SAN JOSÉ-SANTA CLARA REGIONAL WATER FACILITY POND A18 SOUTH GATE LEVEE REPAIR PROJECT Initial Study / Mitigated Negative Declaration
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Draft SAN JOSÉ-SANTA CLARA REGIONAL WATER FACILITY POND A18 SOUTH GATE LEVEE REPAIR PROJECT Initial Study / Mitigated Negative Declaration Prepared for August 2017 Draft SAN JOSÉ-SANTA CLARA REGIONAL WATER FACILITY POND A18 SOUTH GATE LEVEE REPAIR PROJECT Initial Study / Mitigated Negative Declaration Prepared for August 2017 180 Grand Avenue Suite 1050 Oakland, CA 94612 510.839.5066 www.esassoc.com Bend Oakland San Francisco Camarillo Orlando Santa Monica Delray Beach Pasadena Sarasota Destin Petaluma Seattle Irvine Portland Sunrise Los Angeles Sacramento Tampa Miami San Diego 160336 OUR COMMITMENT TO SUSTAINABILITY | ESA helps a variety of public and private sector clients plan and prepare for climate change and emerging regulations that limit GHG emissions. ESA is a registered assessor with the California Climate Action Registry, a Climate Leader, and founding reporter for the Climate Registry. ESA is also a corporate member of the U.S. Green Building Council and the Business Council on Climate Change (BC3). Internally, ESA has adopted a Sustainability Vision and Policy Statement and a plan to reduce waste and energy within our operations. This document was produced using recycled paper. TABLE OF CONTENTS San José-Santa Clara Regional Water Facility Pond A18 Levee Repair Page San José-Santa Clara Regional Water Facility Pond A18 Levee Repair ......................... i Chapter 1. Project Description ............................................................................................1-1 1.1 Introduction ..........................................................................................................1-1 1.2 Relationship to the Plant Master Plan..................................................................1-2 1.3 Project Location ...................................................................................................1-3 1.4 Project Need and Objectives ...............................................................................1-3 1.4.1 Public Safety/Flood Protection ................................................................1-7 1.4.2 Continued Provision of Public Services ..................................................1-8 1.4.3 Wildlife Protection Factors .......................................................................1-9 1.5 Proposed Project ..................................................................................................1-9 1.6 Operations ......................................................................................................... 1-10 1.7 Construction Methods and Schedule ................................................................ 1-10 1.7.1 Schedule ............................................................................................... 1-10 1.7.2 Construction Methods and Sequence .................................................. 1-11 1.7.3 Affected Roadways ............................................................................... 1-12 1.8 Areas and Volumes of Fill ................................................................................. 1-13 1.9 Required Permits and Regulatory Approvals ................................................... 1-15 Chapter 2. Environmental Checklist ...................................................................................2-1 2.1 Environmental Factors Potentially Affected .........................................................2-3 2.2 Environmental Checklist ......................................................................................2-4 2.2.1 Aesthetics ................................................................................................2-4 2.2.2 Agricultural and Forest Resources ..........................................................2-6 2.2.3 Air Quality ................................................................................................2-8 2.2.4 Biological Resources ............................................................................ 2-15 2.2.5 Cultural Resources ............................................................................... 2-36 2.2.6 Tribal Cultural Resources ..................................................................... 2-43 2.2.7 Geology, Soils, and Seismicity ............................................................. 2-45 2.2.8 Greenhouse Gas Emissions ................................................................. 2-48 2.2.9 Hazards and Hazardous Materials ....................................................... 2-50 2.2.10 Hydrology and Water Quality ............................................................... 2-54 2.2.11 Land Use and Land Use Planning ....................................................... 2-60 2.2.12 Mineral Resources ................................................................................ 2-62 2.2.13 Noise ................................................................................ 2-63 2.2.14 Population and Housing ....................................................................... 2-67 2.2.15 Public Services ................................................................................ 2-68 2.2.16 Recreation ................................................................................ 2-70 2.2.17 Transportation and Traffic .................................................................... 2-71 2.2.18 Utilities and Service Systems ............................................................... 2-73 San José-Santa Clara Regional Wastewater Facility i ESA / 160336 Pond A18 South Gate Levee Repair Project – Initial Study August 2017 Table of Contents Page 2.2.19 Mandatory Findings of Significance ..................................................... 2-76 Chapter 3. Report Preparation ............................................................................................3-1 3.1 Lead Agency ........................................................................................................3-1 3.2 Environmental Consultants ..................................................................................3-1 Appendices A. Air Quality Project Construction Emissions Worksheets................................................. A-1 B. Biological Resources Technical Memorandum ............................................................... B-1 C. Design Plans.................................................................................................................... C-1 List of Figures Figure 1-1 Project Vicinity ..................................................................................................1-4 Figure 1-2 Project Location ................................................................................................1-5 Figure 1-3 Project Site Plan ...............................................................................................1-6 Figure 1-4 Location of Fill Placement .............................................................................. 1-14 Figure 2-1 Vegetation Communities and Habitat Types ................................................. 2-16 List of Tables Table 1-1 Summary of Areas and Volume of Fill ........................................................... 1-12 Table 2-1 Average Daily Unmitigated Construction-related Emissions (pounds/day) ............................................................................................... 2-13 Table 2-2 Special-Status Species with Moderate or High Potential to Occur in the Study Area .................................................................................................. 2-23 Table 2-3 Proposed General Plan Land Use Compatibility Guidelines for Community Noise in San José (GP Table EC-1) ...................................... 2-64 San José-Santa Clara Regional Wastewater Facility ii ESA / 160336 Pond A18 South Gate Levee Repair Project – Initial Study August 2017 CHAPTER 1 Project Description The following text provides relevant background for the San José-Santa Clara Regional Wastewater Facility’s (RWF or Facility) Pond A18 South Gate Levee Repair Project (proposed Project), which is City of San José File Number PP17-047. It also identifies the Project location and describes the Project area and its vicinity, identifies the Project objectives and need, reviews proposed facilities and operations, and summarizes the proposed construction process and schedule. 1.1 Introduction The RWF treats domestic, industrial, and commercial wastewater from San José, Santa Clara, Campbell, Los Gatos, Monte Sereno, Cupertino, Milpitas, and Saratoga; and parts of Sunnyvale, Los Altos, and unincorporated Santa Clara County. In total, the existing service area covers roughly 300 square miles and contains a service population of approximately 2 million people (1.4 million residents and 600,000 workers). Originally constructed in 1956, the Facility treats an average of 110 million gallons per day (mgd) of wastewater, with an existing capacity of 167 mgd. The Facility provides a tertiary level of treatment, in accordance with state and local regulations. The Facility produces recycled water for industrial use and toilet flushes, and also discharges treated wastewater to the South San Francisco Bay. The City of San José (City) manages the RWF itself and the surrounding RWF lands, which together total approximately 2,680 acres. About half of this area consists of current and former lagoons and drying beds used for biosolids management and lands that have provided a buffer between Facility operations and neighboring land uses. One portion of the RWF’s surrounding