ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT PALOS VERDES REEF RESTORATION PROJECT February 22, 2017 LEAD AGENCY: USDC National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration LOCATION: Los Angeles County, California ABSTRACT: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) proposes to implement an offshore rocky-reef habitat restoration project in the vicinity of the City of Rancho Palos Verdes, Los Angeles County, California. The restored reef would compensate for effects of past wastewater discharges of DDTs and PCBs on fish habitats on the Palos Verdes Shelf. The reef restoration project would involve the placement of 70,300 tons of quarry rock on 40 acres of sandy ocean bottom within a 69-acre site located 0.3 miles offshore of the City of Rancho Palos Verdes in the vicinity of Bunker Point. TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER 1 PROPOSED ACTION AND PURPOSE OF AND NEED FOR ACTION .... 1 1.1 Proposed Action ............................................................................................................ 1 1.2 Purpose and Need ......................................................................................................... 4 CHAPTER 2 ALTERNATIVES TO THE PROPOSED ACTION ....................................... 5 2.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................... 5 2.2 Screening Criteria ......................................................................................................... 5 2.3 Location Alternatives .................................................................................................... 5 2.3.1 Introduction ....................................................................................................... 5 2.3.2 West and East Areas ......................................................................................... 6 2.3.3 West Area Depth Alternatives .......................................................................... 7 2.3.3.1 Shallower Location – 49 to 68 feet deep (15 – 21 m) ........................ 7 2.3.3.2 Deeper Location – 65 to 82 feet deep (20 - 25 m) ............................. 9 2.4 Design Alternatives ....................................................................................................... 9 2.5 No Action Alternative ................................................................................................. 10 CHAPTER 3 NEPA REQUIREMENTS, SCOPE OF ANALYSIS, AND PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT ........................................................................................................................ 11 CHAPTER 4 APPLICABLE LAWS, FEDERAL PERMITS, LICENSES, AND ENTITLEMENTS....................................................................................................................... 13 4.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................. 13 4.2 National Environmental Policy Act ............................................................................ 13 4.3 Rivers and Harbors Act ............................................................................................... 13 4.4 Clean Water Act .......................................................................................................... 14 4.5 Coastal Zone Management Act ................................................................................... 14 4.6 Endangered Species Act ............................................................................................. 14 4.7 Marine Mammal Protection Act ................................................................................. 14 4.8 Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act ............................... 15 4.9 Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act ............................................................................ 15 CHAPTER 5 AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT ....................................................................... 16 5.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................. 16 5.2 Physical Environment of the Project Site ................................................................... 16 5.2.1 Geophysical Survey ........................................................................................ 16 5.2.2 Diver-Based Inspections ................................................................................. 18 5.2.3 Light Attenuation ............................................................................................ 18 5.3 Biological Resources .................................................................................................. 19 5.3.1 Introduction ..................................................................................................... 19 5.3.2 Soft-Bottom Habitat ........................................................................................ 19 5.3.3 Hard-Bottom Habitat ...................................................................................... 20 5.3.4 Rare, Threatened, or Endangered Species ...................................................... 20 5.4 Air Quality .................................................................................................................. 23 5.4.1 Air Pollutants .................................................................................................. 23 5.4.2 Primary Pollutants ........................................................................................... 24 5.4.3 Secondary Pollutants ....................................................................................... 24 i 5.4.4 Greenhouse Gases and Climate Change ......................................................... 26 5.4.5 Regulatory Setting .......................................................................................... 26 5.5 Land Use, Recreation, Aesthetics, and Noise ............................................................. 27 5.5.1 Introduction ..................................................................................................... 27 5.5.2 Land Use ......................................................................................................... 27 5.5.3 Recreation ....................................................................................................... 28 5.5.3.1 Surfing.............................................................................................. 28 5.5.3.2 Diving .............................................................................................. 28 5.5.3.3 Fishing.............................................................................................. 29 5.5.3.4 Boating ............................................................................................. 30 5.5.3.5 Beach Activities ............................................................................... 30 5.5.4 Land Use Plans and Policies ........................................................................... 30 5.5.4.1 California Coastal Act ...................................................................... 30 5.5.4.2 California Fish and Game Code ....................................................... 31 5.5.4.3 California Ocean Resources Management Act ................................ 31 5.5.4.4 California Ocean Plan ...................................................................... 31 5.5.5 Noise ............................................................................................................... 31 5.5.5.1 Federal Guidelines ........................................................................... 33 5.5.5.2 State of California Guidelines .......................................................... 34 5.5.5.3 California Government Code ........................................................... 34 5.5.5.4 California Department of Public Health Services, Office of Noise Control ............................................................................................. 34 5.5.5.5 County of Los Angeles .................................................................... 35 5.5.5.6 City of Rancho Palos Verde ............................................................. 35 CHAPTER 6 ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES ...................................................... 37 6.1 Biological Resources .................................................................................................. 37 6.1.1 Introduction ..................................................................................................... 37 6.1.2 Effects on Bottom Species and Habitat .......................................................... 37 6.1.3 Marine Mammals, Fish, and Birds .................................................................. 38 6.1.3.1 Marine Mammals ............................................................................. 38 6.1.3.2 Special-Status Marine Birds ............................................................ 39 6.1.3.3 Migratory Species ............................................................................ 39 6.1.4 Restoration Effects .......................................................................................... 40 6.1.4.1 Waves and Currents ......................................................................... 40 6.1.4.2 Kelp Entanglement ........................................................................... 40 6.1.4.3 Food Resources ................................................................................ 41 6.1.4.4 Predation .........................................................................................