ASA Working to Minimize Impacts to OHV Recreation:

ASA Has Been at the Table — Now We Need Your Voice.

The proposed Ironwood Transmission Line Project in Imperial County could affect areas in and surrounding the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area (ISDRA), and the American Sand Association has been involved in the planning discussion for months. An overview of the project can be viewed here. The routing study can be FOUND HERE.

The proposed Ironwood Transmission Line is an approximately 86-mile, 500-kilovolt transmission project connecting the Imperial Valley Substation in California with the North Gila Substation near Yuma, Arizona. Approximately 80 miles of the project would be in California, including portions of federal and other public lands. The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) is currently conducting the environmental review required under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).

ASA has been working directly with the project proponent and reviewing potential transmission-line alignments through the dunes and surrounding OHV recreation areas. Our objective has been straightforward: if the project moves forward, find a route that minimizes impacts to OHV recreation, camping, access and the existing network of routes used by the riding community.

ASA Has Proposed Alternative Routing

ASA has participated in field reviews and discussions of several potential alignments. We have not endorsed the project’s current preferred alignment through the dunes.

Most recently, ASA submitted an alternative route for consideration in one of the most critical areas of concern near Dune Buggy Flats. The red line is what is currently proposed and the yellow line is ASA’s suggested diversion.

The proposed alternative is intended to:

• Avoid placing transmission structures in active dune areas where practical.
• Reduce potential conflicts with OHV traffic.
• Avoid impacts to Dune Buggy Flats.
• Reduce construction and maintenance difficulties associated with deep sand and active dunes.
• Reduce potential safety concerns associated with fixed structures in heavily used riding areas.
• Place the line in areas with substantially less intensive OHV use where feasible.
• Provide a more acceptable balance between the project’s needs and continued OHV recreation.

The project proponent has indicated that it will evaluate ASA’s proposed alternative.

This is important: ASA’s participation in discussions with the project proponent should not be interpreted as support for any particular transmission-line alignment. We are participating because decisions made during the planning and environmental-review process can have lasting consequences for access to the dunes.

Public Comments: Why They Matter

The CPUC is now conducting the public scoping period for the project’s Environmental Impact Report (EIR). This is an early stage of the environmental review process, and the purpose of scoping is to identify the issues and potential impacts that the EIR needs to examine.

The current scoping period runs through September 21, 2026. This is an opportunity for OHV users to tell the CPUC what they know about how these areas are actually used.

The most effective comments will be specific, factual and based on personal experience. Here’s a rundown of how to make your comments most effective.

What Should You Talk About?

If you use the Imperial Sand Dunes or surrounding public lands, consider commenting on issues such as:

Identify areas or routes that you use. Explain how powerline towers there could have a negative impact on your use and safety.

OHV Access and Connectivity

A route does not have to be an officially named OHV trail to be important. A primitive road or connector may be the only practical way to get between camping areas, staging areas, riding areas or other public-land destinations.

Camping and Staging Areas

Identify camping and staging areas that could be affected by the proposed alignment, construction activities, equipment movement, safety zones or future maintenance access.

Construction Impacts

Ask the CPUC to evaluate how construction traffic, heavy equipment, staging areas, tower construction and conductor installation could affect public OHV use.

Temporary Closures

Ask that any potential temporary closures or restrictions be identified, including their location, duration and effects on recreational access.

Long-Term Access

Ask how permanent transmission facilities and future maintenance activities could affect OHV access after construction is completed.

Safety

Identify areas where transmission structures, construction activity or maintenance traffic could create conflicts with heavily used OHV routes.

What Your Comments Should NOT Say

Please keep your comments accurate and constructive.
Do not claim that:

• The project has already closed OHV routes.
• The project will definitely close Glamis or the entire ISDRA.
• A particular trail is going to be permanently eliminated unless you have documentation supporting that statement.
• ASA is opposing the entire transmission project.
• ASA has endorsed the project’s current preferred route.

Those statements could be inaccurate and could undermine otherwise legitimate concerns.
Do not send profanity, personal attacks, threats or political rants.

And don’t simply submit the same generic form letter repeatedly. A large number of comments can demonstrate public interest, but individual comments describing actual use of the area and specific access concerns are far more useful to the environmental review.

How to Submit Ironwood Transmission Line Comments

The CPUC is accepting public comments during the current CEQA scoping period.

Deadline: September 21, 2026, at 5:00 p.m.

There are  three  primary ways to participate:

1. Submit a Public Comment online to the CPUC

Use the CPUC’s formal proceeding for the Ironwood Transmission Line, Application No. A.25-09-008.

Open the CPUC Ironwood proceeding (A.25-09-008) and click on “add Public Comment” in the upper left.

2. Submit Written Scoping Comments

Written scoping comments may also be submitted by email to:

CEQA@IronwoodTransmissionProject.com

Be sure to identify the project as the Ironwood Transmission Line Project (A.25-09-008).

3. Attend the August 27 Public Scoping Meeting

The CPUC confirms two virtual public scoping meetings on Thursday, August 27, 2026:

• 3:00 p.m. — Virtual Meeting #1
  Register for the 3:00 p.m. meeting
• 6:30 p.m. — Virtual Meeting #2
  Register for the 6:30 p.m. meeting

Members are encouraged to participate if they are able.

ASA Will Continue Working on This Issue

ASA will continue working with the project proponent and the agencies to identify ways to minimize impacts to OHV recreation.

Our goal is not to prevent necessary infrastructure projects. Our goal is to make sure that OHV recreation and the access network that supports it are fully considered before routing decisions are finalized.

We encourage every ASA member who uses the Imperial Sand Dunes and surrounding public lands to take a few minutes to participate in the process.

Tell the CPUC what you know. Be specific. Be factual. And explain why maintaining access and connectivity matters to you.

Additional Information

For an excellent overview of the Ironwood transmission project and the potential OHV access issues, see the recent article by Jon Crowley at UTV Guide: Ironwood Transmission Line Raises OHV Access Concerns

ASA will provide additional information as the project and environmental review progress.