Kiefer Boulevard and Grant Line Road Reconductor and Upgrade Project
Summary
SCH Number
2025030763
Public Agency
Sacramento Municipal Utility District
Document Title
Kiefer Boulevard and Grant Line Road Reconductor and Upgrade Project
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
3/19/2025
Document Description
To enhance the safety and reliability of electric service in Sacramento County, SMUD proposes to replace up to 23 poles along Kiefer Boulevard extending east from Rancho Cordova Parkway to Grant Line Road over approximately 1.5 miles, and to reconductor an existing overhead 12-kilovolt (kV) line along this route. From Grant Line Road, approximately 0.4 miles north of Keifer Boulevard, 24 poles supporting a 12kV line will be upgraded to accommodate a 69kV line extension with a 12kV underbuild continuing north along Grant Line Road for an additional 1.5 miles. Reconductoring entails replacing existing conductor with new conductor. The reconfigured lines will allow SMUD to utilize existing substation capacity to serve load concentrated in the Grant Line area.
Pole replacements will occur at the existing locations to the extent feasible. If the new pole cannot be replaced in the exact location of the old pole, the new poles will be installed within 10 feet of the original placement allowing conductor transfer from old to new poles. Flexibility in the exact pole placement location will allow the new replacement poles to be sited as to avoid sensitive habitats such as wetlands or vernal pools. Boreholes for new poles will be approximately 24 inches in diameter and 9 feet deep. Pole excavation will typically use a truck mounted auger, with stockpiled soil placed adjacent to each hole. Soil from these excavations will either be used to backfill the old holes or removed from the site and disposed of appropriately. Each new pole will be framed with necessary electrical components (e.g., cross arms, pins, insulators, grounds, and markers) prior to setting the pole in the ground. Once installed, new poles holes will be backfilled and compacted with rock. SMUD will access poles using existing roads. In locations where no road access is available off-road driving and foot access will be required.
Construction is scheduled to begin in April 2025 and is expected to take approximately 3-4 months to complete.
Contact Information
Name
Ammon Rice
Agency Name
6201 S Street
Job Title
Supervisor, Environmental Services
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency / Project Applicant
Phone
Email
Location
Cities
Rancho Cordova
Counties
Sacramento
Regions
Citywide
Cross Streets
Kiefer Boulevard and Grant Line Road
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
CEQA Guidelines §15301(b), §15302(c) and §15303(d)
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 Kiefer Boulevard and Grant Line Road Reconductor and Upgrade Project is exempt under CEQA Guidelines §15301, Class 1 Existing Facilities, CEQA Guidelines §15302, Class 2 Replacement or Reconstruction, and CEQA Guidelines §15303, Class 3 New Construction or Conversion of Small Structures. CEQA Guidelines §15301, Class 1 Existing Facilities exemption applies to 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 existing or former use.” Examples of this exemption include maintenance or minor alteration of existing facilities of publicly owned utilities used to provide electric power. CEQA Guidelines §15302, Class 2 Replacement or Reconstruction applies to “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.” Examples of this exemption include replacement or reconstruction of existing utility systems and/or facilities involving negligible or no expansion of capacity. CEQA Guidelines §15303, Class 3 New Construction or Conversion of Small Structures exemption applies to “construction and location of limited numbers of new, small facilities or structures; installation of small new equipment and facilities in small structures.” Examples of this exemption include water main, sewage, electrical, gas, and other utility extensions, including street improvements, of reasonable length to serve such construction.
The Kiefer Boulevard and Grant Line Road Reconductor and Upgrade Project involves replacing existing publicly owned electric facilities, replacement and reconstruction of existing structures, and new construction of small structures and replacement or reconstruction. Therefore, this project is considered exempt in accordance with CEQA Guidelines §15301(b), §15302(c) and §15303(d).
County Clerk
Sacramento
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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