Title
Community Development Agency, Transportation Division, recommending the Board consider the following actions related to the Silver Fork Road at South Fork American River - Bridge Rehabilitation (No. 25C0113) Project, CIP No. 77124:
1) Adopt the California Environmental Quality Act Mitigated Negative Declaration; and
2) Approve the Project as described in the California Environmental Quality Act document.
FUNDING: Federal Highway Administration Local Assistance Highway Bridge Program, authorized under the 100 percent Funded Program. (Federal Funds)
Body
Fiscal Impact/Change to Net County Cost
Adoption of this Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND) and approval of the Silver Fork Road at South Fork American River - Bridge Rehabilitation (No. 25C0113) Project (Project) does not have a Fiscal Impact or change to Net County Cost. This Project is included in the Adopted 2014 Capital Improvement Program and is funded through the Federal Highway Administration Local Assistance Highway Bridge Program, authorized under the 100 percent Funded Program
The recommended Board actions are based on the following findings:
A) The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) document on file with the Clerk of the Board, and on the Community Development Agency, Transportation Division website, http://www.edcgov.us/DOT/index.html, was prepared pursuant to Public Resources Code §21000 et seq., and the State CEQA Guidelines.
B) There is no substantial evidence that the Project, as mitigated, will have a significant effect on the environment.
C) The MND for the Project reflects the lead agency's independent judgment and analysis.
Background
The Community Development Agency, Transportation Division (Transportation) is proposing to rehabilitate the existing structurally deficient bridge structure to improve roadway safety and comply with American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) guidelines and El Dorado County standards. The Project is 100% funded under the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Highway Bridge Program (HBP).
The Project is located 28 miles east of Placerville along Silver Fork Road; approximately 150 feet south of U.S. Highway 50 in the community of Kyburz at an elevation of approximately 4,080 feet (see Attachment C for location maps).
The existing 60 foot 10 inch long, 24 foot 3 inch wide, 2-lane single span, welded-steel plate girder bridge with a concrete deck was constructed in 1953. The bridge has been identified by Caltrans as structurally deficient, with a sufficiency rating of 64.0 out of 100, and the concrete deck is in poor condition.
Transportation is the CEQA lead agency and prepared the MND to consider the significance of potential Project impacts in accordance with the State CEQA Guidelines (14 CA Administrative Code, §14000 et seq.). Certification of this MND would complete the CEQA portion of the environmental phase toward ultimate delivery of this Project. This is a federally funded project; therefore, FHWA designated Caltrans as the lead agency to administer the National Environmental Quality Act (NEPA) Categorical Exclusion, utilizing the required studies completed by the County. At this time, NEPA is not yet approved.
Project Description: The Project proposes to rehabilitate the existing bridge structure to improve roadway safety and comply with AASHTO guidelines and El Dorado County standards. The County will replace the bridge deck with a wider, cast-in-place, reinforced concrete deck; install approach slabs on each side of the bridge; install new railings; repair localized scour at the north abutment; reposition the existing girders; and, refurbish the existing paint system.
Original steel elements of the bridge will either be transported offsite to be cleaned and repainted; or cleaned and painted onsite in accordance with applicable lead-based paint regulations. No bridge or roadway realignment is anticipated. Some minor adjustments to the roadway profile will be necessary to improve longitudinal drainage along the bridge and to allow modifications to the abutment seat.
The Project will not require a detour during construction. A single through lane will remain open at all times. Temporary construction easements to install a retaining wall and relocate fencing will be necessary.
A detailed Project description can be found in the MND document (Attachment B), or on the Transportation website at <http://www.edcgov.us/Government/DOT/CEQA.aspx>. A hard copy can be obtained at the Transportation offices at 2850 Fairlane Court, Placerville.
Construction: The Project is anticipated to be constructed within a single construction season in the summer of 2016. During this period, the road will remain open with a single through lane and timed signal.
Mitigation Measures: Mitigation measures are added to the Project to reduce potential impacts to a level of insignificance. The Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Plan can be found within the MND Document.
Prior to construction, resource agency permits will likely be required as follows:
A) U.S. Army Corps of Engineers - Section 404 Clean Water Act Nationwide Permit
B) Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board - Section 401 Water Quality Certification
C) California Department of Fish and Wildlife - Streambed Alteration Agreement
D) El Dorado County Air Quality Management District - Fugitive Dust Plan Approval
Public Notification: The Notice of Intent to Adopt a MND was advertised in the local newspaper in mass circulation (Mountain Democrat) and the entire document was posted on the County website at <http://www.edcgov.us/Government/DOT/CEQA.aspx>. Hard copies are available at the Transportation offices at 2850 Fairlane Court, Placerville. Individual notices were also sent to those directly affected in the Project area and to relevant agencies. The public review period began on October 10, 2014 and ended November 10, 2014.
Public Comments: No comments were received from the local community. Five comment letters were received from local, state, and federal resource agencies. These comments along with responses are found in Appendix B of the Initial Study (IS)-MND document and consist mostly of concerns with potential biological impacts. As noted in each response, all potential impacts are addressed and mitigated to a level of less than significant. No additional impacts occur as a result of these comments; therefore no changes to the mitigation measures are necessary.
Transportation will take the following actions following Board approval:
1) File a Notice of Determination with the office of the County Recorder/Clerk.
2) Transportation staff will proceed with the Project through the NEPA clearance process, then to final design and construction.
Contact
Bard R. Lower, Transportation Division Director
Community Development Agency
Concurrences
County Counsel