NEPA--Environmental Assessment
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United States Department of Environmental Agriculture Forest Assessment Service August 2011 Lincoln Avenue Water Company Project Los Angeles River Ranger District, Angeles National Forest Los Angeles County, California For Information Contact: Michael J. McIntyre, District Ranger, Angeles National Forest 12371 North Little Tujunga Road, San Fernando, CA 91342 818-899-1900 x. 223 [email protected] The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or part of an individual’s income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, or call (800) 795- 3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. Environmental Assessment Lincoln Avenue Water Company Project Table of Contents Summary .............................................................................................................................1 1. Introduction ............................................................................................................2 2. Alternatives, including the Proposed Action 2.1 Alternatives ................................................................................................11 2.2 Environmental Commitments Common to All Alternatives .....................20 3. Environmental Consequences 3.1 Air Quality .................................................................................................29 3.2 Biological Resources .................................................................................39 3.3 Cultural Resources .....................................................................................55 3.4 Environmental Contamination and Hazards ..............................................60 3.5 Geological/Soil Resources .........................................................................64 3.6 Hydrology and Water Quality ....................................................................68 3.7 Land Use ....................................................................................................74 3.8 Noise ..........................................................................................................77 3.9 Public Service and Utilities ........................................................................80 3.10 Socioeconomics and Environmental Justice ..............................................84 3.11 Traffic and Transportation .........................................................................86 3.12 Visual Resources ........................................................................................90 3.13 Wilderness and Recreation ........................................................................93 3.14 Wildfire Suppression and Prevention ........................................................96 4. Comparison of Alternatives ..............................................................................100 5. Consultation and Coordination ........................................................................107 6. References ...........................................................................................................108 APPENDICES A. Air Quality Calculations B. Biological Evaluation/Biological Assessment C. Operation and Maintenance Plan D. Archaeology Survey E. Final National Register Determination of Eligibility Environmental Assessment Lincoln Avenue Water Company Project LIST OF TABLES 1-1 Summary of Issues Raised during Public Scoping ..............................................................7 1-2 Summary of Significant Issues Raised during Internal Scoping .........................................9 2-1 Daily and Annual Water Flow Averages at LAWC Locations from 2004-2010 ..............16 2-2 Monthly Water Flow Recordings at LAWC Locations from 2004-2010 ..........................17 3-1 National and California Ambient Air Quality Standards ...................................................29 3-2 Air Quality Monitoring Summary 2006-2009 ...................................................................30 3-3 Attainment Status for South Coast Air Basin ....................................................................31 3-4 SCAQMD Air Quality Significance Thresholds, lbs/day ..................................................32 3-5 Worst Case Daily Construction Emission Estimates for LAWC Project, lbs/day .............34 3-6 Operating Emission Estimates for LAWC, lbs/day ...........................................................34 3-7 Construction Emissions vs. LST Criteria for LAWC Project, lbs/day ..............................35 3-8 LAWC Project Greenhouse Gas Emissions, tons/year ......................................................38 3-9 Vegetation Communities Occurring in the Work Area .....................................................40 3-10 Archaeological Survey Completed within 0.5 Mile of the APE ........................................56 3-11 Archaeological Sites Recorded within 0.5 Mile of the APE .............................................57 4-1 Comparison of Alternatives .............................................................................................101 5-1 List of Preparers and Reviewers ......................................................................................107 LIST OF FIGURES 1 Regional Location ................................................................................................................3 2 Millard Canyon Equipment and Facilities .........................................................................13 3 El Prieto Canyon Equipment and Facilities .......................................................................14 4 Conditions at Millard Canyon diversion structure that would require minor debree removal activities ...................................................................................................19 5 Conditions at Millard Canyon diversion structure that would require major debree removal activities ...................................................................................................19 6 Pipeline Replaceent and Reroute Project Area ..................................................................21 LIST OF ACRONYMS amsl above mean sea level ANF Angeles National Forest APE Area of Potential Affects AQMP Air Quality Management Plan BE/BA Biological Evaluation/Biological Assessment BMP Best Management Practice CAAQS California Ambient Air Quality Standards Cal-OSHA California Occupations Safety and Health Administration CARB California Air Resources Board CDFG California Department of Fish and Game CEQ Council on Environmental Quality CEQA California Environmental Quality Act Environmental Assessment Lincoln Avenue Water Company Project cfs cubic feet per second CNPS California Native Plant Society CWA Clean Water Act DAI Developed Area Interface DoD Department of Defense DTSC Department of Toxic Substances Control EA Environmental Assessment FEMA Federal Emergency Management Agency FESA Federal Endangered Species Act FHA Flood Hazard Area FLPMA Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 FSS Forest Service Sensitive GACC Southern California Geographic Coordination Center GHG Greenhouse Gas gpm gallons per minute HAS Hydrologic Subarea HR Hydrologic Region HU Hydrologic Unit LACFD Los Angeles County Fire Department LAWC Lincoln Avenue Water Company LRA Local Responsibility Area LST Localized Significance Threshold LUFT Leaking Underground Fuel Tank MBTA Migratory Bird Treaty Act MFCV Modulated Flow Control Valve MWD Metropolitan Water District of Southern California NAAQS National Ambient Air Quality Standards NEPA National Environmental Policy Act NFS National Forest Service NHPA National Historic Preservation Act NMFS National Marine Fisheries Service NRHP National Register of Historic Places OSHA Federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration PSD Prevention of Significant Deterioration SCAQMD South Coast Air Quality Management District SCE Southern California Edison SIO Scenic Integrity Objective SIP State Implementation Plan SLIC Spills-Leaks-Investigations-Cleanups SoCAB South Coast Air Basin SRA State Responsibility Area SWPPP Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan SWRCB State Water Resources Control Board TEPCS Threatened, Endangered, Proposed for Listing, or Candidate Species TRTP Tehachapi Renewable Transmission Project USEPA United States Environmental Protection Agency Environmental Assessment Lincoln Avenue Water Company Project USFWS United States Fish and Wildlife Service\ USGS United States Geological Survey WEAP Worker Environmental Awareness Program Environmental Assessment Lincoln Avenue Water Company Project SUMMARY Lincoln Avenue Water Company (LAWC) provides water to a service area encompassing approximately 1,500 acres of west Altadena with an estimated 16,000 residents and roughly 4,500 service connections. Water to meet the needs of LAWC customers is drawn from several