XII. UTILITIES AND SERVICE SYSTEMS

1. The proposed project is responding to a regional need for electrical utility upgrades and would not in itself be considered a cause for other new or altered power or natural gas utilities. Therefore, no impact to power or natural gas systems or supplies would occur.

2. Pacific Bell provides communication services and currently serves the project area. The project site currently has telephone lines that are used by the Petaluma Service Center. The operation of the substation would require a minimum of new communications infrastructure. The substation would not house any employees but would be connected via telephone lines to PG&E engineering controls for remote operation and alarm systems. PG&E has stated that proposed construction of the power lines and landscaping on the north side of Corona Road would not disturb an existing underground telecommunications line located between the edge of the road and the drainage canal. Therefore, no impact to communication services is anticipated.

3. The project site does not have any septic tanks or sewer services. The operation of the substation would not create a demand on water supply or sewer services. No bathroom facilities would be required as the substation would be controlled remotely and not house any employees (PG&E, 1997). Water supply for the perimeter landscaping would be maintained without change. No water or sewer lines would have to be moved for construction of the project. Therefore, no impact to water supply and sewer services is anticipated.

4. The size of the substation site is 0.55 acre, and the storm water drainage from the site currently discharges into the City’s storm water system. The expected increase in the amount of impermeable surfaces (that would create additional run-off) is small and would have a less-than-significant impact on the local storm drainage system. Site runoff would not exceed the capacity of the storm drains serving the site. Therefore, the project would have a less-than-significant impact related to storm water infrastructure (also see Section IV., Water). The project would create a landscaped "urban creek" in the existing drainage ditch along the north side of Corona Road (PG&E, 1998b). This would be a drainage channel to receive roadway runoff. The proposed design would not affect local drainage.

5. The project would require solid waste disposal service only during the construction phase. PG&E and its contractors for construction would remove all solid wastes from the site. In the long-term, no solid wastes would be generated at the site because the substation would be controlled remotely and not house any employees (PG&E, 1997). Therefore, no impact to solid waste disposal services would occur.

6. The project would require a minor increase in water use for construction that could be accommodated by available water service, and would not have a substantial impact on local or regional water supplies. In the long-term, no additional water services would be needed, as the substation would be controlled remotely and not house any employees (PG&E, 1997). Water service would be restricted to that needed for maintaining the existing landscaping. Therefore, no impact to water services would occur.

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