INITIAL STUDY FOR THE REXLAND ACRES – SEWER EXPANSION PROJECT Prepared for: Kern County Public Works Department 2700 “M” Street, Suite 400 Bakersfield, California 93301-2323 Prepared by: Tom Dodson & Associates P.O. Box 2307 San Bernardino, California 92406-2307 (909) 882-3612 July 2020 Rexland Acres - Sewer Expansion Project TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction ....................................................................................................................... 1 Environmental Factors Potentially Affected ....................................................................... 3 Determination ................................................................................................................... 4 Evaluation of Environmental Impacts ................................................................................ 5 I. Aesthetics ........................................................................................................... 7 II. Agricultural and Forestry Resources ................................................................... 8 III. Air Quality ........................................................................................................... 9 IV. Biological Resources .......................................................................................... 19 V. Cultural Resources ............................................................................................. 21 VI. Energy ................................................................................................................ 22 VII. Geology and Soils .............................................................................................. 23 VIII. Greenhouse Gas Emissions ............................................................................... 26 IX. Hazards and Hazardous Materials ...................................................................... 29 X. Hydrology and Water Quality .............................................................................. 31 XI. Land Use and Planning ...................................................................................... 33 XII. Mineral Resources .............................................................................................. 33 XIII. Noise .................................................................................................................. 34 XIV. Population and Housing ...................................................................................... 36 XV. Public Services ................................................................................................... 37 XVI. Recreation .......................................................................................................... 37 XVII. Transportation .................................................................................................... 38 XVIII. Tribal Cultural Resources ................................................................................... 39 XIX. Utilities and Service Systems .............................................................................. 40 XX. Wildfire ............................................................................................................... 41 XXI. Mandatory Findings of Significance .................................................................... 42 Summary of Mitigation Measures ...................................................................................... 44 References ....................................................................................................................... 47 APPENDICES Appendix 1 – Preliminary Engineering Report Appendix 2 – Air Quality / GHG Analysis Appendix 3 – Biological Resources Assessment Appendix 4 – Cultural Resources (CONFIDENTIAL) TOM DODSON & ASSOCIATES Page ii Rexland Acres - Sewer Expansion Project TABLE OF CONTENTS FIGURES Figure 1-1 Project Location Figure 1-2 Sewer Collection System – Alternative 1 Figure 1-3 Sewer Collection System – Alternative 2 Figure 1-4 Area of Potential Effects TABLES Table III-1 Ambient Air Quality Standards ............................................................. 10 Table III-2 Health Effects of Major Criteria Pollutants ............................................ 11 Table III-3 Air Quality Monitoring Summary (2015-2017) ....................................... 13 Table III-4 San Joaquin Valley Air Basin Attainment Study ................................... 14 TOM DODSON & ASSOCIATES Page iii Rexland Acres - Sewer Expansion Project INITIAL STUDY ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST FORM INTRODUCTION 1. Project Title: Rexland Acres – Sewer Expansion Project 2. Lead Agency Name: Kern County Public Works Department Address: 2700 “M” Street, Suite 400 Bakersfield, CA 93301-2323 3. Contact Person: Alexa Kolosky Phone Number: (661) 862-5002 4. Project Location: The community of Rexland Acres is located at the southeast intersection of South Union Avenue and East Pacheco Road, south of Bakersfield, Kern Island Canal on the east, South Union Avenue on the west, and Price Road on the south. The project area is located within a portion of Section 20, T30S, R28E, MDB&M, County of Kern, State of California. The sewage generated by this project area will be delivered to an existing sewer force main installed as part of the original Rexland Acres Sewer Project that will transport the sewage to the Kern Sanitation Authority Wastewater Treatment Plant (KSAWWTP) in Section 3, via Sections 20, 21, 22, 15, 10, and 3 all in T30S, R29E, MDB&M. Refer to Figures 1-1 and 1-4. 5. Project Sponsor’s Kern County Engineering and Survey Services Department Name and Address: 2700 “M” Street, Suite 400, Bakersfield, CA 93301-2323 6. Project Description: Introduction The purpose for installing the original Rexland Acres Sewer System and for implementing the proposed expanded sewer system is that the density of residential development within the project area has resulted in degradation of water qualify due to use of subsurface septic tank and leach lines to manage wastewater generated from individual homes, and collectively, within the project area. Connecting to the area WWTP will remove this area source of groundwater contamination and minimize ongoing future contamination. Refer to Figure 1-1 (Project Location), Figure 1-2 the Alternative 1 Sewer Collection System, and Figure 1-1, 1-2 and 1-3 the Alternative 2 Sewer Collection System. Project Description The proposed project is the construction of additional sewer lines within the rural community of Rexland Acres for collection and delivery of wastewater to the KSAWWTP for treatment and discharge. After comparing Alternatives 1 and 2, addressed in the October 2018 Preliminary Engineering Report (PER, refer to Appendix 1 of his document), the PER recommends implementation of Alternative 1 for the Sewer Expansion Project. Alternative 1 consists of the following specific project components. TOM DODSON & ASSOCIATES Page 1 Rexland Acres - Sewer Expansion Project INITIAL STUDY 620 linear feet (LF) of 12" PVC sewer main 16,140 LF of 8" PVC sewer main 182 sewer laterals, assumed to average 75 feet in length (13,650 LF), four (4) inches diameter 43 sewer manholes three (3) sewer clean-outs No land acquisition as all pipelines will be installed in public roads, for which a construction easement may be required repair of roads, including resurfacing of paved areas where required a connection to the existing Rexland Acres sewer system pipeline trenches will vary between 24" and 36", with a maximum depth of twelve (12) feet modification to the existing lift station to increase pumping capacity closure/destruction of the septic tanks assuming 182 Equivalent Dwelling Units (EDU) for this project, average daily flows are estimated to be about 45,500 gallons per day (gpd) based on generation of 250 gallons per day per EDU Funding is being sought from the State Water Resources Control Board to support implementation of this proposed project. It is anticipated that the area shown on Figure 1-2 will be integrated into Kern Sanitation Authority as part of the overall project. 7. Surrounding land uses and setting: (Briefly describe the project’s surroundings) Surrounding land uses include: to the north are single-family residences and agricultural lands; to the east are Kern Island Canal and agricultural uses; to the south are single family residences; to the west is south Union Avenue, single family residential and commercial uses. 8. Other agencies whose approval is required: (e.g., permits, financing approval, or participation agreement) State Water Resources Control Board San Joaquin Air Pollution Control District Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board Because the County has existing right-of-way on Union Avenue through this area, it is not anticipated that an encroachment permit will be required from Caltrans. 9. Have California Native American tribes traditionally and cultural affiliated with the project area requested consultation pursuant to Public Resources Code section 21080.3.1? If so, has consultation begun? Note: 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