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Home My WebLink AboutERC Report 10-089.pdfDEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY Fy°f AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT j - ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW COMMITTEE REPORT ERC MEETING DATE: February 14, 2011 Project Name: Citywide Drainage Maintenance Program Owner/Applicant: City of Renton, 1055 South Grady Way, Renton, WA 98057 Contact: Hebe C. Bernardo, City of Renton Surface Water, 1055 South Grady Way, Renton, WA 98057 File Number: LUA10-089, ECF, CAR, SME Project Manager: Vanessa Dolbee, Senior Planner Project Summary: The applicant has requested SEPA Environmental Review for continued maintenance of the Citywide stormwater infrastructure, including channels, ditches, catch basins, manholes, outfalls, pipes and culverts. These facilities are located in critical areas: including, the Cedar River, May Creek, Springbrook Creek, Thunder Hills Creek, Panther Creek, Ginger Creek, Maplewood Creek, Honey Creek, Greens Creek, Kennydale Creek, Gypsy Creek, Johns Creek and Lake Washington. Some of these critical areas are Class 1 waters of the State, and would be subject to the Shoreline Management Program (SMP). As such the applicant has also requested a Shoreline Exemption and a Critical Areas Exemption for work in other critical areas that are not subject to the SMP regulations. The purpose of the Citywide maintenance program is to maintain existing drainage facilities in order to ensure their optimum performance, by protecting the facilities against accumulation of debris, sediment and vegetation. Project Location: Citywide Exist. Bldg. Area SF: N/A Proposed New Bldg. Area (footprint): N/A Proposed New Bldg. Area (gross): N/A Site Area: N/A Total Building Area GSF: N/A STAFF Staff Recommends that the Environmental Review Committee issue a RECOMMENDATION: Determination of Non -Significance - Mitigated (DNS -M). Project Location Map ERL ReponLUA10-089.doc City of Renton Department of Community & Economic Development Environmental Review Committee, Report CITYWIDE DRAINAGE MAINTENANCE PROGRAM LUA10-089, ECF, CAR, SME Report of February 14, 2011 - Page 2 of 7 PART ONE: PROJECT DESCRIPTION / BACKGROUND The applicant has requested SEPA Environmental Review of the Citywide Drainage Maintenance Program. This program is designed to be an ongoing program dedicated to maintaining existing drainage facilities (channels, ditches, catch basins, manholes, outfalls, pipes and culverts) that are located in streams, creeks, tributaries and rivers within the City. The drainage facilities are located in various locations along the Cedar River, May Creek, Springbrook Creek, Thunder Hills Creek, Panther Creek, Ginger Creek, Maplewood Creek, Honey Creek, Greens Creek, Kennydale Creek, Gypsy Creek, Johns Creek and Lake Washington. The Citywide Drainage Maintenance Program includes, but is not limited to the locations listed and described in Exhibit B. If areas within the City's Potential Annexation Area (PAA) become annexed to the City and drainage facilities are included as a part of such annexation, these facilities would be included in the subject Drainage Maintenance Program covered by this SEPA review. The duration of validity of the subject SEPA review shall be until conditions change and the proposed mitigation should be updated to reflect best available science and best management practices, as such staff recommends as a mitigation measure that the subject environmental review be re -reviewed in 10 -years to determine whether conditions have changed. The existing land use designation and zoning for the subject sites vary throughout the program area. However, the critical areas regulations and the Shoreline Master Program govern the actions of in -water work over zoning regulations. Ongoing maintenance is needed to preserve or restore the original function of the existing drainage facilities so the balanced use of the water resource continues as intended. The work needed to maintain the drainage facilities included in the proposed drainage maintenance program are described in Exhibit C. These tasks included cleaning the facilities to maintain structural integrity, flush or vactor - pipes manholes etc..., control vegetation, remove debris, and remove sediment. Sites included in the proposed maintenance program would be maintained from the existing right-of-way or easements dedicated to the City. No new access drives or roads would be required to be built as a part of any maintenance activities. Vegetation removal of grasses and shrubs may be necessary either for access purposes or because the vegetation is wn the working area. The applicant proposes to keep vegetation removal to a minimum. The applicant has indicated that all native vegetation disturbed outside of work/access areas would be restored to pre -project conditions upon completion of maintenance activity. Renton Municipal Code section 4-3-050C.5 .e.ii exempts routine maintenance activities from critical areas regulations for utilities where no alteration or additional fill materials will be placed other than the minimum alteration and/or fill needed to restore those facilities to meet established safety standards. RMC 4-3-050C.e.v permits the removal of vegetation including trees for public utilities maintenance activities including routine vegetation management. However, the removed trees shall be retained as large woody debris in the stream/buffer corridor, where feasible. Furthermore, RMC 4-3-050C.5.g.ii and 4- 4-130C.3 exempt maintenance of public utilities located in streams and the removal of trees within a stream buffer when associated with maintenance of a public utility. The City of Renton's Surface Water Utility has proposed to utilize the Regional Road Maintenance Endangered Species Act Program Guidelines to select and implement appropriate Best Management Practices to minimize the disruption to the natural environment. In addition, all applicable State and ERC ReportLUA10-089.doc City of Renton Department of Community & Economic Development Environmental Review Committee Report CITYWIDE DRAINAGE MAINTENANCE PROGRAM LUA10-089, ECF, CAR, SME Report of February 14, 2011 Page 3 of 7 Federal requirements associated with the Clean Water Act (CWA) and Appendix D of the 2009 Surface Water Design Manual would be met through planning, application, and monitoring of Best Management Practices (BMP's). All maintenance activities would comply with provisions to be imposed by the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) through the Hydraulic Project Approval (HPA) permit. Although maintenance activities may vary based on each specific site's condition, in general the following activities would take place: Erosion control will be placed as needed around the work site and equipment. Disturbance of riparian vegetation shall be limited to that which is necessary to conduct the maintenance. Affected critical area buffers would be restored to pre -project or improved habitat configuration following the maintenance activity. If the stream is flowing at the time of maintenance, fish exclusion and stream bypass procedures would be put into place prior to any maintenance operations. A temporary bypass to divert flow around the work area would be in place prior to initiation of other work in the wetted perimeter. Upon completion of the project, all material used in the temporary bypass would be removed from the site and the site returned to pre -project or improved conditions. All waste material such as debris, silt or excess dirt resulting from this project would be deposited above the limits of flood water in an approved upland disposal site. Equipment used for maintenance would be checked daily for leaks and any necessary repairs would be completed prior to commencing maintenance activities along state waters. PART TWO: ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW In compliance with RCW 43.21C.240, the following environmental (SEPA) review addresses only those project impacts that are not adequately addressed under existing development standards and environmental regulations. A. Environmental Threshold Recommendation Based on analysis of probable impacts from the proposal, staff recommends that the Responsible Officials: Issue aDNS-M with a 14 -day Appeal Period. B. Mitigation Measures 1. The subject environmental review shall be re -reviewed in 10 -years to determine whether conditions have changed. Any new information should be submitted to the Planning Division for review, at such time the Planning Director shall determine if a new SEPA review is warranted due to changes in conditions or if a SEPA Addendum is needed. 2. Any native vegetation, located outside the work/access area, that is damaged or disturbed during maintenance activities shall be restored and/or replanted immediately following the maintenance activity. 3. Any trees required to be removed shall be replanted within the stream buffer corridor or the snags shall be left within the stream buffer corridor following the maintenance activity. 4. The applicant shall comply with the Regional Road Maintenance Program (RRMP) as identified in the provided NMFS Endangered Species Act —Section 7 Biological Opinion. ERC Report LUA10-089.doc City of Renton Department of Community & Economic Development Environmental Review Committee Report CITYWIDE DRAINAGE MAINTENANCE PROGRAM LUA10-089, ECF, CAR, SME Report of February 14, 2011 Page 4 of 7 5. The Citywide Drainage Maintenance Program activities shall comply with the conditions of approval required as a part of the Hydraulic Project Approval (HPA) permit required to be issued by the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), including but not limited to maximum sediment removal, limits of work, and facility maintenance methods for each specific maintenance location. C. Exhibits Exhibit A Maintenance Location Map Exhibit B Drainage Facility Maintenance List Exhibit C Routine Maintenance Tasks Exhibit D Site Pictures D. Environmentallmpacts The Proposal was circulated and reviewed by various City Departments and Divisions to determine whether the applicant has adequately identified and addressed environmental impacts anticipated to occur in conjunction with the proposed development. Staff reviewers have identified that the proposal is likely to have the following probable impacts: 1. Earth Impacts: The proposed Citywide Drainage Maintenance Program spans across the City, as such the soil types vary as well as slope for each particular site. Some drainage facilities may be located on slopes as steep as 40 percent. No fill or grading work is proposed as a part of the project, however accumulated sediment located in drainage faculties would be removed. All removed sediment would be loaded directly into awaiting dump trucks or vactor storage tanks. Removed sediments would then be transported off site and stockpiled for dewatering purposes. Stockpiled sediment would have appropriate BMP's in place to filter runoff from the dewatering process. Sediment disposal would be at an approved recycling/disposal facility. The proposed activities could result in erosion, however the applicant has proposed to utilize the Regional Road Maintenance Endangered Species Act Program Guidelines and Appendix D of the Surface Water Design Manual to select and implement appropriate BMP's, to minimize the disruption of the natural environment. BMP's would be chosen from the aforementioned manuals and guidelines that are best suited for each specific maintenance site. Mitigation Measures: No further mitigation needed. Nexus: Not Applicable 2. Water a. Wetland, Streams, Lakes Impacts: The drainage facilities are located in various locations along the Cedar River, May Creek, Springbrook Creek, Thunder Hills Creek, Panther. Creek, Ginger Creek, Maplewood Creek, Honey Creek, Greens Creek, Kennydale Creek, Gypsy Creek, Johns Creek and Lake Washington. These streams vary in classification however, maintenance of drainage facilities are exempt from the City of Renton's critical areas regulations. Work would be conducted within the stream channels and would include the removal of sediment and debris. Debris would be removed by hand, power tools, or by self-propelled machinery and sediment would be removed by Vactor, excavation, or ERC Report LUA10-089.doc City of Renton Department of Community & Economic Development Environmental Review Committee Report CITYWIDE DRAINAGE MAINTENANCE PROGRAM LUA10-089, ECF, CAR, SME Report of February 14, 2011 Page 5 of 7 hand work. Sediment would be removed from sediment traps and from conveyance facilities in order forth ese facilities to maintain conveyance capacity. Furthermore, sediment ponds, culvert entries and tailouts, and sediment traps may require excavation in stream or near stream for routine maintenance. The applicant has proposed to isolate the work area from flowing water, and receiving streams would be protected from contaminants. In addition, the applicant has proposed to utilize the Regional Road Maintenance Endangered Species Act Program Guidelines to select and implement appropriate Best Management Practices to minimize the disruption to the natural environment. In addition, the applicant has proposed to comply with Appendix D of the 2009 King County Surface Water Design Manual (KCSWDM) to minimize impacts to the streams. Mitigation Measures: No further mitigation needed. Nexus: Not Applicable 3. Vegetation Impacts: The subject stream buffers and specific site locations will vary in terms of vegetative cover. However, at each site vegetation including grasses, shrubs, and trees may be required to be removed as necessary for access purposes or because the vegetation is within the working area. The applicant proposes to keep vegetation removal to a minimum and has indicated that all native vegetation disturbed outside of the work/access areas would be restored to pre -project conditions upon completion of the maintenance activity. RMC 4-3-OSOC.e.v permits the removal of vegetation including trees for public utilities maintenance activities including routine vegetation management. However, the removed trees shall be retained as large woody debris in the stream/buffer corridor, where feasible. Established trees, as well as large woody debris provide valuable fish and wildlife habitat, and should be retained if at all feasible, to reduce potential impacts. As such, staff recommends a mitigation measure that any native vegetation, located outside the work/access area, that is damaged or disturbed during maintenance activities shall be restored and/or replanted and any trees required to be removed shall be replanted or the snags shall be left within the stream buffer corridor. Mitigation Measures: 1) Any native vegetation, located outside the work/access area, that is damaged or disturbed during maintenance activities shall be restored and/or re -plated immediately following the maintenance activity. 2) Any trees required to be removed shall be replanted or the snags shall be left within the stream buffer corridor following the maintenance activity. Nexus: RMC 4-3-050 4. Wildlife Impacts: The subject maintenance activities would occur within streams therefore potentially impacting salmonids and other wildlife.- However, maintenance of stormwater facilities is an essential function of their intended purpose. The applicant submitted with the application the Endangered Species Act—Section 7 Biological Opinion publication. This document summarizes the process and findings covered during the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) review of the Regional Road Maintenance ESA Program (RRMP). The RRMP was developed with Washington ERCReport LUA10-089.doc City of Renton Department of Community & Economic Development Environmental Review Committee Report CITYWIDE DRAINAGE MAINTENANCE PROGRAM LUA10-089, ECF, CAR, SME Report of February 14, 2011 Page 6 of 7 State and 24 Washington Counties and Cities, including the City of Renton. The document was developed so that routine road maintenance activities would be protective of salmonids and their habitat. The activities covered in this document include maintenance activities that are conducted on currently serviceable structures, facilities, and equipment, that do not involve expansion of or change in use, and do not result in significant negative hydrological impact. The proposed Citywide Drainage Maintenance Program would fall within the parameters of the provided Biological Opinion. The RRMP includes a biological review (BR) which concludes that the identified routine road maintenance activities conducted throughout Washington State under the RRMP will not impair properly functioning habitat, nor appreciably reduce the functioning of already impaired habitat, nor retard the long-term progress of impaired habitat toward persistence of properly functioning habitat conditions. The RRMP and its BR clearly identify anticipated impact to affected species likely to result from the proposed maintenance activities and identify measures that are necessary and appropriate to minimize those impacts. These effects include delivery of sediments to streams through routine road maintenance activities, vegetation removal, loss of large woody debris, and hydraulic modifications. As such, staff recommends as a mitigation measure that the applicant comply with the Regional Road Maintenance Program (RRMP) as identified in the provided NMFS Endangered Species Act —Section 7 Biological Opinion. The Muckleshoot Indian Tribe Fisheries Division provided comments on the subject application. Their comments addressed the importance of understanding which culverts in the City are barriers to fish. As well as identified the potential for cost savings, to the City, by replacing culverts that require a large amount of maintenance with a larger culvert that would allow for passage of debris as well as fish reducing the maintenance needs. While replacing new structures in particular locations throughout the City may be cost effective and at the same time improve fish passage, the subject project proposal does not consider the impacts of replacement or construction of any type of drainage facility. It should also be noted that if a culvert is replaced with a larger culvert a separate and complete set of permits would be required; however such facility would still require ongoing maintenance. If maintenance facilities are left un -maintained, sediment accumulation would reduce conveyance capacity, velocity, increase water temperature and block fish passage. Proper maintenance of drainage facilities would preserve or restore the original function of the existing drainage facilities so the balanced use of water resource continues as intended. Maintenance can also protect against collapse or failure of structures, which could result in significant sediment release to aquatic habitat. The proposed maintenance activities would have a positive impact to the aquatic habitat and would maintain fish passage. Furthermore, the Muckleshoot Indian Tribes Fisheries Division commented that a maximum amount of sediment removal should be identified at maintenance location where fish are present, in addition to limits of work. The City's Stormwater Division has been coordinating with the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) throughout the SEPA review process, to identify what conditions of approval would be applied to the required HPA permit for the subject work. It is anticipated that the future HPA would identify the maximum cubic yards of sediment removal, limits of work, and the method in which such facilities should be maintained. These conditions would limit potential impacts on fish habitat at the same time provided for the necessary conveyance capacity needed for the City's stormwater facility to function properly. As such, staff recommends a mitigation measure that the applicant shall comply with the conditions of approval included in the HPA permit required for the subject proposal. ERCReport LUA10-089.doc City of Renton Department of Community & Economic Development Environmental Review Committee Report CITYWIDE DRAINAGE MAINTENANCE PROGRAM LUA10-089, ECF, CAR, SME Report of February 14, 2011 Page 7 of 7 Mitigation Measures: 1) The applicant shall comply with the Regional Road Maintenance Program (RRMP) as identified in the provided NMFS Endangered Species Act —Section 7 Biological Opinion. 2) The Citywide Drainage Maintenance Program activities shall comply with the conditions of approval required as a part of the Hydraulic Project Approval (HPA) permit required to be issued by the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), including but not limited to maximum sediment removal, limits of work, and facility maintenance methods for each specific maintenance location. Nexus: SEPA, HPA E. Comments of Reviewing Departments The proposal has been circulated to City Department and Division Reviewers. Where applicable, their comments have been incorporated into the text of this report and/or "Advisory Notes to Applicant." ✓ Copies of ail Review Comments are contained in the Official File and may be attached to this report. Environmental Determination Appeal Process: Appeals of the environmental determination must be filed in writing on or before 5:00 PM, March 4, 2011. Renton Municipal Code Section 4-8-110.13 governs appeals to the Hearing Examiner. Appeals must be filed in writing at the City Clerk's office along with the required fee. Additional information regarding the appeal process may be obtained from the City Clerk's Office, Renton City Hall - 7th Floor, 1055 S. Grady Way, Renton WA 98057. ADVISORY NOTES TO APPLICANT The following notes are supplemental information provided in conjunction with the administrative an use action. Because these notes are provided as information only, they are not subject to the appeal process for the land use actions. Planning: RMC section 4-4-030.C.2 limits haul hours between 8:30 am to 3:30 pm, Monday through Friday unless otherwise approved by the Development Services Division, Parks: Recommend coordination with Parks and Golf Director prior to conducting work on Park managed City property and Parks Planning and Natural Resources Director on open space/natural area City managed property. ERC ReportLUA10-089. doc Exhibit A g _ il >asI in x,_ ;s ,', nj K >? a r t r in" f Ell IN ,1In l k sr II IN 7 `PC �y, IN ill I 1 }S 0 In I CC IN in L r e In I I wa$I i72gtnn � X39 t ` ,ll ilV IN IN IAtiC IV "� k 6�In $Pn In IN�" ., ! sz P § { t Il I a,z ! `.. n �CVVCI 4 PPVV- IS if I ill, It IN ' r;° as t� , tI ° .e1 Vin •, r �It 4 CLIC , A PC.F.; ln� IN ' £IN gz CNI�rPit it NIP ZIP IIt t 4 1 In G" s t i 49 aIN It a "Pint. TI It .. }N it ywx ' 'M t s. �. 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Del Rosario I Printed 1111 8/2 0 10 �� PI/ \/, m ,_ �: ,�_ ,_ \ . y �- ; 000 !/ DO \ \ } \ \ \ \ \ \ \\ \ _ � /(§ �» . �� 46 )}§ )f )) \$ )\\ )! ))f ))/ WM> �- �- ; \ / \ \ \ . z a5 00 } / 46 \ )/ §§■ )] )) ]! ) }; /f /j/ .)) IEj § ]]) )!!/ !!! /)/2//) \}}/ })\] )\)/ !\) U)x �- ;42 \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ ; - - -\, j\. _ \ \ƒ \�}\ \ \ ) \ \ \ } 0 0 ! ! .40 \ \ } \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ ~-0 00 22 )(7){.{ \)f )\) ® § § - ; or LL 16 } \ } \ \ \ \ \ \ . 0 10 <T 0 }), \\\\ -\\)j! )))\u /0 \0 \00T Q < < < of n Won EXHIBIT C -ROUTINE MAINTENANCE TASKS "r Primary common tasks are described in the following paragraphs. Minor dt r tasks, although not explicitly described, are also to be covered in the Washingn�ha#d Department of Ecology programmatic HPA permit. .Clean Drainage facilities included in Exhibit B will be cleaned to maintain an aesthetic appearance, to maintain structural and functional integrity, and to protect public health and safety. Cleaning will be accomplished by hand, by power tools, or by self-propelled machinery. F1ushNactor Pipes, manholes, catch basins, culverts, will be flushed and vactored to remove sediment, contaminants, and debris. The vactor allows capture and appropriate disposal of material. Control Vegetation Vegetation will be controlled to maintain anaesthetic appearance, to maintain access, to maintain structural and functional integrity, to protect public health and safety, to control noxious weeds, and to enhance the environment. Vegetation will be mowed, trimmed, removed, planted, watered, or nurtured depending on the need. Work will be accomplished by hand, by power tools, or by self-propelled machinery. Notification / approval from Development Services is required prior to removal of any trees in critical areas and critical area buffers. Remove Debris Debris will be removed to maintain anaesthetic appearance, to maintain access, to maintain structural and functional integrity, to protect public health and safety, and to enhance the environment. Debris may be natural or man-made. Debris will be removed by hand, by power tools, or by self-propelled machinery. Remove Sediment: Sediment will be removed from sediment traps to maintain their capacity for trapping sediment. Sediment will be removed from conveyance facilities to maintain their conveyance capacity. Routine maintenance of instream components may require excavation near or in water i.e. instream, sediment ponds, culvert entries and tailouts, sediment traps. The work area will be isolated from flowing water with stream or groundwater flows bypassed around the site. Receiving streams will be protected from contaminants. Sediment traps or sumps at channel transitions will be up to seven times as long as the change in channel width. One or more of the following methods will be implemented to remove sediment from each work site outlined in Exhibit B. Methods) to be used at each site are indicated in Exhibit B under the column heading of `Sediment Removal Method(s)" ® Vactor - Removal of sediment to be conducted with the use of a Vactor truck capable of vacuuming sediment directly from the site into a storage tank on the truck. Water accumulated through this process will be typically decanted onsite with filtration BTNIP's utilized before the water is allowed to re-enter the stream. • Excavator -Removal of sediment from the site through the use of an excavator or backhoe. Sediment will be deposited directly into awaiting dump trucks or temporarily stockpiled to allow water within the sediment to drain off. All stockpiled materials will have approved BMP measures in place to prevent sediment laden waters from re- entering the site. Excavator operators will evaluate the site for access, enter and exit the site in a manner to prevent unnecessary damages to vegetation and stream banks and grade any ruts or other potential erosion concerns upon completion of the work. • Hand Work - In certain circumstances, hand work will be necessary to accomplish the job. This typically entails brushing of grasses, blackberries or other shrubs to clear the work zone prior to excavation or vactor activities. Hand work of this type will be restricted to the work area itself and all efforts will be taken to muumize unnecessary damages to surrounding vegetation. BMP's as needed will be utilized if the work bears erosion concerns to adjacent waters. Site # 48 Site # 49 Site # 50 Site # 48 Site # 48 Site # 49 Site # 50 Site # 51 Site # 51 Site # 49 Site # 50 Site #82 Site #82 Site #82 Site #83 Site #83