STATE OF CALIFORNIA, PETE WILSON, Governor

PUBLIC UTILITES COMMISSION

505 VAN NESS AVENUE

SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94102-3298

February 19, 1998

Dean Shauers, Project Manager

Pacific Pipeline System, Inc.

12201 E. Arapahoe Road, C10

Englewood, CO 80112

RE: Variance Request #49 - Allow for open cut trenching (instead of boring) of Birch Avenue, City of Hawthorne (Segment 4B).

Dear Mr. Shauers:

We have reviewed the above-referenced variance request and approve your request, based on the following factor:

• The Project Description in the EIS/SEIR stated that "major roadways, interstate highways, and freeways" would be bored. Open cut trenching at this location has been requested due to the narrowing of the railroad right-of-way (30 foot width) on the west side of Birch Avenue which would cause the bore pit to be located too close to the railroad tracks; the railroad requires that any activities be conducted a minimum 10-foot distance from their tracks. In addition, the bore on the east side of Birch Avenue would need to be angled to allow for the bend in the railroad right-of-way, again requiring the bore pit to be placed within 10 feet of the railroad tracks.

• Birch Avenue is a two-lane street with little traffic. To mitigate potential traffic impacts on Birch 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. Traffic would continue to pass in both directions with little delay using flagged controls. Trenching activities are anticipated to require five to nine working days. Given the temporary nature of the traffic impacts and that vehicle passage would be maintained, no significant impact would occur.

• Given the presence of perpendicular and parallel utilities to the pipeline alignment within Birch Avenue, potholing (and related traffic disruptions) of Birch Avenue would be required regardless if boring or trenching of the roadway were to be conducted.

• The City of Hawthorne has approved the trenching of Birch Avenue with stipulations (see below).

• The following measures shall be implemented:

- All applicable mitigation measures for the project shall be implemented at the subject location.

- The stipulations identified in the City of Hawthorne’s February 5, 1998 approval letter shall be implemented:

- Since the work at this crossing is not covered under the pipeline franchise agreement with the City of Hawthorne (the railroad has prior rights to Birch Avenue), additional provisions must be made to ensure that the indemnification and insurance requirements of the franchise agreement are extended to include this work.

- The trench repair must be in accordance with the City of Hawthorne’s standard (drawing no. A-718) and approved by the City’s Public Works Inspector.

- All necessary traffic control will be established by PPSI in accordance with the latest edition of the State of California’s Department of Transportation Manual of Traffic Controls for Construction and Maintenance Work Zones.

- At least one lane of traffic will remain open in each direction at all times. No excavations will be left open or unplated overnight.

- Erosion controls shall be implemented as soon as possible to prevent soil and debris from migrating from construction sites to streets. This should be put in place at all areas of construction including Birch Avenue.

- Replace any cracked, broken, or displaced sidewalks with the railroad right-of-way per the direction of the City of Hawthorne’s Public Works Inspector.

- Pipeline installation within Birch Avenue shall be completed within 10 working days.

- 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,

Andrew Barnsdale

Project Manager

cc: R. Borden, ANF

H. Rastegar, Aspen

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