CITY OF FRESNO
CATEGORICAL EXEMPTION & 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 Avenues Water Consolidation Project
PROJECT LOCATIONS: E. Central Avenue, 0.5 miles, from S. Orange Avenue to S. Cedar Avenue.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The Orange and Central Community (Community) is consolidating with City of Fresno’s existing public water system. The Project entails the installation of
approximately 400 feet of 16-inch water main along the
front of existing residences on S. Orange Avenue and
2,600 feet of 8-inch water main within the Public Utilities Easement along E. Central Avenue . Additionally, the
project involves the installation of approximately 12 1- inch water meters and connections, six fire hydrants, and the destruction and abandonment of up to 12 private
wells. Once this work is complete, the City will connect twelve single family homes with the Cit y’s water system and will provide water service to these properties ,
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 Community covers approximately 6 acres, consisting of 12 single family homes, each of which are supplied water through a private well. Currently, there is no community water system. However, the Community is consolidating with City of Fresno’s water system.
The Project will connect the Community to the City’s water system so that the City can provide water service to the twelve single family homes within the Community. Once t he 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 water system will be accomplished through the installation of approximately:
1. 2,600 feet of 8-inch water main along E. Central Avenue
2. 400 feet of 16-inch water main along S. Orange Avenue
3. 12 1-inch water meters and connections
4. Six (6) fire hydrants
These new pipelines will connect to the City’s existing water system infrastructure, which includes a 16-inch water main at the intersection of Orange Avenue and Central Avenue and a 14-inch water main along Cedar Avenue, south of Central Avenue. The addition of 3,000 feet of new water mains is a minor alteration to the City’s water system which consists of 10,127,023 linear feet of water mains which will result in a negligible expansion of use. Additionally, the installation of the water meters and fire hydrants is a minor alteration to the infrastructure that does not significantly expand the system’s capacity.
The demand for water from the Community is entirely from the 12 single family residential homes, and the installation of new pipelines does not significantly increase the Community’s demand or expand the service area of the water system. The P roject is to serve the existing 12 homes, and the demand for water from those 12 existing homes remains the same. The capacity of the existing water system is enough to meet this demand.
The Project also involves the d estruction and abandonment of up to twelve (12) private wells. The private wells are part of the existing infrastructure in the C ommunity. Their destruction and abandonment are necessary as the C ommunity transitions from private wells to the public water system. The removal of the wells constitutes a minor alteration to existing water supply infrastructure. Furthermore, the process of abandoning the wells will follow established regulatory procedures to ensure environmental safety, with no anticipated significant environmental impacts. Since the wells are part of the existing infrastructure, their abandonment is not expected to trigger new environmental concerns.
Lastly, while the project will disturb existing streets for the installation of the water mains along Orange Avenue and within a Public Utilities Easement along Central Avenue, these areas will be restored to their original condition once construction is complete. There will be no disturbance of previously undisturbed land. The work is being conducted within existing facilities and will not lead to significant environmental changes or to an expansion of any existing use.
Thus, the entirety of the project qualifies for an exemption under Section 15301/Class 1 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) 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 Public
Utilities Easement or the front of existing residences
to connect existing water system , and within an
existing residential community.
(b) Cumulative Impact The Project will not have a cumulative negative impact over time that is significant. The proposed
installation of water infrastructure in the Orange &
Central Community involves minor alterations to the
existing public water system, and the project’s scope
does not include any large-
scale expansions or
significant new development that could, in
combination with other projects, create substantial
environmental eff ects. The water infrastructure will
serve only the 12 homes currently in the community,
with no
substantial increase in capacity or demand
that could affect the broader water system or
environmental conditions.
Additionally, the project will involve only the
restoration of previously disturbed areas, with no
impacts on undeveloped land or sensitive habitats.
The abandonment of private wells is a minor
modification of existing conditions, and there are no
other fo
reseeable projects in the immediate vicinity
that would combine with this project to create
significant cumulative impacts; therefore, there is no
potential for significant cumulative environmental
impacts when the project is considered in the context
of other past, present, and future developments.
(c) Significant Effect The Project will not have a significant effect on the environment due to unusual circumstances. The
work involves routine activities associated with the
installation of water mains and connections to the
existing water system, proper abandonment of
private wells, and the restoration of previously
disturbed areas following construction. There are no
unusual circumstances that would result in significant
environmental effects. The scope of the project does
not introduce any factors or activities that would
significantly impact the environment. The installation
of water infrastructure, abandonment of wells will not
result in significant adverse effects. The
project is
located within an existing residential community, and
the work will not affect sensitive areas or lead to any substantial changes in the environment. Additionally,
the scope of the project does not involve significant
expansions, new development, or modifications that
could cause environmental concerns.
(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: January 17, 2025
Prepared by: Debbie Khounsavath