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HomeMy WebLinkAbout8 CEQA Sierra Meadows Pump Station Agenda Item # -' F Public Utility r Memorandum To: Board of Directors From: Neil Kaufman Date: August 12, 2005 Subject: Adoption of a CEQA Mitigated Negative Declaration for the Sierra Meadows Pump Station Project 1. Why this matter is before the board: The District is proposing to construct a new pump station to replace the existing Sierra Meadows Pump Station. Prior to starting construction activities, the District is required to complete an environmental review of the proposed site in compliance with CEQA. 2. History: The proposed project involves replacement of an existing pump station that is in poor condition. The site of the existing pump station is not large enough to accommodate construction of the new facility. The new pump station will be located at the northern end of Pine Cone Road and Tamarack Way on an easement granted to the District by a private property owner. 3. New information: A draft Mitigated Negative Declaration and Environmental initial Study for the Sierra Meadows Pump Station was prepared and circulated to responsible and interested agencies as well as to the State Clearinghouse and the Nevada County Clerk. The District held a public hearing regarding the adoption of the proposed negative declaration on May 4, 2005. The public and clearinghouse review periods are now closed. The District has not received any public comments, either oral or written on the project. Attached is the Notice of Determination. Filing the Notice of Determination with the State Clearinghouse and Nevada County Clerk completes the CEQA process for the project. 4. Recommendation: I recommend the Board take the following actions regarding the environmental review for the Sierra Meadows Pump Station: 1. Adopt the Final Mitigated Negative Declaration 2. Approve the project for purposes of CEQA. 3. Approve the Mitigated Monitoring Plan. 4. Authorize the filing of the Notice of Determination with the Office of the Nevada County Clerk and the Governor's Office of Planning and Research. 5. Adopt the De Minimis Impact Finding and authorize the filing of the Certificate of Fee Exemption with the Nevada County Clerk. 6. Adopt a finding that the draft documents as circulated and the negative declaration reflect the District's independent judgement. Attachments: Notice of Determination PUBLIC UTILITY C IS ` I `i a tt } h X. Prepared For E 1# r : 1 Ed Taylor, Water Utility Manger Truckee Donner Public Utility District w4 11670 Donner Pass Road ' Truckee, CA 96160 A `" h Y Prepared By Glenn Marron, Ph.D. Inland Ecosystems 1136 Terminal Way, Suite 204A Reno, NV 89602 � 'T (D August 2005 [ LA ND Tcosv TEMS Table of Contents 1.0 Introduction 2 1.1 Overview 2 1.2 Organization of This Document 2 2.0 Executive Summary 3 2.1 Introduction 3 2.2 Summary of Environmental Impacts 3 3.0 Comments on the Initial Study/Proposed Mitigated Negative Declaration 3 Appendix A Initial Study/Proposed Mitigated Negative Declaration Appendix B Final Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program Final Mitigated Negative Declaration i August 2005 1.0 Introduction 1.1 Overview The Initial Study/Proposed Mitigated Negative Declaration (IS/Proposed MND) for the Truckee Donner Public Utility District's New Sierra Meadows Booster Pump Station was submitted to the State Clearinghouse and distributed for public and agency review on April 27, 2005 (SC1 #2005042131). The review period closed on May 26. 2005. No state agencies submitted comments and no late comments were received from the State Clearinghouse. This document comprises the Final Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND) for the proposed project. The Final MND is an informational document that must be approved by the Truckee Donner Public Utility District (Lead Agency) prior to the Board of Directors awarding the proposed project for construction. The California Environmental Quality Act(CEQA) Guidelines (Section 15132) specify that: "The Final MND shall consist of: (1) The IS/Proposed MND or arevision of that draft; (2) Comments and recommendations received on the Draft MND either verbatim or in summary; (3) A list of persons, organizations, and public agencies commenting on the Draft MND; (4) The response of the Lead Agency to significant environmental points raised in the review and consultation process; and (5) Any other information added by the Lead Agency." 1.2 Organization of This Document The Final MND is organized into four chapters. Chapter 2.0, Executive Summary, provides a brief project description and a summary table of potential environmental effects resulting from the proposed project. Chapter 3.0, Comments on the IS/Proposed MND, provides a list of commentors and copies of written comments received. No comments were received on the IS/Proposed MND. The IS/Proposed MND includes the project description, impacts analysis, and mitigation discussions that form the basis for the conclusions presented in this Final MND. The IS/Proposed MND is listed in this docutent as Appendix A and is hereby incorporated by reference. The Final Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program (MMRP) are attached as Appendix B. Final Mitigated Negative Declaration 2 August 2005 2.0 Executive Summary 2.1 Introduction The TDPUD will replace an existing booster pump station that has deteriorated. The new booster pump station will become part of the District's water supply infrastructure that provides a reliable and safe water service for domestic use and fire protection to the Truckee Donner Public Utility District (District) customers. The proposed project site is located on the USGS 7.5-minute Martis Peak quadrangle within the eastern portion of the Town of Truckee.Nevada County, California. CEQA requires that the Lead Agency, the Truckee Donner Public Utility District in this case, prepare an analysis of potential environmental impacts that could result from the construction and operation of the proposed project prior to taking action on the proposal. Potential environmental impacts and proposed mitigation measures are presented in this Final MND. On April 27, 2005, 15 copies of the IS/Proposed MND were distributed via the State Clearinghouse. Copies were given to public agencies. A public meeting was held at the Truckee Donner Public Utility District on May 4, 2005. 2.2 Summary of Environmental Impacts Appendix S contains the final Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program that would avoid or minimize potential environmental impacts. The impact and mitigation numbering represents the corresponding section of the IS/Proposed MND from which the reader may obtain further background information on the scope of the impact and basis for the mitigation. 3.0 Response to Comments on the Proposed MND No comments were received from any state agency or private stakeholder and therefore there are no responses. Final Mitigated Negative Declaration 3 August 2005 f