Toland Lane Emergency Sinkhole Repair
Summary
SCH Number
2020030120
Public Agency
Sacramento Municipal Utility District
Document Title
Toland Lane Emergency Sinkhole Repair
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
3/4/2020
Document Description
Toland Lane is a gravel public road in Solano County's jurisdiction that provides access to critical infrastructure such as SMUD's Solano Wind Farm and PG&E's gas pipeline and transmission towers. Local farmers also use the roadway. A sinkhole recently appeared over an 18-inch Corrugated Metal Pipe (CMP) culvert. This culvert collects stormwater drainage from the roadway along with hillside drainage flowing from the west. The sinkhole currently measures approximately 4 feet in diameter and is 2 to 3 feet deep. As of January 8, 2020, the sinkhole had been filled with material of unknown properties without notice and by somebody other than SMUD. The material placed is not acceptable and further justifies the immediate need to remove and replace the existing fill and culvert pipe. The existing CMP has completely corroded along a portion of the northern side of the pipe nearest the inlet, causing erosion of the western road embankment. The pipe appears to have settled into the soft soil, causing a reduction of flow capacity and inability to provide adequate drainage away from the site. Debris and standing water were observed along the entire interior of the CMP culvert, contributing to the reduced flow capacity and corrosion.
See NOE for Full Details.
Contact Information
Name
Amy Spitzer
Agency Name
Sacramento Municipal Utility District
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Email
Name
Agency Name
Sacramento Municipal Utility District
Contact Types
Project Applicant
Location
Counties
Solano
Parcel #
38.09724, -121.75434
Other Location Info
The project is located near SMUD's Solano Wind Project, southwest of Rio Vista, CA, along Toland Lane
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Emergency Project
Type, Section or Code
Sec. 21080(b)(4); 15269(b)(c)
Reasons for Exemption
Emergency repairs include those that require a reasonable amount of planning to address an anticipated emergency," (c), which reads "Specific actions necessary to prevent or mitigate an emergency ... " (d) which reads "Projects undertaken ... to maintain, repair, or replace an existing highway damaged by ... gradual earth movement. .. provided that the project is in the existing right-of-way of the highway and is initiated within one year of the damage occurring," § 15301 (c) which reads, "Existing highways and streets ... and similar facilities (this includes road grading for the purpose of public safety) ... " and (d), which reads "Restoration or rehabilitation of deteriorated or damaged structures, facilities, or mechanical equipment to meet current standards of public health and safety ... " The Toland Lane Emergency Sinkhole Repair Project involves the replacement of the damaged CMP culvert with a new HOPE culvert of the same size, placing rip rap at the inlet and outlet of the culvert to prevent erosion, and repairing and re-grading the gravel road, and therefore is considered exempt in accordance with CEQA Guidelines §15269 and §15301.
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
15301
Reasons for Exemption
Under CEQA Guidelines § 15062, a lead agency must identify the rationale for making the determination that a project is exempt under CEQA. SMUD has determined that the Toland Lane Sinkhole Emergency Repair Project is exempt under CEQA Guidelines§ 15269(b) which states that emergency projects are exempt from the requirements of CEQA when "emergency repairs to publicly or privately-owned service facilities necessary to maintain service essential to the public health, safety, or welfare.