San Clemente North Beach Revetment Emergency Repair and Restoration Project NOE
Summary
SCH Number
2023080265
Public Agency
Southern California Regional Rail Authority
Document Title
San Clemente North Beach Revetment Emergency Repair and Restoration Project NOE
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
8/11/2023
Document Description
On July 30, 2021, a portion of the Metrolink railroad track near the North Beach San Clemente Metrolink station (1850 Avenida Estacion, San Clemente, California) suffered severe damage due to continued erosion from ocean waves; the recession then continued to accelerate, resulting in a safety hazard. Therefore, emergency repairs and restoration of the damaged sections of the sand berm and rock rip-rap were conducted in October 2021. Project construction began on October 1, 2021 and was completed on October 17, 2021; environmental monitoring continued through October 2022 and identified additional erosion occurred at the sand berm resulting the placement of additional riprap. The purpose of the Project was to stabilize the eroded sand berm and rock rip-rap revetment supporting the existing railroad tracks. Erosion from ocean waves had severely eroded the revetment along the mainline, which serves as the main rail corridor for Amtrak, Metrolink, and the Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railway. The emergency response was necessary to stabilize the track embankment and allow for continued safe railroad operations for both passenger and freight traffic. Without the emergency repairs and restoration, rail operations through the corridor would have ceased and safety would have been jeopardized. The final goal of the entire activity was to immediately eliminate the emergency situation and rebuild the railroad revetment and sand berm to reduce further erosion, increase stabilization, and prevent failure of the railroad tracks. The emergency repair work area was approximately 0.13 acre and consisted of 0.03 acre of sand berm replacement and 0.10 acre of rock rip-rap revetment protection. Approximately 300 linear feet of the berm and revetment was rebuilt by filling eroded areas of the earthen berm with native soil and rock rip-rap for the revetment.
Contact Information
Name
Fiailoa Ah Sue
Agency Name
Southern California Regional Rail Authority
Job Title
Asst. Dir, Track & Structures Maintenance
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency / Project Applicant / Parties Undertaking Project
Phone
Email
Location
Coordinates
Cities
San Clemente
Counties
Orange
Regions
Citywide, Countywide, Southern California
Cross Streets
Avenida Estacion
Zip
92672
Total Acres
0.12
Railways
Metrolink railroad track
Township
8S
Range
7W
Section
32
Other Location Info
The Project is within an approximately 0.06-mile stretch of Metrolink railroad track, approximately 480 feet south of the San Clemente Metrolink station parking lot, on a 0.12-acre site. The Project is between latitude 33.429037°, longitude -117.629860° and latitude 33.429722°, longitude -117.630430° near San Clemente.
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Statutory Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Section 15269(b), Emergency repairs to publicly or privately owned service facilities to maintain service
Reasons for Exemption
Project involved emergency safety improvements to an existing Metrolink railroad track near the North Beach San Clemente Metrolink station to stabilize the eroded sand berm and rock rip-rap revetment supporting the existing railroad track. The emergency response was necessary to stabilize the track embankment and allow for continued safe railroad operations for both passenger and freight traffic. Without the emergency repairs and restoration, rail operations through the corridor would have ceased and safety would have been jeopardized. No additional improvements or repairs are planned. The emergency improvements consisted of minor alterations to an existing facility that did not greatly alter the existing structure. Capacity is unchanged. Given that the safety improvements were necessary to maintain service essential to public health and safety, the Project meets the requirements of this statutory exemption.
County Clerk
Orange
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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