5.0 About This Section
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5.0 About This Section The following subsections of this chapter address significant environmental effects that cannot be avoided, signi- ficant irreversible environmental effects, effects on humans, growth-inducing impacts and cumulative impacts that would result if the proposed project, General Plan Amendment (GPA) No. 960, were implemented as part of build out of the Riverside County General Plan over time. In Section 5.6 the consistency of the General Plan, as it would be updated pursuant to GPA No. 960, is compared with various regional plans. Different parts of GPA No. 960 affect various areas across and throughout Riverside County and some, such as the new greenhouse gas policies proposed for the General Plan Air Quality Element, span the entire county. As such, the scope of Section 5.0 generally encompasses all of unincorporated Riverside County. As would be expected, Sections 5.1, 5.2, 5.3 and 5.4 discuss the specific effects of the proposed changes included in GPA No. 960 in terms of unavoidable significant effects (Section 5.1), significant irreversible changes (Section 5.2), sub- stantial human effects (Section 5.3) and growth-inducing effects (Section 5.4). For Section 5.5 (Cumulative Impacts) and Section 5.6 (Regional Consistency), however, the scope of analysis is broadened to address full build out of the Riverside County General Plan in its entirety. For example, this means that the effects of build out of the updated General Plan, reflecting the changes that would occur to the document if GPA No. 960 is approved, are compared to the effects projected for various other build out scenarios (existing General Plan without the project, cumulative projects, etc.). This distinction is necessary because the widespread nature of the various components of GPA No. 960 makes appropriate an examination of the end point at which all of these com- ponents would be realized. It should also be noted that, with respect to CEQA, pursuant to Public Resources Code (PRC) Section 21081, where a significant impact has been identified in the EIR, the County of Riverside shall not approve or carry out the project unless the County of Riverside makes one or more of the following findings with respect to each significant effect: 1. Changes or alterations have been required in, or incorporated into, the project which mitigate or avoid the significant effects on the environment. 2. Those changes or alterations are within the responsibility and jurisdiction of another public agency and have been, or can and should be, adopted by that other agency. 3. Specific economic, legal, social, technological or other considerations, including considerations for the provision of employment opportunities for highly-trained workers, make infeasible the mitigation measures or alternatives identified in the environmental impact report. County of Riverside Environmental Impact Report No. 521 Public Review Draft . March 2014 5-1 In addition, pursuant to CEQA (PRC Section 21081.5), these findings must be based on substantial evidence in the record. The two tables below summarize all of the significant effects associated with GPA No. 960. Table 5.0-A (Unavoidable Significant Environmental Effects) outlines the effects found to be “significant” with respect to the criteria of CEQA, PRC Section 21083(b) and also significant effects found to be “unavoidable” per CCR Section 15126(b). These findings are discussed in full in Sections 5.1, 5.3 and 5.5. In addition, see the associated parts of Section 4.0 for the environmental bases and analyses performed for the various impacts listed. Table 5.0- B (Summary of Significant Irreversible Changes and Growth-Inducing Effects) outlines the significant irreversible changes and growth-inducing effects associated with GPA No. 960. These findings are discussed in Sections 5.2 and 5.4. Table 5.0-A: Unavoidable Significant Environmental Effects Effects term - 1 Impact Impact Title / Description Degrade Environment Environment Curtail Short Human Effects Cumulative 4.3 – Population and Housing 4.3.A Induce direct or indirect population growth. • 4.4 – Aesthetic and Visual Resources 4.4.A Adversely affect scenic vistas. • 4.4.B Adversely affect scenic resources within State Scenic Highways. • 4.4.D Cause adverse light and glare effects. • 4.5 – Agricultural and Forestry Resources 4.5.A Cause the conversion of designated Farmlands. • • 4.5.B Encroach on or conflict with existing agricultural uses. • • 4.6 – Air Quality 4.6.A Conflict with air quality plans. • 4.6.B (1) Cause significant construction (short-term) air emissions. • • • 4.6.B (2) Cause significant operational (long-term) air emissions. • • • 4.6.C Cause cumulatively significant project air quality impacts. • • • 4.6.D Expose sensitive receptors to air pollutants. • • • 4.9 – Cultural and Paleontological Resources 4.9.B Cause the destruction of known archeological resources. • 4.9.C Cause the destruction of unique paleontological resources or sites. • 4.10 – Energy Resources 4.10.A Increase demand for electricity. • 4.10.B Increase demand for natural gas. • 4.12 – Geology and Soils 4.12.B Expose people or structures to strong seismic groundshaking. • • 4.12.D Expose people or structures to landslides. • • 4.13 – Hazardous Materials and Safety 4.13.H Expose people or structures to wildland fires. • • 4.15 – Noise 4.15.A Generate noise or cause noise exposure in excess of standards. • • • • 4.15.C Cause a substantial permanent increase in ambient noise levels. • • • • 4.15.D Cause a substantial temporary or periodic increase in ambient noise levels • • • County of Riverside Environmental Impact Report No. 521 5-2 Public Review Draft . March 2014 Effects term - 1 Impact Impact Title / Description Degrade Environment Environment Curtail Short Human Effects Cumulative 4.16 – Parks and Recreation 4.16.A Adversely affect existing recreational resources. • 4.17 – Public Facilities 4.17.A Cause adverse environmental effects due to the need for fire protection services. • 4.17.B Cause adverse environmental effects due to the need for law enforcement services. • 4.17.C (1) Adversely affect or exceed the permitted capacity of a landfill. • 4.17.D Cause adverse environmental effects due to the need for schools. • 4.17.E Cause adverse environmental effects due to the need for library services. • 4.17.F Cause adverse environmental effects due to the need for medical facilities. • 4.18 – Transportation and Traffic 4.18.A Conflict with circulation system effectiveness regulations for any transportation. • • • • 4.18.B Conflict with congestion management program, including LOS standards. • 4.19 – Water Resources 4.19.A Result in insufficient water supply. • • • • 4.19.B Substantially deplete groundwater supplies or substantially interfere with groundwater recharge. • • • • 4.19.H Substantially alter existing drainage patterns resulting in substantial erosion or siltation. • Cause runoff exceeding stormwater drainage system capacities or cause substantial water 4.19.I pollution. • Cause significant adverse effects due to the need for new or expanded stormwater drainage 4.19.J facilities. • 5.4 – Significant Irreversible Changes3 5.2.B Result in the unjustified commitment of irretrievable resources. • 5.2.C Result in primary or secondary impacts that generally commit future generations to similar uses. • 5.4 – Significant Growth-Inducing Effects3 5.4.A Foster direct or indirect economic growth. • 5.4.B Foster direct or indirect population growth. • 5.4.C Result in construction of additional housing. • 5.4.D Remove obstacles to population growth. • Facilitate other activities leading to significant environmental effects; e.g., encroach into isolated 5.4.E or remote areas. • 5.4.F Result in population increase that may strain community services or facilities. • Footnotes: 1. A “significant effect on the environment” pursuant to CEQA (PRC section 21083(b)) would do any of the following: Substantially degrade the quality of the environment. (See discussion in Section 5.1.) Substantially curtail the range of environment. (See discussion in Section 5.1.) Achieve short-term environmental goals to the disadvantage of long-term environmental goals. (See Section 5.1.) Cause substantial adverse effects on human beings, either directly or indirectly. (See discussion in Section 5.3.) Cause effects that are individually limited but cumulatively considerable. (See discussion in Section 5.5.) 2. “Unavoidable” defined per CCR Section 15126(b) as significant “environmental effects which cannot be avoided if the proposed project is implemented.” (See discussion in Section 5.1.) 3. Discussed in the section indicated, rather than in Section 5.5 (Cumulative Impacts). Source: Riverside County Planning Dept., Results of analyses in Sections 4.2 - 4.19 and 5.1 - 5.5 of this EIR, 2012. County of Riverside Environmental Impact Report No. 521 Public Review Draft . March 2014 5-3 Table 5.0-B: Summary of Significant Irreversible Changes and Growth-Inducing Effects 2 1 Inducing - rowth Irreversible G Section - Effect Category / Type of Significant Impact 5.2 – Significant Irreversible Changes 5.2.A Result in a large commitment of non-renewable resources that make later removal or non-use unlikely. •3 5.2.B Result in the unjustified commitment of irretrievable resources. 5.2.C Result in primary or secondary impacts that generally commit future generations to similar uses. • 5.2.D Result in an environmental accident that could cause irreversible damage. 5.4 – Significant Growth Inducing Effects 5.4.A Foster direct or indirect economic growth. • 5.4.B Foster direct or indirect population growth. • 5.4.C Result in construction of additional housing. • 5.4.D Remove obstacles to population growth. • 5.4.E Facilitate other activities leading to significant environmental effects; e.g., encroach into isolated or remote areas. • • 5.4.F Result in population increase that may strain community services or facilities. Footnotes: 1. Significant “irreversible environmental changes should the project be implemented” (CCR Section 15126.2(c)), as discussed in Section 5.2.