486 Zone Pressure Relief Facility
Summary
SCH Number
2025030942
Public Agency
Vista Irrigation District
Document Title
486 Zone Pressure Relief Facility
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
3/24/2025
Document Description
Vista Irrigation District (District) to install a new vault, pressure relief valve and piping to the existing water distribution system that will allow emergency discharge to Buena Vista Creek (and prevent pipeline failures) should the pressure zone become over-pressurized due to a mechanical failure from one of the supplying pressure-reducing valves. Emergency discharges have been permitted by the District's Statewide General Permit WQO-2014-0194-DWQ since January 2017, and so the only new activity proposed by the Project is installation of new equipment. Emergency discharges will fill a vault that will overflow and spill over the existing headwall into Buena Vista Creek. The new relief valve will be connected to the District's SCADA system to allow early detection if activated.
Contact Information
Name
Randy Whitmann
Agency Name
Vista Irrigation District
Job Title
Director of Engineering
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Email
Location
Cities
Vista
Counties
San Diego
Regions
Citywide
Other Location Info
The project is located within the City of Vista near its western boundary along State Route 78. It is located adjacent to the west side of South Emeral Drive's paved roadway within a gravel area of the right-of-way, adjacent to the north side of the headwall for Buena Vista Creek's culvert underneath South Emeral Drive, approximately 750 feet south of State Route 78.
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Sections 15301, 15303, and 15307
Reasons for Exemption
The proposed project is exempt from CEQA per sections 15301, 15303, and 15307 of the CEQA Guidelines. Section 15301, Existing Facilities, exempts 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 use beyond that existing at the time of the lead agency’s determination. The Project qualifies for this exemption because it involves installation of new vaults, pressure relief valve, and piping to address emergency situations and will not increase the capacity or throughput of the water distribution system or increase discharges to Buena Vista Creek. Section 15303, New Construction, consists of construction and location of limited numbers of new, small facilities, structures, or equipment. The Project qualifies for this exemption because it consists solely of the installation of new, small vaults and piping with emergency equipment into an existing water distribution system. Section 15307, Actions by Regulatory Agencies for Protection of Natural Resources, consists of actions taken by regulatory agencies as authorized by state law or local ordinance to assure the maintenance, restoration, or enhancement of a natural resource where the regulatory process involves procedures for protection of the environment. The Project qualifies for this exemption because the work is necessary to properly provide safe drinking water by preventing damage to the distribution system. Any emergency discharges to Buena Vista Creek related to this modification are already permitted under the District’s NPDES permit with the State Water Resources Control Board for discharges to waters of the United States, and no new discharges or increased discharges will result from this Project. Any discharges will be accounted for in the District’s annual reporting to the Regional Water Quality Control Board.
County Clerk
San Diego
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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