HomeMy Public PortalAbout4-15_UtilitiesServiceSystems.pdf4.15 UTILITIES AND SERVICE SYSTEMS
4.15-1
This section describes the water, wastewater, solid waste disposal, and energy
infrastructure serving Truckee and analyzes the potential impacts to provid-
ing service to the proposed project. Stormwater is addressed in Section 4.9,
Hydrology and Water Quality, of this Draft EIR. Public utilities for the pro-
ject site would be provided by Truckee Donner Public Utilities District (wa-
ter), Truckee Sanitary District and Tahoe-Truckee Sanitary Agency
(wastewater), Tahoe Truckee Sierra Disposal (solid waste) Southwest Gas
(natural gas), and Liberty Energy – California Pacific Electric Company (elec-
tricity). The following is organized according to type of utility, with existing
conditions, standards of significance and analysis of project- and specific cu-
mulative impacts analyzed individually for each utility.
A. Water Supply
The information and analysis in this section is primarily based on the follow-
ing documents, which are available for review at the Town of Truckee Plan-
ning Department and on-line:1
¤ Truckee Donner Public Utility District (TDPUD) Water System Master
Plan 1995-2015 prepared by Sauers Engineering, Inc., adopted March 19,
1997. Updated in January 2001 and June 2004.
¤ TDPUD Urban Water Management Plan adopted June 2011. Prepared by
Neil Kaufman, Water System Engineer.
1. Regulatory Setting
This section describes the federal, State, and local regulations that provide for
protection and management of water resources and services.
a. Federal Regulations
There are no federal regulations regarding water supply services that are ap-
plicable to the proposed project.
1 Truckee Donner Public Utilities District (TDPUD) website at
www.tdpud.org.
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b. State Regulations
i. California Department of Water Resources
The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) manages the water
resources of California in cooperation with other agencies, to benefit the
State's people, and to protect, restore, and enhance the natural and human
environments. The DWR represented the State in negotiations leading up to
the signing of the Truckee River Operating Agreement (TROA). The TROA
contains an interstate allocation of water between California and Nevada.
Similarly, Public Law 101-618, also known as the Truckee-Carson-Pyramid
Lake Water Rights Settlement Act (Settlement Act), includes an interstate
allocation of surface and groundwater in the Lake Tahoe and Truckee Basins.
Although the Settlement Act was enacted in 1990, it does not become effec-
tive until the TROA goes into effect. The TROA was signed on September
6, 2008; however, will not go into effect until the federal litigation concerning
the TROA is resolved. The TROA interprets the Settlement Act to apply
only to wells drilled after May 1, 1996. Any new wells drilled by the
TDPUD would be subject to the requirements of the TROA once it goes into
effect, which according to the DWR could be within the next few years (i.e.
the life of the proposed project).2
ii. Urban Water Management Planning Act
Through the Urban Water Management Act of 1983, the California Water
Code requires all urban water suppliers within California to prepare and
adopt an Urban Water Management Plan (UWMP) and update it every five
years. This requirement applies to all suppliers providing water to more than
3,000 customers or supplying more than 3,000 acre-feet3 of water annually.
This Act is intended to support conservation and efficient use of urban water
supplies at the local level. The Act requires that total projected water use be
compared to water supply sources over the next 20 years in five-year incre-
ments, that planning occur for single and multiple dry water years and that
plans include a water recycling analysis that incorporates a description of the
2 Eric Hong, Chief, North Central Region Office, DWR. Written correspond-
ence to Denyelle Nishimori, Associate Planner, Town of Truckee, May 27, 2011.
3 One acre-foot is equal to approximately 325,821 gallons.
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wastewater collection and treatment system within the agency’s service area
along with current and potential recycled water uses.4 The TDPUD adopted
the current UWMP in June 2011. The 2011 UWMP provides information
about TDPUD responsibilities towards water supply. The TDPUD acquires
its water from the Martis Valley Groundwater Basin (MVGB), which has a
total subsurface storage volume of 484,000 acre-feet.5 The 2011 UWMP is
based on growth projections for the region, which indicate that the existing
service area will reach buildout conditions in the year 2038. The TDPUD
included the current population and projected growth rates from the Town’s
General Plan for the preparation of its 2011 UWMP. Thus, according to Wa-
ter Code Section 10910 (c)(2), the analysis of water demand for the project
may be derived from the UWMP.
iii. Groundwater Management Act
The Groundwater Management Act of the California Water Code (AB 3030)
provides guidance for applicable local agencies to develop a voluntary
Groundwater Management Plan (GMP) in State-designated groundwater ba-
sins. AB 3030 provides local water agencies with procedures to develop a
groundwater management plan so those agencies can manage their groundwa-
ter resources efficiently and safely while protecting the quality of supplies.
Once a plan is adopted, the rules and regulations contained therein must also
be adopted to implement the program outlined in the plan. GMPs can allow
agencies to raise revenue to pay for measures influencing the management of
the basin, including extraction, recharge, conveyance, facilities’ maintenance,
and water quality.6
4 Department of Water Resources, Urban Water Management Planning Pro-
gram website: http://www.owue.water.ca.gov/urbanplan/index.cfm, accessed Sep-
tember 9, 2011.
5 Truckee Donner Public Utility District 2011 Urban Water Management Plan,
page 5-2.
6 California Department of Water Resources Website:
http://www.water.ca.gov/groundwater/gwmanagement/ab_3030.cfm. retrieved Sep-
tember 9, 2011.
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The TDPUD adopted a GMP for the entire Martis Valley Groundwater Ba-
sin on January 3, 1995. On April 6, 2011 the TDPUD adopted Resolution
No. 2011-01 which declared its intent to update its GWP and Adopt a State-
ment of Public Participation. However, as noted in the 2006 Town of
Truckee General Plan certified EIR, additional studies have been conducted
since the preparation of the 1995 GMP to better inform TDPUD, Placer
County Water Agency (PCWA) and the Northstar Community Services Dis-
trict (NCSD), who are all dependant on the Martis Valley Basin for water
supply, about the status of the basin’s capacity.7 The outcome of the most
recent evaluation by Nimbus Engineering in 2001 and verified by Kennedy/
Jenks Consultant in 2002 concluded that the sustainable yield of the ground-
water basin was set at 24,000 acre-feet per year (afy) or 21.4 million gallons
per day (mgd) for all withdrawals.8
iv. Nevada County Local Agency Formation Commission
c. The Legislature has charged the Local Agency Formation Commission
(LAFCo) with carrying out changes in governmental organization to
promote specified legislative policies now codified in the Cortese-Knox-
Hertzberg Local Government Reorganization Act of 2000. The Cortese-
Knox-Hertzberg Act commences with Section 56000 of the Government
Code, and the reader is referred especially to Section 56001, 56300, 56301,
56375, 56377, and 56668. These sections contain the following major pol-
icy elements:
1. Orderly Growth. LAFCo is charged with encouraging orderly growth
and development. Providing housing for persons and families of all in-
comes is an important factor in promoting orderly development.
2. Logical Boundaries. LAFCo is responsible for encouraging the logical
formation and determination of boundaries.
7 Truckee 2025 General Plan EIR, Chapter 4.13, Utilities and Service Systems,
page 4.13-1.
8 Truckee Donner Public Utility District 2011 Urban Water Management Plan,
page 5-2 and -3.
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3. Efficient Services. LAFCo must exercise its authority to ensure that af-
fected populations receive adequate, efficient, and effective governmental
services.
4. Preserve Agricultural and Open Spaces. LAFCo is required to exercise
its authority to guide development away from open space and prime agri-
cultural land uses unless such actions would not promote planned, order-
ly, and efficient development.
The project application includes a request to annex the project site into the
TDPUD. The proposed boundary change will require approval from Nevada
County LAFCo.
d. Local Regulations
i. Town of Truckee 2025 General Plan
The Town of Truckee 2025 General Plan contains goals and policies related
to water supply in the Town. Relevant goals and policies are contained in
Table 4.15-1.
ii. Water System Master Plan
The TDPUD contracted with Sauers Engineering, Inc. to prepare a Water
System Master Plan (WSMP) spanning 1995 to 2015. The aim of the plan was
to assist the TDPUD in identifying existing deficiencies in capacity and ser-
vice; budgeting for correction of these deficiencies; anticipating areas where
growth is likely to occur that is consistent with the Town of Truckee, Neva-
da County and Placer County General Plans; identifying system improve-
ments necessary to serve such growth; and, analyzing the TDPUD’s current
facilities fee and setting future facilities fees.9 The draft of the 2011 WSMP
has been prepared, but it has not yet been adopted.10
9 Truckee Donner Public Utility District 1995-2015 Water System Master Plan.
Last updated June 2004.
10 Truckee Donner Public Utility District, http://www.tdpud.org/
index.php?cId=16, accessed on April 26, 2012.
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TABLE 4.15-1 TOWN OF TRUCKEE GENERAL PLAN GOALS AND POLICIES
RELEVANT TO WATER SUPPLY SERVICES
Policy or
Goal No. Goals and Policies
Goal LU-4 Coordinate land development with provision of services and infrastruc-
ture.
LU-P4.1
Work with all special districts, including the Tahoe-Truckee Uni-
fied School District, to ensure that development within the Town is
coordinated with provision of services.
LU-P4.2
Cooperate with special districts to plan for and identify suitable
future sites for needed facilities, including schools, fire stations,
solid and liquid waste disposal sites, and utilities infrastructure, so
that the local population can be safely and efficiently served, while
minimizing potential environmental impacts.
LU-P4.3
Approve rezoning and development permits only when adequate
services are available, or when a program to provide services has
been approved by the applicable District and the Town of Truckee.
Standards of services for new development applicable to this policy
are shown in Table LU-6.
Require that sewer be provided for all new residential subdivisions
creating more than four lots, and all new commercial and industrial
uses. Existing legal lots and new subdivisions of four or fewer lots
in areas currently without sewer may be developed with residential
uses using septic systems with the approval of the appropriate
health and environmental agencies.
Such lots may be required to establish connections to the sewer
system if they are located in close proximity to existing or future
sewer lines.
Goal COS-11 Protect water quality and quantity in creeks, lakes, natural drainages
and groundwater basins.
COS-P11.1 Minimize excessive paving that negatively impacts surface water
runoff and groundwater recharge rates.
COS-P11.7 Ensure that all proposed developments can be adequately served by
available water supplies.
COS-P11.8 Support all efforts to encourage water conservation by Truckee
residents and businesses, and public agencies, including working
with the Truckee Donner Public Utility District, to implement
water conservation programs and incentives that facilitate conserva-
tion efforts.
Source: Town of Truckee 2025 General Plan.
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iii. Water Facilities Fees Ordinance
Effective June 2005, the Water Facilities Fee Ordinance was passed by the
TDPUD Board of Directors to finance public water system facilities needed
to serve new development and to reduce the impacts of additional demands
on the existing water system caused by new development. Water facilities
fees for residential development are calculated and charted according to an
amount per square foot of living space for the area to be constructed. The
facilities fees are $1.64 times the square feet of living space as determined by
the Building Permit.11
iv. Water Connection Fees Ordinance
Effective April 2008, the Water Connection Fee Ordinance was passed by the
TDPUD Board of Directors to reimburse the TDPUD for the actual adminis-
trative, material, and labor costs of connecting to the water system (excluding
the service lateral).12
2. Existing Setting
Water service in the Truckee area is provided by the TDPUD, a non-profit
utility providing electric and water service since 1927.13 The TDPUD oper-
ates two water systems in the Truckee area: the Hirschdale System and the
Truckee System. Other water systems in the project vicinity include the
Placer County Water Agency’s (PCWA) Zone 4 service area, which is imme-
diately south of the TDPUD water system. The PCWA contracts with the
Northstar Community Services District to operate system.14
11 Truckee Donner Public Utility District Water Facilities Fees,
http://www.tdpud.org/index.php?cId=44, retrieved September 8, 2011.
12 Truckee Donner Public Utility District Ordinance No. 2008 – 01 Amending
Water Connection Fees, http://www.tdpud.org/index.php?cId=7, retrieved Septem-
ber 8, 2011.
13 Truckee Donner Public Utility District website, http://www.tdpud.org/
index.php?cId=1, accessed September 7, 2011.
14 Truckee Donner Public Utility District 2011 Urban Water Management Plan,
page 2-1.
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The TDPUD provides water to portions of the Town, along with adjacent
unincorporated areas of Nevada and Placer Counties. The project site is not
currently within the TDPUD service area as defined by Nevada County
LAFCo. The Nevada County LAFCo is currently preparing an update to the
sphere of influence (SOI) of the TDPUD that would result in the project area
being located in the TDPUD’s long-term SOI; however, this update is not
anticipated to be complete until 2016.15 Nonetheless, the TDPUD, the only
public water purveyor that has existing water system facilities adjacent to the
project site, will serve the project site upon approval of the annexation of the
project site into the TDPUD service territory by the Nevada County
LAFCo.16 Furthermore, as discussed in the 2011 UWMP, the Town’s popu-
lation and growth projections, which include the proposed project, is equal to
the population of the TDPUD water service area.17 Accordingly, any cumu-
lative future water demand projections calculated by the TDPUD include the
maximum density of 213 single-family homes on the project site.
a. Water Supply
The TDPUD pumps its water from the Martis Valley Groundwater Basin
(MVGB). The MVGB is a low-lying area of approximately 57 square miles
that is completely contained within a larger watershed of approximately
167 square miles.
The MVGB has a total subsurface storage volume of 484,000 acre-feet and is
made up of a multiple aquifer system composed of basin-fill sedimentary units
and interlayed basin-fill volcanic units.18 Infiltration from surface water and
precipitation supplies the upper unconfined aquifer system, which in turn
15 S.R. Jones, Executive Officer, Nevada LAFCo. Email correspondence with
Denyelle Nishimori, Associate Planner, Town of Truckee, May 2, 2011.
16 Neil Kaufman, Water System Engineer, TDPUD. Written correspondence
with Denyelle Nishimori, Associate Planner, April 19, 2011 and August 25, 2011.
17 Truckee Donner Public Utility District 2011 Urban Water Management Plan,
page 2-4.
18 Truckee Donner Public Utility District 2011 Urban Water Management Plan,
page 5-2.
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feeds adjacent wetland areas. Annual groundwater recharge depends heavily
on snowmelt in the late spring and early summer from April through June.19
The basin-wide annual recharge is estimated at 29,165 afy and a sustainable
yield of the MVGB is 24,000 afy or 21.4 mgd. The California Department of
Water Resources has not determined that the MVGB is overdrafted and no
instances of contamination within the aquifers are known. Furthermore, the
MVGB is not adjudicated20 and none of the groundwater users has expressed a
desire to have the MVGB adjudicated to date.21 Based on recent studies of the
groundwater basin, available water was estimated to be adequate to serve the
projected buildout of the TDPUD service area and the Town of Truckee.22
Given the total subsurface storage and sustainable yield of 24,000 AFY, there
is enough available water in the basin for the next 20 years of service even if
no recharge occurred.23
b. Water Service and Facilities
The TDPUD maintains approximately 216 miles of transmission, distribu-
tion, and service pipeline ranging from 2 inches to 24 inches in diameter.24
The TDPUD also maintains 1,530 main line valves, 870 fire hydrants, 130 air
release valves, 100 blow-off valves, and 20 pressure reducing stations.25
19 Pacific Municipal Consultants, 2002. Old Greenwood Planned Development
Draft Environmental Impact Report (SCH# 2001102077).
20 Adjudicated is the legal process by which an arbiter reviews evidence of op-
posing parties to decide rights and obligations between parties.
21 Truckee Donner Public Utility District 2011 Urban Water Management Plan,
page 5-2.
22 Truckee Donner Public Utility District 2011 Urban Water Management Plan,
page 5-8.
23 Truckee Donner Public Utility District 2011 Urban Water Management Plan,
page 5-3.
24 Truckee Donner Public Utility District 2011 Urban Water Management Plan,
page 3-5.
25 Truckee Donner Public Utility District 1995-2015 Water System Master Plan,
updated June 2004.
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Because elevations throughout service area vary, water is stored in tanks that
are strategically placed throughout the area and transported to higher eleva-
tions areas through a series of pump stations. The TDPUD currently main-
tains 13 active wells to supply potable water and three active wells to supply
non-potable water, 33 active storage tanks and 25 pumping stations, to serve
approximately 16,200 water customers in 46 pressure zones. The total pro-
duction capacity of the active potable water wells is approximately 14 mgd or
43 acre-feet per day (afd) and the total firm production capacity26 is 10.9 mgd
or 34 afd.27
c. System Capacity and Improvements
Current water demand in the service area averages 4.53 mgd or 13.9 afd, with
a peak of 9.53 mgd or 29.2 afd that occurred on July 6, 2010. The current
maximum potable water demand for the TDPUD is 9.53 mgd or 29.2 afd,
with maximum demand estimated to be 14.58 mgd or 44.7 afd at buildout of
the 2025 General Plan and between 20.3 mgd or 62.3 afd and 21.88 mgd or
67.1 afd at buildout based on growth projections for the region, which indi-
cate that the existing service area will reach buildout conditions in the year
2038.28 In order to meet this future demand, a total of five new wells, at a
capacity of 850 gpm each for a total production capacity of 23.8 mgd or 73 afd
and a firm production capacity of 20.7 mgd or 63.5 afd, will be required to
provide adequate capacity.29 Additional wells, for a total of eight wells,
would be required to meet firm capacity production.30 In order to address
limitations in storage and transmission, the TDPUD has identified the need
26 “Firm Capacity” means adequate pumping equipment and/or treatment ca-
pacity to meet peak daily demand.
27 Truckee Donner Public Utility District 2011 Urban Water Management Plan,
pages 2-5, 3-1, and 3-4, and Figure 3-3.
28 Truckee Donner Public Utility District 2011 Urban Water Management Plan,
page 2-4, 4-1, 4-9, 5-5, 5-6 and 5-8.
29 Truckee Donner Public Utility District 2011 Urban Water Management Plan,
page 5-8.
30 Truckee Donner Public Utility District 2011 Urban Water Management Plan,
page 5-7.
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for a series of improvements, including the construction of new wells as stat-
ed above, additional storage facilities, two new major transmission pipelines
and an upsizing of existing pipelines in some areas.31
3. Standards of Significance
The proposed project would have a significant impact with regard to water
supply if it would:
¤ Require or result in the construction of new water treatment facilities or
expansion of existing facilities, the construction of which could cause sig-
nificant environmental effects.
¤ Have sufficient water supplies available to serve the project from existing
entitlements and resources, or are new or expanded entitlements needed.
4. Impact Discussion
a. Project Impacts
As previously discussed, the 2011 UWMP demand projections are based on
growth projection in the 2025 General Plan.32 The 2025 General Plan as-
sumed that 213 housing units could be constructed on the project site under
RS-1.0 Zoning District (Single-Family Residential, density of 1 du/acre), den-
sity standards. Thus, according to Water Code Section 10910 (c)(2), the anal-
ysis of water demand for the project may be derived from the UWMP.
b. Water Supply
The project is anticipated to generate 2.529 persons per household, which
would result in approximately 468 new residents for the project’s proposed
185 residential units.33 As such, the demand for domestic water in the Town
and TDPUD service area would increase as a result of the project.
31 Truckee Donner Public Utility District 1995-2015 Water System Master Plan,
updated June 2004.
32 Truckee Donner Public Utility District 2011 Urban Water Management Plan,
page 2-4.
33 Town of Truckee General Plan 2007-2014 Housing Element, Appendix A –
Housing Profile, page HA-7.
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The maximum potable water demand for the TDPUD is estimated to be
14.58 mgd or 16,316 afy at buildout of the 2025 General Plan and between
20.3 mgd or 22,740 afy and 21.88 mgd or 24,492 afy based on growth projec-
tions for the region, including areas outside of the Town limits. Buildout
projections for the existing service area are to the year 2038.34 The total cur-
rent production capacity of the active potable water wells is approximately 14
mgd or 15,695 afy and the current total firm production capacity is 10.9 mgd
or 12,410 afy.35 Therefore, in order to meet this future demand, a total of five
new wells, at a capacity of 850 gallons per minute (gpm) each for a total pro-
duction capacity of 23.8 mgd or 26,645 afy and a firm production capacity of
20.7 mgd or 23,178 afy, are planned as part of the 2011 UWMP to provide
this additional capacity.36
As discussed above, the MVGB has a total sustainable water supply of 21.4
mgd or 24,000 afy. This would occur even if no recharge took place; howev-
er, recharge of approximately 26 mgd or 29,165 afy would in fact contribute
additional water to the groundwater basin. Therefore, according to the data
provided in the 2011 UWMP, it is reasonable to assume that given the total
subsurface and sustainable yield of 24,000 afy and basin-wide annual recharge
of 29,165 afy, there is sufficient water available to support development in
Truckee and the surrounding area for buildout of the Town in 2025 and the
region in 2030.37
Furthermore, goals and policies in the 2025 General Plan, identified in Table
4.15-1 above, call for the provision of an adequate supply of water; the
maintenance of water infrastructure; coordination between land use planning
34 Truckee Donner Public Utility District 2011 Urban Water Management Plan,
pages 2-4, 4-1, 4-9, 5-5, 5-6 and 5-8.
35 Truckee Donner Public Utility District 2011 Urban Water Management Plan,
pages 2-5, 3-1, and 3-4, and Figure 3-3.
36 Truckee Donner Public Utility District 2011 Urban Water Management Plan,
page 5-8.
37 Truckee Donner Public Utility District 2011 Urban Water Management Plan,
pages 5-2 and 5-3.
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and water facilities and service; and, the promotion of water conservation
measures. These goals and policies, combined with improvements foreseen in
the TDPUD 2011 UWMP, would prevent significant impacts from occurring
to Truckee’s water supply during buildout of the 2025 General Plan and
buildout of the TPDPUD service area in the year 2038.38 Thus, project im-
pacts to water use within the Town would be considered less than significant
and no mitigation measures are required.
c. Water Infrastructure
As noted previously in this section, the TDPUD currently lacks the water
storage capacity needed to meet the demands under the projected buildout of
the service area. However, plans for construction of new wells and other
facilities improvements will allow the TDPUD to address capacity effective-
ness and meet future water demands at buildout of the General Plan.39 The
planned improvements needed to accommodate growth in the entire TDPUD
service area would be subject to environmental review during the design and
implementation phase.
There is currently no utility infrastructure on the project site. The project
would include the installation of on-site and off-site underground improve-
ments to the TDPUD water network. As shown on Figure 3-10, the pro-
posed on-site water mains would be comprised of 8-inch pipes and the sewer
mains would be comprised of both 4-inch and 6-inch pipes.
As shown on Figure 3-11, off-site infrastructure improvements would be
comprised of approximately 2,600 linear feet (lf) of new water mains. The
new 10-inch water pipe would be constructed within the existing roadway
right of ways and public utilities easements. Project Phases 1, 2 and 3 would
require approximately 300 lf of the new water pipe beginning at the end of
Courtenay Court and connecting the project’s western border and the instal-
38 Truckee Donner Public Utility District 2011 Urban Water Management Plan,
page 2-4.
39 Truckee Donner Public Utility District 1995-2015 Water System Master Plan,
updated June 2004.
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lation of the 2,300 lf of new water main beginning south of the intersection of
Somerset Drive and connecting to the “upper zone” and run northeast up
Courtenay Lane to Regency Circle to Edinburgh Drive and to the western
boundary of the project site. The new water pipes would be constructed
within highly developed areas including the roadway shoulder where conflicts
with existing utilities such as gas are not present, and within the roadway
prism following the same alignment of an existing steel water main recently
abandoned in place by the TDPUD. Temporary impacts associated with the
installation of the 2,900 lf of off-site pipelines during Phase 1 of project con-
struction would be considered to be less than significant through implementa-
tion mitigation measures and mandatory regulations described in other chap-
ters of this Draft EIR. Mitigation Measure HYDRO-1a through 1c and HY-
DRO-2a through 2c described in Section 4.9 recommends measures and Best
Management Practices to stabilize soils and minimize erosion during the con-
struction process. Mandatory regulations described in Section 4.5 of this
Draft EIR, impacts to unknown cultural resources and human remains would
be less than significant as well. Mitigation Measure TRANS-4 would reduce
temporary impact to local roadways through the preparation of a construc-
tion vehicle route to be prepared and approved by the Town’s Public Works
Department prior to the issuance of building permits. The new water pipes
are necessary to provide the project with adequate water supply and to meet
the Truckee Fire Protection District minimum flow requirements of 1,500
gallons per minute (gpm) for a two-hour duration with 20-pounds per square
inch (psi) residual.40,41 Therefore, with installation of the new water lines pre-
viously reviewed and approved by the TDPUD, and approval of recommend-
ed mitigation measures described above, impacts associated with new water
infrastructure and impacts to existing water infrastructure would be less than
significant.
40 Bob Bena, Interim Fire Chief, Truckee Fire Protection District. Written
correspondence to Denyelle Nishimori, Associate, Town of Truckee, May 12, 2011.
41 Neil Kaufman, Water System Engineer, TDPUD. Email correspondence to
Denyelle Nishimori, Associate, Town of Truckee, August 25, 2011.
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d. Cumulative Impacts
The TDPUD’s planning for future water supply takes into account cumula-
tive demand within its entire service area. As noted above, there would be a
less than significant impact to water supply under buildout of the Truckee
2025 General Plan in combination with other projected growth. In the
UWMP and the WSMP, the TDPUD assessed future water demand for its
service area. The UWMP and the WSMP recommend the construction of
new wells or the expansion of water supply systems to meet future demand.
The Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) in the draft 2011 WSMP estimated
timeline and costs for future improvements from 2012 through 2032. If
adopted, the TDPUD will begin to implement the CIP. While the project
would contribute to an increased cumulative demand for water supply, long-
term demand, including the project, has been accounted for in TDPUD’s
long-term planning. Any construction or expansion of TDPUD’s facilities
included in the CIP would be subject to separate CEQA review, thereby
providing an opportunity to identify and mitigate associated environmental
impacts. Improvements to the TDPUD’s existing facilities would be funded
from the water facilities fees. Similar to the project, all new development
would be required to pay these fees at the time of connection to the water
system. Given that implementation of the project would cause less than signif-
icant impacts on water supply or the provision of water supply services, the
project would not result in or contribute to any cumulative impacts.
5. Impacts and Mitigation Measures
Project and cumulative impacts related to water supply and infrastructure
would be less than significant and no mitigation measures are warranted.
B. Wastewater
The following provides a description of wastewater service in the project area,
including applicable regulatory programs, existing wastewater services and
infrastructure, and supply and demand conditions within the project area.
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1. Regulatory Setting
This section describes the federal, State and local regulations that provide for
wastewater services in the United States and California.
a. Federal Regulations
i. National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES)
Wastewater discharge is regulated under the NPDES permit program for di-
rect discharges into receiving waters and by the National Pretreatment Pro-
gram for indirect discharges to a sewage treatment plant. Project site
wastewater is treated by Tahoe-Truckee Sanitation Agency, which has a per-
mit to discharge treated wastewater into the Truckee River corridor. The
Town of Truckee is permitted under the Waste Discharge Requirements for
Small Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4 permit 6A290712005,
Order No. 2003-0005-DWQ-02), which also serves as a NPDES Permit (No.
CAS000004) under the Federal Clean Water Act. Under the provisions of
this permit, the Town is required to implement the necessary legal authority
and implement appropriate procedures, to regulate the entry of pollutants
and non-stormwater discharges into the Town stormwater conveyance sys-
tem.42
b. State Regulations
i. Porter Cologne Water Quality Control Act
In response to the deterioration of water quality of Lake Tahoe and the
Truckee River, the Porter Cologne Water Quality Control Act was adopted
in the State of California in 1969. The Porter Cologne Act mandated that all
sewage be exported from the Tahoe Basin and all existing treatment facilities
be replaced. The Tahoe-Truckee Sanitation Agency was formed on May 1,
1972 to comply with this Act and provide sewage treatment for five collec-
tion districts. The five districts are the Tahoe City Public Utility District, the
North Tahoe Public Utility District, the Squaw Valley County Water Dis-
42 Truckee Municipal Code Chapter 11.01 Stormwater Quality.
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trict, the Alpine Springs County Water District, and the Truckee Sanitary
District, which provide sewage collection services for the Town of Truckee.43
ii. Sanitary District Act
As part of the California Health and Safety Code section 6400 et seq, the San-
itary District Act of 1923 was created with the purpose for any area in a
county, or in two or more counties within the same natural watershed area to
acquire, construct and operate garbage dumps and garbage disposal systems,
sewerage systems, drainage works, and water reclamation and distribution
systems.44
iii. Urban Water Management Plan
In accordance with the California Water Code 10610, also known as the Ur-
ban Water Management Planning Act (Act) of 1984, the TDPUD adopted an
Urban Water Management Plan (UWMP) in June 2011. The Act states that
the UWMP must be updated every five years to identify short-term and long-
term water demand management in order to meet growing water demands
during normal, dry and multiple dry years. The 2011 UWMP provides in-
formation about TDPUD responsibilities towards water supply and water
recycling in the community including wastewater generation, collection,
treatment, and disposal.
iv. Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Plan
The Town is within the jurisdictional boundaries of the Lahontan Regional
Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB). The Lahontan RWQCB develops
and enforces water quality objectives and implementation plans that safeguard
the quality of water resources in its region. In accordance with Section 13263
of the California Water Code, the RWQCBs are authorized to issue Waste
Discharge Requirements as well as periodically review self-monitoring reports
submitted by the discharger, and perform independent compliance checking,
43 Tahoe-Truckee Sanitation Agency, http://63.150.38.132/jsp/content.jsp?
menuid=53, accessed September 14, 2011.
44 California Health & Safety Code, Div. 6, Pt. 1, §§ 6400-6830: Derived from
1923:250:498. “Sanitary District Act of 1923.”
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and take enforcement action if necessary. Chapter 4.4 of the Water Quality
Control Plan for the Lahontan Region, North and South Basins, outlines pol-
icies and regulations for municipal wastewater treatment, disposal, and recla-
mation. The standards contained within the Water Quality Control Plan
(WQCP) are designed to provide applicants with a uniform approach for the
design and installation of adequate systems to control wastewater and
wastewater treatment/sewage disposal impacts from the Town, and to pre-
vent any potential contamination of groundwater at the discharge site.
c. Local Regulations
i. Truckee Sanitary District Code
The Truckee Sanitary District Code (TSD) outlines policies, provisions, regu-
lations, fees, and charges related to service, installation, inspection, and
maintenance of sanitary sewer facilities.
ii. Town of Truckee 2025 General Plan
The Town of Truckee 2025 General Plan contains goals and policies related
to wastewater services in the Town. Relevant goals and policies are contained
in Table 4.15-2.
iii. Town of Truckee Municipal Code
Chapter 11.01 of the Town of Truckee Municipal Code includes provisions
related to wastewater discharge, which is described as the release, threatened
release, or placement of any material into the Town’s storm drain system or
receiving waters, including but not limited to stormwater, wastewater, solid
materials, liquids, hazardous waste, raw materials, debris, litter, or any other
substance.
2. Existing Setting
a. Tahoe-Truckee Sanitation Agency
The Tahoe-Truckee Sanitation Agency (T-TSA) The Tahoe-Truckee Sanita-
tion Agency (T-TSA) was founded in 1972 in response to the Porter Cologne
Water Quality Control Act, promulgated to protect Lake Tahoe and Truckee
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TABLE 4.15-2 TOWN OF TRUCKEE GENERAL PLAN GOALS AND POLICIES
RELEVANT TO WASTEWATER SERVICES
Policy or
Goal No. Goals and Policies
Goal LU-4 Coordinate land development with provision of services and infra-
structure.
LU-P4.1
Work with all special districts, including the Tahoe-Truckee
Unified School District, to ensure that development within the
Town is coordinated with provision of services.
LU-P4.2
Cooperate with special districts to plan for and identify suitable
future sites for needed facilities, including schools, fire stations,
solid and liquid waste disposal sites, and utilities infrastructure,
so that the local population can be safely and efficiently served,
while minimizing potential environmental impacts.
LU-P4.3
Approve rezoning and development permits only when ade-
quate services are available, or when a program to provide ser-
vices has been approved by the applicable District and the Town
of Truckee. Standards of services for new development applica-
ble to this policy are shown in Table LU-6.
Require that sewer be provided for all new residential subdivi-
sions creating more than four lots, and all new commercial and
industrial uses. Existing legal lots and new subdivisions of four
or fewer lots in areas currently without sewer may be developed
with residential uses using septic systems with the approval of
the appropriate health and environmental agencies.
Such lots may be required to establish connections to the sewer
system if they are located in close proximity to existing or fu-
ture sewer lines.
Source: Town of Truckee 2025 General Plan.
River water quality. In 1978 the T-TSA began operating the wastewater facil-
ity that serves five collection districts, including the Truckee Sanitary Dis-
trict. Collected sewage from the Town is conveyed to the T-TSA Water Rec-
lamation Plant (WRP), which is adjacent to the Truckee River and the
Truckee-Tahoe Airport. This tertiary treatment plant also receives effluent
from the North Tahoe Public Utility District, the Tahoe City Public Utility
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District, the Alpine Springs County Water District, and the Squaw Valley
Public Service District.
The T-TSA WRP is sized primarily to treat the maximum sewage flows that
occur during summer periods with the influx of seasonal residents and visi-
tors. Currently, the T-TSA WRP has a capacity of 9.6 million gallons per day
(mgd),45 which is adequate to meet projected buildout demands of the service
area in 2025.46
Sanitary wastewater treatment requirements are established in the National
Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit issued by the
RWQCB. The permit also sets out a framework for compliance and en-
forcement. The T-TSA implements and enforces a pretreatment program for
effluent discharged into the WRP. The facility is currently in compliance
with the water quality requirements of RWQCB for the protection of the
environmentally sensitive Lake Tahoe and Truckee River Corridor.
b. Truckee Sanitary District (TSD)
The Town is serviced by the Truckee Sanitary District (TSD), which is one of
five service members of the T-TSA as described above. The TSD currently
operates under the Sanitary District Act of 1923. Untreated sewage is piped
from the TSD service area to the T-TSA WRA using gravity flow and lift
stations. The TSD services an area of approximately 38-square miles through
the operation and maintenance of a wastewater collection system that in-
cludes over 300 miles of sewer gravity flow pipelines and nine lift stations.
Currently, there are approximately 9,764 dwelling unit equivalents (DUE,
defined as a single family dwelling containing 2.3 occupants, contributing 100
gallons per occupant per day to the wastewater collection system) and 840
45 Tahoe-Truckee Sanitation Agency website, http://12.153.217.197/ttsa/jsp/
content.jsp?menuid=1, accessed November 1, 2011.
46 Town of Truckee, 2006. 2025 General Plan Draft Environmental Impact Re-
port, Chapter 4.13.
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commercial accounts discharging into TSD's wastewater collection system.47
New residential developments are required to install six inch main sewer lines
and four inch lateral services lines.
3. Standards of Significance
The proposed project would have a significant impact with regard to
wastewater if it would:
¤ Exceed wastewater treatment requirements of the applicable Regional
Water Quality Control Board.
¤ Require or result in the construction of new wastewater treatment facili-
ties or expansion of existing facilities, the construction of which could
cause significant environmental effects.
¤ Result in a determination by the wastewater treatment provider which
serves or may serve the project that it has adequate capacity to serve the
project’s projected demand in addition to the provider’s existing com-
mitments.
4. Impact Discussion
a. Exceed RWQCB Wastewater Treatment Requirements
The project, a residential development, would not involve industrial activities
that are likely to substantially increase pollutant loading levels in the sanitary
sewer system. As previously stated, the RWQCB enforces waste discharge
requirements for the TSD service area and T-TSA WRA. The project site is
not served by a private on-site wastewater treatment system, but instead
would convey wastewater via municipal sewage infrastructure maintained by
TSD and T-TSA. The T-TSA WRA is a public facility and therefore, is sub-
ject to the State’s wastewater treatment requirements. Consequently,
wastewater from the project site is, and would continue to be, treated accord-
ing to the wastewater treatment requirements enforced by the RWQCB.
47 Truckee Sanitary District, http://www.truckeesan.org/home/
index.php?site_config_id=109&page_selection=2331&s_page=, accessed on Novem-
ber 1, 2011.
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Therefore, the buildout of the project would not exceed wastewater treatment
requirements, and impacts to sanitary wastewater quality would be less than
significant.
b. Wastewater Capacity
Implementation of the proposed project would generate additional
wastewater flows that would be treated at the T-TSA WRP. Based on the
TSD’s residential design flow, 230 gpd per residential unit,48 the proposed
project would generate approximately 42,550 gpd (or 0.04 mpd).49 Implemen-
tation of the proposed project would contribute approximately four percent
to the treatment facility. The WRP’s current capacity of 9.6 mgd is adequate
to meet the projected buildout demands of the proposed project. Therefore,
the project would not require any off-site expansions or new construction of
wastewater treatment facilities because the anticipated wastewater generation
would be within the capacity of the existing TSD wastewater treatment plant.
As illustrated on Figure 3-10 in Chapter 3 of this Draft EIR, the project
would install four-inch and six-inch sewer pipelines to connect to exiting TSD
infrastructure. In addition, the project would utilize one primary gravity
sewer outfall to the northwest of the project site. The project is required to
pay sewer connection charges, which the TSD applies to requisite system im-
provements to accommodate incremental growth, as needed. The proposed
project would require paying connection fees to the T-TSA of $5,000 per res-
idential unit.50 In addition, all plans would be subject to the review and ap-
proval of the TSD prior project construction. Therefore, less-than-significant
impacts related to wastewater treatment would occur.
48 TSD Ordinance I-2008, Appendix A-6, http://www.truckeesan.org/pix/
21212011783.pdf, accessed on November 1, 2011.
49 230 gpd x 185 residential units = 42,550 gpd.
50 Tahoe-Truckee Sanitation Agency website, http://12.153.217.197/ttsa/jsp/
content.jsp?menuid=40, accessed on November 1, 2011.
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c. Cumulative Impacts
This section analyzes potential impacts to sanitary wastewater that could oc-
cur from the project with Town buildout identified in the 2025 General Plan
and reasonably foreseeable projects in the TSD service area. This analysis
only takes into account Town’s buildout projections because, as noted in
Chapter 4, Environmental Evaluation, of this Draft EIR, there is no foreseea-
ble project in the surrounding area.
The project, in conjunction with the buildout projections identified in the
2025 General Plan, would cumulatively increase the demand for wastewater
infrastructure and treatment capacity in the TSD service area, and would like-
ly result in the need for the TSD to construct additional facilities, which
could result in additional environmental impacts. However, this future
growth is projected in the 2025 General Plan and according to the Draft En-
vironmental Impact Report for the 2025 General Plan the TSD’s current facil-
ities are capable of the projected growth. Therefore, the cumulative impacts
would be less than significant.
5. Impacts and Mitigation Measures
Project and cumulative impacts related to wastewater treatments would be less
than significant and no mitigation measures are warranted.
C. Solid Waste
1. Regulatory Setting
a. State Regulations
i. California Integrated Waste Management Act
California’s Integrated Waste Management Act of 1989 (Assembly Bill [AB]
939 and amended by SB 1016) set a requirement for cities and counties
throughout the State to divert 50 percent of all solid waste from landfills by
January 1, 2000 though source reduction, recycling, and composting. To help
achieve this, the Act requires that each city and county prepare and submit a
Source Reduction and Recycling Element. AB 939 also established the goal
for all California counties to provide at least 15 years of on-going landfill ca-
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pacity. As part of California Integrated Waste Management Board
(CIWMB)’s Zero Waste Campaign, regulations affect what common house-
hold items can be placed in the trash. As of February 2006, household mate-
rials including fluorescent lamps and tubes, batteries, electronic devices, and
thermostats that contain mercury are no longer permitted in the trash.51
In 2007, SB 1016 amended AB 939 to establish a per capita disposal measure-
ment system. The per capita disposal measurement system is based on two
factors: a jurisdiction’s reported total disposal of solid waste divided by a ju-
risdiction’s population. CIWMB sets a target per capita disposal rate for each
jurisdiction. Each jurisdiction must submit an annual report to CIWMB with
an update of its progress in implementing diversion programs and it’s current
per capital disposal rate.52 In 2010, the Town of Truckee’s disposal rate was
5.6 pounds per person per day, which was well below the target rate of 10.7
pounds per person per day.53
b. Local Regulations
i. Citizens Waste Management Advisory Committee
The Town of Truckee established the Citizens Waste Management Advisory
Committee (CWMAC) in January of 1999 to serve in an advisory role to help
Truckee meet the State-mandated 50 percent recycling goal by the year 2000.
The committee is comprised of thirteen local residents and the Assistant to
the Town Manager and works with the Town’s hauler to promote recycling,
source reduction, reuse, composting, used oil recycling and the proper use,
storage and disposal of household hazardous waste to the people of Truckee.
The Committee helps implement the “Keep Truckee Green” program, which
51 California Integrated Waste Management Board’s Zero Waste Campaign’s
website, http://www.zerowaste.ca.gov, accessed on November 1, 2011.
52 California Integrated Waste Management Board, http://www.calrecycle.
ca.gov/LGCentral/Basics/PerCapitaDsp.htm#Jurisdiction, accessed on November 1,
2011.
53 CalRecycle, On-line Disposal Rate Calculator, http://www.
calrecycle.ca.gov/, accessed on December 1, 2011.
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keeps up to date on the California Integrated Waste Management Board’s
Zero Waste Campaign.54
ii. Town of Truckee 2025 General Plan
The Town of Truckee 2025 General Plan contains goals and policies related
to solid waste services in the Town. Relevant goals and policies are contained
in Table 4.15-3.
iii. Town of Truckee Municipal Code
Ordinance No. 2003-02, Title 6, Health and Sanitation, provides for the rules
and regulations governing the collection, handling, and disposal of solid waste
and other operating regulations, such as charges and fees.55
iv. Town of Truckee Construction and Demolition Waste Reduction Program
The Town offers a Construction and Demolition Waste Reduction Program
along with other waste prevention and recycling programs in order to reduce
waste and save money. Through the program, the Town regulates the appli-
cable diversion percentage of each item and charges for disposal per cubic
yard.56
2. Existing Setting
a. Removal and Recycling
Solid waste removal and recycling services for the Town of Truckee are pro-
vided by the Tahoe-Truckee Sierra Disposal (TTSD) Company. Two sepa-
rate bodies make up the TTSD: Tahoe Truckee Disposal and the Eastern Re-
gional Landfill Material Recovery Facility (MRF). Tahoe Truckee Disposal is
54 Town of Truckee, http://www.townoftruckee.com/, accessed December 1,
2011.
55 Town of Truckee, Title 6, Health and Sanitation, http://www.townof
truckee.com/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=269, accessed on Novem-
ber 1, 2011.
56 Town of Truckee website, http://townoftruckee.com/index.aspx?page=226,
accessed on December 15, 2011.
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TABLE 4.15-3 TOWN OF TRUCKEE GENERAL PLAN GOALS AND POLICIES
RELEVANT TO SOLID WASTE SERVICES
Policy or
Goal No. Goals and Policies
Goal LU-4 Coordinate land development with provision of services and infrastruc-
ture.
LU-P4.2
Cooperate with special districts to plan for and identify suitable fu-
ture sites for needed facilities, including schools, fire stations, solid
and liquid waste disposal sites, and utilities infrastructure, so that the
local population can be safely and efficiently served, while minimiz-
ing potential environmental impacts.
Goal SAF-5 Protect the community from the harmful effects of hazardous materials.
SAF-P5.1
Continue to coordinate with the Nevada County Environmental
Health Department in the review of all projects which require the
use, storage, or transport of hazardous waste to ensure necessary
measures are taken to protect public health and safety.
SAF-P5.2 Continue to cooperate with Tahoe Truckee Sierra Disposal to facili-
tate opportunities for safe disposal of household hazardous waste.
Goal COS-15 Encourage conservation of energy and fuel resources, strive to reduce
generation of solid waste, and promote environmental sustainability.
COS-P15.1 Support recycling programs town-wide, including the curbside recy-
cling and business waste reduction programs.
COS-P15.2
Support and expand innovative programs such as the “Keep Truckee
Green” Community Awards that recognize local businesses, agencies,
and organizations efforts to reduce waste.
COS-P15.3 Encourage energy conservation, waste reduction and environmental
sustainability in all Town activities.
COS-P15.7
Support efforts to develop a regional food waste recycling
program in Truckee, in cooperation with Nevada County,
Placer County, Special Districts, and local resorts and ski areas.
Source: Town of Truckee 2025 General Plan.
responsible for collecting household waste and recyclables and the MRF is a
recycling and transfer center for household and construction materials. In-
coming solid waste is either recycled or transported to the Lockwood Re-
gional Landfill as described below.
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Tahoe Truckee Disposal (TTD) is a collection division of the TTSD and op-
erates close to 40 vehicles to collect waste. TTD uses a combination of rear
mounting bin pick up trucks for single-family residences and low-density are-
as, and front loader garbage trucks for commercial and multi-family areas.
Funding for solid waste collection comes from collection fees.
The TTSD handles approximately 60,000 tons of waste per year and is operat-
ing at 50 percent of their total capacity of 120,000 tons per year. The TTSD
plans on continuing to expand their services to accommodate the growth and
increasing needs of their service area.57
b. Landfill
The Landfill is located on a 1350-acre site in Storey County, Nevada, approx-
imately 10 miles east of Reno, Nevada and approximately 1.5 miles southeast
of Lockwood, Nevada. The 550-acre landfill footprint receives an average of
2,200 tons per working day (tpd). The Landfill’s proposed development,
which would add a 350-acre disposal area in the site, would yield an overall
refuse storage volume of approximately 64.8 million compacted cubic yards
(43.7 million compacted tons).58 Additionally, this 1,535-acre site has a 60-
year capacity to accommodate the buildout projections for the TTSD’s ser-
vice area.59 Currently, the TTSD is in its ninth year of an 80-year contract for
disposal services at the landfill, which began in 1997.60
3. Standards of Significance
The proposed project would have a significant impact with regard to solid
waste if it would:
57 Truckee 2025 General Plan EIR, Chapter 4.13, Utilities and Service Systems.
58 Nevada Division of Environmental Protection website, http://ndep.nv.gov/
bwm/landfill_lockwood.htm, accessed on November 1, 2011.
59 Truckee 2025 General Plan EIR, Chapter 4.13, Utilities and Service Systems.
60 Pacific Municipal Consultants, 2002. Old Greenwood Planned Development
Draft Environmental Impact Report (SCH# 2001102077).
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¤ Be served by a landfill with sufficient permitted capacity to accommodate
the project’s solid waste disposal needs.
¤ Comply with federal, State, and local statutes and regulations related to
solid waste.
4. Impact Discussion
a. Insufficient Landfill Capacity
As described above, the Lockwood Regional Landfill has a 60-year capacity to
accommodate the future growth in the TTSD’s service area.61 Since there is
adequate long-term capacity at the landfill serving the Town, there would be a
less-than-significant impact with regard to solid waste.
b. Compliance with Solid Waste Statues and Regulations
As stated previously, the Town continues to meet the 2025 General Plan’s 70
percent recycling goal, as well as the State-mandated disposal rate. The Town
of Truckee 2025 General Plan includes policies to encourage recycling and
waste diversion to minimize the amount of solid waste generated by residents
and businesses. Implementation of strategies and programs allowed the Town
to meet the State mandated waste diversion rate of 10.7 pounds per person per
day in 2010.62,63 These programs are sufficient to ensure that future develop-
ment in Town would not compromise the ability to meet or perform better
than the mandated target. Additionally, construction and demolition associ-
ated with the proposed project would generate significant solid waste. At
least 35 percent of this waste would be expected to be diverted from landfill
disposal by recycling in accordance with the Town’s construction and demo-
lition waste reduction program. Therefore, the proposed project would com-
61 Truckee 2025 General Plan EIR, Chapter 4.13, Utilities and Service Systems..
62 CalRecycle, On-line Disposal Rate Calculator, http://www.calrecycle.
ca.gov/, accessed on November 1, 2011.
63 Since 2007, the 50 percent diversion requirement has been measured in
terms of per-capita disposal expressed as pounds per person per day. Therefore the
calculated diversion percentage is not available since 2007. However given that the
Town’s actual disposal rate was well below the target rate, the Town’s 70 percent di-
version goal is considered to be satisfied in 2010.
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ply with applicable statutes and regulations and the impact would be less than
significant.
c. Cumulative Impacts
This section analyzes potential impacts to solid waste services that could oc-
cur from the project with Town buildout identified in the 2025 General Plan
and reasonably foreseeable projects in the TTSD service area. This analysis
only takes into account Town’s buildout projections because, as noted in
Chapter 4 of this Draft EIR, there is no foreseeable project in Truckee.
The project, in conjunction with the buildout projections identified in the
2025 General Plan, would cumulatively increase the demand for solid waste
infrastructure and treatment capacity in the TTSD service area, and would
likely result in the need for the TTSD to construct additional facilities, which
could result in additional environmental impacts. However, this future
growth is projected in the 2025 General Plan and according to the Draft En-
vironmental Impact Report for the 2025 General Plan the TTSD’s current
facilities are capable of the projected growth. Furthermore, as described
above, the Lockwood Regional Landfill has a 60-year capacity to accommo-
date the future growth in the TTSD’s service area.64 Therefore, the cumula-
tive impacts would be less than significant.
5. Impacts and Mitigation Measures
Project and cumulative impacts related to solid waste services would be less
than significant and no mitigation measures are required.
D. Energy Conservation
In order to assure that energy implications are considered in project decisions,
the State CEQA Guidelines, (Appendix F) requires that EIRs include a discus-
sion of the potential energy impacts of proposed projects, with particular em-
phasis on avoiding or reducing inefficient, wasteful, and unnecessary con-
64 Truckee 2025 General Plan EIR, Chapter 4.13, Utilities and Service Systems.
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sumption of energy. However, no specific thresholds of significance for po-
tential energy impacts are suggested in the State CEQA Guidelines. This sec-
tion provides a general description of the regulatory setting addressing exist-
ing electric and natural gas services and infrastructure, and supply and de-
mand in the Town.
1. Regulatory Setting
This section describes the federal, State and local regulations that provide for
protection and management of water resources and services in the United
States and California. The development of the proposed project would be
required to adhere to all applicable federal, State, and local statues and regula-
tions related to construction and operation.
a. Federal Regulations
There are no federal regulations regarding electric and natural gas services that
are applicable to the proposed project.
b. State Regulations
i. California Building Standards Code – Title 24
California Code of Regulations (CCR), Title 24, is also known as the Califor-
nia Building Standards Code. The 2010 triennial edition of the California
Building Standards Code applies to all occupancies that applied for a building
permit on or after January 1, 2011, and remains in effect until the effective
date of the 2013 triennial edition.65
a) 2010 California Building Code
The 2010 California Building Code (CBC) is included in Title 24, Part 2 of
the California Building Standards Code. Under State law, all building stand-
ards must be centralized in Title 24 or they are not enforceable. Through the
CBC, the State provides a minimum standard for building design and con-
struction.
65 California Building Standards Commission website, http://www.bsc.ca.gov/
title_24/t24_2010tried.htm, retrieved September 7, 2011.
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b) Building Energy Efficiency Standards
Energy consumption, including electricity, by new buildings in California is
regulated by the State Building Energy Efficiency Standards, embodied in
Title 24, Part 6 of the California Code of Regulations. The efficiency stand-
ards apply to new construction of both residential and non-residential build-
ings, and regulate energy consumed for heating, cooling, ventilation, water
heating, and lighting. The building efficiency standards are enforced through
the local building permit process. Local government agencies may adopt and
enforce energy standards for new buildings, provided that these standards
meet or exceed those provided in Title 24 guidelines. Appling the most cur-
rent standards for low-rise single-family detached homes, electricity use is
reduced by 22.7 percent compared to the 2005 Standards, peak demand is re-
duced by 8.2 percent, and gas is reduced by 10 percent.66
c) 2010 California Green Building Standards (CALGreen) Code
The California Green Building Standards are embodied in the California
Code of Regulations, Title 24, Part 11 and include mandatory provisions ef-
fective on January 1, 2011. The purpose of this code is to improve public
health, safety, and general welfare by enhancing the design and construction
of buildings through the use of building concepts having a reduced negative
impact or positive environmental impact and encouraging sustainable con-
struction practices in the following categories:
1. Planning and design
2. Energy efficiency
3. Water efficiency and conservation
4. Material conservation and resource efficiency
5. Environmental quality
The provisions of this code apply to the planning, design, operation, con-
struction, use, and occupancy of every newly constructed building or struc-
ture, unless otherwise indicated in this code, throughout the State of Califor-
66 Architectural Energy Corporation, 2007. Impact Analysis for 2008 Energy Ef-
ficiency Standards, page 2.
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nia. Compliance with the CalGreen Code is not a substitution for meeting
the certification requirements of any green building program.
c. Local Regulations
i. Town of Truckee 2025 General Plan
The Town of Truckee 2025 General Plan contains goals and policies related
to energy conservation in the Town. Relevant goals and policies are con-
tained in Table 4.15-6.
2. Existing Setting
Southwest Gas would provide natural gas to the proposed project site and
electrical power would be supplied by Liberty Energy – California Pacific
Electric Company. Southwest Gas more than 1.8 million customers in Ari-
zona, Nevada and portions of California, and added 13,000 customers in 2010.
Liberty Energy provides electrical power services to the communities of
Coleville, Floriston, Loyalton, Markleeville, North Lake Tahoe, West Lake
Tahoe, Portola, South Lake Tahoe, Topaz Lake, Truckee, Verdi, Walker, and
Woodfords. Liberty Energy provides electrical power services to the com-
munities of Coleville, Floriston, Loyalton, Markleeville, North Lake Tahoe,
West Lake Tahoe, Portola, South Lake Tahoe, Topaz Lake, Truckee, Verdi,
Walker, and Woodfords.
3. Impact Discussion
The development of the proposed project would be required to adhere to all
applicable federal, State, and local statues and regulations related to construc-
tion and operation. In addition to the meeting the conventional Title 24
standards, the proposed project would apply environmentally sustainable
standards for demolition, construction, and operation.
As described in Chapter 3 of this Draft EIR, Draft Design Guidelines have
been developed for the project to reduce energy and water consumption. The
Draft Design Guidelines propose energy efficient green building standards
such as southern exposure and tree canopy shading, solar panels, radiant heat-
ing systems, and installation of energy star appliances and windows.
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TABLE 4.15-6 TOWN OF TRUCKEE GENERAL PLAN GOALS AND POLICIES
RELEVANT TO ENERGY
Policy or
Goal No. Goals and Policies
Goal COS-5
Encourage conservation of energy and fuel resources, strive to
reduce generation of solid waste, and promote environmental
sustainability.
COS-P5.3 Encourage energy conservation, waste reduction, and environ-
mental sustainability in all Town activities.
COS-P5.4
Work with energy providers to encourage community-wide
reductions in energy consumption through conservation prac-
tices.
COS-P5.5
Encourage new private and public development to maximize
opportunities for use of passive or natural heating and cooling
and encourage sites with solar opportunities to be designed with
natural heating and cooling principles.
Source: Town of Truckee 2025 General Plan.
Additionally the landscaping has been designed to deflect wind, moderate
heat impacts, reduce soil erosion, and conserve water. The landscaping pro-
posed in the Draft Design Guidelines applies the use of native, sustainable
landscaping indigenous to the Truckee region to reduce the amount of irriga-
tion required. Implementation of these features would be enforced through
the General Plan Policies COS-P5.3 and COS-P5.5. Therefore it is anticipat-
ed that the net increase in natural gas use, electricity use, and water use would
be reduced by these features.
As discussed in Section 4.7, Greenhouse Gas Emissions, of this Draft EIR,
buildings represent 39 percent of United States primary energy use and 70
percent of electricity consumption.67 Accordingly, implementation of the
proposed project is anticipated to increase the use of electricity and natural
gas. However, the project would not result in a substantial increase in natural
gas, electrical service demands, and would not require new energy supply fa-
cilities and distribution infrastructure or capacity enhancing alterations to
67 United States Department of Energy, 2003. Buildings Energy Data Book.
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existing facilities. Therefore, impacts would be less than significant and no
mitigation measures are required.
4. Impacts and Mitigation Measures
Project and cumulative impacts related to energy would be less than significant
and no mitigation measures are warranted.