HomeMy WebLinkAbout8 Public Hearing Hirschdale Pipeline CEQA rr - AGENDA ITEM # 8
_�'TRUCKEE DONNE
1 Public Utility District
MEETING DATE: May 3, 2023
TO: Board of Directors
FROM: Neil Kaufman, Water System Engineer
Chad Reed, Water Utility Director
SUBJECT: Consideration of Approving of the California Environmental Quality
Act (CEQA) Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration for the
Hirschdale Pipeline Project
APPROVED BY
-Brian C. Wright, General Manager
RECOMMENDATIONS:
A) Conduct a public hearing to receive comments on the CEQA Initial Study/Mitigated
Negative Declaration for the Hirschdale Pipeline Project; and
B) Approve the CEQA Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration for the Hirschdale
Pipeline Project
BACKGROUND:
The District operates two separate water systems in the Truckee area: the Hirschdale
System and the Truckee System.
The Hirschdale System is rather small, consisting of:
• One pressure zone;
• One well;
• One storage tank;
• About 3,100 feet of pipeline; and
• 26 customer accounts.
In contrast, the Truckee System is a relatively complex system, consisting of:
• 46 pressure zones;
• 12 active potable water wells;
• 3 active non-potable wells;
• 34 active storage tanks;
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• 25 pumping stations;
• About 235 miles of pipeline ranging from 2-inches to 24-inches in diameter;
• 40 control valve stations; and
• Approximately 13,600 customer accounts.
The Hirschdale System is located to the east of the Truckee Main System with a distance
of about 1,700 feet separating the two systems. As noted above, there is a single well
that supplies water to the Hirschdale System. When this well is taken out of service to
perform maintenance, it is necessary for the District to implement temporary measures
such as using potable water trucks or an aboveground pipe to supply water to the
Hirschdale area. In addition, the water produced by the Hirschdale Well contains high
levels of naturally occurring arsenic and manganese. The District operates a treatment
system to remove the arsenic and manganese to ensure the water supplied to customers
complies with State and Federal requirements. However, the treatment system is
expensive to operate and requires extensive maintenance and supervision.
Analysis:
The Water Department has identified the need to construct a pipeline to connect the
Hirschdale Water System to the main Truckee Main Water System. This pipeline will
provide a second source of water to the Hirschdale area and allow the District to supply
Hirschdale in a more cost effective manner. It would also allow water to be supplied to
the Hirschdale system in a more reliable manner year round, as all the current
workarounds would not be feasible or effective during the winter.
As all interconnections between different systems require the water system to modify the
state-issued permit to operate a public water system, staff has been working closely with
the California State Resource Control Board (Water Board) Engineer. It is anticipated that
upon completion of this project, District staff will continue to work with the Water Board to
consolidate the two water systems. The consolidation will increase operational
efficiencies for District staff, some examples would be:
• One Consumer Confidence Report;
• One Electronic Annual Report; and
• One Water Loss Audit.
This project was identified in the current Water System Master Plan and the current Water
Department Capital Improvement Plan. This project does not involve maintenance or
replacement of existing facilities therefore a CEQA (California Environmental Quality Act)
review is necessary.
In August 2022, an RFP to select a consultant to perform the CEQA review was issued.
Three proposals were received in response to the RFP. After review of the proposals, a
contract to perform the CEQA review was awarded to Inland Ecosystems at the October
5, 2022 Board of Directors meeting.
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Inland Ecosystems has completed the environmental review and determined that a
mitigated negative declaration was appropriate. The CEQA Initial Study/Mitigated
Negative Declaration (IS/MND) was made public on March 20, 2023 and the public
comment period closed on May 1 , 2023.
During the Regular Board Meeting on April 5, 2023, the Board of Directors scheduled the
Public Hearing for this CEQA to take place at the Regular Board Meeting on May 3, 2023.
If the Board of Directors chooses to accept the CEQA Initial Study/Mitigated Negative
Declaration for the Hirschdale Pipeline Project, the anticipated project schedule is listed
below:
• May 3 — Conduct Public hearing to receive comment on Initial Study/MND
• May 3 —Adoption of Initial Study/MND
• May 25 — Bid opening for pipeline construction contract
• June 7 —Award contract for pipeline construction contract
• Late September 2023 — Complete construction
As of April 25, 2023 the District has not received any comments on the CEQA Initial
Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration.
Goals and Objectives:
This item is in support of the following goals and objectives:
District Code1.05.020 Objectives:
1. Responsibly serve the public.
3. Provide reliable and high quality water supply and distribution system to meet current
and future needs
5. Manage the District in an environmentally sound manner
6. Manage the District in an effective, efficient and fiscally responsible manner.
Strategic Goals:
1. Manage for Financial Stability and Resiliency
FISCAL IMPACT:
The filing fee for the completed IS/MND is $2,598. The cost is planned to be charged to
the project. If the project is not approved, the cost will be expensed. Sufficient funds exist
in the Water Department General Fund to cover this cost if expensed. If the project
proceeds, there are sufficient capital funds (COP debt project proceeds) for this planned
project.
Attachments:
Attachment 1- Draft Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration for the Hirschdale
Pipeline Project
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