The California Energy Commission is the State agency granted exclusive authority to review and license proposals to construct and operate large electric power plants. The Sacramento Municipal Utilities District (SMUD) has filed a proposal to construct a power plant project adjacent to the existing Rancho Seco Nuclear Power Plant in Sacramento County. A Committee of the Commission will begin the regulatory review process by conducting a Public Informational Hearing and Site Visit as described below:

Purpose of Hearing:

The Informational Hearing and Site Visit are the initial steps of the Commission's public power plant certification process, which contains requirements equivalent to those under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) to review all relevant environmental and engineering aspects of the proposed project.

At the Informational Hearing, members of the general public, landowners, and representatives of other governmental agencies will have an opportunity to obtain information and offer comments on the proposal. The Applicant, SMUD, will explain its plans for developing the proposed site and related facilities. The Energy Commission staff will explain the regulatory review process and staff's role as independent experts in analyzing the project. The Applicant and the staff will also discuss possible issues that may be significant during the remainder of the proceeding.

Site Visit Date & Place:
3:30 p.m.

Reservations Required:
(by December 17, 2001)

The Informational Hearing will be preceded by a Site Visit during daylight hours, at 3:30 p.m. Persons intending to attend the Site Visit should gather at the Hendrickson Hall parking lot. The Applicant will provide bus transportation.

December 19, 2001
Beginning at 3:30 p.m.

Hendrickson Hall - Parking Lot
12746 Ivie Road
Herald, California

Persons intending to attend the Site Visit should make a reservation for bus transportation with the Commission's Public Adviser at 916-654-4489 or toll free at 800-822-6228 or via e-mail pao@energy.state.ca.us not later than Tuesday, December 17, 2001.

Hearing Date & Place:
4:30 p.m.

December 19, 2001
Beginning at 4:30 p.m.

Hendrickson Hall
12746 Ivie Road
Herald, California

Project Description:

On September 13, 2001, Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) filed and Application for Certification (AFC) for the Cosumnes Power Plant (CPP) Project. SMUD seeks approval from the Energy Commission to construct and operate a natural gas power plant at the Rancho Seco Nuclear Plant, 25 miles southeast of the City of Sacramento, in Sacramento County. The project would be located on a 30-acre portion of an overall 2,480-acre site owned by SMUD.

The project would consist of a nominal 1,000 megawatt (MW) combined-cycle natural gas facility. The plant would be constructed in two phases, each consisting of 500 MW. Each phase will have two combustion turbines, one condensing steam turbine, and two heat recovery steam generators. The transmission line will consist of 0.4 miles of new 230-kV line from the on-site switchyard to the existing switchyard at Rancho Seco. The natural gas line will be supplied by 26-miles of district-owned gas line. The line is located between the project site and the Carson Ice-Gen Facility, in Sacramento County. A 0.4 mile connection to the existing 66-inch diameter water line will convey water from the Folsom-South Canal.

More Information:


www.energy.ca.gov/ sitingcases/smud

In order to assist participants in understanding the project, the Commission Staff will prepare and file by December 14, 2001, an Issue Identification Report summarizing the potential major issues in the proceeding. Copies of this document may be obtained by calling the Commission's Project Manager at (916) 654-3929 or through the Commission's Web Site at www.energy.ca.gov/sitingcases/smud

The environmental and engineering details of the proposed project are contained in the Application for Certification (AFC). Copies of the AFC are available locally at Galt Neighborhood Library, 1000 Caroline Ave, Galt, California. 95632.

Help:


800-822-6228
(toll free in California)

916-654-4489

Members of the public may participate in all phases of the licensing process in a variety of ways. If you need information concerning public participation, please contact Roberta Mendonca, the Energy Commission's Public Adviser, at 916-654-4489 or, toll free in California, at 800-822-6228, or by e-mail at: pao@energy.state.ca.us

Information concerning the status of the project, notices and other relevant documents are available on the Commission's Web Site at:
www.energy.ca.gov/sitingcases/smud

If you require special accommodation to participate in the Informational Hearing and/or Site Visit, please contact Priscilla Ross at least five (5) days before the hearing at 916-654-4489 or email at: pross@energy.state.ca.us

Contacts:

Technical questions concerning the project should be addressed to the Energy Commission Staff's Project Manager, Kristy Chew, at 916-654-3929 or e-mail at: kchew@energy.state.ca.us

Questions of a legal or procedural nature should be directed to Garret Shean, the Hearing Officer, at 916-654-3893 or e-mail at: gshean@energy.state.ca.us
Media inquiries should be directed to Claudia Chandler, Assistant Executive Director for Media and Public Communications, at 916-654-4989 or by
e-mail at: energia@energy.ca.gov

Dated: December 3, 2001