Bluebird SOCWA Lift Station Odor Control Project City of Laguna Beach, Orange County, California
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PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT CEQA INITIAL STUDY AND MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION Bluebird SOCWA Lift Station Odor Control Project City of Laguna Beach, Orange County, California Prepared By: Prepared For: Eukon Group City of Laguna Beach an SFC Communications, Inc. company – certified DBE WBE 505 Forest Avenue 65 Post, Suite 1000 Laguna Beach, CA 92651 Irvine, CA 92618 March 15, 2018 TABLE OF CONTENTS Section Page 1.0 Introduction 1.1 Objectives 4 1.2 Environmental Procedures 4 1.3 Findings 4 1.4 Project Sponsors and Contact Persons 5 2.0 Project Description 2.1 Overview 6 2.2 Project Location 6 2.3 Existing Setting 6 2.4 Detailed Project Description 7 3.0 Environmental Setting 8 3.1 Air Quality 8 3.1.1 Greenhouse Gases and Global Climate Change 8 3.1.2 Climate 9 3.1.3 Air Quality Management 9 3.1.4 Ambient Air Quality 10 3.1.5 Short Term Construction Activity 10 3.1.6 Operational Activity 11 3.1.7 Conclusions 11 3.2 Biological Resources 11 3.2.1 Biological Habitats 11 3.2.2 Bird Nesting 12 3.2.3 Conclusions 12 3.3 Cultural Resources 12 3.3.1 Regional Archaeological Studies 12 3.3.2 Cultural Record Search 13 3.3.3 Native American Resources 14 3.3.4 Conclusions 15 3.4 Geology and Seismicity 15 3.4.1 Regional Geology 15 3.4.2 Seismicity 16 3.4.3 Conclusions 16 3.5 Hydrology and Water Quality 16 2 EukonGroup “It’s all about Communication” Bluebird SOCWA Lift Station Odor Control Program City of Laguna Beach, California Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration TABLE OF CONTENTS, Cont. Section Page 3.5.1 Existing Hydrologic Setting 16 3.5.2 Flood Hazards 17 3.5.3 Conclusions 17 3.6 Noise 17 3.6.1 City of Laguna Beach Noise Element 17 3.6.2 Existing Setting 17 3.6.3 Conclusions 18 3.7 Traffic/Circulation 18 3.7.1 City of Laguna Beach Circulation Element 18 3.7.2 Existing Setting 18 3.7.3 Conclusions 19 4.0 Initial Environmental Study and Checklist 20 5.0 Mitigation Monitoring Programs 47 6.0 Source Documents 48 7.0 Response to Comments 49 3 EukonGroup “It’s all about Communication” Bluebird SOCWA Lift Station Odor Control Program City of Laguna Beach, California Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration 1.0 Introduction 1.1 Objectives The objective of this Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND) is to determine if there are significant adverse environmental impacts associated with the planning and implementation of the Bluebird SOCWA Lift Station Odor Control Project. SOCWA is the South Orange County Wastewater Authority. The recommendation of appropriate mitigation measures, as necessary, will reduce environmental impacts to less than significant levels. The Introduction portion of this Initial Study and MND sets forth the necessary environmental procedures per CEQA (California Environmental Quality Act). 1.2 Environmental Procedures The Mitigated Negative Declaration and Initial Study Checklist has been prepared in compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act of 1970 (CEQA), as amended (Public Resources Code, Section 21000, et seq.) and the State Guidelines for Implementation of the California Environmental Quality Act of 1970 (California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Section 15000, et seq.), and as amended. This report also complies with the rules, regulations, and procedures for implementation of the California Environmental Quality Act adopted by the City of Laguna Beach, California. It was prepared by SFC Communications, Inc. dba EukonGroup (Eukon) an environmental consulting firm under contract to the City. The City of Laguna Beach is the Lead Agent for the project as defined by Section 21067 of CEQA. This MND and Initial Study was prepared under the direction of City staff and represents their independent judgment. Pursuant to the City’s guidelines to implement CEQA, an environmental checklist was prepared by Eukon on March 1, 2018 as part of an Initial Study (IS) for this project. The Initial Study Checklist concluded that this project would not have a significant effect on the environment with mitigation incorporated. A copy of the Initial Study and its determinations are included with this MND. Environmental issues as identified by the Initial Study, and consistent with the California Environmental Quality Act, are analyzed in this MND. The City of Laguna Beach has evaluated the project described below in accordance with State Guidelines for the implementation of the California Environmental Quality Act to determine its potential impacts on the environment. It has been found that this project, as proposed, will not have a long term significant negative effect on the environment. 1.3 Findings Implementation of the project is part of the greater effort to address wastewater flows that have significantly decreased due to the reconfiguration of the collection system. As such, odors may become more prevalent therefore an odor control project is proposed to be implemented as part of the City’s master plan. Pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act, the City of Laguna Beach has determined that the proposed project will not have a significant effect on the 4 EukonGroup “It’s all about Communication” Bluebird SOCWA Lift Station Odor Control Program City of Laguna Beach, California Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration environment. The attached initial study and MND documents the reasons supporting this finding. City Staff will retain a consulting engineer to prepare the design of the odor control project. This Initial Study and MND is based on the design selected by and prepared for the City of Laguna Beach. The Initial Study/MND for the project is available at City of Laguna Beach Water Quality Department, City Hall, 505 Forest Avenue, Laguna Beach. The Initial study was conducted by Eukon on March 1, 2018. Any person may file comments on the Initial Study/MND. This must be done in writing, stating specific environmental reasons, within 30 days of the posted date and should be delivered to the City of Laguna Beach, Water Quality Department. 1.4 Project Sponsors and Contact Persons The City of Laguna Beach is the applicant and lead agency for preparation of this Initial Study/MND. The following agencies, organizations and individuals are associated with this project in the capacities indicated: Lead Agency/Applicant: Hannah Johnson, Project Manager City of Laguna Beach, Water Quality Dept. 505 Forest Avenue Laguna Beach, CA 92651 949-494-6615 Environmental Consultant: SFC Communications, Inc. dba Eukon Group Saundra Jacobs, REA, Project Manager Hannah Hainline, Project Coordinator Diane Bonner, Archaeologist 65 Post, Suite 1000 Irvine, CA 92618 949-702-1145 5 EukonGroup “It’s all about Communication” Bluebird SOCWA Lift Station Odor Control Program City of Laguna Beach, California Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration 2.0 Project Description 2.1 Overview The City of Laguna Beach is requesting approval of this Initial Study and MND, pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act for the Bluebird SOCWA Lift Station Odor Control Project. A detailed project description is provided below. The existing Bluebird SOCWA Lift Station, was built in the early 1980s and is the largest lift station in the City, conveying all wastewater flows generated within the City’s service boundaries (approximately 2 million gallons per day) to the SOCWA Coastal Treatment Plant. The Coastal Treatment Plant is located approximately 2 miles east of the Lift Station. 2.2 Project Location The existing Bluebird SOCWA Lift Station is located at the northwest end of Galen Drive, immediately downhill from the corner of Calliope and Glenneyre Streets. The site address is listed as 1509 Glenneyre Street with an Assessor Parcel Number (APN) of 664-213-14 and a total area of approximately 2,942 square feet (0.06 acres). The odor control portion of the project is proposed immediately adjacent to the existing lift station. The project is located in Section 26 of Township 7 South, Range 9 West (San Bernardino Baseline and Meridian) as shown on the Laguna Beach, CA USGS 7.5 minute quadrangle topographic map. 2.3 Existing Setting The vicinity of the lift station and odor control project is hilly and steep in portions. Topography and soils are most reflective of the area’s original geologic setting, a coastal facing portion of the San Joaquin Hills within the Peninsular Ranges geologic province of Southern California. Vegetation is non-native landscaping, consisting of trees, shrubs and other plants (see photos). The nearest major water source would be the Bluebird Canyon Creek, a portion of which is located approximately 200 feet northwest of the project. Elevation at the site is approximately 61 feet above sea level. This area of Laguna Beach is generally single family residential to the north and east with high density residential to the west of the project. Land uses to the south include local limited commercial uses. Galen Drive is a small dead-end street that leads to the existing lift station. Galen Drive is paved with curb, gutter and parking on the east-bound side of the street only. Glenneyre Street is located immediately north of the project and is a two-laned paved road with curb and gutter on the project side of the street (east-bound). Glenneyre Street runs north-west to south-east in this area. Calliope Street is located to the west of the project and is a two-laned paved road with curb and gutters on both sides of the street. Calliope Street runs south-west to north-east in this area. 6 EukonGroup “It’s all about Communication” Bluebird SOCWA Lift Station Odor Control Program City of Laguna Beach, California Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration 2.4 Detailed Project Description The intent of the odor control project is to install an odor scrubber in a new enclosure adjacent to the existing lift station.