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HomeMy WebLinkAbout4 District Pipeline CEQA Agenda Item # �,. . .NNER a Di I ,� Memorandum To: Board of Directors From: Neil Kaufman Date: March 9, 2006 Subject: CEQA Public Hearing for District Pipeline Replacement— 2006 project 1. Why this matter is before the board: A public hearing related to the CEQA review of the District Pipeline Replacement— 2006 project is scheduled for March 15, 2006. 2. History: In January 2006, the Board approved a contract with Inland Ecosystems to prepare an Initial Study associated with the CEQA review of the District Pipeline Replacement—2006 project. The overall project includes about 17,200 feet of pipeline, all located in the Tahoe Donner area. For Bidding and construction purposes, the project has been broken into two contracts (Contract A and Contract B). The attached figure shows the planned project. As with all Water Department construction projects, it is necessary for the District to complete a CEQA review of the project. Since 1999, (when I began working at the District) all of the pipeline replacement projects have qualified for a Categorical Exemption under the CEQA process. The documentation for the Categorical Exemption has been completed by Staff and filed with appropriate agencies. For the 2006 project, there are two components that do not qualify for the Categorical Exemption. The replacement pipelines along portions of Chalet Road and Swiss Lane are planned as 12-inch pipe and total about 5,300 feet in length. This 12-inch pipe is needed to serve as backbone pipelines in the Tahoe Donner area to ensure that adequate quantities of water can be transferred under high demand conditions. All other pipelines in the 2006 project are planned as 8-inch pipe. The plans and specifications for the project have been completed. On March 1, 2006, the Board approved the CEQA Initial Study and approved a public hearing date of March 15, 2006. 3. New information: There is no additional new information at this time. The current project schedule is given below: March 1, 2006—Board Approval of CEQA Initial Study March 15, 2006—Public Hearing on CEQA Initial Study March 15, 2006—Public Hearing on CEQA Initial Study March 15, 2006—Board Authorization to Begin Advertising for Bids April 5, 2006—Adoption of Final CEQA Document April 13, 2006—Bid Opening April 19, 2006—Award of Contract May 1, 2006—Begin Construction 4. Recommendation: There is no recommendation for action regarding the CEQA review at this time. This is an opportunity for the Board to receive public input regarding the CEQA review of the project.