CITY OF FRESNO
CATEGORICAL EXEMPTION
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT
THE PROJECT DESCRIBED HEREIN IS DETEMINED TO BE CATEGORICALLY
EXEMPT FROM THE PREPARATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL DOCUMENTS
PURSUANT TO ARTICLE 19 OF THE STATE CEQA GUIDELINES.
CONTACT: Peter Maraccini, PE, PhD
City of Fresno – Department of Public Utilities
1626 E Street
Fresno, CA 93706
Phone: 559-621-1603
Email: [email protected]
PROJECT TITLE: Water Connection to Serve Three Palms Mobile Home Park
PROJECT LOCATIONS: 1941 N Golden State Blvd
Fresno, CA 93705
PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The Project entails the establishment of a service connection (installation of a house branch) between an
existing City water main which is located in the right-of- way and adjacent to the Three Palms Mobile Home Park
(Three Palms) , minor onsite plumbing between Three
Palms existing distribution system and the new house
branch to connect the community to the C ity water
system, and destruction of an exist ing residential well located within Three Palms.
The Project is exempt under Section 15301 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines.
Class 1 consists of the operation, repair, maintenance, permitting, leasing, licensing, or minor alteration of existing public or private structures, facilities, mechanical equipment, or topographical features, involving negligible or no expansion of existing or former use.
The key consideration is whether the project involves negligible or no expansion of use.
The Project involves the consolidation of the Three Palms Mobile Home Park’s water system with the City of Fresno’s water system. This consolidation will be accomplished through minor alterations to the Three Palms Mobile Home Parks exist ing water distribution system and the City of Fresno’s existing infrastructure.
The City of Fresno w ill construct an approximately 100 ft long house branch across an existing and developed roadway to connect an existing City water main to the property line of the Three Palms Mobile Home Park. This work will occur within the existing right- of-way and represents the originally intended use of the existing water main which is to provide water service to all adjacent properties. When installed, t he existing water main was sized to serve all adjacent properties. The addition of a house branch connecting the Three Palms Mobile Home Park to this main represents a negligible expansion of use.
In addition to constructing the house branch, the City will fund minor onsite plumbing, to be performed by the property owner’s contractor, to establish a connection between the existing distribution system and the newly installed house branch. It is estimated that the length of connection needed will be approximat ely 100 ft, however the exact length will be determined by the plumber during installation. As the existing onsite distribution system extends over 2,000 linear ft, the additional length to connect the existing onsite distribution system to the existing City distribution system would be minimal. No additional onsite plumbing will be required. Following connection, users at the Three Palms Mobile Home Park will become City customers and there will be no increase in water use by Three Palms Mobile Home Park. With over 500,000 water users, the additional 300 water users would represent a negligible expansion of use of the City of Fresno’s water system.
Lastly, the City will also fund destruction of the onsite well to complete connection to the City’s water system. T he property owners will first perform a video inspection of the existing well and remove any debris seen in the well. Once cleared, the property owners will have a contractor pour concrete into the well from bottom to top to effectively seal the well. The filling of the existing well represents a physical change that will not extend beyond the existing facility (i.e. well casing). Finally, the well destruction represents no expansion in use of the well as it is necessary for the consolidation of the Three Homes Mobile Home Park water system.
None of the exceptions to Categorical Exemptions set forth in the CEQA Guidelines, Section 15300.2, apply:
(a) Location The Project is not located in a sensitive environment or an environmental resource of hazardous or critical
concern as designated by federal, state, or local
agencies.
(b) Cumulative Impact The Project will not have a cumulative negative impact over time that is significant. Connection to the City water system is a routine practice.
(c) Significant Effect The Project will not have a significant effect on the environment due to unusual circumstances.
Connection to the City water system is a routine
practice. Well destruction will prevent any potential
negative impact of poor -quality surface water
draining into the well and entering the groundwater
aquifer.
(d) Scenic Highways The Project will not result in damage to scenic resources, including but not limited to, trees, historic buildings, rock outcroppings, or similar resources,
within a highway officially designated as a state
scenic highway. The Project is not located near
scenic highways.
(e) Hazardous Waste Sites The Project is not located on a hazardous waste site which is included on any list compiled pursuant to
Section 65962.5 of the Government Code.
(f) Historical Resources The Project will not cause a substantial adverse change in the significance of a historical resource.
The Project is not located near historical resources.
As such, a Categorical Exemption has been prepared for the Project.
Date: May 12, 2023
Prepared by: Peter Maraccini, PE, PhD