Carmichael Underground Cable Reliability Project
Summary
SCH Number
2021020359
Public Agency
Sacramento Municipal Utility District
Document Title
Carmichael Underground Cable Reliability Project
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
2/19/2021
Document Description
The project alignment is located in the Carmichael neighborhood in unincorporated eastern Sacramento County. The project alignment extends from a connection point starting at SMUD’s Carmichael substation heading south onto Manzanita Avenue and then east onto Lincoln Avenue for approximately 800 feet. Between these points, the project is generally located within road right of way along Manzanita Avenue and Lincoln Avenue. The area surrounding the proposed project is primarily commercial and urban residential.
The project involves the installation of new underground concrete encased conduit duct bank and 69kV cable to replace approximately 2,000 feet of existing direct buried underground 69kV cable installed in the 1970s within existing right-of-way. The project also involves installation of up to 6 new precast concrete manholes along the route to allow electric cable pulling, splicing and maintenance.
The following provides a more detailed description of proposed improvements along the project alignment. From the northern terminus of the project alignment, the existing direct buried 69kV cable extends 400 feet east out to the road and southward from within the Carmichael substation. From this location, the replacement 69kV underground duct bank would be located along the eastern side (generally, the number one eastbound lane of Manzanita Avenue). For the portion of the project continuing along Lincoln Avenue, the replacement 69kV underground conduit duct bank would continue to be located along the northern edge of Lincoln Avenue approximately 800 feet east to Salmaan Street, before turning right and rising above ground at two existing riser poles.
The proposed manholes would consist of pre-cast concrete, measuring 8’ x 14’ x 8’ inside, requiring an excavation area of approximately 15’ x 20’ x 15’, and would generally be installed in pairs spaced evenly throughout the alignment to allow for cable pulling, splicing, and maintenance of the 69kV cable. In general, manholes would be located in the street. In the open trenches, cable would be placed in a duct bank, a series of conduits encased in concrete. The trenches would then be backfilled with a cementitious slurry mixture or compacted aggregate base to the roadway subgrade elevation followed by replacement of the required aggregate base and pavement section.
Most construction would include open trenching to a maximum depth of 7 feet, though some deeper excavation may be necessary to avoid conflicts with existing utility lines. As noted above, construction activities would generally be conducted in roadway rights-of-way and would include the temporary closure of roads and sidewalks. Following construction activities each day, the open trenches would be covered. K-rails would be utilized to provide a buffer around excavations where manholes would be installed, or the excavations will be plated over. Where K-rails are used, then extended lane closures would be required. Equipment will be removed to allow reopening of the lanes as trenching and excavation activities are completed. In residential areas, there may be slight delays but no prolonged inaccessibility for residents. Construction activities would likely take 3 months and are expected to begin as early as February 2021. While construction activities may not be continuous, they are expected to be completed by mid-2021.
Contact Information
Name
Rob Ferrere
Agency Name
Sacramento Municipal Utility District
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Email
Location
Counties
Sacramento
Cross Streets
Manzanita Avenue and Lincoln Avenue
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
§15301(b), §15302, §15303(d), and 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 Carmichael Underground Cable Replacement Project is exempt under CEQA Guidelines §15301(b), Existing Facilities which reads “Class 1 consists of the operation, repair, maintenance, permitting, leasing, licensing, or minor alteration of existing public or private structures, facilities, mechanical equipment, or topographical features, involving negligible or no expansion of use beyond that existing at the time of the lead agency's determination” and “(b) existing facilities of both investor and publicly-owned utilities used to provide electric power, natural gas, sewerage, or other public utility services”…, § 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 …” “(c) Replacement or reconstruction of existing utility systems and/or facilities involving negligible or no expansion of capacity, and §15303(d), 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…” and “(d) Water main, sewage, electrical, gas, and other utility extensions, including street improvements, of reasonable length to serve such construction.” Lastly, the commonsense 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 Carmichael Underground Cable Replacement Project involves the replacement of existing substation equipment and underground conduit and the construction of manholes within road right of way, and therefore is considered exempt in accordance with CEQA Guidelines §15301, §15302, §15303, and §15061.
County Clerk
Sacramento
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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