BLUE LAKES SAFETY PROJECT LAKE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA DISTRICT 1 – LAK – 20 (Post Miles 2.0 to 2.8) 01-0H840 / 0118000117
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BLUE LAKES SAFETY PROJECT LAKE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA DISTRICT 1 – LAK – 20 (Post Miles 2.0 to 2.8) 01-0H840 / 0118000117 Initial Study with Proposed Negative Declaration Prepared by the State of California Department of Transportation May 2020 General Information about this Document What’s in this document? The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) has prepared this Initial Study with proposed Negative Declaration (IS/ND) which examines the potential environmental effects of a proposed project on State Route 20 near Upper Lake, California. Caltrans is the lead agency under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). This document tells you why the project is being proposed, how the existing environment could be affected by the project, the potential impacts of the project, and proposed avoidance, minimization, and/or mitigation measures. What should you do? • Please read this document. • Additional copies of this document and related technical studies are available for review at the following locations: o Caltrans District 3 Office at 703 B Street, Marysville, CA 95901 o https://dot.ca.gov/caltrans-near-me/district-3/d3-programs/d3-environmental- planning/d3-environmental-docs • We’d like to hear what you think. If you have any comments about the proposed project, please send your written comments to Caltrans by the deadline. • Please send comments via U.S. mail to: California Department of Transportation Attention: Fermina Chavez Environmental Management RM-2 Branch 703 B Street Marysville, CA 95901 • Send comments via e-mail to: [email protected] • Be sure to send comments by the deadline: June 30, 2020 What happens after this? After comments are received from the public and reviewing agencies, Caltrans may (1) give environmental approval to the proposed project, (2) do additional environmental studies, or (3) abandon the project. If the project is given environmental approval and funding is obtained, Caltrans could complete the design and construct all or part of the project. For individuals with sensory disabilities, this document is available in Braille, in large print, on audiocassette, or on computer disk. To obtain a copy in one of these alternate formats, please write to or call Caltrans, Attention: Bonnie Kuhn, Public Information Officer, PO Box 3700, Eureka, CA 95502-3700; (707) 441-4678 Voice, or use the California Relay Service TTY number, 711 or 1-800-735-2929. Proposed Negative Declaration Pursuant to: Division 13, California Public Resources Code SCH Number: Pending Project Description The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) proposes a safety improvement project on State Route (SR) 20 between post miles (PM) 2.0 to 2.8 in Lake County. The proposed project would improve an existing curve, install two retaining walls, widen and pave existing shoulders, install guardrail and terminal systems, excavate a sight bench, replace and extend culverts, relocate overhead utilities, and add centerline and shoulder rumble strips. Determination This proposed Negative Declaration (ND) is included to give notice to interested agencies and the public that it is Caltrans’ intent to adopt a ND for this project. This does not mean that Caltrans’ decision regarding the project is final. This ND is subject to change based on comments received by interested agencies and the public. Caltrans has prepared an Initial Study for this project, and pending public review, expects to determine from this study that the proposed project would not have a significant effect on the environment for the following reasons: The proposed project would have no effect on agricultural and forest resources, cultural resources, energy, land use and planning, mineral resources, population and housing, public services, recreation, transportation/traffic, tribal cultural resources, and wildfire. In addition, the proposed project would have less than significant effects to aesthetics, air quality, biological resources, geology and soils, greenhouse gases, hazards and hazardous materials, hydrology and water quality, noise, and utilities and service systems. Wesley Stroud, Office Chief Date North Region Environmental-District 2 California Department of Transportation Blue Lakes Safety Project 01-0H840 i Initial Study/Proposed Negative Declaration Table of Contents 1 Chapter 1. Proposed Project ............................................................................. 1 1.1 Project History ..................................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Project Description .............................................................................................................. 1 1.3 Project Maps ..................................................................................................................... 10 1.4 Permits and Approvals Needed ........................................................................................ 12 1.5 Standard Measures and Best Management Practices ..................................................... 12 1.6 Discussion of the NEPA Categorical Exclusion ................................................................ 18 2 Chapter 2. CEQA Environmental Checklist ................................................... 19 2.1 Environmental Factors Potentially Affected ...................................................................... 19 2.2 Project Impact Analysis Under CEQA for Initial Study ...................................................... 20 2.3 Aesthetics .......................................................................................................................... 22 2.4 Agriculture and Forest Resources .................................................................................... 25 2.5 Air Quality .......................................................................................................................... 27 2.6 Biological Resources......................................................................................................... 30 2.7 Cultural Resources............................................................................................................ 86 2.8 Energy ............................................................................................................................... 90 2.9 Geology and Soils ............................................................................................................. 92 2.10 Greenhouse Gas Emissions ............................................................................................. 97 2.11 Hazards and Hazardous Materials .................................................................................. 116 2.12 Hydrology and Water Quality .......................................................................................... 119 2.13 Land Use and Planning ................................................................................................... 128 2.14 Mineral Resources .......................................................................................................... 129 2.15 Noise ............................................................................................................................... 130 2.16 Population and Housing .................................................................................................. 132 2.17 Public Services ................................................................................................................ 133 2.18 Recreation ....................................................................................................................... 134 2.19 Transportation/Traffic ...................................................................................................... 135 Blue Lakes Safety Project 01-0H840 ii Initial Study/Proposed Negative Declaration Chapter 1. Proposed Project 2.20 Tribal Cultural Resources ............................................................................................... 137 2.21 Utilities and Service Systems .......................................................................................... 139 2.22 Wildfire ............................................................................................................................ 141 2.23 Mandatory Findings of Significance ................................................................................ 143 3 Chapter 3. Coordination and Comments ................................................... 147 3.1 Coordination with Resource Agencies ............................................................................ 147 4 Chapter 4. List of Preparers ........................................................................ 148 4.1 California Department of Transportation, District 1 ......................................................... 148 5 Chapter 5. References ................................................................................ 150 Appendix A. Title VI Policy Statement .............................................................. 149 Appendix B. Layouts of Proposed Work .......................................................... 153 Appendix C. USFWS, NMFS, CNDDB, CNPS Species Lists ............................ 158 Appendix D. Biological Surveys – Species , Personnel, and Dates ....................................................................................................... 130 Blue Lakes Safety Project 01-0H840 iii Initial Study/Proposed Negative Declaration Chapter 1. Proposed Project