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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-Development Services CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO - REQUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTION Date: Subject: Adopt the Mitigated Negative Declaration and the Mitigation Monitoring Development Services AL and Reporting Program (MMRP) for Public OR' G1N Works Project No. 02-01, Installation of February 26, 2003 State Street Master Plan Storm Drain at the 1-210 Freeway. From: James Funk, Director Dept: File: 4.10-7316 MCC Date: 03/17/03 Synopsis of Previous Council Action: 7/15/02 Allocation of $300,000 in the 2002/03 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) for State Street Install Master Plan Storm Drain at 1-210 FWY (Account No. 248-368-5504-7316). Recommended Motion: That the Mitigated Negative Declaration and the Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program (MMRP) for Public Works Project No. 02-01, Installation of State Street Master Plan Storm Drain at the 1-210 Freeway, be adopted. ,~~ .. James Funk Contact person: Lupe Camacho, Associate Engineer Phone: 5110 Supporting data attached: Staff Report, Initial Study wlVicinity Map, Notice ofIntent, Calif. Reg. Water Quality Control Board Comments, Responses to Calif. Reg. Water Quality Control Board, Notice of Completion, NOD and MMRP. Ward: 6 FUNDING REQUIREMENTS: Amount: None Source: (Accl. No.) 248-368-5504-7316 Acct. Description: Installation of State Street Master Plan Storm Drain at the 1-210 Freeway. Finance: Council Notes Agenda Item No.--11-- 3j11j[)3 City of San Bernardino - Request for Council Action Staff Report Subject: Adopt the Mitigated Negative Declaration and the Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program (MMRP) for Public Works Project No. 02-01, Installation of State Street Master Plan Storm Drain at the 1-21 0 Freeway. Background: The City of San Bernardino (City), in cooperation with the San Bernardino Associated Governments (SANBAG), is proposing to install a subsurface storm drain system to intercept surface runoff generated from a tributary area bounded by Cajon Boulevard and Devil Creek to the north, Lytle Creek to the west, California Street and State Street to the east, and Baseline Street to the south. This project will carry design storm flows from the 1-210 Freeway Construction Project to a safe outlet point in Lytle Creek near Baseline Avenue. In addition, it has been "upsized" with the provision of street catch basins along State Street to accept local city drainage, which forms the basis for the project participation. Currently, several small drainage facilities exist within the tributary area. Surface runoff generated from the area exceeds the capacity of the existing storm drain facilities; consequently, runoff continues to sheet-flow to the southeast. The proposed storm drain facilities will consist of inlets along Macy Street, State Street, California Street and Highland Avenue. The inlets will intercept surface runoff and convey flow via various sizes of connector pipes to the main storn1 drain system located within Macy Street, California Street, Highland A venue and State Street. The limits and type of the proposed system are described as follows: Macy Street: A 1,500 millimeter (mm) reinforced concrete pipe (RCP) extending from approximately 99 meters (m) north of Highland Avenue to Highland A venue. California Street: A 1,500 mm RCP extending from approximately 98 m north of Highland Avenue to Highland Avenue. Highland Avenue: A 1,500 mm RCP extending from Macy Street to State Street and an 1,800 mm RCP extending from California Street to State Street. CL Line ("new" street): A 600 mm RCP extending from approximately 1,200 m east of State Street to State Street. State Street: A 2,100 mm RCP extending from Adams Street to Highland Avenue, then a 3,000 mm RCP from Highland Avenue to 477 m south of Hanford Street. A 3.96 m x 2.00 m rectangular concrete channel from 477 m south of Hanford Street to 56 m north of Baseline Street. 2 City of San Bernardino - Request for Council Action Staff Report A 3,000 mm RCP from 56 m north of Baseline Street to 46 m south of Baseline Street. An open earth trapezoidal channel from 46 m south of Baseline Street to the maintenance road along Lytle Creek levee. Five 600 mm corrugated metal pipes (CMP) from the endpoint of the trapezoidal channel, below the maintenance road, to riprap at the discharge point into the creek. Final design of the project is not complete; there may be some mmor changes m the size/configuration of the storm drain pipes. Phasing of construction and staging The construction of the facilities will be accomplished in three stages Stage 1 . Construct inlets along State Street . Construct facilities within Baseline Street in two phases to maintain traffic flow Stage 2 . Construct mainline storm drain, connector pipes, and inlets within Highland Avenue between State Street and California Street. . Construct mainline storm drain within State Street. Temporary closure of State Street at the intersection of State Street and Highland Avenue will be required in order to construct the manholes. Stage 3 . Construct mainline storm drain, connector pipes and inlets within Highland Avenue between State Street and Macy Street. . Construct mainline storm drain, connector pipes and inlets within Macy Street. Temporary closure ofMacy Street is required. . Construct mainline storm drain, connector pipes and inlets within California Street. Temporary closure of California Street is required. The entire project is estimated to cost $5,200,000 with the City of San Bernardino's share estimated to be $1,300,000. The Development Services Department staff prepared an Initial Study for this project as required by the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The Notice of Intent to Adopt a Mitigated Negative Declaration and the Initial Study were posted and available for the mandatory public review. Comments were received from the California Regional Water Quality Control Board, Santa Ana Region (Exhibit I). These comments have been addressed and responses (Exhibit 2) forwarded to the California Regional Water Quality Control Board. At its meeting of January 30, 2003, the Development and Environmental Review Committee (DERC), pursuant to Section 21082 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), recommended that the Mitigated Negative Declaration and the Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program (MMRP) for Public Works Project No. 02-01, Installation of State Street Master Plan Storm Drain at the 1-210 Freeway, be adopted. 3 City of San Bernardino - Request for Council Action Staff Report Financial Impact: There is no financial impact to adopt the Mitigated Negative Declaration for this project. Funding for this project in the amount of $300,000 in account No. 248-368-5504-7316 was approved in the 2002/03 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) for the construction of State Street Master Plan Storm Drain at 1-210 Freeway. An additional $500,000 is proposed to be allocated in the FY'03/04 CIP budget and an additional $500,000 in the FY' 04/05 CIP budget. Recommendation: That the Mitigated Negative Declaration and the Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program (MMRP) for Public Works Project No. 02-01, Installation of State Street Master Plan Storm Drain at the 1-210 Freeway, be adopted. 4 ) , INITIAL STUDY/MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION STATE STREET STORM DRAIN PUBLIC WORKS PROJECT NO. 02-01 Prepared for: City of San Bernardino 300 North "D" Street San Bernardino, CA 92401-1507 Prepared by: LSA Associates, Inc. 20 Executive Park, Suite 200 Irvine, California 92614 (949) 553-0666 Under contract to: San Bernardino Associated Governments 472 North Arrowhead A venue San Bernardino, CA 92401-1421 LSA Project No. SBA 131 / November, 2002 CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO DEVELOPMENT SERVICES INITIAL STUDY The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requires the preparation of an Initial Study when a proposal must obtain discretionary approval from a governmental agency and is not exempt from CEQA. The purpose of the Initial Study is to determine whether or not a proposal, not exempt from CEQA, qualifies for a Negative Declaration or whether or not an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) must be prepared. I. Project Title: State Street Storm Drain PUBLIC WORKS PROJECT NO. 02-01 2. Lead Agency Name: Address: City of San Bernardino 300 N. "0" Street San Bernardino, CA 92401-1507 3. Contact Person: Phone Number: Ms. Lupe Camacho, Engineering Associate (909) 384-5110 4. Project Location (Address/Nearest cross-streets): State Street between Highland Avenue and Lytle Creek. 5. Project Sponsor: Address: San Bernardino Associated Governments/City of San Bernardino 472 North Arrowhead Avenue San Bernardino, CA 92401-1421 6. General Plan Designation: The project site is designated CR-3 (Commercial Regional - Tri City/Club) District in the City of San Bernardino General Plan. Uses permitted in the CR-3 District include: corporate and commercial offices, retail commercial and entertainment, financial establishments, hotels/motels, warehouse/promotional retail, supporting retail and services, and similar uses which support regional needs. 7. Description of Project (Describe the whole action involved, including, but not limited to, later phases of the project and any secondary, support, or off-site feature necessary for its implementation, Attach additional sheets, if necessary): Other agencies whose approval is required (e.g., permits, finance approval, or participation agreement): The City of San Bernardino (City), in cooperation with The San Bernardino Associated Governments (SANBAG), is proposing to install a subsurface storm drain system to intercept surface runoff generated from a tributary area bounded by Cajon Boulevard and Devil Creek to the north, Lytle Creek to the west, California Street and State Street to the east, and Baseline Street to the south. Currently, several small drainage facilities exist within the tributary area. Surface runoff generated from the area exceeds the existing storm drain facilities' capacity; consequently, runoff continues to sheet-flow to the southeast. The proposed storm drain facilities will consist of inlets along Macy Street, State Street, California Street, and Highland A venue. The inlets will intercept surface runoff and convey flow via various sizes of connector pipes to the main storm drain system located within Macy Street, California Street, Highland A venue, and State Street. The limits and type of the proposed system are described as the following: IS I CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO DEVELOPMENT SERVICES INITIAL STUDY Macy Street: A 1,500 millimeter (mm) reinforced concrete pipe (RCP) extending from approximately 99 meters (m) north of Highland A venue to Highland A venue. California Street: A 1,500 mm RCP extending from approximately 98 m north of Highland Avenue to Highland A venue. Highland Avenue: A 1,500 mm RCP extending from Macy Street to State Street and an 1,800 mm RCP extending from California Street to State Street. CL Line ("new" street): A 600 mm RCP extending from approximately 1,200 m east of State Street to State Street. State Street: A 2,100 mm RCP extending from Adams Street to Highland Avenue, then a 3,000 mm RCP from Highland Avenue to 477 m south of Hanford Street. A 3.96 m x 2.00 m rectangular concrete channel from 477 m south of Hanford Street to 56 m north of Baseline Street. A 3,000 mm RCP from 56 m north of Baseline Street to 46 m south of Baseline Street. An open earth trapezoidal channel from 46 m south of Baseline Street to the maintenance road along Lytle Creek levee. Five 600 mm corrugated metal pipes (CMP) from the endpoint of the trapezoidal channel, below the maintenance road, to riprap at the discharge point into the creek. Final design of the project is not complete; there may be some minor changes in the size/configuration of the storm drain pipes. Phasing of construction and staging The construction of the facilities will be accomplished in three stages Stage 1 . Construct inlets along State Street . Construct facilities within Baseline Street in two phases to maintain traffic flow Stage 2 . Construct mainline storm drain, connector pipes, and inlets within Highland A venue between State Street and California Street. . Construct mainline storm drain within State Street. Temporary closure of State Street at the intersection of State Street and Highland Avenue will be required in order to construct the manholes. Stage 3 . Construct mainline storm drain, connector pipes, and inlets within Highland Avenue between State Street and Macy Street. . Construct mainline storm drain, connector pipes, and inlets within Macy Street. Temporary closure of Macy Street is required. . Construct mainline storm drain, connector pipes, and inlets within California Street. Temporary closure of California Street is required. Funding The project is to be funded by Measure I funds and the City of San Bernardino. Construction Staging Area IS 2 CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO DEVELOPMENT SERVICES INITIAL STUDY Construction staging will remain within the existing right-of-way of Highland A venue, State Street, California Street, and Macy Street. An existing service road adjacent to Baseline Road will be utilized for construction staging and for access to Lytle Creek on the southern portion of the project. IS 3 r. ."\\~..." ...~ ... \ I I ~r,; . .~~~... \:ii't~~~,:;, T Sa. Bernardino County '. '". '\ :'; L5A ~ o , 1000 2000 , Stat. Street Storm Drain Location Map FUr SOURCE: USGS 7.S' QUADS. SAN BERNARDINO NORTH& SAN BERNARDINO SOUTH. CALIF, I:\SBA 131 \G\Localioo.cdr (8123102) CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO DEVELOPMENT SERVICES INITIAL STUDY 8. Surrounding Land Use and Setting: The proposed project site is located within the Inland Empire region of Southern California in the City of San Bernardino. San Bernardino County. The site is located adjacent to four two-lane roads: California Street, State Street/Colorado A venue, and Macy Street; one four-lane road, Highland Avenue; and is approximately two miles west of Interstate 215 (1-215), a major north-south transportation corridor. The proposed extension of State Route 210 will pass through the project area just south of Highland Avenue and will connect to existing State Route 30. Retail stores, auto service garages, gasoline stations, and empty lots along Highland Avenue and adjacent to the proposed project site are within an area designated "CG.l" (General Commercial) and "IL" (Light Industrial). Single family residences and empty lots along State Street, Macy Street, California Street, and Colorado Avenue are designated "RS" (Single-family Residential). Land west of the future southern extension of State Street/Colorado Avenue towards Lytle Creek is designated "PFC" (Public Flood Control). A church with associated structures is located along State Street/Colorado A venue. 9. Agencies whose approval is required (e.g., permits, finance approval, or participation agreement): . Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control Board (SARWQCB) - Section 401 Water Quality Certification . U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) - Section 404 Nationwide Permit . California Department ofFish and Game (CDFG) - Section 1601 Streambed Alteration Agreement . U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)-Section 7 Consultation IS 5 CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO DEVELOPMENT SERVICES INITIAL STUDY ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS POTENTIALLY AFFECTED The environmental factors checked below would be potentially affected by this project, involving at least one impact that is a "Potentially Significant Impact" as indicated by the checklist on the following pages. o Land Use and Planning o Population and Housing D Earth Resources D Water DAir Quality DTransportationJCirculation I:8J Biological Resources o Energy and Mineral Resources o Hazards o Noise o Mandatory Findings of Significance o Public Services o Utilities and Service Systems D Aesthetics I:8JCultural Resources D Recreation Determination. On the basis of this Initial Study, the City of San Bernardino, Environmental Review Committee finds: That the proposed project COULD NOT have significant effect on the environment, and a D NEGATIVE DECLARATION will be prepared. That although the proposed project could have a significant effect on the environment, there I:8J will not be a significant effect in this case because the mitigation measures described on an attached sheet have been added to the project. A NEGATIVE DECLARATION will be prepared. That the proposed project MAY have a significant effect on the environment, and an 0 ENVIRONMENTAL IMP ACT REPORT is required. That although the proposed project could have a significant effect on the environment, there D WILL NOT be a significant effect in this case because all potentially significant effects (a) have been analyzed adequately in an earlier EIR pursuant to applicable standards, and (b) have been avoided or mitigated pursuant to that earlier EIR, including revisions or mitigation measures that are imposed upon the proposed project. tf:r/ ~~ / /7-/rbfd 1.- Sign re 7 Date /J..)t'1 /'1.6"''' It. CAS P'Y . Printed Name IS6 CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO DEVELOPMENT SERVICES INITIAL STUDY Potentially Significant Potentially Unless Less Than Significant Mitigation Significant Imnact Incorporated Impact No Imoact I. LAND USE AND PLANNING. Will the proposal result in: a) A conflict with the land use as designated 0 0 0 X based on the review of the General Plan Land Use Plan/Zoning Districts Map? b) Development within an Airport District 0 0 0 X as identified in the Air Installation Compatible Use Zone (AICUZ) Report and the Land Use Zoning District Map? c) Development within Foothill Fire Zones 0 0 0 X A & B, or C as identified on the Land Use Districts Zoning Map? d) Permanent or temporary incompa- 0 0 0 X tibility between adjacent land uses? II. POPULATION AND HOUSING. Will the proposal: a) Remove existing housing (including 0 0 0 X affordable housing) as verified by a site survey/evaluation? b) Create a significant demand for 0 0 0 X additional housing based on the proposed use and evaluation of project size? c) Induce substantial growth in an area 0 0 0 X either directly or indirectly (e.g., through projects in an undeveloped area or an extension of major infrastructure)? IS 7 CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO DEVELOPMENT SERVICES INITIAL STUDY Potentially Significant Potentially Unless Less Than Significant Mitigation Significant Impact Incornorated Imoact No Impact III. EARTH RESOURCES: Will the proposal result in: a) Earth movement (cut and/or fill) on 0 0 0 X slopes of 15% or more based on information contained in the Preliminary Project Description Form No. D? b) Development and/or grading on a slope 0 0 0 X greater than 15% natural grade based on review of General Plan HMOD map? c) Erosion, dust or unstable soil conditions 0 0 X 0 from excavation, grading or fill? d) Development within the Alquist-Priolo 0 0 0 X Special Studies Zone as defined in Section 12.0, Geologic & Seismic, Figure 47, of the City's General Plan? e) Modification of any unique geologic or 0 0 0 X physical feature based on field review? f) Development within areas defined as 0 0 X 0 having high potential for water or wind erosion as identified in Section 12.0, Geologic & Seismic, Figure 53, of the City's General Plan? g) Modification of a channel, creek or river 0 0 X 0 based on a field review or review of USGS Topographic Map San Bernardino South Quadrangle? h) Development within an area subject to 0 0 0 X landslides, mudslides, subsidence or other similar hazards as identified in Section 12.0, Geologic & Seismic, Figures 48, 51, 52 and 53 of the City's General Plan? IS 8 CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO DEVELOPMENT SERVICES INITIAL STUDY Potentially Significant Potentially Unless Less Than Significant Mitigation Significant Imnact Incorporated Impact No Imoact i) Development within an area subject to 0 0 X 0 liquefaction as shown in Section 12.0, Geologic & Seismic, Figure 48, of the City's General Plan? IV. WATER. Will the proposal result in: a) Changes in absorption rates, drainage 0 0 X 0 patterns, or the rate and amount of surface runoff due to impermeable surfaces that cannot be mitigated by Public Works Standard Requirements to contain and convey runoff to approved storm drain based on review of the proposed site plan? b) Significant alteration in the course or 0 0 X 0 flow of flood waters based on consultation with Public Works staff? c) Discharge into surface waters or any 0 0 X 0 alteration of surface water quality based on requirements of Public Works to have runoff directed to approved storm drains? d) Changes in the quantity or quality of 0 0 0 X ground water? e) Exposure of people or property to flood 0 0 0 X hazards as identified in the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Flood Insurance Rate Map and Section 16.0, Flooding, Figure 62, of the City's General Plan? IS 9 CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO DEVELOPMENT SERVICES INITIAL STUDY Potentially Significant Potentially Unless Less Than Significant Mitigation Significant Imnact Incorporated Imnact No Impact V. AIR QUALITY. Will the proposal: a) Violate any air quality standard or 0 0 X 0 contribute to an existing or projected air quality violation based on the thresholds in the SCAQMD's "CEQA Air Quality Handbook"? b) Expose sensitive receptors to pollutants? 0 0 X 0 c) Alter air movement, moisture, or 0 0 0 X temperature, or cause any change in climate? d) Create objectionable odors based on 0 0 X 0 information contained in the Preliminary Environmental Description Form? VI.TRANSPORTA110NICIRCULA110N. Could the proposal result in: a) A significant increase in traffic volumes 0 0 0 X on the roadways or intersections or an increase that is significantly greater than the land use designated on the General Plan? b) Alteration of present patterns of 0 0 X 0 circulation? c) A disjointed pattern of roadway 0 0 0 X improvements? d) Impact to rail or air traffic? 0 0 0 X e) Insufficient parking capacity on-site or 0 0 X 0 off-site based on the requirements in Chapter 19.24 of the Development Code? 1) Increased safety hazards to vehicles, 0 0 X 0 bicyclists or pedestrians? IS 10 CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO DEVELOPMENT SERVICES INITIAL STUDY Potentially Significant Potentially Unless Less Than Significant Mitigation Significant Imoact Incoroorated Imoact No Imoact g) Conflict with adopted policies 0 0 0 X supporting alternative transportation? h) Inadequate emergency access or access 0 0 X 0 to nearby uses? VII. BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES. Could the proposal result in: a) Development within the Biological 0 0 X 0 Resources Management Overlay, as identified in Section 10.0, Natural Resources, Figure 41, of the City's General Plan? b) Impacts to endangered, threatened or 0 X 0 0 rare species or their habitat (including, but not limited to, plants, mammals, fish, insects and birds)? c) Impacts to the wildlife dispersal or 0 0 X 0 migration corridors? d) Impacts to wetland habitat (e.g., marsh, 0 0 0 X riparian and vernal pool)? e) Removal of viable, mature trees based 0 0 X 0 on information contained in the Preliminary Environmental Description Form and verified by site survey/evaluation (6" or greater trunk diameter at 4' above the ground)? f) Other 0 X 0 0 IS 11 CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO DEVELOPMENT SERVICES INITIAL STUDY Potentially Significant Potentially Unless Less Than Significant Mitigation Significant Imoact Incomorated Imoact No Imoact VIII. ENERGY AND MINERAL RESOURCES: Would the proposal: a) Conflict with adopted conservation 0 0 X 0 plans? b) Use non-renewable resources in a 0 0 X 0 wasteful and inefficient manner? c) Result in the loss of availability of a 0 0 X 0 known mineral resource that would be offuture value to the region and the residents of the State? IX. HAZARDS. Will the proposal: a) Use, store, transport or dispose of 0 0 X 0 hazardous or toxic materials based on information contained in the Preliminary Environmental Description Form No. G(l) and G(2) (including, but not limited to, oil, pesticides, chemicals or radiation)? b) Involve the release of hazardous 0 0 X 0 substances? c) Expose people to the potential 0 0 X 0 health/safety hazards? X. NOISE. Could the proposal result in: a) Development of housing, health care 0 0 X 0 facilities, schools, libraries, religious facilities or other noise sensitive uses in areas where existing or future noise levels exceed an Ldn of 65 dB(A) exterior and an Ldn of 45 dB(A) interior I as identified in Section 14.0, Noise, Figures 57 and 58, of the City's General Plan? IS 12 CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO DEVELOPMENT SERVICES INITIAL STUDY Potentially Significant Potentially Unless Less Than Significant Mitigation Significant Impact Incomorated Impact No Imoact b) Development of new or expansion of 0 0 0 X existing industrial, commercial or other uses which generate noise levels above an Ldn of 65 dB(A) exterior or an Ldn of 45 dB(A) interior that may affect areas containing housing, schools, health care facilities or other sensitive uses based on information in the Preliminary Environmental Description Form No. G(I) and evaluation of surrounding land uses No. C, and verified by site survey/evaluation? XI. PUBLIC SERVICES. Would the proposal have an effect upon, or result in a need for new or altered government services in any of the following areas: a) Fire protection? 0 0 0 X b) Medical aid? 0 0 0 X c) Police protection? 0 0 0 X d) Schools? 0 0 0 X e) Parks or other recreational facilities? 0 0 0 X f) Solid waste disposal? 0 0 X 0 g) Maintenance of public facilities, 0 0 X 0 including roads? XII. UTILITIES. Will the proposal, based on the responses of the responsible Agencies, Departments, or Utility Company, impact the following beyond the capability to provide adequate levels of service or require the construction of new facilities? a) Natural gas? 0 0 0 X b) Electricity? 0 0 0 X c) Communications systems? 0 0 0 X IS 13 CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO DEVELOPMENT SERVICES INITIAL STUDY Potentially Significant Potentially Unless Less Than Significant Mitigation Significant ImDact Incorporated Imnact No Impact d) Water distribution? 0 0 0 X e) Water treatment or sewer? 0 0 0 X f) Storm water drainage? 0 0 0 X g) Result in a disjointed pattern of utility 0 0 0 X extensions based on review of existing patterns and proposed extensions? XJII. AESTHETICS. a) Could the proposal result in the 0 0 0 X obstruction of any significant or important scenic view based on evaluation of the view shed verified by site survey/evaluation? b) Will the visual impact of the project 0 0 0 X create aesthetically offensive changes in the existing visual setting based on a site survey and evaluation of the proposed elevations? c) Create significant light or glare that 0 0 0 X could impact sensitive receptors? XIV. CULTURAL RESOURCES. Could the proposal result in: a) Development in a sensitive 0 0 0 X archaeological area as identified in Section 3.0, Historical, Figure 8, of the City's General Plan? IS 14 CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO DEVELOPMENT SERVICES INITIAL STUDY Potentially Significant Potentially Unless Less Than Significant Mitigation Significant Imoact Incoroorated Imoact No Imoact b) The alteration or destruction of a 0 0 0 X prehistoric or historic archaeological site by development within an archaeological sensitive area as identified in Section 3.0, Historical, Figure 8, of the City's General Plan? c) Alteration or destruction of a historical 0 0 0 X site, structure or object as listed in the City's Historic Resources Reconnaissance Survey? d) Other? 0 X 0 0 XV. RECREATION. Would the proposal: a) Increase the demand for neighborhood 0 0 0 X or regional parks or other recreational facilities? b) Affect existing recreational 0 0 0 X opportunities? XVI. MANDATORY FINDINGS OF SIGNIFICANCE. a) Does the project have the potential to 0 X 0 0 degrade the quality of the environment, substantially reduce the habitat of a fish or wildlife species, cause a fish or wildlife population to drop below self- sustaining levels, threaten to eliminate a plant or animal community, reduce the number or restrict the range of a rare or endangered plant or animal, or eliminate important examples of the major periods of California history or prehistory? b) Does the project have the potential to 0 0 0 X achieve short-term, to the disadvantage of long-term, environmental goals? IS 15 CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO DEVELOPMENT SERVICES INITIAL STUDY Potentially Significant Potentially Unless Less Than Significant Mitigation Significant Imoact Incoroorated Imoact No Imoact c) Does the project have impacts that are 0 0 X 0 individually limited, but cumulatively considerable? ("Cumulatively considerable" means that the incremental effects of a project are considerable when viewed in connection with the effects of past projects, the effects of other current projects, and the effects of probable future projects.) d) Does the project have environmental 0 0 0 X effects, which will cause substantial adverse effects on human beings, either directly or indirectly? IS 16 CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO DEVELOPMENT SERVICES INITIAL STUDY CHECKLIST RESPONSES L Land Use and Planning. Will the proposal result in: a) A conflict with the land use as designated on the review of the General Plan Land Use Plan/Zoning Districts Map? No Impact. Storm drain piping and associated improvements will be installed within existing right-of- way along existing roadways and within an area zoned "PFC" (Public Flood Control) adjacent to Lytle Creek in the City of San Bemardino. The PFC land use designation is utilized primarily for flood control uses. The project involves installing new flood control devices and improving drainage. The project will be consistent with the PFC land use designation and will not impact existing or planned land uses. b) Development within an Airport District as identified in the Air Installation Compatible Use Zone (AICUZ) Report and the Land Use Zoning District Map? No Impact. The proposed project site is located approximately 8.5 miles northwest of the San Bemardino International Airport (the former Norton Air Force Base). The AICUZ Report is a document prepared by the Department of the Air Force that examines, evaluates, and summarizes aircraft operations at U.S. Air Force Bases with respect to the effects of noise and accident hazards. Upon decommission in March 1994, military flight operations at Norton Air Force Base were halted. Therefore, findings reported in the AICUZ Report are no longer applicable. The City of San Bemardino has established an airport district. The district is delineated on official land use district maps as an overlay district. Based on the City's Land Use Plan/Land Use Zoning District Map, the project site is not located within the Airport Overlay District. Impacts associated with this issue will not occur. c) Development within Foothill Fire Zones A, B, or C as identified on the Land Use District Zoning Map? No Impact. The project site is not located within Fire Hazard Zone A, B, or C. The areas of the City most susceptible to wildfires are generally located in the foothills of the San Bernardino Mountains. The project site is located within an urbanized portion of the City, substantially removed from foothill areas. No impact associated with this issue will occur. d) Permanent or temporary incompatibility between adjacent land uses? No Impact. Development of the project site will involve the installation of subsurface storm drain facilities. The new storm drain facilities will serve the existing adjacent commercial and residential land uses and will not result in permanent or temporary incompatibility between land uses. II. Population and Housing. Will the proposal: a) Remove existing housing (including affordable housing) as verified by a site survey/evaluation? No Impact. The proposed project will not remove any existing housing, affordable or otherwise. The project will install a new storm drain system that will serve existing housing areas adjacent to the project limits. Therefore, no impacts associated with this issue will occur. IS 17 CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO DEVELOPMENT SERVICES INITIAL STUDY b) Create a significant demand for additional housing based on the proposed use and evaluation of the project size? No Impact. The project will replace inadequate storm drain facilities in an existing developed area. No additional housing demand will be created with implementation of the project. c) Induce substantial growth in an area either directly or indirectly (e.g., through projects In an undeveloped area or an extension of major infrastructure)? No Impact. The proposed project will not serve as an inducement for new residential development in the area beyond that predicted in the General Plan. No new residential units will be built as a result of this project. No residential development is associated with the project. No growth related impacts will occur. III. Earth Resources. Will the proposal result in: a) Movement (cut and/or fill) on slopes of 15% or more based on information contained in the Preliminary Project Description Form No. D? No Impact. The proposed project site is located within existing roadways and vacant land with a slope of less than one percent. Construction will not result in slopes in excess of 15 percent. Therefore, no impact related to this issue will occur. b) Development and/or grading on a slope greater than 15 percent natural grade based on review of General Plan HMOD map? No Impact. The proposed project site is located within roadways and vacant land with a slope of less than one percent. Construction will not result in slopes in excess of 15 percent. The proposed project site does not lie in the Hillside Management Overlay District (HMOD). Therefore, no impact would occur. c) Erosion, dust or unstable soil conditions from excavation, grading or fill? Less than Significant Impact. Implementation of the proposed project will require excavation, which may increase the potential for the erosion of exposed soils on site. Compliance with the South Coast Air Quality Management District's (SCAQMD) standard construction procedures, the City grading ordinance as described in Title 15 of the City's municipal code, the City's Department of Public Works Grading Guidelines, and National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit requirements will reduce potential impacts related to soil disturbance to a less than significant level. The prevention of sedimentation or damage to off-site property shall be in compliance with the standards outlined in Chapter 15 of the Municipal Code, and Map Act Section 66411. Impacts anticipated with this issue are less than significant. d) Development within the Alquist-Priolo Special Studies Zone as defined in Section 12.0. Geologic & Seismic. Figure 47, of the City's General Plan? No Impact. The project does not lie within an Alquist-Priolo Special Studies Zone. e) Modification of any unique geologic or physical feature based on field review? No Impact. The proposed project site will be developed within existing roadways and a section of vacant land on State Street/Colorado Avenue, south of Hanford Street. Surrounding lands have been developed into commercial and residential areas. Therefore, any unique geologic or physical feature in the project IS 18 CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO DEVELOPMENT SERVICES INITIAL STUDY vicinity has already been disturbed by previous grading and existing land uses. Therefore, no impact will occur. f) Development within areas defined as having high potential for water or wind erosion as identified in Section 12.0, Geologic & Seismic, Figure 53, for the City's General Plan? Less than Significant Impact. The proposed project site is located within an area defined as having high potential for wind erosion as identified in Figure 53 in the City's General Plan. However, the majority of the proposed project involves subsurface drainage improvements located beneath existing roadways and will not be susceptible to wind erosion. Exposure of portions of the project (on State Street/Colorado A venue, south of Hanford Street) to wind and possible ensuing erosion may occur during construction. Best management practices such as watering bare soils and covering soil piles consistent with SCAQMD and NPDES requirements will be utilized to reduce wind erosion impacts to a less than significant level. g) Modification of channel, creek or river based on field review or review of USGS Topographic Map San Bernardino South Quadrangle? Less than Significant Impact. The southern portion of the project site is adjacent to Lytle Creek Wash. Development of the project involves installing storm drain facilities that will discharge storm water flows into Lytle Creek Wash. A concrete rectangular channel and other minor alterations to Lytle Creek are proposed along the southern portion of the project. The drainage structures that will be constructed will be in compliance with the policies and procedures of the City's Development Services Department, Public Works Division and will be subject to USACE and CDFG permit requirements. Therefore, a less than significant impact is anticipated. h) Development within an area subject to landslides, mudslides, subsidence or other similar hazards as identified in Section 12.0, Geologic & Seismic, Figures 48, 51, 52 and 53 of the City's General Plan? No Impact. Because of the relatively flat slope of the site, no potential for landslide or mudslide exists on site. The proposed project site does not lie within an area of historic and potential ground subsidence according to Figure 51 in the City's General Plan. Since 1972, the San Bernardino Municipal Water District has maintained groundwater levels by recharging aquifers via percolation basins. Problems with ground subsidence have not been identified since the groundwater recharge program began. In addition to groundwater recharge, the City of San Bernardino maintains construction standards based on the Uniform Building Code, which ensure mitigation of potential hazards associated with subsidence. Therefore, there are no impacts related to this issue. i) Development within an area subject to liquefaction as shown III Section 12.0, Geologic & Seismic, Figure 48, of the City's General Plan? Less than Significant Impact. The project site and the majority of the City are within an area that is known to be subject to strong ground shaking in a major earthquake. The portion of the project within Lytle Creek is located in a "High Liquefaction Susceptibility" area, as described in the City's General Plan. Development could involve soils subject to seismic settling or liquefaction. The storm drain facilities will be constructed in accordance with the Uniform Building Code, which mitigates potential hazards associated with liquefaction. Thus, application of existing development standards will reduce potential impacts to below a level of significance. IS 19 CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO DEVELOPMENT SERVICES INITIAL STUDY IV. Water. Will the proposal result in: a) Changes in absorption rates, drainage patterns, or the rate and amount of surface runoff due to impermeable surfaces that cannot be mitigated by Public Works Standard Requirements to contain and convey runoff to approved storm drain based on review of the proposed site plan? Less than Significant Impact. Development of the project site will involve the installation of subsurface storm drain facilities, which will discharge water along the same designed drainage pattern as the existing surface storm drain facilities. The existing drainage facilities are not sized for the existing storm flows and excess runoff sheet flows to the southeast within the project area and into Lytle Creek. With implementation of the project, this sheet flow would be contained within the new storm drain system. The project does not involve an increase in impervious surfaces or an increase in storm flows. A riprap energy dissipater will be placed at the discharge point to reduce erosion of the creek bed. b) Significant alteration in the course or flow of floodwaters based on consultation with Public Works staff? Less than Significant Impact. As stated above in IV (a), existing sheet flow will be diverted to the new storm drain facilities. The planned drainage facilities will be designed, installed, and maintained to allow improved drainage of the surrounding vicinity. Therefore, impacts related to this issue will be less than significant. c) Discharge into surface waters or any alteration of surface water quality based on requirements of Public Works to have runoff directed to approved storm drains? Less than Significant Impact. As stated above in IV (a), the project involves the construction of a new storm drain system. Existing sheet flows (overflow from the existing storm drain facilities) will be diverted to the new subsurface storm drain facilities, which will be subject to Public Works approval. Construction of the project shall be in compliance with NPDES requirements such as implementation of BMPs to minimize erosion and subsequent siltation of receiving waters. With implementation of approved design standards for storm drains and adherence to NPDES requirements and the City grading ordinance, impacts regarding alteration of surface water quality will be less than significant. d) Changes in the quantity or quality of groundwater? No Impact. Direct additions to or withdrawals of groundwater are not elements of this project. The project site is within the Bunker Hill Groundwater Basin of the Upper Santa Ana River Watershed. Since 1972, over 150,000 acre feet of imported State Project Water have been recharged in the Bunker Hill Groundwater Basin. The proposed project will not contribute to a loss of permeable surface area for the Bunker Hill Basin. The project will not introduce new demands onto existing groundwater supplies or contribute to a degradation of groundwater quality. Therefore, there are no impacts related to this issue with implementation of the project. e) Exposure of people or property to flood hazards as identified in the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) and Section 16.0, Flooding, Figure 62, of the City's General Plan? No Impact. The project site is located within a 100-year floodplain as shown in FIRM panels 06071C7940F and 0607IC8677F. Development of the project site will involve the installation of storm drain facilities to replace inadequately sized facilities. The change in storm water flow will improve the drainage capabilities of the project area and increase the ability of the surrounding vicinity to withstand IS 20 CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO DEVELOPMENT SERVICES INITIAL STUDY potential flood scenarios. The project will create a beneficial impact to the project area's ability to withstand flooding. V. AIR QUALITY. Will the proposal: a) Violate any air quality standard or contribute to an existing or projected air quality violation base on the thresholds in the SCAQMD's "CEQA Air Quality Handbook"? Less than Significant Impact. Construction activities at the project site would result in localized increased levels of emissions and particulates. Construction activities produce emissions from various sources such as site grading, utility engines, on-site heavy-duty construction vehicles, trucks hauling materials to and from the site, asphalt paving, and motor vehicles transporting the construction crew. Exhaust emissions from construction activities envisioned on site would vary daily as construction activity levels change. It is assumed that project construction would follow a schedule that would utilize several pieces of construction equipment on the project site. Peak daily emissions associated with construction equipment exhaust for the proposed project are summarized in Table V-I. Emissions during the backfilling phase would be lower than the peak daily emissions presented in Table V-I. Table V-I: Emissions from Construction Equipment Exhaust Pollutants (Ibs./dav) Source of hours CO ROC NOx !SOx IPM,o I - Wheeled Dozers 8 14A 1.5 33A ~.8 1.3 I - Tracked Tractor 8 2.8 1.0 10.1 l.l 0.9 1 - Wheeled Tractor 8 78.6 IA 10.2 0.7 l.l 1 - Wheeled Loader 8 4.6 1.9 15.2 1.5 IA I - Motor Grader 8 1.2 J.3 5.7 0.7 0.5 I - Miscellaneous 8 lsA 1.2 13.6 l.l l.l 20 - Workers Trios o miles 8.6 1.6 12.8 A 1.0 TOTAL 66 9 91 7 sCAQMD Threshold 1550 75 1100 50 1150 Sil!nificant Imoact ? INO NO IJVO NO fivo Source: LSA Associates, Inc., May 2002 Fugitive dust emissions are generally associated with demolition, land clearing, exposure, and cut and fill operations. Dust generated daily during construction would vary substantially, depending on the level of activity, the specific operations, and weather conditions. Nearby sensitive receptors and on-site workers may be exposed to blowing dust, depending upon prevailing wind conditions. Fugitive dust would also be generated as construction equipment or trucks travel on unpaved roads on the construction site. CO = Carbon Monoxide ROC = Reactive Organic Compounds NOx ::= Nitrogen Oxides SOx = Sulfur Oxides PM I 0 = Particulate Matter 10 microns or less in diameter PMIO emissions from grading operations during a peak construction day are based on assumptions and past experience on similar sized projects. The SCAQMD estimates that each acre of graded surface creates about 26A pounds of PM 10 per workday during the construction phase of the project and 21.8 pounds of PM 10 per hour from dirt/debris pushing per dozer. The entire site is not expected to be under construction at one time. It is assumed that up to three acres of land would be under construction or exposed on anyone day. It is also assumed that one dozer would be used eight hours a day, together with other equipment. Therefore, a maximum of 254 pounds of PM 10 per day would be generated from soil IS 21 CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO DEVELOPMENT SERVICES INITIAL STUDY disturbance, without control measures, during the construction phase. This level of dust emission would exceed the SCAQMD threshold of 150 pounds per day during construction. With the implementation of standard air pollution control measures, such as frequent watering (e.g., minimum twice a day), fugitive dust emissions from construction activities are expected to be reduced to 127 pounds or less per day, with 50 percent effectiveness. Combined with the seven pounds per day generated by equipment exhaust, the total mitigated dust emission of 134 pounds per day would be below the SCAQMD threshold of 150 pounds per day. Table V-2 lists fugitive dust emissions and construction equipment exhausts. Table V-2: Peak Grading Day Total Emissions (Ibs./day) Category CO ROC NOx sox PM10 i Vehicle/Equioment Exhaust (Table V-I) 66 9 91 8 17 FU1!itive Dust from Soil Disturbance - No control 1-- 1-- 1254 -- -- measures Fugitive Dust from Soil Disturbance - With control 127 -- -- -- -- measures Total Grading - No control measures 66 9 91 8 261 Total Grading - With control measures 66 9 91 8 134 SCAQMD Threshold 550 75 100 150 150 Sirmificant? (With control measures) NO NO NO NO iNO Source: LSA Associates, Inc., May 2002 Table V -2 shows that during peak grading days, daily total construction emissions without control measures would exceed the SCAQMD threshold for PMIO. With standard air pollution control measures implemented, total daily construction emissions would be below the SCAQMD threshold for PMIO. The other four air pollutant emissions would be below the daily thresholds established by the SCAQMD without control measures. The following standard air pollution control measures will be implemented as part of the project: 1. During earth moving or excavation operations, regular watering, paving of roads or other dust preventive measures using the following procedures shall control fugitive dust emissions: X All material excavated shall be sufficiently watered to prevent excessive amounts of dust. Watering, with complete coverage, shall take place at least twice daily, preferably in the late morning and after work is done for the day. X All earth moving or excavation activities shall cease during periods of high winds (i.e., winds greater than 20 mph averaged over one hour). X All material transported off site shall be either sufficiently watered or securely covered to prevent excessive amounts of dust. IS 22 CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO DEVELOPMENT SERVICES INITIAL STUDY X The area disturbed by earth moving or excavation operations shall be minimized at all times. 2. After earth moving or excavation operations, fugitive dust emissions shall be controlled using the following measure: X All active portions of the construction site shall be watered to prevent excessive amounts of dust. 3. At all times, fugitive dust emissions shall be controlled using the following procedures: X On-site vehicle speed on unpaved surfaces shall be limited to 15 mph. 4. Outdoor storage piles of construction materials shall be kept covered, watered, or otherwise chemically stabilized with a chemical wetting agent to minimize fugitive dust emissions and wind eroSIOn. The project would not have any pollutant generating activities after project construction is completed, and no long-term air quality impacts would occur. Therefore, compliance with the standard air pollution control measures listed above would result in air quality impacts at a less than significant level. b) Expose sensitive receptors to pollutants? Less than Significant Impact. As discussed in a) above, the proposed project would generate air pollutants during construction periods. Because the emissions generated during project construction would be below the SCAQMD daily emissions thresholds with implementation of standard air pollution control measures, it is not expected that the pollutants generated by project construction would increase their concentrations to above the State or federal standards. The project would not have any pollutant generating activities after project construction is completed, and no long-term air quality impacts would occur. Therefore, compliance with the standard air pollution control measures listed above would reduce air quality impacts to sensitive receptors to a less than significant level. c) Alter air movement, moisture, or temperature, or cause change in climate? No Impact. The proposed project consists of constructing new storm drain facilities that would drain into Lytle Creek. The proposed project would not alter air movement, moisture, or temperature, or cause change in climate. No impacts would occur, and no mitigation measures are required. d) Create objectionable odors based on information contained in the Preliminary Environmental Description Form? Less than Significant. As discussed in (a) above, the proposed project would generate air pollutants during construction periods. Exhaust emissions from construction equipment and heavy-duty trucks have the potential to result in objectionable odors during project construction. Because the emissions generated during project construction would be temporary and would be below the SCAQMD daily emissions thresholds, it is not expected that odors associated with project construction would result in significant impacts. No mitigation measures are required. VL TRANSPORTATION/CIRCULATION. Could the proposal result in: a) A significant increase in traffic volumes on the roadways or intersections or an increase that is significantly greater than the land use designated on the General Plan? IS 23 CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO DEVELOPMENT SERVICES INITIAL STUDY No Impact. Implementation of the proposed project will not create increased vehicle trips, resulting in potential roadway and intersection congestion in the project vicinity. The project will not introduce any uses that will increase demands on existing roadways. Therefore, there are no impacts related to this issue. b) Alteration of present patterns of circulation? Less than Significant Impact. Implementation of the proposed project will alter the existing pattern of circulation for the project vicinity. Construction phase 2 will require the temporary closure of the intersection of State Street and Highland A venue. Construction phase 3 will require the temporary closure of Macy Street and California Street. However, the existing lane configuration will be maintained along State Street and Highland Avenue during construction. Any altered or closed roads within the proposed project site will be replaced after construction per City standards, thereby reducing potential impacts to a less than significant level. c) A disjointed pattern of roadway improvements? No Impact. Development of the project site will involve the installation of subsurface storm drain facilities along three roadways in the project vicinity and does not involve traffic related improvements to roadways. Therefore, there are no impacts related to this issue. d) Impact to rail or air traffic? No Impact. San Bernardino International Airport is located approximately 8.5 miles southeast of the project site, and the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Rail line is located 1.5 miles east of the project site. Rail and air traffic movements will not be affected by the proposed project. No such facilities exist on or in the immediate vicinity of the project site. No impact will occur. e) Insufficient parking capacity on-site or off-site based on the requirements in Chapter 19.24 of the Development Code? Less than Significant Impact. The project will not introduce new uses that require additional parking capacity. During construction, street parking may be displaced within the construction area. Any displaced street parking will be replaced after construction per City standards, thereby reducing potential impacts to a less than significant level. f) Increased safety hazards to vehicles, bicyclists or pedestrians? Less than Significant Impact. During construction, vehicles, bicyclists and pedestrians may have to be rerouted away from the construction area. Any displaced or altered roads, bicycle lanes and pedestrian crossings within the proposed project site will be replaced after construction per City standards, thereby reducing potential impacts to a less than significant level. g) Conflict with adopted policies supporting alternative transportation? No Impact. The proposed project will comply with all City development policies and standards supporting alternative modes of transportation. No impact will occur. h) Inadequate emergency accesses or access to nearby uses? IS 24 CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO DEVELOPMENT SERVICES INITIAL STUDY Less than Significant Impact. Final design of the project site shall incorporate applicable City of San Bernardino design and development standards regarding adequate emergency access. It is not anticipated that the construction and occupation of the proposed project will affect emergency access to the project site or adjacent uses. Adherence to applicable standards, regulations, and guidelines of the City and emergency service providers will reduce potential impacts related to this issue to a less than significant level. VII. BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES. Could the proposal result in. a) Development within the Biological Resource Management Overlay, as identified in Section 10.0, Natural Resources, Figure 41, of the City's General Plan? Less than Significant Impact. The portion of the project area south of Baseline Avenue is within the Biological Resources Management (BRM) area and, as such, all development within this area should be in accordance with the policies outlined in the City of San Bernardino General Plan. Per the General Plan, all permitted land uses in BRM are subject to review by the Environmental Review Committee, which shall solicit the input of biologists, botanists, and other qualified environmental professionals to ensure conformance with the policies and standards stipulated within the general plan. The installation of storm drain facilities in this area will be subject to approval from USFWS, CDFG, and US ACE, as will as the City Environmental Review Committee. Compliance with existing regulations for the BRM section of the project area will reduce impacts to biological resources to a less than significant level. b) Impacts to endangered, threatened or rare species or other habitat (including, but not limited to plants, mammals, fish, insects and birds)? Less than Significant with Mitigation Incorporated. San Bernardino kangaroo rats (SBKR) (Dipodomys merriami parvus) are federally listed as an endangered species and were observed during recent trapping within the Lytle Creek Wash floodplain, including the portion south of Baseline Avenue where proposed construction will occur. The habitat type in this area is alluvial fan sage scrub. There were two occurrences of Santa Ana River woollystar (Eriastrum densifolium ssp. sanctorum) south of Baseline Road within the Lytle Creek Wash. The Santa Ana River woollystar is federally and state listed as an endangered species. The following mitigation measures shall be implemented with regards to these two species: Mitigation Measure VII.I. Authorization for impacts to SBKR must be obtained from the USFWS. The specific conditions of this authorization have not been finalized with the USFWS at this time. Several options have been discussed thus far. One option is the restoration of the impacted habitat. Another is the purchase of credits in a mitigation bank upstream of the proposed area of impact. Also, removal of trash and debris from the alluvial fan sage scrub associated with Lytle Creek Wash has been discussed. Mitigation may include one or all of these options, but the acreage of each has yet to be determined. In addition, there will be exclusionary fencing around the work area in suitable habitat. and SBKR will be trapped and removed from the work area prior to construction. Prior to advertising the project for construction, SANBAG and the City will complete endangered species consultation with the USFWS and confirm the specific mitigation measures to be implemented. The performance standard to be achieved is full compliance with the terms and conditions of the Biological Opinion to be issued by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Mitigation Measure VII.2. Both occurrences of Santa Ana River woollystar appeared to be on the border of the construction limits. The locations of these plants, with a small buffer area surrounding then, shall IS 25 CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO DEVELOPMENT SERVICES INITIAL STUDY be delineated in the field, and a biologist shall monitor construction to ensure that construction activities avoid a take of this species. With implementation of Mitigation Measures VII-I and VII-2, impacts to endangered, threatened, or rare species will be reduced to a less than significant level. c) Impacts to wildlife dispersal or migration corridors? Less than significant impact. Construction of an underground storm drain, open earth trapezoidal channel, and riprap will temporarily impede wildlife dispersal and migration within the open space area south of State Street (near Lytle Creek) during construction. The project area encroaches onto Lytle Creek, which does function as a wildlife dispersal and migration corridor. After construction, when the storm drain trench has been backfilled, wildlife dispersal and migration will resume in this area. Therefore, this temporary impact is considered less than significant. d) Impacts to wetland habitat (e.g., marsh, riparian and vernal pool)? No Impact. No wetland, riparian, or vernal pool habitat was observed on site during the site assessment. Therefore, there are no impacts related to this issue. e) Removal of viable, mature trees based on information contained in the Preliminary Environmental Description Form and verified by site survey/evaluation (6" or greater trunk diameter at 4' above the ground)? Less than Significant Impact. Most of the trees adjacent to the project area occur within private property adjacent to State Street, Macy Street, and California Street. There are some ornamental trees on the north side of Highland Avenue, between Macy Street and State Street. There is one coast live oak tree on the west side of California Street outside of the private property fenceline. However, it appears that all construction for the installation of the storm drain will occur within the paved streets in these areas and that no construction will occur within the adjacent road right-of-way. Therefore, it is not expected that there will be any impact to these trees. In the area north of Baseline Street, immediately adjacent to the Lytle Creek Wash levee and associated raised dirt road, there are two eucalyptus (Eucalyptus sp.) trees, which are adjacent to the proposed storm drain installation and are not fenced off from construction. It is unlikely that construction will encroach on these trees. The new street between Washington A venue and 19'h street had not been constructed at the time of the site visit. Currently there are two abandoned houses at the proposed location for the new street. There are a few ornamental trees associated with these boarded-up residences. Tree species that occur within the front yards of these properties were Pine (Pinus sp.), Mexican fan palm (Washingtonia robusta), and tree of heaven (Ailanthus altissima). It is unclear from the plans whether these trees will be removed during construction of the storm drain or whether they will be removed during the construction ofthe new street. As a standard procedure, an arborist will complete a site survey and evaluation of existing trees to determine tree type and diameter within the area of potential effect. If required, tree removal permits will be obtained from the City of San Bernardino. Impacts associated with this issue are expected to be less than significant. IS 26 CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO DEVELOPMENT SERVICES INITIAL STUDY f) Other Less than Significant with Mitigation Incorporated. Some of the construction will take place within the Lytle Creek Wash, south of Baseline Street, which is a major drainage and would be considered jurisdictional nonwetland waters of the U.S. by the USACE. Therefore, the following mitigation measure shall be implemented: Mitigation Measure VII-3. Authorization for fill within waters of the U.S. shall be obtained from the USACE prior to construction. This authorization will include conditions to control erosion and siltation. Authorization will also be required from the COFG and the RWQCB. Adherence to Mitigation Measure VII-3 will reduce impacts to jurisdictional waters to a less than significant level. VIII. ENERGY AND MINERAL RESOURCES. Would the proposal: a) Conflict with adopted energy conservation plans? Less than Significant Impact. The proposed project will not consume any electricity and other energy sources once it is implemented. The proposed project will adopt adequate and appropriate energy conservation measures as required by the City for the construction phase. Therefore, potential impacts associated with this issue will not be significant. b) Use non-renewable resources in a wasteful and inefficient manner? Less than Significant Impact. Construction of the proposed project would not require use of large or wasteful amounts of fuel or energy. The proposed project will utilize construction materials such as gravel, sand, wood, asphalt cement, steel bars, etc., for the proposed storm drain facilities. In addition, construction vehicles will consume fossil fuels. The use of energy to construct the project would be an irrevocable commitment of fossil fuel resources; however, the amount to be used is not considered significant. The project will comply with the City's policies relevant to energy conservation. The proposed storm drain facilities are not expected to use construction materials or energy in a wasteful or inefficient manner; therefore, impacts associated with this issue are considered less than significant. c) Result in the loss of availability of a known mineral resource that would be of future value to the region and the residents of the State? Less than Significant Impact. Development of the project site will involve the installation of storm drain facilities that will divert storm flows into a region identified in the General Plan as a "Construction Aggregate Sector" for sand and gravel, but not a regionally significant source of mineral resources. The project will not restrict the use of construction aggregate from the area surrounding the storm drain, and impacts are considered less than significant. IX HAZARDS. Will the proposal: a) Use, store, transport or dispose of hazardous or toxic materials based on information contained in the Preliminary Environmental Description Form No. G(1) and G(2) (including, but not limited to: oil, pesticides, chemicals or radiation)? Less than Significant Impact. The Hazardous Waste Initial Site Assessment (ISA) prepared for the project (LSA, 2002) identified potential hazardous materials present on the project site: PCB-containing IS 27 CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO DEVELOPMENT SERVICES INITIAL STUDY transformers, hazardous yellow traffic striping, and contaminated groundwater. In addition, as is the case for any project that involves excavation, there is the potential for unknown hazardous contamination of soil to be revealed during project construction. The specifications for the project will require the contractor to comply with appropriate standards and regulations with respect to testing, handling, and disposal of these materials, as well as notification of the City Engineer and other appropriate agencies if the materials are encountered during construction of the project. Hazardous materials including but not limited to paint products, petroleum products, and compressed gases (propane, butane, etc.) may be utilized during construction. Adherence to applicable City, State, and federal requirements, standards, and/or guidelines and project specifications pertaining to the use, storage, sale, or transport of hazardous materials will reduce potential impacts associated with this issue to a less than significant level. b) Involve the release of hazardous substances? Less than Significant Impact. Refer to IX(a), above. Hazardous materials including but not limited to paint products, petroleum products, and compressed gases (propane, butane, etc.) may be utilized during construction. Due to the presence of hazardous materials on site during construction, a potential exists for the inadvertent release of hazardous materials. Such a release may result from either natural (flood, earthquake, fire) or human-induced (traffic accident) events. Adherence to applicable City, State, and federal requirements, standards, and/or guidelines pertaining to the use, storage, sale, or transport of hazardous materials will reduce potential impacts associated with this issue to a less than significant level. c) Expose people to potential health/safety hazards? Less than Significant Impact. Refer to IX(a), above. The project site is within an area that is known to be subject to strong ground shaking in a major earthquake. Development could involve soils subject to seismic settling or liquefaction. The project will be designed and constructed to meet standards mandated by the City and/or the Uniform Building Code. In addition, the project vicinity will be subject to applicable requirements and/or standards mandated by the San Bernardino Fire Department regarding the provision of fire protection programs and equipment. Adherence to these requirements, standards, and/or guidelines will reduce potential health/safety hazards to a less than significant level. Hazardous materials including but not limited to paint products, petroleum products, and compressed gases (propane, butane, etc.) may be utilized during construction. Due to the presence of hazardous materials on site during construction, a potential exists for the inadvertent release of hazardous materials. Adherence to applicable City, State, and federal requirements, standards, and/or guidelines pertaining to the use, storage, sale, or transport of hazardous materials will reduce potential impacts associated with this issue to a less than significant level. X NOISE. Could the proposal result in: a) Development of housing, health care, schools, libraries, religious facilities or other noise sensitive uses in areas where existing or future noise levels exceed an Ldn of 65 dB(A) exterior and an Ldn of 45 dB(A) interior as identified in Section 14.0, Noise, Figures 57 and 58, of the City's General Plan? Less Than Significant Impact. The proposed project consists of constructing new storm drain facilities that would drain into Lytle Creek. The proposed project does not include a residential, health care, school, library, or religious facilities component. However, construction of the project would result in IS 28 CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO DEVELOPMENT SERVICES INITIAL STUDY potential noise impacts on residences along State Street, Macy Street, and California Street, and habitats of the San Bernardino kangaroo rats (SBKR) in the Lytle Creek Wash area. The City requires a construction project adjacent to any developed/occupied noise sensitive land uses to submit a construction related noise mitigation plan to the City for review and approval prior to issuance of a grading permit. The plan must depict the location of construction equipment and how the noise from this equipment will be mitigated during construction of this project, through the use of such methods as the following: A. Temporary noise attenuation fences B. Preferential location of equipment C. Use of current technology and noise suppression equipment As stated in the Draft Contract 03-005 Cooperative Agreement between SANBAG and the City of San Bernardino for the State Street Storm Drain Project, construction hours are limited to 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. If requested by the contractor, the working hours will be extended to 8:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Saturday and Sunday. Short-term noise impacts would be associated with excavation, grading, and backfilling on site during construction of the proposed project. Construction related short-term noise levels would be higher than existing ambient noise levels in the project area today, but would no longer occur once construction of the project is completed. Two types of short-term noise impacts could occur during the construction of the proposed project. First, construction crew commutes and the transport of construction equipment and materials to the site for the proposed project would incrementally increase noise levels on access roads leading to the site. Although there would be a relatively high single event noise exposure potential causing intermittent noise nuisance (passing trucks at 50 feet would generate up to a maximum of 87 dB A), the effect on longer term (hourly or daily) ambient noise levels would be small. Therefore, short-term construction related impacts associated with worker commute and equipment transport to the project site would be less than significant. The second type of short-term noise impact is related to noise generated during excavation, grading, and backfilling on the project site. Construction is completed in discrete steps, each of which has its own mix of equipment and, consequently, its own noise characteristics. These various sequential phases would change the character of the noise generated on the site and, therefore, the noise levels surrounding the site as construction progresses. Despite the variety in the type and size of construction equipment, similarities in the dominant noise sources and patterns of operation allow construction related noise ranges to be categorized by work phase. Table X-I lists typical construction equipment noise levels recommended for noise impact assessments, based on a distance of 50 feet between the equipment and a noise receptor. Typical noise levels range up to 91 dBA Lmax at 50 feet during the noisiest construction phases. The site preparation phase, which includes excavation and grading of the site, tends to generate the highest noise levels, because the noisiest construction equipment is earthmoving equipment. Earthmoving equipment includes excavating machinery such as backfillers, bulldozers, draglines, and front loaders. Earthmoving and compacting equipment includes compactors, scrapers, and graders. Typical operating cycles for these types of construction equipment may involve one or two minutes of full power operation followed by three to four minutes at lower power settings. IS 29 CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO DEVELOPMENT SERVICES INITIAL STUDY Table X-I: Typical Construction Equipment Noise Levels Before and After Mitigation Type of Equipment Range of Suggested Maximum Sound Maximum Sound Levels Measured Levels for Analysis I (dBA at 50 feet) dBA at 50 feet) Pile Drivers, 12,000 to 18,000 ft-Ib./blow 81 to 96 93 Rock Drills 83 to 99 96 Jack Hammers 75 to 85 82 Pneumatic Tools 78 to 88 85 Pumps 68 to 80 77 Dozers 85 to 90 88 Tractors 77 to 82 80 Front-End Loaders 86 to 90 88 Hydraulic Backhoe 81 to 90 86 Hydraulic Excavators 81 to 90 86 Graders 79 to 89 86 Air Compressors 76 to 86 86 Trucks 81 to 87 86 Source: Noise Control for Buildings and Manufacturing Plants, Bolt, Beranek & Newman, 1987. Construction of the proposed project is expected to require the use of earthmovers, bulldozers, and water and pickup trucks. This equipment would be used on the project site. Based on the information in Table X-I, the maximum noise level generated by each earthmover on the proposed project site is assumed to be 88 dBA Lmax at 50 feet from the earthmover. Each bulldozer would also generate 88 dBA Lmax at 50 feet. The maximum noise level generated by water and pickup trucks is approximately 86 dBA Lmax at 50 feet from these vehicles. Each doubling of the sound sources with equal strength increases the noise level by 3 dBA. Assuming that each piece of construction equipment operates at some distance from the other equipment, the worst case combined noise level during this phase of construction would be 91 dBA Lmax at a distance of 50 feet from the active construction area. The nearest residences to the project site are approximately 50 feet from the active construction area of the project site along the roads. These residences may be subject to short-term, intermittent, maximum noise reaching 91 dBA Lmax, generated by construction activities on the project site. Compliance with the construction hours specified in the City's Noise Ordinance would reduce the construction noise impacts to less than significant. Because the SBKR stay in underground burrows during daytime hours when construction activities occur, they would not be impacted by construction noise. Vibration generated by construction equipment, however, could have startling effects on the San Bernardino kangaroo rats when the construction area is close to the underground burrows where the habitat is located. This effect cannot be quantified and has IS 30 CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO DEVELOPMENT SERVICES INITIAL STUDY no feasible mitigation. However, as stated in Mitigation Measure VII-I, the SBKR will be trapped and removed from the project area prior to construction. Therefore, there would be no vibration impacts to the SBKR with implementation of the project. b) Development of new or expansion of existing industrial, commercial or other uses which generate noise levels above an Ldn of 65 dB(A) exterior or an Ldn of 45 dB(A) interior that may affect areas containing housing, schools, health care facilities or other sensitive uses based on information in the Preliminary Environmental Description Form No. G(I) and evaluation of surrounding uses No. C, and verified by site survey/evaluation? No Impact. There would be no noise generating activities after the proposed project is completed. Therefore, implementation of the proposed project would not generate noise levels above an Ldn of 65 dBA exterior or an Ldn of 45 dBA interior that may affect areas containing housing, schools, health care facilities or other sensitive uses. No mitigation measures are necessary. No further noise impact analysis is required. XL PUBLIC SERVICES. Would the proposal have an effect upon, or result in a need for new or altered government services in any of the following areas: a) Fire Protection? No Impact. Fire prevention, fire protection, and emergency medical assistance in the City of San Bernardino is provided by the San Bernardino City Fire Department. As stated in the Population and Housing section, "the proposed project is not expected to serve as an inducement for new residential development in the area beyond what is predicted in the General Plan" and no population growth will occur as a result of the proposed project. Therefore, it is assumed that there will not be an increased need for additional fire protection facilities in the area surrounding the proposed project vicinity. No impact is anticipated. b) Medical aid? No Impact. The proposed project will not have a significant adverse effect on medical aid and hospital services. As stated in the Population and Housing section, "the proposed project is not expected to serve as an inducement for new residential development in the area beyond what is predicted in the General Plan" and no population growth will occur as a result of the proposed project. Therefore, it is assumed that there will not be an increased need for additional hospital or other medical service facilities in the area surrounding the proposed project vicinity. No impact is anticipated. c) Police protection? No Impact. The City of San Bernardino Police Department provides police protection services. The project will not increase the demands on existing police protection services. As stated in the Population and Housing section, "the proposed project is not expected to serve as an inducement for new residential development in the area beyond what is predicted in the General Plan" and no population growth will occur as a result of the proposed project. Therefore, it is assumed that there will not be an increased need for additional police protection facilities in the area surrounding the proposed project vicinity. No impact is anticipated. IS 31 CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO DEVELOPMENT SERVICES INITIAL STUDY d) Schools? No Impact. As stated in the Population and Housing section, "the proposed project is not expected to serve as an inducement for new residential development in the area beyond what is predicted in the General Plan" and no population growth will occur as a result of the proposed project. Therefore, it is assumed that there will not be an increased need for additional schools in the area surrounding the proposed project vicinity. No impact is anticipated. e) Parks or other recreation facilities? No Impact. As stated in the Population and Housing section, "the proposed project is not expected to serve as an inducement for new residential development in the area beyond what is predicted in the General Plan" and no population growth will occur as a result of the proposed project. Therefore, it is assumed that there will not be an increased need for additional parks or other recreation facilities in the area surrounding the proposed project vicinity. No impact is anticipated. f) Solid waste disposal? Less than Significant Impact. The proposed project is anticipated to generate waste during construction due to excavation activities. Construction waste from the proposed project will be collected by the City of San Bernardino Refuse Department and transported to both the Colton Refuse Disposal Site, located in the City of Colton, and the San Timoteo Solid Waste Disposal Site, located in the City of Redlands. The Colton landfill is permitted to accept a maximum of 3, I 00 tons of solid waste per day and currently accepts 968 tons per day. Daily surplus capacity at this landfill is 2,132 tons per day. The San Timoteo landfill is permitted to accept a maximum of 1,000 tons of solid waste per day and currently accepts 402 tons per day. Daily surplus capacity at this landfill is 598 tons per day. The amount of solid waste generated daily from the proposed project represents less than one percent of the each landfill's current daily surplus capacity. The Colton landfill is expected to reach capacity between 2005-2006. The San Timoteo landfill is expected to reach capacity around 2016, but will be allowed to expand through permitting past this date. Development of the proposed project will not significantly impact current operation or the expected lifetime of these landfills. Impacts associated with this issue are less than significant. g) Maintenance of public facilities, including roads? Less than Significant Impact. Maintenance of public facilities and infrastructure in the City would not be significantly altered by development of the proposed project. The services required to operate the new storm drain facilities would be typical of the existing storm drain facilities, and will not impact existing circulation facilities. Therefore, potential impacts associated with this issue will be less than significant. XII. UTILITIES. Wi/I the proposal, based on the responses of the responsible Agencies, Departments, or Utility Company, impact the following beyond the capability to provide adequate levels of service or require the construction of new facilities? a) Natural gas? No Impact. Development of the project site will involve the installation of storm drain facilities. The project will not require the consumption of natural gas to function. No impact is anticipated. IS 32 CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO DEVELOPMENT SERVICES INITIAL STUDY b) Electricity? No Impact. Development of the project site will involve the installation of gravity flow storm drain facilities. The project will not require the consumption of electricity to function. No impact is anticipated. c) Communication systems? No Impact. Development of the project site will involve the installation of storm drain facilities. The project will not require the use of existing communication systems to function. No impact is anticipated. d) Water distribution? No Impact. Development of the project site will involve the installation of storm drain facilities. The project will not require the use of water supplies or water distribution facilities to function. No impact is anticipated. e) Water treatment or sewer? No Impact. Development of the project site will involve the installation of storm drain facilities. The project will not require the use of existing water treatment or sewer facilities to function. No impact is anticipated. f) Storm water drainage? No Impact. The City of San Bernardino Development Services Department, Public Works Division administers storm drain and flood control facilities within the City. Within the City, the storm drain system has been divided into subareas based upon San Bernardino County Flood Control District's Comprehensive Storm Drain Plans. The project site is located within Storm Drain Sub-Area 7, which corresponds to a portion of Comprehensive Storm Drain Plan No.4 located south of the Santa Ana River. The major facilities within this Plan area include the Mission and San Timoteo channels, which drain into the Santa Ana River. The intent of the City of San Bernardino is to maintain all storm waters within the underground drain system (except for street flows reaching interception points) for a lO-year frequency storm in all areas of the City. Streets are designed to accommodate storm flows between curbs (for 25- year storms) and between rights-of-way (for IOO-year storms). Development of the project site will involve the installation of new storm drain facilities, which will improve the area's ability to remove runoff during storms and reduce flooding potential. The project will not increase demands on existing drainage systems, but rather improve existing storm water drainage for the surrounding vicinity. The project will be designed, installed, and maintained per Public Works Division standards. Therefore, no impact is anticipated. g) Result in a disjointed pattern of utility extensions based on review of existing patterns and proposed extensions? No Impact. Implementation of the proposed project may result in the rerouting of underground utility lines within the project vicinity, including but not limited to phone lines, water mains, and natural gas mains. However, the storm drain facilities will be installed in existing streets for the largest portion of the project and will not create a disjointed pattern of utility extensions. Utility removal or reconfiguration will be conducted according to applicable City and/or utility provider requirements and standards, and no impacts are anticipated. IS 33 CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO DEVELOPMENT SERVICES INITIAL STUDY XIII. AESTHETICS. a) Could the proposal result in the obstruction of any significant or important scenic view based on evaluation of the view shed verified by site survey/evaluation? No Impact. Development of the project site will involve the installation of subsurface stonn drain facilities and a concrete channel within the Lytle Creek Wash. The project will not affect any existing scenic view or viewshed. Lytle Creek Wash is used primarily for urban drainage and flood control, and the concrete channel will be visually consistent with the existing configuration of Lytle Creek Wash. Therefore, no impact is anticipated. b) Will the visual impact of the project create aesthetically offensive changes in the existing visual setting based on a site survey and evaluation of the proposed elevations? No Impact. Development of the project site will involve the installation of subsurface stonn drain facilities and construction of a concrete channel within the Lytle Creek Wash. The concrete channel will not be an aesthetically offensive change in the existing visual setting, as the channelized portion of the project will be obscured by an existing levy wall. Therefore, no impact is anticipated. c) Create significant light or glare that could impact sensitive receptors? No Impact. Standards included in the City's Development Code pertaining to the reduction of light and glare from construction lighting will be incorporated into the project to minimize potential light and glare impacts to residences adjacent to the project site. Therefore, no impact is anticipated. XlV. CULTURAL RESOURCES. Could the proposal result in: a) Development in a sensitive archaeological area as identified in Section 3.0, Historical, Figure 8, of the City's General Plan? No Impact. Based on Section 3.0, Historical, Figure 8, of the City's General Plan, the project area is not within an area of concern either for archaeological resources or in the Urban Archaeological District. Past development and activities are believed to have disturbed or damaged in situ archaeological resources. The field survey conducted by LSA did not identify any cultural resources within the project area, as described in the Cultural Resource Assessment prepared by LSA, and no impacts are anticipated. As a precaution, the following standards will be implemented to ensure the protection of potential subsurface cultural resources: X In the event any archaeological or historic resources are uncovered during the course of the project, ground disturbing activities in the vicinity of the find would be redirected until the nature and extent of the find can be evaluated by a qualified archeologist. X If human remains are encountered during construction, California Health and Safety Code Section 7050.5 states that no further disturbance shall occur until the County Coroner has made a detennination of original and disposition pursuant to State Public Resources Code Section 5097.98. The San Bernardino County Coroner must be notified within 24 hours. If the Coroner detennines that the burial is prehistoric, the Native American Heritage Commission must be contacted to detennine the Most Likely Descendent for this area. IS 34 CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO DEVELOPMENT SERVICES INITIAL STUDY Implementation of these standard operating procedures will reduce potential archeological impacts to a less than significant level. b) The alteration or destruction of a prehistoric or historic archaeological site by development within an archeologically sensitive area as identified in Section 3.0, Historical Figure 8, of the City's General Plan? No Impact. Based on Section 3.0, Historical, Figure 8, of the City's General Plan, the project area is not within a prehistoric or historic archaeological site. Refer to the standard operating procedures listed above in (a) to ensure protection of potential subsurface cultural resources. cJ Alteration or destruction of a historical site, structure or object as listed in the City's Historic Resources Reconnaissance Survey? No Impact. Based on the City's Historic Resource Reconnaissance Survey, no historic sites exist within the project area. d) Other? Less than Significant with Mitigation Incorporated. The San Bernardino County Museum conducted a records search for paleontological resources in the project area. The search found that no paleontological resource sites were known from sediments that are comparable to those within the project area or within several miles of the site. However, review of additional literature (Bortugno and Spittler, 1986) provided records that located trackways (series of animal tracks) below ground surface west of 3rd Street in Muscoy, about two miles north of the project site. The trackways are in older wash sediments and may date to mid-Holocene or late Pleistocene time. These sediments extend south and below the project site. The presence of these fossil trackways suggests that excavation for the new storm drain facilities has the potential to impact significant nonrenewable paleontological resources below a depth of three feet (based on sediments on site and previous disturbance of the surface soils). A paleontological resource impact mitigation program, consistent with the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology guidelines and described in Mitigation Measure XIV -1, is required to mitigate this impact to a level below significance. Mitigation Measure XIV-I. A qualified vertebrate paleontologist shall be retained to develop a Paleontological Resources Impact Mitigation Program (PRIMP). The PRIMP shall include a field assessment and project specific measures to reduce impacts to paleontological resources to a level less than significant. The program shall include but not be limited to the following: . A pre-construction field assessment to locate fossils at surface exposures. Salvage of fossils from known localities, including processing standard samples of matrix for the recovery of small vertebrate fossils and trackway replication, shall be conducted. . Monitoring of excavation by a qualified vertebrate paleontological monitor to recover paleontological resources. . Preparation of recovered specimens to a point of identification, including washing of sediments to recover small fossil vertebrates (removal of surplus sediment from around the specimens reduces the volume of storage for the repository and the storage cost for the City). . Identification and curation of specimens into a museum repository with retrievable storage. IS 35 CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO DEVELOPMENT SERVICES INITIAL STUDY . Preparation of a report of findings with an appended, itemized inventory of specimens. The report and inventory, when submitted to the City, signifies the completion of the program to mitigate impacts to paleontological resources. RECREA TION. Would the proposal: a) Increase the demand for neighborhood or regional parks or other recreational facilities? No Impact. Development of the project site will involve the installation of storm drain facilities. The project will not affect any existing recreation facilities. No impact is anticipated. b) Affect existing recreational opportunities? No Impact. Development of the project site will involve the installation of storm drain facilities. The project will not affect any existing recreation facilities. No impact is anticipated. XVL MANDATORY FINDINGS OF SIGNIFICANCE a) Does the project have the potential to degrade the quality of the environment, substantially reduce the habitat of a fish or wildlife species, cause a fish or wildlife population to drop below self-sustaining levels, threaten to eliminate a plant or animal community, reduce the number or restrict the range of a rare or endangered plant or animal, or eliminate important examples of the major periods of California history or prehistory? Less than Significant with Mitigation Incorporated. As stated in Section VII, Biological Resources, the project has the potential to impact the San Bernardino kangaroo rat and the Santa Ana River woollystar. Implementation of the project will require approval from several resource agencies with respect to these species and the jurisdictional waters in Lytle Creek Wash. Adherence to Mitigation Measures VII-I, VII- 2 and VII-3, as well as pertinent regulations regarding biological resources will reduce these impacts to a less than significant level. b) Does the project have the potential to achieve short-term, to the disadvantage of long-term, environmental goals? No Impact. The project consists of installation of new storm drain facilities to improve drainage in the project vicinity. The project will involve short-term construction impacts but will create a long-term beneficial impact. c) Does the project have impacts that are individually limited, but cumulatively considerable? ("Cumulatively considerable" means that the incremental effects of a project are considerable when viewed in connection with the effects of past projects, the effects of other current projects, and the effects of probable future projects.) Less than Significant Impact. The project involves the installation of new storm drain facilities, which will create temporary construction impacts. The Santa Ana River woollystar will be avoided during construction and the SBKR (refer to Section VII) will be removed prior to construction. Any SBKR habitat that is removed will have to be restored or created as required by the USFWS. The project will create a beneficial impact with regards to improving inadequate surface drainage in an existing developed area. Since the project has mitigation to reduce impacts to biological resources, is not growth inducing, and is required to alleviate an existing flooding problem in a developed area, it does not create cumulatively considerable impacts. IS 36 CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO DEVELOPMENT SERVICES INITIAL STUDY d) Does the project have environmental effects that will cause substantial adverse effects on human beings, either directly or indirectly? No Impact. Development of the project site will involve the installation of storm drain facilities. The project will improve drainage in the project vicinity and will have a beneficial effect on the inhabitants in the surrounding area. IS 37 CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO DEVELOPMENT SERVICES INITIAL STUDY LIST OF PREPARERS/REFERENCES/PERSONS AND ORGANIZATIONS CONTACTED LIST OF PREPARERS This document was prepared by LSA Associates, Inc. (LSA) under contract to the San Bernardino Associated Governments (SANBAG). The City of San Bernardino, Lead Agency for the proposed project, accepts the findings of the Initial Study for the State Street Storm Drain project. CONSULTANT LSA Associates, Inc. (LSA) EnvironmentallPlanning Consultants Rob McCann, Project Manager Debbie McLean, Associate Archaeologist Lisa Williams, Assistant Project Manager Riordan Goodwin, Archaeologist Bob Reynolds, Paleontologist Micaele Maddison, Biologist Noel Legaspi, Environmental Analyst Kris Walden, Graphics Technician REFERENCES Biological Assessment, LSA Associates, Inc., July 2002 Bortugno, EJ. and T.E. Spittler, 1986. Geologic Map of the San Bernardino Quadrangle, CDMG Map No. 3A, Scale 1:250,000. CEQA Air Quality Handbook, South Coast Air Quality Management District, April 1993 City of San Bernardino Development Code. Title 19, Jacobson & Wack, Revised June 1997 City of San Bernardino General Plan, Envicorn Corporation, City of San Bernardino General Plan Update Technical Background Report, Envicom Corporation, February 1988 Conditions of Receivership for Paleontologic Resource Salvage Collections, Society of Vertebrate Paleontology News Bulletin, February, 1996. Cultural Resource Assessment, LSA Associates, Inc., July 2002 Flood Map Report, Track Info Services, May 2002 Initial Site Assessment, LSA Associates, Inc., July 2002 IS 38 CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO DEVELOPMENT SERVICES INITIAL STUDY Reynolds, R.E. and R.L. Reynolds, 1991. The Pleistocene Pleistocene Fossils from Inland Southern California Basins. Association Quarterly v. 38 (3&4), p. 41-43. Beneath Our Feet: Near-Surface San Bernardino County Museum Standard Guidelines for Assessment and Mitigation of Adverse Impacts to Nonrenewable Paleontologic Resources, Society of Vertebrate Paleontology News Bulletin, January, 1995. PERSONS CONTACTED Sharon Gookin, Project Manager San Bernardino Associated Governments Telephone Conversation, May 30, 2002 Email Communication, June 7, 2002 Madlen Benjamin, Project Engineer Parsons Brinckerhoff, Inc. Telephone Conversation, May 30, 2002, July 1,2002 E-mail Communication, June 12,2002, July 1,2002 Aron Liang, Associate Planner San Bernardino Development Services Department - Planning Division Meeting in-person, May 29, 2002 Telephone conversation, June 7, 2002 IS 39 CITY OF SAN BERNARDINL DEVELOPMENT SERVICES Independent Review REVIEWED BY: Independently reviewed, analyzed and exercised judgement in making the determination, by the Development/Environmental Review Committee on January 30,2003, pursuant to Section 21082 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT NOTICE OF INTENT TO ADOPT A MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION FOR . THE STATE STREET STORM DRAIN PROJECT Notice is hereby given that the City of San Bernardino (City) in cooperation with the San Bernardino Associated Governments (SANBAG) has completed an Initial Study for the State Street Storm Drain Project proposed along Macy Street, State Street, California Street, Highland A venue and discharging into Lytle Creek with in the City limits. The proposed storm drain facilities will consist of inlets along Macy Street, State Street, California Street, and Highland Avenue. The inlets will intercept surface runoff and convey flow via various sizes of connector pipes to the main storm drain system located within these streets. The limits and type of the proposed system are described as the following: Macy Street: A 1,500 millimeter (mm) reinforced concrete pipe (RCP) extending from approximately 99 meters (m) north of Highland A venue to Highland A venue. California Street: A 1,500 mm RCP extending from approximately 98 m north of Highland Avenue to Highland Avenue. Highland Avenue: A 1,500 mm RCP extending from Macy Street to State Street and an 1,800 mm RCP extending from California Street to State Street. CL Line ("new" street): A 600 mm RCP extending from approximately 1,200 m east of State Street to State Street. State Street: A 2,100 mm RCP extending from Adams Street to Highland Avenue, then a 3,000 mm RCP from Highland Avenue to 477 m south of Hanford Street. A 3.96 m x 2.00 rn rectangular concrete channel from 477 m south of Hanford Street to 56 m north of Baseline Street. A 3,000 mm RCP from 56 m north of Baseline Street to 46 m south of Baseline Street. An open earth trapezoidal channel from 46 m south of Baseline Street to the maintenance road along Lytle Creek levee. Five 600 mm corrugated metal pipes (CMP) from the endpoint of the trapezoidal channel, below the maintenance road, to riprap at the discharge point into the creek. Final design of the project is not complete; there may be some minor changes in the size/configuration of the storm drain pipes. The public comment period for the projects shall begin on December 19, 2002 and comments will be received until 5:00 p.m. on January 24, 2003. Any person wishing to comment on this matter must submit such comments, in writing, to the City prior to this date. Comments of all Responsible Agencies are also requested. The Draft Mitigated Negative Declaration is available for public review at the City of San Bernardino, Public Works Department, 300 North "0" Street, San Bernardino, California 92401- 1507 and Feldheym Library, 555 West 6th Street, San Bernardino, CA 92410 At its meeting on January 30, 2003 at 9:00 am, the City's Environmental/Development Review Committee will consider the project and the Draft Mitigated Negative Declaration. If the City's Environmental/Development Review Committee finds that the project will not have a significant effect on the environment, it may adopt the Mitigated Negative Declaration. Date Received for Filing: (Clerk stamp here) ~ /tf~~~ Raymo t. Casey City Engineer City of San Bernardino I'EE-n~-~J 00,56 FROM,CSO PUBLIC WURK5 !)IVISIDN ID,9~93Q~51Sb PAC!' "',.'; e California Regional Water Quality Control Boardl(~ Santa Ana Region ",o,,!'tJ ~~ Ir.lenlel ;..dj!~s, 111tp:".....w)~,jwn:tJ,'a.!:'".,..I......\1'~S )737 ~-1,}m Su.;c:t, s.u:~ ,00, R;io,rcrsi:lo;, C:lilifcmi~ 92.501.:!:14~ P'hOOI: (!ol09) i!2.~ 110 - FAX (~ul)j nJ.62SB Gr.JY D~)"i:i Will.,tCH! H. lIidw:..; CO'j'LI,rnr Sc; q'.iJ'),/vr Cfl\.;'rl1rl,'ll;:{lt....:. l'r,JILuicm Tn, 'fie';") r;~:dj~n~' f',,'ir:g ColiJand(J if n~l. r','cry CiJijf~(flJ~1 r;"l"~ 1(' rd't intlnuii::lllll'1ioJl ILl r.cJi:lrc: rnc:rn 1 (m,l.....II~lrliJI. rlJrlO 1,,::1 "J..;rnp!e...;~;'-J f<'IU ('all ltdUfl' dZIl~r..n IJ.'iI1 (~l }C>lU ul"r.\i'), 'l.>>'I~, Nt' (Jl.If .",C'b~';'" at \t,'lHIfSwrrb.("a.!:,cn,lrJW.q~'I1Q'. ~~@~Dwrnl[)\ n.. JAN 2 8 2003 ~ January 24, 2003 Lupe CamachO City of San Bernardino 300 Nor.h "0" San Bernardino. CA 92418 CITY OF SAN BEANA~DINU !:lE\lELOPMEPH smVICES OEP1.RTMENT RESPONSE TO MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION STATE STREET STORM DRAIN PROJECT I STATE CLEARING HOUSE NUMBER 2002121106 Doar Mr. Camacho: Stati of the RegJlJnal Water Quality Contro, Board, Santa Ane Region (RWQCS), tlas reviewea ;118 MI\lgalsd Negative Declaration for the proposed project. The proposed proj6ct would consllUCI <'l ~IJbsuriilceslorm drain system along SlalG Slreet (between Highland Avr.nue and Lytle CreeK) an~] Higtlland Avenue (between Macy Street and California S1reet). with connectiuns along Macy Slrce!, C8lilornia Street and a new slmetjuSl south ot 21" Slreet, associated inlets, and an open channel and r.p'ap ior discharge IntO Lytle Creel<. There i5 widsspreao ",xperiencB that concrete or hard lined Clrainag8 facilities/channels allow lor tile d6grmiBtion of Ih", Miler that drB[ns through them. Urban runoff has been found to cont"lln substanlial concentrations of pathogens, nutriE'l<its, sedim(ints, p8sticides, and toxic metals. Impacted f..lnotl witl1 lhese pollutants can readily flow from the surrounding areas and mo"i': quickly down a [lard lined dmin"ge facility. The Impacted runofi has little opportunity 10 bB affected by tne natural processes that lessen waler quality impacts. In eddltion, beneficial uses of waler SLlch as ground water rechargE> ar1d creation of riparian habitat are impaclec:l wt\en drainages me hard ILned TllesB drainages elSe cl\"n :ncrease flooding downstream. Therefore, to lessen impacts 10 wst!;)r quality slBlldards "n~ prclect benefiCial uses, the 1011 owi Ilg principals and ?olicies should be conSidered tor the project: 1. Consider keepmg as muoh as possible 011he ~hannel as a naluraHype drc,nage dmnllQ1 oyslem. Natural drainage systems reduce Impacts 10 water quality and imprOVe impacted waters, In addlllon, they provide beneticial uses for wildlHe and passl...e recreatio~ opportunilias. Er,courage native riparian vegetation in the drainage. if FeaSible. PrOVide accqual<;l v8getated buffer areaS, conserve natural areas, and protect slopes with native plants to oontain storm flews, to les::;cn eroslDn, and protect water quality. 2 If th8 draillage JacililY must be lined, consider the use ot m,lIeriels tr,at will st:cngthen It\8 channel bul still allow percolation inll:}, and liltcllng by. native soil. We encourage the Lise 01 pervious materials to relain absorption, filter the runoff, and altow percolalion, Please consider Ihe use of pervious materials, such as gross (grassed 5weles), permeablelporou5 pilVemf:lf1t (i.g., hydropa...fl), natura! soil, etc., 10 line the main or feader channels. 3. Attempt to capture a portion 01 the channel's discharge in a water qlJalily weIland, dry eXlended tjetenlloll pond, or some other epprowiately constructed delent:on basin. Tnese Califomw En>'irlmmenlUl FTtJlecrioll Agfllt')' ~ ~J 1<<o'r.I.'rlcd f1a;,'..r FEB-~~-03 USiS7 rROH'C~8 PU8L1C ~nRK5 [)lVlSlON lD'SOS~8451~5 p'.~r.E .'I,'-.! LoJpe CamachO City 01 San SermJrd'!f1o :2 January 24,2003 structures would allow percolation oJ! runolf, redUCE; discharge rat8S, Irr,prove wmer qualily. ciuate rip,man habitat. and allow grOlH10Walllf rec/1[Hge. 4, Ple;il.so be advi5~d that any impacts 10 waters 01 the Unltsd Stales require a Section 401 WaiST Quality Standards Certification from the Regional Board. Impacts to these waters should first and foremost be avoideo. Where that is not practicable, Impacts to these waters should be minimized Mitigation of unavoidable ilnpacts must replace 1he full function and valIJe of the Impacted waterbody. II the project will impact waters of the United Slatss (or Statil) contact Kelly Schmoker of this officIO at (909) 782~ 4990 to diSCUSS the project iurther. Impacts to thO waters 01 tM United States also require a Clean Water Act Section 404 permit fron1 the Unl:"C S1ates Army Corps of Engineers and" Streambed Alteration Agreement from the California Depar1mellt oi Fish and Game. 5. No wa~te material may be discharged to any drainage areas, channels, streambeds, or s!ream~. Spoil sites must not be localed within any streams or areas where spoil materiel could be washed into a waterbway. E. Appropriate 08st management practices (BMPs) must be developed and implemented during construction to control the rlischarge 01 pollutants, prevent sewage spills, and to avoid disc)large of sedimlOnts into the fitreats, GlOlm waler conveyance channels, or wa\",rwayS. 7. A N"tional pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit for any discharge of wastes to surface waters, or Waste Discharge Requirements for any discharge of wastes tc land. is required by the California Water Code For rnor" 1I11ormation on ihs construction 01 the Post Construction Best Man<lgem",nl Pr;>ctic85 (13MFs) mentioned aboVe (gra~sed swalss, porous pavemf>nt, storm wllter wetlands, clr,d dry/wet pondfil, please review the EPA web site www. apa.gov/npdes/menuoibrnpsJposLhtrn. If you shculd have any que~tions, please call me at (909) 7B2~7~60 or M31k Adelson at (909) 782 3234. Sl11cerely, I 0 \ ~..d.\..,,~' David G. Woelf<<1 Planni ng Seclfon cc: Becky Frank - State Clearinghouse Calijomio. EIHjro/illleJItut ProtectiOl! Agency o fl,.(yrlrrfrr.pr~ RESPONSE TO COMMENTS FROM THE CALIFORNIA REGIONAL WATER QUALITY CONTROL BOARD, SANTA ANA REGION I. The portion of the new drainage facility that enters Lytle Creek will be an open earth trapezoidal channel. The banks of this channel will be revegetated with native alluvial fan sage scrub in order to return the area to a more natural state and allow for recolonization by the endangered San Bernardino Kangaroo Rat (SBKR). (Refer to page 24 of the Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration [IS/MND].) 2. The majority of the project will be constructed within the existing street system. Therefore, subsurface concrete masonry pipes are necessary to transport runoff through this area. 3. The State Street Storm Drain project will be constructed in a developed portion of the City of San Bernardino to alleviate an existing flooding problem. (Refer to page 19 of the IS/MND.) Although desirable, vacant land is not available to create a detention basin or wetland system to hold the runofffrom this area. 4. The comment is noted. The project will require a Section 404 permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, a Section 401 Water Quality Standards Certification from the Regional Board, a Streambed Alteration Agreement from the California Department ofFish and Game, as well as a Section 7 consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service with respect to impacts to the SBKR. (Refer to pages 24--25 of the IS/MND.) 5. The comment is noted. The project will comply with permit requirements (listed above) as well as NPDES and City requirements (refer to page 19 of the IS/MND). 6. Refer to Response to Comment No.5, above. 7. The City of San Bernardino is a Co-Permittee under the municipal NPDES permit (NPDES No. CAS618036, Order No. R8-2002-0012). The project is considered an improvement to the City's municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4) and is subject to the requirements of this permit. 02/13/03"P:\SBA 131\Task Order 4 State 5t ISND\ISMND\RTC,doc)) iI1~ ~.!@Jl,.. ':lB. D . ~- ~ --,-".- -_.---, ~ ~_ _ ; Xl f~. - -' ~ ~ \(b' 1'\ . ~NOED It<l~~ CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO DEVELOPMENT SERVICES NOTICE OF COMPLETION FROM: CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO Development Services Dept. Public Works Division 300 North "0" Street San Bernardino, CA 924 18 TO: l2SI OFFICE OF PLANNING AND RESEARCH Public Works Department 1400 Tenth Street, Room 121 Sacramento, CA 95814 l2SI COUNTY CLERK County of San Bernardino 385 North Arrowhead Avenue San Bernardino, CA 92415 SUBJECT: Initial StudylMitigated Negative Declaration Project Title: State Street Storm Drain Project Location _ Specific: Along Highland Avenue and State Street with connections along Macy Street, California Street, and a new street south of 21" Street. The storm drain will discharge into Lytle Creek. Project Location - City: San Bernardino Project Location - County: San Bernardino Description of Nature, Purpose, and Beneficiaries of Project: The project is a subsurface storm drain that will carry existing surface flows through a piped system that discharges into Lytle Creek. The project is designed to alleviate existing flooding conditions that occur in the area due to undersized facilities. The neighborhoods surrounding the project area will benefit from the project by reduced flooding potentiaL Lead Agency: City of San Bernardino Division: Public Works Address Where Copy ofEIR Is Available: Public Works Division, 300 North "0" Street Third Floor, San Bernardino, CA 92418,909.384.5057 and Feldheym Library, 555 W. 6" Street, San Bernardino, CA 92410 Review Period: 12/19/02 to 1/24/03 The project site is not listed in the State of California Hazardous Waste and Substances Sites List pursuant to Government Code Section 65962.5(E). Following the public review period, the project and proposed Mitigated Negative Declaration will be reviewed by the City's Environmental/Development Review Committee on 1/30/03 at 9:00AM in Third Floor Conference Room. Area CodelTelephonelExtension: (909) 384-5110 / ~ It It /71 -:1- Title: City Engineer/Deputy Director Date: Date received for filing at OPR: Notice of Completion and Environmental Document Transmittal Form I SCH # I. 2. 3. 3a. 3b. 3c. 3d. 3e. Project Title: Lead Agency: Contact Person: Street Address: City: County: Zip: Phone: State Street Storm Drain Project City of San Bernardino Lupe Camacho, Engineering Associate 300 North "D" Street San Bernardino San Bernardino 92418 (909) 384-5111 Project Location: 4. County: San Bernardino 4a. City/Community: San Bernardino 4b. Assessor's Parcel No.: Not applicable 4c. Section: Twp. IN Range: 4W Sa. Cross Street: Highland Avenue and Baseline Road 5b. For Rural, Nearest Community: 6. Within 2 miles: a. State Hwy #: SR-30, SR-66, 1-215 b. Airports: Not applicable c. Railways: BNSF, UPRR, Metrolink d. Waterways: Lytle Creek, East Branch California Aqueduct Document Type CEQA 01. 0 Nap 02. 0 Early Cons 03. [8J Neg Dec 04. 0 Draft EIR 05. 0 Supplement/Subsequent EIR (Prior SCH No.: ) 06. 0 NOE 07. 0 NOC 08. 0 NOD 7. NEPA 09.DNOI 10. 0 PONSI II. DDraftEIS 12.DEA OTHER 13. 0 Joint Document 14. 0 Final Document 15. 0 Other 8. Local Action Type 01. 0 General Plan Update 02. 0 New Element 03. 0 General Plan Amendment 04. [8J Master Plan 05. 0 Annexation 06. 0 Specific Plan 07. 0 Community Plan 08. 0 Redevelopment 09. 0 Rezone 10. 0 Land Division (Subdivision, Parcel Map, Tract Map, etc.) 11. DUsePermit 12. 0 Waste Mgmt Plan 13. 0 Cancel Ag Preserve 14. 0 Other (Development Permit) 9. Development Type 01. D Residential Units: 02. D Office Sq.ft.: 03. D Shopping/Commercial Sq.ft.: 04. D Industrial Sq.ft.: 05. D Water Facilities MOD: 06. D Transportation Type: 07. D Mining Mineral: 08. D Power Type: 09. D Waste Treatment Type: 10. Docs Related 11. [gl Other: Subsurface storm drain Acres: Acres: Acres: Acres: Employees: Employees: Employees: Watts: 10. Total Acres: 7.0 11. Total Jobs Created: N/A 12. Project Issues Discussed In Document 01. [gl Land Use Planning 02. [gl Population & Housing 03. [gl Earth Resources 04. [gl Air Quality 05. [gl Transportation/Circulation 06. [gl Biological Resources 07. [gl Energy & Mineral Resources 08. [gl Hazards 09. [gl Water Resources 10. [gl Noise 11. [gl Public Services 12. [gl Utilities 13. [gl AestheticsNisual 14. [glCultural Resources 15. [gl Recreation 13. Funding (approx.) Federal: $ 0 State: $ 0 Total: $ 6,612,813 14. Present Land Use and Zoning: Roadways and Public Flood Control (adjacent to Lytle Creek) 15. Project Description: Construction ofa subsurface storm drain system along State Street (between Highland Avenue and Lytle Creek) and Highland Avenue (between Macy Street and California Street), with connections along Macy Street, California Street and a new street just south of 21;t; associated inlets, and an open earth channel and riprap for discharge into Lytle Creek. 16. Signature of Lead Agency Representative: 14~ ~t;/ / z/!6/o '- Date Reviewing Agencies o Resources Agency o Boating I Waterways o Conservation [gJ Fish and Game o Forestry o Colorado River Board [gJ Dept. Water Resources o Reclamation o Parks and Recreation o Office of Historic Preservation o Native American Heritage Commission o S.F. Bay Conservation and Development Commission o Coastal Commission o Energy Commission o State Lands Commission o Air Resources Board o Solid Waste Management Board [gJ SWRCB: Sacramento [gJ RWQCB: Region # 8 o Water Right o Water Quality [8J Caltrans District 8 0 Dept. of Transportation Planning 0 Aeronautics 0 California Highway Patrol 0 Housing and Community Development 0 Statewide Health Planning 0 Health 0 Food and Agriculture 0 Public Utilities Commission 0 Public Works 0 Corrections 0 General Services 0 aLA 0 Santa Monica Mountains 0 TRPA 0 OPR - OLGA 0 OPR - Coastal 0 Bureau of Land Management 0 Forest Service o Other For SCH USE Only: Date Received at SCH Date Review Starts Date to Agencies Date to SCH Clearance Date Notes: Catalog Number Applicant: Consultant: Contact: Address: City of San Bernardino LSA Associates, Inc. Lisa Williams 20 Executive Park, Suite 200 Irvine, CA 926 I 4 (949) 553-0666 CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT NOTICE OF DETERMINATION FROM: CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO Development Services Department 300 North" D" Street San Bernardino, CA 92418 TO: ~ OFFICE OF PLANNING AND RESEARCH 1400 Tenth Street, Room 121 Sacramento, CA 95814 ~ COUNTY CLERK County of San Bernardino 385 North Arrowhead Avenue San Bernardino, CA 92415 SUBJECT: Filing of Notice of Determination in contpliance with Section 21108 or 21152 of the Public Resources Code. Project Title: State Street Storm Drain ~ Public Works Project No. 02-01 State Clearinghouse Number (if submitted to Clearinghouse): 2002121106 Lead Agency Contact Person: Lupe Camacho Area Code/Telephone: 909-384-5110 Project Location (include county): City of San Bernardino Project Description: Construction a subsurface storm drain system along State Street (between Highland A venue and Lytle Creek) and Highland Avenue (between Macy Street and California Street), with connections along Macy Street, California Street and a new street just south of 21"; associated inlets, and an open earth channel and riprap for discharge into Lytle Creek. This is to advise that the City of San Bernardino, Development Services Department, has approved the above-described project on March 17, 2003 and has made the following determinations regarding the above-described project: I. The project [0 will ~ will not] have a significant effect on the environment. 2. 0 An Environmental Impact Report was prepared for this project pursuant to the provisions of CEQA. ~ A Negative Declaration was prepared for this project pursuant to the provisions of CEQA. 3. Mitigation Measures [~ were Dwere not] made a condition of the approval of the project. 4. A Statement of Overriding Considerations [Owas ~was not] adopted for this project. 5. Findings [Owere ~were not] made pursuant to the provisions of CEQA. This is to certify that the final EIR with comments and responses and record of project approval is available to the General Public at: The City of San Bernardino, Public Works Department, 300 North "D" Street, San Bernardino, California, 92401-1507. Signature: Date: Title: Date received for filing at OPR: ATTACHMENT PUBLIC WORKS PROJECT NO. 02-1 STATE STREET STORM IS/ND MITIGATION MONITORlNGIREPORTING PROGRAM This Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program has been prepared to implement the mitigation measures outlined in the State Street Storm Drain IS/ND. This program has been prepared in compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the State and City of San Bernardino CEQA Guidelines. CEQA Section 21081.6 requires adoption of a monitoring and/or reporting program for those measures or conditions imposed on a project to mitigate or avoid adverse effects on the environment. The law states that the monitoring or reporting program shall be designed to ensure compliance during project implementation. The Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program contains the following elements: 1. The mitigation measures are recorded with the action and procedure necessary to ensure compliance. The program lists the mitigation measures contained within the Initial Study. 2. A procedure for compliance and verification has been outlined for each mandatory mitigation action. This procedure designates who will take action, what action will be taken and when, and to whom and when compliance will be reported. 3. The program contains a separate Mitigation Monitoring and Compliance Record for each action. On each of these record sheets, the pertinent actions and dates will be logged, and copies of permits, correspondence or other data relevant will be retained by the City of San Bernardino. 4. The program is designed to be flexible. As monitoring progresses, changes to compliance procedures may be necessary based upon recommendations by those responsible for the program. If changes are made, new monitoring compliance procedures and records will be developed and incorporated into the program. The individual measures and accompanying monitoring/reporting actions follow. They are numbered in the same sequence as presented in the IS/ND. -1- MITIGATION MEASURES VII BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES b) The project has the potential to impact endangered species. San Bernardino kangaroo rats (SBKR) (Dipodomys merriami parvus) are federally listed as an endangered species and were observed during recent trapping within the Lytle Creek Wash floodplain, including the portion south of Baseline Avenue where proposed construction will occur. The habitat type in this area is alluvial fan sage scrub. There were two occurrences of Santa Ana River woollystar (Eriastrum densifolium ssp. sanetorum) south of Baseline Road within the Lytle Creek Wash. The Santa Ana River woollystar is federally and state listed as an endangered speCies. The following mitigation measures shall be implemented with regards to these two species: Mitigation Measure VII-I. Authorization for impacts to SBKR must be obtained from the USFWS. The specific conditions of this authorization have not been finalized with the USFWS at this time. Several options have been discussed thus far. One option is the restoration of the impacted habitat. Another is the purchase of credits in a mitigation bank upstream of the proposed area of impact. Also, removal of trash and debris from the alluvial fan sage scrub associated with Lytle Creek Wash has been discussed. Mitigation may include one or all of these options, but the acreage of each has yet to be determined. In addition, there will be exclusionary fencing around the work area in suitable habitat, and SBKR will be trapped and removed from the work area prior to construction. Prior to advertising the project for construction, SANBAG and the City will complete endangered species consultation with the USFWS and confirm the specific mitigation measures to be implemented. The performance standard to be achieved is full compliance with the terms and conditions of the Biological Opinion to be issued by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Mitigation Measure VII-2. Both occurrences of Santa Ana River woollystar appeared to be on the border of the construction limits. The locations of these plants, with a small buffer area surrounding then, shall be delineated in the field, and a biologist shall monitor construction to ensure that construction activities avoid a take of this species. With implementation of Mitigation Measures VII-l and VII-2, impacts to endangered, threatened, or rare species will be reduced to a less than significant level. f) The proposed project will impact U.S. Army Corps of Engineers jurisdictional nonwetland waters of the United States. Therefore, the following mitigation measure shall be implemented: -2- Mitigation Measure VII-3. Authorization for fill within waters of the U.S. shall be obtained from the USACE prior to construction. This authorization will include conditions to control erosion and siltation. Authorization will also be required from the CDFG and the RWQCB. Adherence to Mitigation Measure VII-3 will reduce impacts to jurisdictional waters to a less than significant level. IMPLEMENTATION AND VERIFICATION Public Works and Planning staff as well as SANBAG shall review this development project. COMPLIANCE RECORD When Required: The verification shall be completed prior to project approval. WRITTEN VERIFICATION PREPARED BY: DATE PREPARED: -3- XIV. CULTURAL RESOURCES d) The project has the potential to impact paleontological resources. The San Bernardino County Museum conducted a records search for paleontological resources in the project area. The search found that no paleontological resource sites were known from sediments that are comparable to those within the project area or within several miles of the site. However, review of additional literature (Bortugno and Spittler, 1986) provided records that located trackways (series of animal tracks) below ground surface west of 3rd Street in Muscoy, about two miles north of the project site. The trackways are in older wash sediments and may date to mid-Holocene or late Pleistocene time. These sediments extend south and below the project site. The presence of these fossil trackways suggests that excavation for the new storm drain facilities has the potential to impact significant nonrenewable paleontological resources below a depth of three feet (based on sediments on site and previous disturbance of the surface soils). A paleontological resource impact mitigation program, consistent with the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology guidelines and described in Mitigation Measure XlV- I, is required to mitigate this impact to a level below significance. Mitigation Measure XIV-I. A qualified vertebrate paleontologist shall be retained to develop a Paleontological Resources Impact Mitigation Program (PRIMP). The PRIMP shall include a field assessment and project specific measures to reduce impacts to paleontological resources to a level less than significant. The program shall include but not be limited to the following: . A pre-construction field assessment to locate fossils at surface exposures. Salvage of fossils from known localities, including processing standard samples of matrix for the recovery of small vertebrate fossils and trackway replication, shall be conducted. . Monitoring of excavation by a qualified vertebrate paleontological monitor to recover paleontological resources. . Preparation of recovered specimens to a point of identification, including washing of sediments to recover small fossil vertebrates (removal of surplus sediment from around the specimens reduces the volume of storage for the repository and the storage cost for the City). . Identification and curation of specimens into a museum repository with retrievable storage. . Preparation of a report of findings with an appended, itemized inventory of specimens. The report and inventory, when submitted to the City, signifies the completion of the program to mitigate impacts to paleontological resources. -4- Adherence to Mitigation Measure XIV-l will reduce potential impacts to paleontological resources to a less than significant level. IMPLEMENTATION AND VERIFICATION Public Works and Planning staff as well as SANBAG shall review this development project. COMPLIANCE RECORD When Required: The verification shall be completed prior to project approval. WRITTEN VERIFICATION PREPARED BY: DATE PREPARED: -5- XVI. MANDA TORY FINDINGS OF SIGNIFICANCE a) The project has the potential to reduce the number or restrict the range of a rare or endangered plan or animal. The project has the potential to impact the San Bernardino kangaroo rat and the Santa Ana River woollystar. Implementation of the project will require approval from several resource agencies with respect to these species and the jurisdictional waters in Lytle Creek Wash. Adherence to Mitigation Measures VII-I, VII-2 and VII-3, as well as pertinent regulations regarding biological resources will reduce these impacts to a less than significant level. No other mitigation measures are required. IMPLEMENTATION AND VERIFICATION Public Works and Planning staff as well as SANBAG shall review this development project. COMPLIANCE RECORD When Required: The verification shall be completed prior to project approval. WRITTEN VERIFICATION PREPARED BY: DATE PREPARED: -6-