De La Vina Water Main Replacement Project

2024081199

City of Santa Barbara

NOE - Notice of Exemption

8/28/2024

8/28/2024

Kaitlin Mamulski

City of Santa Barbara

Project Planner

Lead/Public Agency

PO Box 1990
Santa Barbara, CA 93102-1990

(805) 897-2685

kmamulski@santabarbaraca.gov

De La Vina Street from Constance Avenue to Micheltorena Street.

Categorical Exemption

Section 15302 (c)

CEQA Guidelines Section 15302 Replacement or Reconstruction. This Project meets Section 15302 Replacement or Reconstruction Class 2 categorical exemption, because the Project scope consists of replacement of existing water infrastructure and does not result in an expansion of capacity. Archaeology. The entire project is within range of archeological areas of importance including the Early 20th Century, American Period, and Prehistoric Watercourse Buffer Areas. Per the City’s Master Environmental Assessment (MEA) Guidelines, a Phase I Archaeology Report is required for the portions of the Project located in the Prehistoric Watercourse Buffer Areas. All work associated with the Project is typically limited within the City street ROW, that has previously been disturbed. A Confidential Phase I Archaeological Resources Report was prepared by Rincon Consultants, Inc. for the Project. The Phase I included the following recommended best management practice and regulatory compliance: Unanticipated Discovery of Archaeological Resources. In the event that archaeological resources are unexpectedly encountered during ground-disturbing activities, work within 50 feet of the find should halt and the City Environmental Analyst should be contacted. A qualified archaeologist included on the City’s Pre-approved Consultants List for archaeology and meeting the Secretary of the Interior’s Professional Qualifications Standards for archaeology (NPS 1983) should be contacted immediately to assess the resource. If the resource is determined by the qualified archaeologist to be prehistoric, then a Native American representative from the City’s Pre-approved Consultants List for Native American consultants should also be contacted to participate in the evaluation of the resource. Consistent with the City’s MEA, appropriate management recommendations for the treatment of archaeological resources may include, but are not limited to, redirection of grading and/or excavation activities, and monitoring by a Native American representative from the City’s Pre-approved Consultants List for Native American consultants. Unanticipated Discovery of Human Remains. If human remains are unexpectedly found, the State of California Health and Safety Code Section 7050.5 states that no further disturbance shall occur until the County Coroner has made a determination of origin and disposition pursuant to Public Resources Code Section 5097.98. In the event of an unanticipated discovery of human remains, the County Coroner must be notified immediately. If the human remains are determined to be prehistoric, the Coroner will notify the Native American Heritage Commission, which will determine and notify a MLD. The MLD has 48 hours from being granted site access to make recommendations for the disposition of the remains. If the MLD does not make recommendations within 48 hours, the landowner shall reinter the remains in an area of the property secure from subsequent disturbance. Hazardous Materials. There are multiple locations along the Project site that are within close proximity to LUST cleanup sites, which are areas noted for prior hazardous material contamination. These sites are parcel specific, and all Project work is proposed within the public ROW. The City has an environmental consultant on call in case contaminated soil is encountered during construction. Therefore, given that the Project is not located on any parcel with known cleanup sites, the effect on hazardous materials is less than significant. Floodway. The Project has a 40 ft overlap with the AE flood map layer at the Constance Avenue intersection of De La Vina Street. All work will be completed underground within the City ROW, therefore, the effect on the floodway is considered less than significant. Historic Structures. The De La Vina Street segment of water main replacement is within proximity to various identified Historic Structures. All work will be completed underground within the City ROW and will have no impact on the Historic Structures. Given the nature of the underground work, the effect on historic structures is less than significant. Noise. The De La Vina Street segment will be within 200 feet of the following sensitive noise receptors: Tiny Feets Daycare, Cottage Rehabilitation Hospital, The Californian Nursing Home, Braille Institute Santa Barbara Center, Santa Barbara CARES South, Fielding Graduate University, and Oak Cottage Memory Care. The construction duration will last less than one year, and the City plans to complete the Project in smaller phases to minimize disturbance. The construction noise generally comes from equipment and machinery during the water main pipe installation process and these noises are noticeable. However, the noise levels will adhere to the decibel limits set by the City, and the noise conditions after construction will resume to the same noise conditions prior to construction. The Contractor must comply with the Noise Control requirements stated under General Conditions §7.20 (Noise Control) and the Noise Ordinance (Chapter 9.16 of the SBMC) which governs short-term or periodic noise, such as construction noise, operation of motorized equipment or amplified sound, or other sources of nuisance noise. The ordinance establishes limitations on hours of construction (7AM to 5PM) and motorized equipment operations and provides criteria for defining nuisance noise in general. Adhering to the noise control requirements will ensure the short-term construction related noise effects are considered less than significant. In conclusion, the De La Vina Water Main Replacement Project improves the public water infrastructure by delivering a safe and steady supply of potable water to the community within the City of Santa Barbara. The Project is not anticipated to result in any significant impacts towards the environmental resources, therefore, the Public Works Department recommends that the Case Planner consider this Project as exempt, as defined in the CEQA review process classified under the 15302 (c) Class 2 Replacement or Reconstruction categorical exemption of the CEQA Guidelines.