SMUD Transmission Line Steel Pole Recoating Project

SMUD is proposing to recoat eight painted steel poles with nominal operational transmission line voltage of 115 kilovolt (kV) phase to phase. The heights of the poles are between 90 and 114 feet. The poles were originally installed in 2000 and are being recoated for maintenance and corrosion prevention and may require existing paint to be removed. The proposed project is not subject to Article 19, Section 15330 for "minor actions to prevent, minimize, stabilize, mitigate, or eliminate the release or threat of release of hazardous materials or substance," because the proposed action is not undertaken to address the potential release of paints containing hazard materials (metals), but rather to perform a traditional form of maintenance and prevent further corrosion of the existing poles. The effects of the paint removal and pole repainting on the environment have been evaluated indicating the project will comply with air quality and worker exposure regulations and will have no significant adverse effects on any other resources. One transmission pole requires all existing coating of this pole to be fully removed. The entire pole shaft and the cross arms bracket mounting area will be enclosed with scaffolding, wrapped, and all existing coating will be removed by sandblasting. For the initial refinishing of this pole, it will be necessary to remove all paint layers down to exposed steel to eliminate rust and ensure appropriate adhesion and life of the paint re-coating. All removed material will be captured with high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter-equipped vacuum attachments. The material will be tested and if found to be hazardous, disposed of in a Class I controlled landfill. The remaining poles will be recoated with brushes and/or rollers. All coating and overcoat applications shall be done according to the paint manufacturer's recommendations. All work performed for the recoating will be done with the transmission lines de-energized. The pole locations are located directly adjacent to the RT Gold Line East Sacramento corridor. The trains will remain in operation with the use of flaggers who will work cooperatively with the pole maintenance crews. Maintenance will occur between the hours of 6 am and 6 pm Monday through Friday. The eight poles are owned by SMUD and six are located within the Sac RT right of way between Redding Avenue and 59th Street, Sacramento, CA. The eight poles will be recoated over approximately 4 weeks between mid-October and mid-November 2026. The painting contractors will comply with all environmental regulatory requirements by capturing dust generated during paint removal with HEPA-filtered vacuum attachments and employing Best Management Practices (BMPs) to control releases of paint particulates into the surrounding environment. These measures consist of laying a plastic tarp at the base of each tower to collect paint scrapings and collecting and labeling the worker clothing sent to the laundry. All contaminated wastes will be collected, sealed, and transferred to an appropriate Treatment Storage and/or Disposal Facility (TSDF). The plastic sheeting will be placed around the base of the poles at a distance of 20 feet out from the base of the poles. Additional sheeting will be used where there is the possibility of material entering storm drains or being transmitted onto adjacent properties.