SMUD Gas Pipeline Anomaly Inspection and Repair Project
Summary
SCH Number
2026010130
Public Agency
Sacramento Municipal Utility District
Document Title
SMUD Gas Pipeline Anomaly Inspection and Repair Project
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
1/7/2026
Document Description
Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) is proposing to perform gas pipeline inspections at three separate locations within the Line 700A Gas Pipeline right-of-way (ROW). All three of the proposed excavation sites fall within the section of ROW encompassed by the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area. The work proposed includes excavations to expose the pipeline, inspect for anomalies, and make necessary repairs. Two of the work areas would include 8-by10-foot excavation sites, soil stockpiles, equipment parking, and staging. Additionally, one location will include work to safely remove a section of idle pipeline which has been inactive since 2000. This site will require four, 12-by-16-foot excavations and one, narrow, 15-by-2-foot excavation to exhume, cap off, and remove the idle facilities. Wetland protective matting would be utilized within the work areas to minimize ground disturbance. SMUD would access the pipeline ROW using existing roads. The excavations will be performed using a combination of mechanical excavation, hydro-excavation, and soft-dig methods, and will include shoring, air monitoring, and compliance with all applicable codes and industry standards. Equipment anticipated for this work includes pickup trucks, backhoe or excavator, equipment trailers, hydro-vac truck, haul truck, and water truck. Upon completion of the necessary maintenance work, the excavations would be backfilled with sand and native soils and revegetated at the surface. Activities would be performed during daytime hours. Work is expected to take approximately 14 days at each location. Construction is expected to be completed by August 2026 or soon thereafter.
Contact Information
Name
Ammon Rice
Agency Name
SMUD
Job Title
Supervisor, Environmental Services
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Email
Location
Coordinates
Cities
unincorporated area
Counties
Yolo
Regions
Northern California, Unincorporated
Parcel #
APN033160012
State Highways
I-80
Other Location Info
Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
(CEQA PRC Section 21080(b)(9), 21084; CEQA Guidelines Sections 15301, 15302, 15306, and 15309
Reasons for Exemption
CEQA Guidelines, Section 15301 states that “Class 1 consists of the operation, repair, maintenance, permitting, leasing, licensing, or minor alteration of existing public or private structures, facilities, mechanical equipment, or topographical features, involving negligible or no expansion of existing or former use.” This project may involve the repair or maintenance of a consists of replacement or reconstruction of existing structures and facilities where the new structure will be located on the same site as the structure replaced and will have substantially the same purpose and capacity as the structure replaced...” This project may involve replacing an existing section in the same location along SMUD’s gas pipeline and will not increase the capacity of the pipeline. Section 15306 states that “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.” This project involves due diligence to further inspect and collect information following a recent inline inspection of SMUD’s natural gas pipeline. Section 15309 states that “Class 9 consists of activities limited entirely to inspections, to check for performance of an operation, or quality, health, or safety of a project, including related activities such as inspection for possible mislabeling, misrepresentation, or adulteration of products.” This project involves excavations to expose the pipeline, inspect for anomalies, and make necessary repairs of SMUD’s natural gas pipeline to verify proper and safe operation of the facility. Therefore, no further environmental review is required.
County Clerk
Yolo
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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