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STATE OF CALIFORNIA GRAY DAVIS, GOVemor <br /> PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION <br /> SOS VAN NESS AVENUE <br /> SAN FRANCISCO.CA 949023298 ' <br /> y� <br /> December 16, 1999 . <br /> File: 183-39/EIR <br /> SCH#90020718 <br /> Thomas M. Gau <br /> Senior Civil Engineer <br /> San Joaquin County Community Development <br /> 1810 E. Hazelton Avenue <br /> ' Stockton, CA 95202 <br /> Dear Mr. Gau: <br /> This is in response to your request for review of the Draft Supplemental Environmental <br /> Impact Report (EIR) dated November, 1999 for the proposed City of Stockton Austin Road <br /> Landfill Expansion project, located within the Stockton City limits and the unincorporated <br /> area of San Joaquin County. <br /> a <br /> The Transportation and circulation element of the report indicates that under project and <br /> cumulative conditions,the intersection of Austin Road and Mariposa Road will be impacted <br /> and traffic signals will be required at the intersection. A Burlington Northern Santa Fe 1 <br /> Railroad track crosses Mariposa road near the impacted roadway intersection. The EIR has <br /> not addressed the impacts/mitigations on the existing railroad-highway at-grade crossing. <br /> The Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad BNSF is planning construction of an Intermodal <br /> g (BNSF) P g <br /> Facility (EIR-SCH 998082047) in the immediate vicinity of the proposed landfill project <br /> which will also impact the traffic circulation in the area. Although the traffic analysis is 2 <br /> consistent with the BNSF EIR, the report does not address any cumulative impacts of both <br /> projects on the existing railroad-highway at-grade crossings in the vicinity of the projects. <br /> High-speed passenger trains operate on the BNSF tracks and addition of the landfill truck <br /> traffic across the railroad tracks is a major traffic safety concern. <br /> The Commission is specifically concerned that the EIR adequately address the environmental <br /> effects of those portions of the project that deal with railroad-highway crossings. Any project <br /> involving a new or altered railroad-highway crossing and installation of highway traffic <br /> signals at or near railroad-highway grade crossings require authorization from the California 3 <br /> Public Utilities Commission. The application and environmental requirements for such a <br /> project are set forth in Rule 38 and Rule 17.1, respectively, of the Commission's Rules of <br /> Practice and Procedure (Title 20 of the California Administrative Code). <br /> Should you need further assistance in this matter, please feel free to contact me at <br /> (415) 703-2578. <br /> Very truly ours, <br /> kfJrA S. CHHINA, P.E. DEC 2 01999 <br /> Senior Utilities Engineer <br /> Rail Safety and Carriers Division Community Deveioprxent.Dept. <br /> 39 <br />