FINAL INITIAL STUDY and MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION

FOR

Beaumont Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade/Expansion and Brine Pipeline

Prepared for:

City of Beaumont 550 East 6th Street Beaumont, CA 92223 (951) 769-8520

Prepared by:

Albert A. Webb Associates 3788 McCray Street Riverside, CA 92506 Contacts: Cheryl DeGano, Principal Environmental Analyst Autumn DeWoody, Associate Environmental Analyst (951) 686-1070

March 2018

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST FORM ______1

1. Project title ______1

2. Lead agency name and address ______1

3. Contact person email address and phone number ______1

4. Project location ______1

5. Project sponsor’s name and address ______2

6. General plan designation ______2

7. Zoning ______3

8. Project Description ______3

9. Setting Description ______11

10. Other public agencies whose approval is required ______12

11. California Native American Consultation ______13

ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS POTENTIALLY AFFECTED ______31

DETERMINATIONS ______32

ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST ______34

CEQA PLUS ANALYSIS ______124

REFERENCES ______133

List of Figures and Photos

Figure 1: Cities and Counties ...... 15

Figure 2: WWTP Site Plan ...... 17

Figure 3: Pipeline Alignment ...... 19

Figure 4: WWTP Zoning ...... 21

Figure 5: Earthquake Faults ...... 23

Figure 6: Paleo Resources Monitoring ...... 25

Figure 7: FEMA Flood Hazard Zone ...... 27

Photo 1: View to San Bernardino Mountains from WWTP ...... 29

Photo 2: View to south across Cooper's Creek from WWTP ...... 29

Appendices

Appendix A Air Quality and Greenhouse Gas Analysis

Appendix B B.1. Biological Resources Assessment Report

B.2. Habitat Suitability Assessment and Western Riverside County Multiple

Species Habitat Conservation Plan Consistency Analysis Report

B.3. Jurisdictional Delineation Report

Appendix C C.1. Phase I Cultural Resource Assessment

C.2. Paleontological Resource Sensitivity Assessment

City of Beaumont Final Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration Beaumont Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade/Expansion and Brine Pipeline March 2018

ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST FORM

1. Project title: Beaumont Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade/Expansion and Brine Pipeline

2. Lead agency name and address: City of Beaumont 550 East 6th Street Beaumont, CA 92223 (951) 769-8520

3. Contact person email address and phone number: Amer Jakher, Director of Public Works [email protected] (951) 769-8520

4. Project location: The Beaumont Wastewater Treatment Plant is located at 715 W. 4th Street and is comprised of the following Assessors’ Parcel Numbers (APNs) owned by the City:  417-020-031  417-020-039  417-020-068  417-220-028  417-150-024 (no work proposed on this APN)  417-020-011 (no work proposed on this APN)  417-020-053 (no work proposed on this APN)

The proposed Brine Pipeline will be mostly located within road rights-of-way for which there may not be an APN. The proposed alignment of the Brine Pipeline may encroach upon the following APNs within Riverside County:  400-020-025  400-020-042  413-110-029  413-380-006  413-380-007  413-380-008  413-380-010  413-380-020  413-400-001  413-410-006  413-420-002  413-420-003  414-100-017  414-120-025  414-120-028  414-120-032  414-120-036  417-020-064  417-020-070  417-020-077  417-020-078  422-060-029  424-050-001  424-050-003  424-050-004  424-050-005  424-050-006  424-050-007  424-050-008  424-050-009  473-020-022  473-030-013  473-030-015  473-030-033  473-050-010  473-050-016  473-070-009

1 City of Beaumont Final Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration Beaumont Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade/Expansion and Brine Pipeline March 2018

The proposed alignment of the Brine Pipeline may encroach upon the following APNs within San Bernardino County:  0141-363-02  0141-363-08  0141-363-09  0141-363-15  0141-372-11  0141-372-44  0175-011-22  0175-011-36  0276-122-01  0276-131-18  0276-131-20  0276-131-36  0292-111-14  0292-111-17  0292-111-22  0292-111-46  0292-461-05

5. Project sponsor’s name and address: City of Beaumont 550 East 6th Street Beaumont, CA 92223 (951) 769-8520

6. General Plan Land Use Designation: The City’s General Plan Land Use designation for the Beaumont Wastewater Treatment Plant is Industrial. The land use designations of properties adjacent to the proposed brine pipeline alignment are listed by jurisdiction. The designated land uses of properties in which the proposed pipeline alignment may encroach are marked with an asterisk.  City of Beaumont: Industrial (I)*, Railroad Right-Of-Way (RailRoad)*, Recreation and Conservation (RC), Single Family Residential (SFR)*, Urban Village Overlay (UVO)*.  City of Calimesa: Open Space (S-OS), RLC Option Lands (S-POS).  County of Riverside: Agriculture (AG), Commercial Tourist (CT)*, Open Space Conservation Habitat (OS-CH)*, Open Space-Recreation (OS-R)*, Open Space-Water (OS-W), Rural Residential (RR)*.  City of Redlands: Commercial (C), Flood Control/Construction Aggregates (FC), High Density Residential (HDR), Office (O), Parks/Golf Courses (PG), Resource Preservation (RP)*, Very Low Density Residential.  San Bernardino County: Business Park (BP), Commercial (C), High Density Residential (HDR), Low Density Residential (LDR), San Timoteo Creek Area (STCR).  City of Loma Linda: Business Park (BP), Commercial (C), High Density Residential (HDR), Institutional (I), Industrial (IND), Medium Density Residential (MDR), Public Open Space (POS), Special Planning Area (SPA)*, Very High Density Residential (VHDR).  City of Colton: Light Industrial (LI)*, Open Space-Resource (OS)*, Railroad/Utility Corridor (RR/U).  City of San Bernardino: Commercial-General (CG)*, Commercial-Regional (CR)*, Open Space (OS), Public Facility/Quasi-Public (P)*.

2 City of Beaumont Final Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration Beaumont Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade/Expansion and Brine Pipeline March 2018

7. Zoning: The parcels associated with the Beaumont Wastewater Treatment Plant are zoned Manufacturing (M). The proposed brine pipeline will be located mostly within road rights-of-way that are not assigned zoning designations. The following list summarizes the zoning designations along the proposed alignment. The zoning designations for properties in which the pipeline may encroach are marked with an asterisk.  City of Beaumont: Commercial-General (CG)*, Manufacturing (M)*, Specific Plan Area (SPA)*, Residential Single Family (RSF), Railroad.  City of Calimesa: Specific Plan Area 1 (SPA1)  County of Riverside: Residential Agriculture (R-A)*, Controlled Development Areas (W-2)*, Controlled Development Areas, 20 acre minimum (W-2-20)*, Controlled Development Areas, 5 acre minimum (W-2-5)*, Light Agriculture with Poultry (A-P).  City of Redlands: Agricultural District (A-1)*, Administrative Professional District (EV/AP), General Commercial (EV/CG), Multiple Family Residential-2500 District (EV2500RM), Medical Facility District (M-F), Planned Residential Development-Residential Estate District (PRD/R- E), Rural Residential District (R-R), Suburban Residential District (R-S).  San Bernardino County: Community Industrial (IC), Rural Living (RL), Rural Living 5 acre minimum (RL-5), Multiple Residential (RM).  City of Loma Linda: Administrative Professional Office (AP), General Business (C2), Commercial Industrial (CI), East Valley Corridor – Commercial/Industrial (EV-CI), East Valley Corridor – General Commercial (EV-GC), East Valley Corridor – Institutional (EV-I), East Valley Corridor – Multi Family Residential (EV-MFR), East Valley Corridor- Park/Open Space (EV- POS), East Valley Corridor – Single Family Residential (EV-SFR), Institutional (I), Planned Community (PC)*, East Valley Corridor – Special Development (EV-SD)*.  City of Colton: Light Industrial (M-1)*, Open Space Resources (OS-RES)*, Railroad/Utility/ROW (R-U).  City of San Bernardino: Commercial General (CG-1)*, Commercial Regional – TriCity/Club (CR-3), Flood Control (PFC).

8. Project Description: The City of Beaumont owns the Beaumont Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP or “Plant”), a tertiary treatment facility, which is operated by Utility Partners, LLC, a private contractor. The WWTP receives and treats domestic and commercial/industrial wastewater generated from users within the City, plus approximately 850 connections outside City boundaries. The current facility was built in 1994, and upgraded in 2006 with the intent to expand capacity to 4 million gallons per day (MGD) and to produce recycled water to meet Title 22 requirements;1

1 Title 22 (California Code of Regulations, Division 4, Chapter 3, Section 60301 et seq.) is the regulation overseeing the reuse or “recycling” of municipal wastewater to protect public health. Level of treatment and bacteriological water quality standards 3 City of Beaumont Final Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration Beaumont Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade/Expansion and Brine Pipeline March 2018

however, the plant lacks several elements to fully achieve Title 22 regulations. In addition, the plant has triggered a capacity threshold in its waste discharge permit that requires expansion of the plant’s treatment capacity.

The City desires to meet three objectives with the proposed project: first, to produce recycled water from the WWTP that meets Title 22 regulations2 for advanced treatment for which they can be permitted to distribute for non-potable uses including irrigation and groundwater recharge; second, to expand treatment capacity pursuant to its waste discharge permit;3 and third, to comply with the 2014 Water Quality Control Plan (aka Basin Plan, as amended) objectives for salt management. The City has opted for the “Maximum Benefit” objectives for salt management, which are objectives proposed by stakeholder agencies4 in the area that have been approved by the Regional Board. Although “maximum benefit” objectives are less stringent than the “anti-degradation” objectives, they have been approved in exchange for certain commitments by the stakeholders. The two commitments for the City include utilizing recycled water to offset potable water use for landscape irrigation and reducing TDS in recycled water and plant effluent.

The City will prepare a Title 22 Engineer’s Report and receive a permit to produce recycled water from the State Water Resources Control Board, Division of Drinking Water, as well as implementing a pretreatment program5 and pretreatment enforcement policy which are required in order to obtain a permit from Orange County Sanitation District to connect to the Inland Empire Brine Line (IEBL). The environmental impacts of those efforts are not analyzed herein.

The Beaumont Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade/Expansion and Brine Pipeline project (“Project”) includes two components: first, the expansion and upgrade of the Beaumont WWTP; and second, the construction of a brine disposal pipeline from the Beaumont WWTP to the nearest connection point of the IEBL located near the City of San Bernardino Water Reclamation Plant (399 Chandler Place, San Bernardino) on the right bank of the Santa Ana River. Refer to Figure 1 – Cities and Counties. Construction of the Project is estimated to require 18 to 24 months.

are used in Title 22 to define what uses are legally allowed, based on the probability of public contact to protect public health. Title 22 identifies uses for a range of wastewater treatment levels, from un-disinfected secondary treatment through water that has undergone advanced treatment. Title 22 regulations also specify monitoring and reporting requirements and onsite use area requirements. The State Water Resources Control Board’s Division of Drinking Water administers the adoption of Title 22 regulations and oversees their application. The applicable provisions of Title 22 are incorporated into permits issued by the Regional Water Quality Control Boards or statewide general permits issued by the State Water Resources Control Board. These permits are the mechanism for enforcement of Title 22 regulations. 2 As defined by California Code of Regulations Section 60320.201. 3 Master Reclamation Permit Order No. R8-2015-0026, NPDES permit No. CA105376. 4 Stakeholder agencies for the Beaumont groundwater basin include: City of Beaumont, City of Banning, Yucaipa Valley Water District, Beaumont-Cherry Valley Water District, and San Gorgonio Pass Water Agency. The stakeholders for the San Timoteo groundwater basin include the City of Beaumont and Yucaipa Valley Water District. 5 Pretreatment refers to prevention of pollutants into the WWTP that would interfere with its operation, or otherwise be incompatible with the WWTP. 4 City of Beaumont Final Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration Beaumont Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade/Expansion and Brine Pipeline March 2018

Component 1: Beaumont WWTP Expansion and Upgrade The Project includes the elements required to expand plant treatment capacity from 4 MGD to 6 MGD, as well as a system upgrade to include advanced treatment, recycled water pump station, and recycled water storage. Refer to Figure 2 – WWTP Site Plan. Generally, the Project will include expansion of existing headworks channel and automated screen, newer-equipping of the influent pump station, a new fine screening system, conversion to activated sludge, a new return activated sludge pump station, and a new membrane bio-reactor, followed by a reverse osmosis system to remove dissolved salts. New dewatering and solids drying facilities and optimization of the existing ultraviolet (UV) disinfection system are also included in the Project. The WWTP expansion will be constructed in two phases within the existing site. Phase 1 consists of the demolition of an aeration basin, and the construction of the process building, the process tanks, fine screens, grit trap, headworks addition and the installation of piping within unpaved areas. Phase 2 consists of the demolition of the four other aeration basins and existing filters. Phase 2 also includes the construction of solar drying beds, solids handling building and equalization basin. Final paving and miscellaneous site improvements will take place at the end of the Project. The proposed modifications to the WWTP are detailed below. Headworks The headworks screening currently consists of two systems: a recently completed “new” headworks screen and the “original” headworks screen. This Project will expand the “new” headworks by constructing a second concrete channel adjacent to the existing channel and installing a second mechanical screen in order to provide redundancy in treating the design peak flows. A screenings washer and compactor unit will also be installed in conjunction with the new screen. The original headworks will then be decommissioned.

The Project will also include a new vortex grit removal system with a concrete structure, grit pumps and a grit classifier. The grit removal system would be located downstream of the new headworks and before the influent pump station. The grit removal system is needed because grit that passes through to downstream processes has the potential to damage mechanical equipment or reduce treatment capacity in various processes.

Influent Pump Station The pumping capacity of the existing influent pump station will be re-equipped with new pumps as part of this Project in order to meet design peak flows. The existing pump station currently consists of four pumps and space for a fifth pump. The smaller two pumps would remain to provide pumping capacity for commonly-occurring low flows. The other two pumps would be removed and replaced with three new larger pumps as part of this Project. After the Project is complete, the five pumps in the influent pump station would have the combined capacity to pump both low flows as well as the peak design flows while maintaining redundancy in the larger pumps. Fine Screening The Project includes installation of a fine screening system, with openings no larger than two millimeters (mm). These screens will be installed downstream of the influent pump station but just before the aeration basin distribution structures. The fine screening is needed to protect the membranes that will be used in a downstream process. 5 City of Beaumont Final Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration Beaumont Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade/Expansion and Brine Pipeline March 2018

Conversion to Conventional Activated Sludge The Project includes construction of a new concrete process tank that is divided into four trains to treat the full 6 MGD. The new tank will be installed in the location of one of the existing basins. Each of the four new trains will have a dedicated anoxic and aerobic zone. Bubble mixers would be installed in the anoxic zones. A ceramic disk or EPDM6 tube diffuser system would be installed in the aerobic portion. Although the new diffuser system is more efficient and thus will require less oxygen input, the existing blowers are not large enough to meet design conditions. As such, three new high speed turbo blowers will be installed inside the new Membrane Bio-Reactor/Reverse Osmosis (MBR/RO) Process Building.

The Project will also include retrofit of an existing basin into an equalization basin that will work in concert with the new process tank to provide temporary storage of peak flows. The remaining basins at the Plant will be decommissioned. The equalization basin will receive flows from new influent pumps and piping that will automatically fill the equalization basin during peak events, and then return the liquid (via gravity) to the influent pump station when flows drop below the average daily flow. The advantage of incorporating the equalization basin is that all downstream equipment (membrane bio-reactors, reverse osmosis system and UV disinfection) will only need to be sized to treat the average daily flow.

The conversion to conventional activated sludge will require a shorter retention time than the extended aeration process, which results in smaller volume requirements. Additionally, because the mixed liquor in the aeration basins can be run at a higher concentration with the proposed membrane bio-reactors (MBR) than with the existing clarifiers, treatment efficiency at the plant will increase and the design flow can be treated in a smaller volume.

Secondary Clarification With implementation of the Project’s new MBR process, the existing secondary clarifiers and tertiary filters will become obsolete. Therefore, the Project includes the re-purposing of the existing secondary clarifiers and removal of the tertiary filters. However, waste activated sludge pumping, will still be required. Therefore, the Project also includes a new waste activated sludge pump station after the MBR tanks to pump back to the new process tank.

Membrane Bio-Reactors and Reverse Osmosis The Project includes a new membrane bio-reactor (MBR) system, followed by a new reverse osmosis (RO) system. The MBR system will filter suspended solids (TSS), reduce turbidity, and generally provide a high-enough quality effluent to feed the new RO system, which will remove total dissolved solids (TDS). The new MBR system would be sized to treat the full design flow of 6 MGD. Roughly half of the flow from the new MBR will pass through the new RO system to have TDS removed. After disinfection, the streams will be blended and have a combined TDS concentration that meets Basin Plan objectives and permit limits.

6 EPDM = ethylene propylene diene terpolymer.

6 City of Beaumont Final Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration Beaumont Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade/Expansion and Brine Pipeline March 2018

Ultraviolet (UV) Disinfection The Project includes modifications to the two existing ultraviolet (UV) disinfection channels, including installation of accurate flow metering in both channels to properly operate the UV equipment. The existing UV disinfection system consists of two UV channels with four UV disinfection banks each. Blended effluent from the MBR/RO process will be evenly split between the two UV channels. Disinfection of the flow requires three UV banks per channel leaving one bank as standby in each channel.

Solids Handling The Project includes a new solids dewatering building, dewatering equipment, solids conveyors and loading facility to process activated sludge that is considered waste from the membrane bio-reactor process. The existing solids handling equipment is located outdoors, and is reaching the end of its useful life and may not have adequate capacity for the design flows. Therefore, an indoor solar drying facility will be constructed to minimize the volume of solids that require off-site disposal.

Other Improvements The Project includes replacing an emergency generator and upgrades to yard piping, mechanical piping, and electrical controls. At completion of the Project, access roads within the plant which are currently unpaved will be paved.

Effluent Water Quality The Project design presented here will ensure compliance with the “maximum benefit” objectives for TDS and nitrate-nitrogen, as well as effluent limits for convention pollutants as required by the discharge permit. The expected effluent quality is as follows:7  (Biochemical Oxygen Demand) BOD < 20 mg/L  (Total Suspended Solids) TSS < 20 mg/L  (Total Nitrogen) TN < 5 mg/L  Turbidity < 2.0 NTU  Total Coliform < 2.2 MPN/100 mL  (Total Dissolved Solids) TDS < 330 mg/L

Component 2: Brine Pipeline The second part of the Project will include construction of a 12-inch diameter gravity pipeline from the Beaumont WWTP to the nearest connection point of the IEBL on the right bank of the Santa Ana River in order to dispose of the brine waste generated by the upgraded Beaumont WWTP. The proposed pipeline will pass through several jurisdictions including, the City of Beaumont, City of Calimesa, County of Riverside, City of Redlands, County of San Bernardino, City of Loma Linda, and the City of San Bernardino, as shown on Figure 1 – Cities and Counties.

7 Units of measurement defined as follows: mg/L (milligrams per liter); NTU (Nephelometric Turbidity Units); and MPN/100 mL (Most Probable Number per 100 milliliters). 7 City of Beaumont Final Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration Beaumont Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade/Expansion and Brine Pipeline March 2018

The proposed brine waste pipeline will extend approximately 23.3 miles (12.8 miles in Riverside County and 10.8 miles in San Bernardino County) mostly within existing road right-of-ways (within shoulder or pavement), as well as some locations where the pipeline will follow the alignments of future proposed roads that are currently unpaved, as shown on Figure 3 – Pipeline Alignment. A majority of the pipeline will be installed using an open trench method. The trench will be 2.5 feet wide and generally six feet deep (minimum of five feet deep). For purposes of this analysis, in locations where the pipeline will be constructed under or adjacent to paved roadways, temporary construction impacts are assumed to occur up to 10-feet from edge of pavement on both sides of the road; so long as such area is within the existing disturbed road shoulder. In locations in where the pipeline will not be constructed under or adjacent to paved roadways, i.e., unpaved areas, this analysis assumes temporary construction impacts will occur within a 30-foot wide area (15-feet on either side of pipe centerline).

The total construction footprint encompasses approximately 144.43 acres (approximately 137 acres under pavement and 7.43 acres within unpaved areas, for a total of acres). Construction outside of paved areas will result in a permanent impact footprint of approximately 0.02 acres and a temporary impact footprint of 7.41 acres.

Unpaved areas to be permanently and/or temporarily impacted consist of agricultural land, coastal sage scrub, developed/disturbed land, and grassland as presented in the following table.

Vegetation Type Permanent Temporary

Agricultural land 0.0031 AC 0.22 AC (135 SF) (9,784 SF) Coastal sage scrub 0.0002 AC 0.40 AC (9 SF) (17,237 SF) Developed/disturbed land 0.0108 AC 5.01 AC (470 SF) (218,183 SF) Grassland 0.0048 AC 1.79 AC (209 SF) (77,776 SF) Source: HSA, pp. 8-9 (Appendix B) Notes: AC = acres; SF = square feet

Approximately 100 at-grade manholes to access the pipe will be installed, each with a three foot diameter. Approximately 20 above-ground vents will also be installed along the alignment, each two feet in diameter and two feet tall. Permanent impacts to the environment will consist of the at-grade manholes, above ground vents, and the pipe bridge at “Drainage A” described below. Three staging areas have been identified as follows: (1) southeast corner of Live Oak Canyon Road and San Timoteo Canyon Road, (2) graded pads north of W. 4th Street at Prosperity Way in Beaumont, and (3) the Beaumont WWTP parking lot area.

8 City of Beaumont Final Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration Beaumont Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade/Expansion and Brine Pipeline March 2018

Trenchless methods (i.e., auger jack and bore or hydraulic directional drilling (HDD)) will be used where required by each city/county, and at most drainage features, all railroad track crossings, and the State Route (SR) 60 freeway crossing. Crossing under the Interstate 10 (I-10) freeway at Hunts Lane is proposed with open trench method. The features to be crossed by the proposed “preferred” alignment (and the potential crossing method) include: 1. Highway 60 (trenchless method); 2. Unnamed drainage in field north of Western Knolls Avenue and east of Potrero Blvd. (trenchless method or pipe bridge, “Drainage A”); 3. San Timoteo Creek headwaters at Potrero Blvd. Bridge (trenchless method); 4. Unnamed drainage between railroad tracks and Oak Valley Parkway (trenchless method, “Drainage B”); 5. Union Pacific Railroad tracks near Potrero Blvd. (trenchless method); 6. San Timoteo Creek at San Timoteo Canyon Road near Southern California Edison’s El Casco Substation (trenchless method); 7. Unnamed culvert below Heartland Stables (trenchless method); 8. Unnamed culvert at Redlands Boulevard (trenchless method); 9. Union Pacific Railroad tracks at Palomares Road (trenchless method); 10. San Timoteo Creek at San Timoteo Canyon Road Bridge (trenchless method); 11. Gage Canal pipe at Redlands Blvd. (trenchless method); 12. San Timoteo Creek at Redlands Blvd. (trenchless method); 13. Waterman Avenue at Redlands Blvd. (trenchless method); 14. Santa Ana River (attach to E Street Bridge). Trenchless methods are assumed to have receiving pits with dimensions of 20-feet by 20-feet, and jacking pits roughly 50-feet by 50-feet in size. Along the proposed alignment, the pipeline is designed to go under or over many existing culverts and pipelines with adequate clearance. Where possible, the proposed pipeline may be attached to the underside of existing bridges to go over waterways. Where attachment to bridges is infeasible, trenchless methods will be used to place the pipeline beneath waterways. A pipe bridge is proposed that would span the unnamed drainage located north of Western Knolls Avenue and east of Potrero Boulevard in Beaumont.

9 City of Beaumont Final Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration Beaumont Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade/Expansion and Brine Pipeline March 2018

The locations where the pipeline is outside of paved roadways are described below (with expected construction methods): 1. Dirt road from 4th Street to SR-60 (Beaumont) (open trench); 2. Undeveloped field north of Western Knolls Avenue and east of Potrero Boulevard (Beaumont) (open trench in field, trenchless method or pipe bridge over drainage feature); 8 3. Crossing of San Timoteo Creek at Potrero Boulevard Bridge (trenchless method); 4. Dirt path along railroad from Potrero Boulevard to Oak Valley Parkway (open trench); 5. Dirt railroad frontage road on east side of railroad tracks roughly from Palomares Road to San Timoteo Canyon Road (open trench); 6. Crossing of San Timoteo Creek at San Timoteo Canyon Road Bridge (trenchless method); and 7. Crossing of the Santa Ana River (attach to bridge).

The following is a detailed description of the alignment: The proposed 12-inch diameter gravity brine disposal pipeline will commence at the Beaumont WWTP and traverse west along W. 4th Street to the end of the existing pavement where the brine pipeline will continue north along a dirt road,9 where it will then cross underneath the SR-60 to Western Knolls Avenue. Alternate alignments south of SR-60 include using Nicholas Road, and several currently unnamed roads/dirt paths as shown on Figure 2 – Pipeline Alignment. An alternate location to cross the SR-60 would be at Western Knolls Avenue near the Dowling Orchard Fruit Stand. After crossing the SR-60, the brine pipeline will continue west within the future realignment of Western Knolls Avenue where it will turn north within Potrero Boulevard, cross underneath the headwaters of San Timoteo Creek and UPRR tracks to an unpaved path just south of Oak Valley Parkway. The pipeline alignment then turns west and stays within this unpaved path/road shoulder adjacent to Oak Valley Parkway for approximately 0.6-mile, where it then moves into the paved lane of Oak Valley Parkway. The pipeline continues west within Oak Valley Parkway which turns into San Timoteo Canyon Road at the city boundaries between Beaumont and Calimesa, and continues northwest within San Timoteo Canyon Road until it intersects with Palomares Road. As the pipeline proceeds north along San Timoteo Canyon Road, the alignment may veer in and out of the paved portion of the roadway depending on engineering constraints but always staying within the limits of the road shoulder. At Palomares Road, the pipeline turns east and crosses underneath the UPRR tracks and then continues north within the unpaved access road on the east side of the railroad tracks, which becomes Frontage Road. The pipeline rejoins San Timoteo Canyon Road and crosses

8 Western Knolls Avenue is anticipated to be realigned as part of the “SR 60/Potrero Blvd. New Interchange Project” with Caltrans as lead agency under CEQA and NEPA (State Clearinghouse No. 2012051053). It is also anticipated that construction within Western Knolls Avenue will commence prior to construction of the Brine Pipeline in that location.

9 City of Beaumont owns dedicated right-of-way for planned construction of a future road.

10 City of Beaumont Final Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration Beaumont Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade/Expansion and Brine Pipeline March 2018

San Timoteo Creek using trenchless methods. The pipeline continues within San Timoteo Canyon Road to Beaumont Avenue. The preferred alignment at this point is to head west in Beaumont Avenue, then north on Nevada Street, however an alternate alignment could continue north and west in San Timoteo Canyon Road where it meets Nevada Street. The preferred alignment will continue north on Nevada Street/San Timoteo Canyon Road, then west on Bermudez Street, and then north on New Jersey Street. However, an alternate alignment could consist of continuing north on Nevada Street/San Timoteo Canyon Road, then west at Barton Road, and north on California Street. The preferred alignment is to head north in New Jersey Street, cross Barton Road, then turn west at Orange Avenue, and then north in California Street. There is only a preferred alignment from California Street, which turns west at Redlands Boulevard and continues in Redlands Boulevard to Hunts Lane. At this point there is one preferred alignment to cross the Santa Ana River by attaching the pipeline to E Street Bridge and four alternates: one due north of Hunts Lane (trenchless method), one upstream of E Street Bridge (trenchless method), one at the UPRR Bridge (just south of the I-215 freeway bridge), and another alternate river crossing at the Mt. Vernon Avenue Bridge. The alternate river crossings at the UPRR and Mt. Vernon Avenue Bridges would have the pipeline attached to the bridges, and not placed underneath the river. The preferred crossing of the Santa Ana River from the I-10 freeway would head west following E Street and cross over the Santa Ana River by attaching to the underside of E Street Bridge. The alternate alignment in Hunts Lane north of the I-10 freeway would cross under the river in roughly the same alignment as the Yucaipa Valley Water District (YVWD) brine disposal pipeline project.10 Once the pipeline has successfully crossed the Santa Ana River, it will be connected to the IEBL immediately north of the Santa Ana River. YVWD has stated that there is no excess capacity in their brine line for the City of Beaumont to use. YVWD has expressed interest in developing a mutual aid agreement once the City’s brine line is constructed. The mutual aid agreement would serve as a backup in case of service or pipeline outages.

9. Setting Description: The Beaumont WWTP is surrounded by “industrial” land uses as designated in the City General Plan (see Figure 4 – WWTP Zoning. Located adjacent to the western property line is a ready-mix concrete plant and to the east are scrap metal recycling and auto dismantling facilities. Several large warehouses are located to the north of the plant, and several large rural-residential home sites and open space to the south of the plant. The plant abuts Cooper’s Creek to the south. The WWTP’s machinery and treatment systems currently operate fairly exposed to the open environment.

The proposed brine pipeline alignment follows approximately 23 miles of paved and unpaved road right-of-ways that are adjacent to nearly all types of land uses including recreation and conservation, single-family residential, and industrial. The proposed pipeline begins at the Beaumont WWTP and proceeds north through San Timoteo Canyon, which is predominately natural open space with

10 Yucaipa Valley Water District also recently upgraded their WWTP and built a brine disposal pipeline (SCH No. 2009021105). YVWD has stated there is no excess capacity in their pipeline for the City of Beaumont to use. However, YVWD has expressed interest in developing a mutual aid agreement once the City’s brine disposal pipeline is constructed. The mutual aid agreement would serve as a backup disposal route in instances of service interruptions. 11 City of Beaumont Final Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration Beaumont Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade/Expansion and Brine Pipeline March 2018

scattered and clustered hillside residential uses. The canyon contains several conservation areas including the Norton Younglove Reserve, San Timoteo Canyon Park, and other Riverside County Parks, public-quasi-public conserved lands, and MSHCP-conserved lands.

Within the San Bernardino County portion of the alignment, San Timoteo Canyon is identified in the General Plan as “open space” that links to the Santa Ana River in the north and Live Oak Canyon to Crafton Hills in the south. The land uses surrounding the pipeline alignment change from rural to urban beginning at the boundary of the City of Loma Linda and get gradually denser as the pipeline approaches the Santa Ana River.

10. Other public agencies whose approval is required (e.g., permits, financing approval, or participation agreement):  California Dept. of Transportation (Caltrans) . Encroachment permit

 California Dept. of Fish and Wildlife . Lake and Streambed Alteration Agreement, if needed

 City of Redlands, . Encroachment permit

 County of San Bernardino, . Encroachment permit

 City of Loma Linda, . Encroachment permit

 City of San Bernardino, . Traffic control plan

 County of Riverside, . Traffic control plan

 County of San Bernardino . Well drilling permit

 Orange County Sanitation District . Special service agreement

 San Bernardino County Flood Control District . Encroachment permit

 South Coast Air Quality Management District . Update permit for WWTP 12 City of Beaumont Final Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration Beaumont Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade/Expansion and Brine Pipeline March 2018

 State Water Resources Control Board . Clean Water State Revolving Fund and Recycled Water State Revolving Fund

 Union Pacific Railroad . Parallel Encroachment Permit

 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles District . Section 408 Permit (SPL Form 25), as applicable . Section 404 Permit

 Western Riverside County Resource Conservation Authority . Joint Project Review

 Riverside Highland Water Company . Easement, if needed

11. Have California Native American tribes traditionally and culturally affiliated with the project area requested consultation pursuant to Public Resources Code section 21080.3.1? If so, has consultation begun?11 The City of Beaumont provided “Notification of Tribal Consultation Opportunity” letters dated February 14, 2017 pursuant to Assembly Bill 52 (AB 52) to Tribes that have previously requested such a notice. Letters were sent from the City to six Tribes: Torres-Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians, Twenty-Nine Palms Band of Mission Indians, Cabazon Band of Mission Indians, Morongo Band of Mission Indians, Soboba Band of Luiseno Indians, and Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians. The following Tribes responded in writing to the City’s Assembly Bill 52 request for input:  Morongo Band of Mission Indians  Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians  Soboba Band of Luiseno Indians Applied Earthworks, on behalf of the City responded to each of these Tribes on April 24, 2017 in order to set a meeting. Only the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians (ACBCI) responded to this request. City staff and WEBB Associates met with a representative of ACBI on May 17, 2017 for a consultation meeting. Agua Caliente requested a copy of the Project’s cultural resources assessment and the results of the records search. That information was provided to Agua Caliente on December 4, 2017. The City has received no comments from ACBI after their receipt of the

11 Conducting consultation early in the CEQA process allows tribal governments, lead agencies, and project proponents to discuss the level of environmental review, identify and address potential adverse impacts to tribal cultural resources, and reduce the potential for delay and conflict in the environmental review process. (See Public Resources Code section 21083.3.2.) Information may also be available from the California Native American Heritage Commission’s Sacred Lands File per Public Resources Code section 5097.96 and the California Historical Resources Information System administered by the California Office of Historic Preservation. Please also note that Public Resources Code section 21082.3(c) contains provisions specific to confidentiality. 13 City of Beaumont Final Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration Beaumont Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade/Expansion and Brine Pipeline March 2018

requested information and prior to release of the IS/MND for public comment. Nonetheless, tribal consultation will continue and be concluded prior to adoption of the MND. In response to the February 14, 2017 letter from the Morongo Band of Mission Indians (MBMI) to the City to initiate consultation on this project, Applied Earthworks (AE), on behalf of the City sent email on April 24, 2017 requesting a conference call. AE sent a second email to MBMI on May 3, 2017, and left voicemail messages between May 3 and May 11, 2017. No response was received to any of these efforts.

On January 31, 2018, the MBMI requested a meeting with the City. This meeting took place on February 13, 2018. During this meeting MBMI indicated that culturally sensitive tribal resources were in or near the Project’s direct or indirect Area of Potential Effects (APE) and agreed to an expedited review. As a result of the expedited review, MBMI provided written comments (dated February 26, 2018) in regard to the Phase I Cultural Resource Assessment for the Beaumont Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade/Expansion and Brine Pipeline Project (the Phase I CRA) and requested mitigation measures to provide for a MBMI Tribal Monitor and consultation with the MBMI Historic Preservation Officer to determine the significance of any inadvertent discoveries, a course of action, and their deposition. Revisions to clarify portions of the Phase I CRA have been made in response to MBMI’s comments and mitigation measure MM CR-1 has been revised to incorporate MBMI’s request.

Although not a formal AB 52 consultation, the City held a conference call with the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians (SMBMI) on February 28, 2018. The SMBMI expressed interest in the northern portion of the brine pipeline, requested full-time archaeological monitoring, and to be consulted in the event of any inadvertent finds. Mitigation measure MM CR-1, which already included a provision for an archaeological monitor, has been revised to incorporate SMBMI’s request to be a consulting tribe.

14 210 City of ·|þ SAN BERNARDINO ¨¦§10

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28 City of Beaumont Final Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration Beaumont Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade/Expansion and Brine Pipeline March 2018

Photo 1: View to San Bernardino Mountains from WWTP (1/17/17)

Photo 2: View to south across Cooper’s Creek from WWTP (1/17/17)

29 City of Beaumont Final Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration Beaumont Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade/Expansion and Brine Pipeline March 2018

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30 City of Beaumont Final Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration Beaumont Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade/Expansion and Brine Pipeline March 2018

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:

Aesthetics Agriculture and Forestry Resources Air Quality

Biological Resources Cultural Resources Geology/Soils

Greenhouse Gas Emissions Hazards & Hazardous Hydrology/Water Quality Materials

Land Use/Planning Mineral Resources Noise

Population/Housing Public Services Recreation

Transportation/Traffic Tribal Cultural Resources Utilities/Service Systems

Mandatory Findings of Significance

31 City of Beaumont Final Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration Beaumont Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade/Expansion and Brine Pipeline March 2018

DETERMINATION (To be completed by the Lead Agency) On the basis of this initial evaluation:

I find that the proposed project COULD NOT have a significant effect on the environment, and a NEGATIVE DECLARATION will be prepared.

I find that although the proposed project could have a significant effect on the environment, there 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 MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION will be prepared.

I find that the proposed project MAY have a significant effect on the environment, and an ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT is required.

I find that the proposed project MAY have a “potentially significant impact” or “potentially significant unless mitigated” impact on the environment, but at least one effect 1) has been adequately analyzed in an earlier document pursuant to applicable legal standards, and 2) has been addressed by mitigation measures based on the earlier analysis as described on attached sheets. An ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT is required, but it must analyze only the effects that remain to be addressed.

I find that although the proposed project could have a significant effect on the environment, because all potentially significant effects (a) have been analyzed adequately in an earlier EIR or NEGATIVE DECLARATION pursuant to applicable standards, and (b) have been avoided or mitigated pursuant to that earlier EIR or NEGATIVE DECLARATION, including revisions or mitigation measures that are imposed upon the proposed project.

Signature Date

, ______Printed Name

32 City of Beaumont Final Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration Beaumont Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade/Expansion and Brine Pipeline March 2018

EVALUATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS:

1) A brief explanation is required for all answers except “No Impact” answers that are adequately supported by the information sources a lead agency cites in the parentheses following each question. A “No Impact” answer is adequately supported if the referenced information sources show that the impact simply does not apply to projects like the one involved (e.g., the project falls outside a fault rupture zone). A “No Impact” answer should be explained where it is based on project-specific factors as well as general standards (e.g., the project will not expose sensitive receptors to pollutants, based on a project-specific screening analysis). 2) All answers must take account of the whole action involved, including off-site as well as on-site, cumulative as well as project-level, indirect as well as direct, and construction as well as operational impacts. 3) Once the lead agency has determined that a particular physical impact may occur, then the checklist answers must indicate whether the impact is potentially significant, less than significant with mitigation, or less than significant. “Potentially Significant Impact” is appropriate if there is substantial evidence that an effect may be significant. If there are one or more “Potentially Significant Impact” entries when the determination is made, an EIR is required. 4) “Negative Declaration: Less Than Significant With Mitigation Incorporated” applies where the incorporation of mitigation measures has reduced an effect from “Potentially Significant Impact” to a “Less Than Significant Impact.” The lead agency must describe the mitigation measures, and briefly explain how they reduce the effect to a less than significant level (mitigation measures from Section XVII, “Earlier Analyses,” may be cross-referenced). 5) Earlier analyses may be used where, pursuant to the tiering, program EIR, or other CEQA process, an effect has been adequately analyzed in an earlier EIR or negative declaration. Section 15063(c)(3)(D). Earlier analyses are discussed below: a. Earlier Analysis Used. Identify and state where they are available for review. b. Impacts Adequately Addressed. Identify which effects from the above checklist were within the scope of and adequately analyzed in an earlier document pursuant to applicable legal standards, and state whether such effects were addressed by mitigation measures based on the earlier analysis. c. Mitigation Measures. For effects that are “Less than Significant with Mitigation Measures Incorporated,” describe the mitigation measure which were incorporated or refined from the earlier document and the extent to which they address site-specific conditions for the project. 6) Lead agencies are encouraged to incorporate into the checklist references to information sources for potential impacts (e.g., general plans, zoning ordinances). Reference to a previously prepared or outside document should, where appropriate, include a reference to the page or pages where the statement is substantiated. A source list should be attached and other sources used or individuals contacted should be cited in the discussion. 7) Supporting Information Sources: A source list should be attached, and other sources used or individuals contacted should be cited in the discussion. 8) The explanation of each issue should identify: a. the significance criteria or threshold, if any, used to evaluate each question; and b. the mitigation measure identified, if any, to reduce the impact to less than significant.

33 City of Beaumont Final Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration Beaumont Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade/Expansion and Brine Pipeline March 2018

ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST

Less Than Significant ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS Potentially with Less Than Significant Mitigation Significant Impact Incorporated Impact No Impact I. AESTHETICS. Would the project: a. Have a substantial adverse effect on a scenic vista? b. Substantially damage scenic resources, including, but not limited to, trees, rock outcroppings, and historic buildings within a state scenic highway? c. Substantially degrade the existing visual character or

quality of the site and its surroundings? d. Create a new source of substantial light or glare which would adversely affect day or nighttime views in the area?

Aesthetics Discussion: a) Would the project have a substantial adverse effect on a scenic vista? Wastewater Treatment Plant According to the Beaumont General Plan, the City does not contain any designated scenic vistas. The Project site at the Beaumont WWTP does not afford any unobstructed views that would be altered by implementation of the proposed Project. The proposed Project upgrades consist of repurposing existing structures, demolition of others, and construction of new structures at the existing WWTP location. The new structures will be of similar size and height as the existing facilities. Because there are no scenic vistas in proximity to the WWTP, impacts in this regard will be less than significant. Brine Pipeline A portion of the pipeline alignment traverses through the San Timoteo Canyon, which is not identified as a scenic vista in the Beaumont General Plan, Riverside County General Plan, or The Pass Area Plan. The majority of the proposed brine pipeline will be located underground; however, it is possible that portions may be attached to existing bridges or a portion may be installed in a pipe bridge, in which instance these segments will be above ground. In addition, all adjoining features that are required with the pipeline will also be located at or below grade, including manholes, air valves, and drains. Manholes are typically spaced approximately 1,000 feet to 2,000 feet apart for inspections and cleaning of the brine line. Construction of the pipelines may create a temporary aesthetic nuisance for motorists and residents in proximity to the segment being constructed. Exposed surfaces, construction debris, and construction equipment may temporarily impact the aesthetic quality of the immediate areas. Construction of the pipeline will be temporary and the construction

34 City of Beaumont Final Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration Beaumont Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade/Expansion and Brine Pipeline March 2018

equipment is moving as construction proceeds along the pipeline alignment. Therefore, impacts are less than significant in this regard. Source: Beaumont General Plan Draft EIR, Feasibility Study (Albert A. Webb Associates). b) Would the project substantially damage scenic resources, including, but not limited to, trees, rock outcroppings, and historic buildings within a state scenic highway? Wastewater Treatment Plant There are no designated scenic highways or scenic highway corridors within the City of Beaumont. The proposed WWTP upgrades and expansion work will occur within the disturbed footprint of the plant which does not contain scenic resources, such as trees, rock outcroppings, or historic buildings, as shown on Figure 2 – WWTP Site Plan. No impacts will occur in this regard. Brine Pipeline There are no state designated or state eligible scenic highways in Riverside of San Bernardino Counties in proximity to proposed alignment of the brine pipeline. The proposed brine pipeline will be located adjacent to Interstate 10 near the City of Redlands, which has been designated a Scenic Route by the County of San Bernardino. Likewise, a portion of San Timoteo Canyon Road has been officially recognized by Riverside County as an ‘eligible’ County scenic highway. Development along such designated scenic highways and roadways is managed to preserve the areas’ scenic qualities. However, all parts of the proposed brine pipeline in these locations will be buried underground within the road right-of-way. At locations where the pipeline will be constructed outside of existing road right-of-way, there are no scenic resources such as trees, rock outcroppings, or historic buildings present. For these reasons impacts will be less than significant. Source: Beaumont General Plan Draft EIR, County of San Bernardino General Plan Final EIR, County of Riverside General Plan Draft EIR. c) Would the project substantially degrade the existing visual character or quality of the site and its surroundings? Wastewater Treatment Plant The proposed WWTP upgrade and expansion will replace existing structures and facilities at the WWTP site with structures and facilities of similar size and function within the Plant’s existing disturbed footprint. This will not substantially degrade the existing visual character or quality of the WWTP site or its surroundings. The proposed Project will avoid Coopers Creek and its associated vegetation. For these reasons, impacts will be less than significant. Brine Pipeline The majority of the proposed brine pipeline will be located underground; however, it is possible that portions may be attached to existing bridges or a portion may be installed in a pipe bridge, in which instance these segments will be above ground. For those portions of the pipeline that will be buried underground, once construction is complete the ground surface will be returned to its previous condition. Any pipeline segment that is attached to an existing bridge will likely not be visible and as such will not substantially degrade the existing visual character or quality of the bridge or its surrounding areas. The segment of pipeline that may be installed in a pipe bridge would not be

35 City of Beaumont Final Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration Beaumont Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade/Expansion and Brine Pipeline March 2018

visible by the general public. Additionally, the pipe bridge would be a temporary (approximately 10 year condition) until Western Knolls Road is realigned as part of Caltrans’ Protrero Road Intersection Project. For these reasons, the proposed brine pipeline will not substantially degrade the visual character of its alignment or surrounding area, and impacts in this regard will be less than significant. Source: Project Description; Beaumont General Plan Draft EIR d) Would the project create a new source of substantial light or glare which would adversely affect day or nighttime views in the area? Wastewater Treatment Plant In the existing condition, there are lights at different locations and on different facilities at the WWTP. The proposed WWTP upgrades and expansion work will replace some of these lights with comparable structures. Any permanent lighting installed at the WWTP will comply with the City of Beaumont Health & Safety Code, Chapter 8.50, which regulates Outdoor Lighting within the City. The Outdoor Lighting requirements (Ordinance 1054, March 17, 2015) contain restrictive lighting standards that act to prevent or minimize overall illumination levels, reduce energy use, and effectively reduce or preclude potential light and glare overspill impacts. Construction activities may require temporary and localized (i.e. lighting will be directed onto the construction area and not on adjacent properties or portions of the WWTP site where construction is not taking place) lighting for security reasons; however, night work at the WWTP is not anticipated. Therefore, through compliance with existing lighting regulations, impacts will be less than significant. Brine Pipeline Once constructed, the proposed brine pipeline will not create a new source of light or glare since it will be buried underground, attached under an existing bridge, or placed within a pipe bridge because the installation of new lighting in connection with the pipeline is not proposed. The City of Loma Linda and Riverside County are requiring that construction of the pipeline segments within those jurisdictions take place at night. Therefore, temporary construction lighting will be used in those areas. To ensure that construction lighting will be directed downward onto the area of construction and away from the any adjacent structures or properties mitigation measure MM AES- 1 will be implemented. MM AES-1. Nighttime Lighting: Prior to any nighttime construction, the construction contractor shall provide evidence to the City Public Works Department that any temporary nighttime lighting shall be downward facing and hooded or shielded to prevent light spillage outside of the construction area or direct broadcast of light into the sky. Through standard City procedures, compliance with City regulations regarding light, and implementation of mitigation measure MM AES-1, impacts with regard to the creation of new light and glare will be less than significant. Source: Riverside County Ord. 655, Beaumont Municipal Code Ch. 8.50

36 City of Beaumont Final Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration Beaumont Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade/Expansion and Brine Pipeline March 2018

Less Than Significant ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS Potentially with Less Than Significant Mitigation Significant Impact Incorporated Impact No Impact II. AGRICULTURAL and FORESTRY RESOURCES. In determining whether impacts to agricultural resources are significant environmental effects, lead agencies may refer to the California Agricultural Land Evaluation and Site Assessment Model (1997) prepared by the California Department of Conservation as an optional model to use in assessing impacts on agriculture and farmland. In determining whether impacts to forest resources, including timberland, are significant environmental effects, lead agencies may refer to information compiled by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection regarding the state’s inventory of forest land, including the Forest and Range Assessment project and the Forest Legacy Assessment project; and forest carbon measurement methodology provided in Forest Protocols adopted by the California Air Resources Board. Would the project: a. Convert Prime Farmland, Unique Farmland, or Farmland of Statewide Importance (Farmland), as shown on the maps prepared pursuant to the

Farmland Mapping and Monitoring Program of the California Resources Agency, to non-agricultural use? b. Conflict with existing zoning for agricultural use, or a

Williamson Act contract? c. Conflict with existing zoning for, or cause rezoning of, forest land (as defined n Public Resources Code section 12220(g)), timberland (as defined by Public

Resources Code section 4526), or timberland zoned Timberland Production (as defined by Government Code section 51104(g))? d. Involve other changes in the existing environment which, due to their location or nature, could result in

conversion of Farmland, to non-agricultural use or conversion of forest land to non-forest use?

Agricultural Resources Discussion: a) Convert Prime Farmland, Unique Farmland, or Farmland of Statewide Importance (Farmland), as shown on the maps prepared pursuant to the Farmland Mapping and Monitoring Program of the California Resources Agency, to non-agricultural use? Wastewater Treatment Plant The proposed Project is not located within areas designated as Prime Farmland, Unique Farmland, or Farmland of Statewide Importance. According to the California Department of Conservation California Important Farmland Finder, the WWTP Project site consists of both ‘Urban and Built-Up Land’ and ‘Other Land’. No impacts will occur in this regard.

37 City of Beaumont Final Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration Beaumont Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade/Expansion and Brine Pipeline March 2018

Brine Pipeline The proposed brine pipeline alignment passes by farmland of various designations including Farmland of Local Importance, Statewide Importance, and Unique Farmland; however, the alignment is not within designated Farmland. Therefore, impacts to convert any Farmland to non- agricultural use will be less than significant. Source: Dept. of Conservation “California Important Farmland Finder” © 2014. b) Conflict with existing zoning for agricultural use, or a Williamson Act contract? Wastewater Treatment Plant The WWTP is zoned as “manufacturing” or “M.” According to the Beaumont Municipal Code (BMC, p. 17:28), the M Zone is “intended to maintain the existing industrial and manufacturing uses and to promote the development of new business parks, light industrial use, manufacturing uses, and warehousing activities in the City.” The site is not zoned for agricultural use, as shown in Figure 4- WWTP Zoning. In addition, the proposed Project at the WWTP is not located within or adjacent to a Williamson Act contract. There will be no impact in this regard. Brine Pipeline Based on a review of current data available from the state Department of Conservation, the brine pipeline alignment is not located within, nor adjacent to, any Williamson Act contracted lands. Therefore impacts with regard to a conflict with existing agricultural zoning or Williamson Act contracts are considered less than significant. Source: Williamson Act maps, Riverside County (west) and San Bernardino County (south) California Dept. of Conservation Division of Land Resource Protection 2016. c) Conflict with existing zoning for, or cause rezoning of, forest land (as defined in Public Resources Code section 12220(g)), timberland (as defined by Public Resources Code section 4526), or timberland zoned Timberland Production (as defined by Government Code section 51104(g))? Wastewater Treatment Plant The City of Beaumont does not have a zoning designation for, nor does it contain forest land, timberland, or Timberland Production sites within City limits. Therefore, there will be no impact. Brine Pipeline There are no properties zoned for forest land, timberland, or Timberland Production within Riverside County, other than Christmas tree farms (cultivated, not farmed), and such farms are not known along the pipeline alignment. Within San Bernardino County, forest land, timberland, or Timberland Production are located at a much higher elevation, typically 5,000 feet. Because the pipeline alignment does not traverse through or adjacent to areas zoned for forest land, timberland, or Timberland Production there will be no impacts in this regard. Source: Beaumont General Plan draft EIR, Riverside County General Plan draft EIR Section 4.5.

38 City of Beaumont Final Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration Beaumont Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade/Expansion and Brine Pipeline March 2018 d) Involve other changes in the existing environment which, due to their location or nature, could result in conversion of Farmland, to non-agricultural use or conversion of forest land to non-forest use? Wastewater Treatment Plant The proposed Project at the City’s WWTP involves upgrades to the system that will not result in changes that would then cause the conversion of Farmland or forest land to other uses. There are no designated Farmland properties on or near the WWTP site. In addition, forest land is not present within the City of Beaumont. No impacts will occur in this regard. Brine Pipeline The proposed brine line will be buried underground within disturbed road right-of-way, as well as segments outside of road right-of-way where future roads are planned. As described previously, no designated farmland, forest land, or agriculturally-zoned properties will be impacted by the Project. Therefore, the conversion of land to a non-agricultural use will not occur as a result of this Project, and no impacts will occur in this regard. Source: Beaumont General Plan draft EIR, Riverside County (west) and San Bernardino County (south) California Dept. of Conservation Division of Land Resource Protection 2016, Dept. of Conservation “California Important Farmland Finder” © 2014.

Less Than Significant ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS Potentially with Less Than Significant Mitigation Significant Impact Incorporated Impact No Impact III. AIR QUALITY. Where available, the significance criteria established by the applicable air quality management or air pollution control district may be relied upon to make the following determinations. Would the project: a. Conflict with or obstruct implementation of the applicable air quality plan? b. Violate any air quality standard or contribute substantially to an existing or projected air quality violation? c. Result in a cumulatively considerable net increase of any criteria pollutant for which the project region is non-attainment under an applicable federal or state ambient air quality standard (including releasing emissions which exceed quantitative thresholds for ozone precursors)? d. Expose sensitive receptors to substantial pollutant concentrations? e. Create objectionable odors affecting a substantial number of people?

39 City of Beaumont Final Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration Beaumont Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade/Expansion and Brine Pipeline March 2018

Air Quality Discussion: a) Conflict with or obstruct implementation of the applicable air quality plan? Wastewater Treatment Plant The Project is located in the South Coast Air Basin (Basin). The South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) prepares the Air Quality Management Plan (AQMP) for the Basin. The SCAQMD sets forth a comprehensive program that will lead the Basin into compliance with all federal and state air quality standards. The AQMP’s control measures and related emission reduction estimates are based upon emissions projections for a future development scenario derived from land use, population, and employment characteristics defined in consultation with local governments. Accordingly, if a project demonstrates compliance with local land use plans and/or population projections, then the AQMP would have taken into account such uses when it was developed. The proposed Project at the WWTP involves the construction of a necessary wastewater treatment plant capacity expansion and system upgrades within the existing footprint of the plant to accommodate planned growth within the City, consistent with the City’s land use plan. Therefore, work at the WWTP will not result in any changes to the existing land use patterns and will not conflict with any land use plan. Additionally, the proposed Project does not propose any new housing or businesses and will not cause a substantial increase in population. Therefore, the proposed Project will not conflict with or obstruct implementation of the AQMP and impacts will be less than significant. Brine Pipeline The proposed brine pipeline will not conflict with any land use plan of the jurisdictions along the alignment by virtue of its underground nature and location in proximity to roadways. Since the brine pipeline will not in and of itself result in any changes to the existing land use patterns in the Project area, the proposed project does not conflict with or obstruct implementation of the AQMP and impacts will be less than significant. Source: 2016 AQMP, AQ/GHG Analysis (Appendix A) b) Violate any air quality standard or contribute substantially to an existing or projected air quality violation? The proposed WWTP upgrade/expansion construction activities overlap with the construction activities for the installation of the brine pipeline, therefore the following analysis for both Project components are evaluated together. Air quality impacts can be described in short- and long-term perspectives. Short-term impacts are anticipated to occur during site grading and Project construction and consist of fugitive dust and other particulate matter, as well as exhaust emissions generated by construction-related vehicles. Long-term air quality impacts would occur once the Project is in operation. The Project consists of an upgrade/expansion at the Beaumont WWTP site and a brine waste disposal pipeline. Operational emissions from the WWTP site upgrades consist primarily of new equipment that will be electric and include the replacement of an older emergency standby generator. WWTP worker commuting would be about the same as existing conditions. Thus, there would be no quantifiable change in mobile source emissions and only short-term impacts were evaluated. Operational emissions related to the 40 City of Beaumont Final Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration Beaumont Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade/Expansion and Brine Pipeline March 2018

brine pipeline would be primarily from the infrequent visits by vehicles driven by maintenance personnel and are considered negligible; therefore, only short-term impacts were evaluated in the Air Quality and Greenhouse Gas (AQ/GHG) Analysis prepared for the Project and provided in Appendix A. The Project will be required to comply with existing SCAQMD rules for the reduction of fugitive dust emissions, which is established in SCAQMD Rule 403. Compliance with this rule would be achieved through application of standard best management practices in construction and operation activities, such as the application of water or chemical stabilizers to disturbed soils, reducing haul road dust by application of water, covering haul vehicles, restricting vehicle speeds on unpaved roads to 15 mph, sweeping loose dirt from paved site access roadways, cessation of construction activity when winds exceed 25 mph and establishing a permanent, stabilizing ground cover on finished sites. In addition, projects that disturb 50 or more acres of soil, or move 5,000 cubic yards of materials per day are required to submit a Fugitive Dust Control Plan or a Large Operation Notification Form to SCAQMD. The AQ/GHG modeling assumed a Project disturbance area of approximately 7.46 disturbed acres and approximately 1,300 cubic yards of daily soil import for the WWTP upgrade/expansion site and less than one acre per day disturbed during the installation of the brine pipeline. Based on the area of disturbance, a Fugitive Dust Control Plan or a Large Operation Notification Form would not be required. Short-term emissions from Project construction were evaluated using the CalEEMod program. The results of the analysis of short-term construction emissions at the WWTP are presented in Table 3.1 – WWTP Unmitigated Maximum Daily Construction Emissions. Table 3.1 – WWTP Unmitigated Maximum Daily Construction Emissions1

Peak Daily Emissions (lb/day) Activity VOC NOX CO SO2 PM-10 PM-2.5 SCAQMD Daily Construction 75 100 550 150 150 55 Thresholds Phase 1 Phase 1 Demolition/Grading – 2.82 37.64 11.90 0.04 1.61 1.24 2018 Phase 1 2.23 18.68 14.18 0.03 1.53 1.07 Building Construction – 2018 Phase1 1.97 16.91 13.57 0.03 1.39 0.94 Building Construction – 2019 Maximum2 2.82 37.64 14.18 0.04 1.61 1.24

Exceeds Threshold? No No No No No No

Phase 2 Phase 2 2.65 34.92 11.47 0.04 1.54 1.15 Demolition/Grading - 2019 Phase 2 0.70 30.71 4.27 0.08 1.95 0.53 Grading Import – 2019 Phase 2 2.46 20.69 17.78 0.04 2.24 1.23 Building Construction – 2019 Phase 2 2.22 18.87 17.01 0.04 2.11 1.11 Building Construction – 2020

41 City of Beaumont Final Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration Beaumont Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade/Expansion and Brine Pipeline March 2018

Peak Daily Emissions (lb/day) Activity VOC NOX CO SO2 PM-10 PM-2.5 Phase 2 Paving – 2020 0.99 7.27 7.70 0.01 0.48 0.37

Maximum3 3.35 65.63 17.78 0.12 3.49 1.68

Exceeds Threshold? No No No No No No Notes: 1Reproduced from Table 2 from AQ/GHG Analysis in Appendix A. 2 Maximum emissions are the greater of Phase 1 Demolition/Grading in 2018 or Building Construction in 2018 or 2019, since these activities do not overlap. 3 Maximum emissions are the greater of the sum of Phase 2 Demolition/Grading in 2019 and Phase 2 Grading/Import in 2019 or Phase 2 Building Construction in 2019 alone or Phase 2 Building Construction in 2020 alone or Phase 2 Paving 2020 alone.

The results of the analysis of short-term construction emissions from the proposed pipeline are presented in Table 3.2 – Brine Pipeline Unmitigated Daily Construction Emissions.

Table 3.2 – Brine Pipeline Unmitigated Daily Construction Emissions1

Peak Daily Emissions (lb/day)

Activity VOC NOX CO SO2 PM-10 PM-2.5 SCAQMD Daily Construction 75 100 550 150 150 55 Thresholds Pipeline Grading/Installation 3.90 41.51 22.44 0.05 7.31 4.56 2018 Pipeline Grading/Installation 3.69 38.91 22.01 0.05 7.10 4.41 2019 Pipeline Trenchless Methods 0.51 6.80 4.13 0.02 0.32 0.24

Pipeline Paving 2018 1.14 9.31 8.27 0.01 0.68 0.50

Pipeline Paving 2019 1.03 8.14 8.12 0.01 0.61 0.44

Maximum2 5.55 57.62 34.84 0.08 8.31 5.30

Exceeds Threshold? No No No No No No Notes: 1Reproduced from AQ/GHG Analysis Table 3 in Appendix A. 2 Maximum emissions are the greater of activities in 2018 or 2019 since these activities are assumed to overlap.

The results of the analysis of short-term combined construction emissions from both the WWTP and the proposed pipeline are summarized in Table 3.3 – Unmitigated Maximum Daily Construction Emissions by Year.

Table 3.3 – Unmitigated Maximum Daily Construction Emissions by Year1

Peak Daily Emissions (lb/day)

Activity VOC NOX CO SO2 PM-10 PM-2.5 SCAQMD Daily Construction 75 100 550 150 150 55 Thresholds 2018 Pipeline Grading/Installation 3.90 41.51 22.44 0.05 7.31 4.56 2018

42 City of Beaumont Final Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration Beaumont Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade/Expansion and Brine Pipeline March 2018

Peak Daily Emissions (lb/day)

Activity VOC NOX CO SO2 PM-10 PM-2.5 SCAQMD Daily Construction 75 100 550 150 150 55 Thresholds

Pipeline Trenchless Methods5 0.51 6.80 4.13 0.02 0.32 0.24

Pipeline Paving 2018 1.14 9.31 8.27 0.01 0.68 0.50 WWTP Phase 1 2.82 37.64 11.90 0.04 1.61 1.24 Demolition/Grading – 2018 WWTP Phase 1 2.23 18.68 14.18 0.03 1.53 1.07 Building Construction – 2018 Maximum2 7.78 76.30 49.02 0.11 9.84 6.37 Exceeds Threshold? No No No No No No 2019 Pipeline Grading/Installation 3.69 38.91 22.01 0.05 7.10 4.41 2019

Pipeline Trenchless Methods5 0.51 6.80 4.13 0.02 0.32 0.24

Pipeline Paving 2019 1.03 8.14 8.12 0.01 0.61 0.44

WWTP Phase1 1.97 16.91 13.57 0.03 1.39 0.94 Building Construction – 2019 WWTP Phase 2 2.65 34.92 11.47 0.04 1.54 1.15 Demolition/Grading - 2019 WWTP Phase 2 0.70 30.71 4.27 0.08 1.95 0.53 Grading Import – 2019 WWTP Phase 2 2.46 20.69 17.78 0.04 2.24 1.23 Building Construction – 2019 Maximum1 8.58 119.48 52.04 0.20 11.52 6.77 Exceeds Threshold? No Yes No No No No 2020 WWTP Phase 2 2.22 18.87 17.01 0.04 2.11 1.11 Building Construction – 2020 WWTP Phase 2 Paving – 2020 0.99 7.27 7.70 0.01 0.48 0.37 Maximum4 2.22 18.87 17.01 0.04 2.11 1.11 Exceeds Threshold? No No No No No No Note: 1Reproduced from AQ/GHG Analysis Table 4 in Appendix A. 22018 maximum emissions are the greater of either Pipeline Grading/Installation plus Pipeline Paving and Phase 1 Building Construction or Phase 1 Demolition/Grading. 3 2019 maximum emissions are the greater of either: 1) the sum of Pipeline Grading/Installation, Pipeline Paving, and Phase 1 Building Construction; 2) Pipeline Grading/Installation, Pipeline Paving, Phase 2 Grading/Demolition, and Phase 2 Import; or 3)Pipeline Grading/Installation, Pipeline Paving, and Phase 2 Building Construction. 4 Maximum emissions are the greater of either Phase 2 Building Construction or Phase 2 Paving. 5Pipeline Trenchless Methods emissions were estimated for 2018 to be conservative, but can occur during any year of Pipeline Grading/Installation.

43 City of Beaumont Final Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration Beaumont Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade/Expansion and Brine Pipeline March 2018

As shown in Tables 3.1 through 3.3 above, the estimated emissions from construction of the Project are less than the SCAQMD daily construction thresholds for all the criteria pollutants except NOx as a result of overlapping activity in 2019. In addition, the short-term estimated emissions do not exceed SCAQMD’s localized significance thresholds (LST) for the WWTP portion of the Project (refer to Table 5 in AQ/GHG Analysis in Appendix A). However, construction for the brine pipeline portion of the Project is estimated to exceed the LST for PM-10 and PM-2.5 without mitigation (refer to Table 6 in AQ/GHG Analysis in Appendix A). Therefore, mitigation measure MM AQ-1 will be implemented to reduce emissions from installation of the proposed brine pipeline in order to bring emissions below SCAQMD’s criteria pollutant thresholds on a regional and localized level. The resulting effect of this mitigation measure is summarized in Tables 3.4 and 3.5. Therefore, with the implementation of MM AQ-1, construction-related air quality impacts will be less than significant with mitigation. MM AQ-1. Certified Tier 3 Engines: During brine pipeline construction activities, all heavy-duty construction equipment over 75 50 horsepower (hp) shall be certified to meet or exceed United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) Tier 3 engine standards. Proof of compliance shall be provided in the bid specifications and be verified by the Department of Public Works prior to issuance of construction. The resulting effects of the mitigation proposed in MM AQ-1 are summarized in Table 3.4 - 2019 Mitigated Maximum Daily Construction Emissions and Table 3.5 – Brine Pipeline Mitigated LST Results for Daily Construction Emissions.

44 City of Beaumont Final Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration Beaumont Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade/Expansion and Brine Pipeline March 2018

Table 3.4 – 2019 Mitigated Maximum Daily Construction Emissions1

Peak Daily Emissions (lb/day)

Activity VOC NOX CO SO2 PM-10 PM-2.5 SCAQMD Daily Construction Thresholds 75 100 550 150 150 55

Pipeline Grading/Installation 2019 1.26 21.19 23.89 0.05 6.14 3.59

Pipeline Trenchless Methods4 0.51 6.80 4.13 0.02 0.32 0.24 Pipeline Paving 2019 0.59 6.16 9.43 0.01 0.50 0.36

Phase1 1.97 16.91 13.57 0.03 1.39 0.94 Building Construction – 2019 Phase 2 2.65 34.92 11.47 0.04 1.54 1.15 Demolition/Grading - 2019 Phase 2 0.70 30.71 4.27 0.08 1.95 0.53 Grading Import – 2019 Phase 2 2.46 20.69 17.78 0.04 2.24 1.23 Building Construction – 2019

Maximum2 5.56 99.78 58.57 0.20 10.49 5.90

Exceeds Threshold? No No No No No No Note: 1Reproduced from AQ/GHG Analysis Table 8 in Appendix A. 2 2019 maximum emissions are the greater of either: 1) the sum of Pipeline Grading/Installation, Pipeline Paving, and Phase 1 Building Construction; 2) Pipeline Grading/Installation, Pipeline Paving, Phase 2 Grading/Demolition, and Phase 2 Import; or 3) Pipeline Grading/Installation, Pipeline Paving, and Phase 2 Building Construction.

Table 3.5 – Brine Pipeline Mitigated LST Results for Daily Construction Emissions1

Peak Daily Emissions (lb/day) Pollutant NOX CO PM-10 PM-2.5 LST Threshold for 1-acre at 25 meters 103 1,000 6 4

Pipeline Grading/Installation2 17.80 22.30 5.63 3.44 Pipeline Paving2 5.65 8.65 0.30 0.30 Maximum 23.45 30.95 5.94 3.75 Exceeds Threshold? No No No No Note: 1Reproduced from AQ/GHG Analysis Table 4 in Appendix A. 2 2018 emissions utilized.

The long-term emissions from operation of the brine pipeline, as discussed previously, are primarily in the form of mobile source emissions, with no stationary sources of emissions present. Similarly, the new equipment for the WWTP component will be electric-powered and include the replacement of an older emergency standby generator. The proposed Project will require modifying the facility’s existing SCAQMD operating permit due to the changes in processes, equipment and resulting emissions. The SCAQMD permitting process would ensure that the Project meets regulatory requirements through the application review process and by placing specific operating conditions on the modified permit. According to the LST methodology, LSTs only apply to the operational phase if a project includes stationary sources or on-site mobile equipment generating on-site emissions.

45 City of Beaumont Final Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration Beaumont Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade/Expansion and Brine Pipeline March 2018

The proposed Project does not include such uses. Therefore, no long-term LST analysis is needed and operational emissions will be less than significant. Source: AQ/GHG Analysis (Appendix A) c) Result in a cumulatively considerable net increase of any criteria pollutant for which the project region is non-attainment under an applicable federal or state ambient air quality standard (including releasing emissions which exceed quantitative thresholds for ozone precursors)? The proposed WWTP upgrade/expansion construction activities overlap with the construction activities for the installation of the brine pipeline, therefore the following analysis for both Project components are evaluated together. The portion of the Basin within which the Project is located is designated as a non-attainment area for ozone and particulate matter 2.5 microns or less in diameter (PM-2.5) under both state and federal standards, and particulate matter 2.5 to 10 microns in diameter (PM-10) under state standards. As discussed in thresholds III.a and III.b, above, since the proposed Project does not conflict with any land use designations, construction and operation of the wastewater treatment plant expansion and brine pipeline are in conformance with the AQMP, and the estimated emissions do not exceed the SCAQMD-established thresholds of significance after implementation of mitigation measure MM AQ-1. The net increase in criteria pollutant emissions for which the region is non-attainment is not cumulatively considerable. Therefore, impacts are considered less than significant with mitigation. Source: AQ/GHG Analysis (Appendix A); CARB d) Expose sensitive receptors to substantial pollutant concentrations? A sensitive receptor is a person in the population who is particularly susceptible to health effects due to exposure to an air contaminant including children, the elderly, and persons with pre-existing respiratory and/or cardiovascular illness. SCAQMD defines a “sensitive receptor” as a land use or facility such as residences, schools, child care centers, athletic facilities, playgrounds, retirement homes, and convalescent homes where these persons are typically located. Wastewater Treatment Plant The closest sensitive receptors to the WWTP Project construction site are existing residential uses approximately 220 meters (722 feet) south of the Project site. As discussed in threshold III.b, above, short-term emissions generated in the Project area have been found to be less than significant with implementation of MM AQ-1. Therefore, the proposed Project will not expose sensitive receptors to substantial pollutant concentrations and impacts are considered less than significant with mitigation. Operational emissions were also found to be less than significant (refer to threshold III.b). Because construction and operation of the wastewater treatment plant will not expose sensitive receptors to substantial pollutant concentrations, impacts are considered less than significant with mitigation.

46 City of Beaumont Final Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration Beaumont Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade/Expansion and Brine Pipeline March 2018

Brine Pipeline There are several sensitive receptors located adjacent to the 23-mile alignment of the brine pipeline, which include housing tracks and scattered residential area lots adjacent to the brine pipeline along Oak Valley Parkway and San Timoteo Canyon Road. In the city of Redlands, residential areas, schools churches and parks are also adjacent to the brine pipeline alignment. Short-term emissions will only be generated in the Project area during construction of the installment of the brine pipeline for the Project and have been found to be less than significant with implementation of MM AQ-1 (see threshold III.b and Appendix A). Operational emissions were also found to be less than significant, as indicated above. Therefore, the proposed Project will not expose sensitive receptors to substantial pollutant concentrations and impacts are considered less than significant with mitigation. Source: AQ/GHG Analysis prepared by WEBB, December 2017 e) Create objectionable odors affecting a substantial number of people? Wastewater Treatment Plant The WWTP is surrounded on three sides by industrial land uses and currently generates odors that are related to sewage treatment. The nearest sensitive receptors (residences) are located approximately 700 feet to the south. Additional residences are located approximately 1,000 feet to the east. Noting that the WWTP will continue operating through construction, potential odors generated by construction activities will be localized and temporary, and because the WWTP is not located in a densely populated area, construction odors will not affect a substantial number of people. The proposed upgrade/expansion of the WWTP will remove the aeration basins and replace them with a building that will enclose more of the treatment process. Project design features include an enclosed odor control system (air scrubber) at the new solids handling building which will reduce post-construction odors that may be generated through the operation of the WWTP. Enclosed solar drying beds will also be constructed. Therefore, impacts with respect to the generation of objectionable odors affecting a substantial number of people during construction and operation of the WWTP are considered less than significant through Project design features. Brine Pipeline Brine waste from a WWTP does not have an objectionable odor. Therefore, the pressure relief valves that are required along the pipeline alignment will not be a source of objectionable odors during operation of the pipeline. Construction of the brine pipeline presents the potential for generation of objectionable odors in the form of diesel exhaust during construction in the immediate vicinity of the segment of the pipeline under construction. Odors generated during construction will be short-term and will move along the alignment of the pipeline as construction takes place; thus, construction of the brine pipeline will not result in the long-term creation of objectionable odors. Recognizing the short-term duration and quantity of construction emissions in the proposed Project area, impacts with regard to the creation of objectionable odors affecting a substantial number of people is less than significant. Source: Project Description 47 City of Beaumont Final Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration Beaumont Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade/Expansion and Brine Pipeline March 2018

Less Than Significant ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS Potentially with Less Than Significant Mitigation Significant Impact Incorporated Impact No Impact IV. BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES. Would the project: a. Have a substantial adverse effect, either directly or through habitat modifications, on any species identified as a candidate, sensitive, or special status species in local or regional plans, policies, or regulations, or by the California Department of Fish and Game or U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service? b. Have a substantial adverse effect on any riparian habitat or other sensitive natural community identified in local or regional plans, policies, regulations, or by the California Department of Fish and Game or U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service? c. Have a substantial adverse effect on federally protected wetlands as defined by Section 404 of the Clean Water Act (including, but not limited to, marsh, vernal pool, coastal, etc.) through direct removal, filling, hydrological interruption, or other means? d. Interfere substantially with the movement of any native resident or migratory fish or wildlife species or with established native resident or migratory wildlife corridors, or impede the use of native wildlife nursery sites? e. Conflict with any local policies or ordinances protecting biological resources, such as a tree preservation policy or ordinance? f. Conflict with the provisions of an adopted Habitat Conservation Plan, Natural Community Conservation Plan, or other approved local, regional, or state habitat conservation plan?

Biological Resource Discussion: a) Have a substantial adverse effect, either directly or through habitat modifications, on any species identified as a candidate, sensitive, or special status species in local or regional plans, policies, or regulations, or by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife or U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service? Plants or animals may be designated as having “special status” due to declining populations, vulnerability to habitat change or loss, or because of restricted/limited distributions (BRAR, pp. 32- 33). The literature review of California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s (CDFW’s) California Natural Diversity Data Base (CNDDB), California Native Plant Society’s (CNPS’) Inventory of Rare and Endangered Plants of California, and other biological reports for the area identified a total of 104 special status biological resources known from the vicinity of the “biological study area” (or “BSA”) of the Project plus an approximate 5-mile radius. These include 48 plants, six vegetation communities, three invertebrates, two fishes, one amphibian, 10 reptiles, 20 birds, and 14 mammals 48 City of Beaumont Final Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration Beaumont Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade/Expansion and Brine Pipeline March 2018

(ibid). In summary, 30 species, some of which are state and/or federally listed as threatened and/or endangered, have varying potential (low, moderate, or high) for occurrence in the BSA. The remainder is assumed to be absent due to lack of habitat, elevational change, extirpation, or extinction (Ibid). Wastewater Treatment Plant The WWTP is a developed area with structures and roads needed to run the various components of the plant. The habitat can be characterized as “disturbed” with dirt areas regularly cleared as part of WWTP operation. The WWTP was surveyed on foot for biological resources by an Amec Foster Wheeler (Amec) biologist on July 17, 2017, with results documented in the “Biological Resources Assessment Report” (or “BRAR”) provided in Appendix B. The survey area included the WWTP plus a 500-foot buffer; this is referred to as the BSA for the WWTP. All flora and fauna that was observed during the survey either through direct observation, vocalizations, presence of scat, tracks, and/or bones, was recorded in field notes. Plant species of uncertain identity were collected and identified later. Representative photos and lists of plant/animal species found on-site are located in the appendices to the BRAR. The BRAR did not identify the presence of any special status species on the WWTP site. The Western Riverside County Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan (MSHCP) shows the most northern corner of the WWTP within the Survey Areas for a Narrow Endemic Plant (Yucaipa onion) and Burrowing Owl (BRAR Fig. 6). There is no suitable habitat for Yucaipa onion within the WWTP (ibid, p. 54). The WWTP was also surveyed for burrowing owl burrows; none were identified and no suitable habitat for burrowing owl is located at the WWTP (ibid, p. 54). Therefore, no further surveys are required for Yucaipa onion or burrowing owl at the WWTP. The riparian habitat within Cooper’s Creek located immediately south of, and outside of the WWTP site, supports suitable riparian habitat for nesting birds including at least one special status bird species: the least Bell’s vireo (BRAR, p. 55). The vegetation within Cooper’s Creek downstream of the WWTP is fed primarily from the release of treated effluent from the WWTP. The City of Beaumont will continue the release of effluent from the WWTP at no less than 1.8 million gallons per day (mgd). Cooper’s Creek is characterized by the MSHCP Vegetation Maps as “Riparian Scrub, Woodland, Forest.” This category of vegetation can contain elements of mule fat scrub, riparian forest, southern riparian scrub, southern cottonwood willow riparian forest, and southern willow scrub. Some of these are considered special-status vegetation communities by the CDFW but all riparian vegetation in this category is capable of supporting the least Bell’s vireo. Other special status bird species may also be present in the riparian habitat of Cooper’s Creek including, western yellow-billed cuckoo (federally threatened) and southwestern willow flycatcher (federally endangered) (BRAR, p. 55). Construction and operation activities to be conducted as part of the proposed WWTP improvements will not directly impact Cooper’s Creek because it is beyond the limits of the plant boundary and the limits of construction. However, indirect impacts such as construction noise are a potential issue for nesting birds, as previously described. The Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) and state code protect virtually all native birds, both common and special status species. Any measures provided to minimize impacts to the least Bell’s vireo will benefit other birds that may be present.

49 City of Beaumont Final Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration Beaumont Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade/Expansion and Brine Pipeline March 2018

Although nesting birds and other wildlife could occur in close proximity to the WWTP, the typical activity of the WWTP, nearby busy streets, and neighboring industrial land uses, are likely to make any wildlife present accustomed to a certain level of noise and vibration. When construction is within 500-feet of riparian habitat, the Project is being planned to avoid the nesting season. Although the proposed modifications to the WWTP will not have a direct effect on any listed plant or animal species, mitigation measures MM BIO-1 and MM BIO-2 are included to reduce indirect impacts to special status species in proximity to the WWTP to less than significant. MM BIO-1. Worker Environmental Awareness Program: Prior to construction, a qualified biologist shall be retained by the City of Beaumont to prepare a Worker Environmental Awareness Program (WEAP) that will outline pertinent biological issues and avoidance measures related to the project sites and surrounding areas. Such measures will include making sure construction workers and equipment stay out of sensitive vegetation communities such as the Riversidean Alluvial Fan Sage Scrub and riparian habitat within any of the drainage crossings. The biologist or designee(s) shall present the WEAP to the construction contractor and each of the construction crews working at the treatment plant and pipeline during a preconstruction meeting. MM BIO-2. Sound Barriers, Preconstruction Riparian Bird and Rare Plant Surveys, and Monitoring: In the event that construction within 500-feet of riparian habitat will occur within the nesting season (March 15th through August 31st), tThe City of Beaumont shall retain a qualified biologist (the “Project Biologist”) to install temporary sound barriers, such as those offered by Echo Barrier, eNoise Control, and Acoustical Surfaces, between project construction activities and riparian habitats (i.e. Cooper’s Creek, San Timoteo Creek and Santa Ana River) at all times during the breeding season for least Bell’s vireo, southwestern willow flycatcher, and western yellow-billed cuckoo (March 15 – August 31) whenever construction is within 500-feet of said riparian habitat. Where nighttime construction occurs, lighting shall be shielded and directed away from riparian habitat.

The Project Biologist shall also perform preconstruction riparian bird surveys and full- time biological monitoring when construction activities are within 500-feet of riparian habitat during the riparian bird breeding season (March 15 – August 31)perform preconstruction riparian bird surveys within adjacent riparian habitat within Cooper’s Creek, San Timoteo Creek and Santa Ana River. If active nests are documented, species- specific measures shall be prepared by a qualified biologist and implemented to prevent abandonment of the active nest, including but not limited to, such as installation of barriers. While construction is underway adjacent to riparian habitat during the nesting season, the qualified biologist shall be present to act as construction monitor. If at any time, the biological monitor feels that any sensitive riparian bird species are adversely affected by the construction activities, construction activity must stop until the individual bird is no longer affected by Project construction. The biologist shall determine for the City whether a noise barrier is warranted between the construction and the edge of nesting bird habitat. The City shall provide such a barrier where determined by the biologist prior to construction. If construction adjacent to riparian habitat begins in the

50 City of Beaumont Final Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration Beaumont Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade/Expansion and Brine Pipeline March 2018

non-breeding season, but extends into the breeding season, nesting bird surveys and temporary sound barriers shall be conducted implemented prior to moving into new areas with suitable riparian habitat. A report of the findings prepared by the qualified Project bBiologist shall be submitted to the City of Beaumont for approval prior to initiating construction activities adjacent to suitable nesting bird habitat. Additionally, if Alternative 4 is chosen and will result in the need for construction activities to be located in the Santa Ana River bed, then a qualified biologist shall also do rare plant surveys, fossorial mammal surveys, and nesting bird surveys for coastal California gnatcatcher so that if gnatcatchers are identified, then noise attenuation and/or other appropriate measures shall be incorporated. Brine Pipeline The total extent of the project’s Brine Line is 23.3 miles; 12.8 miles in Riverside County and 10.8 miles in San Bernardino County. The proposed brine waste pipeline alignment was surveyed by an Amec Foster Wheeler biologist over the course of two days in July 2017, with the results documented in the BRAR and “Habitat Suitability Assessment and Western Riverside County Multiple Species Habitat Conservation plan Consistency Analysis Report” (or “HSA”) that was prepared for the Project and provided in Appendix B. The BSA for the alignment included a 500-foot buffer around the approximate footprint of the pipeline. The majority of the pipeline alignment is located within disturbed areas associated with existing paved and/or dirt roads, road shoulders, and railroad rights- of-way. Where there is the potential for impacts to occur are in the areas where the pipeline may veer off existing roadways or road shoulders. However, at this time since final design of the pipeline has not been completed, it is expected that final design will incorporate the disturbed/developed areas for the pipeline. The following analysis was based on project alignment design at the time of the surveys, and represents an expected “worst case” related to biological impacts. For example, in the area of the pipeline where it leaves 4th Street and heads north to Potrero Boulevard and across undeveloped land (currently) to San Timoteo Canyon Road, this stretch of pipeline will actually follow new roads which have yet to be constructed by Caltrans and/or the City for the new Potrero Boulevard Interchange project. Therefore, the impact assessment provided below is the worst case assuming existing undeveloped conditions. Plants The following are special status plants that have low, moderate, or high probability12 to occur in the BSA around the pipeline alignment. Occurrence is based on suitable habitat and/or recorded sightings (HSA, Appendix F):  Chaparral sand-verbena;  Jaeger’s bush milk vetch

12 “Low” probability = Site is within the known range of the species but habitat on the site is rarely occupied by the species. Moderate = Reported sightings in surrounding region, or site is within the known range of the species and habitat on the site is a type occasionally used by the species. High = observed in similar habitat in region by qualified biologists, or habitat on the site is a type often utilized by the species and the site is within the known range of the species. (HSA, Appendix F) 51 City of Beaumont Final Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration Beaumont Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade/Expansion and Brine Pipeline March 2018

 Nevin’s barberry;  San Diego sagewort;  Plummer’s mariposa lily;  Payson’s jewelflower;  Smooth tarplant;  Peninsular spineflower;  Parry’s spineflower;  Mojave tarplant;  Paniculate tarplant;  Colorado Desert larkspur;  Slender-horned spineflower;  Santa Ana River woolly-star;  Vernal barley;  Mesa horkelia;  California satintail;  Southern California black walnut;  Coulter’s goldfields;  Spiny-hair blazing star;  Mud nama;  Robinson’s pepper-grass; and  San Bernardino aster.

Of these special-status plants listed above that have potential to occur within 500-feet of the pipeline alignment, the slender-horned spineflower, Nevin’s barberry, Mojave tarplant, and Santa Ana River woolly-star federally and/or state-listed with threatened or endangered status. Suitable habitat is present for the slender-horned spineflower, Mojave tarplant and Santa Ana River woolly-star in the Santa Ana River. Habitat for Mojave tarplant is also present in San Timoteo Creek. Because the Project pipeline will either be going under the Santa Ana River and San Timoteo Creek or will be attached to a bridge crossing, permanent and direct impacts will be avoided to these federally and state-listed plant species (BRAR, p. 57). Also, the project alternatives will either be going under the Santa Ana River or will be attached to a bridge, and therefore avoiding direct impacts to federally or state listed threatened and/or endangered plant species within the Santa Ana River. By participating in the MSHCP, most of the special-status species with potential to occur within the Riverside County portion of the Project are covered and no further action is necessary. The exceptions include narrow endemic plant species, criteria area species, and riparian/riverine habitat, which are discussed in Threshold IV.f, below. The other sensitive/special-status plant species with potential to occur in the San Bernardino County part of the Project are specifically associated with the Santa Ana River. Due to Project design, direct impacts to suitable habitat and special status plants are not expected (BRAR, p. 57).Special status vegetation communities that are known to occur within selective portions of drainages found within the Project BSA include Riversidean alluvial fan sage scrub, southern cottonwood willow riparian forest, and southern riparian scrub. A fourth special status vegetation community, southern coast live oak riparian forest, is known from the general Project area, but was not observed and is assumed to be absent from the Project BSA (BRAR, p. 39). Direct

52 City of Beaumont Final Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration Beaumont Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade/Expansion and Brine Pipeline March 2018

impacts to these special status riparian and Riversidean alluvial fan sage scrub vegetation communities are avoided through Project design (i.e., underground crossing or crossing on a bridge structure) (BRAR, p. 57). The project Pipeline therefore, will have less than significant impacts related to listed plant species. Animals The following are special status animal species that have low to high potential to occur in the pipeline BSA based on suitable habitat and/or recorded sightings (HSA, Appendix F):  One amphibian species: western spadefoot toad;  Eight reptile species: silvery California legless lizard, California coastal glossy snake, Belding’s orange-throated whiptail, coastal western whiptail, northern red-diamond rattlesnake, western pond turtle, coast San Diego horned lizard, and coast patch-nosed snake;  23 bird species: Cooper’s hawk, tricolored blackbird, Southern California rufous-crowned sparrow, golden eagle, Bell’s sage sparrow, burrowing owl, redhead, ferruginous hawk (foraging only), Swainson’s hawk (foraging only), northern harrier (foraging only), western yellow-billed cuckoo, white-tailed kite, southwestern willow flycatcher, California horned lark, peregrine falcon,, yellow-breasted chat, loggerhead shrike, double-crested cormorant, white-faced ibis, coastal California gnatcatcher, Oregon vesper sparrow, yellow warbler, least Bell’s vireo; and  Eleven mammal species: pallid bat, northwestern San Diego pocket mouse, Townsend’s big- eared bat, San Bernardino (Merriam’s) kangaroo rat, Stephens’ kangaroo rat, western yellow bat, San Diego black-tailed jackrabbit, San Diego desert woodrat, southern grasshopper mouse, Los Angeles pocket mouse, and American badger. Of these special-status animal species listed above that have low to high potential to occur within 500-feet of the pipeline alignment, the southwestern willow flycatcher, least Bell’s vireo, burrowing owl, San Bernardino kangaroo rat, Stephens’ kangaroo rat and the bat species listed above, are the only species where the pipeline has the potential to cause impacts. The potential impacts to these species is discussed below. Suitable habitat for the western yellow-billed cuckoo, southwestern willow flycatcher and least Bell’s vireo is present within San Timoteo Creek along San Timoteo Canyon Road and the Santa Ana River bed near the preferred river crossing. Although this habitat occurs within the immediate vicinity of the Project pipeline, it will not be directly impacted as part of Project construction or operation (BRAR, p. 55). Indirect impacts from construction noise to riparian habitat would occur only during the nesting season, which is roughly from March 15 to August 31. When construction is within 500- feet of riparian habitat, the Project is being planned to avoid the nesting season. Mitigation measure MM BIO-2 has been included in the event that construction activities adjacent to riparian areas cannot avoid the nesting season. Therefore, indirect impacts related to riparian birds during construction will be less than significant with MM BIO-2. In Riverside County, the Project BSA crosses into a designated San Bernardino kangaroo rat (SBKR) and Los Angeles pocket mouse (LAPM) MSHCP Survey Area as shown on Figures H-1 through H-9

53 City of Beaumont Final Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration Beaumont Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade/Expansion and Brine Pipeline March 2018

of Appendix H to the HSA (Appendix B). Most of the potential habitat in this area is isolated. The San Timoteo Creek bed contains suitable habitat for the SBKR and LAPM; however, the Project will use trenchless methods to drill under the creek in order to install the proposed pipeline in this location in order to avoid the SBKR suitable habitat within the creek. The trenchless staging and disturbance areas will be sited outside the suitable habitat areas for SBKR. Therefore, all suitable habitat for the SBKR will be avoided within the Survey Area and no direct impacts will occur (BRAR p. 55) to SBKR as a result of the project pipeline. In the San Bernardino portion of the Project pipeline, the location with the highest probability of occurrence of SBKR is located where the alternate crossing of the Santa Ana River at Mt. Vernon Bridge is proposed (BRAR, p. 48). Designated critical habitat for SBKR is located within the Santa Ana River upstream of the preferred crossing at E Street Bridge (BRAR, Fig. 3-8). No direct surface impacts to the Santa Ana River are anticipated with the preferred or alternate alignments, and the biological assessment prepared for the Project found habitat to be unsuitable for the species upstream of E Street Bridge (BRAR, p. 61). Therefore, focused trapping surveys will not be required. Although suitable habitat for Stephens’ kangaroo rat (SKR) is present in certain locations within the Riverside County portion of the Project, SKR is a covered species under the MSHCP and no further action is necessary. In the San Bernardino County portion of the Project BSA, the potential habitat for SKR within its historic range is of poor quality, fragmented, and already subjected to noise and vibration from vehicular and train traffic (BRAR, p. 60). MM BIO-5 will be included to have the pipeline alignment surveyed in San Bernardino County for potential SKR burrows so that they can be flagged and avoided. Therefore, impacts to SKR are considered less than significant. The majority of the pipeline alignment will be located within disturbed areas associated with existing paved and unpaved roads, disturbed road shoulders, and railroad rights-of-way. The pipeline is expected to be attached to at least one bridge (E Street Bridge), with the possibility of attaching to the bridges over San Timoteo Creek at San Timoteo Canyon Road (near West Fern Avenue) and Redlands Boulevard Bridge over San Timoteo Creek. It is very likely that nesting birds and roosting bats will be encountered on bridges. To avoid impacts to nesting birds, work on bridges shall occur strictly in the non-breeding season (September 1st to January 31st). In the event that work on bridges during the breeding season cannot be avoided, mitigation measure MM BIO-3 is included for work on bridges. Habitat is present within the BSA that can provide roosting and foraging for the bat species potentially occurring in the Project area. Therefore, surveys for roosting bats will need to be conducted prior to any Project bridge activities, as described in mitigation measure MM BIO-4. Although not expected to be directly impacted by the project alignment, the pipeline alignment should be surveyed prior to construction to flag for ponded areas that might support western spadefoot toad and badger burrows. MM BIO 5 will include the requirement for the pipeline alignment to be surveyed so that potential badger burrows and ponded areas can be flagged and avoided by construction impacts. With incorporation of the mitigation measures MM BIO-1 through MM BIO-4, impacts to special status species are reduced to less than significant. MM BIO-3. Work on Bridges: Work on bridges shall occur strictly in the non-breeding season (September 1st to January 31st). In the event that work on bridges during the

54 City of Beaumont Final Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration Beaumont Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade/Expansion and Brine Pipeline March 2018

breeding season cannot be avoided, the City of Beaumont shall retain a qualified biologist to oversee that bird exclusion netting is installed by a qualified professional during the non-breeding season to prevent nesting on bridges. Netting may also exclude bats. In either scenario, regular biological monitoring will be required at bridge crossings to ensure that birds and bats are not present and/or that exclusionary devices are maintained and functioning correctly. Exclusionary devices shall be removed upon completion of work at the bridge. MM BIO-4. Roosting Bats: A qualified biologist shall perform a preconstruction survey for suitable roosting habitat for special-status bats that will be affected by Project construction (e.g., modification of bridges). Survey shall be done during the appropriate time of day to maximize detectability to determine if bat species are roosting near the work area no less than 7 days and no more than 14 days prior to beginning ground disturbance and/or construction. Survey methodology may include visual surveys of bats (e.g., observation of bats during foraging period), inspection for suitable habitat, bat sign (e.g., guano), or use of ultrasonic detectors (e.g., Anabat, etc.). Visual surveys will include trees within 0.25 mile of Project construction activities. The type of survey will depend on the condition of the potential roosting habitat. If no bat roosts are found, then no further study is required. If evidence of bat use is observed, the number and species of bats using the roost will be determined. Bat detectors may be used to supplement survey efforts. If roosts are determined to be present and must be removed, the bats will be excluded from the roosting site before the facility is removed. The surveying biologist shall develop a plan addressing compensation, exclusion methods, and roost removal procedures prior to implementation. Exclusion methods may include use of one-way doors at roost entrances (bats may leave, but not reenter), netting, or sealing roost entrances when the site can be confirmed to contain no bats. Exclusion efforts may be restricted during periods of sensitive activity (e.g., during hibernation or while females in maternity colonies are nursing young). If roosts of special-status bats cannot be avoided or it is determined that construction activities may cause roost abandonment, such activities may not commence until permanent, elevated bat houses have been installed outside of, but near the construction area. Placement and height will be determined by a qualified biologist, but the height of bat house will be at least 15 feet. Bat houses will be multi-chambered and be purchased or constructed in accordance with CDFW standards. The number of bat houses required will be dependent upon the size and number of colonies found, but at least one bat house will be installed for each pair of bats (if occurring individually), or of sufficient number to accommodate each colony of bats to be relocated. MM BIO-5. Preconstruction surveys: Preconstruction surveys for the pipeline located in San Bernardino County shall be conducted within 30-days of construction for the following habitat areas:

55 City of Beaumont Final Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration Beaumont Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade/Expansion and Brine Pipeline March 2018

1. Ponded areas: If any ponded areas are encountered during the preconstruction surveys they should be flagged for avoidance for impacts to western spadefoot toad. 2. Stephen’s Kangaroo Rat and San Bernardino Kangaroo Rat Burrows: If burrows suitable for kangaroo rats are encountered, they should be flagged and avoided. If pedestrian or vehicle activity is required in the area of the burrow, load- spreading devices (e.g., one-inch plywood) should shall be placed temporarily over the burrows to prevent burrow collapse. For the pipeline located in both Riverside and San Bernardino County, the following preconstruction surveys will be conducted within 30-days of construction: 3. Badger Burrows: If burrows suitable for the American badger are detected during the preconstruction surveys, they should be flagged and avoided. Source: “Biological Resources Assessment Report” and “Habitat Suitability Assessment and Western Riverside County Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan Consistency Analysis Report” (Appendix B). b) Have a substantial adverse effect on any riparian habitat or other sensitive natural community identified in local or regional plans, policies, regulations, or by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife or U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service? Wastewater Treatment Plant There is no riparian habitat or other sensitive natural community located within the WWTP site. Although the northernmost corner of the site (near the entrance and parking area) is within the Survey Area for Yucaipa onion and burrowing owl according to the MSHCP, no suitable habitat for either species is present within the WWTP site (BRAR, p. 54). Cooper’s Creek is located adjacent to the southern boundary of the WWTP and contains suitable riparian habitat for special status species, including the least Bell’s vireo. No work is proposed within the creek as part of this Project and therefore no direct effects are expected. However, indirect effects during the nesting season, such as construction noise, are anticipated. Therefore, mitigation measure MM BIO-2 has been included in the Project to provide a preconstruction nesting bird survey, biological monitor, and installation of a noise attenuation barrier between Cooper’s Creek and the WWTP during the nesting bird season. Such mitigation measures for the potential indirect impacts to least Bell’s vireo will also suffice for any other nesting birds. With incorporation of mitigation, impacts to riparian habitat or other sensitive natural communities at the WWTP will be less than significant. Brine Pipeline The proposed brine waste pipeline alignment crosses and lies adjacent to riparian habitat and other sensitive natural communities in several locations as it proceeds from the WWTP to the Santa Ana River. Designated critical habitat is located in the Santa Ana River in the area of the preferred alignment for three federally listed species (San Bernardino kangaroo rat, Santa Ana sucker, and southwestern

56 City of Beaumont Final Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration Beaumont Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade/Expansion and Brine Pipeline March 2018

willow flycatcher). No direct impacts are expected to any of these three federally listed species due to Project design to attach the proposed pipeline to E Street Bridge (or alternatively, trenchless method to drill underneath). Equipment may be required within the Santa Ana River to attach the pipe to the bridge, which could require approval from USACE due to the critical habitat designation. As such, consultation with USFWS could be required pursuant to Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act and MM BIO-6 has been added to ensure this happens if necessary. Designated critical habitat is also located in a forested segment of San Timoteo Creek for southwestern willow flycatcher (see BRAR, Fig. 3-2), but no impacts will occur since the designated critical habitat is not within the proposed alignment. Design considerations have been incorporated into the alignment design to avoid direct impacts to critical habitat and jurisdictional areas by attaching the pipeline to bridges, using a pipe bridge to span drainage, and trenchless methods to drill underneath. However, MM BIO-6 will lay out the process in case final design of the pipeline demonstrates that avoidance of Critical Habitat areas is not possible. Therefore, given that the project is being designed to avoid Critical Habitat and the project does incorporate mitigation measures to address changed conditions, impacts related to riparian habitat and other sensitive vegetation areas, is considered less than significant with mitigation. MM BIO-6. Work in Critical Habitat: If construction equipment is required within a water of the U.S. containing federally listed species or critical habitat for federally listed species, the City shall transmit a pre-construction notification (PCN) to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers pursuant to the Clean Water Act Section 404 Nationwide Permit program (General Condition 18) to provide notice of construction activities within designated Critical Habitat for federally listed species. No construction shall commence until the City of Beaumont is notified by the Corps that the requirements of the Endangered Species Act have been satisfied and that the activity is authorized. Source: “Biological Resources Assessment Report” and “Habitat Suitability Assessment and Western Riverside County Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan Consistency Analysis Report” (Appendix B). c) Have a substantial adverse effect on federally protected wetlands as defined by Section 404 of the Clean Water Act (including, but not limited to, marsh, vernal pool, coastal, etc.) through direct removal, filling, hydrological interruption, or other means? A Jurisdictional Delineation Report (“JD”) was prepared for the Project by Amec Foster Wheeler (Amec), which is provided in Appendix B. Field surveys were conducted over the course of several days in July and August 2017. Wetlands and other “waters of the U.S.” are protected pursuant to Section 404 of the Clean Water Act, which is overseen by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). Federally protected wetlands are identified by meeting three criteria: 1) a predominance of hydrophytes (plants that only grow in or on water); 2) the presence of hydric soils (soils that show signs of frequent saturation); and 3) the presence of wetland hydrology (signs of long-term inundation).

57 City of Beaumont Final Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration Beaumont Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade/Expansion and Brine Pipeline March 2018

Wastewater Treatment Plant Because the proposed limits of construction at the WWTP do not contain any features that would be defined as a federally protected wetland, no adverse effects are anticipated. Brine Pipeline The proposed brine waste pipeline alignment crosses several named and unnamed waterways along its path, some of which may exhibit one or more of the wetland parameters. The JD evaluated the following drainage features, as shown on Table 1-Summary of Jurisdictional Areas and Appendix C – Jurisdictional Delineation Maps of the JD Report (Appendix B), for the presence of USACE wetlands and the limits of CDFW and USACE jurisdiction for non-wetland waters: 1) Unnamed drainage north of Western Knolls Avenue and east of Potrero Blvd. (“Drainage A”); 2) San Timoteo Creek headwaters at Potrero Blvd. Bridge (“San Timoteo Creek (A)”); 3) Unnamed drainage south of Oak Valley Parkway that parallels San Timoteo Creek (“Drainage B”); 4) San Timoteo Creek at San Timoteo Canyon Road Bridge in Redlands near W. Fern Ave. (“San Timoteo Creek (B)”); 5) San Timoteo Creek (a concrete box channel) at Redlands Blvd. (“San Timoteo Creek (C)”); 6) San Timoteo Creek at San Timoteo Canyon Road near Woodhouse Road/Edison’s El Casco Substation (“San Timoteo Creek (D)”); and 7) Santa Ana River upstream of E Street Bridge. As outlined in Table 2 – Summary of Drainage Crossing Methods of the JD report, the pipeline is being designed to utilize trenchless crossing methods by going underneath some of the drainages or attaching to existing bridges. At Drainage A, a pipe bridge is being proposed, and so this will be the only feature to have minor JD impacts associated with the construction. When trenchless methods are used going underneath a waterway, a frac-out contingency plan will be prepared by the contractor as outlined in MM BIO-7 below. According to the JD Report, there were no wetlands identified in the study area, which includes the abovementioned drainages. The Santa Ana River was evaluated (sampled) for the presence of USACE wetlands in three locations within the active stream channel and one location adjacent to the active channel. All three of the sampling locations contained hydrophytes; one location exhibited wetland hydrology and none of the sampling points contained hydric soils (JD, pp. 5-3). Therefore, the sampled area of the Santa Ana River is not a USACE wetland. Additionally, as stated before, the project is being designed to have the pipeline hang on an existing bridge crossing the Santa Ana River in order to avoid impacts to the river itself as well as the Critical Habitat designations in the River. In the case that construction methods will require access to the Santa Ana River, MM BIO-7 has been included. Although no USACE wetlands are present within the Project area, mitigation measure MM BIO-7 have been incorporated to provide the appropriate notices and requests for permission from the regulatory agencies for activities within non-wetland jurisdictional waters. With incorporation of said mitigation measures, impacts related to wetlands and jurisdictional areas are reduced to less than significant. 58 City of Beaumont Final Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration Beaumont Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade/Expansion and Brine Pipeline March 2018

MM BIO-7. Work in Jurisdictional Waters: The project is being designed to avoid impacts to wetlands and jurisdictional areas. If construction activities should disturb anywhere within the jurisdictional limits of a watercourse, the following shall apply as needed: a) notification of a lake or streambed alteration (LSA) shall be given to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW); b) a request shall be made to the Santa Ana River Regional Water Quality Control Board for a Clean Water Act Section 401 Water Quality Certification (WQC); and/or c) pre-construction notification to the Los Angeles District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Trenchless methods of construction are anticipated and should avoid the rainy season if possible. The contractor shall prepare and have on-site during hydraulic directional drilling (HDD), a Frac-Out Contingency Plan in the event the pipeline breeches or frac-out occurs. The Frac-Out Contingency Plan shall identify the methods to contain released material into the waterway and identify the agencies that will be contacted should frac-out occurs. Source: “Jurisdictional Delineation Report” (Appendix B). d) Interfere substantially with the movement of any native resident or migratory fish or wildlife species or with established native resident or migratory wildlife corridors, or impede the use of native wildlife nursery sites? Wastewater Treatment Plant The WWTP site is an active industrial facility located next to other industrial land uses, and is unlikely to facilitate wildlife species movement. Construction and operation of the proposed improvements will not impede the use of native or migratory wildlife corridors or nursery sites. Cooper’s Creek located south of and adjacent to the WWTP, is likely to facilitate species movement but is beyond the construction limits of the proposed improvements. Impacts are less than significant in this regard. Brine Pipeline The proposed brine waste pipeline alignment crosses several features in both San Bernardino and Riverside Counties that are either known or possible wildlife movement corridors. Within Riverside County, the alignment bisects Proposed Constrained Linkage 22 and parallels Proposed Linkages 5 and 12 (HSA, Figs. 5A, 5B). The Project’s effects on the goals of the MSHCP and Proposed Linkages are evaluated in the Habitat Suitability Assessment and MSHCP Consistency Analysis Report (or “HSA”) prepared for the Riverside County portion of the Project by Amec Foster Wheeler and provided in Appendix B. The analysis found that because the pipeline will be located underground and that construction impacts are temporary and constantly progressing along the alignment, the Project will have little to no permanent effect on the goals of the MSHCP but may temporarily disrupt usage of certain areas as linkages directly and/or indirectly from noise and other construction activities (HSA, p. 46). In the more densely populated San Bernardino County portion of the Project, the pipeline aligns between some orange groves, undeveloped fields, and crosses San Timoteo Creek and the Santa Ana River, which are likely wildlife corridors. However, since the pipeline is underground it will have no permanent impacts on wildlife movement. 59 City of Beaumont Final Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration Beaumont Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade/Expansion and Brine Pipeline March 2018

The Santa Ana Sucker fish has not been recently located in the area of the proposed Santa Ana River crossing, but the alignment is within the fish’s critical habitat. The proposed method of crossing the river will not impact the wetted river channel and therefore, no direct impacts are expected. Due to the temporary nature of construction impacts and that creek/river crossings will be spanned and avoided by drilling underneath, attaching overhead to bridges, and installing a new pipe bridge, the finished Project will not affect the long term ability of wildlife to move in the project BSA (BRAR, p. 62). Impacts are therefore considered less than significant related to interfering substantially with the movement of any native resident or migratory fish or wildlife species or with established native resident or migratory wildlife corridors, or impeding the use of native wildlife nursery sites. No mitigation measures are necessary. Source: “Habitat Suitability Assessment and MSHCP Consistency Analysis Report” (HSA) and “Biological Resources Assessment Report” (Amec Foster Wheeler, 2017) provided in Appendix B. e) Conflict with any local policies or ordinances protecting biological resources, such as a tree preservation policy or ordinance? Wastewater Treatment Plant The City of Beaumont does not currently have an ordinance to protect biological resources. Resource Management Goal No. 4 from the City’s General Plan states, “The City of Beaumont will assist in the protection of biological resources” (p. 50). No trees will be impacted by the proposed WWTP improvements, and no conflicts with city policies or ordinances protecting biological resources are expected. Impacts are less than significant in this regard. Brine Pipeline The proposed brine waste pipeline alignment begins in the city of Beaumont and passes through the cities of Calimesa, Redlands, Loma Linda, San Bernardino and Colton (if one of the alternate crossings of the Santa Ana River is chosen), as well as unincorporated areas of Riverside and San Bernardino counties. The city of San Bernardino requires a permit for the removal of more than five trees on private land within any three year period. The city of Redlands maintains tree protection guidelines for trees on public property (municipal code section 12.52). The city of Calimesa municipal code section 18.80: Tree Preservation and the city of Loma Linda municipal code section 17.74.120: Protection of trees during construction, both provide tree protection policies. General Plan Policy CO 2.1 from the County of San Bernardino General Plan states, “The County will coordinate with state and federal agencies and departments to ensure that their programs to preserve rare and endangered species and protect areas of special habitat value, as well as conserve populations and habitats of commonly occurring species, are reflected in reviews and approvals of development programs” (p. V-15). No trees are located within the footprint of the alignment, and therefore none are expected to be removed during construction. Therefore, any impacts relating to conflict with local policies or ordinances protecting biological resources will be less than significant.

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Source: City of Beaumont Municipal Code; City of Beaumont General Plan; City of San Bernardino Municipal Code chapter 15.34; City of Redlands Municipal Code chapter 12.52; County of San Bernardino 2007 General Plan. f) Conflict with the provisions of an adopted Habitat Conservation Plan, Natural Community Conservation Plan, or other approved local, regional, or state habitat conservation plan? The project will not conflict with the Western Riverside County Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan (MSHCP). Amec Foster Wheeler prepared a MSHCP Consistency Analysis Report provided in Appendix B that provides the details of the project’s MSHCP consistency analysis (HSA). The City of Beaumont is a permittee to the MSHCP and has adopted the MSHCP as its primary method of protecting biological resources. MSHCP compliance is met by ensuring the Reserve Assembly goals of the MSHCP will either be met by a project, or not conflicted with. MSHCP compliance also includes consistency with Sections 6.1.2 - Riparian, Riverine, Venal Pools and Fairy Shrimp, Section 6.1.3- Narrow Endemic Plant Species Survey Area (NEPSSA), Section 6.1.4 - Urban Wildlands Interface Guidelines and Section 6.3.2 Additional Species Surveys and Criteria Area Species Survey Area (CASSA). No other local, regional, or state habitat conservation plan is applicable to the proposed Project. Notably, the Project is located outside of the Stephen’s Kangaroo Rat Habitat Conservation Plan (SKR HCP). An effort is underway to develop the “Upper Santa Ana River Habitat Conservation Plan” that includes the San Bernardino County portion of the proposed alignment area; however this HCP affecting the Santa Ana River has not been finalized to date. Wastewater Treatment Plant As outlined in the MSHCP Report (Appendix B), the WWTP is not located in a Criteria Cell of the MSHCP and would not affect the ability of the MSHCP to carry out its conservation goals. A small portion of the WWTP site itself is located within a Section 6.1.3 survey area for Yucaipa Onion and Section 6.3.2 survey area for burrowing owl. However, as AMEC documents, no suitable habitat are present on the WWTP site for either of these species, therefore no focused surveys are warranted. Section 6.1.4 does not apply to the WWTP since it is not located in a Criteria Cell and there are no Conservation Lands adjacent to the WWTP. Additionally, as discussed above, the WWTP is located adjacent to Cooper’s Creek which supports riparian and riverine habitat. However, the WWTP site does not infringe on Cooper’s Creek and therefore no riparian or riverine resources are directly affected by the WWTP. Indirect affects to the riparian areas of Coopers Creek are addressed above if construction cannot avoid the nesting season. MM BIO 2 requires riparian bird preconstruction surveys should avoidance of the breeding season not be possible. No vernal pools or fairy shrimp habitat is located on the WWTP site as well. As such, the WWTP component of the project would not conflict with the MSHCP and impacts are considered less than significant with mitigation. Brine Pipeline The proposed brine waste pipeline alignment begins in the city of Beaumont and passes through the cities of Calimesa, Redlands, Loma Linda, San Bernardino and Colton (only if the alternate crossings of the Santa Ana River at Mt. Vernon Bridge or the railroad bridge is chosen), as well as unincorporated areas of Riverside and San Bernardino counties. The cities of Beaumont and Calimesa, and the County of Riverside are permittees to the MSHCP. Approximately 12.8 miles of the 23.3 mile-pipeline is located in Riverside County and therefore subject to the MSHCP. 61 City of Beaumont Final Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration Beaumont Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade/Expansion and Brine Pipeline March 2018

MSHCP Reserve Assembly The BSA for the proposed alignment passes through two Area Plans of the MSHCP: “The Pass” and “Reche Canyon/Badlands.” The BSA touches on at least 25 Criteria Cells, each with designated conservation goals. Because the project pipeline will intersect with 25 Criteria Cells, a Joint Project Review (JPR) will be submitted to the Regional Conservation Authority (RCA) per the City of Beaumont’s obligations as a Permittee to the MSHCP (Figures 3A and 3B of the HSA). The purpose of the JPR is to allow the RCA to review the City’s MSHCP consistency analysis to ensure the project does not conflict with the conservation goals of the MSHCP. Because the Project is a public infrastructure project, and the pipeline portion is located underground, the Project will not conflict the Reserve Assembly goals of the MSHCP. The operation of the pipeline will not prevent the ability of the RCA and City of Beaumont to carry out the conservation goals of the MSHCP. MSHCP Section 6.1.2 Although there are drainages that the project pipeline will cross, trenchless (jack and bore and/or horizontal directional drilling) and spanning across on bridges will be incorporated into project design and therefore impacts to riparian/riverine areas have been mostly avoided by the project pipeline. The proposed pipeline alignment will impact the upper 18-inches of the banks of “Drainage A” located in an open field north of Western Knolls Avenue and east of Potrero Blvd. in Beaumont. The use of trenchless methods was deemed infeasible for crossing this drainage, and a temporary pipe bridge of approximately 60-feet long is proposed to span the drainage. The pipe bridge construction will result in approximately 60 square feet (0.00137 acre) of temporary impacts and 6 square feet (0.00013 acre) of permanent impacts to the upper, unvegetated banks of this Drainage A. No riparian vegetation is located in this drainage and the bank impacts will not affect any riparian vegetation. The pipe bridge will not impede the hydrologic flows of the drainage. The banks of the Drainage A are not vegetated, therefore the temporary impacts are considered insignificant and no mitigation is required to offset the temporary impacts. Nevertheless, since there will be minimal permanent impacts to the banks of the drainage, a DBESP was prepared by AMEC (HSA, p. 54). As required by the DBESP and considered part of the project, the City will purchase credits in the Riverside Corona Resource Conservation District In Lieu Fee Program, or other such equivalent program, at a minimum of 2:1 ratio for only the permanent impacts associated with this crossing at Drainage A. However, it should be noted that in the near future, Western Knolls Avenue will be realigned in the same route as the Project pipeline to accommodate the new Potrero Boulevard Interchange project. It is expected that the roadways are to be constructed prior to the pipeline construction, and the pipeline will in reality be designed to be within the roadway. Therefore, most likely the crossing at Drainage A and this pipe bridge will not be needed, and indeed if the roadway is constructed prior to the brine pipeline in this location, then the DBESP mitigation outlined above will not be needed. Although there is riparian habitat within the BSA along the pipeline that does support riparian bird species listed in Section 6.1.2, the project design avoids impacting these areas, therefore no focused surveys were conducted. If the project cannot avoid the nesting season, then MM BIO-2 will be incorporated. No vernal pools are known to or expected to occur within the BSA and no special-status fairy shrimp have been recorded in the BSA. No stock ponds, features indicative of pooling, or other potential 62 City of Beaumont Final Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration Beaumont Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade/Expansion and Brine Pipeline March 2018

fairy shrimp habitat was seen along the pipeline footprint. Clay soil, a frequent element causing pooling due to its impermeable nature, is not known or mapped in the BSA (see Appendix D to HSA). Although saline-alkali soils (mapped on pages 5-9 and 6-9 of Appendix D in HSA) are also sometimes associated with vernal pools, the author of the HAS (holder of a federal permit for fairy shrimp surveys) has done extensive work in the vicinity of those mapped soils in recent years without ever observing pooling and is aware of at least one focused fairy shrimp survey on those mapped soils which failed to detect any pooling at that location. (HSA, p. 40). Because the Project mostly avoids all riparian/riverine impacts from construction, and given the DBESP measure to purchase credits for the 0.00013 acres of permanent impacts to the banks of Drainage A, the Project pipeline will not conflict with Section 6.1.2 of the MSHCP. MSHCP Section 6.1.3 Portions of the proposed alignment within Riverside County lie within the NEPSSA survey area for Yucaipa onion and many-stemmed Dudleya. The biological assessment prepared for the Project found no suitable habitat (heavy clay soils and grassy hillsides) for the Yucaipa onion and many- stemmed Dudleya within the project alignments. Therefore, no focused surveys for Yucaipa onion and many-stemmed Dudleya are warranted and the project will not conflict with Section 6.1.3 of the MSHCP. MSHCP Section 6.1.4 Consistency The Urban/Wildlands Interface Guidelines presented in Section 6.1.4 of the MSHCP are intended to address indirect effects associated with locating commercial, mixed uses and residential developments in proximity to MSHCP Conservation Lands. Several segments of the proposed pipeline along San Timoteo Canyon Road in Riverside County align next to and in-between existing Conservation Lands. Therefore the Project may result in edge effects during temporary construction that could adversely affect biological resources within the Conservation Lands. Although impacts are temporary and constantly moving as the pipeline installation progresses, the following guidelines shall be implemented in conjunction with the JPR process:  Drainage: Compliance with NPDES requirements for linear construction projects is required to ensure the quantity and quality of runoff discharged to the MSHCP Conservation Lands is not altered in an adverse way when compared to existing conditions. The discharge of runoff from paved areas to the Conservation Lands shall be avoided. The release of toxins, chemicals, petroleum products, exotic plant materials or other elements that might cause harm to the ecosystem shall be prevented through the use of natural detention basins, grass swales, or mechanical trapping devices. Regular maintenance of said devices is required to ensure effective treatment systems.  Toxics: The application of bioproducts (e.g., manure) or toxic chemicals shall not be discharged to the MSHCP Conservation Lands.  Lighting: Night lighting shall be directed away or shielded from the MSHCP Conservation Lands to ensure ambient night lighting of the Conservation Lands is not increased.

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 Noise: Noise levels from Project construction shall not exceed the local residential noise standard when near Conservation Lands. Setbacks, berms or walls shall be incorporated to reduce noise, as needed.  Invasive Plants: Landscape plans shall avoid the use of invasive species adjacent to the Conservation Lands.  Barriers: Barriers, such as native landscaping, rocks/boulders, fencing, walls, signage and/or other appropriate measures shall be used to minimize unauthorized public access, domestic animal predation, illegal trespass, or dumping on Conservation Lands.  Grading/Land Development: Manufactured slopes that are built as part of the Project shall not extend into the MSHCP Conservation Lands. MSHCP Section 6.3.2 The Project pipeline partially occurs within the Additional Survey Area for burrowing owl, SBKR and LAPM as well as in a CASSA for Nevin’s barberry, round-leaved filaree and smooth tarplant. (see Figure 5 of HSA). The majority of the project pipeline in Riverside County is located in the MSHCP burrowing owl survey area. However, given that the pipeline alignment will be primarily in roadways or road shoulders, the suitability of the habitat in the Project footprint is unlikely (BRAR, p. 54). Within the Riverside County portion of the Project, the results of a burrow survey are shown in Figures G-1 through G-9 in Appendix G of the HSA (Appendix B). Where suitable burrows occur very close to the proposed alignment, focused surveys will be conducted during the breeding season and before construction so that the pipeline can be moved to avoid any occupied habitat. If owls are found and the pipeline cannot be designed to avoid the owls, then a relocation plan will be prepared per MM BIO 8 below. Additionally, as required by the MSHCP, in areas of suitable habitat, regardless of results of focused surveys, 30-day preconstruction surveys will be required (MM BIO 8). A portion of the pipeline alignment within Riverside County also falls within the MSHCP required survey area for SBKR and LAPM, as shown in Figures H-1 through H-9 of Appendix H of the HSA (Appendix B). Where potential suitable habitat could be impacted by the pipeline is at San Timoteo Creek downstream of Potrero Blvd. Bridge. Ongoing disturbance in this area from a housing development and another pipeline project have almost eliminated most of the habitat in the vicinity of the San Timoteo Creek crossing of the proposed pipeline. Additionally, the project is being designed to utilized jack and bore method of trenchless drilling and the drilling pits will be located outside the suitable habitat areas (in already disturbed areas). AMEC determined that the road shoulders along the pipeline alignment within the SBKR and LAPM survey area does not support suitable habitat for these species. Direct impacts to the suitable habitat can be avoided by the Project. Therefore no focused surveys are warranted. Although some suitable habitat for Nevin’s barberry does occur within the vicinity of the alignment, it is AMEC’s professional judgment based on extensive work in the area, that Nevin’s barberry is not present in the Project footprint and that focused surveys are not warranted (HSA, p. 41). In addition, because there are no clay soils or known occurrences of round-leaved filaree in the vicinity of the pipeline alignment, no focused surveys are recommended for round-leaved filaree (HSA, p. 41).

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Smooth tarplant is known to occur within the alkali-saline soils along San Timoteo Road shoulder in the El Casco area. AMEC did not report any smooth tarplant during their surveys, however, given that smooth tarplant likes disturbance, there could be smooth tarplant within the pipeline disturbance area. The Project will be designed to avoid the smooth tarplant by incorporating MM BIO-9 which requires a biologist to be on site in the El Casco area during construction to remove affected plants. The biologist will then spread seeds of the smooth tarplant after construction. MM BIO-8. Burrowing Owl Surveys: In the areas depicted in Appendix G of the HSA, or within unpaved road shoulders in San Bernardino County, focused burrowing owl surveys pursuant to the MSHCP (2003) guidelines in Riverside County (CDFW Burrowing Owl 2012 guidelines in San Bernardino County) will be followed. If owls are found during the focused surveys, the City shall ensure that a relocation plan be prepared and approved by the Regional Conservation Authority in Riverside County and CDFW in San Bernardino County before disturbance occurs. Regardless of the findings of the focused surveys conducted as part of this measure, there will still be a need for a 30-day preconstruction survey in unpaved roadway areas. These preconstruction surveys for burrowing owl can be conducted during the same time period as any other preconstruction surveys needed for the project. MM BIO-9. Smooth Tarplant: The City shall hire a qualified biologist to monitor construction activities in the El Casco area in areas of mapped saline-alkali soils as depicted on Figure 7 of the AMEC HSA. The biologist will advise the construction team on how to avoid any smooth tarplants, if possible. If avoidance is not possible, then the biologist will collect seeds from the plant(s), remove the plant, and then spread the collected smooth tarplant seeds back into the same area after construction. The project will complete the JPR process and implementation of biological mitigation measures MM BIO-2, MM BIO-8 and MM BIO-9 will ensure the Project is consistent with the MSHCP. Additionally, the City of Beaumont is required to pay MSHCP Fees for using the Public Project fee structure set forth by the RCA prior to any ground disturbance. Therefore, conflict with the provisions of an adopted Habitat Conservation Plan, Natural Community Conservation Plan, or other approved local, regional, or state habitat conservation plan will be less than significant with mitigation. Source: “Habitat Suitability Assessment and MSHCP Consistency Analysis Report” (HSA) and “Biological Resources Assessment Report” (Amec Foster Wheeler, 2017) provided in Appendix B.

Less Than Potentially Significant Less Than No Significant with Significant ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS: Impact Impact Mitigation Impact Incorporated V. CULTURAL RESOURCES. Would the project: a. Cause a substantial adverse change in the significance of a historical resource as defined in §15064.5?

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Less Than Potentially Significant Less Than No Significant with Significant ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS: Impact Impact Mitigation Impact Incorporated b. Cause a substantial adverse change in the significance of an archeological resource pursuant to §15064.5? c. Directly or indirectly destroy a unique paleontological resource or site or unique geologic feature? d. Disturb any human remains, including those interred outside of dedicated cemeteries?

Cultural Resource Discussion: a) Cause a substantial adverse change in the significance of a historical resource as defined in §15064.5? The Area of Potential Effect (APE) refers to the geographic area within which the Project has the potential to directly or indirectly impact historic properties per 36 CFR 800.16(d). The APE for the Project encompasses approximately 342 acres based on the area of the WWTP and a pipeline length of 23 miles with a variable width of 40 to 150 feet. The maximum depth of the APE is anticipated to be approximately 50 feet beneath the Santa Ana River (if alternate trenchless method used); 25 feet is the anticipated depth beneath the creeks; and the majority of the APE will have a maximum depth of 6 feet. Cultural literature and records searches were conducted by Project archaeologists at the Eastern Information Center (EIC) and the South Central Coastal Information Center (SCCIC) of the California Historical Resources Information System (CHRIS) on March 13, 2017 and April 17, 2017, respectively. A Phase I cultural resource field survey of the WWTP, preferred and alternate alignments was also performed by Project archaeologists between June 30, 2017 and August 18, 2017. Results of these efforts indicate that no less than 202 investigations have been conducted previously within a one-mile radius of the Project APE; at least 74 of them included portions of the Project APE. As a result, approximately 70% of the Project APE has been previously inventoried for cultural resources. The records searches identified 253 cultural resources that have been documented within a one-mile radius of the Project APE. Twelve of these cultural resources were recorded within or immediately adjacent to the Project APE. Descriptions of the 12 cultural resources recorded within or immediately adjacent to the Project APE are provided in the proceeding analyses. Wastewater Treatment Plant Based on the records searches and field survey, no historical resources were identified within or adjacent to the WWTP; however a newly identified linear historical built-environment resource was documented adjacent to the Plant. West 4th Street is a modern four-lane asphalt-paved road that follows an older historic road alignment. The segment in question measures 3,298 feet in length and 70-75 feet in width in its modern configuration. The recorded segment of West 4th Street was one of

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many roads that were constructed in Beaumont during the early to mid-twentieth century. Research has yielded no information to suggest that this road was important to the development of Beaumont, the region, or the United States. Therefore, the recorded segment of West 4th Street does not appear eligible for the NRHP under Criterion A or CRHR under Criterion 1. In addition, research has yielded no information to suggest that the road was constructed by, or is specifically associated with, a person important to local, state, or national history. Therefore, the recorded segment of West 4th Street does not appear eligible for the NRHP under Criterion B or CRHR under Criterion 2. This segment of the road has been continuously modified over time due to use and maintenance and is essentially similar to most modern roads. It does not appear to be a major departure from road construction or an impressive or unique feat of engineering. Therefore, the recorded segment of West 4th Street does not appear eligible for the NRHP under Criterion C or CRHR under Criterion 3. Finally, the recorded segment of West 4th Street is unlikely to yield information important to prehistory or history and, as such, does not appear eligible for the NRHP under Criterion D or CRHR under Criterion 4. This segment of West 4th Street is not considered a “historic property” under Section 106 of the NHPA, or a “historical resource” under CEQA. Therefore, impacts to historical resources from the activities proposed at the WWTP are considered less than significant. Brine Pipeline Six newly identified linear historical built-environment resources (all road alignments) were documented during the Phase I cultural resources field survey, which includes West 4th Street mentioned previously. The five other newly identified resources include: 1) Beaumont Avenue from Nevada Street to San Timoteo Canyon Road; 2) Bermudez Street from San Timoteo Canyon Road to New Jersey Street; 3) Nevada Street from Beaumont Avenue to San Timoteo Canyon Road; 4) Redlands Boulevard from California Street to South Hunts Lane; and 5) South E Street from South Hunts Lane to 300 feet south of the Santa Ana River. Project archaeologists also revisited previously recorded cultural resources located within and adjacent to the Project APE to assess their current conditions. This included San Timoteo Canyon Road, the Gage Canal, California Street, Orange Avenue, New Jersey Street, the Union Pacific Railroad, four historical transmission lines and a telecommunications line. As a result, four additional segments of San Timoteo Canyon Road were documented. The overhead transmissions and telecommunication lines were all found to span the proposed pipeline alignment and as such, are located outside of the Project’s APE. While segments of the Union Pacific Railroad fall within the Project APE, the proposed pipeline alignment will cross underneath it (three times) and it will therefore not be impacted by the current Project. The significance evaluations of each of the five aforementioned newly identified historical resources and the previously recorded resources determined that none of them meet the criteria for listing on either the NRHP or the CRHR. Therefore, specific segments of San Timoteo Canyo Road, Gage Canal, California Street, Orange Avenue, New Jersey Street, Beaumont Avenue, Bermudez Street, Nevada Street, Redlands Boulevard and South E Street are not considered “historic properties” under Section 106 of the NHPA, or a “historical resource” under CEQA. Therefore, impacts to historical resources from the proposed pipeline are considered less than significant.

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Source: Applied Earthworks, Inc. “Phase 1 Cultural Resource Assessment for the Beaumont Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade/Expansion and Brine Pipeline Project, Riverside and San Bernardino Counties, California,” September 2017. (Appendix C) b) Cause a substantial adverse change in the significance of an archeological resource pursuant to §15064.5? Wastewater Treatment Plant Based on the records searches and field survey, no archaeological resources were identified within or adjacent to the WWTP. However, in the event that potentially significant archaeological materials are encountered during Project-related ground-disturbing activities, all work must be halted in the vicinity of the discovery until a qualified archaeologist can visit the site and assess the significance of the archaeological materials and site. In order to provide protection in the unlikely event that archaeological resources are unearthed during Project construction, the Project will implement mitigation measure MM CR-1 and MM CR-2, which will reduce potential impacts to less than significant with mitigation. MM CR-1: Archaeological and Native American Monitors. The City of Beaumont shall retain a qualified archaeologist (the “Project Archaeologist”) and a Tribal Monitor from the Morongo Band of Mission Indians (the “MBMI Tribal Monitor) who shall monitor all Project-related ground-disturbing activities. The Project Archaeologist and MBMI Tribal Monitor (or designee(s)) shall be on-site during all ground disturbing activities at the wastewater treatment plant site and along the entire portion of the Brine Pipeline. construction. The Project Archaeologist and MBMI Tribal shall monitor all ground disturbing activities along the entire portion of the Brine Pipeline.The archaeologist and City shall extend an invitation to interested Tribes and invite them to provide a culturally- affiliated Native American monitor to be present during initial ground-disturbing activities. In the event that potentially significant archaeological materials are encountered during Project related ground-disturbing activities, all ground disturbance activities within 100 feet of the discovered cultural resource shall be halted and an Environmentally Sensitive Area (ESA) physical demarcation/barrier constructed. tThe contractor shall call the City of Beaumont Public Works Department, and the Project Archaeologist, and the MBMI Tribal Monitor if the resource is located at the WWTP or along the portion of the Brine Pipeline from the WWTP to Beaumont Avenue or the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians (the “Consulting Tribe”) if the resource is located along the Brine Pipeline north of Beaumont Avenue immediately upon discovery of the cultural resource. A meeting shall be convened between the City Public Works Department and/or City Planning Department, the pProject aArchaeologist, and the Native American MBMI tTribal Monitor and Morongo Tribal Historic Preservation Officer and the Consulting Triberepresentative (or other appropriate ethnic/cultural group representative), to discuss the significance of the find. At the meeting with the aforementioned parties, a decision is to be made, with the concurrence of the Project Archaeologist and the Morongo Tribal Historic Preservation Officer and/or the Consulting Tribe (as appropriate depending on the location of the resource). as to the appropriate treatment (documentation, recovery,

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avoidance, etc.) and disposition for the cultural resource. Further ground disturbance shall not resume within the area of the discovery until the appropriate treatment has been accomplished. Monitoring may be discontinued as soon the Project Archaeologist, and the MBMI Tribal Monitor, and the Consulting Tribe are is satisfied that construction will not disturb cultural resources. MM CR-2: Worker’s Environmental Awareness Training. Prior to the start of construction, the City of Beaumont shall retain a Project Archaeologist and MBMI Tribal Monitor (see mitigation measure MM CR-2) and qualified paleontologist (the Project Paleontologist) to provide a preconstruction training for the Project construction contractor and construction crews. The Project Archaeologist and city shall invite interested Tribes to provide a culturally-affiliated Native American representative the MBMI Tribal Monitor and Consulting Tribe to provide input during the training. The training shall identify the types of archaeological resources and fossils that could be found in the area (particularly fossils that can be found in the San Timoteo Formation and Pleistocene alluvial fan and axial channel deposits), the procedures to follow should archaeological and/or paleontological resources be encountered and contact information for the Project Archaeologist, MBMI Tribal Monitor, and Project Paleontologist and/or their designee(s). Paleontological information shall follow the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology (2010) guidelines. The training may be conducted concurrently with other environmental training (e.g., biological, safety training). Brine Pipeline One historic-period archaeological site is located within the Project APE, which was recorded in 1990 as a ranch/farm complex. The complex included farm-related buildings and structures such as houses, barns, troughs, and a well. The site was recorded on both sides of San Timoteo Canyon Road; however, none of the components of the site were mapped within the roadway or the Project APE. During the current survey, the portion of the site within the Project APE was carefully inspected. No artifacts or features associated with the site were identified within the Project APE. Because no evidence of the site was identified within the Project APE, it was determined that there will be no effect on this resource. In addition, no new cultural remains associated with the site were identified during the field survey. No other archaeological sites were encountered within the Project APE. However, in the event that potentially significant archaeological materials are encountered during the Project related ground-disturbing activities, all work must be halted in the vicinity of the archaeological discovery until a qualified archaeologist can visit the site of discovery and assess the significance of the archaeological site. Additionally, if the Project area is expanded to include areas not covered by this survey or other recent cultural resource studies, additional cultural resource studies may be required. In order to provide protection in the unlikely event that archaeological resources are unearthed during Project construction, implementation of mitigation measures MM CR-1 and MM CR-2 will reduce potential impacts to less than significant with mitigation. As part of the Phase I cultural resource assessment, Project archaeologists also requested a search of the Sacred Lands File (SLF) from the Native American Heritage Commission (NAHC) on February 14, 2017. Results of the SLF search indicate that there are known Native American cultural resources within the Project area. The NAHC recommended on February 17, 2017 that the Morongo Band of 69 City of Beaumont Final Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration Beaumont Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade/Expansion and Brine Pipeline March 2018

Mission Indians be contacted for more information regarding the sensitive resources. Native American individuals and organizations, including the Morongo Band of Mission Indians, were contacted to elicit information on Native American resources within the proposed Project area. Of the 27 different groups and/or individuals contacted by email or letter on August 28, 2017, seven responses have been received to date. Follow-up telephone calls were conducted on September 14, 2017 with the Native American groups and individuals that had not responded to the initial information request. The San Manuel Band of Mission Indians (SMBMI) indicated that the Project area is located within Serrano ancestral territory and, as such, it is of interest to the Tribe. In addition, because the Project area is sensitive for Native American resources, the SMBMI has requested additional information regarding the Project, this information was provided to the SMBMI on December 4, 2017. In addition, the SMBMI plans to consult with the lead agencies on this Project under Section 106 and Assembly Bill 52. The Augustine Band of Cahuilla Indians stated that the Tribe is unaware of specific cultural resources that may impacted by the Project but does recommend contacting individuals from Native American tribes that are closer in proximity to the Project area as well as contracting a qualified monitor to be present on-site full time during Project implementation (pre-construction and construction phases). The Gabrieleno Band of Mission Indians – Kizh Nation, Gabrieleno/Tongva San Gabriel Band of Mission Indians, the Gabrielino Tongva Indians of California Tribal Council, and the Jamul Indian Village all deferred to local Tribes for comment. Finally, the La Posta Band of Mission Indians indicated that if the Tribe had any comments or concerns a formal response would be sent. With incorporation of mitigation measures MM CR-1 and CR-2, potential impacts to archaeological resources will be less than significant with mitigation. Source: Applied Earthworks, Inc. “Phase 1 Cultural Resource Assessment for the Beaumont Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade/Expansion and Brine Pipeline Project, Riverside and San Bernardino Counties, California,” September 2017. (Appendix C) c) Directly or indirectly destroy a unique paleontological resource or site or unique geologic feature? The City of Beaumont (2007) General Plan does not have policies that specifically address the treatment of paleontological resources; however, the City does set forth an Implementation Program for cultural resources, including paleontological resources, that is intended to aid in enacting the City’s land use and development policies. The cultural resources implementation policy states, “Should paleontological resources be encountered during excavation and grading activities, all work would cease until appropriate salvage measures are established” in accordance with CEQA guidelines. Wastewater Treatment Plant Paleontological sensitivity or the potential to discover paleontological resources, of the area in and around the WWTP is identified as “undetermined” according to the current Riverside County GIS database. As noted previously, no new prehistoric archaeological resources were encountered within the Project APE during the records searches or field survey. Unique paleontological resources 70 City of Beaumont Final Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration Beaumont Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade/Expansion and Brine Pipeline March 2018

or geologic features are not expected to be found during Project construction within the WWTP; however, mitigation measure MM CR-3 will ensure that impacts to unique paleontological or geologic resources at the Project site are less than significant in the event of accidental discovery. Therefore, potential impacts will be reduced to a less than significant level with mitigation incorporated. MM CR-3: Inadvertent Paleontological Discovery. Should any paleontological resource(s) be accidentally discovered during construction, construction activities shall be moved to other parts of the construction site and a qualified paleontologist shall be retained to determine the significance of the resource(s). If the find is determined to be a unique paleontological resource, as defined in Section 15064.5 of the State CEQA Guidelines, then a mitigation program shall be developed in accordance with the provisions of CEQA as well as the guidelines of the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology (2010). The paleontologist (or designee(s)) shall wash any collected samples of sediments to recover small invertebrate and vertebrate fossils. Recovered specimens shall be prepared so that they can be identified and permanently preserved. Specimens shall be identified and curated at a repository with permanent retrievable storage to allow further research in the future (e.g., Western Science Center, Raymond Alf Museum, or the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County). The cost of curation is assessed by the repository and is the responsibility of the landowner. If specimens are found, the qualified paleontologist shall prepare a report of findings, including an itemized inventory of recovered specimens, upon completion of all Project fieldwork. The report shall include a discussion of the significance of all recovered specimens. The report and inventory, when submitted to the City of Beaumont, shall signify completion of the program to mitigate impacts to paleontological resources. If the monitoring efforts produced fossils, then a copy of the report will also be submitted to the curation facility. Brine Pipeline According to the Riverside County GIS database, a majority of the proposed pipeline within Riverside County is located within a paleontological sensitivity area of “Low” sensitivity. Because similar San Bernardino County data is unavailable, Applied Earthworks prepared a Paleontological Resource Sensitivity Assessment for the San Bernardino County Portion of the Project. A review of published geologic maps and fossil locality records were used to characterize the sensitivity of geological units along the Project alignment that ran from the County line in a northwesterly direction to the Santa Ana River. The findings were written in accordance with the guidelines set forth by the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology (SVP) (2010). Based on the literature review and museum records search results, the paleontological sensitivity of the Project area within San Bernardino County was determined in accordance with the SVP’s (2010) sensitivity scale. The proposed pipeline alignment, roughly between the County line to the intersection of San Timoteo Canyon Road and Beaumont Avenue, sporadically intersects three mapped geological units characterized by high paleontological sensitivity. These include the San

Timoteo Formation (Qstu), Pleistocene alluvial fan (Qof) and axial channel (Qvoa) deposits because the geologic units have proven to yield significant vertebrate fossils in the vicinity of the Project area and 71 City of Beaumont Final Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration Beaumont Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade/Expansion and Brine Pipeline March 2018

elsewhere. Younger Quaternary alluvial deposits of Holocene age mapped at the surface of the Project area have a low potential to contain intact paleontological resources because they are typically too young to contain fossilized remains. The portion of the pipeline alignment north of Beaumont Avenue is characterized by low paleontological sensitivity. As noted in the Project Description, Yucaipa Valley Water District (YVWD) recently installed their brine waste pipeline, a segment of which was installed within San Timoteo Canyon Road between the County line and Palomares Road. This segment of road overlies sporadically mapped geologic

deposits of high paleontological sensitivity (i.e., San Timoteo Formation (Qstu), Pleistocene alluvial

fan (Qof) and axial channel (Qvoa)). Because the proposed pipeline will be installed within the same general area as the YVWD pipeline along this length of San Timoteo Canyon Road, the discovery of paleontological resources is highly unlikely. However, mitigation measure MM CR-3 for the inadvertent discovery of said resources will apply along the entirety of the proposed pipeline. The proposed pipeline alignment between West Fern Avenue and the intersection of Beaumont Avenue and San Timoteo Canyon Road in the City of Redlands overlies an area of mapped geologic

deposits of high paleontological sensitivity (i.e., San Timoteo Formation (Qstu), Pleistocene alluvial

fan (Qof) and axial channel (Qvoa)). Refer to Figure 6 – Paleo Resources Monitoring. Because this length of San Timoteo Canyon Road has not been recently excavated, mitigation measure MM CR- 4 is incorporated to reduce impacts to a less than significant level with mitigation. MM CR-4: Paleontological Monitoring. Prior to the start of construction along the pipeline alignment between West Fern Avenue and the intersection of Beaumont Avenue and San Timoteo Canyon Road in the City of Redlands, the City of Beaumont shall retain a Qualified Paleontologist for full-time construction monitoring. This stretch of road may have previously undisturbed deposits determined to have a high paleontological sensitivity (i.e, the San Timoteo Formation and Pleistocene alluvial and axial channel deposits). Monitoring shall follow the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology (2010) guidelines. Monitoring should include the visual inspection of excavated or graded areas, trench sidewalls, spoils, and any other disturbed sediment. In the event that a paleontological resource is discovered, the procedures outlined in mitigation measure MM CR-3 shall apply. The approved paleontological monitor will have the authority to halt or divert temporarily the construction equipment around the find until it is assessed for scientific significance and collected. Paleontological monitoring can be reduced or eliminated at the discretion of the Qualified Paleontologist if no fossil resources are encountered after 50 percent of the excavation along this stretch is completed. Source: Applied Earthworks, Inc. “Phase 1 Cultural Resource Assessment for the Beaumont Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade/Expansion and Brine Pipeline Project, Riverside and San Bernardino Counties, California,” September 2017 (Appendix C). Applied Earthworks, Inc., “Paleontological Resource Sensitivity Assessment for the San Bernardino County Portion of the Beaumont Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade/Expansion and Brine Pipeline Project, Riverside and San Bernardino Counties, California,” September 26, 2017 (Appendix C) d) Disturb any human remains, including those interred outside of dedicated cemeteries?

72 City of Beaumont Final Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration Beaumont Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade/Expansion and Brine Pipeline March 2018

Wastewater Treatment Plant Human remains are not expected to be uncovered during Project activities at the WWTP; however, in the event they are encountered, the steps and procedures specified in Health and Safety Code §7050.5, State CEQA Guidelines 15064.5(d), and PRC §5097.98 must be implemented as described in mitigation measure MM CR-5, which will reduce potential impacts to less than significant with mitigation. MM CR-5: Inadvertent Discovery of Human Remains. In the event human remains are discovered during Project activities, the contractor and City of Beaumont shall comply with Health and Safety Code §7050.5 and Public Resource Code (PRC) §5097.98 which will identify the process of notification to the Tribes and the appropriate County Coroner (i.e., Riverside County Corner or San Bernardino County Corner depending on the location of the discovery) as well as how the remains will be treated if they are identified as Native American. The contractor shall notify the City of Beaumont Public Works Department in the event human remains are found and identified as Native American so that the City Public Works Department can ensure PRC §5097.98 has been followed. Brine Pipeline The proposed pipeline is not located on any known cemetery. If human remains are encountered during Project construction in a location other than a dedicated cemetery on non-federal lands, the steps and procedures specified in Health and Safety Code §7050.5, State CEQA Guidelines 15064.5(d), and PRC §5097.98 must be implemented. Mitigation measure MM CR-5 reiterates these requirements. Specifically, in accordance with PRC §5097.98, the Riverside County Coroner must be notified within 24 hours of the discovery of potentially human remains. The Coroner must then determine within two working days of being notified if the remains are subject to his or her authority. If the Coroner recognizes the remains to be Native American, he or she must contact the NAHC by phone within 24 hours, in accordance with PRC §5097.98. The NAHC then designates a Most Likely Descendant (MLD) with respect to the human remains within 48 hours of notification. The MLD will then have the opportunity to recommend to the Project proponent means for treating or disposing of, with appropriate dignity, the human remains and associated grave goods within 24 hours of notification. Therefore, with adherence to existing laws and codes, impacts will be less than significant with mitigation. Source: Applied Earthworks, Inc. “Phase 1 Cultural Resource Assessment for the Beaumont Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade/Expansion and Brine Pipeline Project, Riverside and San Bernardino Counties, California,” September 2017. (Appendix C)

Less Than Potentially Significant Less Than No Significant with Significant ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS: Impact Impact Mitigation Impact Incorporated VI. GEOLOGY AND SOILS. Would the project: a. Expose people or structures to potential substantial adverse effects, including the risk of loss, injury, or death involving:

73 City of Beaumont Final Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration Beaumont Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade/Expansion and Brine Pipeline March 2018

Less Than Potentially Significant Less Than No Significant with Significant ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS: Impact Impact Mitigation Impact Incorporated i. Rupture of a known earthquake fault, as delineated on the most recent Alquist-Priolo Earthquake Fault Zoning Map issued by the State Geologist for the area or based on other substantial evidence of a known fault? Refer to Division of Mines and Geology Special Publication 42. ii. Strong seismic ground shaking? iii. Seismic-related ground failure, including liquefaction? iv. Landslides or mudflows? b. Result in substantial changes in topography, unstable soil conditions from excavation, grading or fill, or soil erosion or the loss of topsoil? c. Be located on a geologic unit or soil that is unstable, or that would become unstable as a result of the project, and potentially result in on- or off-site landslide, lateral spreading, subsidence, liquefaction or collapse? d. Be located on expansive soil, as defined in Table 18- 1-B of the Uniform Building Code (1994), creating substantial risks to life or property? e. Have soils incapable of adequately supporting the use of septic tanks or alternative waste water disposal systems where sewers are not available for the disposal of waste water?

Geology and Soils Discussion: a) Expose people or structures to potential substantial adverse effects, including the risk of loss, injury, or death involving: i) Rupture of a known earthquake fault, as delineated on the most recent Alquist-Priolo Earthquake Fault Zoning Map issued by the State Geologist for the area or based on other substantial evidence of a known fault? Refer to Division of Mines and Geology Special Publication 42. Surface rupture refers to the actual “tearing apart” of the ground surface along a fault trace resulting from an earthquake. The effects of surface rupture may be mitigated by placing structures a specific distance from the known fault trace. The Alquist-Priolo Act requires the State Geologist to establish regulatory zones (known as Earthquake Fault Zones) and to issue appropriate maps. Local agencies must then regulate most development projects within the zones. Wastewater Treatment Plant

74 City of Beaumont Final Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration Beaumont Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade/Expansion and Brine Pipeline March 2018

Although the Beaumont WWTP is located near several Alquist-Priolo Fault Zones, no fault zones cross the plant site, as shown on Figure 5 – Fault Zones. Although the Beaumont WWTP would be subject to seismic activity from faults located in the vicinity, no habitable structures that would involve exposure of people or structures to potential substantial adverse effects, including the risk of loss, injury, or death involving earthquake rupture are proposed as part of the Project. The Uniform Building Code, California Building Code, and Unreinforced Masonry Law are the primary tools used by local agencies to ensure seismic safety in structures. Since the Project consists of some new machinery in new buildings at the WWTP using the latest construction standards, the risk of impacts from a rupture will be reduced due to the use of current construction standards. Prior to construction of the proposed Project, a site-specific Geotechnical Investigation will be conducted to assess the geology and soils present, as well as any hazards associated with the site conditions. Mitigation measure MM GEO-1 and compliance with recommendations from the site-specific Geotechnical Investigation will reduce hazards associated with earthquakes to a less than significant impact with mitigation. MM GEO-1: Geotechnical Investigation. Prior to approval of the final plans, a site specific Geotechnical Report(s) for the Project shall be prepared. Recommendations identified in the site specific Geotechnical Report(s) shall be incorporated into the Project design and construction. Brine Pipeline Two portions of the proposed brine pipeline alignment will encroach into Alquist-Priolo Fault Zones, as shown on Figure 5 – Fault Zones. The first portion is located where the pipeline will cross underneath Highway 60 on the City of Beaumont/Riverside County border, and the second is near the intersection of Hunts Lane and Club Center Drive in the City of Colton. According to the City of Colton’s General Plan, any development proposed within the designated Alquist- Priolo Earthquake Fault Zone will require special geologic studies to determine if a fault trace is present (p. LU-14). Although the pipeline would be subject to seismic activity from faults located in the vicinity, no habitable structures that would involve exposure of people or structures to potential substantial adverse effects, including the risk of loss, injury, or death involving earthquake rupture are proposed as part of the Project. The American Water Works Association, American Society of Testing Materials, Technical Specifications, detailed design drawings, along with local standards are the primary tools used by local agencies to ensure quality piping installation is achieved. Because of the innate flexibility in the type of pipe that is proposed (HDPE), the current design details do not require any special modifications where the pipe nears a fault zone. Therefore, the risk of impacts from a rupture will be reduced due to the use of current construction standards. Prior to construction of the proposed Project, a site-specific Geotechnical Investigation will be conducted to assess the geology and soils present, as well as any hazards associated with the site conditions. Mitigation measure MM GEO-1 and compliance with recommendations from the site-specific Geotechnical Investigation will reduce hazards associated with earthquakes to a less than significant impact with mitigation.

75 City of Beaumont Final Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration Beaumont Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade/Expansion and Brine Pipeline March 2018

Source: California Dept. of Conservation Web site, Division of Mines and Geology Special Publication 42 Interim Revision 2007, Riverside County GIS 2016, Beaumont GP 2007, Colton GP Land Use Element 2013.

ii) Strong seismic ground shaking? Given its proximity to known faults (see Figure 5 – Fault Zones), the Beaumont area and the proposed pipeline alignment are susceptible to potential intense seismic ground shaking. The effects of ground shaking on structures and underground pipelines are difficult to predict, and depend on the intensity of the quake, the distance from the epicenter to the site, the composition of soils and bedrock, construction design, and other physical criteria. Based on these factors, ground shaking may cause no, little, or major structural damage or destruction. Wastewater Treatment Plant No habitable structures are proposed that would involve exposure of people or structures to potential substantial adverse effects, including the risk of loss, injury, or death involving strong seismic ground shaking. In addition, geologic investigations performed by the California Division of Mines and Geology (CDMG) indicate that unconsolidated soils, which may result in significant damage to structures do not exist within the City limits, which includes the WWTP. In addition, the new structures proposed for the WWTP will be subject to the Uniform Building Code, California Building Code, and Unreinforced Masonry Law, which are the primary tools used by local agencies to ensure seismic safety in structures. Therefore, adherence to all applicable federal and state codes, as well as local regulations and mitigation measure MM GEO-1 will reduce potential impacts from strong seismic ground shaking to a less than significant impact with mitigation. Brine Pipeline Although the pipeline will be subject to seismic activity from faults located in the vicinity, no habitable structures that would involve exposure of people or structures to potential substantial adverse effects, including the risk of loss, injury, or death involving earthquake rupture are proposed as part of the Project. The American Water Works Association, American Society of Testing Materials, Technical Specifications, detailed design drawings, along with local standards are the primary tools used by local agencies to ensure quality piping installation is achieved. Because of the innate flexibility in the type of pipe that is proposed (HDPE), the current design details do not require any special modifications where the pipe nears a fault zone. Therefore, the risk of impacts from a rupture will be reduced to a less than significant level with mitigation due to the use of current pipeline construction standards and incorporation of mitigation measure MM GEO-1. Source: Beaumont GP 2007, Riverside County GIS 2016.

iii) Seismic-related ground failure, including liquefaction?

76 City of Beaumont Final Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration Beaumont Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade/Expansion and Brine Pipeline March 2018

Liquefaction commonly occurs in loose, saturated, sandy sediments that are subjected to ground vibrations greater than 0.2g (g-force). When liquefaction occurs, the sediments involved have a substantial loss of shear strength and behave like a liquid or semi-viscous substance, which can result in structural distress or failure due to ground settlement, a loss of load-bearing capacity in foundation soils, and the buoyant rise of buried structures. Wastewater Treatment Plant The City of Beaumont has areas considered to have “low” or “moderate” potential for liquefaction according to Riverside County General Plan GIS data. The mapping is broadly based on the known depth to groundwater and soil types. The WWTP is located within an area expected to have “low” liquefaction potential; however, with incorporation of current building standards and mitigation measure MM GEO-1, impacts from seismic-related ground failure are considered less than significant with mitigation. Brine Pipeline Portions of the proposed alignment will lie within areas of at least “moderate” liquefaction susceptibility, including San Timoteo Canyon Road, according to County data sources. However, with incorporation of current building standards and mitigation measure MM GEO-1, impacts are considered less than significant with mitigation. Source: Beaumont GP 2007, Riverside County GIS 2017.

iv) Landslides, lateral spread, or mudflows? Strong ground motions can result in landslides, rock slides and rock falls, particularly where saturated ground conditions exist. During an earthquake, groundwater conditions also have an influence in the development of seismically-induced slope failures, as well as landslides and mudflows. Lateral spreading is a type of landslide that can occur on gentle to steep slopes where seismic-induced liquefaction occurs in saturated soils. Wastewater Treatment Plant The Beaumont WWTP is not located on, or adjacent to, substantial slopes where a landslide, lateral spread, or mudflow hazard could exist. Mitigation measure MM GEO-1, which requires a site-specific Geotechnical Investigation prior to approval of the final plans of the proposed Project, will be prepared to assess the geology and soils present and any hazards associated with landslides or mudflows. Compliance with recommendations from the Geotechnical Investigation will reduce hazards associated with landslides or mudflows to a less than significant impact with mitigation. Brine Pipeline The proposed brine pipeline passes through areas identified as landslide hazard areas (e.g., San Timoteo Canyon Road in Redlands). Mitigation measure MM GEO-1, which requires a site- specific Geotechnical Investigation prior to construction of the proposed Project, will be prepared to assess the geology and soils present, as well as hazards associated with landslides or mudflows. Compliance with construction standards and recommendations from the 77 City of Beaumont Final Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration Beaumont Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade/Expansion and Brine Pipeline March 2018

Geotechnical Investigation will reduce hazards associated with landslides or mudflows to a less than significant impact with mitigation. Source: Redlands GP 1995 b) Result in substantial changes in topography, unstable soil conditions from excavation, grading or fill, or soil erosion or the loss of topsoil? Wastewater Treatment Plant The proposed alterations at the WWTP do not include significant changes in topography. Some grading and imported fill will be necessary for the new building pads and repurposing certain features at the site. Project construction is expected to last at least one year, therefore excavation, grading and fill activities within the WWTP are likely to occur during the rainy season and soil erosion may occur. Implementation of a State-required Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) that incorporates effective erosion and sediment control measures will reduce these impacts to a less than significant level. Brine Pipeline Installation of the proposed pipeline will not result in changes to existing topography, nor require grading. However, excavation of the pipeline trench is likely to occur during the rainy season and unstable soil conditions and soil erosion may occur. Compliance with current regulations for utility trench excavations and implementation of a State-required Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) that incorporates effective erosion and sediment control measures will reduce these impacts to a less than significant level. Source: Construction General Storm Water Permit Order 2009-0009-DWQ. c) Be located on a geologic unit or soil that is unstable, or that would become unstable as a result of the project, and potentially result in on- or off-site landslide, lateral spreading, subsidence, liquefaction or collapse? Impacts related to landslide and lateral spreading are addressed in threshold VI.a.iv above; impacts related to liquefaction are addressed in threshold VI.a.iii above. This analysis addresses impacts related to unstable soils, as a result of lateral spreading, subsidence, or collapse. Wastewater Treatment Plant While subsidence has not been observed at the WWTP facility, current Riverside County GIS data identifies portions of the city as “susceptible” to subsidence. Prior to approval of the final plans, a site-specific Geotechnical Investigation will be prepared to assess the geology and soils present and any hazards associated with the site conditions. Mitigation measure MM GEO-1 and compliance with current construction and engineering standards, as well as the geotechnical recommendations from the site-specific Geotechnical Investigation will reduce hazards associated with unstable soils to a less than significant impact with mitigation. Brine Pipeline 78 City of Beaumont Final Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration Beaumont Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade/Expansion and Brine Pipeline March 2018

Portions of the proposed pipeline alignment may be susceptible to subsidence; however at this time, hazards are not anticipated. With implementation of current construction standards and mitigation measure MM GEO-1, impacts related to unstable soils are reduced to less than significant impact with mitigation. Source: Beaumont GP DEIR 2006, Riverside County GIS 2017. d) Be located on expansive soil, as defined in Table 18-1-B of the Uniform Building Code (1994), creating substantial risks to life or property? This question makes specific reference to a definition from the Uniform Building Code (1994), which has been replaced by the California Building Code (2016) and the definition of expansive soil provided in section 1803.5.3. Expansive soils are those that contain a significant amount of clay particles that have a high shrink (dry) and swell (wet) potential. The upward pressures induced by the swelling of expansive soils under moist conditions can damage structures. Wastewater Treatment Plant Portions of the City may be subject to expansive soils. Therefore, prior to approval of final plans, a site-specific Geotechnical Investigation shall be prepared to assess the geology and soils present and any hazards associated with the site conditions. Mitigation measure MM GEO-1 and compliance with current construction and engineering standards, as well as recommendations from the site-specific Geotechnical Investigation will reduce hazards associated with expansive soils to a less than significant impact with mitigation. Brine Pipeline Portions of the pipeline alignment may lie in areas with expansive soils. Mitigation measure MM GEO-1 and compliance with current construction and engineering standards, as well as recommendations from the site-specific Geotechnical Investigation will reduce hazards associated with expansive soils to a less than significant impact with mitigation. Source: California Building Code 2016, Beaumont GP DEIR 2006. e) Have soils incapable of adequately supporting the use of septic tanks or alternative waste water disposal systems where sewers are not available for the disposal of waste water? The proposed Project does not include the use of septic tanks or alternative wastewater disposal systems. The Project does not propose to dispose of any wastes by applying to soil. Thus, there will be no impact in terms of having soils incapable of adequately supporting the use of septic tanks or alternative waste water disposal systems. Source: Project Description

79 City of Beaumont Final Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration Beaumont Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade/Expansion and Brine Pipeline March 2018

Less Than Potentially Significant Less Than No Significant with Significant ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS: Impact Impact Mitigation Impact Incorporated VII. GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS. Would the project: a. Generate greenhouse gas emissions, either directly or indirectly, that may have a significant impact on the environment? b. Conflict with an applicable plan, policy or regulation adopted for the purpose of reducing the emissions of greenhouse gases?

Greenhouse Gas Emissions Discussion: The WWTP upgrade/expansion construction activities overlap with the construction activities for the installation of the brine pipeline, therefore the analysis foe both Project components are evaluated together in the proceeding discussion. a) Generate greenhouse gas emissions, either directly or indirectly, that may have a significant impact on the environment? The Air Quality and Greenhouse Gas Analysis prepared for the Project estimated greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from fuel usage by construction equipment and construction-related activities,

such as construction worker trips. Model results indicate that an estimated 60.82 MTCO2E will occur from Project construction equipment over the course of the estimated construction period, as shown in Table 7.1 – Project Construction Equipment GHG Emissions. Table 7.1 – Project Construction Equipment GHG Emissions

Metric Tons per year (MT/yr) Year Total CO2 Total CH4 Total N2O Total CO2E 2018 – Phase 1 WWTP 263.01 0.05 0.00 264.18 2018 – Trenchless 41.67 0.01 0.00 41.94 Methods 2018 – Pipeline 363.29 0.09 0.00 365.55 2019 – Phase 1 WWTP 77.57 0.01 0.00 77.89 2019 – Pipeline 471.95 0.12 0.00 474.92 2019 – Phase 2 WWTP 537.42 0.08 0.00 539.36 2020 – Phase 2 WWTP 60.55 0.01 0.00 60.78 Total 1,815.46 0.37 0.00 1,824.62 Amortized1 60.82 Notes: 1 Construction emissions were amortized over a 30-year period, as recommended by SCAQMD.

Long-term emissions from the proposed brine pipeline would primarily be in the form of mobile source emissions, with no stationary sources of emission present. Similarly, the new equipment for the proposed WWTP upgrade will be electric and include the replacement of an older emergency standby generator. Therefore, GHG emissions will mainly occur from Project construction. 80 City of Beaumont Final Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration Beaumont Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade/Expansion and Brine Pipeline March 2018

The proposed Project does not fit into the categories provided (industrial, commercial, and residential) in the draft thresholds from SCAQMD. The Project’s emissions were compared to whichever threshold is more conservative. Since the draft SCAQMD GHG threshold Guidance document released in October 2008 recommends that construction emissions be amortized for a project lifetime of 30 years, the total GHG emissions from Project construction were amortized and

found to be less than the lowest SCAQMD recommended screening level of 3,000 MTCO2E/yr for commercial projects. Due to the lack of adopted emissions thresholds, the estimated amount of emissions from Project construction and negligible operational emissions from infrequent maintenance vehicles and electrical equipment, the proposed Project will not generate GHG emissions that exceed any draft screening thresholds. Since the proposed Project will not exceed the SCAQMD draft screening thresholds, the Project will not generate GHG emissions, either directly or indirectly, that may have a significant impact on the environment and impacts will be less than significant. Source: AQ/GHG Analysis (Appendix A) b) Conflict with an applicable plan, policy or regulation adopted for the purpose of reducing the emissions of greenhouse gases? There are no applicable plans, policies, or regulations adopted for the purpose of reducing GHG emissions (i.e., Climate Action Plan) for an infrastructure project such as this Project. Construction and operation of the proposed WWTP upgrade/expansion and brine pipeline will not generate GHG emissions such that a significant impact on the environment will result. Refer to threshold VII.a, above. Further, these facilities will not obstruct implementation of any future plan, policy, or regulation adopted for the purpose of reducing GHG emissions. Therefore, no impact will occur. Source: AQ/GHG Analysis (Appendix A)

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Less Than Potentially Significant Less Than No Significant with Significant ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS: Impact Impact Mitigation Impact Incorporated VIII. HAZARDS AND HAZARDOUS MATERIALS. Would the project: a. Create a significant hazard to the public or the environment through the routine transport, use, or disposal of hazardous materials? b. Create a significant hazard to the public or the environment through reasonably foreseeable upset and accident conditions involving the release of hazardous materials into the environment? c. Emit hazardous emissions or handle hazardous or acutely hazardous materials, substances, or waste within one-quarter mile of an existing or proposed school? d. Be located on a site which is included on a list of hazardous materials sites compiled pursuant to Government Code Section 65962.5 and, as a result, would it create a significant hazard to the public or the environment? e. For a project located within an airport land use plan or, where such a plan has not been adopted, within two miles of a public airport or public use airport, would the project result in a safety hazard for people residing or working in the project area? f. For a project within the vicinity of a private airstrip, would the project result in a safety hazard for people residing or working in the project area? g. Impair implementation of or physically interfere with an adopted emergency response plan or emergency evacuation plan? h. Expose people or structures to a significant risk of loss, injury or death involving wildland fires, including where wildlands are adjacent to urbanized areas or where residences are intermixed?

Hazards and Hazardous Materials Discussion: a) Create a significant hazard to the public or the environment through the routine transport, use, or disposal of hazardous materials? Construction activities may include the transport and storage of hazardous materials, such as fuels for the construction equipment. The transportation of hazardous materials can result in accidental spills, leaks, toxic releases, fire, or explosion. The Project is not expected to create the need for an excess of hazardous materials being used on-site for construction. A number of federal and state agencies prescribe strict regulations for the safe transportation of hazardous materials. Hazardous material transport, storage and response to upsets or accidents are primarily subject to federal regulation by the U.S. Department of Transportation, Office of

82 City of Beaumont Final Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration Beaumont Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade/Expansion and Brine Pipeline March 2018

Hazardous Materials Safety in accordance with Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). California regulations applicable to hazardous material transport, storage and response to upsets or accidents are codified in Title 13 (Motor Vehicles), Title 8 (Cal/OSHA), Title 22 (Management of Hazardous Waste), Title 26 (Toxics) of the California Code of Regulations (CCR), and the Chapter 6.95 of the Health and Safety Code (Hazardous Materials Release Response Plans and Inventory). Wastewater Treatment Plant As of 11/23/2016, the WWTP reported the following chemicals stored on-site (CalEPA Regulated Site Portal):  calcium hypochlorite (solid, between 100-499 pounds),  diesel fuel no. 2 (liquid, 1200-2999 gallons),  hydrated lime (stabilization) (solid, 100-499 pounds),  motor oil/gear oil (liquid, 12-59 gallons),  sodium hypochlorite solution (liquid, 12-59 gallons).

Just the diesel fuel has a Department of Transportation (DOT) Hazard Class rating for “flammable and combustible liquids” (rating of 3). Operation of the WWTP will require chemicals that, depending on the quantity and concentration may be hazardous to on-site staff and surrounding persons if released unintentionally. Compliance with applicable federal and state laws related to the transportation, use, storage, and response to upsets or accidents that may involve hazardous materials would reduce the likelihood and severity of upsets and accidents during transit and storage. Additionally, based on conversations with WWTP staff, the Project is not expected to require large amounts of hazardous materials that would create a hazard to the public or environment. Disposal of hazardous materials would be subject to the appropriate disposal regulations, fees and methods. In the event a release of sewage occurs, the WWTP is required to report to the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (OES) Warning Center, who will then notify the local RWQCB, the local public health department, and local office of environmental health. The reportable quantity for sewage spills is any unauthorized discharge of 1,000 gallons or more (Title 23, CCR, Section 2250(a)). These government offices are responsible for determining appropriate public and environmental safety measures. Therefore, compliance with existing regulations will reduce potential impacts to less than significant. Brine Pipeline Construction of the proposed pipeline may include the transport and storage of hazardous materials, such as fuels for the construction equipment. The transportation of hazardous materials can result in accidental spills, leaks, toxic releases, fire, or explosion. The Project is not expected to create the need for an excess amount of hazardous materials being used on-site for construction. Once the pipeline is operational, it will convey concentrated brine waste from the Beaumont WWTP to the nearest connection point of the regional brine line (IEBL) located on north side of the Santa Ana River near E Street Bridge, a distance of roughly 23 miles. The IEBL conveys brine waste, which

83 City of Beaumont Final Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration Beaumont Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade/Expansion and Brine Pipeline March 2018

is primarily concentrated salt, to Orange County Sanitation District for treatment prior to discharge into the ocean. Although a “reportable” spill if released into the environment unintentionally, brine waste is no more hazardous than sewage, and in addition, the proposed pipeline will be buried. The brine pipeline will require valves periodically along the length of the pipeline that will vent trapped air only. In the event of a pipe break, the vents may emit brine waste, considered equivalent to the hazards of a sewage spill. Compliance with applicable federal and state laws related to the transportation, use, storage, and response to upsets or accidents that may involve hazardous materials would reduce the likelihood and severity of upsets and accidents during transit and storage. Additionally, the Project is not expected to result in the use of large amounts of hazardous materials that would create a hazard to the public or environment. Therefore, potential impacts are considered less than significant. Source: Health and Safety Code; CCR; CFR, Cal OES, CalEPA. b) Create a significant hazard to the public or the environment through reasonably foreseeable upset and accident conditions involving the release of hazardous materials into the environment? Wastewater Treatment Plant As noted previously, the proposed activities at the WWTP will require certain chemicals for the construction and operation of the facility, and depending on the quantities and concentrations present, may be considered hazardous if unintentionally released into the environment. The WWTP is surrounded on three sides by industrial land uses; the fourth side of the plant is bounded by Cooper’s Creek, which presents one potential route of exposure to the public. The WWTP will continue utilizing standard operating procedures for the handling and disposal of chemicals that are used on-site. New procedures will also be incorporated for each new chemical or material that may be required as part of the new treatment system components. Bulk quantities of potentially hazardous materials will be equipped with secondary containment measures, which provide a second layer of protection if the first containment method were to fail. In addition, the proposed on- site system for stormwater capture, conveyance and treatment would be a way to capture and reroute surface releases back into the WWTP system. In the event a release of sewage occurs, the WWTP is required to report to the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (OES) Warning Center, who will then notify the local RWQCB, the local public health department, and local office of environmental health. The reportable quantity for sewage spills is any unauthorized discharge of 1,000 gallons or more (Title 23, CCR, Section 2250(a)). These government offices are responsible for determining appropriate public and environmental safety measures. Reasonably foreseeable upset and accident conditions that would release hazardous materials into the environment are not expected through project design features and compliance with existing regulations; therefore, impacts are less than significant. Brine Pipeline As noted above, the proposed brine waste pipeline may involve the use of hazardous materials during construction and operation, but shall be required to comply with all applicable federal and state laws pertaining to the transport, use, disposal, handling, and storage of hazardous materials, 84 City of Beaumont Final Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration Beaumont Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade/Expansion and Brine Pipeline March 2018

including but not limited to Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations and Title 13, (motor vehicles) Title 8 (Cal/OSHA), Title 22 (Health and Safety Code), Title 26 (Toxics) of the California Code of Regulations, and Chapter 6.95 of the Health and Safety Code (Hazardous Materials Release Response Plans and Inventory), which describe strict regulations for the safe transportation of hazardous materials. Although a brine spill would be a “reportable” spill if released into the environment unintentionally, brine waste is no more hazardous than sewage, and in addition, the proposed pipeline will be buried. The brine pipeline will require valves periodically along the length of the pipeline that will vent trapped air only. In the event of a pipe break, the vents may emit brine waste, considered equivalent to the hazards of a sewage spill. Compliance with all applicable federal and state laws related to the transportation, use and storage of hazardous materials would reduce the likelihood and severity of accidents during transit, use and storage to a less than significant impact. Source: Health and Safety Code; CCR; CFR, Cal OES. c) Emit hazardous emissions or handle hazardous or acutely hazardous materials, substances, or waste within one-quarter mile of an existing or proposed school? Wastewater Treatment Plant There are no existing or proposed schools within one-quarter mile of the WWTP. Construction at the WWTP will not require acutely hazardous chemicals associated with construction methods and equipment. Fuels, lubricants and solvents can be anticipated but would not create a route of hazardous exposure to surrounding persons. In the event a release of sewage occurs, the WWTP is required to report to the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (OES) Warning Center, who will then notify the local RWQCB, the local public health department, and local office of environmental health. The reportable quantity for sewage spills is any unauthorized discharge of 1,000 gallons or more (Title 23, CCR, Section 2250(a)). These government offices are responsible for determining appropriate public and environmental safety measures. Therefore, the proposed Project will not expose nearby schools to hazardous materials, substances, or waste and impacts are less than significant. Brine Pipeline Several existing public and private schools are located within one-quarter mile of the proposed brine waste disposal pipeline alignments, as listed below (includes private technical colleges): Existing Schools:  Citrus Valley Christian (private, Redlands)  Mission Elementary (Loma Linda)  Loma Linda Academy (private k-12, Loma Linda)  Summit Career College (private, Colton)  Concorde Career College (private, San Bernardino)

85 City of Beaumont Final Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration Beaumont Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade/Expansion and Brine Pipeline March 2018

 Azusa Pacific University (private, San Bernardino) Refer to threshold VIII.b. Construction and installation of the proposed brine pipeline will not require atypical chemicals associated with construction methods and equipment. Fuels, lubricants and solvents can be anticipated but would not create a route of hazardous exposure to students at nearby schools because construction activities will be limited to roadways and transient as they progress along the alignment. In addition, the Project will comply with state and federal regulations governing the use and transport of hazardous materials. Therefore, the proposed Project will not expose nearby schools to hazardous materials, substances, or waste and impacts are less than significant. Source: Google Earth; CFR Title 40, Chapter 1, Subchapter I, Part 261, Cal OES. d) Be located on a site which is included on a list of hazardous materials sites compiled pursuant to Government Code Section 65962.5 and, as a result, would it create a significant hazard to the public or the environment? The California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) maintains the “EnviroStor” database, which is the department’s data management system (per Government Code Section 65962.5) for tracking their cleanup, permitting, enforcement and investigation efforts at hazardous waste facilities and sites with known contamination, or sites where there may be reasons to investigate further. The database also includes information on ‘Spills, Leaks, Investigation, and Cleanups’ (SLIC)13 sites and Leaking Underground Fuel (or Storage) Tank (LUFT or LUST)14 cleanup sites regulated by the State Water Resources Control Board/Regional Water Quality Control Boards, as reported to the “GeoTracker”s system.15 The California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA) maintains the “CalEPA Regulated Site Portal” combines data from five state and federal data sources including, EnviroStor, CERS (California Environmental Reporting System), GeoTracker, CIWQS (California Integrated Water Quality System) and TRI (Toxics Release Inventory). Wastewater Treatment Plant According to a search of the EnviroStor database, as of January 2017, the Beaumont WWTP is not listed on a hazardous materials list compiled pursuant to Government Code Section 65962.5. Furthermore, the Project would upgrade the existing WWTP facility within the developed footprint of the plant; therefore public or environmental exposure to hazardous materials resulting from construction is unlikely. In addition, the EnviroStor database indicated no active cleanup sites, actively permitted sites, or otherwise actively monitored sites were found within one-half mile of the Beaumont WWTP.

13 The SLIC program investigates and regulates non-permitted discharges. 14 A LUFT site is undergoing cleanup due to an unauthorized release from an UST system. An underground storage tank system (UST) is a tank and any underground piping connected to the tank that has at least 10 percent of its combined volume underground. UST regulations apply only to underground tanks and piping storing either petroleum or certain hazardous substances. 15 GeoTracker http://geotracker.waterboards.ca.gov/ 86 City of Beaumont Final Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration Beaumont Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade/Expansion and Brine Pipeline March 2018

According to the CalEPA Regulated Site Portal, the WWTP is identified as a Chemical Storage Facility, Aboveground Petroleum Storage, and Hazardous Waste Generator. Regulatory oversight of each of these is done by Riverside County Environmental Health. The Plant is currently in compliance on these items. Therefore, the WWTP would not create a significant hazard to the public or the environment because the facility is not on a list of hazardous materials sites, and impacts are less than significant. Brine Pipeline The proposed brine waste disposal pipeline is not aligned through any properties that are included on a list of hazardous materials sites, based on a review of EnviroStor and CalEPA databases. However, the following “active” sites are located on properties that are adjacent to the proposed alignment (summaries in italics are cited from the EnviroStor database):  Truck O Mat. Located at 1955 Hunts Lane, San Bernardino 92408. LUST cleanup site. Cleanup Status: open – remediation as of 4/5/2000 o Potential contaminant of concern is diesel. Remediation since 2000 with a workplan for limited dual phase remediation in 2010. Ten wells monitored semi-annually.  Beacon Truck Stop (AKA Terminal Stations). Located at 2300 Steel Road, Colton 92324. LUST cleanup site. Cleanup Status: open – verification monitoring as of 7/26/17 o Potential contaminants of concern are diesel and gasoline. Case opened 2008, site assessment since 2014. Site characterization, investigation, risk evaluation, and/or site conceptual model development are occurring at the site. Construction of the proposed brine waste disposal pipeline within roadways that abut properties undergoing some level of remediation or regulatory oversight is not anticipated to create a hazard to the public or environment - especially noting that the Yucaipa Valley Water District brine line was placed within the same roadways in 2012. Therefore, potential impacts are considered less than significant. Source: Gov. Code 65962.5, DTSC EnviroStor www.envirostor.dtsc.ca.gov, CalEPA Regulated Site Portal https://siteportal.calepa.ca.gov/. e) For a project located within an airport land use plan or, where such a plan has not been adopted, within two miles of a public airport or public use airport, would the project result in a safety hazard for people residing or working in the project area? Wastewater Treatment Plant The Beaumont WWTP is not located within an airport land use plan, or within two miles of a public airport, therefore no impacts to people residing or working in the WWTP area will occur. Brine Pipeline A portion of the proposed brine pipeline would be located within approximately two miles of the San Bernardino International Airport but not within the Airport Influence Area. Installation of an

87 City of Beaumont Final Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration Beaumont Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade/Expansion and Brine Pipeline March 2018

underground utility pipeline would not result in a safety hazard for people residing or working in the Project area. No impact will occur in this regard. Source: Google Earth, San Bernardino Airport Influence Area map f) For a project within the vicinity of a private airstrip, would the project result in a safety hazard for people residing or working in the project area? The proposed Project is not located within the vicinity of a private airstrip and as such will have no impact on exposing people residing or working in the Project area to safety hazards in that regard. Source: Google Earth g) Impair implementation of or physically interfere with an adopted emergency response plan or emergency evacuation plan? Wastewater Treatment Plant The City of Beaumont currently maintains a Multi-Hazard Functional Plan that outlines responsibilities and procedures the City will follow in the event of an emergency or Citywide disaster. Specific emergency functions and operations, available resources (fire stations, emergency shelters, hospitals and clinics, resource persons, etc.), and mutual aid agreements are described in the Plan. The WWTP also maintains a plan for various on-site emergency scenarios. The proposed activities at the WWTP will not interfere with an adopted emergency response or evacuation plan. The Plant will continue to provide the current level of service during construction, therefore impacts to an adopted emergency plan are less than significant. Brine Pipeline Installation and operation of the proposed brine waste disposal pipeline will not conflict with the emergency response plans of the jurisdictions through which it passes, including Beaumont, Calimesa, County of Riverside, San Bernardino County, Redlands, Loma Linda, San Bernardino and Colton. Construction will be limited to one-half of the roadway to install the pipeline underground. None of the roads affected by the proposed Project within the City of Beaumont are listed as emergency evacuation routes according to the Beaumont General Plan, Figure 4.8-1. Nonetheless, depending on the location and extent of an emergency, the major surface streets affected by the proposed pipeline could be utilized to route traffic. San Timoteo Canyon Road in particular is the singular road through the length of San Timoteo Canyon. During installation, a section of no more than one-half of the roadway will be closed at any one time. The ability of emergency vehicles to safely, efficiently and quickly pass by the proposed pipeline installation will not be limited with incorporation of the Project’s Traffic Management Plan (TMP, see Section XVI – Transportation/Traffic below). Therefore, any impacts related to the interference with an adopted emergency response plan or emergency evacuation plan will be less than significant. Source: Beaumont GP draft EIR 2006,

88 City of Beaumont Final Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration Beaumont Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade/Expansion and Brine Pipeline March 2018 h) Expose people or structures to a significant risk of loss, injury or death involving wildland fires, including where wildlands are adjacent to urbanized areas or where residences are intermixed? Wastewater Treatment Plant The southern boundary of the existing Beaumont WWTP is located adjacent to a vegetated riparian corridor called Cooper’s Creek. Although the City has no designated wildland fire hazard areas, the proximity of the creek vegetation to the WWTP presents a source of fuel for a wildfire approaching from that direction. The plant maintains a fire break between the creek habitat and the flat, usable land of the plant facility. Although some of the proposed plant upgrades will construct new equipment and machinery closer to the creek than current structures (Figure 3 – Site Plan), the plant’s existing procedures for fuel abatement and fire suppression will limit the risk of wildland fires. In addition, the Project does not include the construction of residential structures that would not expose people or structures at the WWTP to a significant level of risk from wildland fires. Therefore, impacts are less than significant. Brine Pipeline The proposed brine pipeline will be located underground and would not expose people or structures to a significant level of risk from wildland fires. Impacts will be less than significant. Source: Beaumont GP draft EIR 2006,

89 City of Beaumont Final Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration Beaumont Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade/Expansion and Brine Pipeline March 2018

Less Than Potentially Significant Less Than No Significant with Significant ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS: Impact Impact Mitigation Impact Incorporated IX. HYDROLOGY AND WATER QUALITY. Would the project: a. Violate any water quality standards or waste discharge requirements? b. Substantially deplete groundwater supplies or interfere substantially with groundwater recharge such that there would be a net deficit in aquifer volume or a lowering of the local groundwater table level (e.g., the production rate of pre-existing nearby wells would drop to a level which would not support existing land uses or planned uses for which permits have been granted)? c. Substantially alter the existing drainage pattern of the site or area, including through the alteration of a watercourse or wetland, in a manner which would result in substantial erosion or siltation on- or off-site? d. Substantially alter the existing drainage pattern of the site or area, including through the alteration of the course of a stream or river, or substantially increase the rate or amount of surface runoff in a manner which would result in flooding on or off site? e. Create or contribute runoff water which would exceed the capacity of existing or planned stormwater drainage systems or provide substantial additional sources of polluted runoff? f. Otherwise substantially degrade water quality? g. Place housing within a 100-year flood hazard area as mapped on a federal Flood Hazard Boundary or Flood Insurance Rate Map or other flood hazard delineation map? h. Place within a 100-year flood hazard area structures which would impede or redirect flood flows? i. Expose people or structures to a significant risk of loss, injury or death involving flooding, including flooding as a result of the failure of a levee or dam? j. Inundation by seiche, tsunami, or mudflow?

Hydrology and Water Quality Discussion: a) Violate any water quality standards or waste discharge requirements? Wastewater Treatment Plant Water quality standards are defined as the combination of ‘water quality objectives’ (numeric and narrative thresholds) that are established to protect the ‘beneficial uses’ of downstream receiving

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waters. The Beaumont WWTP is a tertiary treatment16 facility that discharges effluent to Cooper’s Creek, San Timoteo Groundwater Management Zone (GMZ), Marshal Creek, and Beaumont GMZ. Beneficial uses of the Beaumont and San Timoteo GMZ’s include municipal supply, industrial service supply, industrial process supply and agricultural supply. Cooper’s Creek and Marshall Creek are tributary to San Timoteo Creek, the beneficial uses of which include groundwater recharge, body contact recreation, non-body contact recreation, warm water aquatic habitat, and wildlife habitat. Currently, San Timoteo Creek and Santa Ana River Reach 5, to which it drains, are not listed as ‘impaired’ waterbodies on the Clean Water Act Section 303(d) list. Water quality standards of downstream waterbodies may be threatened by the Project discharging sediment or other pollutants during construction. To avoid this, the City is required to prepare and submit for approval from the Regional Water Quality Control Board, an effective Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) developed by a Qualified SWPPP Developer and implemented on-site by a Qualified SWPPP Practitioner. The SWPPP will describe erosion and sediment control measures that should be used at the WWTP to minimize the discharge of polluted stormwater runoff to the maximum extent practicable. This is applicable to both Riverside and San Bernardino Counties. As a co-permittee to the Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System permit (‘MS4’, RWQCB Order No. R8-2010-0033, NPDES no. CAS 618033), Beaumont is required to regulate the discharges of urban runoff as they enter the City’s MS4 facilities (i.e., storm drains) in order to prevent the degradation of water quality standards in receiving waters. One method of regulation is the requirement of a Water Quality Management Plan (WQMP) for all Priority Development Projects to treat post- construction stormwater runoff in perpetuity. The proposed construction area at the WWTP would qualify the proposed upgrades/expansion as a ‘significant redevelopment project’ and the City of Beaumont will be required to develop a WQMP that outlines how stormwater runoff generated within the plant will be treated prior to release into Cooper’s Creek. The WQMP would also detail whether hydromodification conditions of concern exist, how source control practices can be implemented, and identify responsible entities for ongoing maintenance and funding. One of the goals of the Project is to meet the Waste Discharge Requirements (WDRs) of the WWTP’s permit by improving the treatment system so that the quality of the effluent is improved for downstream beneficial uses. Therefore, implementation of the Project will in fact provide effluent that meets or exceeds the WDRs. Construction of the WWTP improvements will present the biggest threat to downstream water quality, as compared to the plants’ operational phase; however through compliance with existing regulations to protect surface water and groundwater resources, impacts will be less than significant.

16 Wastewater treatment terminology refers to three levels of treatment: primary, secondary, and tertiary. In general, primary treatment removes solids from raw sewage by mechanical means. Secondary treatment removes the dissolved organic matter that escapes primary treatment with biological means, followed with settling. Tertiary treatment is additional treatment beyond secondary, which can remove nearly all impurities from sewage and typically includes disinfection prior to discharge. 91 City of Beaumont Final Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration Beaumont Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade/Expansion and Brine Pipeline March 2018

Brine Pipeline Pipeline construction will require compliance with the Linear Underground Pipeline SWPPP Guidance to provide effective linear erosion and sediment control measures (Attachment A to the Construction General Permit, Order 2009-0009-DWQ). The proposed brine pipeline is currently exempt from the WQMP requirements in both Riverside and San Bernardino Counties. Construction dewatering and pipeline flushing (prior to brine use) are allowed if consistent with the Regional Board’s General De Minimus Permit for Discharges to Surface Waters, Order No. R8-2009- 0003, NPDES No. CAG 998001. And when discharging dewatering or de minimus water to a municipal storm drain, permission must be issued by the municipality as well. The proposed brine pipeline may need cleaning from time to time, and would be treated like a sewer pipeline where the material in the pipe is kept out of the environment by vacuum trucks or flushed down the pipe prior to opening. In addition, horizontal directional drilling can result in advertent returns caused by hydrofracture that discharges small amounts of bentonite drilling fluid into surface waters. In locations where trenchless methods are used to cross under waterways with flowing water, the City will be required to provide a Frac-Out Contingency Plan that outlines strategies to avoid the release of drilling fluid, and response actions in the event of a release. Construction of the pipeline will present the biggest threat to downstream water quality, as compared to the operational phase, however through compliance with existing regulations to protect surface water and groundwater resources, impacts will be less than significant. Source: Construction General Storm Water Permit Order 2009-0009-DWQ, Santa Ana Region - Riverside County MS4 permit, WQMP Guidance for Santa Ana Region, De Minimus Permit, Technical Guidance Document for WQMPs in San Bernardino County, Santa Ana Region – San Bernardino County MS4 permit. b) Substantially deplete groundwater supplies or interfere substantially with groundwater recharge such that there would be a net deficit in aquifer volume or a lowering of the local groundwater table level (e.g., the production rate of pre-existing nearby wells would drop to a level which would not support existing land uses or planned uses for which permits have been granted)? Wastewater Treatment Plant One of the goals of the Project is to produce higher quality effluent from the WWTP in order to protect the beneficial uses of the Beaumont Management Zone (groundwater basin) and San Timoteo Management Zone (groundwater basin) pursuant to the 2014 Basin Plan Amendments (i.e., Salt Management Plan for the Santa Ana Region). The Project does not propose to extract groundwater or interfere with groundwater recharge efforts. Indeed, the Project will allow the plant to become a permitted distributor of recycled water. . Therefore, any potential impacts related to groundwater supplies or recharge will be less than significant.

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Brine Pipeline Construction and operation of the proposed pipeline will not cause depletion of, or interfere with groundwater recharge. No components of the pipeline involve extraction of groundwater and will be located within road right-of-ways. No impacts will occur in this regard. Source: Resolution No. R8-2014-0005, Basin Plan. c) Substantially alter the existing drainage pattern of the site or area, including through the alteration of a watercourse or wetland, in a manner which would result in substantial erosion or siltation on- or off-site? Wastewater Treatment Plant The proposed Project involves construction activities within the developed footprint of the Beaumont WWTP resulting in no alteration of drainage patterns or watercourse/wetland. With implementation of the SWPPP, WQMP and dewatering/de minimus permits (as needed), the WWTP improvements will not result in substantial erosion or siltation, and impacts will be less than significant. Brine Pipeline Construction of the proposed brine waste pipeline will occur mostly within road right-of-ways that are either paved or dirt (road shoulders) and highly disturbed. The locations where the pipeline is not within a road right-of-way are described in the Project Description. Where the pipeline crosses waterways or railroad tracks, the Project design calls for trenchless methods, attachment to existing bridges, or a pipe bridge over a drainage in order to avoid these resources. Roadways will be returned to their original line and grade. With implementation of the SWPPP and dewatering/de minimus permits, as well as Project design to avoid watercourses, the Project will not result in substantial erosion or siltation and impacts will be less than significant. Source: Project design features. d) Substantially alter the existing drainage pattern of the site or area, including through the alteration of the course of a stream or river, or substantially increase the rate or amount of surface runoff in a manner which would result in flooding on or off site? Wastewater Treatment Plant The proposed activities at the WWTP will not alter the course of a stream or river. As discussed in thresholds IX.a and IX.c above, the proposed improvements to the WWTP will not alter the existing on-site drainage patterns such as to cause flooding on- or off-site. The City will be required to comply with the Riverside County/Santa Ana River Watershed WQMP requirements for redevelopment projects, which will provide a method to capture and treat the expected volume of stormwater from the design storm. In addition, the proposed WWTP Site Plan (Figure 3 – Site Plan) does not significantly increase the area of imperviousness across the site. Through compliance with existing regulations, impacts are less than significant.

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Brine Pipeline Installation and operation of the proposed brine waste pipeline will not result the alteration of a stream or river such that the rate or volume of runoff would result in flooding on- or off-site. The Project makes several crossings of creeks, drainages and the Santa Ana River. Methods to cross these waterways are aimed at avoiding direct impacts, including trenchless methods, overhead bridge attachments, and a pipe bridge. The proposed pipe bridge is designed above the ordinary high water mark of the drainage and is not expected to alter or otherwise hinder future flows at this location. As noted in the Project Description, the pipe bridge is temporary as the future realignment of Western Knolls Avenue (in association with the Potrero Boulevard Interchange project) will go through this drainage and flows will be conveyed via storm drain. Therefore, impacts resulting in flooding are considered less than significant. Source: Project Description e) Create or contribute runoff water which would exceed the capacity of existing or planned stormwater drainage systems or provide substantial additional sources of polluted runoff? Wastewater Treatment Plant See threshold IX.a, above. The proposed Project upgrades at the Beaumont WWTP are not expected to generate additional stormwater runoff that would exceed capacity of the on-site drainage system through compliance with WQMP requirements. Potential impacts from stormwater runoff from construction activities will be addressed by the SWPPP that is required for approval before construction begins, as previously described. Brine Pipeline The proposed brine pipeline will be buried underground and will not generate runoff. During installation, the new pipeline may need to be flushed to test for leaks and flushed water will be discharged in accordance with the municipality in which the discharge occurs and/or the Regional Board’s General De Minimus Permit for Discharges to Surface Waters (Order No. R8-2009-0003, NPDES No. CAG 998001). Dewatering flows would also be subject to the same regulations as flushed water. Therefore, the Project is not anticipated to contribute stormwater runoff water that would exceed the capacity of existing or planned drainage systems, nor provide additional sources of polluted runoff and impacts will be less than significant. Source: De Minimus Permit, f) Otherwise substantially degrade water quality? Wastewater Treatment Plant See threhsold IX.a, above. As defined, the proposed Project would not provide a source of pollutants that would otherwise degrade water quality, but rather provide the needed plant upgrades and brine disposal pipeline to provide improved water quality in the effluent. As previously discussed, stormwater runoff would be regulated with SWPPPs during construction activities (for

94 City of Beaumont Final Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration Beaumont Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade/Expansion and Brine Pipeline March 2018

plant and pipeline), and by a WQMP for the post-construction phase of the upgraded/expanded WWTP. There will be no impacts. Brine Pipeline Any dewatering or pipeline flushing would also be subject to municipal (if pumped into a City-owned storm drain) or Regional Board (if pumped into a river or creek) regulations pursuant to their de minimus permit requirements. Therefore with consideration of current regulations to protect water quality and any new requirements that may arise at the time of Project construction, which cannot be any less stringent than current regulation (i.e., anti-backsliding rules), impacts to water quality will be less than significant. Source: De Minimus Permit, Sections 402(o)(2) and 303(d)(4) of the CWA and federal regulations at 40 CFR 122.44(l). g) Place housing within a 100-year flood hazard area as mapped on a federal Flood Hazard Boundary or Flood Insurance Rate Map or other flood hazard delineation map? The proposed Project does not include construction of any housing. Therefore, no impact will occur in this regard. Source: Project Description h) Place within a 100-year flood hazard area structures which would impede or redirect flood flows? Wastewater Treatment Plant The Beaumont WWTP is not located within a 100-year flood hazard zone, as shown on FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map No. 06065C0811G (effective 8/28/08), and therefore would not place structures in the path of flood flows. Portions of Cooper’s Creek upstream and downstream of the WWTP are designated “Zone X” and defined as follows: Zone X - Other Flood Areas: Areas of 0.2% annual chance flood [500-year event]; areas of 1% annual chance flood [100-year event] with average depths of less than 1 foot or with drainage areas less than 1 square mile; and areas protected by levees from 1% annual chance flood. Brine Pipeline Refer to Figure 7 – FEMA Flood Hazard Zones for the locations of 100-year flood hazard zones along the alignment. The proposed brine pipeline will be either buried or attached to an existing bridge where it crosses over a creek, railroad or roadway. There will be minor appurtenance structures for blow offs or valves that will be above ground in a few places along the pipeline alignment, however these structures would not be expected to impede or redirect flood flows. Therefore, impacts will be less than significant. Source: FEMA Flood Map Service Center,

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i) Expose people or structures to a significant risk of loss, injury or death involving flooding, including flooding as a result of the failure of a levee or dam? Wastewater Treatment Plant The Project does not propose structures within the path of a levee or dam flood failure zone. As described previously in threshold IX.h, the WWTP is not located within a flood hazard zone. Therefore, impacts are less than significant. Brine Pipeline El Casco dam located along San Timoteo Creek at Lakeshore Drive and San Timoteo Canyon Road (Redlands), is recognized by the National Inventory of Dams and inspected periodically by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. At its closest point, the proposed pipeline (to be installed within San Timoteo Canyon Road) will be located approximately 100 feet from the dam. El Casco is an earthen dam built in 1879 and stands 19 feet high with reservoir storage for 143 acre-feet. It is currently privately-owned. The drainage area of the reservoir is estimated at 0.1 square mile (64 acres). Because the pipeline will be buried underground, potential impacts will be less than significant. Source: FEMA Flood Map Service Center, USACE National Inventory of Dams, Riverside County GP draft EIR No. 521, Section 4.11. j) Inundation by seiche, tsunami or mudflow? Seiches are seismically-induced oscillations or sloshing of enclosed bodies of water including lakes, ponds, reservoirs, and swimming pools. Seiching could also result in the failure of larger bodies of water, including water tanks, retention basins, recharge basins and other water storage structures, and could result in the inundation of land and structures downslope. This hazard is dependent upon the frequency of seismic waves, distance and direction from the epicenter, and site-specific design criteria of the enclosed body of water. Tsunamis are large waves that occur in coastal areas and mudflows can result from saturated soils being dislodged during an earthquake. Wastewater Treatment Plant The Beaumont WWTP facility is not within close proximity to, or within the flow path of, a large body of water that would inundate the plant during a seiche, nor is it located in a coastal area that could suffer a tsunami. Likewise, the WWTP is not located on or adjacent to substantial slopes where a landslide or mudflow hazard could exist. Therefore impacts related to inundation are less than significant. Brine Pipeline The proposed pipeline will be buried underground and not under threat of a sudden seiche or tsunami. The proposed brine pipeline passes through areas identified as landslide hazard areas (e.g., San Timoteo Canyon Road). Mitigation measure MM GEO-1, which requires a site-specific Geotechnical Investigation prior to approval of final plans for the proposed Project, will be prepared to assess the geology and soils present and any hazards associated with landslides or mudflows.

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Compliance with recommendations from the Geotechnical Investigation will reduce hazards associated with landslides or mudflows to a less than significant impact with mitigation. Source: Redlands GP 1995

Less Than Potentially Significant Less Than No Significant with Significant ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS: Impact Impact Mitigation Impact Incorporated X. LAND USE PLANNING. Would the project: a. Physically divide an established community? b. Conflict with any applicable land use plan, policy, or regulation of an agency with jurisdiction over the project (including, but not limited to the general plan, specific plan, local coastal program, or zoning ordinance) adopted for the purpose of avoiding or mitigating an environmental effect? c. Conflict with any applicable habitat conservation plan or natural community conservation plan?

Land Use and Planning Discussion: a) Physically divide an established community? The proposed Project involves upgrades to an existing WWTP and installation of a brine wastewater pipeline. Because the Project will be limited to the boundaries of the WWTP and the pipeline will be buried within disturbed road right-of-ways and not physically divide any established community, no impacts would occur. Source: Project Description; Google Earth b) Conflict with any applicable land use plan, policy, or regulation of an agency with jurisdiction over the project (including, but not limited to the general plan, specific plan, local coastal program, or zoning ordinance) adopted for the purpose of avoiding or mitigating an environmental effect? Wastewater Treatment Plant The Beaumont WWTP site and surrounding land uses are identified as “industrial” according to the City General Plan. The proposed plant upgrades would therefore be consistent and not in conflict with the current surrounding land uses. There will be no impacts. Brine Pipeline The proposed brine pipeline alignment is within paved and unpaved road right-of-ways where the installation of a utility pipeline would not cause conflict with a land use plan, policy, or regulation. Additionally, the pipeline will be buried and construction activities will be temporary. Where the pipeline would cross a waterway, the pipeline would either be hung on the underside of an existing

97 City of Beaumont Final Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration Beaumont Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade/Expansion and Brine Pipeline March 2018

bridge, or trenchless construction methods will be used to drill underneath the channel and avoid impacts. Therefore the proposed Project will not conflict with any applicable land use plan, policy, or regulation adopted for the purpose of avoiding or mitigating an environmental effect and impacts will be less than significant. Source: Beaumont General Plan,

c) Conflict with any applicable habitat conservation plan or natural community conservation plan? Wastewater Treatment Plant The WWTP is located within the Western Riverside County MSHCP (see threshold IV.f for expanded discussion of the MSHCP). Because the proposed improvements will remain within the boundaries of the WWTP, Project conflicts with a HCP or NCCP are not anticipated and no impact will occur in this regard. Brine Pipeline Refer to threshold IV.f. Implementation of the biological mitigation measures MM BIO-1 through MM BIO-10 will reduce biological impacts to less than significant. Therefore conflicts with any applicable habitat conservation plan or natural community conservation plan will be less than significant with mitigation incorporated. Source: “Habitat Suitability Assessment and MSHCP Consistency Analysis Report” (HSA) and “Biological Resources Assessment Report” (Amec Foster Wheeler, 2017) provided in Appendix B.

Less Than Potentially Significant Less Than No Significant with Significant ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS: Impact Impact Mitigation Impact Incorporated XI. MINERAL RESOURCES. Would the project: a. Result in the loss of availability of a known mineral resource that would be of value to the region and the residents of the state? b. Result in the loss of availability of a locally-important mineral resource recovery site delineated on a local general plan, specific plan, or other land use plan?

Mineral Resources Discussion: a) Result in the loss of availability of a known mineral resource that would be of value to the region and the residents of the state? The City of Beaumont has no known or identified mineral resources of regional or statewide importance. The proposed upgrades to the Beaumont WWTP will occur within the actively disturbed footprint of the plant and would not result in the loss of a valuable mineral resource. Likewise, the proposed brine pipeline will be buried within disturbed road right-of-ways where many previous

98 City of Beaumont Final Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration Beaumont Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade/Expansion and Brine Pipeline March 2018

pipeline installations have occurred. Therefore, there will be no impact related to the loss of a known mineral resource that would be of value to the region and the residents of the state. Source: Project description, Beaumont General Plan draft EIR. b) Result in the loss of availability of a locally-important mineral resource recovery site delineated on a local general plan, specific plan or other land use plan? The City of Beaumont has no delineated mineral resource recovery sites; however there may be viable aggregate recovery sites in certain open space and undeveloped properties, particularly along drainages. The proposed WWTP upgrades within the disturbed footprint of the plant site, and the proposed brine pipeline located within existing road right-of-ways will not impact an open space/undeveloped property and therefore will not impact a known or potential mineral resource recovery site. No impact will occur in this regard. Source: Project description, Beaumont General Plan draft EIR.

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Less Than Potentially Significant Less Than No Significant with Significant ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS: Impact Impact Mitigation Impact Incorporated XII. NOISE. Would the project result in: a. Exposure of persons to or generation of noise levels in excess of standards established in the local general plan or noise ordinance, or applicable standards of other agencies? b. Exposure of persons to or generation of excessive groundborne vibration or groundborne noise levels? c. A substantial permanent increase in ambient noise levels in the project vicinity above levels existing without the project? d. A substantial temporary or periodic increase in ambient noise levels in the project vicinity above levels existing without the project? e. For a project located within an airport land use plan or, where such a plan has not been adopted, within two miles of a public airport or public use airport, would the project expose people residing or working in the project area to excessive noise levels? f. For a project within the vicinity of a private airstrip, would the project expose people residing or working in the project area to excessive noise levels?

Noise Discussion: a) Exposure of persons to or generation of noise levels in excess of standards established in the local general plan or noise ordinance, or applicable standards of other agencies? Temporary increases to ambient noise levels would occur during Project construction. Noise would derive from the use of various types of construction equipment such as compactors, cranes, excavators, generators and from a worker-related increase in traffic within the vicinity of the Project site. Sensitive receptors would include any residences, educational institutions and public parks located within 250 feet of the Beaumont WWTP and the proposed pipeline alignment. The nearest sensitive receptor (residence) to the WWTP is located approximately 700 feet to the south. Wastewater Treatment Plant Beaumont Municipal Code Section 9.02.060(D) states the exemptions to the noise prohibitions, which includes the construction, repair or excavation activities performed in connection with public works projects and public utilities services. Likewise, noise generated in industrial zones that are necessary and incidental to the uses permitted therein are also exempt (Section 9.02.060 (D)(v)). The nearest sensitive receptor (residence) to the WWTP is located approximately 700 feet to the south. Operation of the WWTP after the proposed upgrades are constructed would continue producing noise at levels currently produced by the plant, which are consistent with the City standards. Through compliance with the City’s noise standards for construction and operation, the Project

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would not expose people to, or generate noise levels in excess of, standards established in the local noise ordinance and any potential impacts will be less than significant. Brine Pipeline  Beaumont Municipal Code Section 9.02.060(D) states the exemptions to the noise prohibitions, which includes “the construction, repair or excavation activities performed in connection with public works projects…and public utilities services.” Likewise, noise generated in industrial zones that are necessary and incidental to the uses permitted therein are also exempt (Section 9.02.060 (D)(v)).  County of Riverside Municipal Code Section 9.52.020 lists the exemptions to the noise regulations, which includes capital improvement projects of a governmental agency (B).  City of Calimesa Municipal Code Chapter 8.15 (Noise Abatement and Control) does not exempt the type of construction proposed by the Project at this time. Nearly a mile of pipeline within San Timoteo Canyon would lie within the City boundary. The construction equipment limitations outlined in Municipal Code Section 8.15.080, which are summarized below will apply to the Project: Operation of any powered construction equipment is allowed only between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m, Monday through Friday and between 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays and certain holidays. Construction equipment cannot exceed 75 decibels for more than eight hours during any 24- hour period; however noises can be higher when corrected for time duration (e.g., 90 decibels are allowed up to 15 minutes in 24 hours).  City of Redlands Municipal Code Section 8.06.120 exempts construction activity noises provided that the activities take place between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. on weekdays, including Saturdays, with no activities taking place at any time on Sundays or federal holidays. All motorized equipment used in such activity shall be equipped with functioning mufflers.  County of San Bernardino Municipal Code Section 83.01.080(g) allows for the exemption of temporary construction, maintenance, repair, or demolition activities between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., except Sundays and Federal holidays from the regulations of Section 83.01.080.  City of Loma Linda Municipal Code Chapter 9.20 requires that all construction shall occur between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, provided that all equipment is properly equipped with standard noise muffling apparatus. Heavy construction is not permitted on weekends, or national holidays.  City of Colton limits construction in residential neighborhoods between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and sundown, and between sunup and sundown for construction in industrial zones. Along the pipeline alignment, sensitive receptors are expected to be within 250 feet or less of Project construction activities. Construction activities would be limited to the hours allowed by each City or County. Riverside County and the city of Loma Linda have requested Project construction be conducted at night. Noise from trenchless construction operations are similar to cut-and-cover pipeline construction; however, rather than the noise progressing linearly, it would be confined to 101 City of Beaumont Final Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration Beaumont Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade/Expansion and Brine Pipeline March 2018

entry and exit locations. Thus, noise impacts could last for several weeks rather than a few days at the areas adjacent to the tunnel access points. Underground pipelines do not generate noise above ground, and because the pipeline is gravity- fed, pump stations will not be needed. In addition, noise will not be emitted from the above-ground structures (i.e., pressure relief valves/blow-offs) that are tied to the pipeline. Through compliance with each City/County’s noise standards for construction, the proposed Project would not expose people to, or generate noise levels in excess of, standards established in the local noise ordinance and any potential impacts will be less than significant. Source: Municipal Codes for Beaumont, Riverside County, Calimesa, County of San Bernardino, and Loma Linda Personal communication with Colton City staff member; SCAQMD 1993 Handbook. b) Exposure of persons to or generation of excessive ground-borne vibration or ground-borne noise levels? Construction projects can generate ground-borne vibration, and in general, demolition of structures preceding construction generates the highest vibrations. However other construction equipment such as vibratory compactors or rollers, pile drivers and pavement breakers can generate perceptible vibration during construction activities. Heavy trucks can also generate ground-borne vibrations that vary depending on vehicle type, weight and pavement conditions. Typically, ground-borne vibration generated by man-made activities attenuates rapidly with distance from the source of vibration. Man-made vibration issues are therefore, usually confined to short distances (i.e., 500 feet or less) from the source. Sensitive receptors for vibration include structures (especially older masonry structures); people (especially residents, the elderly, and the sick) and vibration sensitive equipment. Ground vibrations from construction activities do not often reach the levels that can damage structures, but they can achieve the audible and feelable ranges in buildings very close to the site. Various types of construction equipment have been measured under a wide variety of construction activities with an average of source levels reported in terms of velocity as shown in Table 12-I – Vibration Source Levels for Construction Equipment. Although the table gives one level for each piece of equipment, it should be noted that there is a considerable variation in reported ground vibration levels from construction activities. The data provide a reasonable estimate for a wide range of soil conditions.

Table 12-I – Vibration Source Levels for Construction Equipmenta

PPV at 25 feet Equipment (inches/second) RMSb at 25 feet Large Bulldozer 0.089 87 Caisson Drill 0.089 87 Loaded Truck 0.076 86 Jackhammer 0.35 79

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PPV at 25 feet Equipment (inches/second) RMSb at 25 feet Small Bulldozer 0.003 58 Notes: a Federal Transit Administration, Transit Noise and Vibration Impact Assessment, May 2006. Table 12-2 b RMS velocity in decibels (VdB) re 1 micro-inch/second.

Regarding impacts from ground-borne vibration, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has published guidance in their document titled Transit Noise and Vibration Impact Assessment. According to the FTA, although the perceptibility threshold for humans is approximately 65 VdB, human response to vibration is not usually significant unless the vibration exceeds 70 VdB. If the vibration level if a residence reaches 85 VdB, most people will be strongly annoyed by the vibration.

Table 12-2– Typical Human Reaction and Effect on Buildings Due to Groundborne Vibration, displays some of the common human reactions to various levels of groundborne vibration (expressed in PPV) and its effect on buildings.

Table 12-2 – Typical Human Reaction and Effect on Buildings Due to Groundborne Vibrationa

Vibration Level (PPVb) (inches/second) Human Reaction Effect on Buildings

0.006-0.019 Threshold of perception Vibrations unlikely to cause damage of any type 0.08 Vibration readily perceptible Recommended upper level of vibration to which ruins ancient monuments should be subjected 0.10 Level at which continuous vibration Virtually no risk of “architectural” (i.e., begins to annoy people not structural) damage to normal buildings 0.20 Vibrations annoying to people in Threshold at which there is a risk to buildings “architectural” damage to normal dwelling – houses with plastered walls and ceilings 0.4-0.6 Vibrations considered unpleasant by Vibrations at a greater level than people subjected to continuous normally expected from traffic, but vibrations and unacceptable to some would cause “architectural” damage people walking on bridges and possibly minor structural damage Notes: a Source: California Department of Transportation, Noise Impact Analysis for the Sycamore Canyon Business Park Warehouse, September 2013. Compiled from Table 5 (p. 22) and Table 12 (p. 24). b PPV = Peak Particle Velocity.

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Wastewater Treatment Plant The proposed Project will include demolition of various structures at the WWTP, which may result in ground-borne vibrations and/or ground-borne noise levels. Likewise, construction of the proposed improvements may also require equipment that can cause ground-borne vibrations. As described earlier in threshold XII.a, Beaumont Municipal Code Section 9.02.060(D) exempts the noise generated during construction, repair or excavation activities; however, it does not exempt ground- borne vibration. Based on the information in Tables 12-1 and 12-2, above, due to the distance from the WWTP to the nearest sensitive receptor (approximately 700 feet), ground-borne vibration generated during construction at the WWTP may be perceptible, but would not reach the threshold of annoyance or result in structural damage to buildings. Impacts are less than significant in this regard. Brine Pipeline Installation of the proposed brine waste disposal pipeline will require standard construction equipment and methods that could produce ground-borne vibrations as shown in Table 12-1 above. No demolition is proposed for installation of the pipeline. Operation of the pipeline will not result in ground-borne vibrations or ground-borne noise. A majority of the pipeline alignment is located in relatively undeveloped, rural or agricultural areas. Based on the information in Tables 12-1 and 12- 2, above, the distance from the pipeline to the nearest residence (approximately 82 feet), ground- borne vibration generated during construction of the pipeline WWTP may be perceptible, but would not reach the threshold of annoyance. Additionally, the portion of the pipeline proposed within an urban environment in close proximity to homes and businesses would be constructed during the hours regulated by the pertinent City/County noise ordinances. Because the Project will be consistent with each jurisdiction’s noise ordinances, and construction methods are not anticipated to generate any significant sources of ground-borne vibration above those that would normally be associated with construction, impacts relating to exposure and generation of excessive ground- borne vibration or ground-borne noise levels will be less than significant. Source: Project description. c) A substantial permanent increase in ambient noise levels in the project vicinity above levels existing without the project? Wastewater Treatment Plant The proposed WWTP upgrade includes the enclosure within new concrete buildings of machinery that is currently exposed to the environment. The solids handling process, several high-power pumps/blowers that are currently outside will be placed within structures as part of the Project to buffer the noise, which is a beneficial impact. Project design features aim to enclose all noise- generating equipment when feasible. The Project includes a proposed indoor Treatment Building (with staff offices), indoor Aeration Facility, indoor Solar Drying Beds, Sludge Loading Building, and new electrical building. By enclosing the noisiest equipment in sound buffering buildings, the Project is not expected to generate a substantial permanent increase in ambient noise levels above the WWTP’s current operations. Impacts are less than significant.

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Brine Pipeline The proposed brine pipeline would have operational noise levels that are minor, mainly relating to maintenance. No noise will be emitted from the ancillary above-ground valves and other structures required along the pipeline alignment. Therefore, the proposed Project will not cause a substantial permanent increase in ambient noise levels in the Project vicinity and impacts will be less than significant. Source: Project Description d) A substantial temporary or periodic increase in ambient noise levels in the project vicinity above levels existing without the project? The primary source of temporary noise associated with the proposed Project is from construction

activity. A peak or maximum noise level (LMAX) of 86 dBA (A-weighted decibels) at a distance of 50 feet is commonly used as a maximum construction noise limit by CalTrans. Equipment and operations are usually at or less than that level. Wastewater Treatment Plant During normal operations, the ambient noise levels at the WWTP are in-line with that of surrounding facilities within an industrial land use zone. The nearest sensitive receptor (residence) to the WWTP is located approximately 700 feet to the south. Periodically, noise levels will increase according to the on-site machinery and equipment. As noted above, the Project will enclose many of the noisiest on-site machinery within sound-buffering buildings. Substantial temporary increases are expected to most likely occur during construction of the proposed improvements. The construction equipment that may be used during construction includes tractors, graders, loaders, cranes, generators, backhoes, welders, pavers and rollers. A maximum of two pieces of each type of equipment, for a maximum of 8 hours per day is assumed. Therefore, impacts will be less than significant. Brine Pipeline The primary source of temporary noise associated with the proposed Project is from construction

activity. A peak or maximum noise level (LMAX) of 86 dBA (A-weighted decibels) at a distance of 50 feet is commonly used as a maximum construction noise limit by CalTrans. Equipment and operations are usually at or less than that level. Construction equipment that may be utilized by the proposed Project including dozers, tractors/loaders/backhoes, welders, paving equipment, rollers,

excavators and any other equipment more than 5 horsepower do not exceed an LMAX of 86 dBA. As discussed in threshold XII.a above, any Project-related traffic or construction noise will be temporary and will not result in substantial increases in ambient noise levels and the proposed Project is exempt from the provisions of Chapter 9.02 of the Beaumont Municipal Code (Noise Control). However, to reduce noise levels to the sensitive receptors located along the pipeline alignment, mitigation measures MM NOISE-1, MM NOISE-2, and MM NOISE-3 shall be implemented. Therefore, impacts related to substantial temporary or periodic increases in ambient noise levels in the Project vicinity will be less than significant with mitigation incorporated. MM NOISE-1. Equipment Maintenance: To minimize noise impacts resulting from poorly tuned or improperly modified vehicles and construction equipment, all vehicles 105 City of Beaumont Final Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration Beaumont Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade/Expansion and Brine Pipeline March 2018

and construction equipment shall maintain equipment engines and mufflers in good condition and in proper tune per manufacturers’ specifications to the satisfaction of the City of Beaumont Public Works Department. Equipment maintenance records and equipment design specification data sheets shall kept and maintained by the contractor and available for review by the City upon request. MM NOISE-2. Idling Engines: To minimize noise from idling engines, all vehicles and construction equipment shall be prohibited from idling in excess of five (5) minutes when not in use. MM NOISE-3. Construction Hours. All construction activities on the brine pipeline within the City of Colton, City of San Bernardino, City of Redlands, City of Calimesa, and City of Beaumont shall be limited to occur on the days and between the hours directed by each respective agency. Source: CalTrans TNS; California Department of Transportation, “Transportation and Construction Vibration Guidance Manual,” September 2013; Albert A. Webb Associates Technical Memorandum, “Air Quality/Greenhouse Gas Analysis for the Beaumont Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade/Expansion and Brine Pipeline Project, City of Beaumont,” October 2017 (Appendix A); Federal Transit Administration, “Transit Noise and Vibration Impact Assessment,” May 2006; . e) For a project located within an airport land use plan or, where such a plan has not been adopted, within two miles of a public airport or public use airport, would the project expose people residing or working in the project area to excessive noise levels? Wastewater Treatment Plant The Beaumont WWTP is not located within an airport land use plan, or within two miles of an airport. Therefore, no impacts are expected in this regard. Brine Pipeline Portions of the proposed brine pipeline alignment are within two miles of the San Bernardino International Airport but not within the Airport Influence Area boundary. Pipeline construction personnel would not be exposed to noise levels coming from the airport that are louder than the levels heard by surrounding residents simply by virtue of working on the Project, and no impacts would occur. Source: San Bernardino Airport Influence Area map. f) For a project within the vicinity of a private airstrip, would the project expose people residing or working in the project area to excessive noise levels? The proposed Project is not located within the vicinity of a private airstrip, and as such will have no impact on people residing or working in the project area to excessive noise levels. Source: Google Earth

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Less Than Potentially Significant Less Than No Significant with Significant ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS: Impact Impact Mitigation Impact Incorporated XIII. POPULATION AND HOUSING. Would the project: a. Induce substantial population growth in an area, either directly (for example, by proposing new homes and businesses) or indirectly (for example, through extension of roads or other infrastructure)? b. Displace substantial numbers of existing housing, necessitating the construction of replacement housing elsewhere? c. Displace substantial numbers of people, necessitating the construction of replacement housing elsewhere?

Population and Housing Discussion: a) Induce substantial population growth in an area, either directly (for example, by proposing new homes and businesses) or indirectly (for example, through extension of roads or other infrastructure)? Wastewater Treatment Plant The proposed expansion of treatment capacity at the WWTP is required by the current Waste Discharge Requirement (or permit) from the Santa Ana River RWQCB because the volume of influent to the plant has reached a threshold that triggers mandatory expansion. According to City records, approximately 510 equivalent dwelling units (EDU’s) are scheduled to be added annually to the City’s wastewater system for the next five years, which includes residential, commercial and industrial developments.17 The proposed components to upgrade the plant will expand treatment capacity to 6 MGD, which will outpace the anticipated growth rate of the City until approximately 2037. The expanded plant capacity can indirectly induce population growth; however, the expansion is resulting from current user needs and in response to the Regional Board’s regulations to ensure adequate service. Therefore, the Project’s influence to substantially induce population growth is less than significant. Brine Pipeline The proposed brine waste disposal pipeline is a result of the required WWTP expansion to serve current user needs as noted above, and will not in and of itself substantially induce population growth in the City of Beaumont. Therefore, the Projects’ influence to substantially induce population growth is less than significant. Source: Albert A. Webb Associates, “Feasibility Study for WWTP Expansion & Salt Mitigation,” December 2016.

17 An equivalent dwelling unit (EDU) is the typical volume and strength of the wastewater generated by a single-family home, commercial or industrial land uses. The City assumes one EDU equals 225 gallons per day, and one EDU equals 2,000 gallons per day per acre. This is documented in response letter from City of Beaumont to Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control Board dated October 17, 2016. 107 City of Beaumont Final Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration Beaumont Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade/Expansion and Brine Pipeline March 2018 b) Displace substantial numbers of existing housing, necessitating the construction of replacement housing elsewhere? Wastewater Treatment Plant The proposed Project at the WWTP will not displace any existing housing, and will not necessitate the construction of replacement housing elsewhere. Therefore, there will be no impact on housing. Brine Pipeline Installation of the proposed brine waste disposal pipeline will not displace any existing housing, and will not necessitate the construction of replacement housing elsewhere. Therefore, there will be no impact on housing as a result of the proposed Project. Source: Project Description c) Displace substantial numbers of people, necessitating the construction of replacement housing elsewhere? As noted above, the proposed Project will not displace people such that replacement housing will be required elsewhere. Therefore, there will be no impact on housing as a result of the proposed Project. Source: Project Description

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Less Than Potentially Significant Less Than No Significant with Significant ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS: Impact Impact Mitigation Impact Incorporated XIV. PUBLIC SERVICES. Would the project: a. Would the project result in substantial adverse physical impacts associated with the provision of new or physically altered governmental facilities, need for new or physically altered governmental facilities, the construction of which could cause significant environmental impacts, in order to maintain acceptable service ratios, response times or other performance objectives for any of the public services: i. Fire protection? ii. Police protection? iii. Schools? iv. Parks? v. Other public facilities?

Public Service Discussion: a) Would the project result in substantial adverse physical impacts associated with the provision of new or physically altered governmental facilities, need for new or physically altered governmental facilities, the construction of which could cause significant environmental impacts, in order to maintain acceptable service ratios, response times or other performance objectives for any of the public services? i. Fire protection? Wastewater Treatment Plant Fire protection, public service, and emergency medical aid response services are provided to the City of Beaumont, including the WWTP, by the Riverside County Fire Department. The California Department of Forestry (CDF) also maintains a fire station in the City. The County Fire Department maintains a number of programs to help prevent fires, such as building inspections, public education, and participation with the City planning department in development review. The proposed Project at the WWTP will not change access into the property, and does not propose to reduce the width of existing interior roadways. The layout and design of the proposed structures on the plant site will be required to comply with the current fire safety guidelines incorporated as part of building design, to ensure appropriate fire suppression methods are available. The County Fire Department will required to review the site plans in coordination with the City planning department, and ensuring the site will meet applicable fire protection and prevention requirements including, but not limited to, building setbacks, emergency access, and interior sprinklers. Although the WWTP is a governmental facility, the proposed improvements will not cause significant environmental impacts and will not affect service ratios or response times for emergency public services. Therefore, impacts are less than significant.

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Brine Pipeline Operation of the proposed brine waste disposal pipeline will be underground and will not affect fire protection services. However, construction of the proposed brine pipeline may cause traffic delays, especially in 2-lane roads, that may affect response times for emergency vehicles. The Project’s Traffic Management Plan and subsequent traffic control plans to be approved by each jurisdiction through which the pipeline will align will be required to provide adequate pass-by features for emergency vehicles. Through compliance with required traffic control plans and encroachment permits, the details of which will be dictated by each city and county through which the pipeline aligns, impacts are reduced to less than significant. Source: Beaumont General Plan,

ii. Police protection? Wastewater Treatment Plant The Beaumont Police Department provides comprehensive law enforcement services for the City. As noted above, the proposed improvements to the WWTP will be limited to the existing plant boundaries and are not expected to require more police protection or impact current police service ratios or response times. No impacts are expected in this regard. Brine Pipeline Operation of the proposed brine waste disposal pipeline will be underground and will not affect police protection services. However, construction of the proposed brine pipeline may cause traffic delays, especially in 2-lane roads, that may affect response times for emergency vehicles. The Project’s Traffic Management Plan and subsequent traffic control plans to be approved by each jurisdiction through which the pipeline will align will be required to provide adequate pass- by features for emergency vehicles. Through compliance with required traffic control plans and encroachment permits, the details of which will be dictated by each city and county through which the pipeline aligns, impacts are reduced to less than significant. Source: Beaumont General Plan,

iii. Schools? The proposed Project consists of meeting requirements to upgrade the City WWTP and constructing a brine waste disposal pipeline as required by the RWQCB. The Project in and of itself will not result in population increases that would require additional school facilities. No impacts will occur in this regard. Source: Beaumont General Plan,

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iv. Parks? The proposed Project involves necessary upgrades to the City WWTP and a brine waste disposal pipeline; it will not create a need for more public parks. No impacts will occur in terms of adverse physical impacts associated with the provision of new park facilities. Source: Beaumont General Plan

v. Other public facilities? Other public facilities in the City include the Beaumont Library District, Civic Center, the City Yard, Beaumont Post Office, San Gorgonio Memorial Hospital, and a number of buildings for City staff and equipment. Since the proposed Project involves necessary upgrades to the City WWTP and a brine disposal pipeline, and will not increase population, it will not trigger a need to provide additional public facilities. Therefore, no impacts related to other public facilities will occur. Source: Beaumont General Plan, Google Maps

Less Than Potentially Significant Less Than No Significant with Significant ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS: Impact Impact Mitigation Impact Incorporated XV. RECREATION. a. Would the project increase the use of existing neighborhood and regional parks or other recreational facilities such that substantial physical deterioration of the facility would occur or be accelerated? b. Does the project include recreational facilities or require the construction or expansion of recreational facilities which might have an adverse physical effect on the environment?

Recreation Discussion: a) Would the project increase the use of existing neighborhood and regional parks or other recreational facilities such that substantial physical deterioration of the facility would occur or be accelerated? The proposed Project involves necessary upgrades to the City WWTP and a brine disposal pipeline that will not cause an increase in the population. Therefore, the proposed Project would not increase the use of existing neighborhood and regional parks or other recreational facilities such that substantial physical deterioration of the facility would occur or be accelerated. No impact will occur in this regard. Source: Project Description

111 City of Beaumont Final Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration Beaumont Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade/Expansion and Brine Pipeline March 2018 b) Does the project include recreational facilities or require the construction or expansion of recreational facilities which might have an adverse physical effect on the environment? The Project does not include new public recreational facilities or require the construction or expansion of recreational facilities. Therefore, there will be no impact in this regard. Source: Project Description

Less Than Potentially Significant Less Than No Significant with Significant ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS: Impact Impact Mitigation Impact Incorporated XVI. TRANSPORTATION/TRAFFIC. Would the project: a. Conflict with an applicable plan, ordinance, or policy establishing measures of effectiveness for the performance of the circulation system, taking into account all modes of transportation including mass transit and non-motorized travel and relevant components of the circulation system, including but not limited to intersections, streets, highways and freeways, pedestrian and bicycle paths, and mass transit? b. Conflict with applicable congestion management program, including, but not limited to level of service standards and travel demand measures, or other standards established by the county congestion management agency for designated roads or highways? c. Result in a change in air traffic patterns, including either an increase in traffic levels or a change in location that results in substantial safety risks? d. Substantially increase hazards due to a design feature (e.g., sharp curves or dangerous intersections) or incompatible uses (e.g., farm equipment)? e. Result in inadequate emergency access? f. Conflict with adopted policies, plans, or programs supporting alternative transportation (e.g., bus turnouts, bicycle racks)?

Transportation and Traffic Discussion: a) Conflict with an applicable plan, ordinance, or policy establishing measures of effectiveness for the performance of the circulation system, taking into account all modes of transportation including mass transit and non-motorized travel and relevant components of the circulation

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system, including but not limited to intersections, streets, highways and freeways, pedestrian and bicycle paths, and mass transit? Wastewater Treatment Plant The City of Beaumont has established performance criteria to determine the adequacy of circulation infrastructure to accommodate existing and projected traffic volumes. The performance criterion has two parts; a policy component that establishes a desired Level of Service (LOS), and a ratio of design capacity and traffic volumes called Intersection Capacity Utilization (ICU). In addition, the following City policy has been developed to minimize potential short-term construction-related impacts associated with the development of infrastructure. Circulation Element Policy 14: The City of Beaumont will limit the adverse impacts associated with the construction of roadways and the installation of infrastructure improvements. [Implemented through environmental review.] Construction at the WWTP will temporarily increase traffic along the main roadways used to access the site as a result of construction personnel, supply trucks and hauling of heavy-duty equipment. However, this congestion will be short-term and relatively minor considering equipment will be kept on-site in staging areas, and impacts are less than significant. Brine Pipeline Construction of the proposed brine pipeline will result in traffic congestion as work progresses. Temporary lane closures as well as construction personnel, material deliveries, and removal of excess soil material are to be expected. The proposed pipeline alignment passes through existing disturbed right-of-ways in the cities of Beaumont, Calimesa, Redlands, Loma Linda, Colton and San Bernardino, as well as the unincorporated areas of Riverside and San Bernardino counties. It may be necessary to close at least one lane of traffic during construction, and in the narrowest street sections, installation of pipeline may result in (i) street closure with access limited to residents and emergency vehicles, or (ii) lane closure with work required to take place at night. For the portions of the Bine Pipeline outside of the city of Beaumont, the determination regarding street closure, lane modification, and/or night work will be made by each jurisdiction. The Project will not conflict with an established circulation performance measure because the work is being mandated to the City of Beaumont and will be temporary in nature. The Project’s Traffic Management Plan and subsequent traffic control plans shall approved by each jurisdiction through which the pipeline will align, so that construction will be consistent with local traffic.ordinances and policies. Therefore, with implementation of mitigation measure MM TRANS-1, impacts will be less than significant with mitigation. MM TRANS-1. Traffic Control Plans: As required by the Project’s Traffic Management Plan and construction specifications, prior to the initiation of construction activities where a public roadway will be affected by a lane or segment closure or modification of a travel lane, a Traffic Control Plan shall be prepared for such segment and approved by the appropriate jurisdiction (i.e. City of Beaumont, County of Riverside, City of Redlands, City of Loma Linda, City of San Bernardino, City of Colton, County of San Bernardino). Source: Beaumont General Plan

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b) Conflict with applicable congestion management program, including, but not limited to level of service standards and travel demand measures, or other standards established by the county congestion management agency for designated roads or highways? Each county in California is required to develop a Congestion Management Program (CMP) that analyzes the links between land use, transportation and air quality. The Riverside County Transportation Commission (RCTC) is the County of Riverside’s Congestion Management Agency. The RCTC prepares and periodically updates the County’s CMP to meet federal Congestion Management System guidelines and state CMP legislation. For San Bernardino County, the San Bernardino Associated Governments (SANBAG) is the designated Congestion Management Agency and recently updated their CMP in 2016. Wastewater Treatment Plant According to RCTC CMP Exhibit 2-1, “CMP System of Highways and Roadways” (2011), Interstate 10, State Route 60 and State Route 79 are the designated CMP roads in proximity to the WWTP Project site. However, these roads are not adjacent to the WWTP. Because construction at the WWTP will not affect these roadways, impacts to these roads are therefore less than significant. Brine Pipeline According to SANBAG CMP Figure 2-1, “CMP Road System, Valley Region” (2016), several roadways that are proposed in the brine pipeline alignment are listed as part of the San Bernardino County CMP Network, including, San Timoteo Canyon Road, Barton Road, California Street, Redlands Boulevard, Hunts Lane, and E Street. With incorporation of mitigation measure MM TRANS-1, the temporary and localized congestion that will result during pipeline installation will not conflict with the applicable standards designated by RCTC and SANBAG. Impacts are therefore less than significant with mitigation. Source: RCTC CMP 2011, SANBAG CMP 2016 c) Result in a change in air traffic patterns, including either an increase in traffic levels or a change in location that results in substantial safety risks? The proposed Project includes several new structures on the WWTP property in order to house machinery, but the height of these structures would not be sufficiently tall enough to change air traffic patterns. In addition, the proposed brine pipeline would be located underground. Therefore, the Project will not increase air traffic levels or change the location of air traffic patterns. As such, no impact will occur. Source: Project Description

114 City of Beaumont Final Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration Beaumont Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade/Expansion and Brine Pipeline March 2018 d) Substantially increase hazards due to a design feature (e.g., sharp curves or dangerous intersections) or incompatible uses (e.g., farm equipment)? The proposed Project will not change roadway configurations. There will be no impacts in this regard. Source: Project Description e) Result in inadequate emergency access? The proposed Project will not reconfigure current roadways. As required by mitigation measure MM TRANS-1, traffic control plans will be prepared and implemented so access will be maintained throughout the construction period. With incorporation of MM TRANS-1, impacts are reduced to less than significant. Source: Beaumont General Plan Draft EIR

f) Conflict with adopted policies, plans, or programs supporting alternative transportation (e.g., bus turnouts, bicycle racks)? The proposed WWTP upgrades would not conflict with City policies, plans or programs that support alternative transportation. The proposed pipeline installation may temporarily conflict with alternative transportation efforts. With implementation of mitigation measure MM TRANS-1, potential impacts to efforts to support alternative transportation will be reduced to less than significant with mitigation. Source: Beaumont General Plan

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Less Than Potentially Significant Less Than No Significant with Significant ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS: Impact Impact Mitigation Impact Incorporated XVII. TRIBAL CULTURAL RESOURCES. Would the project: a. Would the project cause a substantial adverse change in the significance of a tribal cultural resources, defined in Public Resources Code Section 21074 as either a site, feature, place, cultural landscape that is geographically defined in terms of the size and scope of the landscape, sacred place, or object with cultural value to a California Native American tribe, and that is: i. Listed or eligible for listing in the California Register of Historical Resources, or in a local register of historical resources as defined in Public Resources Code section 5020.1(k), or ii. A resource determined by the lead agency, in its discretion and supported by substantial evidence, to be significant pursuant to criteria set forth in subdivision (c) of Public Resources Code Section 5024.1. In applying the criteria set forth in subdivision (c) of Public Resource Code Section 5024.1, the lead agency shall consider the significance of the resource to a California Native American tribe.

Tribal Cultural Resources Discussion: i) Listed or eligible for listing in the California Register of Historical Resources (CRHR), or in a local register of historical resources as defined in Public Resources Code section 5020.1(k)? ii) A resource determined by the lead agency, in its discretion and supported by substantial evidence, to be significant pursuant to criteria set forth in subdivision (c) of Public Resources Code Section 5024.1? In applying the criteria set forth in subdivision (c) of Public Resource Code Section 5024.1, the lead agency shall consider the significance of the resource to a California Native American tribe. Ethnographically, the Project area lies within the traditional territory of the Pass (or Wanakik) Cahuilla. During the Spanish period of occupation in Southern California, San Timoteo Canyon and San Gorgonio Pass were under the control of the Mission San Gabriel’s San Bernardino Rancho. The Canyon and Pass areas sustained cattle grazing and an outpost (or estancia) for such activities was established near the mouth of San Timoteo Canyon in 1819. Native American labor was used to dig an irrigation ditch (or zanja) to divert water from Mill Creek to the outpost. The outpost was later relocated one mile to the east in 1830. In 1843, a grant of lands in San Timoteo Canyon from the Mexican Governor to an Englishman created Rancho San Timoteo (or Rancho San Jacinto y San Gorgonio). The City of Beaumont was never part of any Mexican Rancho.

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The City of Beaumont WWTP is neither listed nor eligible for listing in the CRHR, or in a local register of historical resources. The Project proposed at the WWTP will be limited to the existing facility limits, which are highly disturbed for the active and ongoing operations of the facility. As noted previously in threshold V.a, the Phase I cultural resources assessment determined that none of the built-environment historic resources within the Project APE are eligible for listing in the CRHR. Also, the assessment found no new archaeological or prehistoric resources within the Project APE. As discussed in threshold V.b, the results of the NAHC SLF conducted February 14, 2017, indicate that there are known Native American cultural resources within the Project area. In response to the NAHC recommendation to contact the Morongo Band of Mission Indians be contacted for more information regarding the sensitive resources. Native American individuals and organizations, including the Morongo Band of Mission Indians, were contacted to elicit information on Native American resources within the proposed Project area. Of the 27 different groups and/or individuals contacted by email or letter on August 28, 2017, seven responses have been received to date. Follow-up telephone calls were conducted on September 14, 2017 with the Native American groups and individuals that had not responded to the initial information request. The San Manuel Band of Mission Indians (SMBMI) indicated that the Project area is located within Serrano ancestral territory and, as such, it is of interest to the Tribe. In addition, because the Project area is sensitive for Native American resources, the SMBMI has requested additional information regarding the Project, this information was provided to the SMBMI on December 4, 2017. In addition, the SMBMI plans to consult with the lead agencies on this Project under Section 106 and Assembly Bill 52. The Augustine Band of Cahuilla Indians stated that the Tribe is unaware of specific cultural resources that may impacted by the Project but does recommend contacting individuals from Native American tribes that are closer in proximity to the Project area as well as contracting a qualified monitor to be present on-site full time during Project implementation (pre-construction and construction phases). The Gabrieleno Band of Mission Indians – Kizh Nation, Gabrieleno/Tongva San Gabriel Band of Mission Indians, the Gabrielino Tongva Indians of California Tribal Council, and the Jamul Indian Village all deferred to local Tribes for comment. Finally, the La Posta Band of Mission Indians indicated that if the Tribe had any comments or concerns a formal response would be sent.Tribal consultation will continue and be concluded prior to adoption of the MND. Refer to threshold V.b for a summary of the SLF search and communications from interested Tribes, including the City’s AB52 consultation process. As a result of the AB 52 consultation, MMitigation measure MM CR-1 has been incorporated clarified to provide an archaeological monitor and a Tribal Monitor from the Morongo Band of Mission Indians (the MBMI Tribal Monitor) during all ground- disturbing activities, with the ability to halt work in the event of an artifact discovery, and consultation with the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians. Subsequently, a meeting shall be convened between the City of Beaumont, the Qualified Project Archaeologist, the MBMI Tribal Monitor, the Morongo Band of Mission Indians Tribal Historic Preservation Officer and the Consulting Tribes. Mitigation measure MM CR-2 has also been included clarified to provide MBMI Tribal Monitor and Consulting Tribe participation in preconstruction awareness training for the construction contractor and crews and impacts are reduced to less than significant with mitigation.

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Less Than Potentially Significant Less Than No Significant with Significant ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS: Impact Impact Mitigation Impact Incorporated XVIII. UTILITIES AND SERVICE SYSTEMS. Would the project: a. Exceed wastewater treatment requirements of the applicable Regional Water Quality Control Board? b. Require or result in the construction of new water or wastewater treatment or facilities or expansion of existing facilities, the construction of which could cause significant environmental effects? c. Require or result in the construction of new storm water drainage facilities or expansion of existing facilities, the construction of which could cause significant environmental effects? d. Have sufficient water supplies available to serve the project from existing entitlements and resources, or are new or expanded entitlements needed? e. Result in a determination by the wastewater treatment provider which serves or may serve the project that it has adequate capacity to serve the project’s projected demand in addition to the provider’s existing commitments? f. Be served by a landfill with sufficient permitted capacity to accommodate the project’s solid waste disposal needs? g. Comply with federal, state, and local statutes and regulations related to solid waste?

Utilities and Service Systems Discussion: a) Exceed wastewater treatment requirements of the applicable Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB)? Wastewater Treatment Plant The first goal of the proposed Project is to produce recycled water effluent from the Beaumont WWTP that has lower concentrations of certain constituents so as to meet the most recent Basin Plan amendments stipulated by the Santa Ana RWQCB (Resolution R8-2014-0005). Therefore, with completion of the proposed Project, the WWTP will meet the wastewater treatment requirements of the Santa Ana RWQCB. For the treatment requirements of construction-phase stormwater runoff, the Project will be subject to the requirements of an effective SWPPP to minimize the discharge of non-stormwater runoff to the maximum extent practicable. In addition, the WWTP upgrades are large enough to trigger a WQMP and on-site elements that provide permanent, post-construction treatment of stormwater runoff for constituents of concern. Therefore, with implementation of the

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Project, the WWTP will not exceed the treatment requirements of the Santa Ana RWQCB and impacts are less than significant. Brine Pipeline The second goal of the Project is to dispose of the brine waste that will be generated as a result of the upgraded treatment process at the WWTP. Achieving brine disposal to the IEBL will meet part of the plant’s wastewater treatment requirements of the Santa Ana RWQCB. In addition, pipeline construction will also incorporate SWPPP requirements that are applicable to linear underground projects. Therefore, the Project will not exceed wastewater treatment requirements and impacts are less than significant. Source: Project Description; Order No. R8-2015-0026; Resolution No. R8-2014-0005; Construction General Storm Water Permit Order 2009-0009-DWQ; WQMP Guidance for Santa Ana Region; Hydrology/Water Quality section above. b) Require or result in the construction or relocation of new water or wastewater treatment or transmission facilities or expansion of existing facilities, the construction of which could cause significant environmental effects? The proposed Project involves the construction of new wastewater treatment facilities and a conveyance pipeline, the environmental impacts of which are being evaluated herein. The analysis included herein indicates that all environmental effects associated with the proposed Project will be less than significant with mitigation incorporated. Source: Project Description; Above Initial Study c) Require or result in the construction of new stormwater drainage facilities or expansion of existing facilities, the construction of which could cause significant environmental effects? Wastewater Treatment Plant The proposed WWTP upgrades redevelop enough square footage of the facility so as to warrant a WQMP to treat stormwater runoff from the areas of new construction. As such, new stormwater treatment and drainage facilities will be required on the plant site. Through compliance with the City’s Local Implementation Plan and WQMP review process, which is mandated and monitored by the Santa Ana RWQCB as part of the MS4 permit requirements, the proposed WWTP stormwater capture, treatment, and conveyance facilities will not cause significant environmental effects. Therefore, impacts will be less than significant. Brine Pipeline The proposed brine waste disposal pipeline will not require new or expanded stormwater drainage facilities, since it will be buried underground with the ground surface returned to its original state. Therefore, impacts will be less than significant. Source: MS4 Permit, WQMP Guidance for Santa Ana Region.

119 City of Beaumont Final Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration Beaumont Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade/Expansion and Brine Pipeline March 2018 d) Have sufficient water supplies available to serve the project from existing entitlements and resources, or are new or expanded entitlements needed? Wastewater Treatment Plant The proposed Project would require a temporary increase in potable water for use during construction activities at the WWTP, the volume of which will not require new or expanded water supply entitlements. Post-construction staffing at the WWTP is not expected to change significantly from current staffing levels. For the long-term, recycled water generated on-site will be available for “plant water” used for on-site cleaning and wash-down activities. The proposed WWTP upgrades would not significantly increase potable water use at the plant site, since recycled water will now be available for most uses, and impacts are less than significant. Brine Pipeline As discussed in Section II – Air Quality, installation of the proposed brine waste disposal pipeline will require water trucks for dust control as well as potable water for on-site crews. The City of Beaumont has sufficient water supplies to serve these temporary needs within City limits. Private companies will be hired by the Project contractor to supply water trucks for the Project outside of the City, and impacts are less than significant. Source: Project Description; e) Result in a determination by the wastewater treatment provider which serves or may serve the project that it has adequate capacity to serve the project’s projected demand in addition to the provider’s existing commitments? The proposed Project is a required system upgrade and capacity expansion of the City’s WWTP in order to produce higher quality effluent with greater treatment capacity. The Project will not generate wastewater. Therefore there will be no impact in terms of adequate wastewater treatment capacity. Source: Project Description f) Be served by a landfill with sufficient permitted capacity to accommodate the project’s solid waste disposal needs? Wastewater Treatment Plant Solid waste will be generated during Project construction, some of which will be recycled. Commercial and residential municipal solid waste from the City of Beaumont is delivered via private haulers to the Lamb Canyon Landfill, located just south of the City. Lamb Canyon Landfill is rated a Class III landfill18 and operated by the Riverside County Waste Management Department. Lamb Canyon Landfill is in the final stages of expanding so that it would have the capacity to accept trash generated by the City for 30-plus years beyond the estimated closure date of 2021. Therefore,

18 California Code of Regulations Title 27. 120 City of Beaumont Final Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration Beaumont Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade/Expansion and Brine Pipeline March 2018

sufficient capacity is expected for the temporary increase of solid waste to be disposed at the nearby landfill, and impacts are less than significant. Brine Pipeline For solid waste generated by the Project within San Bernardino County, solid waste disposal is provided by private haulers and disposed of at the San Timoteo Landfill located at 31 Refuse Road in Redlands. San Timoteo Landfill is also rated a Class III landfill, which cannot receive hazardous materials. Pipeline installation projects within roadways generate limited amount of waste during construction and is not anticipated to interfere with the permitted capacity of nearby landfills willing to accept the waste. Therefore, the Project will be served by landfills with sufficient capacity to accommodate the project’s solid waste needs and impacts will be less than significant. Source: Beaumont General Plan, Riverside County General Plan draft EIR, San Bernardino County General Plan draft EIR. g) Comply with federal, state, and local statutes and regulations related to solid waste? The collection and disposal of solid waste would conform to applicable federal, State, and local plans and regulations, including AB 939 (Integrated Waste Management Act) that local jurisdictions divert at least 50% of all solid waste. The proposed Project will adhere to all federal, State and local regulations related to solid waste during construction and operation. Therefore, the proposed Project would have no impact in terms of complying with federal, state, and local statutes and regulations related to solid waste. Source: AB 939

Less Than Potentially Significant Less Than No Significant with Significant ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS: Impact Impact Mitigation Impact Incorporated

XIV. 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 an endangered plant or animal or eliminate important examples of the major periods of California history or prehistory? b. 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)?

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Less Than Potentially Significant Less Than No Significant with Significant ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS: Impact Impact Mitigation Impact Incorporated c. Does the project have environmental effects which will cause substantial adverse effects on human beings, either directly or indirectly?

Mandatory Findings of Significance Discussion: 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 an endangered plant or animal or eliminate important examples of the major periods of California history or prehistory? Wastewater Treatment Plant The Project area at the WWTP contains no suitable habitat for biological resources that could potentially be affected by the project. The WWTP is an actively operating industrial land use and as such, the proposed improvements to the Plant will not reduce habitat, impact animal populations, eliminate a plant or animal community, or reduce the range of a plant or animal. The proposed upgrades include environmentally beneficial features that were not there previously, including odor control systems, indoor sludge processing, stormwater treatment, and enclosed machinery, blowers and pumps. A result of the proposed system upgrades is higher quality recycled water that can offset current potable water demand, as well as salt transport out of the underlying groundwater management zone. The WWTP abuts Cooper’s Creek which contains suitable riparian habitat for nesting birds, including the least Bell’s vireo. Construction and operation activities to be conducted as part of the proposed WWTP improvements will not directly impact Cooper’s Creek because it is beyond the limits of the plant boundary and the limits of construction. Because indirect impacts such as construction noise are a potential issue for nesting birds, the Project is being planned to avoid the nesting season when constructing within 500-feet of riparian habitat. Although the proposed modifications to the WWTP will not have a direct effect on any listed plant or animal species, mitigation measures MM BIO-1 and MM BIO-2 are included to reduce indirect impacts to special status species in proximity to the WWTP to less than significant. The presence of any previously recorded or potential cultural resources was not found on the WWTP site. Further, the site has been heavily modified over the years of its operation, and it is highly unlikely that any cultural resources could exist. However, in order to provide protection in the unlikely event that cultural resources are unearthed during Project construction, implementation of mitigation measures MM CR-1 through MM CR-5 will reduce potential impacts to less than significant with mitigation. Therefore, the proposed WWTP improvements’ 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

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number or restrict the range of a rare or an endangered plant or animal or eliminate important examples of the major periods of California history or prehistory will be less than significant with mitigation incorporated. Brine Pipeline The construction footprint of the proposed brine waste disposal pipeline does not directly impact any sensitive vegetation communities; however, it is expected to come very close and therefore mitigation measures have been included for inadvertent discoveries of special-status plants and/or animals, indirect construction impacts (i.e., noise) to adjacent nesting bird habitat during the nesting bird season, and steps to take in the event an alignment change causes direct impacts to potentially sensitive habitats. The construction footprint will directly impact disturbed open space and grassland habitats that are suitable for certain species, including burrowing owl and smooth tarplant. Mitigation has also been incorporated to conduct preconstruction biological surveys followed with recommendations for further surveys, avoidance, and/or salvage, as needed. In addition, because work may take place underneath existing bridges, mitigation has also been included for potential impacts to any roosting bats and/or birds. Lastly, mitigation is provided in the event that Critical Habitat in the Santa Ana River cannot be avoided. All potentially significant impacts to biological resources would be avoided or reduced to a less than significant impact with the implementation of the mitigation measures identified in this initial study (MM BIO-1 through MM BIO-9) and features already incorporated into the project. Several pipelines are known to underlie the paved roadways in which the proposed pipeline will be located and therefore, previous disturbances have occurred and the potential for locating previously undiscovered cultural resources is unlikely. However, the alignment includes segments in areas that may not have been disturbed recently, specifically where the pipeline aligns outside of paved roadways and in areas of high paleontological sensitivity. Therefore, mitigation measures have been added to educate the on-site construction crews and describe the required monitoring and procedures to follow in the event artifacts are discovered (MM CR-1 through MM CR-5). Therefore, the potential of the proposed pipeline 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 an endangered plant or animal or eliminate important examples of the major periods of California history or prehistory will be less than significant with mitigation incorporated. Source: Above Initial Study b) 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)? The Project is the result of requirements from the Santa Ana River RWQCB in accordance with the Plant’s waste discharge permit and the Basin Plan. Additional treatment capacity at the WWTP is needed to meet the wastewater expected to be generated by existing entitlements. An advanced 123 City of Beaumont Final Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration Beaumont Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade/Expansion and Brine Pipeline March 2018

treatment method is needed to produce higher quality effluent to protect the beneficial uses of the underlying Beaumont groundwater management zone. Advanced treatment results in brine waste that must be transported out of the watershed, with the most feasible option being the nearest connection point of the Inland Empire Brine Line on the right bank of the Santa Ana River in the city of San Bernardino. As demonstrated by the analysis in this Initial Study, the proposed Project’s potential environmental impacts are temporary and will cease once construction is complete. The proposed Project will not result in any impacts that are individually limited, but cumulatively considerable. The Project is consistent with local and regional plans, and the Project’s mitigated air quality emissions do not exceed established thresholds of significance. The Project adheres to all other land use plans and policies with jurisdiction in the Project area, and will not increase traffic volumes within the Project area. The Project is not considered growth-inducing as defined by State CEQA Guidelines Section 15126.2(d) and will not induce, either directly or indirectly, population and/or housing growth beyond what is envisioned by the City of Beaumont General Plan. Therefore, impacts will be less than significant. Source: Above Initial Study c) Does the project have environmental effects which will cause substantial adverse effects on human beings, either directly or indirectly? Effects on human beings were evaluated as part of the aesthetics, air quality, geology and soils, hazards and hazardous materials, hydrology and water quality, noise, population and housing, and traffic sections of this initial study and found to be less than significant for each of the above sections with implementation of mitigation measures MM AQ-1, MM GEO-1, MM NOISE-1 through MM NOISE-3, and MM TRANS-1. Based on the analyses and conclusions in this initial study, the proposed Project will not cause substantial adverse effects directly or indirectly to human beings. Therefore, potential direct and indirect impacts on human beings that result from the proposed Project are considered less than significant with mitigation incorporated. Source: Above Initial Study

EARLIER ANALYSES Earlier analysis may be used where, pursuant to the tiering, program EIR, or other CEQA process, an effect has been adequately analyzed in an earlier EIR or negative declaration as per California Code of Regulations, Section 1503 (c) (3) (D). Earlier Analysis Used, if any: None

124 City of Beaumont Final Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration Beaumont Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade/Expansion and Brine Pipeline March 2018

CEQA PLUS ANALYSIS

State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) Clean Water State Revolving Fund Program

Evaluation Form for Environmental Review and Federal Coordination

1. Federal Endangered Species Act: Does the project involve any direct effects from construction activities, or indirect effects such as growth inducement that may affect federally listed threatened or endangered species that are known, or have a potential, to occur on-site, in the surrounding area, or in the service area?

No. Discuss why the project will not impact any federally listed special status species.

Yes. Include information on federally listed species that could potentially be affected by this project and any proposed avoidance and compensation measures so that the State Water Board can initiate informal/formal consultation with the applicable federally designated agency. Document any previous ESA consultations that may have occurred with the project.

Please refer to Appendix B for the Biological Resources Assessment Report that has been prepared for the Project (Amec Foster Wheeler, 2017). Critical habitat has been designated for the southwestern willow flycatcher, Santa Ana sucker, and San Bernardino (Merriam's) kangaroo rat (SBKR) adjacent to the location of the preferred crossing of the Santa Ana River at E Street Bridge in the City of San Bernardino. Other federally listed species that could be affected by this Project include the least Bell’s vireo (which is expected in riparian habitat), the Santa Ana River woolly-star (bed of the Santa Ana River), slender-horned spineflower, Mojave tarplant, and Gambel’s water cress. No direct surface impacts to the Santa Ana River are anticipated with the preferred or alternate alignments to cross the Santa Ana River, because the preferred alignment attaches the pipeline to E Street Bridge to span the river, and the alternate crossings propose either a trenchless method to drill underneath or attach to other bridges that span the river. Likewise, no direct impacts to nesting bird habitat located adjacent to the Project are anticipated because the Project design avoids these areas. Therefore, no direct impacts are expected to federally listed species due to Project design.

No direct impacts to federally listed species are expected; however, indirect and temporary effects from construction activities are possible. These include construction noise and vibration from equipment operating adjacent to habitat. MM BIO-2 will provide preconstruction riparian habitat surveys and where deemed necessary by the Project Biologist, noise attenuation barriers adjacent to riparian habitat. Construction will take place at night when within the City of Loma Linda and unincorporated Riverside County. Completion of the treatment plant expansion/upgrade will not increase the existing noise level of plant operations above that which currently occurs. Operation of the brine pipeline will not generate noise.

No ESA consultations have yet been conducted with federal agencies.

125 City of Beaumont Final Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration Beaumont Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade/Expansion and Brine Pipeline March 2018

The Project is being planned to avoid all critical habitat, to avoid work on bridges during the breeding season, and to avoid using trenchless methods during the rainy season. Additional measures that will be taken to avoid or minimize impacts to federally listed species in addition to the Project design which avoids direct impacts to suitable habitat for federally listed species include: a Worker Environmental Awareness Program (WEAP, MM BIO-1); preconstruction riparian bird surveys (MM BIO-2); and notification to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for work in critical habitat (MM BIO-6).

Therefore, the impact finding for both the San Bernardino kangaroo rat and Santa Ana sucker designated critical habitats is “No Impact.” The impact finding for southwestern willow flycatcher designated critical habitat is “Less than Significant.”

2. National Historic Preservation Act: Identify the Area of Potential Effects (APE) with both cartographic and textual descriptions, including construction, staging areas, and depth of any excavation. (Note that the APE is three dimensional and includes all areas that may be affected by the project, including the surface area and extending below ground to the depth of any project excavations.)

Please refer to Appendix C for a Phase I Cultural Resource Assessment study, which includes a description of the APE and a summary of consultation with Native American representatives. The APE includes approximately 213 acres, including the WWTP and 23 miles of pipeline that varies in width from 40 to 150 feet. Maximum depth of the APE is 50 feet beneath the Santa Ana River (if trenchless method to cross is used); 25 feet beneath other waterways; and the rest of the APE will have a maximum depth of 6 feet. Cultural literature and records searches at the Eastern Information Center (EIC) and the South Central Coastal Information Center (SCCIC) of the California Historical Resources Information System (CHRIS) indicated that 253 cultural resources have been documented within a one-mile radius of the Project alignment. Twelve of these historic-period cultural resources have been mapped within the Project’s APE. These resources include four transmission lines, four road segments, a telecommunications line, a railroad alignment, the remains of a ranch complex, and the Gage Canal. No prehistoric cultural resources have been previously recorded within the Project APE.

A search of the Sacred Lands File (SLF) from the Native American Heritage Commission (NAHC) indicates there are known Native American cultural resources within the Project area. The NAHC recommended contacting 27 different groups and/or individuals, including the Morongo Band of Mission Indians, with seven responses received to date.

A Phase I cultural resource survey of approximately 342 acres that included the Project’s APE, which includes the preferred pipeline alignment and the existing Beaumont WWTP, as well as alternative pipeline alignments with a 50-foot buffer was performed by AE archaeologists between June 30, 2017 and August 18, 2017. As a result of the Phase I field survey, six newly identified built environment resources (all road alignments) were documented within the Project APE. No new prehistoric or historical archaeological resources were identified. The 12 previously recorded cultural resources were revisited as part of the fieldwork effort and their current conditions assessed. The four historical transmission lines and the telecommunications line were all found to span the proposed brine pipeline alignment and as such, are located outside of the Project’s APE. Significance evaluations were conducted for the 12 126 City of Beaumont Final Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration Beaumont Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade/Expansion and Brine Pipeline March 2018 cultural resources identified within the Project APE that may be adversely affected or impacted by the implementation of the Project.

Results of the significance evaluations indicate that none of the cultural resources are eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places or the California Register of Historical Resources. Because no historic properties or historical resources are located within the APE, a finding of no historic properties/historical resources affected is appropriate. A consultation letter will be provided to the State Water Board for consultation with SHPO once Native American consultations are complete.

The Project includes mitigation measures to reduce potential impacts to cultural resources as follows: MM CR-1 – Archaeological Monitor and MM CR-2 – Worker’s Environmental Awareness Training. Mitigation measure MM CR-1 requires the provision of a qualified archaeologist to be on-site during all construction with the authority to halt activities within a 100-foot radius of an artifact discovery. Interested Tribes shall be invited to provide a culturally-affiliated Native American monitor during initial ground-disturbing activities. If a potentially significant archaeological material is encountered during construction, a meeting shall be convened between the City, project archaeologist, and Tribal representative to discuss the significance of the find and decide the appropriate treatment. Construction shall not resume in the location of the find until the appropriate treatment has been completed. Monitoring may be discontinued as soon as the project archaeologist is satisfied that construction will not disturb cultural resources. Mitigation measure MM CR-2 provides archaeological awareness training for construction crews working on both the pipeline and the WWTP. Interested Tribes shall be invited to provide a Tribal representative to participate. The training shall provide the types of resources that may be found in the area and the protocol to follow in the event something is found.

3. Clean Air Act: Air Basin Name: South Coast Air Basin

Local Air District for Project Area: South Coast Air Quality Management District

Is the project subject to a State Implementation Plan (SIP) conformity determination?

No. The project is in an attainment or unclassified area for all federal criteria pollutants.

Yes. The project is in a nonattainment area or attainment area subject to maintenance plans for a federal criteria pollutant. Include information to indicate the nonattainment designation (e.g. moderate, serious, severe, or extreme), if applicable. If estimated emissions (below) are above the federal de minimis levels, but the project is sized to meet only the needs of current population projections that are used in the approved SIP for air quality, then quantitatively indicate how the proposed capacity increase was calculated using population projections.

An air quality assessment was prepared, and is provided in Appendix A, to evaluate whether the expected criteria air pollutant emissions generated as a result of construction and operation of the proposed Project would cause exceedances of the South Coast Air Quality Management District’s (SCAQMD) thresholds for air quality in the Project area. As recommended by SCAQMD staff, the

127 City of Beaumont Final Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration Beaumont Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade/Expansion and Brine Pipeline March 2018

California Emissions Estimator Model® (CalEEMod) program was used to quantify Project-related emissions. Results of the assessment are provided in Table 1 – Air Basin Pollutant Status, Thresholds, and Estimated Project Construction Emissions.

Table 1 – Air Basin Pollutant Status, Thresholds, and Estimated Project Construction Emissions

Nonattainment Federal Status Threshold of Rates (i.e., (Attainment, Significance Construction Operation moderate, Nonattainment, for Project Air Emissions Emissions Pollutant serious, Maintenance, or Basin (if (Tons/Year) (Tons/Year) severe, or Unclassified) applicable extreme)

Ozone (O3) Nonattainment Extreme 10 tons/year n/a n/a Carbon Maintenance Serious 100 tons/year 8.95 n/a Monoxide (CO) Oxides of Maintenance n/a 100 tons/year 10.34 n/a Nitrogen (NOX) Reactive Organic Gases n/a n/a 10 tons/year 0.88 n/a (ROG) Volatile Organic n/a n/a 10 tons/year 0.88 n/a Compounds (VOC) Unclassified / Lead (Pb) n/a n/a n/a n/a attainment Particulate Nonattainment Moderate 100 tons/year 1.29 n/a Matter (PM2.5) Particulate Maintenance Serious 100 tons/year 2.12 n/a Matter (PM10) Sulfur Dioxide Attainment n/a 100 tons/year 0.02 n/a (SO2)

As shown in the above table, construction-related emissions are estimated to be below the federal de minimus levels for all constituents. Moreover, modeled operational emissions for the Project are estimated to be negligible. Therefore, the scope of the Project is too limited to adversely affect conformance with the applicable State Implementation Plan (SIP). Refer to Appendix A for the Air Quality/Greenhouse Gas Analysis that has been prepared for this Project.

4. Coastal Zone Management Act: Is any portion of the project site located within the coastal zone?

No. The project is not within the coastal zone, explain.

Yes. Describe the project location with respect to coastal areas, and the status of the coastal zone permit, and provide a copy of the coastal zone permit or coastal exemption.

128 City of Beaumont Final Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration Beaumont Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade/Expansion and Brine Pipeline March 2018

The Project site is not within the coastal zone.

5. Farmland Protection Policy Act: Is any portion of the project site located on important farmland?

No. The project will not impact farmland.

Yes. Include information on the acreage that would be converted from important farmland to other uses. Indicate if any portion of the project boundaries is under a Williamson Act Contract and specify the amount of affected acreage.

6. Flood Plain Management: Is any portion of the project site located within a 100-year floodplain as depicted on a floodplain map or otherwise designated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency?

No. Provide a description of the project location with respect to streams and potential floodplains.

Yes. Describe the floodplain, and include a floodplain map and a floodplains/wetlands assessment. Describe any measures and/or project design modifications that would minimize or avoid flood damage by the project.

The WWTP is not located within a 100-year FEMA-designated floodplain. The pipeline alignment and some of the roads in which it will be installed do cross into the 100-year floodplain for San Timoteo Creek a total of three times, and the Santa Ana River once, as shown on Figure 7 – FEMA Flood Hazard Zone; however, the pipeline will be located underground with a few above ground pressure relief valves appearing periodically as needed along the alignment. The pipeline will not impede, redirect, or contribute to an existing floodplain.

7. Migratory Bird Treaty Act: Will the project affect protected migratory birds that are known, or have a potential, to occur on-site, in the surrounding area, or in the service area?

No. Provide an explanation below.

Yes. Discuss the impacts (such as noise and vibration impacts, modification of habitat) to migratory birds that may be directly or indirectly affected by the project and mitigation measures to reduce or eliminate these impacts. Include a list of all migratory birds that could occur where the project is located.

The special-status birds with a low, medium, or high probability of occurring, or are known to occur, within 500-feet of the Project area include the following (see Table 3 from Biological Resources Assessment in Appendix B):

129 City of Beaumont Final Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration Beaumont Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade/Expansion and Brine Pipeline March 2018

 Potential to Occur: o Cooper’s hawk (Accipiter cooperi) o Tricolored blackbird (Agelaius tricolor) o Southern California rufous-crowned sparrow (Aimophila ruficeps canescens) o Bell’s sage sparrow (Artemisiospiza belli belli) o Burrowing owl (Athene cunicularia) o Ferruginous hawk (Buteo regalis) o Western yellow-billed cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus occidentalis) o Southwestern willow flycatcher (Empidonax traillii extimus) o Peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus) o Merlin (Falco columbarius) o California horned lark (Eremophila alpestris) o Loggerhead shrike (Lanius ludovicianus) o White-faced ibis (Plegadis chihi) o Coastal California gnatcatcher (Polioptila californica californica)

 Known to Occur: o (foraging during migration) Swainson’s hawk (Buteo swainsoni) o White-tailed kite (Elanus leucurus) o Yellow-breasted chat (Icteria virens) o (foraging) Double-breasted cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus) o Yellow warbler (Setophaga petechia) o Least Bell’s vireo (vireo bellii pusillus)

The proposed pipeline alignment and WWTP are located near suitable habitat for nesting birds including those protected by the MBTA. Because construction of the proposed pipeline and WWTP improvements will take place in areas already experiencing high levels of human activity and noise, the additional construction noise is not expected to significantly impact nesting behavior. Based on Project design, no direct impacts to riparian habitat or trees are expected. The Project is being planned to avoid the nesting season when constructing within 500-feet of riparian habitat. Construction-related activities may cause indirect and temporary construction noise. In the event that construction activities adjacent to suitable nesting habitat cannot avoid the nesting season, mitigation measure MM BIO-2 will reduce indirect impacts to nesting birds located along Cooper’s Creek at the WWTP, San Timoteo Creek, and the Santa Ana River. If active nests are documented, species-specific measures shall be prepared by a qualified biologist and implemented to prevent abandonment of the active nest. While construction adjacent to riparian habitat is underway during the nesting season, the qualified biologist shall be present to act as construction monitor. If at any time, the biological monitor feels that any sensitive riparian bird species are adversely affected by the construction activities, construction activity must stop until the individual bird is no longer affected by Project construction. The biologist shall determine for the City whether a noise barrier is warranted between the construction and the edge of nesting bird habitat. The City shall provide such a barrier where determined by the biologist prior to construction. If construction adjacent to riparian habitat begins in the non-breeding season, but extends into the breeding season, nesting bird surveys shall be conducted prior to moving into new areas with suitable riparian habitat. A report of the findings prepared by a qualified biologist shall be submitted to the City 130 City of Beaumont Final Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration Beaumont Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade/Expansion and Brine Pipeline March 2018 of Beaumont for approval prior to initiating construction activities adjacent to suitable nesting bird habitat. Any nest permanently vacated for the season would not warrant protection pursuant to the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.

Other measures to reduce or eliminate impacts to migratory birds include burrowing owl surveys and relocation plans (per current local protocols as needed, MM BIO-8), as well as avoidance of work on bridges during the bird breeding season (MM BIO-3 and MM BIO-4) and avoiding critical habitat located in the Santa Ana River (MM BIO-6). These measures are described in MM BIO-2, MM BIO-3, MM BIO- 4, MM BIO-6, MM BIO-7 and MM BIO-9. Implementation of these mitigation measures will reduce potential impacts to less than significant.

8. Protection of Wetlands: Does any portion of the project area contain areas that should be evaluated for wetland delineation or require a permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers?

No. Provide the basis for such a determination

Yes. Describe the affect to wetlands, potential wetland areas, and other surface waters, and the avoidance, minimization, and mitigation measures to reduce such impacts. Provide the status of the permit and information on permit requirements.

Installation of proposed brine disposal pipeline will be done mostly through trenchless methods to drill underneath waterways. One crossing is proposed with a pipe bridge to span the waterway, and the design includes at least one attachment to an overhead bridge. As described in the Jurisdictional Delineation that was prepared for the Project (Appendix B), federally-protected wetlands were not found in any of the waterways along the pipeline alignment. Minimal temporary and permanent impacts to the banks of an unnamed drainage (“Drainage A”) will occur with construction of the pipe bridge; however, a permit from the Corps of Engineers will not be required.

Critical habitat is designated for southwestern willow flycatcher, Santa Ana sucker, and San Bernardino kangaroo rat at the location of the proposed crossing of the Santa Ana River, therefore a preconstruction notification will be sent to the Los Angeles District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers pursuant to General Condition 18. Notification will be sent once the method of crossing the Santa Ana River has been finalized.

The Project has been designed to avoid federal jurisdictional features to the extent feasible, with trenchless methods planned to avoid the rainy season if feasible. A small area of impact to the upper banks of “Drainage A” is expected in order to construct a pipe bridge that spans the drainage. Mitigation measure MM BIO-7 will reduce impacts to jurisdictional waters to less than significant through notifying regulatory agencies and obtaining appropriate permits. In the event hydraulic directional drilling is used in the Project, preparation of a Frac-Out Contingency Plan is also required by MM BIO-7.

131 City of Beaumont Final Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration Beaumont Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade/Expansion and Brine Pipeline March 2018

9. Wild and Scenic Rivers Act: Identify the watershed where the project is located: Santa Ana River Watershed

Is any portion of the project located within a wild and scenic river?

No. The project will not impact a wild and scenic river. Explain.

Yes. Identify the wild and scenic river watershed and project location relative to the affected wild and scenic river.

The nearest river to the Project is the Santa Ana River, which is not designated as wild and scenic.19

10. Safe Drinking Water Act, Sole Source Aquifer Protection: Is the project located in an area designated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 9, as a Sole Source Aquifer?

No. The project is not within the boundaries of a sole source aquifer. 20

Yes. Identify the aquifer (e.g., Santa Margarita Aquifer, Scott's Valley, the Fresno County Aquifer, the Campo/Cottonwood Creek Aquifer or the Ocotillo-Coyote Wells Aquifer) that will be affected.

11. Coastal Barriers Resources Act: Will the project impact or be located within or near the Coastal Barrier Resources System or its adjacent wetlands, marshes, estuaries, inlets, and near-shore waters? Note that since there is currently no Coastal Barrier Resources System in California, projects located in California are not expected to impact the Coastal Barrier Resources System in other states. If there is a special circumstance in which the project may impact a Coastal Barrier Resource System, indicate your reasoning below.

No. The project will not affect or be located within or near the Coastal Barrier Resources System or its adjacent wetlands, marshes, estuaries, inlets, and near-shore waters, explain.

Yes. Describe the project location with respect to the Coastal Barrier Resources System, and the status of any consultation with the appropriate Coastal Zone management agency and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

The Project is not located near a Coastal Barrier Resources System as there are none in the State of California or anywhere along the western coast of the United States, nor will the Project involve a special circumstance in which a Coastal Barrier Resource System would be affected.21

19 Source: http://www.rivers.gov/california.php, accessed October 31, 2017. 20 Source: http://www.epa.gov/region9/water/groundwater/ssa.html, accessed October 31, 2017. 21 Source: http://www.fws.gov/ecological-services/habitat-conservation/Coastal.html, accessed October 31, 2017. 132 City of Beaumont Final Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration Beaumont Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade/Expansion and Brine Pipeline March 2018

12. Environmental Justice: Does the project involve an activity that is likely to be of particular interest to or have particular impact upon minority, low-income, or indigenous populations, or tribes?

No. Selecting “No” means that this action is not likely to be of any particular interest to or have an effect on these populations or tribes, explain.

Yes. If you answer yes, please check at least one of the boxes and provide a brief explanation below:

The project is likely to affect the health of these populations.

The project is likely to affect the environmental conditions of these populations.

The project is likely to present an opportunity to address an existing disproportionate impact of these populations.

The project is likely to result in the collection of information or data that could be used to assess potential impacts on the health or environmental conditions of these populations.

The project is likely to affect the availability of information to these populations.

Other reasons (please describe):

Project is a mandated wastewater utility effort to expand wastewater treatment capacity and provide higher quality effluent for use in and around the City of Beaumont, as well as disposal of resulting brine waste. Project will not have a particular impact upon minority, low-income or indigenous populations.

13. Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act: Does the project involve any direct effects from construction activities, or indirect effects such as growth inducement that may adversely affect essential fish habitat?

No. Discuss why the project will not affect essential fish habitat.

Yes. Provide information on essential fish habitat that could potentially be affected by this project and any proposed avoidance and compensation measures. Explain any previous consultations/coordination conducted with the National Marine Fisheries Service for the project:

No essential fish habitat has been designated in the inland waterways located downstream of the Project.22 The nearest essential fish habitat is located along the coast. The Project in and of itself will not result in population increases.

22 Source: http://www.habitat.noaa.gov/protection/efh/habitatmapper.html 133 City of Beaumont Final Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration Beaumont Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade/Expansion and Brine Pipeline March 2018

REFERENCES

The following documents were referred to as information sources during preparation of this document. They are available for public review at the locations abbreviated after each listing and spelled out at the end of this section.

Albert A. Webb Associates. Air Quality/Greenhouse Gas Analysis for the Beaumont Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade/Expansion and Brine Pipeline Project, December 11, 2017. (Appendix A)

Albert A. Webb Associates. Brine Disposal Pipeline Alignment Study Expansion & Salt Mitigation. Submitted to Santa Ana River RWQCB May 18, 2017. (Available from the City of Beaumont).

Albert A. Webb Associates. Feasibility Study for WWTP Expansion & Salt Mitigation. Submitted to Santa Ana River RWQCB December 2016. (Available from the City of Beaumont).

Amec Foster Wheeler, Inc. Biological Resources Assessment, Beaumont Wastewater Treatment Plant and Brine Disposal Pipeline Project. November 30, 2017. (Appendix B.1)

Amec Foster Wheeler, Inc. Habitat Suitability Assessment and Western Riverside County Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan Consistency Analysis Report. January 9, 2018 (Appendix B.2)

Amec Foster Wheeler, Inc. Jurisdictional Delineation Report, Beaumont Wastewater Treatment Plant and Brine Disposal Pipeline Project. November 2, 2017. (Appendix B.3)

Applied Earthworks, Inc. Phase 1 Cultural Resource Assessment for the Beaumont Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade/Expansion and Brine Pipeline Project, Riverside and San Bernardino Counties, California. September 2017. (Appendix C.1)

Applied Earthworks, Inc. Paleontological Resource Sensitivity Assessment for the San Bernardino County Portion of the Beaumont Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade/Expansion and Brine Pipeline Project, Riverside and San Bernardino Counties, California. September 26, 2017. (Appendix C.2)

Assembly Bill 939. The Integrated Waste Management Act.

California Air Resources Board, Area Designations Maps/ State and National. (Available at https://www.arb.ca.gov/desig/adm/adm.htm accessed on October 19, 2017). (CARB)

California Building Standards Commission. California Building Standards Code. 2016 Triennial Edition, effective January 1, 2017. (Available at http://www.bsc.ca.gov/Codes.aspx, accessed 9/15/17.)

California Code of Regulations. (Available at https://govt.westlaw.com/calregs/Index?transitionType=Default&contextData=%28sc.Default%29, accessed July 20, 2017.)

California Code of Regulations, Health and Safety Code. (Available at http://codes.findlaw.com/ca/health-and- safety-code/, accessed 1/15/17.)

134 City of Beaumont Final Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration Beaumont Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade/Expansion and Brine Pipeline March 2018

California Department of Conservation Division of Land Resource Protection. Riverside County (west) and San Bernardino County (south) 2016. (Available at ftp://ftp.consrv.ca.gov/pub/dlrp/FMMP/pdf/2016/riv16_w.pdf and ftp://ftp.consrv.ca.gov/pub/dlrp/FMMP/pdf/2016/sbd16_so.pdf, accessed July 20, 2017.)

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INITIAL STUDY PREPARERS Albert A. Webb Associates 3788 McCray Street, Riverside, CA 92506 (951) 686-1070 Planning and Environmental Services Department

138 City of Beaumont Final Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration Beaumont Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade/Expansion and Brine Pipeline March 2018

APPENDIX A: AIR QUALITY and GREENHOUSE GAS ANALYSIS

A City of Beaumont Final Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration Beaumont Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade/Expansion and Brine Pipeline March 2018

APPENDIX B: BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES ASSESSMENT REPORT

HABITAT SUITABILITY ASSESSMENT AND WESTERN RIVERSIDE COUNTY MSHCP CONSISTENCY ANALYSIS

JURISDICTIONAL DELINEATION REPORT

B City of Beaumont Final Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration Beaumont Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade/Expansion and Brine Pipeline March 2018

APPENDIX C: PHASE I CULTURAL RESOURCE ASSESSMENT

PALEONTOLOGICAL RESOURCE SENSITIVITY ASSESSMENT