PG&E Richmond-to-Pittsburg Pipeline
Section 2-XIV Recreation
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SETTING

Please see Section XIII.a., above, for a description of parks and recreational areas adjacent to the pipeline or through which the pipeline passes. The City of Richmond encompasses over 45 parks, 10 community centers and a marina; the City of Pinole manages three city parks; the City of Hercules manages six city parks, two community centers and an amphitheater; the City of Martinez manages over fourteen parks, several community centers and a marina; and the City of Pittsburg manages over ten city parks. In addition, the communities of Rodeo and Crockett, as well as other unincorporated areas of Contra Costa County include parks and recreational areas managed by the County.

The following public parks and recreational areas in the vicinity (within 0.5 miles) of the Richmond pipeline, but are not adjacent to or traversed by the pipeline:

RECREATION IMPACTS DISCUSSION

• The proposed project makes use of an existing underground pipeline that passes through several Contra Costa County municipalities, and an existing pump station located in the City of Hercules. The project would require replacement of an underground section of the pipeline located within the City of Martinez. The underground pipeline is located primarily either within the Union Pacific Railroad right-of-way or within public street right-of-ways, and passes through the cities of Richmond, Hercules, San Pablo, Pinole, Rodeo, and Martinez, and unincorporated areas of Contra Costa County, including Crockett. The pump station is located on 44.2 acres of land generally bounded by San Pablo Avenue, John Muir Parkway, I-80 and undeveloped lands to the north. However, the pump station and the pipeline are existing structures. The proposed operation of the pump station and the pipeline would not result in physical changes in the vicinity of the project route, and therefore would not have any impact on any recreation resource that exists near the pump station or along the existing pipeline.
  
  

  The restarted pipeline and pump station likely would not increase the use of existing neighborhood and regional parks or other recreational facilities such that substantial physical deterioration of the facility would occur or be accelerated.

• The proposed project consists of the operation of a pipeline and pump station that have not been in routine use for approximately 19 years, although the pipeline has been maintained to provide standby capability. The pump station is located in the City of Hercules and the pipeline runs through the cities of Richmond, Hercules, San Pablo, Pinole, Rodeo, and Martinez, and unincorporated areas of Contra Costa County, including Crockett. Most of the pipeline is located within the Union Pacific Railroad right-of-way or public roadway right-of-ways. Once back in operation, only a small crew of workers would be needed for operation and maintenance of the facilities. Therefore, the proposed project would not require the construction or expansion of recreational facilities that might have an adverse physical effect on the environment.

REFERENCES

Bay Conservation and Development Commission, San Francisco Bay Plan, http://www.bcdc.ca.gov/commlib/bayplan/ld1_TOC.htm, accessed March 8, 2001.

Association of Bay Area Governments Web Site on the San Francisco Bay Trail, http://www.abag.ca.gov/bayarea/baytrail/, accessed March 8, 2001.

Pacific Gas and Electric Company, Proponent's Environmental Assessment, November 8, 2000.

City of Martinez, General Plan, as amended to January 1995.

Contra Costa County, Contra Costa County General Plan, July 1996.

McBride, Janet, Project Manager, San Francisco Bay Trail, Association of Bay Area Governments, March 7, 2001.

Thompson, Laura, Bay Trail Planner, San Francisco Bay Trail, Association of Bay Area Governments, March 7, 2001.