HomeMy WebLinkAbout5 Brockway Pipeline CEQA Agenda Item #
Public Utility District
Memorandum
To: Board of Directors
From: Neil Kaufman
Date: February 10, 2006
Date of Board Meeting: February 15, 2006
Subject: Brockway Transmissson Pipeline CEQA
1. WHY THIS MATTER IS BEFORE THE BOARD
The District is proposing construction of the Brockway Road Water Pipeline Project. 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 Board previously approved a Contract with Inland Ecosystems to prepare the CEQA
Initial Study for the Brockway Transmission Pipeline.
A draft Mitigated Negative Declaration and Environmental Initial Study for the Brockway
Transmission Pipeline project 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
February 1, 2006. The public and clearinghouse review periods are now closed.
3. NEW INFORMATION
On February 7, a public meeting was held at the Community Room at the Senior Citizens
Housing Complex on February 7, 2006 to receive additional feedback from residents in that
neighborhood. Four members of the public attended that meeting.
On February 14, 2006, a meeting is scheduled with the Downtown Merchant's Association
to discuss the project.
The Town of Truckee has submitted two written comments on the Initial Study The Initial
Study has been revised in response to the Town's comments.
The attached memorandum gives the District response to CEQA comments received.
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Comments were received from the public at the public hearing.
Along with this memo are the Final Mitigated Negative Declaration, Notice of Determination,
Comments and Responses, and Mitigation Monitoring Plan. 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 Brockway Road Water Pipeline Project.
1. Adopt the Final Mitigated Negative Declaration
Z 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 judgment.
Attachments:
Notice of Determination
Final Mitigated Negative Declaration
Comments and Responses
Mitigation Monitoring Plan
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Agenda Item #
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Memorandum
To: File
From: Neil Kaufman
Date: February 8, 2006
Subject: Response to Comments Receieved on Brockway Transmission Pipeline
CEQA Initial Study
The following are responses to comments receieved on Brockway Transmission Pipeline CEQA
Initial Study.
TOWN OF TRUCKEE:
Comment:
3.11 NOISE (Page 33)
• Under the response to question (a) — (d), include hours of construction for night time in
case the contractor proposes to work during the night time and the encroachment permit
allows for project work to occur at night time in certain areas of the project.
Response:
The text of response to questions (a)—(d) will be revised as follows:
"There will not be a permanent increase in ambient noise levels due to the project. However,
noise levels will increase temporarily during construction activities. The noise increase will likely
be of short duration and would occur during the daylight hours of 7:00 am - 6:00 pm Monday-
Friday, and 8:00 am —6:00 pm on Saturday in residential areas. This impact is considered less
than significant.
There are two areas — downtown Truckee and Brockway Road — where the Town of Truckee
has indicated that nighttime construction may be preferable in order to minimize traffic impacts
during construction. If nighttime construction occurs, measures will be implemented to minimize
the volume of construction noise. Construction hours for night-time work will be in accordance
with the Town of Truckee Encroachment Permit."
Comment:
3.15 TRANSPORTATION/TRAFFIC (Page 38)
• Under (f), result in inadequate parking capacity, the Less Than Significant Impact box
may be considered due to the effect the project will have on parking in the downtown
area.
• Under the response to questions, add a response for(f) due to the effect on parking.
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Response:
The CEQA document will be revised to show a Less Than Significant Impact per the comment.
The following text will be added as a response to question (f):
"The project will not have a permanent impact on parking. However, there will be a temporary
impact on parking in the downtown area during the construction period. The pipeline
construction will require that some parking stalls be cordoned off and made unavailable to the
public as the construction occurs in that immediate area. An individual parking stall will likely be
made unavailable for only a few days and this impact is considered Less Than Significant."
DENNIS DICKINSON:
Comment:
Mr. Dickinson distributed photographs of the area south of Estates Drive opposite the Senior
Citizens Housing Complex. Mr. Dickinson expressed concern that this area might be considered
a wetlands.
Response:
As part of the field studies conducted to prepare the Initial Study, the area in questions was
examined by biologists retained by Inland Ecosystems. This area does experience a seasonal
ponding of water during rainfall and snowmelt conditions. However, the area is not considered
a wetlands since the soils and plants present in the area are not characteristic of wetlands.
The biologists did identify a wetland area about 800-1,000 feet farther east and this area is
identified in the Initial Study.
Comment:
Mr. Dickinson expressed concern regarding the traffic circulation in the residential area during
construction.
Response:
The Initial Study has acknowledged that there will be a temporary increase in traffic due to the
construction related activities. The residential neighborhood (Ponderosa Fairway Estates) has
two entrances, Estates Drive and Reynold Way. No construction activities are planned for
Reynold Way, so residents will have the ability to avoid the construction zone by using the other
roadway.
Comment:
Mr. Dickinson expressed concern regarding runoff where sediment could reach the Truckee
River.
Response:
The Initial Study notes that the project will be constructed in accordance with the Storm Water
Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP). The SWPPP includes mitigation measures for the
protection of water quality and would, therefore, not cause any degradation to water quality
within the area. A preliminary list of specific BMPs for this project is provided in Appendix D of
the Initial Study.
COMMENTS FROM FEBRUARY 7, 2006 MEETING:
Of the comments received at the February 7, 2006 meeting, only one discussed environmental
issues as outlined in the CEQA Initial study. The other comments and questions dealt more
with construction issues and the direct impact on the neighborhood.
Comment:
How will we handle excess water from wetland area during construction?
Response:
No construction will take place with the wetland. However, construction will take place within
the existing paved road adjacent to the wetland area. It is possible that dewatering will be
necessary as work proceeds through this area. Disposal of water from trench dewatering
requires that the water be cleaned before discharge, or that the water be discharged into trucks
for transport to the wastewater treatment plant. More detailed information regarding this issue is
given the SWPPP.
Notice of Determination
Appendix D
To: 0 ()Tice of plaraline and Research From: Public Truckee Donner Public Utility District
Fat US. TiraiL sx; \(],]less: PO,Sw3O9,T111ueo C&96160
P.O. Box 3044 1-100,17cnill St,
Saclameno), CA 95814-3044 .Sacramento.CA 95814 COlUtel, Neil Kaufman
[111,11e: 530-582-3950
County Clerk
(it: Nevada Lead Acef)ck {if dilicient fromabove):
Addiess: 950 Madu Avenue
Nevada City Cau 98989 Address_
__ -----------
Phone:
SUBJECT: Filing of Notice of Determination in compliance with Section 21108 or 21152 of the Public Resources
Code.
State Clearinghouse Number (if submitted to State Clearinghouse): 2006012042
Project Title:
Brockway Pipeline Project
Project Location (include county):
County:Nevada;City:Truckee;Cross Streets:Ranch Way to Indian Jack Road pill
marily along Brockway Road
Project Description:
To install approximately 10,000 feet of water pipeline to connect existing pipelines from Ranch Way to Indian Jack Road
primarily along Brockway Road.
"Phis is to advise that the Truckee Donner Public utility Distract has approved the above described project on
and has made the following determinations regarding the above described project:
(Djoic) I
1. The Project 10 will @ will not;hare a significant effect on the environment.
1 0 An Environmental Impact Report uras prepared for this Protect pursuant to the provisions of CFQA.
HI A Negative Declaration was prepared for this prefect fulfrstlurll 10 tile provisions of('EQA.
3. Mitigation measures 10 were 0 were hot] made a condition of the approval of the project.
4. A mitigation leportifl,or fll,nitfainf,plan fM was 0 was Doll adopted for this ,,()feet,
5. A statement of Ovenicling Consideration, [0 was M was 'lot] adopted for this fifillect.
6. Findings I[@ were 0 were Noll made pursuant to the provisions of CEQA
This is to certify that the final FIR with coninients and responses and record of project approval,ra the Negative Declaration. is
available to the General Public at: Truckee Donner Public Utility District
S19fl
Dateatile Tile General Manager,
Peter L . Holzmeister
Date ieceiked for filing at OPR:
Revised 2004