NOTICE OF EXEMPTION PLEASE POST FOR 30 DAYS
FROM: City of Fresno Department of Public Utilities—Utilities Engineering & Planning 1626 E. Street
Fresno, California 93721-3604
TO: X Fresno County Clerk
2220 Tulare Street – First Floor Lobby
Fresno, California 93721
Office of Planning & Research
P.O. Box 3044, Room 212
Sacramento, California 95812-3044
Project Title: Orange & Central Ave Homes Community Sewer Consolidation Project Project Location: E. Central Avenue, from S. Orange Avenue to S. Cedar Avenue
Project Location – city: City of Fresno Project Location- county: County of Fresno
Description of Nature, Purpose and Beneficiaries of Project:
The Orange and Central Community (Community) is connecting to the City of Fresno’s existing sewer collection system. The Project entails 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 would include laterals to serve the adjacent properties. Additionally, the project involves the connection 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 with 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.
Beneficiaries of the project would be: City of Fresno Department of Public Utilities
1626 E. Street
Fresno, CA 93706
Name of Public Agency Approving Project: City of Fresno Name of Person or Agency Carrying Out Project: City of Fresno Department of Public Utilities
1626 E. Street
Fresno, CA 93706
Exempt Status: (check one)
Ministerial - PRC § 21080(b)(1); CEQA Guidelines §15268 Declared Emergency - PRC § 21080(b)(3); CEQA Guidelines §15269(a) Emergency Project - PRC § 21080(b)(4); CEQA Guidelines §15269(b) and (c) Categorical Exemption CEQA Guidelines §15301/Class 1
Statutory Exemption – PRC §___________________
Other _____________________
Reasons why project is exempt:
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 Community covers approximately 6 acres, consisting of 12 single family homes. Residents of the Community are presently relying upon individual septic systems and leach fields. Maintaining 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 collection 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. C onstruction 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. R erouting 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. T he 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 capacity (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 existing street. Thus, the entirety of the Project is exempt under Section 15301/Class 1 of the California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines.
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Lead Agency Contact Person: Debbie Khounsavath Full telephone no. (559) 621-1624
Signature: _____________________________________ Date: ______________________
Printed Name and Title: Debbie Khounsavath, Planner II
Department of Public Utilities—Utlities Engineering & Planning Signed by Lead Agency Signed by applicant
If filed/signed by applicant:
Attach certified document of exemption finding (check if attached)