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Home My WebLink About06. Consider the relocation of Contra Costa Water District's Alum Residual Pipeline, located on Central San's Treatment Plant, exempt from the California Environmental Quality ActO��ENTRAL S. MEETING DATE: DECEMBER 19, 2024 BOARD OF DIRECTORS POSITION PAPER Page 1 of 4 Item 6. SUBJECT: CONSIDER THE RELOCATION OF CONTRA COSTA WATER DISTRICT'S ALUM RESIDUAL PIPELINE LOCATED ON CENTRAL SAN'S TREATMENT PLANT EXEMPT FROM THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT (CEQA) SUBMITTED BY: INITIATING DEPARTMENT: AMANDA CAUBLE, ASSOCIATE ENGINEER ENGINEERING AND TECHNICAL SERVICES - DAN FROST, SENIOR ENGINEER PDS-PLANNI NG AND APPLI ED RESEARCH REVIEWED BY: DANEA GEMMELL, PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DIVISION MANAGER GREG NORBY, DEPUTY GM - ENGINEERING & OPERATIONS Roger S. Bailey General Manager ISSUE Under CEQA, the term "lead agency" refers to the public agency that has the principal responsibility for carrying out or approving a project that may have a significant effect on the environment. Central San is the lead agency for treatment plant projects. BACKGROUND The Contra Costa Water District (CCWD) has been leasing a portion of Central San property to operate drying basins used for times when the primary basins at the Bollman Water Treatment Plant reach capacity or require maintenance. Alum and other coagulation process residuals from the Bollman Water Treatment Plant are piped to the drying basins where they are air dried and then hauled off. The drying basins have been in operation since 1997, and it is estimated that 64 cubic yards of solids are processed annually. The current lease extends through December 13, 2026. CCWD transports the alum residuals through an eight - inch diameter pipeline along the Walnut Creek channel on Central San's treatment plant property. The lease states that "CCWD is solely responsible for the existing pipeline used to convey residuals from the Bollman Water Treatment Plant to the Basins ... and that CCWD shall bear all expenses related to the construction, maintenance, and modification of any and all capital improvements...." December 19, 2024 Regular Board Meeting Agenda Packet - Page 33 of 97 Page 2 of 4 Central San's treatment plant is bordered by Walnut and Grayson Creeks with levees built by the Contra Costa Flood Control District (FCD) and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which are currently owned and operated by the FCD. Overtopping of the levee could catastrophically disable treatment plant operations. Central San is working on this joint project with the FCD. The Walnut Creek/Grayson Creek Levee Rehabilitation, District Project 7341 (Levee Project) plans are at the 95 percent design phase and have identified a conflict with CCWD's eight -inch pipeline within the levee. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers standards do not allow pressurized pipes to remain within the prism of the levee structure. Central San has notified CCWD of the standards and requested that the pipeline be relocated (Relocation Project) before the Levee Project begins construction. CCWD needs the relocated pipeline to ensure that its alum and coagulation process residuals can continue to be delivered to the drying basins. Aformal letter from Central San will be delivered to CCWD requesting the relocation of CCWD's alum residual pipeline and documenting Central San's intent to execute a new lease that would allow CCWD to continue its operations using Central San's drying basins for another five to ten years. The new lease would require Board of Directors' (Board) authorization and would require a public hearing to declare the property unneeded for Central San's purposes during the term of the lease. A right of entry permit will be granted to CCWD's contractor selected to perform the relocation, which is within staff authority to execute. CCWD has designed the relocation and will construct and pay for the new pipeline. The proposed pipeline will be relocated approximately 20 feet to the west of the existing pipeline, as shown in Attachment 1. The existing pipeline will be demolished, or properly abandoned if demolition is not feasible, as part of the Relocation Project or Levee Project. CEQA As the owner and operator of the treatment plant, it is appropriate for Central San to take on the role of lead agency for CEQA. CCWD will serve as a "responsible agency" for the Relocation Project since it will perform the pipeline relocation work and maintain it in the future. This CEQA finding considers the proposed pipeline relocation work and CCWD's continued use of Central San's drying basins through a lease with Central San. Staff has concluded that the Relocation Project is exempt from CEQA under CEQA Guidelines in the California Code of Regulations Section 15302 since it involves the replacement of existing facilities at substantially the same locations and with the same purpose and level of activity as the facilities being replaced. The Relocation Project is exempt under CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3) because with minimization and avoidance measures, construction and maintenance of the pipeline should have no significant effect on the environment. This conclusion is based on (1) Central San's extensive experience with similar projects; (2) the relatively short distance involved; and (3) CCWD's construction experience in this area and construction specifications, which require the contractor to protect natural resources, including trees and riparian areas, and further requires compliance with all applicable federal, state, county, district, municipal and local laws, ordinances, orders, and regulations. CCWD will conduct preconstruction biological surveys prior to commencing work in the area. The new eight -inch pipeline is to be placed largely in a gravel road and open land adjacent to the Walnut Creek flood control levee. The primary species of concern are nesting birds that could reside near the creek or directly on the gravel road. Preconstruction biological monitoring surveys will ensure no nesting birds or other sensitive species are impacted during construction and future maintenance of the pipeline. Approval of the CEQA finding will establish the Board's independent finding that the Relocation Project is exempt. ALTERNATIVES/CONSIDERATIONS The Board could decline to make the CEQA finding or could direct staff to do a more extensive review. December 19, 2024 Regular Board Meeting Agenda Packet - Page 34 of 97 Page 3 of 4 FINANCIAL IMPACTS Any costs associated with the CEQA filing will be included in DP 7341. COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION The Engineering and Operations Committee reviewed this matter at its meeting on December 4, 2024 and recommended approval. RECOMMENDED BOARD ACTION Find the relocation of Contra Costa Water District's Alum Residual Pipeline Project located on Central San's treatment plant, exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act. Strategic Plan re -In GOAL FIVE: Safety and Security Strategy 2 - Protect personnel and assets from threats and emergencies GOAL SIX: Infrastructure Reliability Strategy 1 - Manage assets optimally ATTACHMENTS: 1. Project Map December 19, 2024 Regular Board Meeting Agenda Packet - Page 35 of 97 Page 4 of 4 Alum Pipe Relocation ' Map Date: 11/12/2024 x• i y Martinez Detail Area k k ;,A' I� k Concord Alum Ponds.• i n Pleasant Hill poll } Approximately.20' Between Newland E- xsting Alignment's .,. - �- �. • _ • • tt•:3 •!� �•;e�j to � - 1 Basin A North"� F.-... 0IIOX� V � Alum Pipe to Remain Alum Pipe to be Removed • . , . - New Alum Pipe Alignment ♦ }, `:. — Existing Fence =J IiCounty z,. _ Quarry;; ' Products Note: w ' 0 100 200 Map Displayed in North American Datum of 1983 Attachment Central San data as of November, 2024. I\�II Feet California State Plane, Zone III RIPS 0403, US Feet 1 December 19, 2024 Regular Board Meeting Agenda Packet - Page 36 of 97