Underground Utility Investigations and Environmental Sampling for the Coyote Creek Flood Protection Project
Summary
SCH Number
2024070927
Public Agency
Santa Clara Valley Water District
Document Title
Underground Utility Investigations and Environmental Sampling for the Coyote Creek Flood Protection Project
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
7/24/2024
Document Description
Project Purpose: The purpose of this project is to conduct underground utility location and hazardous materials liability assessment (HSLA) investigations in the project area.
Valley Water proposes to conduct underground utility location and hazardous substance liability assessment (HSLA) investigations in the project area.
The underground utility location borings would be approximately 1 foot by 1 foot wide and drilled to a depth of 1 foot to 6-1/2 feet via vacuum excavation, which uses high-pressure air and water in combination with an air vacuum to create small holes, or potholes, through which the buried lines can be located. A vacuum truck equipped with a 30-foot hose would be employed to suction displaced dirt and soil through a hose into a holding tank. A slurry vacuum would be used to prevent any liquid runoff from entering the nearby creek. A total of nine potholes would be excavated initially with additional potholes to be excavated as needed.
Once underground utilities are accurately located, the excavated wet or dry soil would be replaced as backfill in the hole and compacted. Any potholes within roadways or sidewalks would necessitate traffic control devices for shoulder/lane/sidewalk closures, and all surfaces would be restored to their original condition with T-cut sections after the operation is completed. Any unused cutting and debris would be off-hauled and disposed of at a landfill site.
The HSLA sampling borings would be drilled to depths of between 2 feet and 10 feet using hand augering and direct push technologies (DPT) for the purpose of determining the presence of subsurface contamination. Hand augering would be used up to the first five feet of each boring. The remaining 5 feet (if required) would be drilled using DPT. A total of six borings would be excavated initially with additional to borings to be excavated as needed. The drill cuttings and fluids from the borings would be contained in 55-gallon steel drums that would be stored on-site and analytically tested prior to off-site disposal.
Contact Information
Name
Andrew Martin
Agency Name
Santa Clara Valley Water District (Valley Water)
Job Title
Environmental Planner
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Email
Location
Coordinates
Cities
San Jose
Counties
Santa Clara
Regions
Countywide
Cross Streets
Charcot Avenue and Junction Avenue to Tully Road and Senter Road
Zip
95118
Parcel #
Various
State Highways
Hwy 237, 101
Railways
Caltrain, VTA
Airports
San Jose Mineta
Schools
Olinder Elementary School
Waterways
Coyote Creek
Other Location Info
The project is located along the nine mile stretch of Coyote Creek between Montague Expressway and Tully Rd. in San Jose, California.
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Statutory Exemption
Type, Section or Code
California Code of Regulations; Title 14, Section 15262
Reasons for Exemption
The project qualifies for a Statutory Exemption under California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines §15262.
A project involving only feasibility or planning studies for possible future actions which the agency, board, or commission has not approved, adopted, or funded does not require the preparation of an EIR or negative declaration but does require consideration of environmental factors. This section does not apply to the adoption of a plan that will have a legally binding effect on later activities.
The proposed project involves only feasibility or planning studies for possible future actions which Valley Water’s Board has not approved, adopted, or funded.
County Clerk
Santa Clara
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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