Utility and Geotechnical Investigations for the Vasona Pump Station Upgrade Project
Summary
SCH Number
2025081261
Public Agency
Santa Clara Valley Water District
Document Title
Utility and Geotechnical Investigations for the Vasona Pump Station Upgrade Project
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
8/28/2025
Document Description
The proposed project includes small-scale utility and geotechnical investigations for information gathering purposes. The utility investigation would include fourteen (14) potholes at VPS. The confirmed locations of underground utilities would be incorporated into the capital improvement project’s design to minimize impacts to existing utilities prior to initiating construction. Typical pothole size would be 12-inches in diameter or 12-inch by 12-inch square. However, the actual size of the potholes would be determined based on the ability to avoid disruption and collateral damage, and level of confidence in locating the crown of the desired utility with available utility location records and field markings. The proposed excavations are small-scale and would be located within the existing facility’s paved areas and parking lots. The geotechnical investigation would include one (1) boring to determine the characteristics of the soil in the area. Boring soil samples would be obtained near the ground surface, at two and a half (2½) feet below ground surface (bgs), five (5) feet bgs, and every five (5) feet thereafter until the planned bottom of the hole is reached. The upper four (4) feet of each boring would be hand augured. The deeper borings would be drilled using a truck-mounted drill rig equipped with hollow-stem augers. If groundwater is encountered, then the drilling method would be switched to mud rotary. The contractor would be responsible for maintaining a log of the soils encountered, obtaining samples for visual examination, and classifying those soils using the Unified Soil Classification System (USCS), and laboratory testing.
Contact Information
Name
Christopher Hall
Agency Name
Santa Clara Valley Water District
Job Title
Assistant Environmental Planner II
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Location
Cities
Los Gatos
Counties
Santa Clara
Regions
San Francisco Bay Area
Other Location Info
Los Gatos
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
§15306
Reasons for Exemption
Class 6 consists of basic data collection, research, experimental management, and resource evaluation activities which do not result in a serious or major disturbance to an environmental resource. These may be strictly for information gathering purposes, or as part of a study leading to an action which a public agency has not yet approved, adopted, or funded.
County Clerk
Santa Clara
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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