Electric transmission and distribution
SoCal Edison protects water quality while constructing and relocating power infrastructure
Summary
- To help the Port of Long Beach accommodate larger cargo vessels, SoCal Edison needed to replace its nearby transmission towers with taller ones.
- The utility company brought in Haley & Aldrich to advise on the highly visible project, which could hurt water quality and the company’s reputation if contractors didn’t comply with stormwater regulations.
- Drawing on their deep understanding of intricate state and local permitting requirements, our experts trained construction staff on site and coordinated between multiple parties to ensure that work stayed in compliance and on schedule.
Client challenge
Long Beach International Gateway was being constructed to replace the dated Gerald Desmond Bridge connecting the City of Long Beach with the Port of Long Beach. The new long-span, cable-stayed bridge would allow the tallest, most massive ships to access all parts of the port. However, to accommodate the world’s largest cargo vessels, SoCal Edison needed to remove their existing transmission towers crossing the Cerritos Channel and replace them with taller ones.
SoCal Edison’s site flanks the channel, making the project highly visible to the public. Moreover, any construction could impact water quality in the area. To protect both the San Pedro Bay and their reputation, the utility company needed someone they could trust to inspect the project weekly and make sure constructors were complying with stormwater regulations. Haley & Aldrich was asked to handle the three-year project’s constantly changing stormwater needs.
Our approach
Our staff evaluated conditions as work progressed and communicated directly with the contractor to raise concerns and recommend corrective actions before the contractor or SoCal Edison had a problem. This proactive approach required training construction staff on site and coordinating between multiple parties — SoCal Edison, the Port of Long Beach, and their contractors — to ensure work met the intricate requirements of the State Water Board’s Construction General Permit and the City of Long Beach’s Municipal Separate Storm Sewer permit. We also updated the Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan as conditions changed and prepared the Annual Report. This allowed SoCal Edison and their contractor to proceed without worrying about delays or interruptions caused by stormwater compliance.
Value delivered
- Protected water quality in the San Pedro Bay and SoCal Edison’s reputation with their customers, investors, and regulatory agencies
- Maintained stormwater compliance, keeping SoCal Edison and their contractors from incurring hefty fines and unrecoverable construction costs
- Enabled more efficient commerce at one of the nation’s largest ports by assisting SoCal Edison with their relocation and construction project
For more information, contact:
Senior Associate
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