The program covers installation of fiber optic infrastructure, including underground conduit up to 12 feet deep and utility poles up to 150 feet high. Designed by Freepik

 

MARYSVILLE, CA (MPG) - Yuba County supervisors approved certification of a program-level Environmental Impact Report (EIR) that will streamline future broadband expansion projects and reduce costs for both the county and providers.

The board voted unanimously March 24 to adopt the Final Program Environmental Impact Report for the countywide broadband infrastructure project, along with required findings and a mitigation monitoring program.

County staff said the program EIR is designed to make broadband deployment faster and more efficient by allowing individual projects to rely on a single environmental review framework rather than completing separate studies.

“This project will allow broadband projects both underground and above ground to be able to utilize this EIR to help make the projects faster, easier and cheaper to get across the finish line,” said Community Development Services Assistant Director Kevin Perkins.

The program covers installation of fiber optic infrastructure, including underground conduit up to 12 feet deep and utility poles up to 150 feet high. Projects would primarily be located within existing road rights-of-way or utility corridors, minimizing new ground disturbance.

Perkins said the program-level document will allow future projects to move forward more quickly while still requiring project-specific environmental review when needed.

County officials said the effort is intended to expand high-speed internet access across the county, particularly in unserved and underserved areas, while positioning Yuba County to compete for state and federal broadband funding.

Project objectives include increasing broadband capacity, supporting telecommuting, reducing vehicle miles traveled and creating a consistent framework for evaluating environmental impacts tied to broadband deployment.

The environmental review evaluated a wide range of potential impacts, including air quality, biological resources, cultural resources, noise, transportation and wildfire. Several categories were identified as potentially significant; however, all impacts can be reduced to less than significant levels following the mitigation measures, officials said. A Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program will be used to track compliance with those measures as individual projects are developed.

The county completed a full environmental review process, including a public scoping period and a 45-day public review of the draft EIR in 2025. No public comments were received during the formal review period, and no revisions were required before final certification, officials said. 

Supervisors voiced support for the effort, noting the benefit of reducing regulatory hurdles for infrastructure projects.

“I know this board appreciates every opportunity that we have to make things easier and cheaper when it benefits our residents,” one supervisor said.

With certification complete, future broadband projects that meet the program criteria can move forward using the EIR, while still undergoing project-specific review to ensure compliance with mitigation requirements.