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Draft Initial Study

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Draft Initial Study NEVADA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA INITIAL STUDY To: Building Department* Nevada County Public Works Dept* Nevada Co Environmental Health Dept* City of Grass Valley* Nevada County Consolidated Fire District* Nevada Irrigation District* Northern Sierra Air Quality Mmgt District* PG&E* Dan Miller, District III Supervisor* Tyler Barrington, Principal Planner* Allison Ranch Property Owners Assn* County Counsel All individuals/organizations who have requested Notice of Availability of Initial Study* All agencies notified through the State Clearinghouse as listed on the Notice of Completion * Note: NOA only Date: July 9, 2015 Prepared by: Jessica Hankins, Project Planner Nevada County Planning Department 950 Maidu Avenue, Suite 170 Nevada City, CA 95959 (530) 265-1254 Email: [email protected] File Number(s): U14-009, MGT14-015, EIS14-012 Assessor’s Parcel Numbers: 22-120-28, -35; 22-160-27; 29-290-26; 29-350-03, -04, -16 Applicant: Newmont Mining Corp. 5326 Uranium City Road Ford, WA 99013 Telephone: (509) 258-4511 Owner: New Verde Mines LLC 5326 Uranium City Road Ford, WA 99013 Telephone: (509) 258-4511 Zoning Districts: Nevada County – IDR, RA-1.5 City of Grass Valley – P General Plan Designations: Nevada County – SDA, RES City of Grass Valley – P Project Location: 12509 Allison Ranch Road, Grass Valley 95949 Application Description: A Use Permit for the construction and operation of a groundwater collection conveyance and treatment system to manage water quality of historical mine drainage; and a Management Plan to address potential impacts on riparian habitat and wetland habitat near the conveyance and treatment system. Other Permits Which May Be Necessary: Based on initial comments received, the following permits may be required from the designated agencies: 1. Grading and building permits – Nevada County Building Dept. 2. County road encroachment permit and Traffic Control Plan – Nevada County Public Works Dept. 3. Waste Discharge Requirements Order, NPDES Permit, Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan – Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board 4. Dust control permit - Northern Sierra Air Quality Management District North Star Water Treatment Facility – U14-009, MGT14-015, EIS14-012 2 of 113 July 9, 2015 Table of Contents NORTH STAR WATER TREATMENT PROJECT DESCRIPTION ........................................................ 4 Project Location and Surrounding Land Uses ................................................................................. 4 Historical Background of the Project Area ...................................................................................... 5 Project Background .......................................................................................................................... 5 Project Description........................................................................................................................... 6 Alternatives .................................................................................................................................... 13 Relationship to Other Projects ....................................................................................................... 13 SUMMARY OF IMPACTS AND PROPOSED MITIGATION MEASURES ......................................... 15 INITIAL STUDY AND CHECKLIST ....................................................................................................... 29 Introduction .................................................................................................................................... 29 1. Aesthetics ................................................................................................................................ 29 2. Agricultural/Forestry Resources .............................................................................................. 33 3. Air Quality ............................................................................................................................... 35 4. Biological Resources ............................................................................................................... 41 5. Cultural Resources .................................................................................................................. 54 6. Geology / Soils ........................................................................................................................ 57 7. Greenhouse Gas Emissions ..................................................................................................... 65 8. Hazards / Hazardous Materials ................................................................................................ 67 9. Hydrology / Water Quality ...................................................................................................... 73 10. Land Use / Planning ................................................................................................................ 76 11. Mineral Resources ................................................................................................................... 79 12. Noise ........................................................................................................................................ 80 13. Population / Housing ............................................................................................................... 83 14. Public Services ........................................................................................................................ 84 15. Recreation ................................................................................................................................ 85 16. Transportation / Circulation .................................................................................................... 86 17. Utilities / Service Systems ....................................................................................................... 89 18. Mandatory Findings of Significant Environmental Effect ...................................................... 91 RECOMMENDATION OF THE PROJECT PLANNER .......................................................................... 96 REFERENCES ........................................................................................................................................... 97 FIGURES .................................................................................................................................................... 99 1 – Project Location Map 2 – Site Plan 3 – Northern Project Area 4 – Southern Project Area 5 – Drew Tunnel Pump Station 6 – North Star Pump Station North Star Water Treatment Facility – U14-009, MGT14-015, EIS14-012 3 of 113 July 9, 2015 7 – Pipe Trench and Road Details 8 – Biological Inventory Habitat Map 9 – Geologic Features 10 – Geologic Hazards Overview Map 11 – Northernmost Geologic Hazards 12 – North Central Geologic Hazards 13 – Central Geologic Hazards 14 – South Central Geologic Hazards 15 – Southernmost Geologic Hazards TABLES 1 – Disturbance Areas .............................................................................................................. 7 2 – Distances from Project Features to Visually Sensitive Receptors ................................... 31 3 – Project Construction Air Quality Impacts ....................................................................... 37 4 – Project Operation Air Quality Impacts ........................................................................... 38 5 – Land Use Incompatibilities and Mitigation Measures .................................................... 78 Acronyms and Abbreviations Used Frequently in this Initial Study APN Assessor’s Parcel Number BYLT Bear Yuba Land Trust CEQA California Environmental Quality Act cfs cubic feet per second ESA Environmental Site Assessment gpm gallons per minute HDPE High-density polyethylene IDR Interim Development Reserve zoning district lf linear feet MCL Maximum Contaminant Level NID Nevada Irrigation District NPDES National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System NSAQMD Northern Sierra Air Quality Management District PEA Preliminary Endangerment Assessment Project Area The 70-acre project site Proposed Project The North Star Water Treatment Project RWQCB Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board SDA Special Development Area general plan designation TCP Timber Conversion Permit THP Timber Harvest Plan WME Worthington Miller Environmental WWTP Wastewater Treatment Plant North Star Water Treatment Facility – U14-009, MGT14-015, EIS14-012 4 of 113 July 9, 2015 NORTH STAR WATER TREATMENT PROJECT DESCRIPTION Under a Limited Threat NPDES permit from the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Board, the North Star Water Treatment Project (Proposed Project) would treat contaminated water draining from several historical mining features, including the Drew Tunnel within the City of Grass Valley limits, and an adit, culvert, and spring in unincorporated Nevada County just south of Grass Valley on the site of the historical North Star Mine. The Proposed Project is located adjacent to Allison Ranch Road and Wolf Creek. Project Location and Surrounding Land Uses Project Vicinity The 70-acre Project Area is located adjacent to or near Allison Ranch Road approximately ½ mile south of downtown Grass Valley, spanning the City of Grass Valley limits at its northernmost point and unincorporated Nevada County for the majority of its length. Portions of Nevada County Assessor’s Parcel Numbers (APNs) 29-350-03, 29-350-16, 22-120-28,
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