HomeMy WebLinkAbout6 Brockway Road CEQA Review Agenda Item #
uuuiiiq�gpui E i� ����N
Publict District�
Memorandum
To: Board of Directors
From: Neil Kaufman
Date: December 26, 2005
Subject: CEQA Review of the Brockway Road Transmission Pipeline
1. Why this matter is before the board:
Board authorization is required to approve a CEQA Initial Study and direct that it be circulated.
2. History:
In August 2005, Board approved a contract with Inland Ecosystems to prepare an Initial Study
associated with the CEQA review of the Brockway Road Transmission Pipeline.
3. New information:
The CEQA Initial Study has been completed and is ready for circulation, review and public comment.
One component of the Initial Study involves investigation and evaluation of cultural resources that
may be impacted by the project. Inland Ecosystems uses Dr. Susan Lindstrom to perform this
cultural resources work. The proposed route of the pipeline is shown on the attached figure. The
complex history of the downtown area required Dr. Lindstrom to spend significantly more time on
investigation and documentation than originally anticipated.
There are few unusual facets of the project that were identified during preparation of the Initial Study:
A) There are not any known cultural resources that will be disturbed by construction of the
project. However, the potential for encountering unknown cultural resources along the
pipeline route is significant. Consequently, the Mitigation Monitoring Plan includes having
a cultural resource monitor on-site during all excavation activities. In the event that
cultural resources are discovered, the contractor will be directed to stop work until the
cultural resource can be evaluated and a plan of action can be developed. In the event
that Native American resources are discovered, it will be necessary to have a second
cultural resource monitor designated by the Washoe Indian Tribe on site.
It is not possible to develop a high-quality estimate of costs in the event that cultural
resources are actually encountered. However, a contingency of $50,000 has been
assumed for budgetary purposes to cover potential delay claims by the contractor. The
cost of the cultural resource monitor is estimated at $32,000, but could vary significantly,
depending upon the contractor's final work plan and staffing levels.
B) There is a population of a noxious weed known as knapweed located along the north
edge of Brockway Road at Regional Park. The District will work with the Town and the
Recreation and Park District to remove the weed as required to accomplish the pipeline
construction. Such removal will entail a combination of herbicide application and weed
removal by hand by a certified biologist.
The costs of the two construction phase issues discussed above are not included in the current
contract with Inland Ecosystems. I anticipate presenting another contract with Inland Ecosystems to
the Board to cover the construction phase activities at the April 5, Board Meeting, along with the bid
results.
Jessica and I have been working on the pipeline design and the current project schedule is given
below:
January 4, 2006—Board Approval of CEQA Initial Study
February 1, 2005—Public Hearing on CEQA Initial Study
February 15, 2006—Adoption of Final CEQA Document
February 15, 2006—Board Authorization to Begin Advertising for Bids.
March 28, 2006—Bid Opening
April 5, 2006—Award of Contract
May 1, 2006—Begin Construction
4. Recommendation:
I recommend that the Board:
a) Authorize staff to file the proposed negative declaration and environmental initial study
with the Office of the Nevada County Clerk
b) Authorize staff to file the proposed negative declaration and environmental study with
responsible and interested agencies and with the State Clearinghouse
c) Authorizing staff to publish a notice of public review period and public hearing on the
proposed negative declaration.
d) Authorizing staff to set a public hearing date of February 1, 2006
Attachments:
CEQA Initial Study