I. BACKGROUND

At the March 16, 1999 Prehearing Conference, the parties indicated that they are prepared to proceed to formal evidentiary hearings on most technical topic areas. While we realize that additional information is still being developed on other areas, we are also aware of the statutory direction [see Public Resources Code, secs. 25522(a), 25540.6(a)] that the Commission issue its final decision within twelve months. In order to meet this deadline, we must conclude evidentiary hearings by the end of April 1999.

Therefore, we will conduct formal hearings to receive evidence on all aspects of the proposed project as set forth below. This document provides notice for these hearings, a schedule of witnesses for each topic area, and dates for filing prepared testimony.

II. NOTICE OF EVIDENTIARY HEARINGS

We will conduct formal evidentiary hearings as follows:

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 21, 1999
THURSDAY, APRIL 22, 1999

FOLLOWING MEETINGS CANCELLED

MONDAY, APRIL 26, 1999
-and-
TUESDAY, APRIL 27, 1999, if necessary.
* * * * * * *

The hearings on APRIL 21 and APRIL 22 will be held at:

CALIFORNIA ENERGY COMMISSION
Beginning at 10 a.m.
First Floor Hearing Room A
1516 Ninth Street
Sacramento, California

The hearing on APRIL 26 and, if necessary, on APRIL 27 will be held at:

McKITTRICK SCHOOL
Beginning at 10 a.m.
School Auditorium
23250 2nd Street
McKittrick, California

(Wheelchair Accessible)

The April 27 hearing date is being scheduled as a CONTINUATION DATE only. If matters are concluded by April 26, no hearing will be held on April 27.

At these hearings, the parties (Applicant, Staff, Intervenors) will present evidence consisting of sworn testimony and exhibits on each topic area. Unless a party requests otherwise, presentations will follow the agenda reflected on ATTACHMENT A.

A. Formal Evidentiary Hearing Procedures

The purpose of these formal evidentiary hearings is to establish the factual record necessary to reach a decision in this case. This is done through the taking of written and oral testimony as well as exhibits from the parties. These hearings are more structured than the Committee Conferences and the informal Staff workshops which have already occurred. A party proposing to sponsor witnesses must file the witnesses's testimony, in writing, according to the schedule below. Witnesses will testify under oath or affirmation and be subject to cross-examination by other parties who have intervened in the case.

At the evidentiary hearings, a party sponsoring a witness shall briefly establish the witness' qualifications and have the witness orally summarize the prepared testimony before requesting that the testimony be moved into evidence. Relevant exhibits may be offered into evidence at that time as well. At the conclusion of a witness' direct testimony, the Committee will provide the other parties an opportunity for cross-examination, followed by redirect and recross examination as appropriate. As warranted, multiple witnesses may testify as a panel.

B. Public Participation

Members of the public and interested governmental agencies are invited to attend these hearings and may offer unsworn public comment upon the matters discussed. These public comments will be entered into the record of the proceeding and may be used to supplement or explain the evidence of record. Public comments by themselves, however, are not sufficient to support a finding of fact or a decision on an issue.

The Commission's Public Adviser, Roberta Mendonca, is available to provide information or to assist those interested in participating at these hearings. She may be reached at (916) 654-4489 or, toll free, at 800-822-6228; her email address is: pao@energy.state.ca.us

C. Further Information

If you require special accommodations, contact Robert Sifuentes at (916) 654-5004 at least five days prior to the first hearing. News media inquiries should be directed to Claudia Chandler at (916) 654-4989 or, email: energia@energy.ca.gov

Marc Pryor, the Commission's Project Manager, will respond to technical questions concerning the La Paloma Generating Project at (916) 654-0159 or, email: mpryor@energy.state.ca.us Information concerning the status of the project, as well as notices and other relevant documents, is also available on the Energy Commission's Internet home page at: www.energy.ca.gov/sitingcases/lapaloma

Questions of a legal or procedural nature should be directed to the Hearing Officer, Stanley W. Valkosky, at (916) 654-3893.

III. HEARING ORDER

Based upon discussion at the March 16, 1999 Prehearing Conference, the following filing schedule shall apply.

Filings shall be served upon all parties to this proceeding and the Commission's Docket Unit, 1516 Ninth Street, MS-4, Sacramento, CA 95814. Each party is responsible for ensuring that its respective submissions are received no later than 5:00 p.m. on the dates indicated. Identify all documents with "Docket No. 98-AFC-2."

DATE	EVENT
MARCH 25, 1999	Applicant provides Determination of Compliance
MARCH 31	Applicant submits new transmission line Cultural and Paleontological information
APRIL 7	Staff files Final Staff Assessment, including witness qualifications
APRIL 7	Applicant files prepared testimony and resumes of sponsoring witnesses
APRIL 7	California Independent System Operator files prepared testimony and resume(s) of sponsoring witness(es) on topic of Transmission System Engineering; this witness and testimony may be presented by Staff
APRIL 7	All other parties desiring to present witnesses file prepared testimony and copies of exhibits to be offered as evidence
APRIL 7	Parties file any requests for changes to schedule of topics and witnesses (Attachment A)
APRIL 14	Parties file revisions to testimony, and rebuttal testimony as necessary
APRIL 21, 22, 26 and, if necessary, 27	Evidentiary hearings on topics as enumerated. ATTACHMENT A
MAY 13	Parties file Opening Briefs
MAY 25	Parties file Reply Briefs
JUNE 25	Presiding Member's Proposed Decision (PMPD) and Notice of Conference issued
JULY 19	*Parties file comments on PMPD
JULY 23	*Conference on PMPD
JULY 28	*Close of comment period on PMPD
AUGUST 9	*Committee issues revised PMPD
AUGUST 18	*Conference on revised PMPD
AUGUST 25, 1999	*Commission consideration of revised PMPD

*These events will be separately noticed.

Dated:	ENERGY RESOURCES CONSERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION
_____//signed//_____	___//signed//_____
ROBERT A. LAURIE, Commissioner	DAVID A. ROHY, Ph.D., Vice Chair
Presiding Committee Member	Associate Committee Member

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ATTACHMENT A
TOPIC and WITNESS SCHEDULE

The Committee will hear topics according to the following agenda. Any requests for changes/substitutions, etc. should be made in the party's April 7, 1999 filing.

* * * * *
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 21, 1999 (Sacramento)

TOPIC	WITNESSES
Project Description	Applicant: Garratt/Chilson/Williams Staff: Pryor
Alternatives	Applicant: Garratt Staff: Pryor/Allen
Compliance Monitoring and Closure	Applicant: Garratt Staff: Scott
Conformance with the Integrated Assessment of Need	Applicant: Garratt Staff: Ewing
Facility Design and Geology	Applicant: Marlow/Williams/Wiley/Jones/Vance Staff: Kisabuli/Anderson
Power Plant Reliability	Applicant: Williams Staff: Baker
Power Plant Efficiency	Applicant: Williams Staff: Baker
Waste Management	Applicant: Marx Staff: Townsend-Smith
Worker Safety and Fire Protection	Applicant: Clendening/Williams Staff: Townsend-Smith
Transmission Line Safety and Nuisance	Applicant: Ormsby Staff: Odoemelam
Public Health	Applicant: Keohler Staff: Odoemelam
Noise	Applicant: Green Staff: Kisabuli

* * * * *
THURSDAY, APRIL 22, 1999 (Sacramento)

TOPIC	WITNESSES
Paleontologic Resources	Applicant: Lawler Staff: Anderson
Cultural Resources	Applicant: Hatoff Staff: Matthews
Hazardous Materials Management	Applicant: Marx Staff: Loyer
Biological Resources	Applicant: Guldman Staff: York
Transmission System Engineering	Applicant: Ormsby/Filippi Staff: McCuen/Hesters Cal ISO: Miller/Daschmans (witnesses may be sponsored by Staff) Elk Hills: Englebrecht/Rawley
Cumulative Impacts	Applicant: Steiner Staff: Pryor Elk Hills: Rawley

* * * * *
MONDAY, APRIL 26, 1999 (McKittrick), and,
if necessary, Tuesday, April 27, 1999

TOPIC	WITNESSES
Land Use	Applicant: Smith Staff: Stennick
Visual Resources	Applicant: Headley Staff: Flores/Walker
Traffic and Transportation	Applicant: Smith Staff: Flores
Socioeconomics	Applicant: Smith Staff: Edwards CURE: Kane
Soil and Water Resources	Applicant: Garratt/Garnand/Ray/Taylor Staff: O'Hagan
Air Quality	Applicant: Steiner/Chilson/Sylte Staff: Golden Air District: Witness may be sponsored by Staff

ATTACHMENT B
Tentative Exhibit List

Based upon available information, the Committee has identified the following documents as tentative exhibits pertinent to the evidentiary hearings. Modifications to this list will be discussed at the hearings.

EXHIBIT	DESCRIPTION
NUMBER 1.	Application for Certification document, Volumes I and II, dated July 1998; sponsored by Applicant.
NUMBER 2	Final Staff Assessment for the La Paloma Generating Project (Docket No. 98-AFC-2), dated April 7, 1999; sponsored by Staff.
NUMBER 3	Determination of the California Independent System Operator, dated February 25, 1999; sponsored by the Cal ISO.
NUMBER 4	Applicant's prepared testimony on [subject] and witness resume, dated April 7, 1999; sponsored by Applicant

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