STATE OF CALIFORNIA, PETE WILSON,
Governor
August 13, 1998
RE: Variance Request #98 - Relocation of the pipeline alignment between station numbers 4859+48 to 4862+51, from the west side of San Fernando Road to the east side of the roadway, 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:
• At the request of CalTrans, PPSI has submitted this request in order to comply with CalTrans regulations concerning pipeline suspension from bridges. The subject reroute includes the Colorado Street Underpass on San Fernando Road. CalTrans requires that pipelines be placed within utility slots on bridges. The current open utility slot on the Colorado Street Underpass is on the eastern side of the roadway. In order to place the pipe with the existing utility slot, the pipeline alignment must be moved from the west side of San Fernando Road to the east side of the roadway.
• As proposed, PPSI plans on trenching San Fernando Road before and after the underpass crossing to accommodate the reroute; given the existing buildout along San Fernando Road no suitable locations are available for bore pits. Since trenching of San Fernando Road is required at two locations, a variance from the Project Description in the EIS/SEIR concerning the boring of "major roadways, interstate highways, and freeways..." to mitigate traffic impacts is also required.
• San Fernando Road is a six-lane roadway, with turn lanes available in both directions. Based on traffic data provided by the City of Glendale for this roadway, traffic along this portion of San Fernando Road can be characterized as moderate. Land uses within the immediate area are light industrial. Ingress/egress to these immediate businesses is essentially limited to workers arriving and leaving the job site.
• To mitigate potential traffic impacts on San Fernando Road during trenching, PPSI would use standard open trenching methods, with half of 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 at each crossing.
• Since the proposed realignment requires trenching across San Fernando Road at two locations, the reroute would impose additional construction impacts to that of the original alignment (traffic, air, noise, etc.). However, the increased construction impacts would be temporary.
• 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.
- Prior to initiation of construction of the reroute, written CalTrans approval shall be provided to the CPUC Environmental Monitor.
- Prior to initiation of construction of the reroute, written authorization to open cut San Fernando Road at the proposed locations shall be granted by the City of Glendale and proof of this approval presented to CPUC Environmental Monitor.
- Since San Fernando Road is a six-lane roadway, at no time shall more than two lanes of the roadway be closed to thru traffic at any given time. In addition, if concurrent trenching/construction is conducted at each crossing, the same lanes shall be closed at each crossing.
- Construction within San Fernando Road shall be conducted during nonpeak traffic hours (e.g., after 9:00 a.m. and before 4:00 p.m.).
- Pipeline installation within San Fernando Road at each crossing shall be completed within 10 working days.
- Prior to the commencement of construction within San Fernando Road, 72-hour advance written notice shall be provided to all businesses located with 500 feet of the subject crossings. 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,
