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City of Avenal Water Transmission Pipeline Replacement Project Draft Initial Study / Mitigated Negative Declaration City of Avenal Water Transmission Pipeline Replacement Project PREPARED FOR: City of Avenal 919 Skyline Blvd. Avenal, CA 93204 March 2018 NOTICE OF PUBLIC REVIEW AND NOTICE OF INTENT TO ADOPT A MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION The City of Avenal proposes to adopt a Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND) pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act of (Section 15000 et seq., Title 14, California Code of Regulations) (CEQA) for the Water Transmission Pipeline Replacement Project (project). The City of Avenal proposes to install a new 18- inch water transmission line to the east of State Route (SR) 269 between Interstate 5 and an existing water tank at Skyline Road. The new pipeline would replace an existing water transmission line of the same size that is located along the same alignment. The existing pipeline was installed in 1986 and require constant maintenance and repairs. The 30-day period for public review and comment on the proposed MND begins March 14, 2018. All comments must be submitted by April 13, 2018. Please address comments on the proposed MND as follows: City of Avenal Attn: Fernando Santillan 919 Skyline Blvd. Avenal, CA 93204 Or email: [email protected] A copy of the proposed MND and supporting documents can be reviewed at the City’s Community Development Department office at the above address. For further information regarding the proposed MND and the City’s schedule to consider adoption of the document, please contact Fernando Santillan at (559) 386-5782. City of Avenal Water Transmission Pipeline Replacement Project Draft Initial Study / Mitigated Negative Declaration PREPARED FOR: City of Avenal 919 Skyline Blvd. Avenal, CA 93204 Contact: Fernando Santillan [email protected] PREPARED BY: Ascent Environmental, Inc. 455 Capitol Mall, Suite 300 Sacramento, California 95814 916.444.7301 Contact: Chris Mundhenk [email protected] March 2018 TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................... 1-1 Introduction and Regulatory Guidance ...................................................................................... 1-1 Document Organization .............................................................................................................. 1-2 PROJECT DESCRIPTION ....................................................................................................................... 2-1 Project Location ........................................................................................................................... 2-1 Background .................................................................................................................................. 2-1 Project Purpose and Objectives .................................................................................................. 2-1 PROJECT COMPONENTS ............................................................................................................. 2-4 Potential Permits and Approvals Required ................................................................................ 2-4 ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST ............................................................................................................. 3-1 Aesthetics..................................................................................................................................... 3-4 Agriculture and Forest Resources .............................................................................................. 3-6 Air Quality ..................................................................................................................................... 3-9 Biological Resources ................................................................................................................. 3-12 Cultural Resources .................................................................................................................... 3-25 Geology and Soils ...................................................................................................................... 3-28 Greenhouse Gas Emissions ...................................................................................................... 3-31 Hazards and Hazardous Materials ........................................................................................... 3-33 Hydrology and Water Quality ..................................................................................................... 3-36 Land Use and Planning ............................................................................................................. 3-39 Mineral Resources .................................................................................................................... 3-40 Noise .......................................................................................................................................... 3-41 Population and Housing ............................................................................................................ 3-43 Public Services........................................................................................................................... 3-45 Recreation .................................................................................................................................. 3-47 Transportation/Traffic ............................................................................................................... 3-48 Utilities and Service Systems .................................................................................................... 3-51 Mandatory Findings of Significance ......................................................................................... 3-53 REFERENCES ...................................................................................................................................... 4-1 Appendices (included in a CD on back cover) A Air Quality Modeling Results B Biological Resources Technical Report Exhibits Exhibit 2-1 Project Vicinity ............................................................................................................................. 2-2 Exhibit 2-2 Project Site ................................................................................................................................... 2-3 Table Table 3.3-1 Estimated Construction Emissions........................................................................................... 3-10 Table 3.4-1 Normal Blooming Period for Special-Status Plants with Potential to Occur on the Project Site ................................................................................................................................. 3-15 City of Avenal Water Transmission Pipeline Replacement Project i Acronyms and Abbreviations Ascent Environmental ACRONYMS/ABBREVIATIONS APE area of potential effect BMPs best management practices CalEMA California Emergency Management Agency CBC California Building Code CDFW California Department of Fish and Wildlife CEQA California Environmental Quality Act CO carbon monoxide CO2 carbon dioxide CWA Clean Water Act EIR environmental impact report ESA Federal Endangered Species Act FEMA Federal Emergency Management Agency GHGs greenhouse gases IS/MND Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration MLD Most Likely Descendent MND Mitigated Negative Declaration MTCO2e metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalents NAHC Native American Heritage Commission NIC Natural Investigations Company NIMS National Incident Management System NOX oxides of nitrogen NPDES National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System O3 ozone OES Office of Emergency Services OPR Office of Planning and Research PG&E Pacific Gas and Electric PM10 particulate matter PM2.5 fine particulate matter RCEM Roadway Construction Emissions Model SEMS Standardized Emergency Management System SJVAPCD San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District SMAQMD Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District SR State Route SWPPP Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan SWRCB State Water Resources Control Board WA Williamson Act City of Avenal ii Water Transmission Pipeline Replacement Project INTRODUCTION INTRODUCTION AND REGULATORY GUIDANCE This Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration (IS/MND) has been prepared to evaluate the potential environmental effects associated with replacement of an 18-inch water transmission pipeline by the City of Avenal (City) within the Kettleman Hills near Avenal, in Kings County. The project consists of an approximately 4-mile pipeline alignment east of State Route (SR) 269 between I-5 and SR 33. Project activities include replacement of existing piping that conveys potable (drinking) water to the City of Avenal. This document has been prepared in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) (Public Resources Code Section 21000 et seq.) and the State CEQA Guidelines (California Code of Regulations Section 15000 et seq.). An IS is prepared by a lead agency to determine if a project may have a significant effect on the environment (State CEQA Guidelines Section 15063[a]), and thus to determine the appropriate environmental document. In accordance with State CEQA Guidelines Section 15070, a “public agency shall prepare…a proposed negative declaration or mitigated negative declaration…when: (a) The [IS] shows that there is no substantial evidence in light of the whole record before
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