XII. UTILITIES AND SERVICE SYSTEMS

1. The proposed project is responding to a regional need for electric power distribution 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 tree trimming operation (ESA, 1997). 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 (Masuoka, 1997). Therefore, no impact to communication services in anticipated.

3. The project site does not have any septic tanks or sewer services (ESA, 1997). The operation of the substation
4. would not create a demand on water supply or sewer services. No bathroom facilities would be required since the substation would be controlled remotely and not house any employees (PEA, 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.

5. The size of the project site is 3.2 acres and the stormwater drainage from the site currently discharges into the Town's storm water system. The increase in the amount of impermeable surfaces that would create additional run-off would have a less than significant impact on the local storm drainage system given the mitigation measures included as part of the project (see Section IV Water). With the proposed drainage management measures, 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).

6. The project would require solid waste disposal service only during the construction phase. A small amount of soil would be removed from the trench for the underground distribution feeder line. 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 (PEA, 1997). Therefore, no impact to solid waste disposal services would occur.

7. 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. Although not required or proposed, PG&E could use reclaimed water for construction purposes. Because construction would occur in winter and spring, which typically are wet periods, overall availability and use of water supplies would not pose a problem. In the long term no additional water services would be needed, as the substation would be controlled remotely and not house any employees (PEA, 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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