CARSON TRUCKING PROJECT INITIAL STUDY AND MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION Prepared By Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc. 765 The City Drive, Suite 200 Orange, California 92868 Prepared For City of Carson Community Development Department 701 East Carson Street Carson, California 92745 July 2018 CARSON TRUCKING PROJECT INITIAL STUDY AND MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION Prepared for City of Carson 701 East Carson Street Carson, CA 90745 Prepared by Kimley-Horn and Associates 765 The City Drive, Suite 200 Orange, California 92868 Date July 2018 This Page Intentionally Left Blank Table of Contents Table of Contents 1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 1 2 Project Description .......................................................................................................................... 3 2.1 Project Location and Existing Land Uses .............................................................................. 3 2.2 Surrounding Land Uses ......................................................................................................... 4 2.3 Project Characteristics .......................................................................................................... 4 2.4 Project Approvals ................................................................................................................. 6 3 Initial Study Checklist ....................................................................................................................... 7 4 Environmental Analysis .................................................................................................................. 18 4.1 Aesthetics ........................................................................................................................... 18 4.2 Agriculture and Forestry Resources ................................................................................... 21 4.3 Air Quality ........................................................................................................................... 23 4.4 Biological Resources ........................................................................................................... 31 4.5 Cultural Resources .............................................................................................................. 33 4.6 Geology and Soils ............................................................................................................... 36 4.7 Greenhouse Gas Emissions................................................................................................. 40 4.8 Hazards and Hazardous Materials ...................................................................................... 43 4.9 Hydrology and Water Quality ............................................................................................. 46 4.10 Land Use and Planning ....................................................................................................... 53 4.11 Mineral Resources .............................................................................................................. 55 4.12 Noise ................................................................................................................................... 56 4.13 Population and Housing ..................................................................................................... 63 4.14 Public Services .................................................................................................................... 65 4.15 Recreation .......................................................................................................................... 67 4.16 Transportation/Traffic ........................................................................................................ 68 4.17 Tribal Cultural Resources .................................................................................................... 80 4.18 Utilities and Service Systems .............................................................................................. 83 4.19 Mandatory Findings of Significance ................................................................................... 86 5 Preparers ........................................................................................................................................ 88 6 References ..................................................................................................................................... 89 Carson Trucking Project Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration Page i Table of Contents List of Figures Follows Page Figure 1: Regional and Local Vicinity Map ................................................................................................... 6 Figure 2: Aerial View .................................................................................................................................... 6 Figure 3a: Lot A: Conceptual Site Plan ......................................................................................................... 6 Figure 3b: Lot B: Conceptual Site Plan ......................................................................................................... 6 Figure 3c: Lot C: Conceptual Site Plan.......................................................................................................... 6 Figure 3d: Lot D: Conceptual Site Plan ......................................................................................................... 6 Figure 4: Bike Path Removal ......................................................................................................................79 List of Tables Table 1: Estimated Construction Emissions ................................................................................................ 25 Table 2: Maximum Daily Operational Emissions ........................................................................................ 26 Table 3: Existing General Plan and Zoning Designations ............................................................................ 53 Table 4: Sound Level Measurements (dBA) ................................................................................................ 58 Table 5: Traffic Noise Levels along Project Roadways (dBA CNEL) ............................................................. 61 Table 6: Existing Conditions: Intersection Operations ................................................................................ 71 Table 7: Trip Generation Rates and Estimated Project Trip Generation .................................................... 72 Table 8: Existing Plus Project- Intersection Operations .............................................................................. 74 Table 9: Opening Year 2019 Without Project ‒ Intersection Operations ................................................... 75 Table 10: Opening Year 2019 With Project ‒ Intersection Operations ...................................................... 76 Appendices (provided on CD) A. Air Quality and Greenhouse Gas Study B. Water Quality C. Noise Assessment D. Traffic Impact Analysis E. Native American Tribal Correspondence Carson Trucking Project Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration Page ii Section 1.0 Introduction 1 INTRODUCTION 1.1 Purpose of The Initial Study In accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) (California Public Resources Code [PRC] § 21000 et seq.) and the State CEQA Guidelines (California Code of Regulations [CCR], Title 14, § 15000 et seq.), this Initial Study has been prepared to evaluate the potential environmental effects associated with the construction and operation of the proposed Carson Trucking Project (hereinafter referred to as the “proposed project” or “project”). Pursuant to Section 15367 of the State CEQA Guidelines, the City of Carson (City) is the Lead Agency for the project. The Lead Agency is the public agency that has the principal responsibility for carrying out or approving a project. The City has the authority for environmental review in accordance with CEQA and certification of the environmental documentation. This CEQA document provides decision-makers and the public with information concerning the potential environmental effects associated with the implementation of the proposed project, and potential ways to reduce or avoid possible environmental impacts. It is intended to be used as a decision-making tool for the City in considering and taking action on the proposed project. Any responsible agency may elect to use this environmental analysis for discretionary actions associated with the implementation of the project. 1.2 Summary of Findings The Initial Study includes a description of the proposed project; an evaluation of the project’s potential environmental impacts; the findings of the environmental analyses; and a recommended Mitigation Program to lessen or avoid the project’s significant adverse impacts on the environment. The Mitigation Program includes Standard Conditions and Requirements, and Mitigation Measures which are included in the Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program (MMRP) for the proposed project. Based on the environmental checklist form prepared for the proposed project and supporting environmental analysis, with the implementation of the Mitigation Program, the project would have no impacts or less than significant impacts on the following environmental issue areas: Aesthetics, Air Quality,