Wildomar, CA Project Description:
25. Fiber Optic Cable Construction 10000 Block of Highway 395
Victorville, CA
Project Description:
Fiber optic cable construction (installation, replacement and removal) and related support structures including underground conduit systems, wood poles, and structure appurtenance.
Mitigation Measures:
1. Environmental Setting: The project is located in Victorville within San Bernardino County. The project site is located on the west side of U.S. HWY 395 north of Smoke Tree Rd. The surrounding area is characterized by an industrial area west and southwest of the intersection and vacant land.
2. Biological Resources: This project as proposed is not expected to impact sensitive biological resources. Implementation of the required measures below should further reduce the potential for impacts to species protected by state and/or federal laws that may occur on the site.
Required Biological Measures:
• Check for nests (including partially constructed nests) or nesting bird behaviors within 200 feet of project activities. Contact the SCE Operator and ask for an on-call Biologist prior to conducting construction activities near active nests as they are protected by state and federal law.
• Avoid contact with any wildlife encountered.
• No vegetation/tree removal or trimming/mowing may occur, except as specifically authorized.
• Crews shall cover all construction related holes and trenches at the beginning and end of every day. Crews should look in holes/trenches that have been covered to make sure nothing has become trapped overnight.
• Vehicles/equipment must be inspected for leaks (e.g., fuel, oil, hydraulic fluids, etc.) and repaired prior to work. Fueling should not be conducted near a drainage feature. Spill kits/absorbent clean-up materials shall be available onsite and if used, disposed of properly.
• Vehicles must remain on existing access roads, or except as specifically authorized
3. Cumulative Effects: SCE is planning only a single project within these ROWs, and is unaware of any current plans by other telecommunications companies to construct within these ROWs. In the event that the City identifies other proposed projects within the subject ROWs, SCE will work with the City to coordinate construction schedules in order to minimize any potential conflict.
4. Geological Resources: SCE does not believe that the proposed placement of fiber optic cable within existing ROWs will cause any significant erosion or any impact to geological resources. SCE will comply with all applicable local design, construction and safety standards. SCE’s construction shall comply with all GO-95 and GO-128 regulations promulgated by the Commission, which outline required construction standards for the subject project. Erosion control will comply with applicable National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) requirements.
5. Water Resources: SCE is not aware of any surface or underground water resources that could be potentially affected by the proposed project. SCE does not anticipate any possible impacts to jurisdictional drainage features, water quality, drainage, flow direction or quantity due to the proposed placement of fiber optic cable within existing ROW. However, if any local, state or federal agency identifies any concern related to water resources, SCE shall comply with any appropriate mitigation requirements.
6. Air Quality: Air Quality regulations require construction projects to use measures to control particulate emissions (dust) during construction activities. Fiber optic cable projects may involve disturbing roadways and digging trenches. SCE will take the actions necessary to implement control measures to minimize chemical sprays at the construction site, protection against trailing dust onto roadways, and control of dust emissions from vehicles removing dirt from the construction site. In addition, depending on their size (bhp rating), portable equipment such as internal combustion engine driven electrical generators, jack hammers, and compressors may require either state registration or local air district variable location permits to limit emissions of NOx, and PM. These registrations or permits will be gained by either SCE or the appropriate contractor.
• Portable equipment such as electric generators, concrete pumps, wood chippers, etc that are powered with engines greater than 49 hp need to be permitted through the local air pollution control district or registered through the California Air Resources Board before they can be brought onto the site.
• Off-road diesel vehicles such as backhoes, graders, man-lifts, etc more than 25 hp need to be registered through the California Air Resources Board before they can be brought onto the site.
• Fugitive dust may become an issue if there is grading, trenching or travel on unpaved roads. In these cases a water truck should be made available to the crews on an as needed basis. Care should be taken to ensure that dirt track-out onto paved streets is minimized and swept at the end of each work shift. Local air quality agency dust control regulations must be followed.
7. Transportation & Circulation & Public Services: SCE shall minimize potential impacts to traffic congestion, parking, and pedestrians by coordinating with all appropriate local agencies, and complying with all relevant standards. SCE will complete all construction in compliance with any applicable local scheduling requirements or restrictions. In addition, SCE shall file all necessary traffic plans, obtain all necessary permits, and comply with local jurisdictional traffic control for streets and highways. If for any reason SCE requires construction activities to exceed the scheduled period for construction, SCE shall coordinate with the City to obtain necessary permits and minimize potential impacts. Any public service facilities within the affected ROW impacted by construction of the proposed project will be restored.
8. Hazards: The proposed fiber optic construction will not interfere with the passage of emergency or evacuation vehicles. Emergency and evacuation agencies will be allowed clear route access at all times.
9. Noise: SCE does not anticipate any significant impact to noise receptors within the project area due to the temporary nature of the construction activities. Limiting the duration of construction activities to the maximum extent feasible will minimize impacts to residential, commercial, and other businesses along the route. SCE shall comply with all applicable city noise standards during construction. The fiber optic cable shall have no permanent impact on the ambient noise level in the area.
10. Aesthetics: Because of the developed nature of the project area, and because the proposed construction will not result in any permanent visual changes, SCE does not believe any significant aesthetic impacts will occur as a result of the proposed fiber optic cable installation project. In the unlikely event that any landscaping is disturbed during construction, SCE shall replace the disturbed landscaping.
11. Cultural Resources: There is a low likelihood of encountering buried cultural resources during the installation of fiber optic cable to the project as there will be no or minimal ground disturbing work within an urban, developed area.
If archaeological resources, fossils, or human remains are encountered, halt work, and contact the SCE Operator and ask for an on-call Archaeologist.