CITY OF FRESNO
CATEGORICAL & STATUTORY EXEMPTION
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT
THE PROJECT DESCRIBED HEREIN IS DETERMINED TO BE CATEGORICALLY
EXEMPT FROM THE PREPARATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL DOCUMENTS
PURSUANT TO ARTICLE 19 OF THE STATE CEQA GUIDELINES.
CONTACT: Debbie Khounsavath, Planner II
City of Fresno – Department of Public Utilities
1626 E Street
Fresno, CA 93706
Phone: 559-621-1624
Email: [email protected]
PROJECT TITLE: Orange and Central Avenue Homes Community Sewer Consolidation Project
PROJECT LOCATIONS: E. Central Avenue, from S. Orange Ave nue to S. Cedar Avenue.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The Orange and Central Community (Community) is connecting to the City of Fresno’s existing sewer
collection system. The Project entails the e xtension of approximately 2,480 feet of an 8-inch sewer line along E.
Central Avenue, between S. Orange Avenue and S.
Cedar Avenue, connecting to an existing stub-out off the sewer main within Orange Avenue. The extension would
include laterals to serve th e adjacent properties.
Additionally, the project involves the c onnection of
residences along the proposed E. Central Avenue
section, which includes (1) proper abandonment of the
existing septic system by pumping out sewage, filling in the septic system wit
h sand or another approved fill
material, then (2) rerouting resident plumbing to the
street to connect to the sewer main in the right -of-way, as well as the connection of residences along the existing 30-in sewer main in Orange Avenue, between Central
Avenue and 500 feet south of Central Avenue , which
includes (1) construction of a sewer lateral in the right-of- way if one doesn’t exist already, (2) proper abandonment of the existing septic system by pumping out sewage,
filling in the septic system with sand or another approved fill material, then (3) rerouting resident plumbing to the street to connect to the sewer main in the right -of-way.
Once these connections are established, the City will
provide twelve single family homes with sewer service,
pursuant to extraterritorial service agreements that will be executed with each property owner.
The Project is exempt under Section 15301/Class 1 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines.
Under Section 15301/Class 1, projects are exempt from CEQA requirements when they consist 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. This exemption includes work on existing facilities of both investor and publicly owned utilities used to provide electric power, natural gas, sewerage, or other public utility services.
The C ommunity covers approximately 6 acres, consisting of 12 single family homes.
Residents of the Community are presently relying upon individual septic systems and leach fields. Maintain ing individual septic systems is more costly per capita than connection to a regional sewer collection system. Due to the higher per capita cost to maintain and their current age and condition, the Community is desirous to connect to the City’s sewer collect ion system. Connection to a regional sewer collection system also reduces the chances a leaking septic system may contaminate groundwater and nearby wells.
The Project will connect the Community to the City’s sewer system so that the City can provide sewer service to the twelve single family homes within the Community. Once the connection is complete, the City will provide service pursuant to extraterritorial agreements executed with each of the individual property owners.
Connection of the Community to the City’s sewer system will be accomplished through the extension of approximately 2,480 feet of an 8-inch sewer line along E. Central Avenue, between S. Orange Avenue and S. Cedar Avenue, connecting to an existing stub-out off the sewer main within Orange Avenue. The extension will include the addition of laterals to serve the adjacent properties. The addition of 2,840 feet of 8- inch sewer line is negligible expansion of the City’s overall sewer collection system which consists of 8,617,568 linear feet of sewer mains.
Further, the connection of the 12 single family residences will also include:
1. Along the proposed E. Central Avenue section:
a. The proper abandonment of the existing septic system by pumping out sewage, filling in the septic system with sand or another approved fill material.
b. Rerouting resident plumbing to the street to connect to the sewer main in the right-of-way.
2. Along the existing 30 -in sewer main in Orange Avenue, between Central Avenue and 500 feet south of Central Avenue:
a. Construction of a sewer lateral in the right -of-way if one doesn’t exist already.
b. The proper abandonment of the existing septic system by pumping out sewage, filling in the septic system with sand or another approved fill material.
c. Rerouting resident plumbing to the street to connect to the sewer main in the right-of-way.
Once the twelve single family homes are connected to the City’s sewer system, their connection will not increase the capacity of the overall City of Fresno sewer system and therefore constitutes a negligible expansion of use. The maximum increase of flow to the City collection system from these twelve homes would be approximately 0.0005 percent of the current total collection system flow, and the system is capable of accommodating this negligible increase without any modifications. No modifications will be made downstream of the Project to increase capacit y (i.e. through the replacement of sewer mains with larger diameter sewer mains).
The streets disturbed by the construction of the sewer main in Central Avenue and the laterals in Orange Avenue needed to serve existing properties are existing facilities and would be restored in kind to their current conditions. Further, the construction would not disturb previously undisturbed land. The existing properties would need proper abandonment of existing septic systems, and minor exterior alterations in plumbing, which would redirect their onsite sewer plumbing to the sewer laterals in the exis ting street.
Thus, the entirety of the Project is exempt under Section 15301/Class 1 of the California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines.
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 work is located within existing rights-
of-way or the front of existing residences to connect
existing sewer plumbing to the City sewer system.
(b) Cumulative Impact The Project will not have a cumulative negative impact over time that is significant. Instead, the
Project will reduce environmental impacts by
reducing the likelihood of leakage from a septic tank
into the nearby environment.
(c) Significant Effect The Project will not have a significant effect on the environment due to unusual circumstances. All work
is considered routine for installation of sewer mains
and sewer laterals, house connections to sewer
systems, proper abandonment of septic tanks, and
restoration of roadway following construction.
(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 streets and properties involved are not
considered historical resources.
Furthermore, the proposed P roject is not expected to have a significant effect on the environment. Accordingly, a categorical exemption and statutory exemption, as noted above, has been prepared for the Project.
Date: February 12, 2025
Prepared by: Debbie Khounsavath