MEDIA ADVISORY                                                             June 4, 2004
 
Media contacts:
WESTERN AREA POWER ADMINISTRATION
LaVerne Kyriss       720-962-7051, cell: 303-570-8226      kyriss@wapa.gov
David Christy         916-353-4436                                       christy@wapa.gov
TRANS-ELECT
Frank Maisano       202-898-5864, cell: 202-997-5932       frank.maisano@bracepatt.com
PG&E
Jon Tremayne         415-973-8709                                       JHT4@pge.com
MASLONKA & ASSOCIATES
Martin Maslonka   480-844-1033                                        martin.maslonka@maslonka.com
Jon Maslonka         209-364-6049                                        jon.maslonka@maslonka.com
 
HELICOPTER TO LIFT TRANSMISSION TOWERS ON PATH 15
 
What:              Air-Crane helicopter lifting and setting 15,000-pound sections of transmission towers into place for new 500-kV transmission line linking Northern and Southern California.
 
Who:               Public and private officials will make remarks celebrating the progress to date in construction of the new electric transmission infrastructure. Speakers include: Nora Brownell, Federal Electric Regulatory Commissioner; Michael Peevey, California Public Utilities Commission Chair; and the transmission project participants.
 
When:             June 10, beginning at 11:15 a.m.
Media availability with selected individuals immediately following scheduled events
 
Where:            On the Path 15 right-of-way. Note distance to site. Take I-5 approximately 60 miles south of Santa Nella to the Derrick Avenue exit. Go west from the exit and follow the signs 1.4 miles to the site.
 
Background:   The Path 15 upgrade includes constructing 84 miles of 500-kilovolt transmission line and related substation improvements. Western Area Power Administration, Pacific Gas and Electric Company, and Trans-Elect are project participants. Maslonka & Associates is constructing the 500-kV line. Massive Erickson Air-Crane helicopters are used to set pre-assembled sections of transmission towers into place.
                      
 For more project background, visit www.wapa.gov/sn/initiatives/path15/

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