DATE: March 12, 2019
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Steven E. White, Director
Department of Public Works and Planning
SUBJECT: Travers Creek Bridge Replacement Project on Parlier Avenue - Initial Study Application No. 6759, State Clearinghouse No. 2019011066
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
Consider and adopt Mitigated Negative Declaration prepared for the Travers Creek Bridge Replacement Project, Federal Project No. BRLO-5942(227) on Parlier Avenue, east of Englehart Avenue, near the City of Reedley (Initial Study Application No. 6759, State Clearinghouse No. 2019011066) and direct staff to file a Notice of Determination with the Fresno County Clerk.
REPORT
Pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the Department of Public Works and Planning, Development Services Division prepared an Initial Study, which determined that mitigation measures are required to reduce project impacts on the environment to a less than significant level, see Exhibit A. A Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND) and Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program (MMRP) have been prepared for the project, see Exhibits B and C. If the MND is adopted by your Board, the County as the CEQA lead agency must file a Notice of Determination with the Fresno County Clerk and pay the accompanying California Department of Fish and Game (CDFW) filing fee for the project’s potential impacts on wildlife within five working days after project approval. This item pertains to a location in District 4.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
Your Board may choose not to adopt the MND if your Board determines that a significant environmental impact may result from the project and then direct the Department to modify the MMRP or prepare an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the project.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no increase in Net County Cost associated with the recommended action. The CDFW fee for this project is $2,354.75. The project is eligible for 100% reimbursement under the Highway Bridge Program. Sufficient appropriations and estimated revenues are included in the Department’s Roads Org 4510 FY 2018-19 Adopted Budget.
DISCUSSION:
According to CEQA Guidelines Section 15063(c), the purpose of an Initial Study is to provide a preliminary analysis of a proposed action to determine whether a Negative Declaration or an EIR should be prepared. An Initial Study also enables the County to modify a project, mitigating adverse impacts in lieu of preparing an EIR, thereby potentially enabling the project to qualify for a MND. If mitigation measures are required to reduce impacts to a less than significant level, a MND and an accompanying MMRP are prepared. The EIR is required if the Initial Study determines the project may have a significant impact on the environment that cannot be reduced to a less than significant level.
The Initial Study prepared for the Travers Creek Bridge Replacement Project on Parlier Avenue concluded that mitigation measures are necessary to address potential impacts and a MND and accompanying MMRP is required. The recommended action consists of the adoption of the MND in conformance with the provisions of CEQA.
The proposed project consists of replacing the Travers Creek Bridge on Parlier Avenue, east of Englehart Avenue, near the City of Reedley. Because the existing bridge is functionally obsolete, it would be replaced with a new two-lane bridge that meets current standards. The approaches would not be widened but could be improved up to 200 feet on either side of the bridge.
Pursuant to Assembly Bill 52 (AB 52) (Chapter 532, Statutes of 2014), Department staff sent formal notice that an Initial Study would be prepared for the proposed project to Table Mountain Rancheria (TMR) on June 27, 2017, Santa Rosa Rancheria (SRR) on June 27, 2017, Dumna Wo Wah (DWW) on August 17, 2017, and Picayune Rancheria of Mono Indians (PRCI) on July 26, 2018. The various dates of submission are due to certain tribes requesting notification following the initial project routing. Letters summarizing the AB 52 consultation and proposed mitigation measures were sent to the Tribal Governments on October 9, 2018, with a request to provide a response prior to October 24, 2018. Staff received no response and concluded consultation on November 8, 2018, in accordance with the provisions of AB 52.
As a requirement of CEQA, the Department consulted with responsible agencies associated with the project, including the CDFW, Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE), and Regional Water Control Board (RWCB).
Initial Study Application No. 6759 indicates that impacts from the project, when the mitigation measures in the attached MMRP are incorporated, will not exceed significance thresholds established by regulatory agencies. The MMRP includes mitigation measures to address potential impacts to Biological, Cultural, and Tribal Resources. Implementation of the mitigation measures is required to complete the project.
Based on the Initial Study, the Department has concluded that preparation of an EIR is not required for the project, and recommends adoption of the MND based on the findings of Initial Study No. 6759. A Notice of Intent to adopt a MND for the project was published in the Fresno Business Journal on January 30, 2019.
With your Board’s approval, the MND will be adopted for the Travers Creek Bridge Replacement Project on Parlier Avenue, the Notice of Determination will be filed the Fresno County Clerk, and the associated CDFW fee will be paid.
OTHER REVIEWING AGENCIES:
Development of this project was coordinated with the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) and Caltrans provides oversight on local projects where Federal funds are allocated.
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
Location Map
Exhibits A-C
CAO ANALYST:
Sonia M. De La Rosa