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Offshore Seismic Survey Project Background Materials

Pacific Gas & Electric Company (PG&E) has submitted to the Coastal Commission a coastal development permit application and a consistency certification to conduct a 3-D seismic imaging survey in state and federal waters offshore of the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant.

In August 2012, the California State Lands Commission certified an Environmental Impact Report for the project and approved a limited project that eliminates portions of the originally planned survey area (specifically the northernmost survey area), shortens the work window to November and December only, and allows the completion of survey activities in November and December 2013, if necessary.

The proposed project is scheduled for the Coastal Commission’s consideration at its November 2012 meeting in Santa Monica, CA.  Below is some background information regarding PG&E’s proposal

• Central Coastal California Seismic Imaging Project: Final Environmental Impact Report, prepared for the California State Lands Commission, July 2012 [Please note: individual report sections are on the State Lands Commission web site.]
  • Appendix H: Marine Mammal Technical Report (PG&E Offshore 3-D Seismic Survey Project EIR) , by Wood, J., Southall, B.L. and Tollit, D.J.(SMRU Ltd.), 2012.
• (September 28, 2012) Offshore Central Coastal California Seismic Imaging Project: Updated Expanded Project Description. Pacific Gas and Electric Company.
• (September 14, 2012)   Draft Incidental Harassment Authorization published by the National Marine Fisheries Service, Federal Register Notice.
• (November 2008) California Energy Commission Report, An Assessment of California’s Nuclear Power Plants: AB 1632 Committee Report,
• A Review of the Effects of Seismic Surveys on Marine Mammals, by Jonathan Gordon et al., Marine Technology Society Journal, Volume 37, Number 4, Winter 2003.