San Diego LOSSAN Rail Realignment (SDLRR) Project – Geotechnical and Geological Investigation

2024060106

San Diego Association of Governments

NOE - Notice of Exemption

6/5/2024

6/5/2024

Keith Greer

SANDAG

Deputy Director

Lead/Public Agency / Project Applicant / Parties Undertaking Project

401 B Street Suite 800
San Diego, CA 92101

(619) 699-1900

Keith.Greer@sandag.org

Hwy 101, SR 56, I-5, I-805

LOSSAN corridor (San Diego)

Winston School, Del Mar Heights School, Del Mar Hills Academy

Pacific Ocean, San Dieguito Lagoon, Los Penasquitos Lagoon

Testing locations are located within the following areas: existing railroad right of way (between Solana Beach Station at mile post 241.8 and Sorrento Valley Station at mile post 249.25), the City of Del Mar, the City of San Diego, and State of California property.

Statutory Exemption

PRC, sections 21080(b)(1), 21102; CCR, title 14 (CEQA Guidelines), section 15262

SANDAG proposes to conduct geotechnical and geological investigations to support preliminary design and environmental analysis. CEQA does not apply to ministerial governmental approvals (Public Resources Code, section 21080(b)(1)) or feasibility and planning studies for possible future actions which the agency has not approved, adopted, or funded.

Categorical Exemption

CEQA Guidelines Sections 15304 (c) and (f) (Class 4),15306 (Class 6), and 15303 (Class 3)

Activities such as minor alterations to land, including but not limited to minor trenching and backfilling, filling of earth into excavated lands, data collection that does not result in a serious or major disturbance to an environmental resource, and the placement or construction or small structures or equipment are categorically exempt from CEQA review pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Sections 15304 (c) and (f) (Class 4),15306 (Class 6), and 15303 (Class 3). The testing activities qualify for a Class 4 Categorical Exemption from CEQA because they involves minor alterations in land where the surface would be restored and filled with material compatible with the natural features of the site. The activities involve geotechnical and geological investigations, which consist of mud rotary and diamond core borings. This work qualifies for this exemption because all borings would be backfilled in accordance with the County of San Diego Department of Environmental Health guidelines using a cement-bentonite slurry and the surface would be capped to match the existing ground surface. The activities qualify for a Class 6 Categorial Exemption from CEQA because project activities include rotary drilling and rock coring, on-site field testing, and geotechnical laboratory testing which would not result in a serious or major disturbance to an environmental resource. To inform subsurface hydrogeology, piezometers, which are wells that measure water table surface, would be installed flush with the ground surface. The top well box would be 12 inches in diameter with a borehole diameter of 4 to 8 inches. The depth of the piezometers would be determined during drilling. This equipment qualifies for a Class 3 exemption because it would involve minor modifications to surface and subsurface conditions.