STATE OF CALIFORNIA, PETE WILSON,
Governor
August 11, 1998
RE: Variance Request #105 - Allow for open cut trenching (instead of boring) of Grandview Avenue, City of Glendale (Segment 3).
Dear Mr. Shauers:
We have reviewed the above-referenced variance request, and our decision of approval is based on the following factors:
• PPSI is requesting a variance from the Project Description in the EIS/SEIR concerning the boring of "major roadways, interstate highways, and freeways..." to mitigate traffic impacts. Open cut trenching at this location has been requested since given the number and depth of existing utilities within the crossing (eleven), minimum 25 foot deep bore pits would need to be excavated on either side of Grandview Avenue to bore under all utilities; a trench may be possible at a depth of nine feet. Bore pits of this depth would also need to be larger in size to provide room for shoring boxes. As a result of the required depth and sizing, additional storage space would be required for excavated materials.
• Grandview Avenue is a five-lane roadway that traverses industrial type land uses. Businesses are only located on the southeastern and southwestern corners of the subject crossing. Ingress/egress to these immediate businesses is essentially limited to workers arriving and leaving the job site at the southwest corner and patrons of a small restaurant at the southeast corner. Based on traffic data provided by the City of Glendale for this roadway and observations by the CPUC Environmental Monitors, traffic along the roadway can be characterized as light. Authorization to open cut Grandview Avenue has been granted by the City of Glendale under an amended excavation permit.
• To mitigate potential traffic impacts on Grandview Avenue during trenching, PPSI proposes to use standard open trenching methods, with half the roadway closed during construction. This portion, when completed, would be plated and the second portion of the roadway would be trenched and plated. Local traffic would continue to pass in both directions with minor delays. Trenching activities are anticipated to require five to nine working days.
• Given the temporary nature of construction impacts on local traffic and that vehicle passage would be maintained, no significant traffic impacts are anticipated. In addition, the excavation of 25 foot deep bore pits would likely create additional air emissions to that generated during trenching.
• The following measures shall be implemented:
- All applicable mitigation measures for the project shall be implemented at the subject location, including dust abatement and traffic control.
- Construction within Grandview Avenue shall be conducted during nonpeak traffic hours (e.g., after 9:00 a.m. and before 4:00 p.m.).
- Pipeline installation within Grandview Avenue shall be completed within 10 working days.
- Prior to the commencement of construction within Grandview Avenue, 72-hour advance written notice shall be provided to all businesses located with 500 feet of the subject crossing and businesses in the streets that can be affected by the construction. A copy of the written notice shall be provided to the CPUC Environmental Monitor upon its issuance.
- Implementation of this variance in accordance with the provisions noted above shall be verified on a random basis by a CPUC/ANF Environmental Monitor.
Sincerely,
