4.14-1 This Chapter Describes Potential
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4.14 UTILITIES AND SERVICE SYSTEMS This chapter describes potential impacts from the proposed Project on utili- ties and services including sanitary wastewater, water supply, stormwater drainage, solid waste, and energy conservation. The following service provid- ers serve the Project site and surrounding area: Central Contra Costa Sani- tary District (wastewater), East Bay Municipal Utilities District (water), Cen- tral Contra Costa Solid Waste Authority (solid waste), and the Pacific Gas and Electric Company (electric and natural gas). Correspondence and infor- mation provided from these service providers are included in Appendix L of this Draft EIR. A. Wastewater The Central Contra Costa Sanitary District (CCCSD) provides wastewater collection and treatment service for the Project site. This section describes the existing conditions and potential impacts of the Project with regard to wastewater collection and treatment facilities. 1. Regulatory Framework a. Federal Regulations i. Clean Water Act The Federal Water Pollution Control Act of 1972, more commonly known as the Clean Water Act (CWA), regulates the discharge of pollutants into wa- tersheds throughout the nation. Under the CWA, the United States Envi- ronmental Protection Agency (EPA) implements pollution control programs and sets wastewater standards. ii. National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit pro- gram was established in the Clean Water Act to regulate municipal and indus- trial discharges to surface waters of the United States. Federal NPDES permit regulations have been established for broad categories of discharges, including point-source municipal waste discharges and nonpoint-source stormwater runoff. NPDES permits generally identify effluent and receiving water limits on allowable concentrations and/or mass emissions of pollutants contained in 4.14-1 CITY OF LAFAYETTE THE TERRACES OF LAFAYETTE EIR UTILITIES AND SERVICE SYSTEMS the discharge; prohibitions on discharges not specifically allowed under the permit; and provisions that describe required actions by the discharger, in- cluding industrial pretreatment, pollution prevention, self-monitoring, and other activities. Wastewater discharge is regulated under the NPDES permit program for di- rect discharges into receiving waters and by the National Pretreatment Pro- gram for indirect discharges to a sewage treatment plant. b. State Regulations and Agencies Wastewater treatment and planning is regulated at the State level. Specific regulations relevant to the proposed Project are described below. i. San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board The San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB) is the local division of the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB). The SWRCB is a State department that provides a definitive program of ac- tions designed to preserve and enhance water quality and to protect beneficial uses of water in California. The San Francisco Bay RWQCB issues NPDES permits in Lafayette. NPDES permits allow the RWQCB to collect infor- mation on where the waste is disposed, what type of waste is being disposed, and what entity is depositing the wastes. The RWQCB is also charged with conducting inspections of permitted discharges and monitoring permit com- pliance. ii. Sanitary District Act of 1923 The Sanitary District Act of 1923 (Health and Safety Code Section 6400 et seq.) authorizes the formation of sanitation districts and enforces the Districts to construct, operate, and maintain facilities for the collection, treatment, and disposal of wastewater.1 The Act was amended in 1949 to allow the Districts to also provide solid waste management and disposal services, including refuse transfer and resource recovery. 1 California Health and Safety Code, http://leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/ calawquery?codesection=hsc, accessed on November 18, 2011. 4.14-2 CITY OF LAFAYETTE THE TERRACES OF LAFAYETTE EIR UTILITIES AND SERVICE SYSTEMS c. Local Regulations i. Central Contra Costa Sanitary District The CCCSD, established in 1946, collects and treats the wastewater of 462,000 residents and more than 5,000 businesses in 11 cities in central Contra Costa County, including the City of Lafayette.2 a) Standard Specifications for Design and Construction The CCCSD established and enforces the Standard Specifications for Design and Construction (Specifications), pursuant to Division 6, Part 1, of the Health and Safety Code of the state of California. The Specifications govern sewer design and construction work by private individuals, public agencies and businesses within the boundaries of the CCCSD. The Specifications re- quire all Plans, profiles, cut sheets, right-of-way documents, and specifications to conform to the established standards and requirements.3 b) Capacity Fee Program The purpose of the Capacity Fee Program is to equalize the investment in District assets among current and new users, thus ensuring that new users pay their fair share for facilities capacity and services. On May 5, 2011, the CCCSD adopted the revised schedule of capacity fees, rates, and charges in accordance with District Code Chapter 6.12. The capacity fees are included in sewer connection fees, which are required when building plumbing facili- ties are connected to the CCCSD public sewer system. The type of user (i.e. residential or commercial) determines the fees required to pay when connect- ing to the public sewer system.4 2 Central Contra Costa Sanitary District, http://www.centralsan.org /index.cfm?navId=63, accessed on November 18, 2011. 3 Central Contra Costa Sanitary District, 2011. Standard Specifications for De- sign and Construction 2011 edition. 4 Central Contra Costa Sanitary District, May, 2011. Ordinance No. 265, http://www.centralsan.org/documents/Ord_265.pdf, accessed on November 28, 2011. 4.14-3 CITY OF LAFAYETTE THE TERRACES OF LAFAYETTE EIR UTILITIES AND SERVICE SYSTEMS ii. City of Lafayette General Plan Goals and policies from the Lafayette General Plan that are relevant to wastewater are included in Table 4.14-1. 2. Existing Conditions The CCCSD is responsible for wastewater collection, treatment, and disposal for the City of Lafayette. a. Wastewater (Sewer) Collection The CCCSD maintains the sewer system in Lafayette, including the infra- structure in the vicinity of the Project site. An 8-inch diameter public main sewer is located along the easternmost 260 feet of the site’s Deer Hill Road frontage, and a 6-inch diameter public main sewer is located along the north- ernmost 292 feet of the site’s Pleasant Hill Road frontage. The CCCSD has projected wastewater flows for future development in Lafa- yette and has identified facility improvements required to maintain service at or above the required level in its Collection System and Treatment Master Plans.5 According to the CCCSD Collection System Master Plan, which was updated in 2010, one of these areas is the Lafayette - Pleasant Hill Road (Cor- ridor D4-B), located adjacent to the Project site on Pleasant Hill Road be- tween Springhill Road and Stanley Boulevard.6 All areas identified as in need of improvement were ranked from one to four in order of priority based on the length of deficient pipe and length of pipe where flows would exceed 130 percent of full capacity.7 Priority 1 largely represents areas that are deficient in the near term (e.g. 2010). D4-B is a Priority 1 area and is recommended for 5 City of Lafayette, July, 2002, Lafayette General Plan Revision, Draft Environ- mental Impact Report. 6 Central Contra Costa County Sanitary District, May 2010, Collection System Master Plan Update Final Report, Figure 5-8. 7 Central Contra Costa County Sanitary District, May 2010, Collection System Master Plan Update Final Report, Figure ES-4. 4.14-4 CITY OF LAFAYETTE THE TERRACES OF LAFAYETTE EIR UTILITIES AND SERVICE SYSTEMS TABLE 4.14-1 GENERAL PLAN GOALS AND POLICIES RELEVANT TO WASTEWATER Goal/Policy Number Goal/Policy Content Coordinate with other jurisdictions to protect and restore environmen- Goal LU-18 tal resources and to provide public services. Coordination of Public Services: Coordinate water supply, flood Policy control, wastewater, and solid waste disposal, soil conservation, and LU-18.2 open space preservation with other jurisdictions to create the great- est public benefit and the least degree of environmental impact. Match the demand for public facilities and infrastructure generated by Goal LU-20 new development with the capacity of existing facilities, capital im- provement programs, and development mitigation programs. Sewage Treatment and Disposal: Coordinate planning with the Central Contra Costa Sanitary District for the continued availabil- ity of adequate sewage collection, treatment, and disposal facilities Policy LU-20.6 to meet the needs of future development. The standard for review shall be the capability to transport and treat residential and non- residential waste, as indicated by the Central Contra Costa Sanitary District. Source: Lafayette General Plan, 2002, available at http://www.ci.lafayette.ca.us, accessed on October 5, 2011. improvements such as the addition of 4,829 feet in new pipe length and use of 15 to 18-inch diameter pipe.8 Improvements are prioritized and scheduled annually in the CCCSD’s Capi- tal Improvement Budget and Ten-Year Capital Improvement Plan. Funding for maintenance and upgrade of existing facilities comes from property taxes and a portion of the CCCSD’s annual Sewer Service Charge.