BOARD AGENDA MEMORANDUM
Government Code § 84308 Applies: Yes ☐ No ☒
(If “YES” Complete Attachment A - Gov. Code § 84308)
SUBJECT: Title
Adopt a Resolution Setting Time and Date of a Public Hearing on the Final Program Environmental Impact Report and Engineer’s Report for the Pipeline Maintenance Program.
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RECOMMENDATION: Recommendation
Adopt the Resolution SETTING TIME AND DATE OF PUBLIC HEARING ON THE FINAL PROGRAM ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT AND ENGINEER’S REPORT FOR THE PIPELINE MAINTENANCE PROGRAM, to occur on April 22, 2025, at 1:00 PM, in the Boardroom at Santa Clara Valley Water District, Headquarters Building, 5700 Almaden Expressway, San Jose, California.
Body
SUMMARY:
The Pipeline Maintenance Program (“PMP” or “Project”) is a process and procedural program that provides long-term guidance for the implementation of pipeline inspection and maintenance work and includes the continuation of the 10-YR Pipeline Inspection & Rehabilitation Program and involves planning for the condition assessment, design, and construction activities required for the renewal of Santa Clara Valley Water District’s (Valley Water) large diameter pipelines and tunnels. The PMP work includes updating the environmental documents, program budget, and creating projects to inspect and rehabilitate the pipelines that Valley Water owns or maintains to ensure the delivery of clean and safe water to Valley Water customers.
Attachment 1 contains the resolution to set the time and place for the Public Hearing on the Final Program Environmental Impact Report and Engineer’s Report for the PMP.
Final Program Environmental Impact Report
As the lead agency under California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), Santa Clara Valley Water District (Valley Water) circulated a Notice of Preparation (NOP) for the PMP on October 17, 2023, through November 22, 2023. To provide an additional opportunity for public input on the scope and content to be addressed in the Program Environmental Impact Report (PEIR), Valley Water later held a scoping meeting on November 2, 2023.
A Draft PEIR was then prepared to provide the Valley Water Board of Directors (Board), public, responsible agencies, and trustee agencies with information about the potential environmental effects of the PMP. The Draft PEIR also analyzes a reasonable range of alternatives based on input from environmental assessments, public participation process, and resource agencies. The Draft PEIR describes project elements, evaluates project impacts, and proposes mitigation measures to avoid or minimize such impacts. The Draft PEIR was prepared in compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) of 1970 (as amended) and the State CEQA Guidelines (California Code of Regulations [CCR] title 14, section (§) 15000 et seq.).
On September 12, 2024, Valley Water released the Draft EIR for public review (State Clearinghouse No. 2023100671). The public review period ran from September 12, 2024 to October 28, 2024, totaling 46-days of public review. Copies of the Draft PEIR and selected appendices were posted online, and hard copies were available for review at Valley Water’s headquarters and at several public libraries throughout Santa Clara County.
Valley Water received four comment letters and other written documents, such as emails were received before the close of the public review period on the Draft PEIR.
The Final PEIR consists of a comprehensive revision to the PEIR after public circulation of the Draft PEIR (including technical appendices); public comments on the Draft PEIR; and responses to the public comments.
Engineer’s Report
Section 12 of the District Act requires the Board to conduct a public hearing to hear testimony on a project when: 1) the project is a new construction; and 2) the project is funded by a single or joint zone of benefits. The proposed Project meets both conditions. The Engineer’s Report (Attachment 2) was prepared for the purpose of public disclosure of significant rehabilitation activities and construction of new vaults associated with the proposed Project.
Staff is recommending that the Board set a public hearing for April 22, 2025, at 1:00 PM to hear public comments on Valley Water’s Final PEIR and Engineer’s Report. Following the public hearing, the Board will consider the Final PEIR before considering approving the Engineer’s Report and the proposed Project. The Notice of Public Hearing for the Engineer’s Report is provided in Attachment 3.
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND EQUITY IMPACT:
There are no Environmental Justice and Equity Impacts associated with this action.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
There is no financial impact associated with approving staff’s recommendation to set a Public Hearing on the Engineer’s Report to consider the Project.
CEQA:
The recommended action does not constitute a “project” under CEQA because it does not have the potential for resulting in direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment.
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment 1: Resolution
Attachment 2: Engineer’s Report
Attachment 3: Notice of Public Hearing
UNCLASSIFIED MANAGER: Manager
Emmanuel Aryee, 408-630-3074