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: Patricia Diep, Project Manager
City of Fresno – Capital Projects Department
747 R Street, 2nd Floor
Fresno, CA 93721
Phone: 559-621-8836
Email: Patricia.Diep
@Fresno.gov
PROJECT TITLE: Upgrade Reclamation Well Power Poles 15KV Line Separation
PROJECT LOCATION: Regional Wastewater Reclamation Facility (RWRF) 5607 W. Jensen Ave.
Fresno, CA 93706
PROJECT DESCRIPTION: To upgrade the existing reclamation power lines in the ponding area near the RWRF to provide space to protect
raptors by bringing the power lines into compliance with the requirements of Pacifi c Gas and Electric (PG&E).
This work includes installing 8-foot wood cross arms on 115 power poles to separate t he power conductors that
replicate PG&E avian protection standards.
The Project is exempt under Sections 15301/Class 1 and 15302/ Class 2 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines.
Under Section 15301/Class 1 for Existing Facilities, projects are exempt from CEQA when they consist of the operation, repair, maintenance, permitting, leasing, licensing, or minor alteration of existing public or private structures, facilit ies, 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.
Examples include but are not limited to existi ng facilities of both investor and publicly owned utilities used to provide electric power, natural gas, sewerage, or other public utility services.
Under Section 15302/Class 2 for Replacement or Reconstruction, projects are exempt from CEQA when they consist of replacement or reconstruction of existing structures and facilities where the new structure will be located on the same site as the structure replaced and will have substantially the same purpose and capacity as the structure replaced, including, but not limited to replacement or reconstruction of existing utility systems and/or facilities involving negligible or no expansion of capacity.
The project described herein represents the recommended upgrade of the existing reclamation well power poles 15KV line separation at the RWRF . The project will not expand the use of the existing facility, nor will it relocate any existing facilities or structures. Additionally, the project only seeks to replace parts of existing structures. The new parts will be located on the same site and will serve the same purpose and capacity as the parts being replaced. The project consis ts of all minor alterations required for the existing reclamation well power poles at the RWRF. This includes crossarm assembly of 8-foot wood cross arms on 115 power poles, insulation of the wires, modifying the conductor to separate the wires for safety purposes, and increasing vertical and horizontal spacing of the exiting 15KV power lines in the ponding ar ea. These changes will bring the spacing into compliance with PG&E avi an protection standards and will protect the RWRF power distribution system.
As such, the replacement and upgrade work of the existing reclamation well power poles 15 KV line separation at the RWRF is ex empt under Sections 15301/Class 1 and 15302/Class 2 of the CEQA Guidelines.
None of the exceptions to Categorical Exemptions set forth in the CEQA Guidelines, Section 15300.2, apply:
(a) Location Classes 3, 4, 5, 6, and 11 are qualified by consideration of where the project is to be located –
a project that is ordinarily insignificant in its impact on the environment may in a particularly sensitive
environment be significant. Therefore, these classes
are considered to apply all instances, except where
the project may impact on an environmental resource
of hazardous or critical concern where designated,
precisely mapped, and officially adopted pursuant to
law by federal, state, or local agencies. None of the
applicable classes apply to this project, thus this
exception to the exemptions does not apply to this
pro
ject.
(b) Cumulative Impact The Project will not have a cumulative negative impact over time that is significant from successive
projects of the same type in the same place. The
Project merely entails replacement work at an
existin
g facility.
(c) Significant Effect The Project will not have a significant effect on the environment due to unusual circumstances. All work
will be limited to repairin
g and replacing components
of existing facility at the RWRF. There are no unusual
circumstances present for this project.
(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 official ly designated as a state
scenic highway. The Project is not located near
scenic hi
ghways.
(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 existing facilities at the RWRF are not
considered historical resources.
Furthermore, the proposed proj ect is not expected to have a significant effect on the environment. Accordingly, a categorical exemption, as noted above, has been prepared for the project.
Date: April 10, 2024
Prepared by: Patricia Diep