Bradshaw 69kV Extension Project

Summary

SCH Number
2020120178
Public Agency
Sacramento Municipal Utility District
Document Title
Bradshaw 69kV Extension Project
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
12/10/2020
Present Land Use
Utility Easement
Document Description
The purpose of this project is to provide reliability to the Bradshaw-Grant Line distribution substation which serves approximately 5,200 commercial and residential customers and to better utilize existing capacity . The Bradshaw-Grant Line distribution substation is currently served through a single electric line along Grant Line Road which can result in sustained outages during summer peak operating conditions and longer restoration time to customers during off-peak operating conditions. This project would also provide SMUD operational flexibility for planned outages. To provide system reliability , this project would extend an existing 69kV line from Calvine Road south to the Bradshaw-Grant Line substation . This would be accomplished by reconstructing an existing 12kV line along Bradshaw Road to support both 69kV and a 12kV underbuild. The section of line south of Bond Road was previously built to support 69kV electricity and would be reconfigured to support both 69kV and 12kV lines. This project would eliminate the forecasted deficiency for sustained outages during summer peak load and would minimize power restoration time during off-peak times for approximately 5,200 customers in the City of Elk Grove. The existing poles at the northern end of the project, from Calvine Road to Bond Road are 40-50 feet tall and will be replaced with 70-foot tall wood poles. The poles from Bond Road to the Bradshaw-Grant Line substation are configured for 69kV but would be replaced with new poles approximately 5 feet taller due to windload requirements. The segment of line that crosses below PG&E's transmission lines would have about 350 feet of 12kV line installed underground in order to meet ground clearance requirements. No additional pole locations would be required for this project. This project is expected to start in February 2021 or soon thereafter and take approximately ten months.

Contact Information

Name
Amy Spitzer
Agency Name
Sacramento Municipal Utility District
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency

Name
Agency Name
SMUD
Contact Types
Project Applicant

Location

Cities
Elk Grove
Counties
Sacramento
Regions
Northern California
Cross Streets
Bradshaw Road from Calvine Road to the Bradshaw-Grant Line Substation

Notice of Exemption

Exempt Status
Statutory Exemption
Type, Section or Code
CEQA Guidelines 15301(b); 15302(c)(d); 15303; 15061(b)(3)
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 Bradshaw Road 69kV Extension Project is exempt under CEQA Guidelines §15301, Existing Facilities, which reads, “Class 1 consists of the…minor alteration of existing public or private structures, facilities, mechanical equipment, or topographical features, involving negligible or no expansion of existing or former use. The key consideration is whether the project involves negligible or no expansion of use,” and (b) “Existing facilities of both investor and publicly-owned utilities used to provide electric power, natural gas, sewerage, or other public utility services,” and §15302, Replacement or reconstruction, which reads, “Class 2 consists of replacement or reconstruction of existing structures and facilities where the new structure will be located on the same site as the structure replaced and will have substantially the same purpose and capacity as the structure replaced …” and “(c) Replacement or reconstruction of existing utility systems and/or facilities involving negligible or no expansion of capacity”, and (d) Conversion of overhead electric utility distribution system facilities to underground including connection to existing overhead electric utility distribution lines where the surface is restored to the condition existing prior to the undergrounding, and §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 structures; installation of small new equipment and facilities in small structures; and the conversion of existing small structures from one use to another where only minor modifications are made in the exterior of the structure...” Lastly, the common sense exemption which states that “CEQA applies only to projects which have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment. Where it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment, the activity is not subject to CEQA.” The Bradshaw Road 69kV Extension project involves the replacement of existing utility poles within the project limits and extending a 69kV line above an existing 12kV line in the project area to better utilize existing capacity and provide redundancy. A section of the 12kV line would be installed underground and the surface would be restored to the condition existing prior to the undergrounding. The purpose of the project is to increase reliability in the area during planned or unplanned outages and to better utilize existing capacity and therefore is considered exempt in accordance with CEQA Guidelines §15301, §15302, §15303, and §15061(b)(3).

Attachments

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