CEQA Document Environmental Assessment/Finding of No Significant Impact
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Donner Summit Public Utilities District Wastewater Treatment Plant and Irrigation Disposal Upgrade and Expansion Project Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration (ISMND) CEQA Document Environmental Assessment/Finding of No Significant Impact PUBLIC DRAFT A p r i l 2 011 Prepared for: Donner Summit Public Utilities District Prepared by: Stantec Consulting Services, Inc. 3875 Atherton Road Rocklin, California 95765 One Team. Infinite Solutions. Donner Summit Public Utility District Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade and Expansion Project Public Draft Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration (IS/MND) CEQA Document April 2011 Prepared for Donner Summit Utility District 53823 Sherritt Lane Soda Springs, CA 95728 Tel: (530) 426-3456 Fax: (530) 426-3460 http://www.dspud.com Prepared by Stantec Consulting Services Inc. in association with Dr. Susan Lindstrom, Cultural Resources & Karen Callahan, Botanical Services Donner Summit Public Utility District - Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration Distribution List Three (3) Copies to: One (1) copy to: Donner Summit Public Utility District Gregory J. Diaz, Nevada County Clerk 53823 Sherritt Lane Nevada County Recorder Office Soda Springs, CA 95728 950 Maidu Avenue, Suite 210 Tel: (530) 426-3456 Nevada City, CA 95959 Fax: (530) 426-3460 Tel: (530) 265-1221 http://www.dspud.com Fax: (530) 265-9842 Three (3) Copies to: Sierra Lakes County Water District One (1) copy to: P.O. Box 1039 Placer County Community Development Soda Springs, CA 95728 Agency 3091 County Center Drive One (1) copy to: Auburn CA 95603 Nevada County Tel: (530) 745-3197 Nevada County Community Development Agency One (1) copy to: Nevada County Government Center Placer County Government Center 950 Maidu Ave. DeWitt Center Nevada City, CA 95959 2970 Richardson Drive Tel: (530) 265-1222 Auburn, CA 95603 (530) 889-4160 One (1) copy to: Jim McCauley, County Clerk-Recorder- Registrar of Voters 2954 Richardson Drive Auburn, CA 95603 Tel: (530) 886-5610 Copies of this document are available for public review on the project website (www.dspud.com), at the Donner Summit Public Utility District’s Administrative Offices, the Serene Lakes County Water District Administrative Offices and the Nevada and Placer County Clerk’s office. April 2011 PUBLIC DRAFT Donner Summit Public Utility District 184030047 Task 200.005 WWTP Upgrade Project Donner Summit Public Utility District - Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration Project Team Donner Summit Public Utility District Representatives Tom Skjelstad - District Manager Stantec Representatives Project Engineers Robert Emerick, Ph.D. - Principal-in-Charge Jeff Houser - Project Engineer Dave Price - Project Manager List of Authors Greg Matuzak - CEQA Project Manager/Sr. Wildlife Biologist Bernadette Bezy - CEQA Assistant PM/Sr. Aquatic Biologist Meagan O’Deegan - Environmental Specialist/Anthropologist James Witty, - Soil Scientist, CPSS Rich Stowell, PhD. - Water Quality Scientist, P.E. Mariska Chuse - Environmental Engineer/Planner Amy Croft - Junior Biologist Mike Maddox - Graphics Lori Baccus - Editing and Formatting Jon Walker - GIS Specialist Davina Gonzalez - GIS Specialist With Support from: Karen Callahan, Project Botanist Dr. Susan Lindstrom, Project Archeologist April 2011 PUBLIC DRAFT Donner Summit Public Utility District 184030047 Task 200.005 WWTP Upgrade Project Donner Summit Public Utility District - Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration Contents PROJECT SUMMARY INFORMATION .................................................................................................... A-1 SECTION 1 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................... 1-1 1.1 Project Purpose and NEED ............................................................................. 1-1 1.2 CEQA Process ................................................................................................ 1-6 1.3 Agency Coordination ...................................................................................... 1-7 1.4 Scope of this Study ......................................................................................... 1-7 SECTION 2 PROJECT DESCRIPTION .................................................................................................. 2-1 2.1 Overview ......................................................................................................... 2-1 2.2 Project Location and Background ................................................................... 2-1 2.2.1 Project Location .................................................................................. 2-1 2.3 Existing Facilities ........................................................................................... 2-5 2.4 Proposed Upgrades (The Project) ................................................................... 2-9 2.5 Proposed Construction Activities and schedule ............................................ 2-21 2.6 Operation ...................................................................................................... 2-25 2.7 Environmental Commitments/Best Standard Practices ................................ 2-25 2.8 Potential Agency Approvals ......................................................................... 2-26 SECTION 3 ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST ........................................................................................ 3-1 3.1 Aesthetics ........................................................................................................ 3-1 3.1.1 Setting ................................................................................................. 3-1 3.1.2 Regulatory Setting ............................................................................... 3-5 3.1.3 Impact Analysis ................................................................................... 3-7 3.1.4 Mitigation Measures .......................................................................... 3-10 3.2 Agricultural Resources ................................................................................. 3-11 3.2.1 Setting ............................................................................................... 3-11 3.2.2 Regulatory Setting ............................................................................. 3-11 3.2.3 Impact Analysis ................................................................................. 3-15 3.3 Air Quality .................................................................................................... 3-19 3.3.1 Setting ............................................................................................... 3-19 3.3.2 Regulatory Setting ............................................................................. 3-19 3.3.3 Impact Analysis ................................................................................. 3-25 3.3.4 Mitigation Measures .......................................................................... 3-30 3.4 Biological Resources .................................................................................... 3-32 3.4.1 Setting & Impact Analysis Scope ...................................................... 3-32 3.4.2 Methodology ..................................................................................... 3-32 3.4.3 Regulatory Setting ............................................................................. 3-33 3.4.4 Study Area Definitions ...................................................................... 3-40 3.4.5 Regional Setting ................................................................................ 3-42 3.4.6 Project –Specific Biological Communities (Vegetative Communities and Wildlife Habitats) ................................................. 3-46 3.4.7 Special-Status Species ....................................................................... 3-49 3.4.8 Impact Analysis ................................................................................. 3-63 3.4.9 Mitigation Measures .......................................................................... 3-73 April 2011 PUBLIC DRAFT Donner Summit Public Utility District 184030047 Task 200.005 i WWTP Upgrades Contents 3.5 Cultural Resources ........................................................................................ 3-77 3.5.1 Methodology ..................................................................................... 3-77 3.5.2 Setting ............................................................................................... 3-80 3.5.3 Impact Analysis ................................................................................. 3-84 3.5.4 Mitigation Measures .......................................................................... 3-85 3.6 Geology and Soils ......................................................................................... 3-87 3.6.1 Setting ............................................................................................... 3-87 3.6.2 Regulatory Setting ............................................................................. 3-92 3.6.3 Impact Analysis ................................................................................... 3-95 3.6.4 Mitigation Measures .......................................................................... 3-98 3.7 Greenhouse Gas Emissions ......................................................................... 3-100 3.7.1 Setting ............................................................................................. 3-100 3.7.2