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: Robert A. Diaz
City of Fresno – Capital Projects Department
747 R Street, 2nd Floor
Fresno, CA 93721
Phone: 559-621-8837
Email: [email protected]
PROJECT TITLE: Downtown Redevelopment Grant Water & Sewer Improvements
PROJECT LOCATIONS: Area Bound by Tuolumne Street, Hwy 99, Hwy 41, and M Street in the City of Fresno, California
PROJECT DESCRIPTION: Replacement of approximately 14,315 linear feet of potable water mains and 5,576 linear feet of sanitary
sewer mains, including trenching, excavation, removal of existing water and sewer facilities and replacement in- kind, water and sewer service transfers, pavement
restoration, repair and reconstruction of existing
improvements affected by the Work, and incidentals for
complete construction. Additionally, the work includes
the rehabilitation of the existing sewer facilities and manhole rehabilitation. Work represents necessary
improvements to bring water and sewer facilities to
current standards and would entail no or negligible
increase in capacity or use.
The Project is exempt under Section 15301(b)/Class 1 and 15302(c)/Class 2 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines.
Class 1 exemptions, for projects pertaining to Existing Facilities, consist of the operation, repair, maintenance, permitting, leasing, licensing, or minor alteration of existing public or private structures, facilities, mechanical equipment, or topographi cal features, involving negligible or no expansion of use beyond that existing at the time of the lead agency’s determination. Examples include e xisting facilities of publicly owned utilities used to provide sewage or other public utility services; existi ng streets, sidewalks, gutters, a nd similar facilities (this includes road grading for the purpose of public safety); and rehabilitation of existing facilities to meet current standards of public health and safety.
Class 2 exemptions, projects pertaining to Replacement or Reconstruction, 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. Examples include replacement or reconstruction of existing utility systems and/or facilities involving negligible or no expansion of capacity.
The Project described herein represents the recommended replacement or rehabilitation of existing water and sewer mains and associated facilities. The specific work tasks are as follows:
• Removal and replacement of 14,315 linear feet (LF) of 12-inch and 16-inch ductile iron pipe water main.
• Removal and replacement of 18 fire hydrants.
• Removal and replacement of 5,576 LF of 6-inch, 8-inch, 10-inch, 12-inch, 18-inch, and 24-inch polyvinylchloride (PVC) sewer main.
• Installation of cast-in-place-pipe lining to 2,839 LF of existing sewer main, which involves inserting a flexible liner inside the existing sewer main, inflating the liner, and exposing it to heat or ultraviolet light to dry and harden inside the pipe. • Removal and replacement of 18 48-inch sewer access structures (i.e. manholes). • Rehabilitation of 12 48-inch sewer access structures (i.e. manholes), primarily through structural repairs and recoating to protect the surfaces from the corrosive environment.
• Transfer of water and sewer services to connect existing customers to the newly installed or rehabilitated pipelines.
• Pavement restoration as needed.
The entirety of the scope of work is (1) replacement or rehabilitation of existing water mains, sewer mains, or associated facilities and (2) minor extensions of water mains to ensure the water system is looped, thereby allowing two points of water access to any one point as recommended by industry standards.
The Project entails the recommended replacement and rehabilitation of existing water and sewer infrastructure involving negligible or no expansion of capacity in order to meet public health and safety. Therefore, the Project is exempt from the requirements of CEQA under CEQA Guidelines Sections 15301/Class 1 and 15302/Class 2 .
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. The project is located entirely within the
existing City of Fresno Right-of-Way.
(b) Cumulative Impact The Project will not have a cumulative negative impact over time that is significant. Sewer
rehabilitations can reduce the likelihood of an
unintentional sewer discharge into the environment .
Water replacements will reduce the risk of flooding
neighboring basements, roadways or backyards
from water main or water service failures.
(c) Significant Effect The Project will not have a significant effect on the environment due to unusual circumstances. The
water and sewer main replacements and
rehabilitations are routine maintenance necessary to
extend the life of the conveyance system.
(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 limited to rehabilitation of existing
sewer mains and access structures , which are not
historical resources.
Furthermore, the proposed project 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: February 27, 2024
Prepared by: Robert A. Diaz