4 ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING, ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS, AND MITIGATION MEASURES 4.1 APPROACH TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS As described in Chapter 1, Introduction, this focused Draft Program EIR evaluates the potentially significant environmental effects of the Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) Facilities Master Plan at a program level, and evaluates the first phase of the Facilities Master Plan, the Immediate Improvements, at a more detailed, project level. In addition, this analysis focuses on a limited number of environmental resource topics, based on the potentially significant impacts identified in the Initial Study prepared and circulated with the Notice of Preparation (NOP) (Appendix A). 4.1.1 PROGRAMMATIC ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ANALYSIS As described in Chapter 3, Project Description, the Facilities Master Plan establishes how the City’s WWTP would be upgraded and expanded in the coming years to meet the City’s anticipated wastewater treatment demands through build‐out of the City’s 2030 General Plan; however, beyond the Immediate Improvements, the design details, final options, and the timing of future phases of the Master Plan are not currently known. As such, the environmental impact analysis has been prepared at a programmatic level of detail; it addresses the full range of potential environmental effects associated with implementation of the Facility Master Plan, but in some cases the analysis is general. This approach is consistent with the State CEQA Guidelines provisions for a Program EIR, as described in Section 15168, which suggests that the level of detail is dictated by “ripeness”; detailed analysis should be reserved for issues that are ripe for consideration. 4.1.2 PROJECT-LEVEL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ANALYSIS The first phase of the Facility Master Plan, the Immediate Improvements, has been planned at a project‐level of detail to allow for project approval, construction, and operation upon certification of the EIR and approval of the Facilities Master Plan. However, the Immediate Improvements are entirely within the footprint of the overall WWTP Facilities Master Plan, so in the majority of cases, the analysis of Facility Master Plan impacts also sufficiently addresses impacts of the Immediate Improvements. Where additional detail is needed to evaluate the Immediate Improvements, that detail is added under discussion of the specific impact (example: a more specific discussion of air quality impacts associated with construction of Immediate Improvements is added to the overall discussion of air quality impacts from construction of the Facilities Master Plan). The same approach is provided for mitigation measures; specific mitigation for Immediate Improvements is added when mitigation associated with the overall Master Plan is either insufficient or insufficiently detailed to address impacts associated with the first phase. 4.1.3 CONTENTS OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS SECTIONS Sections 4.2 through 4.9 provide detailed analysis of each of the resource areas (examples: water quality, air quality) that would be potentially affected by the project. Each section includes the applicable regulatory background; existing environmental setting; the potential for the Facilities Master Plan and the Immediate Improvements to significantly affect the environment; and recommended mitigation measures to reduce or avoid potentially significant impacts when necessary. The resource sections are organized into the following major subsections: City of Galt WWTP Facilities Master Plan and Immediate Improvements Project Draft Program EIR 4-1 Approach to the Environmental Analysis Ascent Environmental Regulatory Background: This subsection presents information on the laws, regulations, plans and policies that relate to the issue area being discussed. Regulations originating from the local, state, and federal levels are each discussed as appropriate. Existing Environmental Setting: This subsection presents the existing environmental conditions on the proposed project site and surrounding area as appropriate, in accordance with State CEQA Guidelines Section 15125. The discussions of the environmental setting focus on information relevant to the issue under evaluation. The extent of the environmental setting area evaluated (the project study area) differs among resources, depending on the locations where impacts would be expected. For example, air quality impacts are assessed for the air basin, whereas cultural resource impacts are assessed for the project site only. Environmental Impacts and Recommended Mitigation Measures: This subsection identifies the thresholds of significance used to determine the level of significance of the environmental impacts for each resource topic. Key methods and assumptions used to frame and conduct the impact analysis as well as issues or potential impacts not discussed further (such issues for which the project would have no impact) are also described. Project impacts are organized numerically in each subsection (e.g., Impact 4.4‐1, Impact 4.4‐2, Impact 4.4‐3, etc). A bold‐font impact statement, a summary of each impact, and its level of significance precedes the discussion of each impact. The discussion that follows the impact summary includes the substantial evidence supporting the impact significance conclusion. The potentially significant effects of the Facilities Master Plan are discussed within each impact at the programmatic level. Subsequent to that discussion, the potentially significant effects of the Immediate Improvements are discussed at a project level. If necessary, mitigation measures are then recommended to reduce potentially significant effects to a less‐than‐significant level when feasible, and the significance of the impact post mitigation is described. The mitigation measures are organized numerically to correspond to the impact being reduced. For example, Impact 4.4‐1 would be mitigated with Mitigation Measure 4.4‐1. City of Galt 4-2 WWTP Facilities Master Plan and Immediate Improvements Project Draft Program EIR Ascent Environmental Agricultural Resources 4.2 AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES This section evaluates the potential impacts of the proposed project on existing agricultural land uses at the project site. Mitigation measures are recommended to reduce project impacts where feasible. 4.2.1 REGULATORY BACKGROUND FEDERAL FARMLAND PROTECTION POLICY ACT The purpose of the Federal Farmland Protection Policy Act (FPPA) is to minimize federal actions leading to the conversion of farmland to nonagricultural uses by ensuring that federal programs are administered in a manner compatible with state government, local government, and private programs designed to protect farmland. The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is the agency primarily responsible for implementing the FPPA, which is a voluntary program that provides funds to help purchase development rights to keep productive farmland in agricultural uses. The program provides matching funds to state, local, or tribal government entities and nongovernmental organizations with existing farmland protection programs to purchase conservation easements. Participating landowners agree not to convert the land to nonagricultural uses and retain all rights to the property for future agriculture. A minimum 30‐year term is required for conservation easements, and priority is given to applications with perpetual easements. NRCS provides up to 50% of the fair market value of the easement (NRCS 2012). STATE CALIFORNIA IMPORTANT FARMLAND INVENTORY SYSTEM AND FARMLAND MAPPING AND MONITORING PROGRAM The California Department of Conservation (DOC) maintains a statewide inventory of farmlands. These lands are mapped by the Division of Land Resource Protection as part of the Farmland Mapping and Monitoring Program (FMMP). The maps are updated every 2 years with the use of aerial photographs, a computer mapping system, public review, and field reconnaissance. Farmlands are divided into the following five categories based on their suitability for agriculture: Prime Farmland—land that has the best combination of physical and chemical characteristics for crop production. It has the soil quality, growing season, and moisture supply needed to produce sustained high yields of crops when treated and managed. Farmland of Statewide Importance—land other than Prime Farmland that has a good combination of physical and chemical characteristics for crop production. Unique Farmland—land that does not meet the criteria for Prime Farmland or Farmland of Statewide Importance, but that has been used for the production of specific crops with high economic value. Farmland of Local Importance—land that is either currently producing crops or has the capability of production, but that does not meet the criteria of the categories above. Grazing Land—land on which the vegetation is suited to the grazing of livestock. The categories of Prime Farmland, Farmland of Statewide Importance, and Unique Farmland, together, are defined as “agricultural land” or “farmland” by CEQA (PRC §21060.1 (a) and the CEQA Guidelines Appendix G, II City of Galt WWTP Facilities Master Plan and Immediate Improvements Project Draft Program EIR 4.2-1 Agricultural Resources Ascent Environmental (a). Other categories used in the FMMP mapping system are “urban and built‐up lands,” “lands committed to nonagricultural use,” and “other lands” (land that does not meet the criteria of any of the other categories). CALIFORNIA LAND CONSERVATION ACT OF 1965 (WILLIAMSON ACT) The California Land Conservation