On behalf of the California Public Utilities Commission, Aspen managed comprehensive environmental and economic analyses for a Draft EIR on the divestiture of 68 PG&E hydroelectric facilities in northern and central California. In accordance with CEQA Guidelines §15082, Aspen prepared a Notice of Preparation for this EIR, which provided a general description of the project, including a review of the assets proposed to be divested, and a summary of the main regulations and permit conditions that cause special concerns in light of the potential for sales of the assets to multiple owners.

More than 450 entities affected by the project were notified by a mailing of the NOP, including Native American tribes, and state, local, federal, trustee, and responsible agencies. In addition, the CPUC contacted over 300 agencies and special districts by fax, email, and telephone to invite participation in the agency meetings.

Aspen conducted scoping meetings in May 2000 to provide the public and government agencies opportunities to identify environmental issues and to propose alternatives that should be considered in the preparation of the EIR. An extensive notification effort to inform agencies and interested members of the public of the scoping meetings and comment opportunities was initiated. Aspen published display advertisements in 32 newspapers throughout the State twice before each meeting.

A notification flyer was mailed to more than 9,500 stakeholders, homeowners, residents, interest groups, city and county officials, and federal, State and local agencies (including all property owners within 300 feet of the affected facilities).

Aspen with the CPUC conducted 18 public meetings and nine agency meetings between May 1 and June 1, 2000. The meetings assisted the CPUC in identifying the range of actions, alternatives, perspectives, and potential effects associated with the proposed sale of the hydroelectric facilities and associated lands. More than 700 people attended the agency and public meetings. All issues raised in the scoping meetings were reviewed by Aspen to determine the appropriate consideration and level of analysis for each issue raised by commenters.

Aspen also evaluated the range of environmental issues by meeting with individual trustees and responsible agencies prior to and during preparation of the EIR. As a follow-up to the EIR scoping process, the environmental team performed additional outreach to inform Native American tribes about the project and the EIR process, and to assess the interest in, and need for, additional information or individual consultation. Additionally, Aspen was extensively briefed on the information received in the general proceedings, and at the CPUC's direction, met with interested participants to describe the planned approach to the EIR.