Solano Radio Tower Project
Summary
SCH Number
2017058394
Public Agency
Sacramento Municipal Utility District
Document Title
Solano Radio Tower Project
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
5/22/2017
Document Description
The Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) is proposing to construct and operate a radio tower at its Russell Substation located along the north side of Montezuma Hills Road, Birds Landing, California. The radio tower will provide two-way radio communications for SMUD operations/field forces. The future microwave link provides SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) of the substation, control and voice communications for SMUD's two-way radio system and corporate data. Both two-way radio and microwave radio require the tower. The tower will be 180 foot tall self-supporting monopole painted aviation orange and white with two microwave antennas on the side and up to three 16 foot high vertical antennas near the top. The 8 and 6 foot dish antennas will be 120 and 90 feet up the tower, respectively, and will point toward Elk Grove. The maximum tower height is 198 feet above ground level with the antennas. The tower foundation will be 9 feet diameter and approximately 35 feet deep. The tower will be approximately 8 feet in diameter at the base and tapering to three or four feet at the top. Excess soil from the tower foundation will be hauled off site and disposed of in accordance with state and federal law. Construction of the radio tower will start in early July 2017 and is expected to be completed by the end of August 2017 or soon thereafter.
Contact Information
Name
Ammon Rice
Agency Name
Sacramento Municipal Utility District
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Email
Location
Counties
Solano
Other Location Info
Located at SMUD's Russell Substation, 6523 Montezuma Hills Road, Birds Landing, California
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
S: 21080(b)(9),21084,15303,15304
Reasons for Exemption
Under CEQA Guidelines S: 15062, a lead agency must identify the rationale for making the determination that a project is exempt under CEQA. SMUD has determined that the Solano Radio Tower project is exempt under CEQA Guidelines S: 15303, New Construction or Conversion of Small Structures, which reads, "Class 3 consists of construction and location of limited numbers of new, small facilities or structure...", and S: 15304, Minor Alterations to Land, which reads, "Class 4 consists of minor alterations in the condition of land, water, and/or vegetation that do not involve the removal of healthy, mature, scenic trees except for forestry or agricultural purposes including grading on slopes of less than 10%, landscaping, and minor trenching and backfilling where the surface is restored..." The Solano Radio Tower project involves the construction and operation of a monopole radio tower with two microwave antennas on the side and three vertical antennas at the top at SMUD's existing Russell Substation. The tower foundation will be 9 feet diameter and the tower base will be approximately 8 feet in diameter with the tower tapering to three or four feet at the top. The project consists of a single monopole tower and does not require the removal of any healthy, mature trees that are protected or scenic and therefore is considered exempt in accordance with CEQA Guidelines S: 15303 and S: 15304.
Disclaimer: The document was originally posted before CEQAnet had the capability to host attachments for the public. To obtain the original attachments for this document, please contact the lead agency at the contact information listed above. You may also contact the OPR via email at state.clearinghouse@opr.ca.gov or via phone at (916) 445-0613.