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Chapter 4. Environmental Setting California Public Utilities Commission
Subsequent Initial Study/Draft Mitigated Negative Declaration
Williams Communications, Inc., Riverside to San Diego Route
Chapter 4. Environmental Setting
Fiber Optic Cable System Installation Project
March 2000
4-1
Chapter 4. Environmental Setting
INTRODUCTION
This chapter provides an overview of the existing physical environmental conditions (i.e., the
environmental baseline) at the time this analysis was prepared. The project proposed by Williams is to install,
operate and maintain a fiber optic cable system from the City of Riverside to the City of San Diego. The
project will be installed within existing city, county, and state road rights-of-way. Two optical amplification
(OP-AMP) stations will be located on private land along the project route, approximately 40 miles apart
(Figure 1-1). To provide diversity in the network so that service will not be interrupted in case of a cable
break, two cables will be installed. Williams requires that these two cables be installed a minimum of 25 feet
apart. Portions of the redundant cable will connect to an existing system and be installed within existing
conduit leased from another company. Because this portion of the cable will connect to an existing system,
it is not included as part of this environmental setting.
This chapter is organized by resource topic, corresponding to the Environmental Checklist Form of the
State CEQA Guidelines, as amended. A completed checklist for the proposed project is provided in
Appendix A
.
I. AESTHETICS
Aesthetics typically refers to the perceived visual character of an area, such as a scenic view, open
space, or architectural facade. The aesthetic value of a given area depends on a combination of viewer
response and the visual character and scenic quality of the area. This combination may be affected by certain
components of a project (e.g., buildings constructed at a height that obstructs views, hillsides cut and graded,
open space changed to an urban setting), as well as changing elements, such as light, weather, and the length
and frequency of viewer exposure to the setting.
The visual setting of this project will vary and transverse a variety of landscapes. The project route will
pass through visual settings of rural and urbanized arid valleys, surrounded by mountains and rocky
outcroppings, and hilly terrain covered with small trees and shrubs. This terrain supports farming operations
such as greenhouses and avocado and citrus orchards. Although the project route will be largely rural, it will
pass though the urbanized areas of Riverside, Temecula, Escondido, and San Diego. The project will not be
installed within or cross any approved or planned state or local scenic highways.
The Lindenberger OP-AMP site is located on Scott Road between Lindenberger Road and Audubon
Drive in a rural section of Riverside County. The approximately 18-acre site is currently vacant and disturbed
with no standing structures. The Mesa Rock OP-AMP site is located at North Centre City Parkway and
Mesa Rock Road also in a rural section of San Diego County. The approximately 2.8-acre site is currently
vacant and disturbed with no standing structures. A maximum of 2 acres at each of the OP-AMP sites will
be graded and as many as eight 25- by 30-feet, one-story, pre-cast, concrete buildings that will be permanently
located at these sites. The buildings will be neutral in color and will have one exterior light at each California Public Utilities Commission
Subsequent Initial Study/Draft Mitigated Negative Declaration
Williams Communications, Inc., Riverside to San Diego Route
Chapter 4. Environmental Setting
Fiber Optic Cable System Installation Project
March 2000
4-2
entranceway for safety purposes and to provide illumination for access after dark. The buildings will be
unoccupied and will be regularly visited for routine operation and maintenance procedures.
Regulations, Approvals, and Permits Applicable to Aesthetics
No state or federal aesthetics permits or regulations are applicable to the project. The project route will
be located underground within existing road rights-of-way. OP-AMP stations will not be constructed on state
or federal lands.
At the local level, both the County of Riverside and the County of San Diego will require the approval of
a conditional use permit before construction of the OP-AMP stations. Minimizing visual impacts will be one
consideration in the granting of the permit application. In addition, any local jurisdictions maintaining policies
to preserve and protect visual and scenic resources within their sphere of influence will be consulted during
the design of the OP-AMP stations.
II. AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES
California is the nations leading agricultural state, with $26.8 billion worth of total production and income
in 1997 (California Department of Food and Agriculture 1997). The variety of climates and soils in the state,
together with the long growing season and availability of water, makes it suitable for growing a wide variety
of crops. The major crops produced in California include asparagus, cotton, citrus, grapes, lettuce, nuts, stone
fruits (e.g., almonds and plums), strawberries, and tomatoes. Poultry, dairy, and beef cattle are also important
products.
The loss of agricultural land is an increasingly important issue in California. The states growing
population is resulting in the conversion of agricultural lands to suburban and urban uses. According to the
1994 to1996 Farmland Conversion Report of the California Department of Conservations Farmland
Monitoring and Mapping Project, approximately 15,400 acres (24 square miles) of prime farmland and
farmland of statewide importance was converted to nonagricultural uses between 1994 and 1996 (California
Department of Conservation 1998). Prime farmland and farmland of statewide importance have the best
physical and chemical features to sustain long-term production of agricultural crops. As land is converted
to other uses, and agriculture enters into increasing competition with urban and natural resource users for
water (increasing the cost of water and reducing its reliability), the agricultural economy of some parts of the
state is being adversely affected.
The project route passes through a portion of San Diego Countys back country. This area supports
wine grapes, nursery products, and avocados. The project route also passes through Riverside County;
agricultural uses in this area include irrigated pasture, alfalfa crops, dairy operations, orchards, and row crops.
Along the route, the project will be installed within existing road rights-of-way; it will not directly or indirectly
affect agricultural operations or reduce the amount of land available for agricultural production.
The OP-AMP sites, Lindenberger and Mesa Rock, which are located in Riverside and San Diego
Counties, respectively, are on lands zoned for residential uses. The Lindenberger OP-AMP site is located
on Scott Road between Lindenberger Road and Audubon Drive and is in a rural section of the county. The
site has previously been used for residential and agricultural uses and is currently vacant with no standing
structures. The Mesa Rock OP-AMP site is located at North Centre City Parkway and Mesa Rock Road California Public Utilities Commission
Subsequent Initial Study/Draft Mitigated Negative Declaration
Williams Communications, Inc., Riverside to San Diego Route
Chapter 4. Environmental Setting
Fiber Optic Cable System Installation Project
March 2000
4-3
and is also in a rural section of the county. There is incomplete information on prior use of the property and
it is currently vacant with no standing structures.
Regulations, Approvals, and Permits Applicable to Agricultural Resources
The California Farmland Protection Act (the Williamson Act) is the states primary method for conserving
farmland. This voluntary program is administered at the county level and offers property tax incentives to
farmers who promise to keep their land in agricultural use. Under the act, owners of farm and grazing lands
may enter into a contract with their county limiting the use of their land to agriculture for a period of at least
10 years. In response, the county will assess the land at its productive value rather than its fair market value.
This reduces property tax increases that would otherwise arise from speculation over land values.
The Williamson Acts effectiveness in preserving farmland is limited by its voluntary nature. Those lands
most likely to be developed are often not under contract or have had their contract canceled by the landowner
in anticipation of development. The act is aimed at limiting the conversion of farmland to incompatible uses.
Development within agricultural areas also is subject to local zoning requirements. These vary from
jurisdiction to jurisdiction. In most jurisdictions, utilities and associated small structures located in agricultural
areas do not require a conditional use permit.
III. AIR QUALITY
Introduction
This chapter analyzes the air quality impacts that will result from construction and operation of Williams
Riverside to San Diego fiber optic cable system. The primary air emissions generated by this project will result
from installation of the fiber optic cable, and construction and operation of the OP-AMP stations.
Regulatory Setting
The regulatory setting describes the federal, state, and local air quality regulatory environment.
Federal Regulatory Environment.