. [PWP – PLEASE SIMPLIFY.]

Installation of a 34.5-kV circuit breaker at Glenarm Receiving Station

Metering, control, and protection at Glenarm Receiving Station, and the 34.5-kV sub-transmission line between the 34.5-kV circuit breakers at Glenarm Receiving Station and the BESS facility. Coordinate with PWP for the installation of the system protection for the 34.5-kV sub-transmission line, since it would need to communicate with the protection at Glenarm Receiving Station. Provisions would be provided to open, test, and ground the 34.5-kV sub-transmission line at the BESS point of connection.

The Project developer would be responsible for the engineering, procurement, and construction of all electrical facilities of the proposed BESS on the Project site to the high voltage side of the BESS Project’s step-up transformation 34.5-kV circuit breaker disconnect (Point of Interconnection), including the interconnection itself, per a design submitted to, and approved by, PWP Engineering. This includes installation of a system grounding grid, installation of all

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Source: City of Pasadena, 2022

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Site Plan Exhibit 3

R:\Projects\PAS_Pasaden\3PAS013700\Environmental Documentation\ISMND\Glenarm BESS Draft IS-MND-011123.docx 3-2 Project Description equipment concrete pads, and metering, controls, and protection up to the Point of Interconnection. The step-up transformer would be connected on the 34.5-kV side.

The Project developer would be responsible for engineering, purchasing, and installing all items downstream from (and including) the step-up transformer and 34.5-kV circuit breaker, as well as a spare parts inventory commensurate with Prudent Utility Practice. The developer would also be responsible for safe operation, routine maintenance, commissioning, and testing of the BESS, including the operational plans, contingency plans, and all documents related thereto.

Grid Interconnection

PWP’s electric delivery system is interconnected with California’s high-voltage transmission grid through facilities owned by PWP but operated by the Southern California Edison Company (SCE).

The interconnection agreement between PWP and SCE specifies that coordination between PWP and SCE must occur before PWP interconnects certain electric power resources to PWP’s electric distribution system. Accordingly, the Project developer would be required to assist and participate, as requested by PWP, in such coordination activities with SCE or the California Independent System Operator (CAISO) as applicable. Assistance and participation by the Project developer may include providing sufficient information regarding the BESS Project to enable evaluation, prior to Project development, of the BESS Project’s impacts to SCE’s facilities. Involvement in CAISO interconnection processes will also be necessary per Section 40 of the CAISO Tariff.

Therefore, assistance and participation from the Project developer would be required.

3.2 PROJECT CONSTRUCTION

Implementation of the Project is anticipated to require approximately 12 months of construction activities. Construction of the Project is anticipated to begin in August 2024 and completed in August 2025. Construction activities would generally occur 10 hours per day, 5 days a week.

Construction phases include site preparation (demolition of the existing slab and soil remediation);

grading/excavation (excavation for foundations and underground [U/G] electrical); BESS construction (install U/G, set equipment, pull/terminate wire, commissioning, and testing, foundation for the modules, switchgear, and control house); and paving (assume the site is asphalt paved). Construction equipment would include, but not be limited, to a jackhammer, concrete roller, excavator, concrete pump, crane, forklift, and road roller/compactor.

3.3 AGENCY APPROVALS AND PERMITS

This IS/MND is intended to serve as the primary environmental document, pursuant to CEQA, for the Glenarm BESS Project, including discretionary approvals requested or required to implement the Project. In addition, this is the primary reference document for the formulation and implementation of a mitigation monitoring and reporting program for the Project.

As the Lead Agency, Pasadena City Council may adopt the IS/MND if they find, on the basis of the whole record, that there is no substantial evidence that the Project would have a significant effect on the environment.

This IS/MND covers all federal, State, local government, and quasi-government approvals that may be needed to construct, implement, or maintain the Project.

[PWP – BESIDES CITY APPROVING THE PROJECT AND ALLOCATING FUNDS, PLEASE

IDENTIFY OTHER APPROVALS AND/OR PERMITS.]

R:\Projects\PAS_Pasaden\3PAS013700\Environmental Documentation\ISMND\Glenarm BESS Draft IS-MND-011123.docx 4-1 Environmental Assessment

SECTION 4.0 ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT

This section includes the completed CEQA Environmental Checklist Form, as provided in Appendix G of the State CEQA Guidelines, as well as substantiation and clarification for each checklist response. The checklist form is used to assist in evaluating the potential environmental impacts of the Glenarm BESS Project and identifies whether the Project is expected to have potentially significant adverse impacts.

1. Project Title: Glenarm BESS Project

2. Lead Agency Name and Address: City of Pasadena Water and Power Department 150 South Los Robles Avenue, Suite 200 Pasadena California 91101-4613

3. Contact Person and Phone Number: Bob Botkin

(626) 744-4018

4. Project Location: 43 East State Street in Pasadena, California 91105

5. Project Sponsor’s Name City of Pasadena and Address: Pasadena Water and Power

150 South Los Robles Avenue, Suite 200 Pasadena, California 91101

6. General Plan Designation: SP-2

7. Zoning: IG SP-2 HL-56

8. Description of Project: The Project proposes to install a 25-megawatt (MW) Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) that would charge and store electricity within the City’s existing Glenarm Power Plant, located at 72 East Glenarm Street, in the City of Pasadena, California.

9. Surrounding land uses and setting: The Project site is bordered by Glenarm Street, State Street and the Metro Gold Line, Fair Oaks Avenue, and the Arroyo Seco Parkway (SR 110).

10. Other public agencies whose approval is required: Refer to Table 3-2, Agency Approvals and Requirements.

11. Have California Native American tribes traditionally and culturally affiliated with the project area requested consultation pursuant to Public Resources Code section 21080.3.1? If so, has consultation begun? Yes, one tribe has requested government-to-government consultation and the consultation process has begun.

R:\Projects\PAS_Pasaden\3PAS013700\Environmental Documentation\ISMND\Glenarm BESS Draft IS-MND-011123.docx 4-2 Environmental Assessment

ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS POTENTIALLY AFFECTED:

The environmental factors checked below would be potentially affected by this Project, involving at least one impact that requires mitigation, as indicated on the following pages.

Aesthetics Agriculture and Forest Resources

Air Quality Biological Resources Cultural Resources Energy Geology and Soils Greenhouse Gas Emissions Hazards and Hazardous Materials Hydrology and Water Quality Land Use and Planning Mineral Resources Noise Population and Housing Public Services Recreation Transportation Tribal Cultural Resources Utilities and Service Systems Wildfire Mandatory Findings of Significance

DETERMINATION:

On the basis of this initial evaluation:

I find that the proposed project COULD NOT have a significant effect on the environment, and a NEGATIVE DECLARATION will be prepared.

I find that although the proposed project could have a significant effect on the environment, there will not be a significant effect in this case because revisions in the project have been made by or agreed to by the project proponent. A MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION will be prepared.

I find that the proposed project MAY have a significant effect on the environment, and an ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT is required.

I find that the proposed project MAY have a “potentially significant impact” or “potentially significant unless mitigated” impact on the environment, but at least one effect (1) has been adequately analyzed in an earlier document pursuant to applicable legal standards, and (2) has been addressed by mitigation measures based on the earlier analysis as described on attached sheets. An ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT is required, but it must analyze only the effects that remain to be addressed.

I find that although the proposed project could have a significant effect on the environment, because all potentially significant effects (a) have been analyzed adequately in an earlier EIR or NEGATIVE DECLARATION pursuant to applicable standards, and (b) have been avoided or mitigated pursuant to that earlier EIR or NEGATIVE DECLARATION, including revisions or mitigation measures that are imposed upon the proposed project, nothing further is required.

Signature of Lead Agency Representative Date

Printed name Agency

Negative Declaration/Mitigated Negative Declaration adopted on: ____________________________________

Adoption attested to by: ________________________________ _________________________________ Printed name/Signature Date

R:\Projects\PAS_Pasaden\3PAS013700\Environmental Documentation\ISMND\Glenarm BESS Draft IS-MND-011123.docx 4-3 Environmental Assessment

EVALUATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS:

1) A brief explanation is required for all answers except “No Impact” answers that are adequately supported by the information sources a lead agency cites in the parentheses following each question. A “No Impact” answer is adequately supported if the referenced information sources show that the impact simply does not apply to projects like the one involved (e.g., the project falls outside a fault rupture zone). A “No Impact” answer should be explained where it is based on project-specific factors as well as general standards (e.g., the project will not expose sensitive receptors to pollutants, based on a project-specific screening analysis).

2) All answers must take account of the whole action involved, including off-site as well as on-site, cumulative as well as project-level, indirect as well as direct, and construction as well as operational impacts.

3) Once the lead agency has determined that a particular physical impact may occur, then the checklist answers must indicate whether the impact is potentially significant, less than significant with mitigation, or less than significant. “Potentially Significant Impact’ is appropriate if there is substantial evidence that an effect is significant. If there are one or more “Potentially Significant Impact” entries when the determination is made, an EIR is required.

4) “Negative Declaration: Less Than Significant With Mitigation Incorporated” applies where the incorporation of mitigation measures has reduced an effect from “Potentially Significant Unless Mitigation Incorporated” applies where the incorporation of mitigation measures has reduced an effect from “Potentially Significant Impact” to a “Less than Significant Impact.” The Lead Agency must describe the mitigation measures and briefly explain how they reduce the effect to a less than significant level (mitigation measures from Section 21, “Earlier Analysis,” may be cross-referenced).

5) Earlier analysis may be used where, pursuant to the tiering, program EIR, or other CEQA process, an effect has been adequately analyzed in an earlier EIR or negative declaration.

See CEQA Guidelines Section 15063(c)(3)(D). Earlier analyses are discussed in Section 21 at the end of the checklist.

a) Earlier Analysis Used. Identify and state where they are available for review.

b) Impacts Adequately Addressed. Identify which effects from the above checklist were within the scope of and adequately analyzed in an earlier document pursuant to applicable legal standards, and state whether such effects were addressed by mitigation measures based on the earlier analysis.

c) Mitigation Measures. For effects that are “less than Significant with Mitigation Measures Incorporated,” describe the mitigation measures which were…