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Merced 140 Roadside Safety Improvements Project Initial Study with Proposed Mitigated Negative Declaration

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Merced 140 Roadside Safety Improvements Project Initial Study with Proposed Mitigated Negative Declaration Merced 140 Roadside Safety Improvements Project On State Route 140, between 3 miles east of Gustine and 5 miles east of Planada, from post miles 9.1 to 49.0 in Merced County, California 10-MER-140-9.1/49.0 EA 10-0Y130 Project ID 1013000243 Initial Study with Proposed Mitigated Negative Declaration Prepared by the State of California Department of Transportation The environmental review, consultation, and any other actions required by applicable Federal environmental laws for this project are being, or have been, carried out by Caltrans pursuant to 23 USC 325 and the Memorandum of Understanding dated December 23, 2016 and executed by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and Caltrans. April 2019 General Information About This Document What’s in this document: The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), as assigned by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), has prepared this Initial Study, which examines the potential environmental impacts of alternatives being considered for the proposed project in Merced County in California. Caltrans is the lead agency under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). A Categorical Exclusion will be prepared for NEPA compliance. The document explains why the project is being proposed, the alternatives being considered for the project, how the existing environment that could be affected by the project, the potential impacts of each alternative, and the proposed avoidance, minimization, and/or mitigation measures. What you should do: Read the document. Additional copies of the document and the related technical studies are available for review at the Caltrans District 10 office at 1976 E. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard, Stockton, CA 95205; the Merced County Library at 2100 O Street, Merced, CA 95340; and the Gustine Public Library at 205 Sixth Street, Gustine, CA 95322. The document may be downloaded at the following website: http://www.dot.ca.gov/d10/projects.html. Tell us what you think. If you have any comments regarding the proposed project, please send your written comments to Caltrans by the deadline. Submit comments via U.S. mail to: Jennifer Lugo, Senior Environmental Planner, Northern San Joaquin Valley Management Branch 1, Environmental Division, California Department of Transportation, 855 M Street, Suite 200, Fresno, CA 93721. Submit comments via email to: [email protected]. Submit comments by the deadline: 6/29/2019 What happens next: After comments are received from the public and reviewing agencies, Caltrans, as assigned by the Federal Highway Administration, may 1) give environmental approval to the proposed project, 2) do additional environmental studies, or 3) abandon the project. If the project is given environmental approval and funding is obtained, Caltrans could design and construct all or part of the project. Alternative Formats For individuals with sensory disabilities, this document can be made available in Braille, in large print, on audiocassette, or on computer disk. To obtain a copy in one of these alternate formats, please write to or call Caltrans, Attention Jennifer Lugo, Northern San Joaquin Valley Management Branch, Environmental Division, 855 M Street, Suite 200, Fresno, CA 93721; phone number (559) 445-6172 (Voice), or use the California Relay Service 1-800-735-2929 (TTY), 1-800-735-2929 (Voice), or 711. 10-MER-140-9.1/49.0 10-0Y130 and Project ID 1013000243 Merced 140 Roadside Safety Improvements Project i DRAFT Proposed Mitigated Negative Declaration Pursuant to: Division 13, Public Resources Code Project Description The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) proposes to extend culverts, construct headwalls and install guardrail systems at 10 locations on State Route 140 in Merced County. Determination This proposed Mitigated Negative Declaration is included to give notice to interested agencies and the public that it is Caltrans’ intent to adopt a Mitigated Negative Declaration for this project. This does not mean that Caltrans’ decision on the project is final. This Mitigated Negative Declaration is subject to change based on comments received from interested agencies and the public. Caltrans has prepared an Initial Study for this project and, pending public review, expects to determine from this study that the proposed project would not have a significant effect on the environment for the following reasons. The project would have no effect on Aesthetics, Air Quality, Cultural Resources, Geology and Soils, Hazards and Hazardous Materials, Hydrology and Water Quality, Land Use and Planning, Mineral Resources, Noise, Population and Housing, Public Services, Recreation, and Transportation/Traffic. The project would have no significant effect on Agriculture, Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Relocations and Real Property Acquisition, Utilities and Emergency Services, and Invasive Species. The project would have no significantly adverse effect on Biological Resources because the following mitigation measures would reduce potential effects to insignificance: Threatened and Endangered Species—Preconstruction surveys, biological monitoring during construction, Worker Environmental Awareness Training for construction staff, purchase of conservation bank credits for the giant garter snake and fairy shrimp, installation of Environmental Sensitive Area fencing. Purchase bank credits for Wetlands and Other Waters; establish new habitat via purchase of mitigation land; require Best Management Practices, require Emergency Spill Plan; Preconstruction Worker Environmental Awareness Training. Preconstruction botanical surveys Preconstruction migratory bird surveys ______________________________ _______________ Philip Vallejo Date Environmental Office Chief California Department of Transportation NEPA Lead Agency and CEQA Lead Agency Merced 140 Roadside Safety Improvements Project ii Table of Contents Proposed Mitigated Negative Declaration ............................................................................ ii Table of Contents ................................................................................................................ iv List of Figures ....................................................................................................................... v List of Tables ........................................................................................................................ v Chapter 1 Proposed Project ......................................................................................... 1 1.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................ 1 1.2 Purpose and Need .................................................................................................. 1 1.2.1 Purpose ........................................................................................................... 1 1.2.2 Need ................................................................................................................ 1 1.3 Project Alternatives ................................................................................................ 4 1.3.1 Build Alternative ............................................................................................ 4 1.3.2 No-Build (No-Action) Alternative ................................................................. 6 1.4 Alternatives Considered but Eliminated from Further Discussion ........................ 6 1.5 Permits and Approvals Needed .............................................................................. 6 Chapter 2 Affected Environment, Environmental Consequences, and Avoidance, Minimization, and/or Mitigation Measures .......................................................................... 7 2.1 Human Environment ............................................................................................ 10 2.1.1 Farmland ....................................................................................................... 10 2.1.2 Relocations and Real Property Acquisition .................................................. 12 2.1.3 Utilities and Emergency Services ................................................................. 13 2.2 Biological Environment ....................................................................................... 15 2.2.1 Wetlands and Other Waters .......................................................................... 15 2.2.2 Plant Species ................................................................................................. 19 2.2.3 Threatened and Endangered Species ............................................................ 24 2.2.4 Invasive Species ........................................................................................... 45 Chapter 3 CEQA Evaluation ..................................................................................... 47 3.1 Determining Significance under CEQA .............................................................. 47 3.2 CEQA Environmental Checklist .......................................................................... 47 3.3 Climate Change .................................................................................................... 79 Chapter 4 Comments and Coordination .................................................................... 92 Chapter 5 List of Preparers ........................................................................................ 96 Appendix A Title VI Policy Statement
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